Minimal changes. We don't need extra height against the dogs as they're playing a mid-sized mobile forward setup. vandenBerg to come in if he's fit. Unsure who makes way for him. We need to crash in and fight them head-on for the contested ball in the middle. Gawn should smash Campbell in the ruck, so no worries there.

Minimal changes. We don't need extra height against the dogs as they're playing a mid-sized mobile forward setup. vandenBerg to come in if he's fit. Unsure who makes way for him. We need to crash in and fight them head-on for the contested ball in the middle. Gawn should smash Campbell in the ruck, so no worries there.

We do need extra foot speed though. If we were too slow at times against Norf, we'll get burned against Dogs.

That means Matt Jones (who was OK) stays, the most likely ins are Salem & Bail, and Riley & Newton have to wait.

If a slow has to go, that's where Michie might be in trouble.

We do need extra foot speed though. If we were too slow at times against Norf, we'll get burned against Dogs.

That means Matt Jones (who was OK) stays, the most likely ins are Salem & Bail, and Riley & Newton have to wait.

If a slow has to go, that's where Michie might be in trouble.

JKH had 24 touches for Casey, would give us some dash

Nothing to loose, no one expects us to win this game...Roos could try a few things like he did against Geelong!!

We really need to tighten the screws this week.

When was that because i must have missed that bit..

I thought Michie was good actually

Missed a set shot from 40-45 and kicked a point on the run from 30 to 40. Funny how Garlett drops a catch my great granny could take which was then swept away and a goal score, Watts kicks into the man on the mark which cost a goal, Hogan missed from 10- 20 and Dawes also missed from 20 (both delivered by Viv) yet Viv is the one that butchers the ball.

Out Grimes Michie

In Salem Newton

Next week see how both M jones and JKH go and maybe swap them over.

JKH had 24 touches for Casey, would give us some dash

Doesn't have the endurance to run with the Dogs quicks and doesn't work two ways, say what you like about Bail and Matty Jones but if they are given a negating task to run with a Dogs quick they will do it, they don't give us much teh other way but needs to be considered.

My ins were Salem and Vandenburg for Lumumba and Michie

Lumumba had a bad game and has not had a great year, Michie was not bad but different game against the Dogs and at Etihad makes it even more difficult.

Having thought about it a bit more don't be surprised to see Bail come into consideration to play as a negating forward and run with Matty Boyd off half back

JKH had 24 touches for Casey, would give us some dash

Let him play VFL and get some form, was able to come into the 1s too quickly after injury and really struggled, really needs to find some form consistently, similar situation with Ben Newton.

If anyone needs to be dropped then vandenBerg will come in, if Roos wants to make another change I think it will be Bail, played the Dogs last time and did well in the defensive forward role.

That said, I wouldn't mind letting ANB and Harmes have a crack at what M.Jones and Bail did last time we played them.

Doesn't have the endurance to run with the Dogs quicks and doesn't work two ways, say what you like about Bail and Matty Jones but if they are given a negating task to run with a Dogs quick they will do it, they don't give us much teh other way but needs to be considered.

My ins were Salem and Vandenburg for Lumumba and Michie

Lumumba had a bad game and has not had a great year, Michie was not bad but different game against the Dogs and at Etihad makes it even more difficult.

Having thought about it a bit more don't be surprised to see Bail come into consideration to play as a negating forward and run with Matty Boyd off half back

I think that will happen 'Pennant', pretty sure it was Bail & Jones that did a job on the Dogs running HB's last time we played them.

Yes, he made a big impact and probably deserves to stay as the sub..in my opinion we have too many kids/first year players out there, Hogan, Vandenberg, Angus, ANB, Harmes, Stretch....these guys can't be expected to beat seasoned Afl players. I am happy with Hogan, Angus and Vandenberg but I think anymore than three of these in the same team is exposing us.

What more is there left to play for though? 13th spot?

The reason the Dogs and Saints are thriving now is partially due to the fact they've been willing to give games to kids the last 18 months, and play them repeatedly together.

