19 minutes ago, No10 said:

I don't back Goodwin on this Watts move.   Roos did exactly the opposite with him, protected him.  Watts stepped up because he wanted to pay it back.

Also don't like the Hibberd / Melksham auto selection.  Prefer Frost and Jetta.   Goodwin is playing favourites.

Jack is pretty resilient, I think he will be fine.

After a bit more thought I reckon Goodwin may well play the 2 rucks in game 1 against the Saints ... he may change his mind but why would he play the 2 rucks in the first 2 practice games unless the plan was to go with 2 rucks in the first game of the season proper?

We've basically played our best side with the notable exclusion of Watts ... I reckon Jack would need to replace Weideman and that might happen.  I can't see a spot for Pedersen regardless.

Our approach to the first 2 practice games has been fairly full-on so I see the inclusion of Spencer as a pointer rather than a hit and hope.  Gawn has looked dangerous down forward and Spencer does compete well and is hard at it.  Both would probably have to remain on the ground for the duration so Spencer would need to provide something when he's not on the ball. 

Maybe the plan is to ruck Spencer for more game time than Gawn?

45 minutes ago, No10 said:

I don't back Goodwin on this Watts move.   Roos did exactly the opposite with him, protected him.  Watts stepped up because he wanted to pay it back.

Also don't like the Hibberd / Melksham auto selection.  Prefer Frost and Jetta.   Goodwin is playing favourites.

How on earth are you complaining about Hibberd already?

Edited February 26, 20178 yr by Scythe

23 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Jack is pretty resilient, I think he will be fine.

True, he'll be fine.  But will he be a better player for it??  Doubtful I'd say.  He'll just be behind, having not played the pre-season games.

He's best 22 and available, so I certainly hope he plays rd1.

3 minutes ago, Scythe said:

How on earth are you complaining about Hibberd already?

Hibberd looked incredibly rusty.  As though he hadn't played AFL in a year....  His first half highlights were horrible.

I'd have Frost / Jetta over Hibberd rd1.

It's way too difficult to make a best 22 at the moment, especially following the first two JLT matches where forgotten players like JKH, Spencer along with newer recruits such as Joel Smith seem like important cogs in the team all of a sudden.

I keep finding myself leaving out a Stretch or Brayshaw by accident. Good luck to the coaching panel.

 

49 minutes ago, Macca said:

After a bit more thought I reckon Goodwin may well play the 2 rucks in game 1 against the Saints ... he may change his mind but why would he play the 2 rucks in the first 2 practice games unless the plan was to go with 2 rucks in the first game of the season proper?

We've basically played our best side with the notable exclusion of Watts ... I reckon Jack would need to replace Weideman and that might happen.  I can't see a spot for Pedersen regardless.

Our approach to the first 2 practice games has been fairly full-on so I see the inclusion of Spencer as a pointer rather than a hit and hope.  Gawn has looked dangerous down forward and Spencer does compete well and is hard at it.  Both would probably have to remain on the ground for the duration so Spencer would need to provide something when he's not on the ball. 

Maybe the plan is to ruck Spencer for more game time than Gawn?

I think it's more likely them managing Gawn with the extended bench.   Then playing Weed over Pedo leaves no backup, with Watts standing in the corner looking at the wall.

Gawn does go well up forward though...

11 minutes ago, No10 said:

I think it's more likely them managing Gawn with the extended bench.   Then playing Weed over Pedo leaves no backup, with Watts standing in the corner looking at the wall.

Gawn does go well up forward though...

Good point with regards the giving of a decent chop-out for Gawn in the practice games but they could have done that with Pedersen or Watts or even a combination of both.  Neither have got any game time at all though.

We may be over-thinking it but sometimes the answer is an Occam's razor outcome (in other words, the answer is staring us in the face)  I doubt that Goodwin is playing ducks & drakes either.  

I'll be exceptionally surprised if Spencer plays games in 2017 (save for injury to Gawn).

In his SEN interview Max said his time forward depends on who is the '2nd ruck'.  If Spencer then he will go forward more.  If Watts then he won't as much. 

Can't see a Gawn/Spencer combo when the bench is back to 4. 

