Would be interested in hearing someone's reports from the Casey game.  Looked at the best this morning and Melksham was BOG for Casey.  Disappointing that no other MFC listed player was named in the best.  I'm a massive fan of Kent, but doesn't seem to be banging the door down which is disappointing.  Unless his performance warrants the selection, I think we need to persevere with Hannan.

Our forward pressure was however horrible in the first quarter in particular, so I'd expect at least one change down there (maybe ANB).

14 hours ago, SaberFang said:

Other teams must laugh at the execution of our game-plan. 

They just have to sit back, watch us handball backwards/in circles under little pressure, turn it over with a hospital handpass to a stationary target, then score against us on the rebound because our defensive zone leaves their forward line wide open (and all our defenders are concentrated within a 5 meter radius going for the mark).

Betts is going to have a field day.

I understand what you're saying but when the game plan is executed properly, with ground level pressure, tackling and purposeful handball to moving targets it can be devastating which is what we saw in the third quarter. (It's also why Hawthorn played us so physically when we didn't have the ball. They were on the edge all day mauling us and the umpires of course, let them get away with it.)

 

Why on earth we decided to drop ANB, Kent, Melksham and Stretch and have JKH, Wagner, Oscar and Bugg in the side I'll never understand....

So switch those guys for each other and leave the team as is for a couple of weeks.

I like Hannan a bit, but he is wildly inconsistent... Give him 1 more week as well.

I think ive read these posts before

I'd bring in ANB and Stretch for JHK and Bugg. I think both offer more defensive pressure plus also run through the middle. 

Also I'd like to see Pedersen play as the ruckman, it seemed on the weekend that TMac rucked nearly as much and Watts was still used as well - percentage wise it was probably 40/40/20. This weekend I'd like to see Ped around 60, Watts 20 and TMac 20. We could then use TMac as a swingman in the forward line if needed but it seemed to me that both TMac and Ped struggled with the adjustments to their roles compared to the week before. It will also settle the forward line a little better, we need a second target alongside Hogan plus Adelaide are tall so TMac will be needed down back. 

1 hour ago, Gawn's Beard said:

Would be interested in hearing someone's reports from the Casey game.  Looked at the best this morning and Melksham was BOG for Casey.  Disappointing that no other MFC listed player was named in the best.  I'm a massive fan of Kent, but doesn't seem to be banging the door down which is disappointing.  Unless his performance warrants the selection, I think we need to persevere with Hannan.

Our forward pressure was however horrible in the first quarter in particular, so I'd expect at least one change down there (maybe ANB).

I dont blame the poor bast$ad.

He played one game this year had 20 odd poss's and kicked 2 g 3 and was dropped. JKH brings sfa and wont even tackle. Hardly motivating to put in.

I think we have enough of the ball to be winning more games but there are players getting a game that do not have AFL standard skills. Mitch Hannan didnt make the distance with a set shot 40m out and JKH never looked like kicking his. Bernie Vince is our best kick for goal especially on the run so why don't we play him forward more? Salem is able to cover his spot with elite decisions and skills (did it while he was suspended )

My team next week is as follows

 

Frost T Mac Nev

Wagner Hibberd Salem

Hunt Jones Lewis

Kent Watts Vince

Petracca Hogan Garlett

Pedersen Oliver Viney

Tyson Trengrove  Bugg Melksham

 

Out hannan JKH O mac (all lack the skills required)

In kent trengrove melksham (much better skills than the above outs)

Out - JKH and Hannan

In - Ben Ken and Stretch

I don't quite understand why people keep calling for Kent to be reinstated when he's apparently not playing well at Casey. I understand that at his best he would be a better option than either Hannan or JKH, but he's clearly not playing well enough.

Our biggest problem seems to be a lack of height, particularly in the forward half (which is why I assume we played Pedersen, Hogan and Watts all forward at the same time in Q2). With Weideman not ready and the injuries that we have, I don't see a ready solution.

