MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION - Round 8

[beelzebub 23,390]

Yeah Ive looked at the ladder. They've had a solid start, but they also got thumped by the Hawks and lost to the Saints.

Like us they are young and inconsistent. Your'e taking like they are 7-0

As I said, its a 50/50 game

yeah...nah...look at their scores...who they have played..

id want the line at 24 to even place a bet

theyve taken it to some good teams... we cant roast a marshmallow.

[old dee 24,022]

Missing

An ageing ruckman. Last seen being beaten by a 3 meter monster. Answers to Mark.

If found, please contact Melbourne Football Club match committee

Seriously, where is Jamar?

He is over the Hill and the future lies elsewhere.

I suspect the FD think the same.

Besides ball ups what does Jamar contribute.

Aggression - Low

Around the ground Marking - Nil

Marking in defence - Low

Goal Kicking - Nil

Not a lot there,

Showing little at Casey the last couple of weeks he would not get a game at any other team in the competition.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,339]

Geez alot of people are in love with the dogs list. I wish they would look at our list with similar objectivity. We are better set at either end of the ground. They have a better midfield fleet but are more suited to a speedy track at Etihad. I am thankful Watts is in as he at least is creative with ball and hits a target. Michie obviously does not follow team rules to be consistently out every time he plays a game. Being that Howe swans around the ground doing not much I would love to know what those team rules are. A Hogan, Pederson, Watts, Garlett forward line will be dangerous IF we can actually get the ball in there with any frequency.Hoping Riley plays to gives us a bit more hardness around the ball as it has lacked the last 3 weeks.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Gawn is a quite capable VFL player. Thats his limit. If he were to break open games and impose he might make an effective AFL player. He doesnt. That just ..is. Why do we sugar coat reality.

I rate Gawn, I think he has what it takes to be a good AFL ruckman.

[beelzebub 23,390]

BRFE...a bit of difference between the better aspects of our list...and who will be taking the ground this weekend. The Doggies are playing with verve...we are playing LIKE the Verve !!

[old dee 24,022]

Geez alot of people are in love with the dogs list. I wish they would look at our list with similar objectivity. We are better set at either end of the ground. They have a better midfield fleet but are more suited to a speedy track at Etihad. I am thankful Watts is in as he at least is creative with ball and hits a target. Michie obviously does not follow team rules to be consistently out every time he plays a game. Being that Howe swans around the ground doing not much I would love to know what those team rules are. A Hogan, [Pedersen], Watts, Garlett forward line will be dangerous IF we can actually get the ball in there with any frequency.Hoping Riley plays to gives us a bit more hardness around the ball as it has lacked the last 3 weeks.

They have beaten west coast, Richmond, Crows and Sydney.

Four wins to our two and much better teams than ours

That looks way better than our form.

Please stop the MFC supporter think of grossly over estimating the ability of our players.

The Dogs are clear favourites and deserve that status

[beelzebub 23,390]

I rate Gawn, I think he has what it takes to be a good AFL ruckman.

oh..ok..sign him for another 4...itll take that long

[old dee 24,022]

I rate Gawn, I think he has what it takes to be a good AFL ruckman.

I don't and have seen next to no evidence of it CB

Having said that it is hard to see him contributing less than either Jamar or Dawes.

[What 18,810]

yeah...nah...look at their scores...who they have played..

id want the line at 24 to even place a bet

theyve taken it to some good teams... we cant roast a marshmallow.

As long as Jesse Christ is out there, we are a chance

[beelzebub 23,390]

As long as Jesse Christ is out there, we are a chance

yeah...lets put the whole weight of expectations on the back of someone !!

we dont learn do we...its a team game...we dont have a team...We have some/few of its components but not the shebang yet

Go Dees..hey I would just love us to compete meaningfully.. That would be a start

[The Chazz 4,077]

And that's been our problem for years Dr.

Just would be good for the players in the seconds to be in some sort of form and then promoted but from what Roos has said previously and selecting Gawn it doesn't add up.

We r obviously desparate which is no real surprise.

So who do we name then, Ox? We had to make two forced changes (Dawes and Salem), and dropped Michie. That means we had/have to make 3 locked in changes, as well as an extended bench due to the game being on Sunday.

