Round 1 Team

[stinga 608]

The problems we faced whilst we improved last year was that we couldn't match it with the good sides who had tall and strong marking midfielders.  As good as they are Jones and Viney are small.  ANB and Stretch are not your taller strong  mids either. (with Matt Jones, Bail, Cross etc. all relatively small that have left ) left us with few who could go forward and take a mark. Vince was the only one you could rely on the take good overhead marks.  We seem to have improved with VDB , Gus, Harmes last year.   And if we add Grimes, Petracca and Bugg into the midfieldmix this year our marking power in the mids really improves from 2 years ago.  I think you would lose that improvement if you played the 6 smalls in Kennedy, Garlett , Jones, Viney, Jetta and Kent.  I remember 2014 when Kent seemed to be the go to man at half forward only to find him trying to mark against a guy 6 inches taller than him.   So I don't see how Kennedy (and I like the way he plays) can get a game unless one of the others gets injured.

[stinga 608]

I Think

FB Jetta Dunn Garland

HB Salem TMac Hunt

C Grimes Jones Vince

HF Kent Frost Harmes

FF Watts Hogan Garlett

R Gawn Vandenberg Viney

INT Tyson Brayshaw Petracca Pederson

Lots of others unlucky

Backs - Dunn and Garland are the rocks, Jetta and Hunt the run and carry and run down pressure, Salem the sweeping deliverer (similar to flash) and McD takes the best tall and has the aerobic ability to carry through the end of the game

Mids - Jones VDB Brayshaw Viney Tyson for the inside muscle.  Grimes Vince for the ouside run and Harmes Petracca for forward marking ability.

Forwards- Hogan Frost best keys.  Kent Garlett best smalls  Watts played his best at the intraclub leading from deep.

Flexability - Pederson covers everything Forward,Back and Ruck.

[Ron Burgundy 8,588]

It's weird the things you learn reading this site from time to time - I had never thought Grimes new role might be as an outside mid/winger in 2016.

Thought he'd take Cross's role if he was to have any role in 2016.

That said, I'm encouraged by the reports. I'd love to see Grimes play his entire career at the Dees. And succeed.

He has a good tank and he sticks the the task (i.e. will run back defensively), so maybe the new role will suit him well.

[Devil is in the Detail 883]

18 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

First attempt at a Round 1 team for a while

FB Jetta Dunn Garland

HB Salem TMac Hunt

C Grimes Vince Kennedy

HF Kent Hogan Vandenberg 

FF Watts Frost Garlett

R Gawn Jones Viney

INT Tyson Brayshaw Petracca Pederson

EMG Oliver Bugg Stretch

Im backing Hunt to get a gig round 1 after what I've seen and heard about him this pre-season. Seems to have come out of nowhere. 

FWIW. He has always had the talent (was considered better than Salem and Kelly and school boys level). Just needed a consistent crack at it without injury.

Edited February 21, 2016 by Devil is in the Detail

[Fat Tony 5,306]

I think there is a good argument that Nathan Jones should play off half back this season. Rationale:

• An inside midfield of Jones, Viney and Vince is small in comparison to the rest of the competition.
• I also note a lot of Demonlanders have pushed Vince onto the wing in their 22. However, I think Vince needs to continue to run with the opposition’s best inside mid, as we get a strong net benefit out of it, and I think it helps him focus on his role.
• I think Viney is inflexible in terms of where he plays. He is a midfielder only.
• I also think players like Vandenberg, Brayshaw, Tyson and Oliver are inside midfielders, with only really Vandenberg being able to play a forward role at this stage.
• We also need another good ball user off half back, which Jones can provide. I remember the Carlton game back in 2014 when Jones tagged Marc Murphy and was excellent in defence. Sydney have done something similar with McVeigh and so have Hawthorn with Mitchell.

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

3 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

I think there is a good argument that Nathan Jones should play off half back this season. Rationale:

• An inside midfield of Jones, Viney and Vince is small in comparison to the rest of the competition.
• I also note a lot of Demonlanders have pushed Vince onto the wing in their 22. However, I think Vince needs to continue to run with the opposition’s best inside mid, as we get a strong net benefit out of it, and I think it helps him focus on his role.
• I think Viney is inflexible in terms of where he plays. He is a midfielder only.
• I also think players like Vandenberg, Brayshaw, Tyson and Oliver are inside midfielders, with only really Vandenberg being able to play a forward role at this stage.
• We also need another good ball user off half back, which Jones can provide. I remember the Carlton game back in 2014 when Jones tagged Marc Murphy and was excellent in defence. Sydney have done something similar with McVeigh and so have Hawthorn with Mitchell.