Nevertheless, I would prefer Harmes to Hannan. Admittedly Harmes butchers the ball, but he provides more grunt and can "play tall". And Melksham is surely better with his disposal than Bugg who had 20 mostly meaningless possessions. I'm not sure why Stretch and ANB aren't in the team, but while I thought JKH was better yesterday, I would have thought one of them would be better still.

So, what I would like (and knowing it can't fix our fundamental problem of a shortage of talls):

In: Harmes, Melksham, Stretch/ANB

Out: Hannan, Bugg, JKH

 

4 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't quite understand why people keep calling for Kent to be reinstated when he's apparently not playing well at Casey. I understand that at his best he would be a better option than either Hannan or JKH, but he's clearly not playing well enough.

Our biggest problem seems to be a lack of height, particularly in the forward half (which is why I assume we played Pedersen, Hogan and Watts all forward at the same time in Q2). With Weideman not ready and the injuries that we have, I don't see a ready solution.

Nevertheless, I would prefer Harmes to Hannan. Admittedly Harmes butchers the ball, but he provides more grunt and can "play tall". And Melksham is surely better with his disposal than Bugg who had 20 mostly meaningless possessions. I'm not sure why Stretch and ANB aren't in the team, but while I thought JKH was better yesterday, I would have thought one of them would be better still.

So, what I would like (and knowing it can't fix our fundamental problem of a shortage of talls):

In: Harmes, Melksham, Stretch/ANB

Out: Hannan, Bugg, JKH

 

that's a least got some logic to it. forget melksham, he was reported twice. that leaves you with harmes, stretch and anb

Out: JKH & Bugg.

In: Kent & Stretch.

39 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't quite understand why people keep calling for Kent to be reinstated when he's apparently not playing well at Casey. I understand that at his best he would be a better option than either Hannan or JKH, but he's clearly not playing well enough.

Our biggest problem seems to be a lack of height, particularly in the forward half (which is why I assume we played Pedersen, Hogan and Watts all forward at the same time in Q2). With Weideman not ready and the injuries that we have, I don't see a ready solution.

Nevertheless, I would prefer Harmes to Hannan. Admittedly Harmes butchers the ball, but he provides more grunt and can "play tall". And Melksham is surely better with his disposal than Bugg who had 20 mostly meaningless possessions. I'm not sure why Stretch and ANB aren't in the team, but while I thought JKH was better yesterday, I would have thought one of them would be better still.

So, what I would like (and knowing it can't fix our fundamental problem of a shortage of talls):

In: Harmes, Melksham, Stretch/ANB

Out: Hannan, Bugg, JKH

 

Whilst he hasn't been setting the world on fire at Casey, Kent is the type of player who could come back in & have an impact at AFL level even if not in great form at Casey.. He's a better footballer at AFL level & is certainly a better option then JKH. I'd bring Kent in just for his X factor. He has pace, can take a mark, kick a goal... 

6 minutes ago, JV7 said:

Whilst he hasn't been setting the world on fire at Casey, Kent is the type of player who could come back in & have an impact at AFL level even if not in great form at Casey.. He's a better footballer at AFL level & is certainly a better option then JKH. I'd bring Kent in just for his X factor. He has pace, can take a mark, kick a goal... 

conversely...he couldnt be any worse than those in at present  

Stretch, ANB, Kennedy and Trengove for JKH, Bugg,Hannan and Wagner and possibly Salem for Melksham as he doesn't seem quite right at the moment.

You know what they say..... "You can re-arrange the deckchairs on the titanic...."
 

Some of Plappy's post-match comments following the Casey game on the weekend:

"Despite two indiscretions (reported twice in separate incidents), Melksham was one of Casey’s best, playing on ball to gather 30 disposals and provide first possession for his side all day. He covered the ground well with run and carry, while pushing forward to chip in with a goal.

“I thought he was brilliant,” senior coach Justin Plapp told melbournefc.com.au.

“He played the way we needed him to. We give him a role and he stuck to that really well.”

......................................................................................................................................