I'd rather see Harmes, ANB, Stretch et al get games from here on than Bail, McKenzie, Michie, Terlich etc.

What more is there left to play for though? 13th spot?

The reason the Dogs and Saints are thriving now is partially due to the fact they've been willing to give games to kids the last 18 months, and play them repeatedly together.

I'd rather see Harmes, ANB, Stretch et al get games from here on than Bail, McKenzie, Michie, Terlich etc.

Agree with your sentiment, but the Saints thriving is the biggest misconception in football at the moment. Media beating up how well they are going relative to Melbourne and other clubs and how they are ahead of expectations. Saints have beaten us twice, but they are hardly thriving and are in a worse position with their list than we are currently. Had we had a legend like Nick Riedwolt who can provide such a presence and win games off his own back we would easily have 8-9 wins.

Media beat up in the worst of ways, St Kildas form is vastly over rated.

We all wanted Michie to get a fair crack at it, rather than being in, then out, then sub, then out, and so on. He has had 2 games on the trot now in the starting 21 and failed to impress. He looks low on confidence, and is getting very frustrated with himself when he makes errors he normally wouldn't make, but that is what the step up to AFL level is all about.

Personally, I would keep him in the team for another week and give him that 3 game stretch I think he deserves. But it is a case of don't perform and it is curtains unfortunately.

Edit: Assuming he is OOC

Edited August 11, 201510 yr by Forest Demon

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-11/season-possibly-over-for-melbourne-rookie-vandenberg

vandenBerg likely to miss the rest of the season.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-11/season-possibly-over-for-melbourne-rookie-vandenberg

vandenBerg likely to miss the rest of the season.

bugger

Fark

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-11/season-possibly-over-for-melbourne-rookie-vandenberg

vandenBerg likely to miss the rest of the season.

Toe?

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-11/season-possibly-over-for-melbourne-rookie-vandenberg

vandenBerg likely to miss the rest of the season.

I love this line:

"MELBOURNE'S midfield depth has taken a hit..."

In: Salem, Bail

Out: Harmes, Michie

I love this line:

"MELBOURNE'S midfield depth has taken a hit..."

It say we have depth; but somehow that depth is undermined after losing one player. Clearly we didn't have depth in the first place!

Edited August 11, 201510 yr by Moneider96

What more is there left to play for though? 13th spot?

The reason the Dogs and Saints are thriving now is partially due to the fact they've been willing to give games to kids the last 18 months, and play them repeatedly together.

I'd rather see Harmes, ANB, Stretch et al get games from here on than Bail, McKenzie, Michie, Terlich etc.

I think you are right re "getting games into the kids" though M_M beat me to the punch re Saints being further from success that us. Riewoldt will not be there when they next "enter the window". Many of their other top echelon are aging.

The Doggies have developed their list and youth particularly well over recent years - remind me, who was their coach last year and what is he doing now? :-)

All of those newbies you mentioned have played some really good (though perhaps inconsistent) footy and could well be selected ahead of those older "depth players" you named on merit alone.

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-11/season-possibly-over-for-melbourne-rookie-vandenberg

vandenBerg likely to miss the rest of the season.

Signed till 2017. Buy the bloke a ticket to Bali now and let him put his feet up.

Signed till 2017. Buy the bloke a ticket to Bali now and let him put his feet up.

Yeah, let him go through a cloud of volcanic ash

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-11/season-possibly-over-for-melbourne-rookie-vandenberg

vandenBerg likely to miss the rest of the season.

meh, he's proved his immense worth. Pop him on vacation, get him ready for pre-season. Can't wait to see how he goes with another year under his belt.

meh, he's proved his immense worth. Pop him on vacation, get him ready for pre-season. Can't wait to see how he goes with another year under his belt.

The ashes?

Signed till 2017. Buy the bloke a ticket to Bali now and let him put his feet up.

You don't remember 2002 in Bali or then again 2004, the tsunami? No overseas holidays in the off season for our guys. Too dangerous!