A lot of posters picking Couch. Has he been upgraded from the rookie list yet?

I think a few outsmart themselves when doing a positional 22. I think we need around 10 mids to rotate through the middle and I can see Couch being apart of that for Rd 1.

Key Backs (5) - Frawley, Garland, Grimes, Rivers, and Batram.

Key Forwards (5) - Clark, Davey, Green, Martin, and Watts.

Ruck (1) - Jamar

Mids/Rotation players (10) - Moloney, Magner, Trengove, Jones, Bate (FWD), Sylvia (FWD), McKenzie, Bail (DEF), Petterd (FWD), and Couch.

WTF??? - Sylvia old boy might find it a little difficult - apart from being suspended for round 1 that injury he copped against Port might hold him back for 4-5 weeks.

So you may have "outsmarted" yourself.

WTF??? - Sylvia old boy might find it a little difficult - apart from being suspended for round 1 that injury he copped against Port might hold him back for 4-5 weeks.

So you may have "outsmarted" yourself.

I have, I should have known I would be the only one capable of doing so...

If you have condemned Davey, Dunn should be a vacant lot by now.

I'm losing patience with Aaron, but Dunn has nothing but half a season a few years ago to fall back on.

I have no idea what Bail is doing on that list...

I'm hardly going to defend Dunn, but 22 sposts need to be filled and he was one of them. I'm not fussed if he plays every game at Casey. But I'm not fussed by a number of players. He has a knack of bobbing up and kicking goals when they're needed, but yeah, he does precious little else.

I knew Bail would be a bone of contention to some and I've previously admired his grunt and pace, but he took a step back last year and even what I've seen in the NAB has done little for me. My bet is that he'll struggle to get games this year. He just lacks class and players like Magner and Couch are better clearance players. Bail's best bet is as a tagger.

We'll see how it unfolds.

.

I think a few outsmart themselves when doing a positional 22. I think we need around 10 mids to rotate through the middle and I can see Couch being apart of that for Rd 1.

Key Backs (5) - Frawley, Garland, Grimes, Rivers, and Batram.

Key Forwards (5) - Clark, Davey, Green, Martin, and Watts.

Ruck (1) - Jamar

Mids/Rotation players (10) - Moloney, Magner, Trengove, Jones, Bate (FWD), Sylvia (FWD), McKenzie, Bail (DEF), Petterd (FWD), and Couch.

At risk of compromising my like tag

This is the sort of post I do like

Flexibility and rotation recognised to put the inform players in the side.

With Fat Tony giving some indication of who they might match up against its a considered structure.

Of Course may not fit with the playing strategy and I think we need a few games to see how that transpires. Still plenty to like!!!

GO DEES

I knew Bail would be a bone of contention to some and I've previously admired his grunt and pace, but he took a step back last year and even what I've seen in the NAB has done little for me. My bet is that he'll struggle to get games this year. He just lacks class and players like Magner and Couch are better clearance players. Bail's best bet is as a tagger.

I think a few players 'took a step back last year'...

I like Bail's run and his ability to get the footy in both contested and uncontested situations - he runs to the right places.

He is neat more than classy but we don't have much class for him to compete with and that is why I think he will play AFL most of the year.

Bail is a definate starter IMO, particularly given the slow pace of our midfield. He also has the flexibility to play back and forward.

I thought he had a good start to 2011 before being injured.

ill eat my hat if blease doesnt play.....any takers?

ill eat my hat if blease doesnt play.....any takers?

A Homberger with the lot? Would you like fries with that?

getting back to rd 1, i think Jamar will be eating a leunberger this weekend

On paper we weren't to bad in the nab cup. We had two wins and three losses. one close loss and two blowouts.

I'm looking forward the game on Saturday.

I expect Neeld to pick fittest blokes available.

getting back to rd 1, i think Jamar will be eating a leunberger this weekend

boom tish! I hope you are right... I would like to see us jump out of the blocks with early goals and not let up for the entire four quarters - show no mercy!

I think a few players 'took a step back last year'...

I like Bail's run and his ability to get the footy in both contested and uncontested situations - he runs to the right places.

He is neat more than classy but we don't have much class for him to compete with and that is why I think he will play AFL most of the year.

I know what you like about Bail and to a degree I share those sentiments. However, he torches too many disposals for my liking. As I said, I'd have Couch and Magner in the team before Bail.

I think I'd like to see Tynan get a game this weekend, probably has shown enough to warrant it.

getting back to rd 1, i think Jamar will be eating a leunberger this weekend

If Jamar can beat Leunberger we will be well on our way. he was very dangerous up forward against us at the 'G last time so Sellar may get the job on the mobile resting ruckman who goes forward.

Brisbane do go in hard at the contest, but if we can match that, we should beat them around the ground.

Like rfpc's idea .

Here is my take:

Back Zone - Sellar, Garland, Bennell, Rivers, and Bail .

Back line match up - Frawley (Longer),

Mids (Rotation players) - Moloney, Magner, Trengove, Jones, Bate, Green, McKenzie.

Forward Zone - Clark, Davey, Howe, Martin, and Petterd.

