Changes For Next Week

[jumbo returns 6,488]

If Dawes plays with Pedo and Hogan we might as well throw the towel in now

Looks like Dawes will miss with a sore calf anyway.

There goes my buck.....

[MadAsHell 4,088]

Given the news both Jetta & Viney are a week away and Dawes calf seems to be getting worse (although I would have dropped him anyway).

IN: Gawn, Harmes, Hogan, Watts

OUT: M. Jones (omit), Spencer (omit), Dawes (inj), Salem (inj)

FB: Garland, Dunn, Stretch

HB: Lumumba, T. McDonald, Grimes

C: Watts, Vince, Tyson

HF: Vandenberg, Hogan, Bail

FF: Howe, Pedersen, Garlett

FOLL: Gawn, Cross, N. Jones

INT: Brayshaw, Michie, Toumpas

SUB: Harmes

EMERG: Jamar, M. Jones, Riley

Was tempted to drop Howe, however we need some options forward. St Kilda beat the Bulldogs by playing Riewoldt on a wing in the 2nd half and having a strong overhead mark that the defenders could kick it out to. I'd try and get Howe & Watts to share this role, with one playing on the wing and the other deep forward. Get them to alternate in order to keep them fresh.

Also keen to give both Gawn & Harmes a go, as we may as well. Spencer's shown he's not up to it, so Bulldogs are a good team with Cordy in the ruck to give Gawn an opportunity against. When we come up against teams with 2 genuine ruckmen, then Jamar can come back in. But for now, we may as well see what Gawn can do when given the responsability. Also love to see Harmes play. Has pace, is good over head and can play both inside & out. So sub may be a good role for him. Still has aspects of his defensive game to work on, but has been tracking well. Will also give Stretch another game in defence this time. Get him to sit on Dalhaus. You know he'll at least stick to his task young Billy.

And on an end note, given Watts, Howe, Grimes & Toumpas are likely our main trade bait at seasons end, I reckon it's impotant that when the opportunity is there that we play them to help increase their value. if they're stuck at Casey then there's not much value, in the 22 then there's a bit more. So again this helped shape part of my thinking process when recalling Watts and not dropping Howe or Toumpas.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

I like that The Pedo is getting games, doens't have the skills but tries, tries, tries and makes his own opportunities. In a way i feel like he will support Hogan more this week, as he is far more dangerous then Dawes.

[What 18,810]

The Round 1 forward line that kicked 17 goals had Hogan as main target, Watts as a roaming forward and Frost as the forward.ruck.

Watts had his only excellent game of the season , then Dawes came back Round 2 and we have gone back to kicking 2014 scores.

Think we will see that Round 1 forward structure this week this but with Pedo in the Frost role.

Makes me feel a lot more positive about the game.

[Pitchy 196]

I feel the same way Hogan's Heroes.

[Pitchy 196]

I like that The Pedo is getting games, doens't have the skills but tries, tries, tries and makes his own opportunities. In a way i feel like he will support Hogan more this week, as he is far more dangerous then Dawes.

He is a single grab mark. Is tough in the contest. And... IIRC... he slotted a match winner from the boundary last year?

He is just a late bloomer and does have skills! Like Stef Martin at Bris now. Pedo is also a little unfashionable, if he had a sweet haircut (say... a mullet!) and was tearing it up like he did on the weekend we would all be doing cartwheels. At the very least, he is far better than Dawes.

[jackaub 1,402]

He is a single grab mark. Is tough in the contest. And... IIRC... he slotted a match winner from the boundary last year?

He is just a late bloomer and does have skills! Like Stef Martin at Bris now. Pedo is also a little unfashionable, if he had a sweet haircut (say... a mullet!) and was tearing it up like he did on the weekend we would all be doing cartwheels. At the very least, he is far better than Dawes.

He at least looks like he wants to play and is competitive Love the way he goes one of the few who gives his best on the day

He should be in for Dawes injured or not

[Brayshaw Self 847]

I would legitimately not play a ruckman this week.

4 mids at every bounce would be better than the dogs exploiting us due to our lumbering ruckman.

We are the perfect team for Beveridge's no-ruck, run and spread stoppage style to play against.

Edited May 21, 2015 by Brayshaw Self

[rjay 23,909]

Dawes needs to be played into form.

start Dawes at CHF.

Have Hogan & [Pedersen] starting deep, pushing hard up behind Dawes's vacuum. Dawes has pushed up thru the midfield, & Hogan & Pedo' rotating position thru inside the 90Mtrs.

Have the quick smalls play spontaneously when we have the pill in possession. give them license when we're in control.

Pedo takes 2nd ruck options.

all sounds easy, but we are still light for creativity & speed.

The trouble is 'dee-luded', I don't think he has much more to give if anything.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

What form are we trying to play Dawes into? Is his final form an AFL forward? He's probably at 60% now. How many episodes in do we have to wait?

[hardtack 10,126]

VFL player review... could give some clues as to who might come in (Riley looks a good chance I would think)...

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2015-05-21/vfl-player-review-round-five

[Moonshadow 16,173]

I would legitimately not play a ruckman this week.

4 mids at every bounce would be better than the dogs exploiting us due to our lumbering ruckman.

We are the perfect team for Beveridge's no-ruck, run and spread stoppage style to play against.

We have no ruck that can regularly tap to advantage, so your suggestion is good. Would Pedo playing as fist ruck be an alternative?

[rjay 23,909]

We have no ruck that can regularly tap to advantage, so your suggestion is good. Would Pedo playing as fist ruck be an alternative?

