These changes suggest one of the tall defenders is in the ruck. Pedersen to play as a forward.

Melksham the new whipping boy. I must admit I have not noticed him being participant bad or good in any games so far. Not sure what he is supposed to bring to the team speed? Skill? aggression? a good boxer apparently

1 minute ago, Bates Mate said:

Melksham the new whipping boy. I must admit I have not noticed him being participant bad or good in any games so far. Not sure what he is supposed to bring to the team speed? Skill? aggression? a good boxer apparently

I think you have stated the problem in your own comment  BM.

" Or good in any games" 

Tommmy Mac was seen training in the ruck with Stafford

Have a look at the Essendon line up. It's quite poor

no midfield depth. If we bring intensity for 4 quarters and don't get injuries we will win

On a fast track Jobe and some of his crew might be struggling after 1/2 time and cooked by 3/4 time

If we're evens or in front atp. We'll have them.

 

17 minutes ago, Nasher said:

These changes suggest one of the tall defenders is in the ruck. Pedersen to play as a forward.

Let it not be Frost. His rucking is like doing amateur long jump with one hand in the air. 

Essendon is [censored] but their forward line delivers. They get no inside 50s but have very good efficiency when going forward. Melbourne is the opposite. We need to start converting otherwise this "fast style" Goodwin promoted in the pre-season is to the detriment not benefit of the side.

I wonder if something 'creative' with the ruck role would be to designate a ruckman for each zone eg Frost/TMac back of centre.  Watts/Pedersen forward of centre.  Maybe Pedersen to take the centre bounce to leave the others free to do their primary role. 

This would wear out Bellchambers as he would have to run all over the ground.  Its Bellchambers' first game in 18 months and he would not be used to the pace of the game so the more we can wear him out the more even the game becomes.  Creating a lot of stoppages will also help wear him out. 

Edited April 28, 20178 yr by Lucifer's Hero

If teams line up as shown, Lewis and Vince may be done for pace quite easily. Surely Hunt would need to match up on one of those flankers. 

JKH... 9 disposals. 4 fumbles. 3 turnovers. OMG. Retained.

Stretch. 19 possessions. Run and carry. 5 inside 50s. Dropped. 

Goodwin must be concussed.

JKH better perform !!

3 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I wonder if something 'creative' with the ruck role would be to designate a ruckman for each zone eg Frost/TMac back of centre.  Watts/Pedersen forward of centre.  Maybe Pedersen to take the centre bounce to leave the others free to do their primary role. 

This would wear out Bellchambers as he would have keep to run all over the ground.  Its Bellchambers' first game in 18 months and he would not be used to the pace of the game so the more we can wear him out the more even the game becomes.  Creating a lot of stoppages will also help wear him out. 

I hope not. If Bellchambers pushes forward who will be on him? Frost takes him? So who covers Frost's man? 

If he pushes back then Watts takes him? So Watts' man runs around all loosey goosey like Rance last week? 

No thank you. 

Jetta T.mcd hibberd

salem o.mcd lewis

hunt viney melksham

petracca watts vince 

hannan Pedersen gartlett

frost oliver Jones

tyson bugg anb jkh

rmerg. stretch harmes weideman

54 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Point taken...but doesn't really answer Jadeds q

another guess. stretch is young hasn't had many pre-seasons and hasn't had strong last qtrs?

i'm more puzzled over jkh, not a great wrap for him. looks lost 

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

How cooked was Jab towards end of the Anzac game ? I don't recall.

He was cooked when it started. He was terrible. 

9 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

JKH... 9 disposals. 4 fumbles. 3 turnovers. OMG. Retained.

Stretch. 19 possessions. Run and carry. 5 inside 50s. Dropped. 

Goodwin must be concussed.

JKH better perform !!

7 TACKLES. How do people not get it yet?

12 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

7 TACKLES. How do people not get it yet?

Fumbles cost goals. Tackles … well, they’re expected.

Worsfold might have thought of strengthening his advantage in the ruck but he's decided to rest Leuenberger & bring in Bellchambers ... interesting move. 

