On 11/10/2010 at 13:52, nostradeemus said:

I'm not going to do it because I cant be bothered, but this new interchange rule shits me. I see no advantages to it. The sub is an interesting one. A team like Melbourne could definately use it to its advantage as you would be hoping for a player that is quick with good disposal to come on and make an impact while the rest of the field is slowing down.

What type of player do people think will be selected for the sub role? Do you think we will have a designated sub, or subs would be chosen tacticaly depending on who we are playing. It would be fair to say that the sub player would not be considered part of the best 18 as they are not required for the whole game, but someone who could bring something to the table also to change the tempo of the game if a plan c may be needed. A goal kicker, or exceptional field kick should only be considered for sub IMO.

Personally, I'd look to be covering my bases by having a utility as a sub in case of injury during the game. In that vein then:

FB: Bennell Garland Rivers

HB: Grimes Frawley Martin

CE: Trengove Moloney Davey

HF: Sylvia Watts Dunn

FF: Jurrah Green © Petterd

FO: Jamar Scully McKenzie

IN: Jones Morton Gysberts

SB: Bruce

EM: Bartram Wonaeamirri Bail

  On 11/10/2010 at 23:21, old55 said:

I think the vast majority of selections are ignoring the fact that someone has to ruck when Jamar is resting. I don't think it should be Dunn - he's playing the defensive-forward role very well and he's a scoring threat - if he has to ruck and rest then that role is missing. We've got a problem there and that's why we were chasing Hale. I wouldn't play Jamar and Spencer together, and PJ has had his chances. IMO it has to be Fitzpatrick, Newton or Martin unless we can draft a mature age player like say Sinclair.

B: Bartram Frawley Garland

Bruce Rivers Grimes

M: Jamar McKenzie Scully

Sylvia Moloney Davey

F: Green Watts Dunn

Bennell Jurrah Fitzy/Newton/Martin

I: Trengove Morton Jones

S: Bail

If Bruce doesn't sign I'd replace him with Macdonald.

I love these threads that ask for our best 22, and people manage to add a couple extra in there - if only we could do that on game day! It's a bit like the draft boards that ask who we are picking at pick 12, and they rattle off 3 or 4 different names. Of course it depends on who is still there (just like our best team depends on injuries), but take a punt instead of sitting on the fence!!!

I'm one of those guys Old, but look at the names you have used to fill that role. The thread asked for the best 21+1, neither 3 of those guys are in it for mine. While I didn't name him, I think PJ (at this stage while he is still listed) will play round 1.

The pleasing thing is that all teams are in the same boat, so it's going to be the same across the board.

I cannot understand why people add Martin to their teams. The guy is not a footballer, he may be athletic and tall and everything you want, but he cannot kick, mark or handball. I think he would be a good bball player.

And my bad about leaving out McKenzie, I knew there was someone I was missing.

My 2nd go at a team:

FF: Bartam - Frawley - Garland

HB: MacDonald - Rivers - Grimes

C: Davey - McKenzie - Trengove

HF: Sylvia - Watts - Dunn

FF: Jurrah - Green - Petterd

R: Jamar - Moloney - Scully

I: Bennell - Gysberts - Morton

S: Bruce

E: Jones - Bail - Wonna

  On 12/10/2010 at 00:36, daveytrain1 said:

....

So, who do you give relief for Jamar in the ruck ? Sylvia ?....

Have a 3rd go....

  On 12/10/2010 at 00:44, High Tower said:

So, who do you give relief for Jamar in the ruck ? Sylvia ?....

Have a 3rd go....

Dunn MATE... but sylvia proved his ruck worth this year in a couple of hit outs

  On 12/10/2010 at 00:56, daveytrain1 said:

Dunn MATE... but sylvia proved his ruck worth this year in a couple of hit outs

I would have thought Dunn might have set tasks elsewhere, which he excelled at late in the season.

FB: Bartram, Frawley, Garland

HB: Grimes, Rivers, Bruce

C: Davey, McKenzie, Scully

HF: Sylvia, Watts, Dunn

FF: Jurrah, Petterd, Green

Fol: Jamar, Maloney, Jones

Int: Bennell, Wonaemirri, Trengove

Sub: Johnson/Morton/Bail/Macdonald

I think the substitute will add an interesting tactical element to selection/coaching this season. As is usually the case with this tactically naive and immature game, there will be lots of chopping and changing, and plenty of copying going on here.

There's a great chance to get an advantage during the game here. The sooner teams see the sub as a way to change the game (as opposed to someone being "dragged") the better.