There was a bit of talk around the Carlton game of players doing 'Team First' things which we saw quite a bit.  And when talking about Watts' omission T.Mac was clear about what was required for him to make the team: "It's about realigning what's important for the team," McDonald said..."I can't really tell you guys (the media) what we're working on, but it's about understanding there's roles that have to be played..."For our team it's not about kicking goals and getting touches, it's about doing what is required for the team."  That makes me wonder if Jack doesn't want to be a 2nd ruck so struggles for motivation for that role hence his lack of 'intensity' and missing 'KPI's'. 

So will be interesting to see the round 1 ruck combo given that none of Frost, Watts, Pedersen have had a run yet.  The JLT game vs WCE will have 4 on the bench so that should give us good idea of who will go with Max.

My Round 1 Best 22 (assuming Tyson, Watts and Kent all play against WC in the last JLT)

B: J Smith - O.Mac - Hibberd

HB: Lewis- T.Mac - Hunt

C: Stretch - Viney - Jones

HF: Petracca - Hogan - Kent

FF: JKH - Weideman - Watts

FOLL: Gawn - Salem - Tyson

INT: Vince - Brayshaw - Melksham - Oliver

J. Smith just beats Frost for a spot. Similarly athletic, Gives the same effort but has a little more natural football ability. Even if he did make alot of mistakes on the weekend.

Hibbard comes in and Jetta goes out. Unfortunate for jetta he has been one of our most consistant for a long time but Hibbard is a better ball user and we have needed that for a long time. Yeah ik leaving out Jetta on here is like shooting bambi but I just cant quite see him in the best team anymore. If we play small i suppose i takes Smiths spot but i want to play 2 talls and a biggish 3rd...

Midfield is arbritrary where they are in the team they can all play anywhere (except Stretch who is our only genuine linkup player)

Melksham is in because i think he will play. however im not convinced he will be in for long... He hasnt done all that much to impress me and I dont really see what he brings when compared to a Harmes, or a Bugg. He might be good but he hasnt done anything special.

And obviously JKH is only in until Garlett is fit. 4 weeks he might just be ready but I think we could live without him round 1 just to ensure he is good for the rest of the year.

1 last thing: Can we please start playing AVB as a midfielder again. I understand he is a good mark and a decent set shot but he just isnt a natural forward. Whenever he is around the stoppages he looks good then they move him inside forward 50 and he struggles to have an influence. I understand that he mightn't play in the 1s because of the players ahead of him but if a Jones, Viney, Tyson or Oliver get injured then AVB is the one i want to go in.

My ever-changing team:

FB: Jetta T. McDonald (Bruce) O. McDonald (McCartin)

HB: Hibberd Frost (Membrey) Hunt

C: Vince (Riewoldt) Viney Salem

HF: Petracca Pedersen Lewis

FF: Watts Hogan JKH

Foll: Gawn Jones Oliver

Int: Spencer Brayshaw Melksham Tyson

Emerg: vandenBerg Stretch Smith

Injured or not ready: Kent Garlett

19 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

My ever-changing team:

FB: Jetta T. McDonald (Bruce) O. McDonald (McCartin)

HB: Hibberd Frost (Membrey) Hunt

C: Vince (Riewoldt) Viney Salem

HF: Petracca Pedersen Lewis

FF: Watts Hogan JKH

Foll: Gawn Jones Oliver

Int: Spencer Brayshaw Melksham Tyson

Emerg: vandenBerg Stretch Smith

Injured or not ready: Kent Garlett

Oh my Gawwd T Mac on Bruce ??? Vince on Reiwoldt ???? No way Frost to wear Riewoldt !!

Edited February 26, 20178 yr by picket fence

45 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

My ever-changing team:

FB: Jetta T. McDonald (Bruce) O. McDonald (McCartin)

HB: Hibberd Frost (Membrey) Hunt

C: Vince (Riewoldt) Viney Salem

HF: Petracca Pedersen Lewis

FF: Watts Hogan JKH

Foll: Gawn Jones Oliver

Int: Spencer Brayshaw Melksham Tyson

Emerg: vandenBerg Stretch Smith

Injured or not ready: Kent Garlett

Strange that JKH gets a game. Apart from one nice mark/goal in the opening minutes of the second game has done nothing.

Pretty confident Stretch at Etihad plays before Spencer and Melksham.

3 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

Strange that JKH gets a game. Apart from one nice mark/goal in the opening minutes of the second game has done nothing.

Pretty confident Stretch at Etihad plays before Spencer and Melksham.