With Watts and Hogan coming straight back in, we still needed to name one replacement for Michie, as well as an extra 3 to meet the extended bench requirement. From there, you need to look at form at Casey; Riley has been close to selection, Newton has been around the mark, Fitzy and Gawn have been solid without dominating. If it's not any of those names, then it has to be out of McKenzie (been there, done that), Harmes (not ready), Jamar (not in form at all), ANB (not quite ready), Oscar (not ready), Terlich (terribly out of form), Mitch White (not ready).

While I understand what you are saying about earning your spot, I'm in no doubt Roos is hoping that he can implement this, but sadly, given the state of our injury list, as well as where some of the kids are at in their development, we have to pick the likes of Gawn and Fitzy, even if it is just to fill up the numbers of an extended bench.

If I'm picking the final changes, I'd be going;

Out: Dawes, Salem, Michie, Bail

In: Watts, Hogan, Newton (sub), Riley

Give Stretch this game to play against a younger group, Toumpas likewise.

To be honest, I quite like the look of our team this week. The line of 17.5 points if rather juicy.

[junk 342]

Rd 8 mfc v Bulldogs Don't be surprised that Spencer will be dropped for Gawn,the bench will be Newton and Riley the other 2 will be out of Fitzpatrick,Bail and Stretch(possibly needs a bit more time in the reserves).

[P-man 13,367]

Welcome back enyaw

I hope you're right re Gawn in for Spencer. Against the Dogs' ploy of no ruck required, both big men will dominate in the middle, but Gawn also gives us another forward and marking option. Spencer gives us another "oh [censored] I've got the ball, who wants it?" option.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

I've gotta say I'm surprised Spencer is still in the team.

Surely Gawn comes in now. We need a ruckman who can tap to advantage. We need a ruckman who will take some contested marks around the ground and potentially go forward and kick some goals.

As you say P-man, this is where we can exploit the Dogs 'we don't need a ruckman' thought.

Spencer doesn't have the football brain nor ability to give us any sort of advantage.

[Nasher 33,617]

Surely Gawn comes in now. We need a ruckman who can tap to advantage. We need a ruckman who will take some contested marks around the ground and potentially go forward and kick some goals.

So why do you want Gawn again?

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

So why do you want Gawn again?

Because he has at least proven that he has the ability to do those things.

It's a question of consistency for Gawn, not ability.

Whereas Spencer has never shown that he has the ability to kicks goals, take contested marks around the ground or tap to advantage.

(Save yourselves from pointing out he may have done it once or twice during a game).

Edited May 21, 2015 by stevethemanjordan

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

oh..ok..sign him for another 4...itll take that long

He's only 23.

[hardtack 10,955]

BRFE...a bit of difference between the better aspects of our list...and who will be taking the ground this weekend. The Doggies are playing with verve...we are playing LIKE the Verve !!

Our team needs a bit o sweet sympathy BB. And they need to learn to walk through their opponents like that Verve guy walks through pedestrians.

[What 18,810]

Rd 8 mfc v Bulldogs Don't be surprised that Spencer will be dropped for Gawn,the bench will be Newton and Riley the other 2 will be out of Fitzpatrick,Bail and Stretch(possibly needs a bit more time in the reserves).

Enyaw has spoken

Spencer will be a late withdrawal, Gawn in

[hardtack 10,955]

Rd 8 mfc v Bulldogs Don't be surprised that Spencer will be dropped for Gawn,the bench will be Newton and Riley the other 2 will be out of Fitzpatrick,Bail and Stretch(possibly needs a bit more time in the reserves).

I wonder if ENYAW is aware that someone has hijacked his account.

[monoccular 17,695]

Watts to have the run-with role on Murphy. Give him a task to stick to.

I wouldn't mind seeing Fitzpatrick in the side. He'll hit the scoreboard if nothing else, and it's not like they have quality talls to go against him.

He (Fitz) may well hit the scoreboard, if he gets the ball

Few players are playing for their careers over the coming weeks, I will be fascinated to see how it all unfolds

Sorry to sound pedantic, but do you mean few, or a few? (I actually do enjoy some pedantry)

Against Cordy this is a great chance for Spencer to gain some confidence and hopefully get into some form. He will have 50+ hit outs this week

If only.

