13 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Even if Spencer didn't cop an injury it was still the wrong decision.

What a load of rubbish!!!!

18 hours ago, Nasher said:

He'd have to be better in terms of taps, definitely.  The questions for me would be 1) is he fit enough to shoulder 90% ruck duties as you'd expect a first ruck? If we ended up needing to put Watts (or other) in to the ruck for 30% of the game, that would defeat the purpose, and 2) can he contribute anything around the ground? Secondary functions of the ruck are to move forward or back in to the hole when required.  Even if Pedersen is totally inadequate in the ruck, at least we could be pretty confident he would be able to do that.

All obviously questions we can't answer from the armchair, but probably also difficult to answer on such a small sample size at Casey.  I reckon there's a good chance Goodwin and co would want a few more weeks of feedback from Plapp on those questions before calling him in.  

I agree.  With deeper thought it's probably too risky, although I don't like putting people in cotton wool like some on here.

EDIT: He's a fair way off from a fitness perspective based on Plapp's report.  Let's hope Goodwin can conjure some magic with Pedersen or Frost.

Edited April 26, 20178 yr by ProDee

If Weideman is over his corkie I'd like him back in this week.  I know others won't agree.

Hogan needs another tall foil and Weideman is more dangerous with the opposition concentrating on Hogan.

Refer to quote below on MFC website from Dom Tyson.

King isn't likely to play. Looks like Frost, Pedersen, and Watts will shoulder the work load which makes sense ...

 

DOM Tyson says Cam Pedersen looms as the most likely option to come in and help Melbourne’s ruck situation, given Max Gawn (hamstring) and now Jake Spencer (AC joint) are sidelined until after the mid-season break.

Speaking on 1116 SEN on Wednesday, Tyson said Melbourne had to be inventive in the ruck in the coming weeks.

“It’s a tough one and a match committee conundrum. We’ve got options. Cam Pedersen is doing some good things down at Casey and there is Sam Frost, who is super athletic,” he said.

“Wattsy (Jack Watts) has been doing a good job [as a support ruckman] and it gets him involved, up around the ball, because he’s a great ball user and classy around there.

“We’ve got a young fella, Mitch King, who has just come back off an ACL and he’s played one game for Casey, but it’s probably too big of an ask to tell him to really step up. The readymade ones are probably Cam Pedersen.”

.”

3 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Much to this. Milkshake needs to impact and tackling is a part to this.

No bruise- free types thanks.

Not one of our better buys bb.

But we are stuck with him now so lets hope he can get good enough to justify his spot down the stretch.

7 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

You don't really think a professional AFL coach in the modern game would be playing favourites, do you?

And Mitch White is on the rookie list, so he is not exactly a ready made replacement.

That is an assumption on your part  Wiseblood.

Yes it is entirely possible. On this occasion I don't think it is correct because there is no one else any better at present.

Gonna really suck if Trac doesnt get up for Sunday.

1 hour ago, old dee said:

That is an assumption on your part  Wiseblood.

Yes it is entirely possible. On this occasion I don't think it is correct because there is no one else any better at present.

No one fit 

We have to be really inventive and innovative with our ruck problem atm.

Pedo looks the likely one to take most of it with help from others, but it gives us a chance to try things from left field.

Roving to their ruckman, not opposing and inducing the opposition ruck to grab the ball and then tackling him, having a mid have a half hearted go and then following the tap, lining up 2 extra defenders and then having 4 mids and either forcing the ruck to hit it forward or bring it to ground where we have another player and in a boundary throw in, having someone like Vince go up and use his knees on the other ruckman and whatever else they can come up with.

We need to mix it up. We need to become unpredictable so their ruckman has some confusion as to what we are doing.

Might not work, but it might give us an occasional advantage where atm we have none.

Edited April 26, 20178 yr by Redleg

Is big bird a free agent?

Surely surely Pedersen finally comes in... I've only been saying it for 3 weeks & now Goodwin will be forced to play him. Problem is the main reason I wanted him in was to leave Watts forward which wont change now that Watts will be forced to still be the back up.. Only other option is to bring in Oscar & play Frost/Pedersen as the rucks & leave Watts forward, we just need a permanent 2nd key forward to help Hogan out & provide another target 

10 hours ago, DeeZee said:

Melksham has to go out this week, I really hope the coach isn't playing favorites as there are guys like Mitch White who havent a put a foot wrong and aren't getting a run.

He was good last week after being poor the week before and serviceable in the first 3. I wish people could judge performance based on roles rather than read stats and use pre-defined perceptions. 

