I agree to push the panic button now would be counter productive. The players are playing with a losing gameplan. Let's try and make it work at least until the end of the year when there will have to be wholesale changes.

In the meantime we should reward excellence and at least pick players who are exhibiting consistent skills. The worse part of Thursday's performance was our sub standard skills when this was supposed to be the basis of our whole recruiting drive over the last three years. The other issue is intensity. This is not even close to Melbourne at it's best last year.

On this basis, I would drop Bartrum on the basis of substandard skills, and Morton, Dunn, and Bennell on the basis of lCk of intensity, and bring in Nicholson for his first game on the basis of two BOG games at Casey (if we can find an excuse to promote him from the rookie list), Newton, Bate and Pettard. If Nicholson can't be promoted I would bring in Tom McDonald. Alternatively, put Bennell to the, backline where he has played well before, and promote Pettard, Newton and Bate.

I must say writing this doesn't fill me with confidence. Newton and Bate have both been tried before and were found wanting. I'd prefer to see Lucas Cook and/or Jeremy Howe there, but neither Re anywhere near ready yet.

  On 01/05/2011 at 13:01, Go the Biff said:

Quality stuff from the two above.

OK - Dunn out for Bate. Dunn is not working hard enough. We are getting little offensively & if he is there as a defensive forward, why isn't he racking up tackles ? Squib - out.

Bate in, not because of the 6 goals but because he worked hard up & down the ground for Casey. Actually presented as though he wanted the ball kicked to him which none of our lot are doing. OK, they were playing against witches hats but he put in the effort.

Warnock in. I'm no fan but the Crows have a number of talls in McKernan, Walker & Tippet. Grimes at around 6 ft will be found out again as he was against the Eagles talls.

I'd like to see Frawley move up the ground & take Grimes running back role. Grimes to move into the midfield to help with clearances. To accommodate that we turf out a mid. Bennell or Morton - don't care which one

If Tapscott gets a week, Joel MacDonald comes in. He is a bit of a butcher but he puts in & has a strongish body.

In : shepherds, blocks, gut-running, head over the ball, holding your position

Out : midfield cheating, refusing to present, one way running, slipped tackles, hailing cabs

I want to beat the Crows. But more than that, I want to see this group prepared to do the 1%ers that good teams take as non negotiable

Davey as sub. He is turning into Kane Cornes, running round blokes who actually get the ball, looking for cheap kicks. Needs a kick in the arse.

Most sensible suggestion yet......but Cale Morton must go also. Petterd hasn't been great at Casey, but honestly how could he be worse than Morton. Competitive vigour is what we are lacking, and I've always thought Ricky has it.

Those who are questioning Stef Martin's value.....just head scratching stuff. He has been excellent this year, which means forgetting Thursday (for everyone), he has runs on the board.

  On 01/05/2011 at 20:38, Webber said:

Most sensible suggestion yet......but Cale Morton must go also. Petterd hasn't been great at Casey, but honestly how could he be worse than Morton. Competitive vigour is what we are lacking, and I've always thought Ricky has it.

Those who are questioning Stef Martin's value.....just head scratching stuff. He has been excellent this year, which means forgetting Thursday (for everyone), he has runs on the board.

Could not agree more Webber, Martin has had four good games before Thursday He was one of the better ones against the hawks.

He had a lot of mates on Thursday.

Green and Davey have not played as well as him so far this year!

  On 01/05/2011 at 05:24, Davey said:

OUT: Morton, Dunn

IN: MacDonald, Bate

Bate straight swap for Dunn; self explanatory.

MacDonald in for Morton, allowing Grimes to move to a midfield role to give us a better chance of clearances and harder tackling around the middle.

I like this suggestion. I'd also swap Wonna and Bennell for Maric and Petterd. Not because I think either has torn it up at Casey, just because I feel like we need more competition for spots to encourage the desperation that has been sorely lacking from the playing group. Wonna and Bennell don't bring the intensity required at the moment - Wonna peters out after a quarter and Bennell has never shown it at all.

On watch are Davey, Green, Frawley and Jurrah.