In some games it could be great to have a back-up ruck as the sub along with someone who can fill in their and do a decent job on the bench or elsewhere on the field. If the ruckman needs a rest after too much work in the first half you could make the sub for an ineffectual player.

  On 12/10/2010 at 00:59, High Tower said:

I would have thought Dunn might have set tasks elsewhere, which he excelled at late in the season.

Well you do realize that he would only play 30 - 40% in the ruck.. And with petterd back we have 3 marking forwards... Green, Jurrah and Petterd.. (hopefully 4 if Watts gets up and about) If Dunn isn't there half the time, we should be able to cover him... Its better then wasting a spot in the team for someone like you suggested in Martin.

  On 12/10/2010 at 00:28, billy2803 said:

I love these threads that ask for our best 22, and people manage to add a couple extra in there - if only we could do that on game day! It's a bit like the draft boards that ask who we are picking at pick 12, and they rattle off 3 or 4 different names. Of course it depends on who is still there (just like our best team depends on injuries), but take a punt instead of sitting on the fence!!!

I'm one of those guys Old, but look at the names you have used to fill that role. The thread asked for the best 21+1, neither 3 of those guys are in it for mine. While I didn't name him, I think PJ (at this stage while he is still listed) will play round 1.

The pleasing thing is that all teams are in the same boat, so it's going to be the same across the board.

Fair comment - I've delisted PJ and Newton is a rookie so it's between Fitzy and Martin. I've gone for Fitzy but I reckon he wont be able to play there for 22 games next year ...

B: Bartram Frawley Garland

Bruce Rivers Grimes

M: Jamar McKenzie Scully

Sylvia Moloney Davey

F: Green Watts Dunn

Bennell Jurrah Fitzpatrick

I: Trengove Morton Jones

S: Bail

My selection of 3 players in the fwd/ruck position wasn't beacuse I couldn't split them and want them all in - it's really because for one reason or another none of them are a good solution but we need to have one. The best long-term solution is most likley Fitzy so I've gone for him.

  On 12/10/2010 at 00:28, billy2803 said:

I love these threads that ask for our best 22, and people manage to add a couple extra in there - if only we could do that on game day! It's a bit like the draft boards that ask who we are picking at pick 12, and they rattle off 3 or 4 different names. Of course it depends on who is still there (just like our best team depends on injuries), but take a punt instead of sitting on the fence!!!

Alright, Billy, who are we playing and on what ground?

And for that matter, who was taken picks 1-11?

  On 12/10/2010 at 00:59, The Jacks said:

FB: Bartram, Frawley, Garland

HB: Grimes, Rivers, Bruce

C: Davey, McKenzie, Scully

HF: Sylvia, Watts, Dunn

FF: Jurrah, Petterd, Green

Fol: Jamar, Maloney, Jones

Int: Bennell, Wonaemirri, Trengove

Sub: Johnson/Morton/Bail/Macdonald

I think the substitute will add an interesting tactical element to selection/coaching this season. As is usually the case with this tactically naive and immature game, there will be lots of chopping and changing, and plenty of copying going on here.

There's a great chance to get an advantage during the game here. The sooner teams see the sub as a way to change the game (as opposed to someone being "dragged") the better.

In some games it could be great to have a back-up ruck as the sub along with someone who can fill in their and do a decent job on the bench or elsewhere on the field. If the ruckman needs a rest after too much work in the first half you could make the sub for an ineffectual player.

Barring injury, your first Ruck will never be subbed off, as you know once subbed can't return- you are loosing your first ruck for the rest of the match. In any case this would require Jamar be 'run into the ground' every week and this is a scenario we are trying to avoid.

I think teams will be all over this and the game isn't tactically naive at all. The sub will be seen as an ace up the sleeve, a possible advantage and bringing in an impact player will be the best way to take full advantage of this crap. Interesting to note alot of people have Bennell as this player. I tend to agree- as he is very pacy and illusive, and it could be argued his absence from the starting 18 is non influencial, although whilst typing this I think Wona could be a fine sub also.

Right now the player with the most intruigue must be Martin. Martin has the potential to fill a niche spot in this team and I hold out hope for him. For Martin now, he has a spot he can wholeheartedly push for. Not like before, when it was defender/forward/ruckman, he can concentrate on rucking alone to be backup to Jamar, and possibly provide a mismatch somewhere else. He is a smart kid, I feel he has it in him.

Martin possibly our "+1".... what else we got to work with?

