Changes for Round 5 vs St Kilda

[dee-luded 2,959]

Bit hard on Tom McDonald. The only way he'll become an AFL footballer is getting him up to the speed of the game and its wrong for anyone to blame him for our 'backline problems'. He's played a total of five games.

Sending him back to Casey will just give him an easier time without learning the pace of AFL and what's required.

No Maurie he's looks to be tapering down atmo, may need a spell.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Out: McDonald, Macdonald and someone.

In Sylvia, Grimes and Davis

I'd love to bring Strauss back ASP to get some decent disposal into the backline, but I don't think he's ready yet. Give him at least one game at Casey to find his feet again.

Sellar seems to be a popular choice for the third out. I can go with that as much for balance as for form. We are too tall and need to get a few more running players into the side.

If Mitch Clark is out because of his neck, Martin comes in to play the same role. He won't take the marks, but at least he'll get in there and fly at the high ball.

Did you see what happened to Gary Rohan today? The same as Strauss's break. It's a serious injury, 7 takes time to become up to full strength. I hope they let him play quite a few games at Casey without the High pressure of AFL which may put him in too desperate a position, too soon.

His leg will still be adjusting & still growing around the damaged site, especially with the extra loads of full contact footy, Kicking, jumping twisting etc. More than training loads.

If he's still getting some soreness around the old wound, let him stay at Casey were there is a bit less pressure. His leg bones will still be adjusting...

Davis next hopefully.

[w00dy 146]

Out: J. Macdonald, T. McDonald, L. Dunn, J. Sellar/M. Clark

In: C. Sylvia, R. Petterd, J. Grimes, S. Martin

Troy Davis very close, Couch not far away either.

[Guest José Mourinho]

Is Stef Martin fit though?

He had a hip complaint and missed a week, then last week looked like he came back too early.

Just throwing it out there.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,105]

Did you see what happened to Gary Rohan today? The same as Strauss's break. It's a serious injury, 7 takes time to become up to full strength. I hope they let him play quite a few games at Casey without the High pressure of AFL which may put him in too desperate a position, too soon.

His leg will still be adjusting & still growing around the damaged site, especially with the extra loads of full contact footy, Kicking, jumping twisting etc. More than training loads.

If he's still getting some soreness around the old wound, let him stay at Casey were there is a bit less pressure. His leg bones will still be adjusting...

Davis next hopefully.

I hadn't heard about Rohan. Really bad news. He was just starting to find his feet.

I agree with you that rushing back from a broken leg would be a bad thing. Nathan Brown on the radio said earlier in the week that he came back too soon and it pretty well ruined what was left of his career. It's just so frustrating to see so many bad kicks coming out of our back half.

[bing181 9,425]

Out: J. Macdonald, T. McDonald, L. Dunn, J. Sellar/M. Clark

In: C. Sylvia, R. Petterd, J. Grimes, S. Martin

No way we'll make all those changes when according to Neeld we're improving. We need stability as much as anything. Grimes and Sylvia in, one or both of the Mc/MacDonalds out - unless there are other injuries.

Shame there wasn't a Casey game, perhaps Fitzpatrick for Sellar.

[adsy 145]

and kept murphy to 6 touches in the second half?

Finally, someone who understands footy! Whilst I'm not a big Dunn fan, Murphy absolutely slaughtered us during the 1st half. Dunn's job was to keep Murphy quiet in the 2nd half and he did exactly that. Whilst he spent most of the half mouthing off and acting like a "muppet" it seemed to work as Murphy was much less effective than the 1st half where Davey just let him do what he wanted.

I have no doubt Neeld will keep him in the side for next week.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Out: Dunn McDonald MacDonald Sellar

In: Sylvia Grimes Couch Fitzpatrick

Let's face it, the season is shot four rounds in. Time to see what a few can do. Fitzy and Couch in for debuts.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

Out: Dunn, McDonald, Macdonald

In: Grimes, Sylvia, Couch

Sylvia and Grimes are both automatic inclusions, and Couch really deserves a shot after his NAB Cup and VFL performances.

[dee-tox 4,835]

Why is Bartram escaping the axe? Bloke (Dalhuis) who's played 15 games flogged him.

OUT: MacDonald, McDonald, Bartram, Sellar, Dunn.

IN: Sylvia, Grimes, Martin, Petterd and a backman who can kick a ball to a team mate from 15 metres.

