I think Frost and Wagner played a half and not sure of the miles in Pedersons legs, so doubt any of this trio will come in yet. The standouts at Casey have been Bugg, Kent and Spencer with Bernie available. I like the idea of Spencer rucking and Max spending time up forward as he is still troubled by his back and has been unwell so my source tells me.

Throughout the preseason we were talking about our improved depth. Well this will be truly tested now Lewis and Hogan are gone for a while.

Vince comes straight in, not sure about who else. We don't have an immediate replacement for Hogan so we might need to go sma,lish with Petracca, Kent, Garlett, and also aim for midfielder goals.

The big risk is Dangerfield and Selwood reading it off Gawn - they are really good at getting into position A or running through the right spot at a ballup at full pace. Hunt on Dangerfield could be interesting. 

2 confirmed outs. 2 likely ins in Vince and Kent.

Can Petracca and Hannan play as taller options so we can get away without adding Spencer or Pedda if he's not in good form? Might be the week worth finding out. I'd probably lean towards Spencer in and Gawn forward for a fair bit of the game if we did bring a tall in to replace Hogan.

I have doubts over Tyson, Brayshaw, ANB and Melksham but I'm not sure if Bugg coming in to play on a wing has done enough to replace any of them - with Harmes then moving back or forward if needed.

1 hour ago, poita said:

Vince for Melksham is a no brainer for me. Jake may be more suited to playing up the ground, but there is no way he pushes out any of our current midfielders. His disposal is below poor, and I his lack of physicality concerns me.

If Lewis misses, Bugg can come in. If Hogan misses, Pedersen can come in.

Kent on stand by if Hannan is quiet again. Frost needs to come in shortly as well.

Where does this view of Melksham come from? Melksham was one of our few players who ran hard all day. While others were standing round lazily he was running across time and time again switching Thebes's ball across the ground for us. Offensively he was the best of our back 6 on the weekend. He barely missed a target. Jetta held it down defensively and Melksham held it down offensively. Lack of physicality? This is the same guy who's laid the most bumps in the team thus far this year you're talking about right? How does he lack physicality? I'm getting sick of reading this [censored] about him on here from people who obviously have a pre-conceived view of him and aren't watching him and judging him on his current output. I sound like a broken record but it's just getting ridiculous now IMO

Vince in for Lewis. Not sure who comes in for Hogan as it should be a tall. Is Pedo fit yet?

Brayshaw's not going anywhere. Not unless there's an injury issue. It'll take more than one quiet match, and having him run round in the middle at Casey getting a lazy 25+ possessions doesn't help anyone.

He's a mid being played out of position due to competition for spots, but equally, all part of his development.

2 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Where does this view of Melksham come from? Melksham was one of our few players who ran hard all day. While others were standing round lazily he was running across time and time again switching Thebes's ball across the ground for us. Offensively he was the best of our back 6 on the weekend. He barely missed a target. Jetta held it down defensively and Melksham held it down offensively. Lack of physicality? This is the same guy who's laid the most bumps in the team thus far this year you're talking about right? How does he lack physicality? I'm getting sick of reading this [censored] about him on here from people who obviously have a pre-conceived view of him and aren't watching him and judging him on his current output. I sound like a broken record but it's just getting ridiculous now IMO

Vince in for Lewis. Not sure who comes in for Hogan as it should be a tall. Is Pedo fit yet?

0 contested possessions.

1 tackle. Corralls and hangs back off leads when he needs to go lay a tackle.

Loves a bump because bumps are easy. You control the contact. I haven't seen him stick a high pressure tackle or open his body up to spoil. He's bruise free.

Plenty of missed targets. 

Yeah his work rate to run to receive is decent but it's not like our backline are stationary. Most of them are pretty good runners these days.

36 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

2 confirmed outs. 2 likely ins in Vince and Kent.

Can Petracca and Hannan play as taller options so we can get away without adding Spencer or Pedda if he's not in good form? Might be the week worth finding out. I'd probably lean towards Spencer in and Gawn forward for a fair bit of the game if we did bring a tall in to replace Hogan.

I have doubts over Tyson, Brayshaw, ANB and Melksham but I'm not sure if Bugg coming in to play on a wing has done enough to replace any of them - with Harmes then moving back or forward if needed.

I think I would be going down this path as well.

