NAB Challenge 2 - Melbourne v Geelong

[Whispering_Jack 29,686]

NAB Challenge 1 is now done and dusted and we can be thankful that it not only resulted in a win in which we showed massive improvement across the board but importantly, we came out of it very much unscathed. I didn't notice any injuries and none have been reported (so far) which is in contrast to recent years when we suddenly developed a lot of injuries throughout the preseason.

Now we move on to Alice Springs and a game on Friday week against one of the AFL's power house clubs in Geelong. The fixturing is not a coincidence in light of our commitment with the NT government and past connections with the Territory, made bitter sweet by the difficulties encountered by Liam Jurrah and his troubled last two years and Austin Wonaemirri after the passing of his father and then his close family member Maurice Rioli. The Alice is also the venue for the club's community camp and hopefully, we can nurture and encourage some more of the talented locals to play AFL in the future.

The Cats are likely to have a strong side irrespective of their injured list which contains Selwood. Motlop and Christiansen and I expect us to seek to build on the momentum from Friday night and bring in some of our bigger guns if they can come through Thursday's intraclub.

This is the list of the players who didn't play in NAB Challenge 1. How many of them will line up in the second game?

1. Jesse Hogan

3. Christian Salem

4. Jack Watts

6. Chris Dawes

7. Jack Viney

10. Shannon Byrnes

11. Mitch Clark *

15. Mitch Clisby

16. Dean Kent

20. Colin Garland *

27. Aidan Riley *

29. Jayden Hunt

35. Luke Tapscott

37. Max Gawn

40. Mark Jamar

43. James Harmes

48. Jack Fitzpatrick

50. Maia Westrupp

* players on the club's official injured list and not available for NAB Challenge 2.

[CBDees 3,167]

NAB Challenge 1 is now done and dusted and we can be thankful that it not only resulted in a win in which we showed massive improvement across the board but importantly, we came out of it very much unscathed. I didn't notice any injuries and none have been reported (so far) which is in contrast to recent years when we suddenly developed a lot of injuries throughout the preseason.

Now we move on to Alice Springs and a game on Friday week against one of the AFL's power house clubs in Geelong. The fixturing is not a coincidence in light of our commitment with the NT government and past connections with the Territory, made bitter sweet by the difficulties encountered by Liam Jurrah and his troubled last two years and Austin Wonaemirri after the passing of his father and then his close family member Maurice Rioli. The Alice is also the venue for the club's community camp and hopefully, we can nurture and encourage some more of the talented locals to play AFL in the future.

The Cats are likely to have a strong side irrespective of their injured list which contains Selwood. Motlop and Christiansen and I expect us to seek to build on the momentum from Friday night and bring in some of our bigger guns if they can come through Thursday's intraclub.

This is the list of the players who didn't play in NAB Challenge 1. How many of them will line up in the second game?

1. Jesse Hogan

3. Christian Salem

4. Jack Watts

6. Chris Dawes

7. Jack Viney

10. Shannon Byrnes

11. Mitch Clark *

15. Mitch Clisby

16. Dean Kent

20. Colin Garland *

27. Aidan Riley *

29. Jayden Hunt

35. Luke Tapscott

37. Max Gawn

40. Mark Jamar

43. James Harmes

48. Jack Fitzpatrick

50. Maia Westrupp

* players on the club's official injured list and not available for NAB Challenge 2.

I would love to see the first five all play:

1. Jesse Hogan

3. Christian Salem

4. Jack Watts

6. Chris Dawes

7. Jack Viney

however this does raise the problem as to which five players from last Friday do you drop from last Friday's game? The problem will only get worse in selecting a team for round 1 and beyond, as that will require seven to be dropped [as we reduce the interchage] and then nine to be dropped as we will welcome back Garland and then Clark. A nice problem for us in some ways but wonderful news for Casey.

[bing181 9,191]

Bring it on.

[Rob Mac...... 638]

This is the list of the players who didn't play in NAB Challenge 1. How many of them will line up in the second game?

Good question WJ.

I'll say use the healthiest 2 of Hogan/Dawes/Fitzy.

Use Watts & Viney, unless others are healthier.

Play one of Gawn/Spencer/Jamar.