[dees189227 12,453]

Tom couch must come in. Mitch Clark tweeted he is fine so he wont miss. I like to see Pettard back but if Sylvia is fit then definitely bring him back. Morton should be dropped for that ridicolous handball he couldnt do in the last quarter.

[Guest Deefence]

Why is Bartram escaping the axe? Bloke (Dalhuis) who's played 15 games flogged him.

This would be the same Bartram who only played on Daly when he was in the forward 50, and otherwise played tight on Djerrkura? He seems to be getting the rough end of the stick this week.....

In: Sylvia, Grimes, Martin, Couch

Out: Sellar, Joel Mac, Magner, Tommy Mc

[Nasher 33,617]

Out: Macdonald, Dunn

In: Grimes, Sylvia

Pretty simple explanation: two automatic 22 players in, and our worst two players on the day out. I can't see us bringing in mass change this week.

Tom Mc had a game to forget, but I think we need to persist at this stage.

[dee-luded 2,959]

I hadn't heard about Rohan. Really bad news. He was just starting to find his feet.

I agree with you that rushing back from a broken leg would be a bad thing. Nathan Brown on the radio said earlier in the week that he came back too soon and it pretty well ruined what was left of his career. It's just so frustrating to see so many bad kicks coming out of our back half.

I had the exact same break from glancing a car on my motor bike.

My Tibia was in 3 pieces. Fibula, a cleaner break.

Many years later, at footy training, I was getting quite fit & drilling the ball at training...After many weeks, I started getting sore.

Xray showed no problem.

Later, on I ended up having a Scan. Stress fractures appearing around the old break...

It's good he's got straight back to training, the loads IMO will do him good with the bone adjusting to the loads & trying to strengthen itself whee needed.

But, take it slowly this Year... Some senior games, but only a few, IMO. For what it's worth.

[Ouch! 2,269]

.... I am stunned that in two pages of ins and outs, I can't recall anyone saying Morton or Davey's name. I am not suggesting they should go, but it's funny what one week of football does

Incidentally...

Ins: Grimes, Sylvia

Out: MacDonald, Clark (if injured, else Tom McDonald)

[Craig Drinker 179]

It's bewildering to say the least, those on here calling for Bartram to be dropped!!! It would be hard to find a more courageous,harder working player in the lineup.

He makes his opponent earn every kick and I gaurantee whilst he continues to play like that he WONT be dropped by the selection committee.( move on to a new whipping boy.)

Couple of observations on Jack Watts from yesterdays game.He started well and attacked the ball hard early doors, then it was almost as though his thinking was "Right, I've done enough to get a game next week" and all of a sudden he gave up taking the front position and attacking the ball hard.Second efforts were very rare after this point.

He should watch the game video and check out the work ethic on Dalhouse(not sure of the spelling) and attempt to emulate his efforts next week.

On the upside, he has the potential to be a superstar of the AFL if he can get his attitude/desire up to the required level.He has speed, good hands, incredible vision ,he's a good mark and good kicking skills.

How far he progresses is all up to him.

Might be worth getting Blease back in to the team as we miss the legspeed and run and carry.

[Nasher 33,617]

Couple of observations on Jack Watts from yesterdays game.He started well and attacked the ball hard early doors, then it was almost as though his thinking was "Right, I've done enough to get a game next week" and all of a sudden he gave up taking the front position and attacking the ball hard.Second efforts were very rare after this point.

I really doubt that Jack thinks that he's done enough. I think a more plausible explanation is that he's just plain old buggered and can't keep it up due to that. His inability to run out games very early on is well documented, and while I expect it's significantly improved thanks to solid pre-seasons, I doubt it's where it needs to be. If that's true then it comes as no surprise to me that his first halves are always better than his second halves as they have been this year.

Just needs to keep working on his fitness. Give it time and he'll reach the 100% effort for 100% of the game level, I've got no doubt about that.

[drdrake 3,203]

It's bewildering to say the least, those on here calling for Bartram to be dropped!!! It would be hard to find a more courageous,harder working player in the lineup.

He makes his opponent earn every kick and I gaurantee whilst he continues to play like that he WONT be dropped by the selection committee.( move on to a new whipping boy.)

Couple of observations on Jack Watts from yesterdays game.He started well and attacked the ball hard early doors, then it was almost as though his thinking was "Right, I've done enough to get a game next week" and all of a sudden he gave up taking the front position and attacking the ball hard.Second efforts were very rare after this point.

He should watch the game video and check out the work ethic on Dalhouse(not sure of the spelling) and attempt to emulate his efforts next week.