   

I like this idea.

Also how great is it that the team is at a point where we can consider putting NATHAN JONES out of the midfield?

I'm really looking forward to this year.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

20 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

I think there is a good argument that Nathan Jones should play off half back this season. Rationale:

• An inside midfield of Jones, Viney and Vince is small in comparison to the rest of the competition.
• I also note a lot of Demonlanders have pushed Vince onto the wing in their 22. However, I think Vince needs to continue to run with the opposition’s best inside mid, as we get a strong net benefit out of it, and I think it helps him focus on his role.
• I think Viney is inflexible in terms of where he plays. He is a midfielder only.
• I also think players like Vandenberg, Brayshaw, Tyson and Oliver are inside midfielders, with only really Vandenberg being able to play a forward role at this stage.
• We also need another good ball user off half back, which Jones can provide. I remember the Carlton game back in 2014 when Jones tagged Marc Murphy and was excellent in defence. Sydney have done something similar with McVeigh and so have Hawthorn with Mitchell.

   

I think both Vince and Jones will play a role and rotate through the middle, the interchange cap is going to cause this, but i'd still say we are going to rely pretty heavily on both to do the heavy lifting in the engine room, granted Tyson and Viney are getting pretty close to matching them now.

[Palace Dees 2,352]

15 hours ago, stinga said:

I Think

FB Jetta Dunn Garland

HB Salem TMac Hunt

C Grimes Jones Vince

HF Kent Frost Harmes

FF Watts Hogan Garlett

R Gawn Vandenberg Viney

INT Tyson Brayshaw Petracca Pederson

Lots of others unlucky

Backs - Dunn and Garland are the rocks, Jetta and Hunt the run and carry and run down pressure, Salem the sweeping deliverer (similar to flash) and McD takes the best tall and has the aerobic ability to carry through the end of the game

Mids - Jones VDB Brayshaw Viney Tyson for the inside muscle.  Grimes Vince for the ouside run and Harmes Petracca for forward marking ability.

Forwards- Hogan Frost best keys.  Kent Garlett best smalls  Watts played his best at the intraclub leading from deep.

Flexability - Pederson covers everything Forward,Back and Ruck.

I like this and tend to agree with the starting 22. Positions may be a little different and Bugg may be in for Harmes, even though I really like him and think he has a big future with us - but this is round 1.  No doubt we are building very good depth for the first time in many, many years with a few rehab guys knocking on the door along with quality 1st and 2nd year kids developing their trade early on with Casey. Can't remember the last time I looked at our expected matchday 25 (inc. emergencies) and hoped no one else saw the 'moth holes'.  

I agree with all those who have expressed excitement at what we will see this year and the next....and the next....and....you get the drift.  Wish I could buy shares!

BRING IT ON!!!!!!!

 

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

7 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

I think there is a good argument that Nathan Jones should play off half back this season. Rationale:

• An inside midfield of Jones, Viney and Vince is small in comparison to the rest of the competition.
• I also note a lot of Demonlanders have pushed Vince onto the wing in their 22. However, I think Vince needs to continue to run with the opposition’s best inside mid, as we get a strong net benefit out of it, and I think it helps him focus on his role.
• I think Viney is inflexible in terms of where he plays. He is a midfielder only.
• I also think players like Vandenberg, Brayshaw, Tyson and Oliver are inside midfielders, with only really Vandenberg being able to play a forward role at this stage.
• We also need another good ball user off half back, which Jones can provide. I remember the Carlton game back in 2014 when Jones tagged Marc Murphy and was excellent in defence. Sydney have done something similar with McVeigh and so have Hawthorn with Mitchell.

   

Can't agree.

- I have vince on a wing but he's part of midfield rotations as a whole.

- We can't afford to loose his experience/presence from the middle just yet. As good as Viney/AngusTyson etc are/will be they are still just kids. Didn't back we already have Tmac/Dunn/Col/Jetta, it's about balance.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

7 hours ago, Choke said:

I like this idea.