“We lost three players going into half time … which threw our rotations out a bit,” Plapp said.

But Casey's inability to finish its work in tight situations let them down late in the game.

...........................................................................................................................................

The ruck battle with North Melbourne’s 206-cm Braydon Preuss was a challenging one. Mitch King worked hard with the help of Declan Keilty to minimise the big man’s impact, but Preuss’ aerial presence was crucial late in the game.

James Harmes showed plenty of grunt early in the match with nine first-quarter disposals before copping a head knock.

“Something has happened to his eye. He’s been taken to hospital,” Plapp said.

Billy Stretch was clean on the outside in his first game at VFL level this season. He had 25 disposals, showing his usual class and composure with ball in hand.

Ben Kennedy continued his strong start to the season with another 26-disposal performance.

“He shows a lot of intensity and competitiveness and slotted a goal on the day,” Plapp said.

Similarly, Jack Trengove worked his way into the game to be a valuable contributor through the middle with 22 touches.

The 18-year-old small forward Dion Johnstone had his best game for the season. He kicked two valuable goals and is beginning to look more comfortable at the level.

................................................

Alex Neal-Bullen was held as emergency for Melbourne at the MCG and didn’t play."

Melksham reported in two incidents, Harmes in hospital with eye problem following head knock.  No mention at all of several others including Kent, Weid.

Foolishly Booked a Plane Tickets to the Adelaide game at the start of the year with a good mate. Going in with very low expectations given where both clubs are at.

After seeing Richmond start well against them and get blown out of the water.. We can't afford any dead weight and Disposal Eff must lift.

We'll need a 4qtr effort to lose by 20 points..

 

OUT JKH Wagner Hannan

IN Kent Stretch Harmes

Edited May 8, 20178 yr by Mud Dogs Gonna Win

22 minutes ago, Mud Dogs Gonna Win said:

Foolishly Booked a Plane Tickets to the Adelaide game at the start of the year with a good mate. Going in with very low expectations given where both clubs are at.

After seeing Richmond start well against them and get blown out of the water.. We can't afford any dead weight and Disposal Eff must lift.

We'll need a 4qtr effort to lose by 20 points..

 

OUT JKH Wagner Hannan

IN Kent Stretch Harmes

You'll have a great time - the boys will fire up

I seriously think we'll give this game a shake

6 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

You'll have a great time - the boys will fire up

I seriously think we'll give this game a shake

Yeah looking forward to atmosphere. Hoping they go in with te same mindset North did at Hobart.

The rate of change in this team is high to say the least. It seems to always be in three in and three out.

TBH there is no one at Casey knocking the door down and hasn't been for weeks.

JKH out on the theory that almost anyone could be better but for the rest no change unless Stretch has rectified whatever he was dropped for in the first instance. In which case Stretch for Bugg.

Hard to get any enthusiasm up although I will accept that occasionally seeming miracles do happen.

One good thing about the weekend was that although we lost the hitouts by total we won the clearance numbers.

Will not help the longer term next week that we will have to take two emergencies ... (when is our VFL game? )

Edited May 8, 20178 yr by Diamond_Jim

2 hours ago, daisycutter said:

that's a least got some logic to it. forget melksham, he was reported twice. that leaves you with harmes, stretch and anb

Was he perhaps under the misapprehension that two wrongs make a right?

Norf wrote and mastered the 'Adelaide Plan'. Come out fast and hard, push the ball deep quickly. Pressure, pressure, pressure. Do not let them get on top early. Have a good lead at quarter time.

21 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

You'll have a great time - the boys will fire up

I seriously think we'll give this game a shake

Agreed.. Call me insane but I'm tipping an upset this week. I'm taking the $6.25 on offer.  

Melksham reported twice so you say.

Made my day.... can this season get worse

6 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

Norf wrote and mastered the 'Adelaide Plan'. Come out fast and hard, push the ball deep quickly. Pressure, pressure, pressure. Do not let them get on top early. Have a good lead at quarter time.

Thats not us though

That's what teams DO to us