Melbourne Vs West Coast Round 2

[Macca 16,963]

Putting aside the obvious mismatch with regards to tall talent, our midfield will need to break even with their midfield if we're to have any chance of being able to keep pace with them. We probably need to pick a whole team of runners* and hope like hell we can keep control of the ball.

Our turnover ratio has improved from our previous 2 seasons but we'll need to get even better when considering all the factors at play. For instance, any time they've got the ball, they can exploit our lack of height. We need to win the clearances by a decent margin - that stat is all important. First use of the ball is paramount in today's footy.

I can see us going in with a few more medium sized marking targets. Kicking it long into our current forward line just isn't going to work. If we go in with more medium sized forwards, our midfielders will need to be a lot smarter with their inside 50 entries - we'll also need to move the ball a lot more quickly to catch their defender's out. Our forwards will need to make a lot more leads and in general, there needs to be a lot more movement and pace in our forward line. It's a bit of a long shot but we've got to try something.

Failing all that, there's a bit of rain forecast

* Of course, we still need to play a number of tall players to try and match their tall timber.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Macca

[deeko 952]

Roos didn't make any big changes to the Swans line up if I recall correctly after we pumped them at the G a few years back. He's never been big on large changes so I think players will be given a lot of chances to prove there worth.

I believe Gawn will come in if fit and Viney a definite but not sure who for yet.

Everyone here is having a crack at Pedo (fair enough) but lets not forget that although he was ordinary, and will continue doing so, he takes a key defender placed on him which in turn means if a Dunn, Watts or Fitzy are up forward they might have the second/third on them if Gawn plays as well.

Unfortunately, until we see one or two of our key trio back, the Pedo will play.

If anything Gawn for Fitzy (if injured) and Viney for whoever didn't fill there role.

Very scared about the Weagles forwards next week kicking a big bag. Frawley to take Kennedy (who rarely plays two averages ones in a row) and then we have to worry about Darling, LeCras and a resting Cox/Nic Nat being possibly without Tommy Mc and Garland.

This could get ugly.

[olisik 4,060]

Lets hope Dom Sheed doesnt tear us up...

[stynewillalwaysbeonthevine 84]

In my opinions and in review of the game,

Shannon Byrnes is a major liability. In every game he has played for us since arriving, he hasn't got through without being caught with the ball. Time and time again he is the break in the chain after we have expended energy causing the turnover in the back line and rebounding. He mucks it up on our half forward line. His experience isn't helping on game day. He should provide a match day support role on the boundary line.

Cameron Pederson isn't great but he isn't built to be our power forward and his role is to support. He kicked three behinds, one of which made me smash my beer bottle in the final quarter. You wonder what might have eventuated if he kicked that. (14 points - 5 mins) He is too heavy for modern AFL but at the same time there is no one else. He will play this weekend and play in the forward line. Lets hope he kicks straight. There is no one else.

Max Gawn will no doubt be included this week. He had a great patch up forward early last year where he kicked a couple in each game as we again had to have a makeshift forward line. Being tall he will take another tall hackmen from west coast.

In addition, I expect Fitzpatrick to also play. If healthy. It is the only way forward. He can mark on the lead and will provide a link from the back line to the forward line if he plays centre half forward. Keep him away from the goals.

If hogan is healthy, then he will replace Pederson. A bonus. But we know what roos is like. stubborn with his selection of young players and unhealthy ones.

So what have you got: A tall forward line at worst, with Pederson, Fitzpatrick and Gawn. What this creates is our high flyer being loose in attack. Because we all know he is the most likely to kick a bag/a winning melbourne score.

Blease has to play!!!! If you watch his natural ability he actually has a very similar attacking game to dangerfield. Obviously without any class but if you remember, roos said last year. I cannot wait to provide blease with the opportunity to show some continuity. Neeld/craig always had I'm in and out. He likes blease. We need blease to improve. He will play this weekend.

