Not Russian! Biggest injury MFC has suffered for quite a while.

Throw Jurrah in, man has wings.

Not Russian! Biggest injury MFC has suffered for quite a while.

Throw Jurrah in, man has wings.

Hrrmm.

So we literally have 2 rucks left and they played in the VFL reserves last week... joy

Not Russian! Biggest injury MFC has suffered for quite a while.

Throw Jurrah in, man has wings.

and the rig of a 12 year old boy, sure he can jump but his 84 kilo frame jumping into someone 100 kilos + is only going to lead to another, and more likely longer term injury.

My plan is we elevate Macnamara, let him elbow both petrie and goldstein behing play, he will only be suspended for two weeks, unless he elbows them while they are on the bottom of the pack it is then deemed as fair so he wouldnt get reported, he could kick them both in the nuts aswell only cop two weeks, possibly bump them out of play and break their jaw, no weeks, but whatever we do, do not tackle them!

but the crux of it, newton, or martin would then dominate the ruck, and we would have a great combo of moloney/newton.

My plan is we elevate Macnamara, let him elbow both petrie and goldstein behing play, he will only be suspended for two weeks, unless he elbows them while they are on the bottom of the pack it is then deemed as fair so he wouldnt get reported, he could kick them both in the nuts aswell only cop two weeks, possibly bump them out of play and break their jaw, no weeks, but whatever we do, do not tackle them!

Good thinking. Macnamara though? I think MacDonald is the man for this particular structure after his various indiscretions this year.

If only we still had Pickett.

Good thinking. Macnamara though? I think MacDonald is the man for this particular structure after his various indiscretions this year.

If only we still had Pickett.

macnamara is less of a loss, playing casey magoos haha

I reckon McDonald is a smokey if Martin doesn't get up. Probably before Gawn.

Just replaced Jamar with Goldstein in my DT. Is that wrong?

So in one week that's Jamar, Spencer, Fitzpatrick and Martin... IN ONE WEEK?!!!

That's ridiculous.

No way Gawn plays. The kid just played Casey seconds. No chance.

Dunn + Martin + Watts + Rivers (if he plays) + Green all have to help with the ruck work, especially if Daw plays.

No way Gawn plays. The kid just played Casey seconds. No chance.

Dunn + Martin + Watts + Rivers (if he plays) + Green all have to help with the ruck work, especially if Daw plays.

You forgot our star backup ruckman from last year.....Sylvia B)

I still dont believe it.

In the words of the great Chester Burnett (AKA Howlin' Wolf).... "I aint superstitious, but a black cat crossed my trail".

I reckon now would be the time to drop Moloney, just to really teach him a lesson

The Herald Sun is now reporting that Martin injured his ribs on the weekend and is unlikely to line up this week.

Here's the statement:

The injury to Jamar comes on top of the loss of back-up ruckman Jake Spencer, who seriously injured his knee in the VFL on Sunday.

Another ruck option for the Dees, Stefan Martin, hurt his ribs in the same VFL game and is unlikely.

With young tall Max Gawn struggling in the VFL reserves, Melbourne may be forced to use 193cm Michael Newton in the ruck against the Roos.

So it looks like this means no Jamar, Martin, Spencer, Fitzpatrick. So we've only got Gawn and Campbell who could come in and both just played in the Casey Reserves. Could we have had any worse luck this week?

i dont get how the club didnt include it in their injury list update on the website?

Sam Blease (concussion) - test

Jack Fitzpatrick (ankle) - TBA

Jack Grimes (foot) - indefinite

Jared Rivers (ankle) - test

Tom Scully (knee) - 3-4 weeks

Jake Spencer (knee) - season

Well, we're not going to NOW, are we??

Honestly, I wonder how long it will take the neanderthals to ignore these major setbacks and start calling for Bailey's head again?

I, like Nasher, actually think this just adds an extra point of interest.

I'm really quite excited to see how we set up and how we respond.

I'd love to see Gawn play.

Precisely, Artie. As you and rpfc have alluded to, this isn't denting flag aspirations at all, so what's the issue? It might be the difference between finishing 7th and 9th this year, that's not a big deal to me. The biggest disappointment for me is that Jake Spencer isn't going to be able to cash in on such a golden opportunity as he is/was clearly the second choice first ruck.

