I would put Tyson in for smith. He a very good midfielder. Leave Oscar in the side. He needs to develop.

If Vince gets rubbed out then I would probably bring in Kent or Harmes.

4 hours ago, Red and Blue realist said:

Not sure if I watched the same game as the rest of you. Oscar had less howlers than Lewis, Vince and Jones. He's role is the spoil and he did that really well I thought. He's not the most polished player yet but there's no doubt he'll be best 22 every week if he plays like that

Agree with this, I thought he played his role, albeit there was less pressure for the defenders after quarter time.

What's more if my memory is correct, Oscar played quite a few games in the 2nd half of 2016 where he performed really well, even overshadowing Tom on one or two occasions. So I can't understand why some are talking about him as though he's just there as a work experience boy. Sure he needs more development, but he was clearly preferred to Garland last year and I would have thought would have been this year as well.

 

Tyson in for Smith

No need for a like for like, the Blues have no dangerous tall forwards besides Weitering.

2 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Tyson in for Smith

No need for a like for like, the Blues have no dangerous tall forwards besides Weitering.

And there's talk of Casboult being suspended. Mind you, while he can take a good contested mark, he doesn't do much damage when he has the ball.

As for our team, I can't imagine anyone being omitted. So a replacement needed for Smith and maybe Vince. If Tyson's fit, he comes in and plays in the midfield. If it's the only change necessary, I suspect Salem or Lewis will go to the backline. If we need  second player, I expect it will be Harmes (unless Hibberd is fit).

 

I honestly can't understand why Omac cops so much crap on these forums? Does he make mistakes? Yes, but he's a key position player with only 18 games under his belt, mistakes are going to happen.

If you look at Supercoach points, he was actually our highest ranked back 6 player. I agree that sometimes his mistakes are frustrating, but no more than Tmac, Vince or Petraaca.

Port beat the Swans. Essendon beat the Hawks. Brisbane beat Gold Coast. Perhaps the long-touted equalisation on the playing field is starting to happen? No team can take another lightly, especially us. Carlton are weak, but stronger than last year and they beat us. 

The 22 chosen to play the Saints looked targeted - selected specifically to play THEM. We need to do the same this week, not go in thinking we have them covered. 

1 hour ago, Males said:

I honestly can't understand why Omac cops so much crap on these forums? Does he make mistakes? Yes, but he's a key position player with only 18 games under his belt, mistakes are going to happen.

If you look at Supercoach points, he was actually our highest ranked back 6 player. I agree that sometimes his mistakes are frustrating, but no more than Tmac, Vince or Petraaca.

Lack Of Intensity! Deer in Headlights!

6 hours ago, Converted Dee said:

Bombay I didn't know we'd won already?

 

You're talking about a team that beat us second last round last year, then we get our pants pulled down against Geelong. 

 

One win means nothing, until we prove to the AFL world a bit of consistency, no game is a certainty.

 

Carlton still have some gun players. Talk is cheap.

Things are different, we have Lewis, Goody in now in charge and Hogan's kicking action has changed. Plus I'm not flying down for a loss.

1 hour ago, Males said:

I honestly can't understand why Omac cops so much crap on these forums? Does he make mistakes? Yes, but he's a key position player with only 18 games under his belt, mistakes are going to happen.

If you look at Supercoach points, he was actually our highest ranked back 6 player. I agree that sometimes his mistakes are frustrating, but no more than Tmac, Vince or Petraaca.

I don't like getting stuck into players, but, Oscar does give reason to from time to time.  He has some talent and he's still finding his feet so he deserves some time to develop, but at the same time he's fumbly, prone to mistakes and can be easily pushed aside in a marking contest.  He does things that make you groan which is never a good thing.

I've got plenty of faith that he will improve out of site as he gets older, but we can let bias get in the way - the kid makes mistakes, and as a key backman, they are mistakes that can cost us goals.

1 hour ago, Males said:

I honestly can't understand why Omac cops so much crap on these forums? Does he make mistakes? Yes, but he's a key position player with only 18 games under his belt, mistakes are going to happen.

If you look at Supercoach points, he was actually our highest ranked back 6 player. I agree that sometimes his mistakes are frustrating, but no more than Tmac, Vince or Petraaca.

Because he makes mistakes that you wouldn't want to see in D Grade suburban football. Dropping simple chest marks under no pressure, missing basic spoils that lead to opposition goals, and panicking when he has the ball under pressure. The fact that he's a key position player is irrelevant.

Every player makes mistakes, but they make it up for it with quality moments. I've yet to see that from O Mac. 

Oscar plays the game like an 18 game young key defender finding his feet. Just like any young player they have inconsistencies in effort and execution. However with a mid or forward they usually control not being in the game at those points which is not something you can control as a defender. It is pretty obvious the kid will end up something special. He is not quick but covers the ground well, he reads the ball beautifully, has a very well timed spoil and has better execution than his brother. His body work is better but lacks impact due to his immaturity. He is not holding a quality mature defender out of the side so he should continue to be played and we should accept that you are likely to get inconsistencies in one so young but it will accelerate his development and pay dividends when we need it most in coming years. 

 

The best way to make Oscar better is to keep playing him.  He'll be far better with 60 AFL games under his belt. 