Regrettably dropping Nicho, Barry, Toumpas & King.

Probably other changes too.

[Guest]

Good question WJ.

I'll say use the healthiest 2 of Hogan/Dawes/Fitzy.

Use Watts & Viney, unless others are healthier.

Play one of Gawn/Spencer/Jamar.

Regrettably dropping Nicho, Barry, Toumpas & King.

Probably other changes too.

No way Toumpas is dropped, unless they are rotating players. He played his role well

[Young Dee 1,303]

In no real order - I would have something like this (if we were fielding the best team available). Roos may want to play around with the list and manage game time etc.

Don't know who our main ruckman will be this year with the interchange cap but I think Jamar and Gawn should get some game time in. With Clark, Dawes and Hogan up forward you would think one of those (probably Clark) could take ruck duties in the forward 50m.

That way the ruckman doesnt have to cover so much ground. If only we could get the same thing happening in the backline (would also mean that there would be a big target coming out of defence or keeping ball in the forward 50m arc).

I wouldn't mind giving Blease another game - I think he is a bit of a confidence player and could be more dangerous with Dawes, Hogan, JKH up forward.

OUT IN

Max King - Dawes

Perersen - Hogan

Spencer - Jamar/Gawn (or both)

Blease - Viney

Nicholson - Watts

Barry - Kent/Clisby/Tappy/Harmes

[sue 9,096]

No way Toumpas is dropped, unless they are rotating players. He played his role well

Surely they will be rotating players to see how they go, though with perhaps a little less than normal with a view to keeping winning/confidence momentum going.

[low flying Robbo 979]

This game will be the real test. Looking forward to it!

[Gorgoroth 12,910]

Prob depends on this Thursdays match, they play some who played against the tigers for the full intraclub and not play them in Darwin.

I hope Salem gets a run, I'm looking forward to seeing him.

[DeeSpencer 25,356]

In no real order - I would have something like this (if we were fielding the best team available). Roos may want to play around with the list and manage game time etc.

Don't know who our main ruckman will be this year with the interchange cap but I think Jamar and Gawn should get some game time in. With Clark, Dawes and Hogan up forward you would think one of those (probably Clark) could take ruck duties in the forward 50m.

That way the ruckman doesnt have to cover so much ground. If only we could get the same thing happening in the backline (would also mean that there would be a big target coming out of defence or keeping ball in the forward 50m arc).

I wouldn't mind giving Blease another game - I think he is a bit of a confidence player and could be more dangerous with Dawes, Hogan, JKH up forward.

OUT IN

Max King - Dawes

Perersen - Hogan

Spencer - Jamar/Gawn (or both)

Blease - Viney

Nicholson - Watts

Barry - Kent/Clisby/Tappy/Harmes

I'd have the same changes. And agree on Blease but right now JKH and Bail are ahead of him and given Blease is a bit of a liability in the midfield he's looking unlikely for round 1 besides the sub.

I'd consider resting any (but not all) of Frawley, Grimes, N. Jones, Vince, Howe if the coaches want to go that way. Depends on how they take the intraclub. If it's full on then players have already had 2 games of decent footy. If Frawley is sitting back minding Maia Westrupp then I'd probably say lets give him the game in Alice.

Personally I think when the ball goes forward that rucks should follow it down and then free up a spare midfielder to sit behind the contest and set up the wall. Personally I'd rather see Jack Watts as the spare man one kick behind a ruck contest in our forward 50 than Jake Spencer. Another tactic is when the ball goes out deep in the forward line that the ruck heads to the bench and swaps with a midfielder/forward. The back up ruck then competes in the forward line and from there plays ruck whilst the spare mid/forward drifts forward to replace them.

Definitely don't see any point of having a ruck forward of the ball when a throw in is in your back 50. That's when you need your ruck back there to nullify or win the hit out so you win the clearance. A local coach of my team used to sit his ruck out of the back 50 to compete the next kick and all that happened was the other team won the clearances by beating the full back or CHB who was rucking and kicked a goal. It was infuriating. We will either play 2 rucks this year or Clark or Fitzy as back ups so there's no reason to try and keep the rucks fresh. They should be running all day. Especially because we've got 3 of them fighting for 1 or 2 spots.

[Demon 16 198]

I reckon Blease will play again.