At one stage White looked likely to go on to become a permanent defender,somthing changed perhaps injuries has been a set back.If he can regain his form then he could be a suitable replacement to Melksham. Pedo and Frost are a bit small to be ruckman however the combo could pay off.Leaving Watts as forward mostly would be an asset to Hogan. O'Mac back in defence would also see Frost play a little bit forward changing with Pedo. Kent in JKH out is a no brainer.

1 hour ago, ENYAW said:

At one stage White looked likely to go on to become a permanent defender,somthing changed perhaps injuries has been a set back.If he can regain his form then he could be a suitable replacement to Melksham. Pedo and Frost are a bit small to be ruckman however the combo could pay off.Leaving Watts as forward mostly would be an asset to Hogan. O'Mac back in defence would also see Frost play a little bit forward changing with Pedo. Kent in JKH out is a no brainer.

JKH made two big errors but had more tackles this week than Kent has had in his last 3 games including VFL on the weekend. If you haven't worked out our small forwards are about defensive pressure first you must not have watched our first 5 games. Kent wont be back in this week.

Edited April 26, 20178 yr by big_red_fire_engine

12 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

JKH made two big errors but had more tackles this week than Kent has had in his last 3 games including VFL on the weekend. If you haven't worked out our small forwards are about defensive pressure first you must not have watched our first 5 games. Kent wont be back in this week.

I know what you mean, but he doesn't have pace, doesn't have any x-factor, and doesn't kick goals.

I know the coaches rate him, but I'm not overly sure why.

He's been cruelled by injuries for a while and I've seen him in some nice passages of play, but I don't see a special player in our midst.  

 

15 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

JKH made two big errors but had more tackles this week than Kent has had in his last 3 games including VFL on the weekend. If you haven't worked out our small forwards are about defensive pressure first you must not have watched our first 5 games. Kent wont be back in this week.

It's been said by a few on here but just laying some tackles is not, and cannot be, sufficient at AFL level.

I'd back Kennedy, if not Kent, to apply the same level of forward pressure and provide far more to the team outside of that than what JKH offered on the weekend.

30 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

JKH made two big errors but had more tackles this week than Kent has had in his last 3 games including VFL on the weekend. If you haven't worked out our small forwards are about defensive pressure first you must not have watched our first 5 games. Kent wont be back in this week.

Made a third BIGGER error

Kicked doughnuts !!

Not overly helpful as a fwd

If JKH was to be replaced, it would be Bugg, followed by Kennedy.  Both were reported to have had good games for Casey, and could fill the forward role and rotate into the midfield.  It will be interesting to see how they mark JKH on that game as part of the new structure and 'fearless football' (where clangers seem less important) ethos.  I cant see ANB going out, even if the OOF before half time was the stupidest thing sine 'tunnel ball '.

$22 reserved seats still available this arvo with telstra thanks.

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

It's been said by a few on here but just laying some tackles is not, and cannot be, sufficient at AFL level.

I'd back Kennedy, if not Kent, to apply the same level of forward pressure and provide far more to the team outside of that than what JKH offered on the weekend.

Except they never do, otherwise they'd be in the side now.

Kent has a greater ceiling than JKH, no doubt, but Kent is a lazy, inconsistent footballer at the moment.

14 hours ago, JV7 said:

Surely surely Pedersen finally comes in... I've only been saying it for 3 weeks & now Goodwin will be forced to play him. Problem is the main reason I wanted him in was to leave Watts forward which wont change now that Watts will be forced to still be the back up.. Only other option is to bring in Oscar & play Frost/Pedersen as the rucks & leave Watts forward, we just need a permanent 2nd key forward to help Hogan out & provide another target 

Almost agree. I agree with Oscar in to the backline and Frost to ruck. But I'd leave Pedersen permanently forward and use Watts as the second ruck. 

I've never been particularly enamoured with Pedersen rucking. I think Watts does a better job and Pedersen plays better as a permanent forward. In addition, his strength - contested marking - should make it significantly easier for Hogan as the Essendon defenders should not be able to double team Hogan as Richmond was able to do once Smith and Spencer were done for the night. 

Jesse could be a late out. His father has passed away.

Jesse would be out you'd think. 

OUT: Smith, Spencer, Hogan

IN: Lewis, OMac, Pederson

Jesse needs to take his time for his family, so obviously won't play this week.

Melbourne have no option but to play a mosquito fleet this week and use it to their advantage.

Outs: Jesse - Smith - Spencer - Harmes

Ins: Lewis - Pedo - Kent - Kennedy

Fwds:

Kent - Trac - JKH

Garlett - Watts(R) - Kennedy

44 minutes ago, praha said:

Jesse would be out you'd think. 

OUT: Smith, Spencer, Hogan

IN: Lewis, OMac, Pederson

Agree. TMac to the ruck looking more solid now. Going to need both Pedersen and Watts forward as much as possible. 

Would also consider Weideman if he's fit.