Just now, BrisbaneDemon said:

I reckon his is why the are bringing Spencer up mate, could be a late change? No idea who would come out for him, could be nothing but could be something....

“We’re taking Spence up, just with the ruck, because it’s pretty hard to fly [another one up quickly]. We expect Max to play, but we can’t fly one up in half-an-hour, and we’re taking Alex Neal-Bullen up as well,” he said.

Yeah I said somewhere else here I'm a tad suspicious of Spencer being up there. Might be a late in if the conditions are good possibly?

 

With the Casey bye there is no reason for him to stay in Melbourne, so I doubt there is much in it. 

I like those two changes. Looking forward to seeing what each of them bring.

I'm happy with the outs. I'm also happy with the ins.

I'm just not 100% sure how I feel about taking a tall out and not bringing one in.

Granted, there's not a lot left in the cupboard and Dawes was so bad he deserved to be dropped, but how does the team look afterwards? Either we are one tall down in the forward line (which means its Hogan and a bunch of mids/smalls when Watts is in the ruck) or we swing TMac or Frost forward to cover. Surely we know now that Frost is not a forward and it would be seriously dumb to flip him to the forward line again after re-setting him mid-season as a defender, so it'd have to be TMac I guess. Fremantle has Pavlich and Taberner but AFAIK just one ruckman (Griffin) so we'd only need two of TMac, OMac and Frost in the backline anyway.

Even if it works this week in Darwin against a bottom 4 side, I'll be interested to see what we do the week after against St Kilda.

7 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

6 Day breaks this year:

Rd 6  - Loss to St Kilda

Rd 10 - Loss to Port

Rd 13 - Loss to Sydney.

They were our 3 least competitive efforts for the year, whereby the games were effectively over by 3 qtr time.

Last time we won off a 6 day break was the Collingwood rd 18 win last year. We also beat Richmond in round 4 last year off the 6 day break.

I think the Essendon game trumps all three for least competitive efforts, whilst we were clearly in the Sydney game at three quarter time - the problem there was the fourth quarter.

Your point is still valid though, I don't think we've planned or responded well to 6-day breaks so far this year. Partly that's due to the youth of the side but I don't think we've planned well with team selection either.

1 hour ago, P-man said:

I like those two changes. Looking forward to seeing what each of them bring.

I like them too. wish we were at longer odds

That Freo forward line looks good on paper.

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

I'm happy with the outs. I'm also happy with the ins.

I'm just not 100% sure how I feel about taking a tall out and not bringing one in.

Granted, there's not a lot left in the cupboard and Dawes was so bad he deserved to be dropped, but how does the team look afterwards? Either we are one tall down in the forward line (which means its Hogan and a bunch of mids/smalls when Watts is in the ruck) or we swing TMac or Frost forward to cover. Surely we know now that Frost is not a forward and it would be seriously dumb to flip him to the forward line again after re-setting him mid-season as a defender, so it'd have to be TMac I guess. Fremantle has Pavlich and Taberner but AFAIK just one ruckman (Griffin) so we'd only need two of TMac, OMac and Frost in the backline anyway.

Even if it works this week in Darwin against a bottom 4 side, I'll be interested to see what we do the week after against St Kilda.

I think the Essendon game trumps all three for least competitive efforts, whilst we were clearly in the Sydney game at three quarter time - the problem there was the fourth quarter.

Your point is still valid though, I don't think we've planned or responded well to 6-day breaks so far this year. Partly that's due to the youth of the side but I don't think we've planned well with team selection either.

I like the way you articulate what I'm thinking far better than I ever could.

If I have any concern it's what you say re no direct replacement for Dawes. The backline does look a bit tall when you consider their forward threats, so one of Frost/T Mac swinging forward could certainly be an option. Based on recent history it would be Frost. Let's hope not.

The conditions may mean that Hogan, Vanders and a fleet of crumbers could be enough.

I remain nervous about this one. As is standard.

5 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I am surprised that Oliver is not in, especially as Casey has a bye this week.

They must have decided he needed an extended rest.

 

Oliver was solid against the Tigers fading a little in the last but not many others stood up either outside of Grimes, White, ANB, Keilty, Michie and Smith. Kid is class and knows where to run, gets there often and gets the ball out accurately for first use more often than any other mid fielder. Sells players into space also, not into trouble a fair bit eg; Bugg/Tyson/Jones boy. Tackles pretty well in close also. Play the future champ where he'll learn and make the most of it upstairs for the remaining junk games. Not downstairs with the junk game style that Casey are playing (vs AFL). Too good for Casey and we go for 2 defenders In place of a mid and a forward. Makes no sense. We become more defensive and much slower across the ground and in ball movement with Grimes playing an old Melb down the line style hugging the boundaries.

If you said 

IN: Grimes, White

Out: Bugg, Frost

it might make more sense as Grimes can spend a bit of time through the mid to make up for the lost rotation and lock down options with Bugg out. White covers a too raw with no tank (but some potential) Frost.....easily. Frost is unable to play to a reasonable standard for much longer than a quarter or 2. Might end up a solid player but not ready for AFL yet.

Hulett for Dawes surely. Not ready either but if you need the 3rd forward option plus a goer who can also play tall through the mid. Worth a look for a few matches at least. Although I would prefer Tim Smith. Bloke's a gun. Get him! Hardly misses and clunks almost everything. Can defend also when needed.

Bewildering selections

4 hours ago, old dee said:

Both no brainers AW they were our two worst players last Sunday.

Frost and Dawes were the 2 worst IMO OD. Apart from Frost's first quarter which was solid (except for overrunning a ball at one stage which gave the Crows their first) he was barely sighted after about half way through the 2nd and easily pushed off it once he lost his initial strength. No tank / strength for the contest over more than a few quarters right now. Dunny would be a better option this week if he did the meters required.

