MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION

[Akum 2,660]

If there was any doubt left, this must mean that the selectors see no place for Magner, Taggert, Davis, Jetta and probably Tynan, as well as Couch, into the future. So much for player development.

[rjay 24,919]

Rodan is the hardest one of these selections to explain I agree with that but I think it serves the duel purpose of leaving kids who aren't up to AFL at this stage in the VFL and fighting for a top 2 spot heading in to the finals and at the same time is a best available selection. As limited as Rodan is and as much as I want to see Taggert I think Rodan is the better footballer as of right now.

What do think Hogan would think if he saw either Rodan or Taggert with the ball say 50-60mtrs up the ground, who would he like to have delivering the ball to him?

...and for the club even if he was the better footballer right now is not what matters, it's about development so they keep telling me. I don't see any development in that decision.

[What 18,810]

i am really glad we bought in Chip and Dawes

any other year we would have let them rest the last 2 games or sent them away for a mystery surgery, and quite frankly i am sick of that defeatist attitude that disrepects the fans

So well done Craig on not shutting them down when they are fine to play

Edited August 22, 2013 by hogans_heroes

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

i am really glad we bought in Chip and Dawes

any other year we would have let them rest the last 2 games or sent them away for a mystery surgery, and quite frankly i am sick of that defeatist attitude that disrepects the fans

So well done Craig on not shutting them down when they are fine to play

Yeah I actually agree with this post.

On a side note, for all the bagging of Pederson around here, he actually got votes in the coaches award, the last game he played.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Bring-Back-Powell

[beelzebub 23,364]

If there was any doubt left, this must mean that the selectors see no place for Magner, Taggert, Davis, Jetta and probably Tynan, as well as Couch, into the future. So much for player development.

I think this has weight as I cant fathom the logic otherwise in bringing in Pedersen and not allowing Magner or Taggert a look in.

I still think who ever was responsible for Pedersens signing ought to be paying for it, literally.

I can understand The Masters interpretations but find it hard to go past much of what Deespicable presented. There are/have been some screwy selections this year .

Jack starting on the pine, Watts that all about ? seriously You either play him or you dont , hes hardly a rotation player. Id have Col starting for similar thinking. What is Craig attempting here, to hold out super force in reserve ? Game will be over quickly if you have no grunt of firepower. For humour Ill place Watts in the firepower dept because he can kick. ( no grunt though )

Their mids will have us for breakfast. Fully expect the Crows to jump us at the start. Thats all any teams needs do

Adelaide by 80

Again I think we're attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis.

Best thing about this game is once over its one less to go

[Generation dee 1,336]

I think this has weight as I cant fathom the logic otherwise in bringing in Pedersen and not allowing Magner or Taggert a look in.

I still think who ever was responsible for Pedersens signing ought to be paying for it, literally.

I can understand The Masters interpretations but find it hard to go past much of what Deespicable presented. There are/have been some screwy selections this year .

Jack starting on the pine, Watts that all about ? seriously You either play him or you dont , hes hardly a rotation player. Id have Col starting for similar thinking. What is Craig attempting here, to hold out super force in reserve ? Game will be over quickly if you have no grunt of firepower. For humour Ill place Watts in the firepower dept because he can kick. ( no grunt though )

Their mids will have us for breakfast. Fully expect the Crows to jump us at the start. Thats all any teams needs do

Adelaide by 80

Again I think we're attached to another object by an inclined plane, wrapped helically around an axis.

Best thing about this game is once over its one less to go

Stress less bb, when was the last time a team named Thursday night lined up in the same positions on Saturday? It doesn't happen anymore. Thursday night teams are a romantic idea attached to the past. However, when final teams come available an hour before the game, you can almost bank that it will have changes.

On another note, I'm not sure if any fellow demonlanders have had the misfortune of seeing or playing footy on aami stadium, however it resembles a giant sand dune and basically feels like playing up the top of the dandenong ranges! For what it's worth, taggert and the like probably have earned a game, however with the step up in intensity, as well as the Adelaide mound, I think a first game is best suited on the mcg. Sure it's not a major issue, but if you had your first game over there in round 22 it would be very easily to lose a lot of self belief.

Weather forecast is mild, not a lot of breeze. That usually adds about 30points to the margin, and without any real emotion left I'm tipping Adelaide by who freaking cares!

[beelzebub 23,364]

Lived in SA for a couple of years.. AAMI is a feral place..lol. But good luck to them as they've created that atmosphere. Unlike our all welcoming G lol

I think selections at this end of the year may well reflect many things that are participant to the 'hidden agendas" I.e lists going forward and last ditch look-ats. Still, some confound me. Given we have no more appearances at the G I really think once youre at AFL standard you simply debut where and when required.