  On 12/10/2010 at 01:04, daveytrain1 said:

Well you do realize that he would only play 30 - 40% in the ruck.. And with petterd back we have 3 marking forwards... Green, Jurrah and Petterd.. (hopefully 4 if Watts gets up and about) If Dunn isn't there half the time, we should be able to cover him... Its better then wasting a spot in the team for someone like you suggested in Martin.

Fair point regarding getting Petterd back. However, I wouldn't want Dunn contesting in the ruck for 30%-40% of game time. As I've said in another thread, Martin doesn't exactly thrill me. Fact is, Bailey wants a tall forward with a bit of size to pinch in the ruck now and again so Jamar can rest occassionally. I suppose I'm looking at an interim solution until we get one capable of holding this position or until a Fitzy comes on. We didn't see much of Martin last year. But maybe we will in 2011.

PS. I see Spencer as maybe more of a Jamar understudy. Haven't forgotten Gawn, but he needs games and development at Casey.

Bartram Frawely Rivers

Bruce Macdonald Garland

Davey Jones Scully

Pettered Dunn Watts

Jurrah Green Wonna

Jamar Moloney Sylvia

Int: Trengove Bail Grimes

Sub: One of Bennell, McKenzie, Gysberts or PJ

This was a pretty hard side to pick, especially considering the 3 & 1 sub. The team I choose was to fit team balance best, however I have a bit of concern over not having a substantial second ruckman/forward in the starting 21. Would have loved to fit all of Bennell, McKenzie and Bail in the one side but simply didn't see room for all them. If I was to play Bennell it'd be as a floating half forward/ high flanker in an effort to create space for Green to lead into.

Good to see some tackling machines in the side, and lien the idea of having a fully fit Wonna down in the forward line, both the physical preassure and percieved pressure he creates in the forward line is something we've missed since Flash moved to the link up man role.

B- MacDonald Frawley Garland

HB- Grimes Rivers Bartram

C- Moloney Bruce Scully

HF- Sylvia Watts Dunn

F- Jurrah Green Petterd

Fol- Jamar, Davey, Jones

Int: Trengove, McKenzie, Wonaeamirri,sub- Gysberts

The problem here is that every year we have someone shoot up and take over a position when nobody saw them coming. How can you accurately pick a side for the coming season when we're going to see a Straus, Blease, Gysberts or Tapscott burst onto the scene and suddenly be the new gun? At the moment we have so much depth and so many super talented young players I don't think it's possible to pick even half the side accurately.

Going through all these teams, i'm already freaking out about how the hell we are going to be able to hold onto all these players... Not to mention pick 12 this yr, plus Jack Viney (fingers crossed) the following yr. The club has been pretty gutsy by gonig the full youth policy, and i for one think it will pay off. Was probably a blessing in disguise missing out on Hale. How many of you would have put him in your team??? Maybe he might have got in this yr, but next yr i reckon he would be GAWN!!!

Indeed.

Debating the 21st position may well be futile - I have Dunn and you have Wonna. I think there's a role for a specialist defensive forward and Dunn may have found his niche there because he has height and he is a real scoring threat. It's a straightforward role for him. I don't like Dunn as fwd-ruck because we would be relying on him as a marking target in that role (although Petterd could fill the defensive forward role as some posters have suggested).

One tiny consideration is with Fitzy and Dunn if something happens to Jamar early in the game they can then share the rucking as safety net. It's going to get very ugly very fast against say Freo or Collingwood if Jamar gets injured and it's all up to Fitzy (it would still not be pretty I admit).

  On 13/10/2010 at 05:54, Peanuts said:

I reckon the PS will be vital as players sort themselves out. But what you'd have to believe is that the FD will have to make some hard decisions as they try and achieve the catch cry of "games together".

"Games together" to me implies "games together in the preferred structure" that's why I'm big on the fwd-ruck. The FD tipped their hand dropping PJ and promoting Newton at the end of the season and then chasing Hale. It's the way they believe it needs to work and anything less is half treading water.

MFC Round 14 2011

Currently 9 wins 5 looses, 4th on the ladder

Most improved so far: Blease, Morton, Jetta

Goalkickers: Green 48 Jurrah 40 Petterd 29 Wonaeamirri 26

Brownlow Votes: Grimes 14 Sylvia 13 Davey 12 Blease 10 Jurrah 9

AA: Jurrah Grimes Frawley Sylvia Garland

Jetta Rivers Bruce

Grimes Frawley Garland

Morton Trengove Blease

Sylvia Watts Petterd

Jurrah Green Wonaeamirri

Jamar Davey Scully Spencer/Martin

Moloney Bail Bennell Jones Gysberts MacDonald Strauss