[Arrow 1,257]

I'd think in the final game against Hawthorn you'd want as close to your best 22 to see how they play together. Given we have an intraclub as well, that's 4 pre season games and there is no way our best blokes are going to go in with 4 games under their belt. I think for this game you'll see a lot of the older guys rested, Jones, Frawley, Grimes, Vince and Cross may all miss and use the trip to Alice as a bonding for the younger group and a really good opportunity to see what young players step up against a good team. I think we'll get spanked, but I think it'll be with a really average team that's primarily there to get some experience.

[Maldonboy38 6,390]

In no real order - I would have something like this (if we were fielding the best team available). Roos may want to play around with the list and manage game time etc.

Don't know who our main ruckman will be this year with the interchange cap but I think Jamar and Gawn should get some game time in. With Clark, Dawes and Hogan up forward you would think one of those (probably Clark) could take ruck duties in the forward 50m.

That way the ruckman doesnt have to cover so much ground. If only we could get the same thing happening in the backline (would also mean that there would be a big target coming out of defence or keeping ball in the forward 50m arc).

I wouldn't mind giving Blease another game - I think he is a bit of a confidence player and could be more dangerous with Dawes, Hogan, JKH up forward.

OUT IN

Max King - Dawes

Perersen - Hogan

Spencer - Jamar/Gawn (or both)

Blease - Viney

Nicholson - Watts

Barry - Kent/Clisby/Tappy/Harmes

Like what you are suggesting here. Pederson will be unlucky. He ran his guts out on Friday night, crashing packs with attempted marking but Hogan needs to be tested. I would play Gawn against the Cats, and then Jamar against the Hawks.

I thought our poorest player on Friday was Evans so maybe he will be left as as well as Barry/JKH. So, making a slight adjustment:

OUT IN

Max King - Dawes

Perersen - Hogan

Spencer - Gawn

Evans - Viney

Nicholson - Watts

Barry/JKH - Kent/Tappy/

Again, these games are not about winning so it is likely that more rotations could happen.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

This had the potential to be a massive reality check.

Geelong won't allow Melbourne to hold possession like Richmond did.

[jumbo returns 6,737]

Like what you are suggesting here. Pederson will be unlucky. He ran his guts out on Friday night, crashing packs with attempted marking but Hogan needs to be tested. I would play Gawn against the Cats, and then Jamar against the Hawks.

I thought our poorest player on Friday was Evans so maybe he will be left as as well as Barry/JKH. So, making a slight adjustment:

OUT IN

Max King - Dawes

Perersen - Hogan

Spencer - Gawn

Evans - Viney

Nicholson - Watts

Barry/JKH - Kent/Tappy/

Again, these games are not about winning so it is likely that more rotations could happen.

I wouldn't drop Pickles - it's great to see him back after such a lengthy lay off.

I'd rest the skippers and JT.

Ins: Dawes, Hogan, Watts and maybe Kent.

[Dees2014 2,377]

I disagree about playing a second string sides. You just need to look at the Australian Cricket team to see how important momentum is. When we weren't winning ALL aspects of the performance were down. Now we are winning, our batting regularly gets above 400, our fielding and catching can do no wrong, and all bowlers (not just Johnson) are bowling at an elite level.

The Demons are coming off such a low base and have such a young group, I think playing our best sides in these games gives us an opportunity to not only develop that momentum in game performance, but also build it in getting our supporter base behind us. I would venture to say if we won the games against Geelong and Hawthorn (not beyond the possibilities if they play second string sides and we don't), then I think we could build a membership beyond 40k for the first time, the football world wold sit up and take notice, and it would build immense confidence into the playing group.

Bring it on. We have a lot to look forward to.

[rjay 24,808]

Geelong are the perfect side for us to play now. They have consistently been able to undo Hawthorns short kicking sharing the ball game and will be a good test for us.

I'm really looking forward to this one now, I hope we field a close to full strength line up.

[CBDees 3,167]

I cannot understand the logic of suggesting an either/or in the case of Barry/JKH. I would definately have JKH as a lock. Not only is he exciting to watch [and effective] but he will gain us members as he makes us an exciting team to follow. His last quarter was nothing short of outstanding last week.

