Match preview and team selection

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I'm nicknaming Dom Barry "Yo-Yo".

It was only a couple of weeks ago that he was named in the Casey Development squad and now he is back in the Melbourne team.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

Dees by 4 points

[SaberFang 7,151]

When is the Casey team named? Please please please let Hogan be in.

[Moneider96 1,045]

Omg I love the outs. Actually excited for this game now!

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

I reckon McKenzie and Blease have had their cards stamped. Probably Tappy also.

[DeeSpencer 26,301]

Don't get me wrong we needed to make some changes, but I'm not convinced they will help.

Cross for McKenzie is an obvious upgrade in class there. But the rest:

Gawn for Pedersen - more marking power and something extra in the ruck but we lose the ability to keep the ball in the forward line and Gawny has struggled to get to contests when forward at AFL level

Matt Jones for Terlich - if Jones does play half back I'm not convinced he's a good defender or he can use the ball better than Terilch

Michie for Tapscott - Michie is better as a mid but not sure about his ability on a flank

Barry for Blease - Barry might be better defensively but not sure he'll find any ball

[Wormburner 674]

Dees by 4 points

Haha, you're funny when you're drunk!

[picket fence 17,978]

I'm not all that happy with Cam Pederson Missing out!

Sheeit he has been one of our most improved players this year.

To be omitted seems harsh, although having surgery on a broken nose is no fun at all I can tell you and it can and does knock the wind out of your sails.

I had it done after mine was smashed over my face in an "off the ball" Hit and I'm still seeing stars 20 years later..I reckon it took me a good three weeks to recover from the anaesthetic. I played the following week but I felt like a "Gumby Doll"

Anyway I just feel that maybe they have taken the players health into account, I hope so anyway

Even though it says omitted I think Cam Peterson is being harshly treated! Injured I can cope with!

Hnmm anyone else with me on this??

Also, other than this I do like the changes!

Edited August 7, 2014 by picket fence

[DeeSpencer 26,301]

What I'd actually do is make some positional changes to see if we can get some improved ball movement and stay in the game defensively

- Dom Barry to Brad Hill at either half back or wing

- Cross to Lewis/Hodge or Burgoyne

- Viney to mind Sam Mitchell at stoppages as another learning exercise

- N. Jones, Cross, Tyson, Viney, Michie or Riley (the other as sub) to do the centre square minutes to free up:

- Bernie Vince to half back

- Matt Jones then plays his usual game on a wing

Mainly I want some skill at half back in Vince, and I want to play Matt Jones, Barry and Michie in the midfield where they've been playing in the VFL and in the roles that suit them. It's not ideal for them to be back in the side the week we play Hawthorn to trial this and I understand why we need our best players in the midfield usually. But it's hardly like our midfield has been firing. Time to mix it up.

[picket fence 17,978]

What I'd actually do is make some positional changes to see if we can get some improved ball movement and stay in the game defensively

- Dom Barry to Brad Hill at either half back or wing

- Cross to Lewis/Hodge or Burgoyne

- Viney to mind Sam Mitchell at stoppages as another learning exercise

- N. Jones, Cross, Tyson, Viney, Michie or Riley (the other as sub) to do the centre square minutes to free up:

- Bernie Vince to half back

- Matt Jones then plays his usual game on a wing

Mainly I want some skill at half back in Vince, and I want to play Matt Jones, Barry and Michie in the midfield where they've been playing in the VFL and in the roles that suit them. It's not ideal for them to be back in the side the week we play Hawthorn to trial this and I understand why we need our best players in the midfield usually. But it's hardly like our midfield has been firing. Time to mix it up.

Oh yeah, like this plan a lot!!!! Great strategies Georgio man!!

[DeeSpencer 26,301]

I'm not all that happy with Cam Pederson Missing out!

Sheeit he has been one of our most improved players this year.

To be omitted seems harsh, although having surgery on a broken nose is no fun at all I can tell you and it can and does knock the wind out of your sails.

I had it done after mine was smashed over my face in an "off the ball" Hit and I'm still seeing stars 20 years later..I reckon it took me a good three weeks to recover from the anaesthetic. I played the following week but I felt like a "Gumby Doll"

Anyway I just feel that maybe they have taken the players health into account, I hope so anyway

Even though it says omitted I think Cam Peterson is being harshly treated! Injured I can cope with!

Hnmm anyone else with me on this??

Also, other than this I do like the changes!

Harsh to omit him, he's been playing well and doing the job. But if it wasn't this week when does Gawn get a chance? He had 50+ hit outs against an almost AFL standard ruck in Warnock, kicked 3 when resting forward and has been doing the same thing for a month. If it wasn't Pedersen then it might've been Jamar but the Russian has been rucking extremely well so I understand why he stayed in. The other options were to drop Dawes and Frawley as forwards but Frawley had his moments last week and Dawes is still the best defensive marshall we have out there.

