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MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION - Round 10

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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Bail out is a good move. Obviously Fitzy or Gawn won't play, I expect Spencer to hold his position.

I think they'll pick Watts over Grimes, although it could go either way.

Fine with the other 3, and I expect Michie to be the sub.

Gawn & Fitz are named in the 18, with Spencer on the extended bench.

??? Fitz down back, the Colonel at F/F, with Gawn either CHF or F/p & Pencil in the ruck. later, one could get subbed off.

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    Apart from North, Collingwood really haven't beaten anyone particularly good this year.

    Saints, Brisbane, Carlton, Gold Coast, Essendon... all 5 clubs have horrible days when they're off, and the Pies have had a dream fixturing run to start the season. They haven't faced any of the top 4 teams yet and this is where the younger sides get found out very quickly (as we all know thanks to the Hawks/Syd/Freo trifecta). They also lost to Richmond who we comfortably beat.

    Whether we win or lose this game will be determined on our terms: whether our players bother to show up or drop their heads as soon as the going gets tough.

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    If we can beat Richmond (playing away) then we can beat the Pies!

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    Apart from North, Collingwood really haven't beaten anyone particularly good this year.

    Saints, Brisbane, Carlton, Gold Coast, Essendon... all 5 clubs have horrible days when they're off, and the Pies have had a dream fixturing run to start the season. They haven't faced any of the top 4 teams yet and this is where the younger sides get found out very quickly (as we all know thanks to the Hawks/Syd/Freo trifecta). They also lost to Richmond who we comfortably beat.

    Whether we win or lose this game will be determined on our terms: whether our players bother to show up or drop their heads as soon as the going gets tough.

    I quite agree. And we talk about their win over North being something remarkable, when North is currently sitting in the bottom 6 on the ladder. So they have only beaten bottom 6 sides, and Essendon (currently playing like a bottom 6 side).

    Obviously, then, if we play like a bottom 6 side then it's game over. But if we bring the same intensity that we did vs GC, WB, Richmond, the first half against Port, the first half against GWS, and the first quarter against Adelaide, and we sustain it all day, then I can easily see us winning this game. Collingwood aren't anywhere near as good as their 6-3 record suggests.

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    Really?

    For a start it's a false dichotomy, however you clearly don't care where the ball goes once it leaves our player.

    Watts is not the complete footballer but his use is exceptionally good. I just wish he won more of the footy. We'd have a fraction of the turnovers.

    Its a Sophie's choice dilemma. To me Watts is like a virus in the team. His lack of efforts, his inability to win critical one-on-one contests, his refusal to put his body on the line, his refusal to pick up his man (and point to everyone else to do so), is a festering sore in the team ethic. 'Why should I go if he doesn't', 'He doesn't put effort in and gets selected I am sick of it', 'Why should I bust my arz and drive the ball forward only to see it come back because Watts couldn't win the one on one'. etc etc.

    I like Watts with the ball in his hand, He is an elite decision maker and his delivery skills are something we severely lack. But I struggle with his negatives and think on balance they outweigh his positives. You must have players that can win their position and Watts in 100 games has done that maybe 3 times? Even if it was 10 times its simply not good enough.

    Grimes on the other hand is a fearless warrior with shocking disposal. This can be just as debilitating for a team when we are running clear with the ball and he kicks it OOB on the full or turns it over. Granted he seems to have improved this but its a highly limiting factor if you can't keep posession of the ball and keep turning it over.

    So they both have fatal flaws. But on balance I would take Grimes over Watts any day because he can win his position and his effort and grunt are critical to a team ethic that we have to develop more.

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    Its a Sophie's choice dilemma. To me Watts is like a virus in the team. His lack of efforts, his inability to win critical one-on-one contests, his refusal to put his body on the line, his refusal to pick up his man (and point to everyone else to do so), is a festering sore in the team ethic. 'Why should I go if he doesn't', 'He doesn't put effort in and gets selected I am sick of it', 'Why should I bust my arz and drive the ball forward only to see it come back because Watts couldn't win the one on one'. etc etc.

    I like Watts with the ball in his hand, He is an elite decision maker and his delivery skills are something we severely lack. But I struggle with his negatives and think on balance they outweigh his positives. You must have players that can win their position and Watts in 100 games has done that maybe 3 times? Even if it was 10 times its simply not good enough.

    Grimes on the other hand is a fearless warrior with shocking disposal. This can be just as debilitating for a team when we are running clear with the ball and he kicks it OOB on the full or turns it over. Granted he seems to have improved this but its a highly limiting factor if you can't keep posession of the ball and keep turning it over.

    So they both have fatal flaws. But on balance I would take Grimes over Watts any day because he can win his position and his effort and grunt are critical to a team ethic that we have to develop more.

    Hyperbole to die for

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    Its a Sophie's choice dilemma. To me Watts is like a virus in the team. His lack of efforts, his inability to win critical one-on-one contests, his refusal to put his body on the line, his refusal to pick up his man (and point to everyone else to do so), is a festering sore in the team ethic. 'Why should I go if he doesn't', 'He doesn't put effort in and gets selected I am sick of it', 'Why should I bust my arz and drive the ball forward only to see it come back because Watts couldn't win the one on one'. etc etc.

    I like Watts with the ball in his hand, He is an elite decision maker and his delivery skills are something we severely lack. But I struggle with his negatives and think on balance they outweigh his positives. You must have players that can win their position and Watts in 100 games has done that maybe 3 times? Even if it was 10 times its simply not good enough.

    Grimes on the other hand is a fearless warrior with shocking disposal. This can be just as debilitating for a team when we are running clear with the ball and he kicks it OOB on the full or turns it over. Granted he seems to have improved this but its a highly limiting factor if you can't keep posession of the ball and keep turning it over.

    So they both have fatal flaws. But on balance I would take Grimes over Watts any day because he can win his position and his effort and grunt are critical to a team ethic that we have to develop more.

    Absolute rubbish.

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    Absolute rubbish.

    He's averaging 12.5 disposals a game, the lowest amount since his debut year. His numbers are poor in every other statistical indicator.

    All the class in the world counts for nothing if you're not getting the footy.

    His output should be double what it is.

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    I really hope H lifts against his old team. His form has been wildly inconsistent this year, in tune with the team itself. Would love him to start pulling players with him by the scruff of the neck.

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    He's averaging 12.5 disposals a game, the lowest amount since his debut year. His numbers are poor in every other statistical indicator.

    All the class in the world counts for nothing if you're not getting the footy.

    His output should be double what it is.

    Agree - but so should 17 other players' outputs.

    But no, let's keep kicking the same player, week in, week out.

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    But no, let's keep kicking the same player, week in, week out.

    I've been critical of him on here on no more than a handful of occasions throughout his career jumbo, including the post above.

    It'd be nice to be able to do so without being accused of Watts bashing every time.

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    Michie played for Casey today so he won't be lining up on Monday.

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    I notice there is a BBQ and merchandise for sale at training today. Making up for last time?

    It's the merchandise departments Grand Final.......They always lift for QB.

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    Grimes is out and Matt Jones is still in.

    Ridiculous team selection again from Roos.

    He must be injured CB

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    It's the merchandise departments Grand Final.......They always lift for QB.

    Golden the winner of today's prize

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    Grimes is out and Matt Jones is still in.

    Ridiculous team selection again from Roos.

    Normally I can see where Roos is coming from with his team selections, but dropping Grimes and keeping M. Jones completely baffles me. Ridiculous stuff.

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