Perhaps a different story if at the G but indoors I think we go smaller and quicker in our forward line.

Petracca and Hannan and even Harmes can have stints closer to goal. 

Vince and Kent for the two suspended. 

41 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

2 confirmed outs. 2 likely ins in Vince and Kent.

I'd probably lean towards Spencer in and Gawn forward for a fair bit of the game if we did bring a tall in to replace Hogan.

Madness.

Goody aint mad.

1 minute ago, ProDee said:

Madness.

Goody aint mad.

If Pedda is barely getting a kick at Casey then Spencer in ahead of him isn't all that mad. Cats rucks just got destroyed by Preuss and we'll need a legitimate marking target forward. I don't think Pedersen or Weed are going to trouble Lonergan and Henderson. A ruckman out of the square might. Pedersen is the easy option to come in and play a poor mans Hogan role, but if he isn't up to it I'd risk something different. Lightning might strike twice against the Cats.

1 hour ago, PaulRB said:

Has Peders actually been playing for us at Casey? have heard nothing on him doing anything of note for months..?

 

Played last weekend. Was very ordinary. Would prefer they gave Frost, Smith or Keilty a shot on the form shown on Sunday  

 

I think we need a marking target to replace Hogan.

Frost was named best at Casey but apparently had limited game time.

Pedersen not exactly carving it up.

Spence going well against Fitzy but no world beater.

Kent playing ok but does that leave us vulnerable in the air?

Much depends on the perception of Frosts match fitness.

Vince, Frost and Kent all to come in would add a touch of pace. Bugg another possibility.

I would try Watts at CHF, Frost at HFF and Kent up forward as well. 

Vince, an automatic replacement for Lewis. 

18 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

If Pedda is barely getting a kick at Casey then Spencer in ahead of him isn't all that mad. Cats rucks just got destroyed by Preuss and we'll need a legitimate marking target forward. I don't think Pedersen or Weed are going to trouble Lonergan and Henderson. A ruckman out of the square might. Pedersen is the easy option to come in and play a poor mans Hogan role, but if he isn't up to it I'd risk something different. Lightning might strike twice against the Cats.

Play Petracca out of FF alongside Weideman.  Lower the eyes with a small leading forward-line and make sure Watts and Weideman contest any long balls for spills to Garlett, etc.  Watts has been asked by Goodwin to compete in the air, so put the heat on him to play his role and contest high balls.  If he does we'll have 2 x 196cm talls plus Hannan at 189cm, Petracca leading out of the square, Kent back in, Garlett and any other rotations.  A versatile and unpredictable forward-line.  

I'd much rather that setup than bringing in Spencer and I'm not fussed about bringing Pedersen in either.

Just now, ProDee said:

Play Petracca out of FF alongside Weideman.  Lower the eyes with a small leading forward-line and make sure Watts and Weideman contest any long balls for spills to Garlett, etc.  Watts has been asked by Goodwin to compete in the air, so put the heat on him to play his role and contest high balls.  If he does we'll have 2 x 196cm talls plus Hannan at 189cm, Petracca leading out of the square, Kent back in, Garlett and any other rotations.  A versatile and unpredictable forward-line.  

I'd much rather that setup than bringing in Spencer and I'm not fussed about bringing Pedersen in either.

The way you've worded this almost makes me want to banish Hogan to Casey for the rest of the year, PD.  

I like the idea of keeping things unpredictable as well, as it will keep Geelong on their toes and their backline hasn't necessarily been a strength so far this year.  I still think Pedersen gets a run to help keep their tall backs honest, plus it means Watts can spend the whole day forward while Pedersen gives Gawn a chop out in the ruck.

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Its obvious that Pedersen comes in. Plaus the ruck role alot better then Watts which then forces him to a forward role full time.

When he and Watts were in the side we continued to play Watts as the relief ruck last year?

1 hour ago, bing181 said:

Brayshaw's not going anywhere. Not unless there's an injury issue. It'll take more than one quiet match, and having him run round in the middle at Casey getting a lazy 25+ possessions doesn't help anyone.

He's a mid being played out of position due to competition for spots, but equally, all part of his development.

Ignore his draft position or whether you think he will be good longer term. He struggled to get the ball yesterday playing mainly on a wing and when he did he slowed or turned over potential scoring opportunities. He was good round 1 not great.  Nothing wrong with heading back to Casey to work on his craft and confidence.