So you leave out Byrnes and JKH. (i like JKH but we are here to win and he will be much better learning his craft quickly scoring bags in the VFL against men). Then have a toumpas, trengrove or bail who all seem to have the ability to take a mark inside 50 running through unmarked. (If only bail could kick straight - every year he has more behinds than goals)

I believe we don't actually need a small forward because we don't have a great one but rather the opportunity to lock the ball inside the forward 50 and have our midfield class hold it in and score from there. This is only possible with something to kick to otherwise they rebound before we can adjust...

Mckenzie will come back. He is ready. He should replace byrnes. With blease replacing JKH. Would love Viney half injured but I'm not on the match commitee.

in other news:

Watts is a midfielder, don't move him.

We talk about not having a leader: could someone please find me the figure from when the last captain of a football club - didn't register a tackle in the opening round of the season. This sort of effort is deplorable. Roos should have him in the office for an eye to eye.

On dawes: This is a calf complaint... strap it up and get on the park. He hasn't played for three weeks and has three weeks to go... I've never heard of a calf complaint taking 6 weeks.

On clark: He would have watched the game on the weekend and been impressed and must be spurred on to make a speedy recovery knowing the effect he would have on our forward line. Expect to see him off the injury list before the 8 weeks. (if thats possible)

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

we are going to cop a good ol' Melbourne Football Club flogging this week.

[What 18,810]

wee will find out this week if we have improved at all

West Coast have quality at every position

We have no chance if we will carry spuds like Pedersen, Bail and Byrnes

[Satyriconhome 10,871]

in other news:

On dawes: This is a calf complaint... strap it up and get on the park. He hasn't played for three weeks and has three weeks to go... I've never heard of a calf complaint taking 6 weeks

So that's news is it, bit like Today Tonight........had the chance to have a good chat to him on Saturday, issue lies with last season and rushing back, did a bit of damage to his soft tissues, then he had knee surgery in off season, so lost some more conditioning, the idea is to get him back cherry ripe to play 15 or 16 games straight, not in for 1 and back out for 3 with yet another soft issue, this has been the same approach with Max Gawn, Dawes is as frustrated as evey supporter

[drdrake 3,163]

Dawes has only had 1 year of this crap we have endured it for a hell of a long time. I dare to say our frustration levels are well above his.

I'm resigned to the fact that this week could easy blow out over 100 points and the major concern, if we can't find a way to stop them scoring it could be well above 100 points.

[Webber 10,465]

siddle doesnt play a contact sport in a position that requires strength and tackli

Meat eating = strength? Ignorant in every way possible.

[old dee 23,788]

Off JKH so quickly?

And the constant barrage of Pedersen and Byrnes is a muscle memory. I will let Roos decide how they fulfilled their roles.

And Bail had 22 touches and worked very hard.

For any of them to be thrown out after 1 game - 3 of them for good - isn't reflective of good player management.

So did I in the garden Saturday afternoon rpfc

But I seriously doubt you would call me anything else but a mug gardener.

[rpfc 28,391]

So did I in the garden Saturday afternoon rpfc

But I seriously doubt you would call me anything else but a mug gardener.

Well, that's the fault of the person/people putting you out there and expecting Jamie Durie...

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I honestly don't think Kent will play a game this year, a more realistic one is McKenzie

you obviously spent last year living on the moon and didn't watch any games then, i assume.

He was good last year. Plays better as a half forward, pushing up to the wing. And then rushing down to crumb where possible.

[CHAMP 347]

Well, that's the fault of the person/people putting you out there and expecting Jamie Durie...

With due respect I'd reckon OD might aspire more towards a Peter Cundall.

[old dee 23,788]

Well, that's the fault of the person/people putting you out there and expecting Jamie Durie...

No that would never happen rpfc they know he is not as good looking.

[old dee 23,788]

With due respect I'd reckon OD might aspire more towards a Peter Cundall.

Now don't take this the wrong way Champ

There is that phase again "With due respect"

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

siddle doesnt play a contact sport in a position that requires strength and tackli

Meat eating = strength? Ignorant in every way possible.

proteins and amino acids are the building blocks of muscle webber. grimes is built like a rookie. the falafels and chick pea salads arent doing it for him. and to make it clear i never sais bulk equates to strength. but bulk is bulk and in todays AFL youre going to need some of that

[deeko 952]

Imagine if one of Demonland's (Old Dee's in particular) favourites in young Jamie Bennell not only gets a game, but plays it well against us.