Also how great is it that the team is at a point where we can consider putting NATHAN JONES out of the midfield?

I'm really looking forward to this year.

We are about two years away from this.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

One of our biggest problems has been we are pushed around too easily and it starts in the middle.

[Lucifers Hero 40,524]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-coach-paul-roos-happy-to-do-away-with-scrutiny-that-accompanies-his-role-20160222-gn08hw.html

We have finally reached the stage where we have a dozen on-ballers who can play between HB and HF, like the best teams!  

In that article Roos refers to:  Lumumba is a player who has gravitated between defence and the midfield, and Roos said there were plenty of other Demons who could be shifted around the field this year. Former captain Grimes is set to continue on the wing after playing there in last week's intra-club encounter, Roos forecast even more flexibility.

"[Angus] Brayshaw will play obviously mid/forward, but we might play him off a half-back flank as well. [Christian] Salem half-back/wing. I think we're pretty interchangeable anyway because we're still finding out about a lot of players."

Roos also says Lumumba is not far off round 1 and may play the last NAB game.

[picket fence 17,978]

On 2/20/2016 at 7:02 PM, Wiseblood said:

Grimes.  I know they speak of this 'positional change' but it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see him line up across half back to begin the season.

Grimes getting a game is a retrograde step IMO.

Blood youth!! Grimes and Tregove very much backups only!

[Goodvibes 3,596]

Many posters listing Hogan, Frost, Pedersen and Watts in their teams. Am I the only one who thinks this is one tall too many? For mine Pedersen, Watts and Frost are fighting for two spots and given the second ruck responsibility, more to the point Pedersen is up against Frost.

[CHF 2,817]

A fair bit of water has flowed under the bridge since this thread started a month ago and there is still a bit more to go.

 

The first intraclub threw up a few interesting players with Hunt and Wagner getting mentions. There are still a lot in the mix for mine.

The locks to my mind are as follows:

BACKS

TMac, Garland, Jetta, Dunn, Salem.

MIDS 

N. Jones, Viney, Vince, Brayshaw, Tyson, VDB, 

FORWARDS:

Hogan, Watts, Garlett, Kent

RUCK

Gawn

That is 16 of the starting 18 in place. Of the 2 we need a CHF/Ruck/#rd tall Forward. Frost looks a likely selection at the moment but it could be Pedo. at this stage whichever one misses on the starting 18 should be on the bench.Someone to put there hand up over the next three NAB games? The next needs to be a defender running off the HBF, Grimes rotating through the wing? Maybe this is where Hunt/White/Wagner will be able to press their claims for a position.. Maybe one of those will be on the bench. let see what happens over the next 3 games.

 

For me at this stage: Frost and Grimes in the starting 18 with Pedo, Hunt, Hames and Kennedy on the bench.

[CBDees 3,167]

As you concluded, remember that it is a starting 22!

 

[dee-luded 2,959]

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

Grimes getting a game is a retrograde step IMO.

Blood youth!! Grimes and Tregove very much backups only!

well we won't know until mid season picket.  Roosy likes hard running players to attack,  unlike some here who think he doesn't attack...  but he likes them to be responsible for their opponent first,  then attack when opportunity arises.

see Rhys-Shaw...    Roosy doesn't care about flash bubble & squeak,  or who looks good.   he likes players to run hard both wayz, & to be team effective.  especially across the centreline.

Grimesy has this responsible nature,  just needs to find his MOJO again & add some dash with the ball.

Roosy also like mature bodies,  & mature heads...   so I think hunt & oliver are a stretch to  this point..

I think they may play the mature players first up forcing the kiddies to make  the selectors  give them games,   as it should be anyway.   work harder young fellas,  ,to get a go.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

I was looking at some odds today and generally speaking we are expected to go about the same as last year. I even saw ladbrokes, where you can bet on any game for the season right now, and we were favourites for a whopping TWO games. We are heavy underdogs for round 1 despite beating the same mob at the same ground the last time we took the field. Now, it certainly doesn't seem to me like we could stagnate/go backwards this year but it i definitely a concern that it seems to be the prevailing attitude outside the club. I am very sick of waiting.

[dee-luded 2,959]

1 hour ago, CHF said:

A fair bit of water has flowed under the bridge since this thread started a month ago and there is still a bit more to go.

 

The first intraclub threw up a few interesting players with Hunt and Wagner getting mentions. There are still a lot in the mix for mine.