At large - Jamar, Watts

Tagger - Bartram (Black)

Sub: Grimes

We have been a side that regularly struggles to kick over 12 goals a game. With Jurrah & Silvia missing thats an average of 3 goals less a game that we need to find. Can we kick a winning score this week?

The forwards just need to work together more coherently. Too many occasions where all of the fowards jump at the ball, with the usual result being a collision between the players and a dropped mark...

Let Clark be the focal point, and if he is being double teamed, kick it to another forward. Not really rocket science is it?

Does anyone know why the game is scheduled to start at the odd time of 1:45?

edit: ah, presumably so Fox can show the next match live etc.

The forwards just need to work together more coherently. Too many occasions where all of the fowards jump at the ball, with the usual result being a collision between the players and a dropped mark...

Let Clark be the focal point, and if he is being double teamed, kick it to another forward. Not really rocket science is it?

This helps but the problem over the past 2 matches we couldn't get the footy enough and get it inside our forward 50m arc it is the same problem we have had for the past 4 years, we need to find a way to get the ball inside our forward 50m 55+ times per game. No point have Clark in the square if we can't get the footy to him.

This is the concern I have for this year, we talk about having big body's in our midfield, that's great but big Body's don't usually carry the footy, we have limited number players that can run with the footy and hit targets. Sylvia is one, Davey and Blease are two others Bail and Nicho fill one critera but not the other more important one.

If we can beat Brisbane this week, Neeld will achieve somthing that hasn't been achieved since 2005 - that's coach the Melbourne Football Club to victory in the opening round of the season.

Bloody stoked to have the footy back this week. It's been a long preseason (they seem to get longer every year!), with a number of highs and lows, and that's just on Demonland!

Go Demons!!!

This is the team that I think Neeld will pick for this week

B : Bartram , Garland , Rivers

HB: Grimes , Frawley , Blease

C : Watts , Trengove , Bate

HF: Petterd , Martin , Green

F : Howe , Clark , Davey

R : Jamar , Moloney , Jones

I/C: Magner , Couch , Sellar

SUB: Tapscott

Unlucky : Gysberts , Bail , Tynan , McKenzie

To come into the side when fit : Jurrah , Sylvia .

Blease is on the HBF because of his run . He may be needed across half forward to give the team some pace there .

Sellar on the bench for a few reasons . He may be used in rotations with Martin , Garland , Jamar and Rivers . And we need to start picking a taller side to get ready for the good teams (Eagles the week after) . 3 talls in the backline vs Brisbane will probably be enough but there's going to be some tired players come 3/4 time (being round 1) and a fresh(ish) tall could be very handy in the last quarter .

Not even sure that Couch has been elevated yet but given Neeld's want for grunt and Tom's pre-season form I reckon he's a real chance to play this week .

Cheers

This is the team that I think Neeld will pick for this week

B : Bartram , Garland , Rivers

HB: Grimes , Frawley , Blease

C : Watts , Trengove , Bate

HF: Petterd , Martin , Green

F : Howe , Clark , Davey

R : Jamar , Moloney , Jones

I/C: Magner , Couch , Sellar

SUB: Tapscott

Unlucky : Gysberts , Bail , Tynan , McKenzie

To come into the side when fit : Jurrah , Sylvia .

Blease is on the HBF because of his run . He may be needed across half forward to give the team some pace there .

Sellar on the bench for a few reasons . He may be used in rotations with Martin , Garland , Jamar and Rivers . And we need to start picking a taller side to get ready for the good teams (Eagles the week after) . 3 talls in the backline vs Brisbane will probably be enough but there's going to be some tired players come 3/4 time (being round 1) and a fresh(ish) tall could be very handy in the last quarter .

Not even sure that Couch has been elevated yet but given Neeld's want for grunt and Tom's pre-season form I reckon he's a real chance to play this week .

Cheers

RB I doubt Grimes and Tapscott will play this weeknd.

Grimes played effectively his first game in a month and then only half a game.

Tapscott played his first game in the pre season.

I think both will be a Casey this weekend.

I don't get the love for Couch and Magner in this thread. I've seen them be good grunt players but neither have yet to do anything at all classy. Putting both in would be silly IMO. Couch is very slow and would struggle to keep up with McLean. He couldn't break away at Casey let alone senior level. Gysberts is much more of a chance.

I like Tynan but he's nowhere near senior selection. He does nice things and he's hard but he needs an apprenticeship.

Interesting that Bail played predominately as a pressure forward on Saturday and for all I like him he's in the 18 to 26th best player at the moment and will need to take his chance when it comes. McKenzie has only played 5 quarters of footy this year and didn't play Saturday. He has to be doubtful.

RB I doubt Grimes and Tapscott will play this weeknd.

Grimes played effectively his first game in a month and then only half a game.

Tapscott played his first game in the pre season.

I think both will be a Casey this weekend.

Fair points OD , but Tappy as a sub should be ok and you need a bit of mongrel in the side . I reckon that Neeld will want Grimes out there . He has made him co captain and may want him in the team for this reason alone . I reckon he only played half a game for Casey to give him a bit of a run . Also , the team I picked is the one I think Neeld will pick . I'd probably have Tynan in there for Davey .

We need to inject some new players into the team . The previous group have been found wanting . We'll find out soon enough .

Cheers

Edited March 26, 201213 yr by Macca