I would've moved Pedersen to CHB to play on Schoenmakers or Hale given the Hawks will likely go in with the 3 big guys (Schoenmakers, the resting ruck and Roughy). Instead it seems Garland will play tall and Jetta will take Breust. I can understand them not wanting to fiddle with the backline at this stage.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

This game's going to be ugly.....

Like a little kid taking a swing at his old man, who's holding him at arm's length only using his little finger.

[beelzebub 23,390]

I reckon McKenzie and Blease have had their cards stamped. Probably Tappy also.

and that Stamp don't read "good for 2015"

[Moneider96 1,045]

Nah mate, I reckon we got this I never go into a game thinking that we can't win anymore.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Moneider96

[P-man 13,366]

League Teams on Fox just treating the fixture as a joke.

Dixon reckons the Hawks will use Melbourne to "floss their teeth".

Shaw says we won't kick more than 4 goals.

The only game where Dermott didn't even bother asking for tips.

Ah, what fun.

Edited August 7, 2014 by P-man

[Axis of Bob 11,906]

Barry for Blease - Barry might be better defensively but not sure he'll find any ball

You're worried that Barry may not be able to win as much of the ball as Blease? Here are Blease's disposal stats for the last 2 years in the AFL:

8, 7, 7, 14, 12, 8, 5, 8, 4, 2, 10, 11

That's an average of 8 disposals per game.

"But he's often the sub", you say? If you equate a full game as being 80% game time, he would average 10.4 disposals per game.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

Harsh to omit him, he's been playing well and doing the job. But if it wasn't this week when does Gawn get a chance? He had 50+ hit outs against an almost AFL standard ruck in Warnock, kicked 3 when resting forward and has been doing the same thing for a month. If it wasn't Pedersen then it might've been Jamar but the Russian has been rucking extremely well so I understand why he stayed in. The other options were to drop Dawes and Frawley as forwards but Frawley had his moments last week and Dawes is still the best defensive marshall we have out there.

I would've moved Pedersen to CHB to play on Schoenmakers or Hale given the Hawks will likely go in with the 3 big guys (Schoenmakers, the resting ruck and Roughy). Instead it seems Garland will play tall and Jetta will take Breust. I can understand them not wanting to fiddle with the backline at this stage.

Pedersen was in getting surgery on his nose today, so I think his omission has more to do with that than anything else.

Happy with the changes, and as others have mentioned you could probably say guys like Blease, Tapscott and McKenzie (even though he is contracted for 2015) have had their papers 'stamped' so to speak. Not looking forward to this game at all other than the fact that it brings us one game closer to the end of the season.

[Clintosaurus 7,926]

Just had a look at the Casey teams - no Jesse.

[old dee 24,003]

Pedersen was in getting surgery on his nose today, so I think his omission has more to do with that than anything else.

Happy with the changes, and as others have mentioned you could probably say guys like Blease, Tapscott and McKenzie (even though he is contracted for 2015) have had their papers 'stamped' so to speak. Not looking forward to this game at all other than the fact that it brings us one game closer to the end of the season.

I would suggest that covers 80% of supporters

[dees189227 12,453]

Interesting. Pederson had surgery on his broken nose this morning after the club bought it forward because he was going to get dropped. Obviously roosy told the players earlier in the week. I just presumed he wouldnt have played anyway.

Jordie was probably dropped for that stupid miss he kicked that he should have got. I like that cross is back.

[Moneider96 1,045]

Stop with the stupid [censored] like 'we're going to get thrashed', I mean...what's the point of even watching the game if you don't acknowledge the possibility that we might have a chance to win or compete. I don't watch my team expecting us to lose convincingly anymore. I think on our good day, we can compete against anyone. Call it wishful thinking all you want...I prefer to be excited and optimistic as opposed to pessimistic and cynical even if my expectations might be unrealistic to some. Go the Dees!!

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Call me ludicrous, but I have a feeling we'll be in with a chance. We'll get within 20 points I reckon.

Hawthorn have had a pretty cruisey few weeks and are ripe for us to take it up to them.

Obviously the difference in class will see them win but I reckon we'll make it a scrap and they'll be inaccurate. (Like most teams have been against us this year).

Hawks by 20 points.

[old dee 24,003]

Stop with the stupid [censored] like 'we're going to get thrashed', I mean...what's the point of even watching the game if you don't acknowledge the possibility that we might have a chance to win or compete. I don't watch my team expecting us to lose convincingly anymore. I think on our good day, we can compete against anyone. Call it wishful thinking all you want...I prefer to be excited and optimistic as opposed to pessimistic and cynical even if my expectations might be unrealistic to some. Go the Dees!!

Hi wishful thinking

[daisycutter 29,892]

is that per qtr ?

think he meant goals not points

[Moneider96 1,045]

Having a laugh mate? Pessimism gets you no where in anything! It just limits you. I'm sure most of the Melbourne lads are going into this game thinking they can win as well.