I'll cry

[old dee 23,788]

Imagine if one of Demonland's (Old Dee's in particular) favourites in young Jamie Bennell not only gets a game, but plays it well against us.

I'll cry

Playing well next weekend will prove nothing deeko.

It won't be hard to get an easy kick against the Dees in March 2014

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

[Nasher edit: great post! Have a two week ban.]

Edited March 24, 2014 by Nasher

[chook fowler 19,458]

Cant understand the anti - Kent sentiment - showed plenty last year I thought. Is young and had a n interrupted pre-season. Will bounce back Im sure.

Am not a Pederson fan but not sure he deserves that rant.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Well, that's the fault of the person/people putting you out there and expecting Jamie Durie...

You expect someone who has been on the list for as long as he has to be hitting targets and the scoreboard a hell of a lot more than he does.

22 possessions and hard running means very little..

[dees189227 12,390]

well lets see we dont have a decent ruckman to go against cox and Nic Nat especially Cox if Tom doesnt play our backline will be depleted compared to there forward line of Kennedy, darling and Lecras, our forward line is non existent at the moment and in the midfield we may match them.

We are in for a hell of a battle. Im going but im a little scared of the end result.

[angrydee 842]

siddle doesnt play a contact sport in a position that requires strength and tackling

Brett Kirk also says hello

[Deez 298]

get the mids to run the ball into the 50, and take shots.

less stopping and waiting for a leading option, this is where we hesitated and turned it over.

if the talls fwds sit back deep in the fwd fifty, as do the smalls, smalls could lead in to the pockets,

it should leave more room at the top of the fifty and not so much congestion, so the mids can get some shots on goal from 40-50 out.

could result in less turnovers at chf.

obviously it wouldn't work every time, but theres no point kicking to falls that can't even bring the ball to ground in some advantageous fashion.

the goals could be scored by leading smalls and streaming mids.

[InVINCEable 358]

Back: Terlich, Chip, Georgie

Half back: Grimes, McDonald, Dunn

(We get Dunn and Georgie to shut down LeCras, Grimes to provide support on the wing, Terlich to stay back down and take whoever is running around out, Chip just try and keep Kennedy out of it was poor on Riewoldt hopefully he goes better because we know he can do it, and McDonald to annoy Darling all day)

Mid: Vince, Trengove, Watts

(Watts is pure class, anything he would touch would turn into gold, he'll be able to out class West Coast mids i think, more classy than any of them, Trenners I liked on the weekend, he was strong, throw him on Scott Selwood to try and out muscle him, Vince give him the ball and he'll show you how good he is, he was a little nervous on goals get Roosy to get him on goal kicking drills a bit and we'll be right)

Half forward: Matt Jones, Jesse Hogan, Daniel Cross

Forward: Fitzpatick, Gawn, Howe

(Matt Jones to me was terrific, he knew when to run and boy he ran, he got absolutely rorted out of some of his tackles, get him to tag Hurn I think, Hogan if he is ready, Cross wasn't as bad as everyone made out, he tackled well, Fitzpatrick LET. THE. MAN. RUN thats what he did last year and he got enough goals, HOWEEEE throw him on a forward pocket and give him permission to fly and the goals will flow)

Followers: Spencer, N. Jones, Viney

(Spencer yeah he's a bit clumsy and frustrating but he does his job right, N. Jones stars with Tyson, Vince and Watts)

I/C: Tyson, JKH, Michie

Sub: Blease

(Blease perfect bloke to bring on at half time, let JKH start for Christ sake, Michie should get better, Tyson is a star)

So

Back: Terlich, Chip, Georgie

Half back: Grimes, McDonald, Dunn

Mid: Vince, Trengove, Watts

Half forward: Matt Jones, Jesse Hogan, Daniel Cross

Forward: Fitzpatick, Gawn, Howe

Followers: Spencer, N. Jones, Viney

I/C: Tyson, JKH, Michie

Sub: Blease

Edited March 24, 2014 by thedeeman