We will lack a lot of run in this game...and it will , as you suggest get worse as the game unfolds.

[CBDees 3,167]

One has to remember that those players left in the VFL [and therefore likely to play Finals for Casey this year] will get more games under their belt by year's end and maybe even be rewarded with playing in a Grand Final or, better still, a Premiership side. With the season effectively over for Melbourne Football Club, surely the afore-mentioned scenario will prove better longterm for the development of our younger players?

In the same vein, I am not sure whether the naming of Toupas back into the AFL side this week will disqualify him or not from playing VFL finals? I hope not!

[rjay 24,919]

One has to remember that those players left in the VFL [and therefore likely to play Finals for Casey this year] will get more games under their belt by year's end and maybe even be rewarded with playing in a Grand Final or, better still, a Premiership side. With the season effectively over for Melbourne Football Club, surely the afore-mentioned scenario will prove better longterm for the development of our younger players?

In the same vein, I am not sure whether the naming of Toupas back into the AFL side this week will disqualify him or not from playing VFL finals? I hope not!

They can still go back to the VFL but I would think it would be better for development to get a taste of AFL.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,754]

Rodan is the hardest one of these selections to explain I agree with that but I think it serves the duel purpose of leaving kids who aren't up to AFL at this stage in the VFL and fighting for a top 2 spot heading in to the finals and at the same time is a best available selection. As limited as Rodan is and as much as I want to see Taggert I think Rodan is the better footballer as of right now.

As for structures I don't think any AFL coach would be overly keen to play both Spencer and Gawn in the same side. Not with Dawes and Watts as well. Two 204+cm giants in the same team is a recipe for disaster especially coming up against just Jacobs with limited back up. Again Davis can form a vital part of a VFL campaign to save his list spot and Pedersen might just be best available. The reality is we don't have Clark, Fitzpatrick or Hogan available. Take 3 players of that class out of any side and they'll play a journeyman or inexperience kid who likely is along way off.

As for Pedersen's contract I think they'd be hard up it to cut him even if they could, the AFLPA would have a melt down. But I probably wouldn't even do it if we could. There are so many list spots to fill on Melbournes list and only so many decent draft picks. Considering we have weaknesses across the board and have to pay him then 3rd string reserve defender/forward/ruck is so far down on my care factor. That said I'd be the first person setting the time machine for this time last year and saying whatever you do stay clear of Pederesn and Gillies.

Who would have thought at the beginning of the season - or even halfway through it - that any poster would have talked about Fitzpatrick having "class" equivalent to Clark and Hogan. Personally, I think it's gilding the lily a bit, but I think we all agree that Fitzy has been a huge improver. Well done to the lad.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Some bizarre selections and non-selections.

Just over it all.

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

Who would have thought at the beginning of the season - or even halfway through it - that any poster would have talked about Fitzpatrick having "class" equivalent to Clark and Hogan. Personally, I think it's gilding the lily a bit, but I think we all agree that Fitzy has been a huge improver. Well done to the lad.

I don't put him in the Clark and Hogan level but in terms of key forwards/back up ruck he is clearly the next man up before Pedersen. Which is a good step for him. You'd love to have guys with Fitzy's potential coming through at ever position to replace injuries to your best 22. Unfortunately we don't.

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

I think this has weight as I cant fathom the logic otherwise in bringing in Pedersen and not allowing Magner or Taggert a look in.

I still think who ever was responsible for Pedersens signing ought to be paying for it, literally.

I can understand The Masters interpretations but find it hard to go past much of what Deespicable presented. There are/have been some screwy selections this year .

Jack starting on the pine, Watts that all about ? seriously You either play him or you dont , hes hardly a rotation player. Id have Col starting for similar thinking. What is Craig attempting here, to hold out super force in reserve ? Game will be over quickly if you have no grunt of firepower. For humour Ill place Watts in the firepower dept because he can kick. ( no grunt though )

Best thing about this game is once over its one less to go

I'm hoping Neeld or Tim Harrington were behind the recruiting of Pedersen. The Gillies mistake in some ways I can understand and as the last person added to the list in a bit of a blind hope you can live with it. Same with Rodan and Byrnes, they've deliver most of what anyone could've expected in a lot of ways. But the 3 year deal for Pedersen is a shocker.

As for the bench you do realise players rotate through about 1 per minute and don't start in positions named on the team sheet. Likely Watts will start on or be in within 5 minutes. Either way I'm more concerned about where he plays than where he starts. As for Sylvia I'd rather him on the bench and Viney, Jones and Mckenzie in at the first bounce!

I don't mean to sound like a Craig apologist but I just think in a lot of ways he's damned if he does damned if he doesn't at selection. He also seems to be sticking to a consistent line up and trying to develop the team as a whole. Sounds very much like what Paul Roos would do.