The locks to my mind are as follows:

BACKS

TMac, Garland, Jetta, Dunn, Salem.

MIDS 

N. Jones, Viney, Vince, Brayshaw, Tyson, VDB, 

FORWARDS:

Hogan, Watts, Garlett, Kent

RUCK

Gawn

That is 16 of the starting 18 in place. Of the 2 we need a CHF/Ruck/#rd tall Forward. Frost looks a likely selection at the moment but it could be Pedo. at this stage whichever one misses on the starting 18 should be on the bench.Someone to put there hand up over the next three NAB games? The next needs to be a defender running off the HBF, Grimes rotating through the wing? Maybe this is where Hunt/White/Wagner will be able to press their claims for a position.. Maybe one of those will be on the bench. let see what happens over the next 3 games.

 

For me at this stage: Frost and Grimes in the starting 18 with Pedo, Hunt, Hames and Kennedy on the bench.

who's to say Kent won't get ago off half back at some stage? & also Vince?  with the rotation reduced expect some changes with some mids rotating thru forward posts?  so Vince could go back to run with a resting mid?   also Kent could add dash out of the backs.

[Slartibartfast 18,009]

4 minutes ago, dee-luded said:

well we won't know until mid season picket.  Roosy likes hard running players to attack,  unlike some here who think he doesn't attack...  but he likes them to be responsible for their opponent first,  then attack when opportunity arises.

see Rhys-Shaw...    Roosy doesn't care about flash bubble & squeak,  or who looks good.   he likes players to run hard both wayz, & to be team effective.  especially across the centreline.

Grimesy has this responsible nature,  just needs to find his MOJO again & add some dash with the ball.

Roosy also like mature bodies,  & mature heads...   so I think hunt & oliver are a stretch to  this point..

I think they may play the mature players first up forcing the kiddies to make  the selectors  give them games,   as it should be anyway.   work harder young fellas,  ,to get a go.

Yeh, but Goodwin will select the team. 

[dee-luded 2,959]

19 minutes ago, Baghdad Bob said:

Yeh, but Goodwin will select the team. 

I don't think so, or have selectors gone out with the new millenia?    I think all line coaches % senior selectors will discuss/vote & either Roosy or Goody or both,  will have veto of some form.

[CHF 2,817]

3 hours ago, dee-luded said:

who's to say Kent won't get ago off half back at some stage? & also Vince?  with the rotation reduced expect some changes with some mids rotating thru forward posts?  so Vince could go back to run with a resting mid?   also Kent could add dash out of the backs.

Agree with that dee-luded. With the way the game is played these days the players get moved all over the shop looking for small advantages in a matchup. I would not be surprised to see Kent on the HBF at some stage as well as Vince  back there. it will be interesting during the season to see how tactics develop around the restricted interchange. one thing I hope will get the chop is the goal kicker automatically going to the bench after kicking a goal.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

5 hours ago, Curry & Beer said:

I was looking at some odds today and generally speaking we are expected to go about the same as last year. I even saw ladbrokes, where you can bet on any game for the season right now, and we were favourites for a whopping TWO games. We are heavy underdogs for round 1 despite beating the same mob at the same ground the last time we took the field. Now, it certainly doesn't seem to me like we could stagnate/go backwards this year but it i definitely a concern that it seems to be the prevailing attitude outside the club. I am very sick of waiting.

The Richmond and Essendon games?

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

6 hours ago, Curry & Beer said:

I was looking at some odds today and generally speaking we are expected to go about the same as last year. I even saw ladbrokes, where you can bet on any game for the season right now, and we were favourites for a whopping TWO games. We are heavy underdogs for round 1 despite beating the same mob at the same ground the last time we took the field. Now, it certainly doesn't seem to me like we could stagnate/go backwards this year but it i definitely a concern that it seems to be the prevailing attitude outside the club. I am very sick of waiting.

We tend not to do too well when we go into a match as favourites, so I wouldn't let it get you down. 

[monoccular 17,644]

22 hours ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

FWIW. He has always had the talent (was considered better than Salem and Kelly and school boys level). Just needed a consistent crack at it without injury.

[Re Hunt]

Where did you hear that?

I always understood that he was a bit of a smokey 

Did he play Dragons? Thought he was plucked from BGS. 

Happy to be corrected.