  On 02/05/2011 at 00:17, Deemolition said:

I like this suggestion. I'd also swap Wonna and Bennell for Maric and Petterd. Not because I think either has torn it up at Casey, just because I feel like we need more competition for spots to encourage the desperation that has been sorely lacking from the playing group. Wonna and Bennell don't bring the intensity required at the moment - Wonna peters out after a quarter and Bennell has never shown it at all.

On watch are Davey, Green, Frawley and Jurrah.

I agree on one hand with the suggestion that you play the same 22 to throw the gauntlet out to them. However, the reality is that there are members of that 22 who don't deserve their spots, and I don't think they should have spots they don't deserve.

In: Bate, MacDonald (If Tappy suspended), Warnock

Out: Bennell, Tapscott (if suspended), Dunn

Green has so many runs on the board that he must be allowed to work through his form slump. He should spend more time in the middle just trying to regain touch.

Agree with the suggestion to make Davey a sub - I think that's a really good mix between giving him a sting and an opportunity.

I think we have to persevere with Morton for the moment, and I think he will continue to improve.

  On 30/04/2011 at 10:37, Nasher said:

The sad thing is that we played what I believe was our best available 22 against West Coast. You guys can all drop Bennell, Wona and Gysberts if you want but it's not exactly striking at the heart of the issue is it? This is just stuffing around with 0.1%ers - the real problems with this side can't be addressed by shuffling around the 18th-21st players. The real "problem players" were our senior ones - Green, Moloney, Davey and Sylvia specifically, and since there's no chance they'll be dropped then I'd forget about trying to solve our problems with team selection.

It doesn't mean I wouldn't make changes, but I agree with the gist of this.

Making X team selection isn't our panacea.

Wholesale changes needed as a message that the performance given on Thursday is completely unacceptable and will be punishable by exclusion.

IN: Bate, Petterd, Warnock, Jetta, Maric, Newton, J.Mcdonald

Out: Morton, Frawley, Gysberts, Tapscott(sus), Dunn, Rivers, Martin

BB: Bartram, WARNOCK, Grimes

HB: Sylvia, Garland, Green

C: Bail, Trengove, Davey

HF: BATE, Watts, Bennell

FF: Wona, Jurrah, PETTERD

FOL: Jamar, Moloney, Jones

Int: MARIC, JETTA, J.MCDONALD, NEWTON(sub)

Yes, I am serious.

I'd be very tempted to make it no change, draw a line in the sand for the players and inform that that every one of them is on notice and if there is no turnaround, changes will be swift and brutal.

I could certainly find plenty of players who deserve to be dropped this week. Problem is there are just too many of them. Making an example of some but not others might send the wrong message

One game - shape up or be shipped out

failing that approach In: Bate, possibly Petterd Out: Dunn, Morton

Any more than three changes is basically handing the victory to the crows, this has been proven time and time again for all clubs over the past few years.

So as one who believes we can easily be 3-2-1 and firmly in the eight after next weekend despite the completely inept performance of the team over the start of the season, the changes should be limited to those who have a thirst for the contest.

Ins: Joel Mac & Ricky P

Outs: Morton & Bennell

That said I think Bailey will make only one change out Dunn in Bate.

Go in small against the crows on a dry day at your own peril. I don't think they can leave the side the same, would simply be repeating last weeks mistake.

Bring in Nicholson for Morton; showed some zip and didnt shirk a physical contest in the twos. Also Bate for Dunn and possibly Spencer for Bennell - there is no doubt Spencer and Martin can fit into the side, and IMO it could be very effective with a view to rotating all three big men through the forward line (especially Rush).

Shoot me down if you wish, but I believe Joel Macdonald is a must. Never shirks in attacking the football, and I cannot help but be inspired by his efforts when watching. Hardness was one of many things missing on Thursday night, yet is central to a team's chemistry. Perhaps J-Mac sprinting back with the flight and getting crunched could send a rocket up many players behinds to do the same.

Petterd also I believe is too skilled not to be in the team, I remember holding my breath last year as he dived recklessly into packs.