I can't certainly agree with that last line though BB

[beelzebub 23,364]

My understanding is those listed as starting...do indeed start... position thats another thing.

Even if you were looking to interchange quickly why on earth would you give the Crows even 30 secs of a head start, let alone a couple of minutes ? theyll have 2 on the board in that time.

[Jaded No More 68,913]

Why Pedersen - WHY?!?!?!

[DeeSpencer 25,687]

My understanding is those listed as starting...do indeed start... position thats another thing.

Even if you were looking to interchange quickly why on earth would you give the Crows even 30 secs of a head start, let alone a couple of minutes ? theyll have 2 on the board in that time.

Which games have you been watching where by Watts and Sylvia on the bench have been giving the opposition a head start. I actually think we are helping ourselves.

[beelzebub 23,364]

Why Pederson- WHY?!?!?!

just look at the image Jaded....all will make sense ......

[Axis of Bob 11,804]

There is a theme that is in the selections and it has been a common one this year.

Run.

We lack run in our team and it's why we have been getting blown off the park so often. It isn't about inside ball winners (as much as everyone will hate that - since the Sydney game we've been generally OK), or key forwards/defenders killing us, but rather it is a lack of running power across the team. So it is no surprise to see us go for extra running power wherever possible. This is shown by going for Pedersen as second ruck rather than Gawn, who could only play as a statue forward when not rucking while Pedersen can play as a running tall. Magner is a roaming accumulator, but doesn't have the run of Rodan or Toumpas.

This was a clear theme in the draft last year and I would imagine that this theme will continue into this year's draft.

[rjay 24,919]

There is a theme that is in the selections and it has been a common one this year.

Run.

We lack run in our team and it's why we have been getting blown off the park so often. It isn't about inside ball winners (as much as everyone will hate that - since the Sydney game we've been generally OK), or key forwards/defenders killing us, but rather it is a lack of running power across the team. So it is no surprise to see us go for extra running power wherever possible. This is shown by going for Pedersen as second ruck rather than Gawn, who could only play as a statue forward when not rucking while Pedersen can play as a running tall. Magner is a roaming accumulator, but doesn't have the run of Rodan or Toumpas.

This was a clear theme in the draft last year and I would imagine that this theme will continue into this year's draft.

Trouble is 'Axis' that Pedersen only runs when it suits him, often seen jogging around when opponents have the ball or if things get a bit hard and Rodan spends most of his time running around in circles and confusing his teammates.

[Whispering_Jack 30,054]

There is a theme that is in the selections and it has been a common one this year.

Run.

We lack run in our team and it's why we have been getting blown off the park so often. It isn't about inside ball winners (as much as everyone will hate that - since the Sydney game we've been generally OK), or key forwards/defenders killing us, but rather it is a lack of running power across the team. So it is no surprise to see us go for extra running power wherever possible. This is shown by going for Pedersen as second ruck rather than Gawn, who could only play as a statue forward when not rucking while Pedersen can play as a running tall. Magner is a roaming accumulator, but doesn't have the run of Rodan or Toumpas.

This was a clear theme in the draft last year and I would imagine that this theme will continue into this year's draft.

I agree with you that it's about "run" but the team this year (and last) hasn't been organised to run properly, efficiently or with a purpose. There doesn't seem to be a plan in place to exploit that run and this is what makes us look so bad in the middle. Hence, the need for an altogether different coaching strategy next year which IMO should rule out both Neil Craig and Choco Royal from positions as coaches at the club next year.

Given that, I don't see that it would have made much of a difference to the way our midfield performs tomorrow had we brought Magner into the midfield for the penultimate game.

Although team selection criteria should always be in the interests of the senior team, I don't see why James Sellar wasn't given a run instead of Pedersen who could have added to Casey's finals campaign.

Our coaching and our selection policy hasn't made much sense to me lately and I'm looking forward to change.

[Ted Lasso 19,513]

Taggart and Magner must just be wondering what they have to do to earn a run.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

If the prospect of Casey finals are stopping deserved Melbourne young players on getting a game, I don't want Casey in the finals

[ThreeOneSix 954]

Some bizarre selections and non-selections.

Just over it all.

Completely over it.

If Viney wasn't playing last week I wouldn't even of watched and I can't remember the last time I felt this way.

After years of supporting a non-competitive side, I think I'm just a little worn down.

We really need to throw a stack at some quality free agents this year, something has to give.

Edited August 23, 2013 by ThreeOneSix

[DeeZee 7,392]

Can someone please tell me what is wrong with Grimes........absolutely zero awareness.

[DeeZee 7,392]

We have to be the dumbest, stupidest, pathetic excuse for a footy team in the history of the game.