Given that I don't think the club will consider Gawn to be ready then it's got to be Stef Martin now doesn't it? First ruck isn't the position he's been 'designed for', he's the specialist second ruck. Is he physical enough or good enough to carry the burden basically on his own? Huge opportunity for him to show everybody he is. As C&B said: time to step up, your club needs you.

Don't get me wrong, I am spewing about the Trengove thing though.

Edit: Didn't know Martin was injured. Now that is just rotten luck.

Edited May 10, 201114 yr by Nasher

The acting football operations manager was on SEN this morning and said the extent of Jamar's layoff was still to be decided.

For the next few weeks the midfield will have to be instructed to completely play off the opposition rucks, get to the ball first (not tag) and man up one-for-one at all ball-ups

In fact with effectively no rucks the play should be more predictable. Ruck tactics should be to just minimise the opportunity of opposing rucks to get the big forward punch by close body and smothering tactics

It will be interesting to see how we tackle this problem

I'd play the 3 of them. Plonk Campbell in the forward pocket, to play deep, with 2 (5 minute) stints a Qtr in the ruck.

Play Martin as the 2nd ruck, can go back if needed. Play Newton from the Goal square roaming the forward half, and going 3rd man up around the place.

Jones in to the Mids to play a role. Bail back to the wing, or to Harvey. Bring in McDonald to the back flank..

I agree if Campbell is any where near fit, although i'd be inclined to throw Max Gawn in there instead of Newton. Having seen him down at Casey several times, IMO Maxy is an outstanding tap ruckman. His rawness is more in his positioning around the ground and his inability to hold his marks, but he does get in good position for them. Although the Russian is virtually irreplaceable, where we will miss him most is at the centre bounces and feeding the clearances to Maloney. This is where Gawn shines. I'd be inclined to have him ruck most of the day around the ground, have Campbell stay most of the day upforward, and have Martin play back pocket on North's biggest forward, and take the tap work inside back 50, and be the back up on-baller as needed.

North is a tall side. We are too when we play Jamar and Martin/Campbell. I have been an advocate of in a year or so time playing Gawn at first ruck, Campbell as backup either on the interchange or substitute, and play Jamar as a high marking forward but take to taps in the front half. Maybe it is time to test this setup with Gawn, Campbell and Martin. None of these three has the engine and/or mature body of the Russian, but as a combined force I think it might surprise us. We should remember, Max Gawn is 6'8" plus. There are very few in the AFL his size. Certainly no-one at North. It wouldn't be the first time that a young, but highly promising recruit, has been thrown in the deep end even though he was not necessarily outstanding in the two's. Recently I can think of Gysbert's first three games which were outstanding even though he was not that way in the lead up at Casey.(i can also remember Nick Smith in for the injured David Neitz which was a disaster).

I don't envy the match committee on this one. There a pros and cons both ways, but i'd be inclined to back our kids (Gawn/Martin) with a dose of experience (Campbell). Campbell is a very experienced footballer. It would be interesting to know whether he believes he could make a contribution at this stage.

The other issue is Trengove's replacement. I think the options are to bring in MacDonald and play Bartrum on the ball which worked very well last week. That would be the conservative approach bringing in experience and having Clint return to his original position. He was originally recruited as an on-baller. The more radical approach would be to bring in Morton, have him play rebounding half back with Bartrum on the ball. Morton's game against the Eagle's was incipid, but he has played very well in the past. If it can be put to him to really increase his aggression at the ball, then an in-form Cale Morton would be a real plus. He is about 6'5", but can play like a medium sized player because of his speed and agility. He would add to our height also which would be an advantage against North.

Edited May 11, 201114 yr by DeesPower

For the next few weeks the midfield will have to be instructed to completely play off the opposition rucks, get to the ball first (not tag) and man up one-for-one at all ball-ups

In fact with effectively no rucks the play should be more predictable. Ruck tactics should be to just minimise the opportunity of opposing rucks to get the big forward punch by close body and smothering tactics

It will be interesting to see how we tackle this problem

I have been thinking about the same thing and i think we have a few options, these are all provided that the rib injury to martin is not going to prevent him from playing this weekend,

1) if martin is able to play, we could play a rotating ruck system, with players such as Martin, Dunn, Newton, Warnock, Sylvia, but basically just running to the fall of the ball leaving the opposition no clear jump at the ball, this has to be done carefully because if eyes are on the opponent it is a free kick. We would be really trying to run hard and create with these players, making the ruckmen accountable, and avoiding the long kickout to a one on one with say Dunn and Goldstein. We would need to be moving the ball quickly and hitting these players on the lead often due to their athletic advantage.