  On 01/05/2011 at 07:51, DeezMan said:

Re-shuffle of the forward line...

IN: Bate, Petterd (!!), Maric

OUT: Dunn, Wonaeamirri, Bennell

This

Morton to GWS anyone?

Interesting stat that was just on "One Week at a Time"

The Crows last week had 9 players in, who have played 20 games or less.

It really is line in the sand stuff next week and the 2 Etihad Stadium games that follow.

  On 02/05/2011 at 12:01, Bates Mate said:

This

Trouble is this is 3 fwds out, 3 fwds in. This is not addressing our problems when the ball doesn't even get into the fwd line

  On 02/05/2011 at 11:14, DeeTermination said:

possibly Spencer for Bennell - there is no doubt Spencer and Martin can fit into the side, and IMO it could be very effective with a view to rotating all three big men through the forward line (especially Rush).

Newton would be a better choice than Spencer.

  On 02/05/2011 at 12:41, Rogue said:

Newton would be a better choice than Spencer.

If Newton could actually compete at AFL level. Time and time again he has been hopeless - on the other hand the last few weeks Spencer has shown heart, been trying his guts out and it shows with his second and third efforts. Also, his contested marking and bodywork has improved greatly I think.

  On 02/05/2011 at 12:54, DeeTermination said:

If Newton could actually compete at AFL level. Time and time again he has been hopeless - on the other hand the last few weeks Spencer has shown heart, been trying his guts out and it shows with his second and third efforts. Also, his contested marking and bodywork has improved greatly I think.

it would be great to see 2nd & 3rd efforts in 2011...They were not there at all last thursday.

IN: Bate, Jetta, Joel Mac, Warnock

Out: Dunn, Morton, Gysberts, Frawley

Bate for Dunn because i thin khe'll be hungry for afl and after kicking 6 deserves a gig

Jetta in becasue for all of his downside, he atleast goes hard at contests

Joel Mac in for his hardness

Warnock in to replace chipa who, like brian lake, looks a different player to last year

In: McKenzie!?

Can't see it happening and would prefer he gets a run at Casey but given most otherm players haven't he could be a chance to slot straight in if fit

  On 02/05/2011 at 12:13, daisycutter said:

Trouble is this is 3 fwds out, 3 fwds in. This is not addressing our problems when the ball doesn't even get into the fwd line

Interesting info into days HUN.

last year the top four MFC players for laying Tackles were

Mckenzie, Mcdonald ( Jnr. ), Scully and Moloney.

2 of the four have not played a game and won't in the near future.

Mcdonald not there any longer and Molony has been doing a good job.

I would player J Mcdonald in middle just for his ability to tackle.

We are obviously doing very badly in this area.

What have we got to lose?

OK, lets go a bit 'left field' here.

We want to develop Talent - Max Gawn to the forward pocket (straight from Casey Magoos!)

Joel Mac to the backline, and Tappy to the MIDFIELD (hit em up, big fella!).

Crows have height up forward - bring in Warnock

Davey out (make him sub). Maric in.

Pettard in, Dunn out.

Newton in - Playing out of the square rotating with Jamar.

Green down back for kick ins (changes with Tappy).

We still miss some real midfield aces.

Out: Davey,Morton, Wonaemirri,

In: Petterd, Maric, Bate

  On 03/05/2011 at 00:30, Ascobar said:

In: McKenzie!?

Can't see it happening and would prefer he gets a run at Casey but given most otherm players haven't he could be a chance to slot straight in if fit

2 or 3 matches @ Casey I think. remember he got this injury because his body was overworked and broke down. He needs to let his body adjust to the tempo & intensity of the game he plays.

He can play at that level, there's no doubt, but the level of work he puts in was breaking his body.

So for me, steady and easy for Jordie, as we let him work through these adjustments.

we still need to try out a couple of lads this year.

IMO, the thing we need is more physical size and aggression. I mean big fellas, Mcdonalds size and above, Bate, but we need some weight to be used in play and in the scuffles. No backward steps, fly the flag, or these kids will learn to surrender.

* Jordie will get his go.