Strangely enough, the last time these teams met was the last time they played in a full AFL game.

THE TEAMS

MELBOURNE

B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jeremy Howe

HB: Daniel Cross, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem

C: Jack Grimes, Bernie Vince, Mitch White

HF: James Harmes, Oscar McDonald, Angus Brayshaw

F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Jay Kennedy-Harris

Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney

I/C: Viv Michie, Alex Neal-Bullen, Ben Newton, Billy Stretch

EMG: Mark Jamar, Matt Jones, Jack Watts

IN: Angus Brayshaw, James Harmes, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Mitch White

OUT: Neville Jetta (calf), Matt Jones (omitted), Jake Spencer (concussion), Jack Watts (omitted)

NEW: Mitch White (19, Dandenong Stingrays)

GWS GIANTS

B: Adam Kennedy, Caleb Marchbank, Zac Williams

HB: Lachie Plowman, Aidan Corr, James Stewart

C: Lachie Whitfield, Adam Treloar, Heath Shaw

HF: Devon Smith, Cam McCarthy, Rhys Palmer

F: Josh Kelly, Jeremy Cameron, Adam Tomlinson

FOLL: Tom Downie, Callan Ward, Tommy Bugg

I/C : Jake Barrett, Toby Greene, Jacob Townsend, Nathan Wilson

EMG: Paul Ahern, Rory Lobb, Jack Steele

IN: Jake Barrett, Jacob Townsend

OUT: Stephen Coniglio (hamstring), Ryan Griffen (knee),

NEW: Jake Barrett (19, NSW/ACT Rams)

It would not surprise if we have 9 or 10 changes to our line up and possibly the same for GWS.

It's not strange. It's the FIXture.

Leaving aside Callan Ward, they lose two of their best players from that side.

• Treloar - thanks to Collingwood 

• Cameron - thanks to the Tribunal

Two very significant outs.

8 minutes ago, Pink Freud said:

Leaving aside Callan Ward, they lose two of their best players from that side.

• Treloar - thanks to Collingwood 

• Cameron - thanks to the Tribunal

Two very significant outs.

They'll also have some significant ins: Mumford, Shiel, Griffin, Coniglio, Scully, Davis, WHE, and the player I'm really worried about Stevie J.

Unfortunately for us, we don't have any significant ins.

6 minutes ago, mo64 said:

They'll also have some significant ins: Mumford, Shiel, Griffin, Coniglio, Scully, Davis, WHE, and the player I'm really worried about Stevie J.

Unfortunately for us, we don't have any significant ins.

Jetta, vandenBerg, Lumumba, an in-form Watts, Bugg, Kennedy, Oliver, Kent, Frost/Pedersen all handy additions.

1 minute ago, Scythe said:

Jetta, vandenBerg, Lumumba, an in-form Watts, Bugg, Kennedy, Oliver, Kent, Frost/Pedersen all handy additions.

Don't consider any of them as being in our top 8 players. There's a difference between handy and significant.

9 minutes ago, mo64 said:

Don't consider any of them as being in our top 8 players. There's a difference between handy and significant.

Yes, but the gulf between our 10-20 best players and our 20-30 best players is arguably more significant. For example:

- Jetta is a massive upgrade defensively over Howe, and will probably go straight to Johnson or Devon Smith.

- Dunn moves back to the backline (played forward R23) and Oscar gets replaced by either Frost or Pedersen who are more experienced, AFL-ready players

- Lumumba for Cross probably a wash, same sort of role.

- Kent is a massive upgrade both offensively and defensively over JKH

- Watts gives us another target up forward, and is a big upgrade on someone like Newton.

- I'd argue vandenBerg is a top 8-10 player

- Bugg, Kennedy, Oliver are a much more aggressive, stronger group than Michie, Stretch and ANB (although I have high hopes for the latter two in the future).

 

I think the biggest difference is the structural improvements that these guys add. Jetta, Kent, vdB, Lumumba, Watts all play important roles. 

 

Edited March 21, 20169 yr by Scythe

Didn't think this warranted a thread of its own so I'll drop it in here. Scully dumped from the Giants leadership group. It will be interesting to see the length and price of his next contract. 

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-22/scully-dumped-as-giants-add-new-blood-to-leadership-group

 

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Didn't think this warranted a thread of its own so I'll drop it in here. Scully dumped from the Giants leadership group. It will be interesting to see the length and price of his next contract. 

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-22/scully-dumped-as-giants-add-new-blood-to-leadership-group

 

I'm not surprised....but damn, he looked good in the practice games.

I'll still boo the p***k.

1 hour ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Didn't think this warranted a thread of its own so I'll drop it in here. Scully dumped from the Giants leadership group. It will be interesting to see the length and price of his next contract. 

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-22/scully-dumped-as-giants-add-new-blood-to-leadership-group

 

There won't be another contract and with $6million already I doubt he will care.

 

2 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Didn't think this warranted a thread of its own so I'll drop it in here. Scully dumped from the Giants leadership group. It will be interesting to see the length and price of his next contract. 

http://m.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-22/scully-dumped-as-giants-add-new-blood-to-leadership-group

 

No surprise there. The only leadership he ever showed was leading the queue to collect the weekly pay cheque.

looking at our list compared to theirs, last year and this year, they have more quality on every line, except forward line with their outs. I think Mumford will make the difference and nullify gawn. Will be surprised if we get away with the win. But we did it last year so hopefully again round 1.

Edited March 22, 20169 yr by scarlett

Last time we met, one of their players died after being out-marked by Jesse