2) play almost 4 midfielders and try to create a secondary stoppage, this is handy as in the secondary stoppage it is more of a wrestle, and although players will probably be out wrestled by a bigger opponent, we can use the third man up effectively, with players like watts, dunn and sylvia coming in from over the side trying to get the hit out or knocking it on to space. Flaw with this is that we are basically conceding the first hit out or trying to shark the opponents hit out which is much harder to do than receiving a tap from our ruckman.

3) Give Martin and Gawn a crack together, it is not like we are coming up against Sandi or Cox and really Petrie and Goldstein are fine players, but they are not the most formidable ruck paring, so basically we just send them out to have a crack, try and break even, but really work on creating a contest, and it also means that when kicking long out of defence we have a better marking option. This also could be done with Newton as a sub, and swapped at half time, barring a serious injury, this could work as he would have fresher legs and can jump and present frocing contest and the petrie or goldstein to chase him, maybe Campbell as the sub aswell, fitness wont be there but if he plays as the sub and plays half a game he can surely run it out and provide a good contest in the ruck.

it will be interesting to see how Bails goes about it, this is really a test of his coaching and the depth to our side.

I agree if Campbell is any where near fit, although i'd be inclined to throw Max Gawn in there instead of Newton. Having seen him down at Casey several times, IMO Maxy is an outstanding tap ruckman. His rawness is more in his positioning around the ground and his inability to hold his marks, but he does get in good position for them. Although the Russian is virtually irreplaceable, where we will miss him most is at the centre bounces and feeding the clearances to Maloney. This is where Gawn shines. I'd be inclined to have him ruck most of the day around the ground, have Campbell stay most of the day upforward, and have Martin play back pocket on North's biggest forward, and take the tap work inside back 50, and be the back up on-baller as needed.

North is a tall side. We are too when we play Jamar and Martin/Campbell. I have been an advocate of in a year or so time playing Gawn at first ruck, Campbell as backup either on the interchange or substitute, and play Jamar as a high marking forward but take to taps in the front half. Maybe it is time to test this setup with Gawn, Campbell and Martin. None of these three has the engine and/or mature body of the Russian, but as a combined force I think it might surprise us. We should remember, Max Gawn is 6'8" plus. There are very few in the AFL his size. Certainly no-one at North. It wouldn't be the first time that a young, but highly promising recruit, has been thrown in the deep end even though he was not necessarily outstanding in the two's. Recently I can think of Gysbert's first three games which were outstanding even though he was not that way in the lead up at Casey.(i can also remember Nick Smith in for the injured David Neitz which was a disaster).

I don't envy the match committee on this one. There a pros and cons both ways, but i'd be inclined to back our kids (Gawn/Martin) with a dose of experience (Campbell). Campbell is a very experienced footballer. It would be interesting to know whether he believes he could make a contribution at this stage.

The other issue is Trengove's replacement. I think the options are to bring in MacDonald and play Bartrum on the ball which worked very well last week. That would be the conservative approach bringing in experience and having Clint return to his original position. He was originally recruited as an on-baller. The more radical approach would be to bring in Morton, have him play rebounding half back with Bartrum on the ball. Morton's game against the Eagle's was incipid, but he has played very well in the past. If it can be put to him to really increase his aggression at the ball, then an in-form Cale Morton would be a real plus. He is about 6'5", but can play like a medium sized player because of his speed and agility. He would add to our height also which would be an advantage against North.

i don't think Gawn is ready for this level yet. he has to play casey seniors and play well enough on a consistent basis first, particularly as Newton and perhapds martin are available and have experience. now is not the time to introduce a green Gawn.

Can those with the knowledge let us know who we can actually pick for the team.

My recollection is that a rookie elevation requires a long term injury.

We only have two LTI's Grimes and Spencer, so can we elevate 2 rookies?

The rookies who are possible picks in the current climate are Juice, Campbell and Evans.

If so and given a knee may take longer than 4 weeks I'd go with the experienced ruckman in the first instance (campbell)and the mature forward (Juice).

Anyway this falls will require some careful thought by the selectors.

Gawn has to play, especially if Martin is unavailable. Campbell had his first hitout with Casey 2's last week and won't be fit enough. Gawn has been ok with Casey and was only dropped to the seconds last week because the SME was dropped and took his place. Can't go in without a first ruck while a 208cm behemoth runs around for Casey.