Geez alot of people are in love with the dogs list. I wish they would look at our list with similar objectivity. We are better set at either end of the ground. They have a better midfield fleet but are more suited to a speedy track at Etihad. I am thankful Watts is in as he at least is creative with ball and hits a target. Michie obviously does not follow team rules to be consistently out every time he plays a game. Being that Howe swans around the ground doing not much I would love to know what those team rules are. A Hogan, [Pedersen], Watts, Garlett forward line will be dangerous IF we can actually get the ball in there with any frequency.Hoping Riley plays to gives us a bit more hardness around the ball as it has lacked the last 3 weeks.

Seriously? We are so suited to Etihad that we haven't won there if I recall since it was Telstra Dome or Colonial, or maybe just plain Docklands. Our record there is a bloody disgrace. Even way back when we played reasonable footy.

And you make it sound as if we should thrash the pants off them with our list. Maybe, but they play as a team with confidence in one another. We did a couple of times early this year, with a fairly full list.....recently however we have played dispirited uninspiring footy with a depleted list.

Let's hope that at least they come out and give it a red hot go. Anything beyond that would be a bonus.

Edited May 22, 2015 by monoccular

[Wunders 397]

Because he has at least proven that he has the ability to do those things.

It's a question of consistency for Gawn, not ability.

Whereas Spencer has never shown that he has the ability to kicks goals, take contested marks around the ground or tap to advantage.

(Save yourselves from pointing out he may have done it once or twice during a game).

On this, almost every game Gawn has played has been with Jamar as No.1 ruck that i can recall (or Gawn and Spencer), so he has never? rucked an entire match as the No.1 Ruck alone. I would love Gawn to get a solid 10 game stint as the only ruckman in the team.. Similar to what Spencer got at the start of last year (or year b4), before he got injured & got that contract extension.

I'm not saying Gawn will be amazing, but i think he has the talent to be better than all the ruckman on our list, and like a new high draft pick who was recruited for talent, i'd like him to get games so we can see this.

Just give him a chance Roos please!

Go Dees

Edited May 22, 2015 by Wunders

[Adam The God 30,639]

Missing

An ageing ruckman. Last seen being beaten by a 3 meter monster. Answers to Mark.

If found, please contact Melbourne Football Club match committee

Seriously, where is Jamar?

Not good enough and gets killed around the ground, J. From here on out he's on the list as back up.

[rjay 25,317]

I would have

Cross as a defensive forward on Murphy

Vince to run with Bontempelli

Cross will take McRae, he's done the job on him before.

Roos likes to use him on the outside runners, McRae, Ellis at Richmond to name a couple.

Ok fair enough, but how we we nullify Murphy?

Your call is a good one, it's just that in the past Roos has used Cross up around the wing on outside runners. He may well change and push him back to Murphy, we do need to cover his run thats for sure.

[Nasher 33,617]

On this, almost every game Gawn has played has been with Jamar as No.1 ruck that i can recall (or Gawn and Spencer), so he has never? rucked an entire match as the No.1 Ruck alone. I would love Gawn to get a solid 10 game stint as the only ruckman in the team.. Similar to what Spencer got at the start of last year (or year b4), before he got injured & got that contract extension.

I'm not saying Gawn will be amazing, but i think he has the talent to be better than all the ruckman on our list, and like a new high draft pick who was recruited for talent, i'd like him to get games so we can see this.

Just give him a chance Roos please!

Go Dees

I remember Gawn rucking solo against Minson in a game where we were either overrun or came very close to it, and he was completely cactus and hardly competed in the last quarter. Looks as if it might have been in this game in 2013: http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2013/071120130629.html. It was a huge factor in the result.

It has happened, but not recently that I can recall. That said, given his injury history, I'd be surprised if his engine was that much bigger now than it was then. Not withstanding Spencer's limitations, going in to to a game with Gawn as the solo ruck is a risk IMO.

At the moment I feel we've got a choice between 3 ruckmen that all add nothing at their worst and are a long way off their best. Agree that Spencer has the lowest ceiling of the three, but I think he's the right choice for the time being.