Vince for Lewis and being we are at Etihad I would swap Hogan for Kent and go with a mid sized forward line built around Weideman, Watts and Trac and swarming smalls. Or is there a sneaky chance that they bring Bull Smith in to play Hogans' role.....wouldn't put it past Goody.

The cats are well known to struggle to contain small forwards. I'd go 

weid, watts, Garlett, track, Kent and hannan and try and really expose that 

Having read the Casey review it's time to bring in the Bull. He's what we need to replace Hoges. He'll compete for everything in the air and chase his backside off.

In: Smith  Out: Hogan
In: Bugg  Out: Lewis
In: Vince  Out: Melksham
In: Kent   Out: ANB (or Brayshaw or Tyson)

FB: Jetta  Oscar  Hunt
HB: Salem Tom  Vince
C:  Stretch  Jones  Bugg
HF: Kent  Weeds   Petracca
FF: Garlett  Watts Smith
Foll:  Gawn  Oliver   Viney
Int: Harmes  Hannan  Brayshaw  Tyson

10 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Having read the Casey review it's time to bring in the Bull. He's what we need to replace Hoges. He'll compete for everything in the air and chase his backside off.

In: Smith  Out: Hogan
In: Bugg  Out: Lewis
In: Vince  Out: Melksham
In: Kent   Out: ANB (or Brayshaw or Tyson)

FB: Jetta  Oscar  Hunt
HB: Salem Tom  Vince
C:  Stretch  Jones  Bugg
HF: Kent  Weeds   Petracca
FF: Garlett  Watts Smith
Foll:  Gawn  Oliver   Viney
Int: Harmes  Hannan  Brayshaw  Tyson

You're not thick, DS, so you know that Tyson isn't getting dropped.  I have no idea why you would even bother to put it in there.

I was going to say that Smith is no chance, but then you backed Hannan in ages ago and looked what happened, so if you think Smith is a legit chance (and not just based on one game at Casey), then maybe he's more of a chance than I thought.

6 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

You're not thick, DS, so you know that Tyson isn't getting dropped.  I have no idea why you would even bother to put it in there.

I was going to say that Smith is no chance, but then you backed Hannan in ages ago and looked what happened, so if you think Smith is a legit chance (and not just based on one game at Casey), then maybe he's more of a chance than I thought.

He should be, most of his disposals were wasted and we are a faster and more balanced team without him but of course he won't be. Put him on George Horlin-Smith and he might play well. Asking him to try and run down or run away from Selwood or Dangerfield is a disaster waiting to happen. 

My confidence in Smith and Hannan comes from them looking comfortable on the training track, doing well at Casey and them being good VFL forwards who play the way we want to play. Not convinced either of them will be anything great long term (although reasonably confident Hannan has a good shot) but when our other options are:
Spencer - only if needed
Pedda - slow, old, not playing well at Casey
Go in really small - very dangerous against Henderson, Lonergan etc who can control the air.

It's like when we didn't have any decent midfield options and we started the year with someone like Magner because you knew he was going to at least have a dip.

Vince comes in fo Lewis, that's the easy one and with Salem in good form we at least have a bit of coverage there. 

Hogan's the difficult one. If we bring in Kent then the players will have to move the ball quickly and lower the eyes, otherwise the Geelong defenders will rebound really easily. Otherwise we can bring in Spencer for the dual ruck experiment. Gawn looked a little battered at the end of the game last week so I wouldn't be totally against this. 

I think training this week will give us a window into Goodwin's thinking. If Spencer and Gawn have more time with the forward group, that could be the way we go. 

If Weed and Watts have to play key forward all game, Gawn will have no one to relieve him in the ruck. So I guess that means either Spence or Pedo comes in.

2 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Vince, Frost and Kent all to come in would add a touch of pace. Bugg another possibility.

I would try Watts at CHF, Frost at HFF and Kent up forward as well. 

Vince, an automatic replacement for Lewis. 

Frost has always looked a lot better as a backman rather then the pinch hitter.... Without following the preseason and if was pinch hitting up forward

Could T Mac be a surprise CHF???

Also I'll say it again... he's probably underdone but Wagner is another who I rate

I like Vince and Kent in with Petracca out of the square given the pace of the ground. 

Im just saying that so it gets over the line with Goodwin, who clearly steals all of his ideas from here.