Bellchambers is not one of the premier ruckman obviously but nevertheless, we can't afford to let him get super high numbers in terms of tap-outs.  When he has been the main-man his hit-out totals have hovered between low to high 20's.

You'd take that number right now (mid 20's) and if we can limit the damage, we can no doubt win.  The combo we come up with to do the rucking and how we use that combo is anyone's guess. 

I reckon it's less of an advantage for them with Leuenberger not playing.

Edited April 28, 20178 yr by Macca

26 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

another guess. stretch is young hasn't had many pre-seasons and hasn't had strong last qtrs?

i'm more puzzled over jkh, not a great wrap for him. looks lost 

Got me f@#&d how Harris stays in given the outs !! 

23 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

7 TACKLES. How do people not get it yet?

You mean...goodo he tackles

As opposed...Really GOODO he had the ball and doing something constructive ?

1 hour ago, bing181 said:

Different roles.

Dear lord.

Why can't more people see this, bing?  Whoever gets dropped is compared to Melksham, even though they don't even come remotely close to playing the same roles.  Harmes has been playing forward, Stretch on a wing.  Neither play back which is where Melksham is.

15 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I wonder if something 'creative' with the ruck role would be to designate a ruckman for each zone eg Frost/TMac back of centre.  Watts/Pedersen forward of centre.  Maybe Pedersen to take the centre bounce to leave the others free to do their primary role. 

This would wear out Bellchambers as he would have keep to run all over the ground.  Its Bellchambers' first game in 18 months and he would not be used to the pace of the game so the more we can wear him out the more even the game becomes.  Creating a lot of stoppages will also help wear him out. 

Great thought LH, that could confuse and unsettle them whilst spreading the load on our guys. 

I liked Nashers idea of quarter by quarter designated ruck, but this allows guys to also do their roles, as mentioned 

43 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I wonder if something 'creative' with the ruck role would be to designate a ruckman for each zone eg Frost/TMac back of centre.  Watts/Pedersen forward of centre.  Maybe Pedersen to take the centre bounce to leave the others free to do their primary role. 

This would wear out Bellchambers as he would have to run all over the ground.  Its Bellchambers' first game in 18 months and he would not be used to the pace of the game so the more we can wear him out the more even the game becomes.  Creating a lot of stoppages will also help wear him out. 

A similar thought had occurred. 

Make him run.... and hard

Was just thinking that the Essendope team doesn't look too impressive on paper.

Then remember their VFL team beat us last season. Sigh.

21 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

I agree, but on the basis that we can move it quickly enough.  If the Bombers slow us down and get back in numbers then they'll force us to bomb it long and it will make things difficult for us.  We need at least one tall down there who can compete in the air for us, otherwise Hurley, Brown etc will just take uncontested marks all day long.  The pressure and our ability to move the ball quickly will see us either kick a winning score or we will spend the afternoon frustrated by our long bombs that go nowhere.

The small forwards will need to run, run, run and spread to give options.  Totally agree the "kick it long" supporters will be frustrated.

21 hours ago, Goffer said:

Not optimistic but this fixture has been the least predictable in the AFL this past decade (2013 being the dishonourable exception). They are taking the opportunity to rest several players so that in itself may be a sign they are chalking this one up already. Break even in the midfield, who knows what will happen, we beat this mob with Col Garland as a forward no reason why we can't do this again.

...maybe because Col is out for the year

 

18 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Can't wait to see what Hibberd will bring against his old club. The few Essescum supporters I know are dead set spewing they lost him. His debut for us was pretty damn good.

Sadly though counteractioned by his no tackle colleague

5 hours ago, A F said:

Pedersen and Watts were the only two who seemed to be rucking today.

Expect some chop outs from others very occasionally.

Not really sure where the 'play Tom McDonald in the ruck' came from, but it doesn't seem likely, unless it's for a moment or two during the match.

IF he can hit his best form, and IF he runs with Daniher all day, then he will have to do some ruck work.

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

How cooked was Jab towards end of the Anzac game ? I don't recall.

No doubt his WCE pharmacist coach will find an answer.