On the upside, he has the potential to be a superstar of the AFL if he can get his attitude/desire up to the required level.He has speed, good hands, incredible vision ,he's a good mark and good kicking skills.

How far he progresses is all up to him.

Might be worth getting Blease back in to the team as we miss the legspeed and run and carry.

I'm hard working and Courageous, does this mean I should get a game. Bartram got spanked and he would want to find something quick as he will have Milne this week.

On Watts, it could have been a totally different outcome for him today, his dropped mark a couple of panick kicks and in the last he had three contested marking attempts inside 50m that if he had taken we would have been prasingh him all three difficult but he got a good peice of the footy.

Changes

In Grimes, Sylvia, Martin

Out McDonald, Sellar, MacDonald

[Junior84 1]

Sadly Davey should be out. He is way to soft. He's not going to be around for the next premiership. The last thing we need is the young guys watching him Jib every contest.

[Deemort 28]

Bit hard on Tom McDonald. The only way he'll become an AFL footballer is getting him up to the speed of the game and its wrong for anyone to blame him for our 'backline problems'. He's played a total of five games.

Sending him back to Casey will just give him an easier time without learning the pace of AFL and what's required.

Yep Malthouse has always beleived once you elevate a player for VFL standard footy you need to give the 3 to 5 games minimum before returning them. Must give them the chance to adapt. Back and forth between the two standards is IMO just setting a player back.

[Deemort 28]

Sadly Davey should be out. He is way to soft. He's not going to be around for the next premiership. The last thing we need is the young guys watching him Jib every contest.

Though Davey was much much better, even small patches of his old best. Probably right though only if we have the right player to replace him with.

[robbo24 66]

In 'The Coaches Office' video on the website, Neeld said Jurrah and Sylvia will play VFL this week, not AFL

[Craig Drinker 179]

I'm hard working and Courageous, does this mean I should get a game. Bartram got spanked and he would want to find something quick as he will have Milne this week.

On Watts, it could have been a totally different outcome for him today, his dropped mark a couple of panick kicks and in the last he had three contested marking attempts inside 50m that if he had taken we would have been prasingh him all three difficult but he got a good peice of the footy.

Changes

In Grimes, Sylvia, Martin

Out McDonald, Sellar, MacDonald

We'll have to agree to disagree on Bartram as I saw it differently. The people that really know his value first hand and scrutinise his play the most closely are the coaching staff.We'll see if they drop him this week?

My bet is they won't!

[Dr. Mubutu 867]

Macdonald has to be dropped. Same with McDonald. If the selection panel don't punish ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE disposal, I don't know what we'll do. FCS, they were worse than Bartram today!

Garland is having a rough trot of form, but his disposal is OK. I'd almost consider him being our HBF player instead of our current (Macdonald *groan*), and putting Martin in defence when he's resting from the ruck - play on Kosi/Stanley?

Davey, while nowhere near his best, is better than many others on the field, and realistically there's no-one else to play that position. (Bail or Blease possibly in the long term?)

OUT: Sellar, Macdonald, McDonald

IN: Grimes, Sylvia, Martin

FB: Bartram Martin Rivers

HB: Garland Frawley Grimes

C: Watts Trengove Jones

HF: Sylvia Howe Morton

FF: Davey Clark Tapscott

R: Jamar Moloney Magner

I: McKenzie Bail Bate Dunn

One more chance to see if the Jamar/Moloney combination can reach the heights we've seen in the past.

If Clark's out, Jesus. Petterd in and reshuffle positions?

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

We can't play Couch while Jones, Moloney and Magner are in the side. Our deficiency against the Doggies was not in and under at stoppages, it was stopping the Doggies spread or effectively spreading ourselves. We can't have another grunt player. We need some pace and break-out speed to set up and spread away from the stoppage.

Also, we have to get some foot skill into our backline.

Totally disagree with those posters demanding Tom McDonald be dropped. Yes, he was fumbly at cricital times and he made some poor last line of defence decisions. But I clearly remember a certain J Frawley being exactly the same, and another C Garland.

Outs:

Dunn.

Sellar. He busts his gut to get to so many contests but wins almost none of them. Also no good as a second ruck option.

J MacDonald.

Ins:

Grimes

Sylvia

Fitzpatrick or Martin. This spot is for a big body to replace Sellar.

I would also consider dropping Bartram and bringing in Troy Davis but four changes might be too many. Anyway, it seems like Neeld like Bartram.