I think that he plays because Kent, Kennedy and Garlett are all either injured or only just returning from the rehab group. I still think JKH has more potential than he gets credit for but unless he stars in JLT 3/round 1 I suspect he is out as soon as those guys are back at full fitness

1 hour ago, Clint Bizkit said:

My ever-changing team:

FB: Jetta T. McDonald (Bruce) O. McDonald (McCartin)

HB: Hibberd Frost (Membrey) Hunt

C: Vince (Riewoldt) Viney Salem

HF: Petracca Pedersen Lewis

FF: Watts Hogan JKH

Foll: Gawn Jones Oliver

Int: Spencer Brayshaw Melksham Tyson

Emerg: vandenBerg Stretch Smith

Injured or not ready: Kent Garlett

Spencer ?

Kennedy-Harris before Stretch ?

Frost when he's clearly behind others ?

Back to the drawing board, Clint.

18 minutes ago, ProDee said:

Spencer ?

I'm on the two ruckmen bandwagon.

One of Spencer, Watts or Pedersen has to play and neither of the latter two have so far.  JLT3 selection will be fascinating.  The R1 22 will be a subset of JLT3.

Edited February 27, 20178 yr by Fifty-5

Has Pedersen rucked much?  Against Hawks, when Hogan was absent and Watts was a key forward Pedersen played and Watts rucked.  And he just about won the game for us in the last quarter with passes to Pedersen and a couple to Tyson.

If Watts doesn't play I think Spencer must play and I don't like that at Etihad particularly.  The whole Watts situation stinks.

Jetta,  O Mac, Lewis

Hunt, T Mac, Hibberd

Jones, Tyson, Stretch

Petracca, Pederson, Watts

Garlett, Hogan, Kent

Foll: Gawn, Viney, Salem

Int: Vince, Brayshaw, Oliver, Melksham

O Mac would want to play well because Frost has a lot going for him.

Jones will relish an outside role this year. His foot skills are under rated because he is so tough, bald and has tatts.

JKH waiting in the wings and will make a go of it when he gets a chance. Same with Joel Smith.

 

3 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

Jetta,  O Mac, Lewis

Hunt, T Mac, Hibberd

Jones, Tyson, Stretch

Petracca, Pederson, Watts

Garlett, Hogan, Kent

Foll: Gawn, Viney, Salem

Int: Vince, Brayshaw, Oliver, Melksham

O Mac would want to play well because Frost has a lot going for him.

Jones will relish an outside role this year. His foot skills are under rated because he is so tough, bald and has tatts.

JKH waiting in the wings and will make a go of it when he gets a chance. Same with Joel Smith.

 

I like Pederson but... swap him for

Carey, Dermie or J Brown and it is a premiership side.

5 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

I like Pederson but... swap him for

Carey, Dermie or J Brown and it is a premiership side.

You will find Frost is restricted in some way and will be lucky to be ready for Rd1

6 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

You will find Frost is restricted in some way and will be lucky to be ready for Rd1

Are you implying he will play CHF this year?

On 26/02/2017 at 10:50 AM, ProDee said:

Garlett will now be battling for round one.

I've said repeatedly Jetta might struggle to get a game this year and Joel Smith is presenting a strong case for inclusion.  Smith is exceptionally agile, athletic and fast.  I see someone like Membrey as the right matchup.

Hunt can play on a Lonie or Gresham type.

Jetta will come in for Melksham.

4 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

My ever-changing team:

FB: Jetta T. McDonald (Bruce) O. McDonald (McCartin)

HB: Hibberd Frost (Membrey) Hunt

C: Vince (Riewoldt) Viney Salem

HF: Petracca Pedersen Lewis

FF: Watts Hogan JKH

Foll: Gawn Jones Oliver

Int: Spencer Brayshaw Melksham Tyson

Emerg: vandenBerg Stretch Smith

Injured or not ready: Kent Garlett

I think it will be either Hibberd or Joel Smith on Membrey. I don't think Frost will be ready if he's not back training in the main group soon. 

I do agree Vince is the best match up for Riewoldt. He has the fitness and he loves a tagging job. We don't have the backline depth to free up Tom McDonald to do the job and Tom would be lost on a wing. Vince can hurt Riewoldt the other way as a midfielder and might be out marked a few times but it's the job of the forward pressure and zone defense to stop Riewoldt getting free one on ones.