http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/113630/default.aspx

set to miss 4 to 6 weeks

Terrible suggestion.

If someone gets injured, your substitute plan is up-ended.

If a runner like Bail went down, you'd need to replace him with Newton and you'd have too many talls.

You can't use the sub to cover such a specialist position like the ruck.

I think we have enough runners in the team to cover that situation.

Newton could also go forward to cover pettard, etc.

[censored], I have Jamar in my SC team and have made two trades this week!

Why make both your changes before the teams are announced???

Why make both your changes before the teams are announced???

I made mine but I don't have time to make them later in the week, plus they are players that are 100% going to play.

We cannot go into a game without at least one player who can at least pretend to be a ruckman (ie: not Dunn or Newton). Newton might be useful backup but there has to be a ruckman. So, if Martin ends up ok, it's Martin +1. If Martin is out, it's Gawn +1. I don't care a whole lot if Newton comes in as backup or if we improvise with whatever we've got, but we can't start a game without a ruckman. We have to be ambitious and aim high. Yes, I know we're not in our 'window' but neither was Shane Warne in his first test.

re: Gawn's 'readiness' - how much more ready were/are the GCS ruckmen?

Zach Smith - 94kg 204cm

Max Gawn - 208cm 107kg

How old is Smith? Am I right in suggesting he's 21 or so? Or am I thinking of Dixon?

How old is Smith? Am I right in suggesting he's 21 or so? Or am I thinking of Dixon?

Both 21.

I reckon Gawn should play. He's been ok for Casey 1's and was really only been sent back to the 2's because of the enourmous number of talls we have been trying to squeeze in this year (i.e. both Spencer AND Martin AND Fitzpatrick last week).

We gave Spencer a run at 19y.o. I reckon it would be great to see the big fella run out. And probably wouldn't be great for the confidence if Newton or Dunn were given first ruck duties ahead of him. He'd murder them both at the hit-outs.

what about fitzpatrick?

btw, in denial and egyptians, post of the year

what about fitzpatrick?

btw, in denial and egyptians, post of the year

Injured.

boo.

im tall, ill play in the ruck

boo.

im tall, ill play in the ruck

A sound theory and generous offer but I'm leaning towards Gawn

A sound theory and generous offer but I'm leaning towards Gawn

I looked up how big Sandi is, Gawn's still 14kg short of him. But once he chunks that on (he's still only 19!) he's going to be an absolute monster to handle, very Sandilands-esque.

My guess is Newton will be asked to ruck with Dunn if Martin is injured.

If Martin is 'fit' then I thinkNewton will help him out.

If it were my decision I would bring in Gawn, but I can understand why some players would prefer to see Newton get a run as he has been working hard for Casey.

The players comment is my own belief that they would question the merits of bringing in a 19 raw rookie (or wookie) from the Casey Seconds.

My guess is Newton will be asked to ruck with Dunn if Martin is injured.

If Martin is 'fit' then I thinkNewton will help him out.

If it were my decision I would bring in Gawn, but I can understand why some players would prefer to see Newton get a run as he has been working hard for Casey.

The players comment is my own belief that they would question the merits of bringing in a 19 raw rookie (or wookie) from the Casey Seconds.

I don't want Newton to help anyone out with anything. Ever.

If Martin is OK he will surely play, but that to me doesn't necessarily stop Max getting a game and for them to share the duties. The question then becomes whether we lose too much run, but since North isn't such a good running/spread team, I would go Gawn and Martin.

I don't want Newton to help anyone out with anything. Ever.

If Martin is OK he will surely play, but that to me doesn't necessarily stop Max getting a game and for them to share the duties. The question then becomes whether we lose too much run, but since North isn't such a good running/spread team, I would go Gawn and Martin.

I am with you.

I have been saying this is a development year - then we use this too develop who we think can provide something in our flag push.

Hence Gawn and Martin.

But footy teams and clubs have to balance that I am realising (as we over balanced recently) and therefore I think Martin and Newton will be given the go-ahead.

Great opportunity for Martin.

Amazing opportunity really. Can get himself a contract on a months hard work.

Play Gawn and Martin. History favours the brave. It also looks unkindly on the foolish. Maybe flip a coin.

I made mine but I don't have time to make them later in the week, plus they are players that are 100% going to play.

Haha 100% going to play?? Isn't such a thing, what about an injury at training? But I know what you mean, if you cant make them later in the week better now then never!

All good LDC, i probably get asked something on this every other day at work. Proprioception is our knowledge of where are body parts are in space. Our brain processes information from the ligaments that direct it to where it is. That is if you bend your knee to 90 degrees, or if someone(thing) else bends your knee to 90 degrees your brain still knows where it is and therefor can compute which muscles and with how much is required to straighten it.

So when a ligament is torn the information doesn't get sent, so a piece of the puzzle is missing. Other ligaments/soft tissues can overcome the lack of input. This is premise of retraining your 'balance' after a leg injury, like standing on a wobble board. Some people are naturally gifted in this area and not much retraining is needed, others need loads of it to overcome a knee or ankle injury

Thanks mate for your explanation. My apologies for not replying sooner, but this is the first chance I've had to check. I guess I should have concentrated more when I studied anatomy and physiology (obviously badly).

Haha 100% going to play?? Isn't such a thing, what about an injury at training? But I know what you mean, if you cant make them later in the week better now then never!

Yeah, I know, they were Jolly for Ryder and Grimes for Pratt though. Barring a training accident, they were going to play (and did).

The question is this week....tossing up trading Rioli for Issac Smith and then Tarrant for Fisher, or Tapscott or Matera for a Buddy or somesuch.