That said, he does make inexplicable mistakes.  My main query is his lack of pace.  But I have no doubt he'll be better when he's stronger.  

Goody and Macca really rate him, so I don't think they'll be dropping him any time soon. 

I'd rather try Keilty than Oscar. The experiment isn't working and Oscar needs a lot more games at casey, more KGs, better skills, greater composure and an injection of mongrel. Other than that he is a fine footballer.

2 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

I'd rather try Keilty than Oscar. The experiment isn't working and Oscar needs a lot more games at casey, more KGs, better skills, greater composure and an injection of mongrel. Other than that he is a fine footballer.

Ah, the old "mongrel" trait. The most easy  way to identify when a poster grew up watching footy in the 70s and 80s.

Not sure Carlton are small fwd

weitering 195

curnow 194

casbolt 201 or mckay 202

SOS 191

30 minutes ago, Grimes Times said:

SOS 191

I noticed one significant weakness with Silvagni and wonder who else picked it up ?

3 minutes ago, ProDee said:

I noticed one significant weakness with Silvagni and wonder who else picked it up ?

He isn't fast enough to be a forward IMO, he doesn't have much spring and he isn't fierce at the ball.

7 minutes ago, grazman said:

He isn't fast enough to be a forward IMO, he doesn't have much spring and he isn't fierce at the ball.

Correct.

He's as slow as treacle.

55 minutes ago, Grimes Times said:

Not sure Carlton are small fwd

weitering 195

curnow 194

casbolt 201 or mckay 202

SOS 191

Should will be suspended,won't play.Weitering under an injury cloud.

57 minutes ago, Nasher said:

Ah, the old "mongrel" trait. The most easy  way to identify when a poster grew up watching footy in the 70s and 80s.

Interesting comment Nasher. My answer to you is that you are both right and wrong. You are right because I did watch footy in the 80's but I also noted this morning on channel 7 When Jordan Lewis was asked why he opted to play for Melbourne he said he wanted to go to a side that he thought was ready for a tilt at the finals and that was based on a young list that was full of talent but importantly consisted of young kids he deemed to be competitive. I think "competitive" is code for kids who have "a bit of mongrel" and I don't  mean players throwing haymakers in the old era, I mean your Jack Viney types, see ball, get ball, see player, tackle player. And I think the big change in recruitment since JT took over with Todd is we have picked kids with talent and physical presence and competitiveness. That is a bit of aggro and/or extroverted self confidence! It makes a huge difference to a playing group to have some aggressive, physical types playing under good leaders who say what they think and lead by example. 

11 hours ago, Redleg said:

Oscar clearly had a nightmare of a game and we all saw it. However, he is better than that and having now watched the game live, but also later on TV, there were a lot of little things he did well, which I didn't notice at the game..

Frost is probably not ready, but to be honest we need 3 big guys down back anyway, so he will get another game this week and hopefully plays well.

He had a nightmare 1st qtr but was very good after that 

I'd like to see Oscar play a few games in the forward line, it sometimes helps players understand a bit more about defence if they know how a forward thinks. I think they did it with Frost and in m opinion it made him a better player.

He is a bit too easily beaten by smaller forwards when the ball hits the ground, but he will learn as he gets more game time.

 

4 hours ago, Males said:

I honestly can't understand why Omac cops so much crap on these forums? Does he make mistakes? Yes, but he's a key position player with only 18 games under his belt, mistakes are going to happen.

If you look at Supercoach points, he was actually our highest ranked back 6 player. I agree that sometimes his mistakes are frustrating, but no more than Tmac, Vince or Petraaca.

There's your mistake, valuing a player by their supercoach. He works hard to get the ball both intercepting and rebounding which is an admirable trait but when you're coughing up 6 goals a game you'd want to rebound pretty well.

There are a number of issues with his game:
Evasive skills when under pressure - poor to non existent, hence why he flubs handballs to no one
Kicking off one step - repeatedly does this
Speed on a lead - when he tries to watch the ball and his man at the same time he runs at a snails pace
Defensive positioning. The zone is fine, but there has to be times to put an arm across and feel for an opponent. Simple back/forward leads leave him flat footed.

Flat footed is really how I'd describe him overall. When he has to think about what to do he's just got nothing in the legs and I'm not sure that is a trait that gets fixed by more time at the level. 

He'll get fitter and stronger as his career continues and that probably allows him to defend and rebound better but players without instincts on how to defend and evade are hard work to build up. The worry with Oscar is that after 80 games he makes the same errors because he just doesn't process quick enough.

 

 

Early rounds are all about run and fitness so I'd have Bugg first in line to come back in unless Tyson or Kent are 100%. So I'd go Bugg for Smith.

Then probably Tyson for Vince if needed. Salem and Lewis would have to play half back and possibly even Jones and Stretch just to balance the rotations if we have extra mids.

Hopefully Hibberd, Frost and Wagner are available soon so we can add a 3rd tall defender and think about mixing up the 2nd tall as well. Maybe even get rid of Milkshake. 

o mac is not going to be dropped.

he gets to and impacts the contest.

he's tracking as well as his brother was at the same level of age and experience, if not better.