I would play Watts

[Moonshadow 16,173]

I would play Watts

Maybe worth trying. I definitely can't see value in playing Spencil or Jamar against the doggies. Pedo takes a good mark and tries his guts out to impose upon marking contests. Watts has the speed and skills. Shame we can't combine the two into one!

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Jamar competed well in the ruck in the early rounds. I think he needs to come back in and dominate the Doggies lack of rucks and give us first use. And I know he is average around the ground, but provides a hell of a lot more than Spencer. Gawn should be the clear number 1, but he can't run out a game in the ruck, so he doesn't play until he has a tank.

[Brayshaw Self 847]

If there's once dunce in the league that Watts could physically and mentally beat, it's probably Cordy...

[P-man 13,168]

And on an end note, given Watts, Howe, Grimes & Toumpas are likely our main trade bait at seasons end, I reckon it's impotant that when the opportunity is there that we play them to help increase their value. if they're stuck at Casey then there's not much value, in the 22 then there's a bit more. So again this helped shape part of my thinking process when recalling Watts and not dropping Howe or Toumpas.

The problem is that playing them might achieve the opposite in terms of their value. Certainly Howe's value is dropping by the week, which is bad for both him and the club. Bit of a catch 22 situation.

But you're right in that I'd currently lean more towards playing them than not. Surely one of Watts, Howe and Toumpas is due for a good performance.

[rjay 23,909]

The problem is that playing them might achieve the opposite in terms of their value. Certainly Howe's value is dropping by the week, which is bad for both him and the club. Bit of a catch 22 situation.

But you're right in that I'd currently lean more towards playing them than not. Surely one of Watts, Howe and Toumpas is due for a good performance.

I reckon a deal is already as good as done.

[P-man 13,168]

I reckon a deal is already as good as done.

Would not surprise.

[highroller 112]

im just gonna say it - lets just get rid of Dawes i dont actually know what he does or what value he serves. Trade him now while we might be able to package him up in a deal as the steak knifes to get something decent. Sorry for any Dawes fans but i value Hogan (obviously) and then Watts and Pedo more than Dawes.

[Moonshadow 16,173]

im just gonna say it - lets just get rid of Dawes i dont actually know what he does or what value he serves. Trade him now while we might be able to package him up in a deal as the steak knifes to get something decent. Sorry for any Dawes fans but i value Hogan (obviously) and then Watts and Pedo more than Dawes.

Hard not to agree with this.

[hemingway 7,589]

Season not yet reached halfway. Suggest we wait until season end to evaluate individual and team progress. Sure there are players like Dawes that have their limitations (we have known that for a long time) but the limitations appear more obvious with the poor form of his team mates and the whole team. I am sure that Roos and Co will be marking their progress report cards but the final result will be determined by an evaluation over the entire season, We do need big bodies and we all know about the deficiencies of our other talls. I think Frost has more upside but I would be cautious about trading Dawes too soon. Dawes has not much trade value alone. It is very difficult when we have so many injuries and poor form to get a clear picture on things. Whenever individual and team performance is poor we always start talking about sacking or trading players. We need to see improvement but you need to maintain integrity in list management so that the remaining players see the club behaving in a sensible and proper manner. No different from redundancies or sacking at a "normal" workplace.

[dpositive 1,547]

Maybe worth trying. I definitely can't see value in playing Spencil or Jamar against the doggies. Pedo takes a good mark and tries his guts out to impose upon marking contests. Watts has the speed and skills. Shame we can't combine the two into one!

Actually thats not a bad idea

How do these guys get along

Pedo was a player at North who didnt meet expectation

He plays with a tad more desperation now than when he was at North

Perhaps having Pedo talk to Jack about how important teammates perceptions are might alter the jacks effectiveness.

Perhaps they may think they are playing for the same spot and so will not want to share but there sure could be some benefits if they shared experiences. Jack might improve pedos skills

[DeeSpencer 23,129]

Out: Toumpas, Salem, Bail, Dawes

In: Riley, Newton, Harmes, Hogan

Can swap Jamar for Spencer as well, I'm not fussed.

FB: Grimes Dunn Garland

HB: Howe McDonald Lumumba

C: Newton Jones Vince

HF: Brayshaw Hogan Harmes

FF: Garlett Pedersen vandenBerg

Foll: Spencer Tyson Cross

Int: M Jones, Riley, Michie

S: Stretch

- Howe has to stay and play back, without Jetta and Salem we just don't have capable defenders. Lumumba and Grimes are already a concern back there

- Newton back in on a wing/7th defender to provide more skill from behind the ball

- I'd leave Watts out for at least 1 more. We need to let him bash the door down at Casey for a while yet and it will build team mates confidence in him

- Hogan back, rest Dawes. Play vandenBerg as the 3rd tall forward

- M Jones, Michie, Riley offer more than Toump and Bail as peripheral half forward/midfield types although they aren't perfect

- Give young Harmes a go as a half forward and see if he can provide some pressure and ball winning efforts

[MadAsHell 4,088]

im just gonna say it - lets just get rid of Dawes i dont actually know what he does or what value he serves. Trade him now while we might be able to package him up in a deal as the steak knifes to get something decent. Sorry for any Dawes fans but i value Hogan (obviously) and then Watts and Pedo more than Dawes.

Can't see another club taking up his contract, even with only 1 year to go.

I expect he'll be a depth player next year, come in if Hogan misses. That is if we can land someone like Gorringe who can play forward and then chop out in the ruck.