[deeko 952]

I struggle why people continually want to back Spencer in, wow he was bad. He may show some great efforts chasing and tackling but his ruck work and general skills are disgusting. Get Gawn or Jamar back asap!

I struggle with Strauss as well, thought he could do at least a Maric in the nab cup showing a bit to get us excited only to go missing in the season but he was awful as well. He is reliant on one thing in his game (this so called majestic leg of his) but that is average at best as well. He is now behind not only Terlich, Grimes & Garland for the small defender role but behind Georgiou as well.

Evans and Barry I don't think will be anything more than depth this year. Both were underwhelming.

Bail on the other hand looked back to his nippy best which is good.

Out: Spencer for Gawn/Jamar, Strauss, Evans and Barry for the others

Blease had some great leads early and I watched him pushing to space a few times for an option. Haven't seen that before from him but I really liked his efforts.

[Sir Why You Little 36,891]

Really glad we are playing both Geelong & Hawthorn before Round 1.

Sooner The team can play top sides the better.

Full blown dress rehearsals can also help Roos to blow out any cobwebs he has with match day coaching.

Bring it on.

[CBDees 3,167]

In no real order - I would have something like this (if we were fielding the best team available). Roos may want to play around with the list and manage game time etc.

Don't know who our main ruckman will be this year with the interchange cap but I think Jamar and Gawn should get some game time in. With Clark, Dawes and Hogan up forward you would think one of those (probably Clark) could take ruck duties in the forward 50m.

That way the ruckman doesnt have to cover so much ground. If only we could get the same thing happening in the backline (would also mean that there would be a big target coming out of defence or keeping ball in the forward 50m arc).

I wouldn't mind giving Blease another game - I think he is a bit of a confidence player and could be more dangerous with Dawes, Hogan, JKH up forward.

OUT IN

Max King - Dawes

Perersen - Hogan

Spencer - Jamar/Gawn (or both)

Blease - Viney

Nicholson - Watts

Barry - Kent/Clisby/Tappy/Harmes

I like the way you think Young Dee but my alternative would be:

OUT IN

Max King - Dawes

Pedersen - Hogan

Spencer - Gawn

Blease - Viney

Nicholson - Watts

Barry - Salem

I know that Roos intends to take his time with the younger draftees but i just suspect taht should Salem play, many members may get a surprise as they did with JKH on Friday night.

[daisycutter 29,596]

I struggle why people continually want to back Spencer in, wow he was bad. He may show some great efforts chasing and tackling but his ruck work and general skills are disgusting. Get Gawn or Jamar back asap!

I struggle with Strauss as well, thought he could do at least a Maric in the nab cup showing a bit to get us excited only to go missing in the season but he was awful as well. He is reliant on one thing in his game (this so called majestic leg of his) but that is average at best as well. He is now behind not only Terlich, Grimes & Garland for the small defender role but behind Georgiou as well.

Evans and Barry I don't think will be anything more than depth this year. Both were underwhelming.

Bail on the other hand looked back to his nippy best which is good.

Out: Spencer for Gawn/Jamar, Strauss, Evans and Barry for the others

Blease had some great leads early and I watched him pushing to space a few times for an option. Haven't seen that before from him but I really liked his efforts.

agree on spencer and strauss, but in their defence it was just one game. the job is ahead of them though

blease was disappointing. might be his last year if the penny doesn't drop

barry, still too early to say at this stage

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,673]

Gotta gut feel this might be another close game and further improvement shown.

It's the Hawks game at Casey I'm worried about. I'd hate for those mongrels to kill our confidence before round 1.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Gotta gut feel this might be another close game and further improvement shown.

It's the Hawks game at Casey I'm worried about. I'd hate for those mongrels to kill our confidence before round 1.

Depends on how both teams approach it. It's not an 'official' NAB Challenge game so both sides might rest a few of their bigger names and give some of the fringe players some time to impress in their last game before the season begins. If we were to get rolled rather easily in such a game I don't think Roos will allow it to have any adverse effect on the playing group.

[KingDingAling 3,752]

We need Jamar back in, or at least Gawn.

Spencer isn't up to AFL standard, which is a real shame, he tries hard.

Dawes, Hogan and Fitz in, if any of them are able to play.