4 hours ago, stuie said:

Not everyone...

With Dawes out but no big man in does that men Frost goes forward again? What happens when Watts rucks? 1 tall forward? White and Grimes aren't exactly tough nuts, and we're coming up against a team that has always bullied us, Bugg out is a bit early IMO. BenKen very lucky in my books after mucking up the forward line a fair bit last week.

It's not a disaster, but it could have been better. We're banking on a small quick team with only 2 changes after a 6 day break. Not 100% sold.

I'd say it'll be greasy. Going one less tall will suit us. Dropping Dawes is partly tactical I reckon.

Just now, AdamPleb said:

I'd say it'll be greasy. Going one less tall will suit us. Dropping Dawes is partly tactical I reckon.

And it was a decision that was made easier by his performance last week.  If he had kicked a few and had a good game I think they still would have gone with him this week.  Having a shocker instead allowed them to go with a side that will be more suited to the conditions.

11 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

And it was a decision that was made easier by his performance last week.  If he had kicked a few and had a good game I think they still would have gone with him this week.  Having a shocker instead allowed them to go with a side that will be more suited to the conditions.

Agreed.

3 hours ago, stuie said:

Yeah I said somewhere else here I'm a tad suspicious of Spencer being up there. Might be a late in if the conditions are good possibly?

 

ANB for Bugg and Spencer for Dawes makes more sense.

2 extra defenders for a mid and a forward?

11 hours ago, BrisbaneDemon said:

“We’re taking Spence up, just with the ruck, because it’s pretty hard to fly [another one up quickly]. We expect Max to play, but we can’t fly one up in half-an-hour, and we’re taking Alex Neal-Bullen up as well,” he said.

What the hell Roos?  Do you have to get a B52 stealth bomber to fly a ruckman up there do you?  Or is that too expensive so he has to drive there?  He does know it's a 4 hour flight right? It's not on the other side of the world! Ridiculous thing to say.

Anyway, I like the changes, happy Concrete Hands is not in this week, there should be more going out but that has been done to death.

I just really want Grimes to play like the player that we all expected him to be early in his career and do a Jetta like come back.

13 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Just shows what wonderful pundits we all are on Demonland

Cannot remember anyone mentioning White as a possibility. (If I am wrong please accept my apology and my congratulations)

If you read the comments all are positive about White.

The fact that he was on the rookie list, coupled with Roos' bizarre team selections means it is difficult to predict if he would be selected.

22 minutes ago, AzzKikA said:

What the hell Roos?  Do you have to get a B52 stealth bomber to fly a ruckman up there do you?  Or is that too expensive so he has to drive there?  He does know it's a 4 hour flight right? It's not on the other side of the world! Ridiculous thing to say.

And if Gawn pulls a hammy in the warmup?

His point was that you can't call on a ruckman with 1/2 hr notice if you haven't travelled with them. There may also be some question over Gawn's fitness, who knows. I think it was a perfectly reasonable thing to say.

Just now, Nasher said:

And if Gawn pulls a hammy in the warmup?

Come on Nasher, i agree taking him up, its what Roos said, his bulltish  "We’re taking Spence up, just with the ruck, because it’s pretty hard to fly [another one up quickly]."

They didn't take him to Alice, or Sydney or Tassie, it was just a stupid thing to say.

Will it really be that slippery?

I thought it was the dry season in Darwin and the humidity wasn't too bad. I think when we had these games in May, it was way more slippery.

Can remember in our Darwin game last year V' West Coast (also in July), Jack Darling and others were clunking marks like it was a dry weather game.

 

Don't disagree with any of those changes, but would question whether two changes is enough. Vandenberg in particular is very lucky.

Hopefully Grimes gets at least the three weeks that Michie got earlier in the season to show his stuff. Ditto for White.

Bugg should only be in the side if there is a hard tag, as against Collingwood. Otherwise he is a liability. Dawes should be made to kick at least six goals in the VFL before he comes back in to the senior team.

The club has said that one of the McDonalds will play forward this week, so we can cover Watts going in to the ruck.

 

9 hours ago, AdamFphlebeb said:

I'd say it'll be greasy. Going one less tall will suit us. Dropping Dawes is partly tactical I reckon.

Yeah I get that, and as I said my main worry is about when Watts is rucking and we only have 1 forward marking target.

 

15 minutes ago, poita said:

The club has said that one of the McDonalds will play forward this week, so we can cover Watts going in to the ruck.
 

Hey Poita, where did you hear that mate?

 

19 minutes ago, poita said:

.Bugg should only be in the side if there is a hard tag, as against Collingwood. Otherwise he is a liability.

 

Overly harsh. He's had some very decent games this season. Last weekend was not one of them.

A run in the seconds won't do him any harm and it'll be interesting to see how he goes. 

14 hours ago, stuie said:

Not everyone...

With Dawes out but no big man in does that men Frost goes forward again? What happens when Watts rucks? 1 tall forward? White and Grimes aren't exactly tough nuts, and we're coming up against a team that has always bullied us, Bugg out is a bit early IMO. BenKen very lucky in my books after mucking up the forward line a fair bit last week.

It's not a disaster, but it could have been better. We're banking on a small quick team with only 2 changes after a 6 day break. Not 100% sold.

 

Surely....hopefully....Frost remains in defence. 

 

Just now, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Surely....hopefully....Frost remains in defence. 

 

"Poita" mentioned above he heard that one of the McDonald's is going to play forward... Not sure that is any better

 

Just now, stuie said:

"Poita" mentioned above he heard that one of the McDonald's is going to play forward... Not sure that is any better

 

I missed that, will have a read through. Whilst Frost is making some mistakes he is also doing some good things. He needs to be left there to settle and develop his game, he's still young and raw.