Spencer or Gawn is an absolute must against the Dogs. Our clearance work suffered today against a very good onball brigade so next week will be no different. We need cleaner clearance that only the big men can provide. 

Unlikely that Hoges will be good to go but if so I would ditch Bugg.

 

Tough decisions need to be made. Gawn comes in, Pedo goes fwd and Tmac goes back to defence. Do we play 3 talls in defence against the Dogs? Oscar played well today but for mine goes out. Again, tough decisions must be made.

Going by what PJ had to say pre-game, Hogan won't play this week and may not play the following week either.

I'd only make a change if Gawn is ready to return.  I don't think Spencer changes the needle enough to bring him in, so if Gawn is ready then he gets a gig with someone like Harmes (?) missing out (I don't necessarily think it will be him, just an example).  

Otherwise I'd say we make no change.

In: Gawn/Spencer

Out: Melksham 

We need a ruckman in or we will get slaughtered by the doggies.

Melksham tried hard but couldn't impose himself on the game. He was better than Lewis imo, but Lewis should bounce back.

 

13 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Spencer or Gawn is an absolute must against the Dogs. Our clearance work suffered today against a very good onball brigade so next week will be no different. We need cleaner clearance that only the big men can provide. 

Unlikely that Hoges will be good to go but if so I would ditch Bugg.

Agreed, there was word that Gawn was training hard to put his hand up for the Dogs game but I'd be leaning towards giving him one more week to be sure. Bring Spencer in, he's had his VFL game to get a bit of match fitness.

Interesting to see that when the ruck taps start to become draws our ball winners are very good at digging it out.

I know he's not on the match committee but Jackson said Hogan was still a couple of weeks away. Who knows anymore!

Bugg had an ineffectual day and missed another soda which killed our momentum and started Collingwood's run. I'd like to see him dropped but we'll see, he actually gets himself in good spots but his goal kicking is deplorable.

1 minute ago, Pates said:

Agreed, there was word that Gawn was training hard to put his hand up for the Dogs game but I'd be leaning towards giving him one more week to be sure. Bring Spencer in, he's had his VFL game to get a bit of match fitness.

Interesting to see that when the ruck taps start to become draws our ball winners are very good at digging it out.

I know he's not on the match committee but Jackson said Hogan was still a couple of weeks away. Who knows anymore!

Bugg had an ineffectual day and missed another soda which killed our momentum and started Collingwood's run. I'd like to see him dropped but we'll see, he actually gets himself in good spots but his goal kicking is deplorable.

I feel I will be in the minority here, but I'm liking what Buggy brings to the side at the minute.  He is a deceptively good mark, he puts on some pressure at ground level AND he knows how to hit the scoreboard.  Granted, he has wasted opportunities over the last month, but I think that will improve for him over the coming weeks.  He is offering more than guys like Kent, JKH and even Harmes, at the minute and I think he deserves to keep his spot going forward.

3 minutes ago, Adzman said:

In: Gawn/Spencer

Out: Melksham 

We need a ruckman in or we will get slaughtered by the doggies.

Melksham tried hard but couldn't impose himself on the game. He was better than Lewis imo, but Lewis should bounce back.

 

Melksham played on Pendlebury and I think kept him relatively quiet. He also kicked a crucial goal in the 3rd (I wasn't confident at all). I don't think he'll be dropped.

If OMac is still sore than I think Spencer comes in for him, move TMac back to defence and Watts moves into more of a natural forwards role. Watts's hurt his back apparently so let's keep an eye on that. Sound's like he's nursing a few bumps and bruises is Jack. 

IN: Gawn / Spencer, Wagner
OUT: O Mac, Harmes

1 minute ago, Wiseblood said:

I feel I will be in the minority here, but I'm liking what Buggy brings to the side at the minute.  He is a deceptively good mark, he puts on some pressure at ground level AND he knows how to hit the scoreboard.  Granted, he has wasted opportunities over the last month, but I think that will improve for him over the coming weeks.  He is offering more than guys like Kent, JKH and even Harmes, at the minute and I think he deserves to keep his spot going forward.

Fair call. I wouldn't be annoyed if he stayed. But he needs to do some big time kicking practice. Get the noise cancelling headphones and record crowd noises to get him in the frame of mind, or hypnotise him but he needs to start nailing them. 

12 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Going by what PJ had to say pre-game, Hogan won't play this week and may not play the following week either.

I'd only make a change if Gawn is ready to return.  I don't think Spencer changes the needle enough to bring him in, so if Gawn is ready then he gets a gig with someone like Harmes (?) missing out (I don't necessarily think it will be him, just an example).  

Otherwise I'd say we make no change.

Etihad is a ground that you can get away without a ruckman. I still wouldn't won't to be gifting 70 hitouts to the dogs. Spencer or Gawn are a must 

17 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I feel I will be in the minority here, but I'm liking what Buggy brings to the side at the minute.  He is a deceptively good mark, he puts on some pressure at ground level AND he knows how to hit the scoreboard.  Granted, he has wasted opportunities over the last month, but I think that will improve for him over the coming weeks.  He is offering more than guys like Kent, JKH and even Harmes, at the minute and I think he deserves to keep his spot going forward.

Just said virtually the same thing in another thread.

I'd be bringing the big fella back this week even if he plays more than usual forward rather than next week at Domain. I would not want to go in against the dogs top heavy in our backline at Etihad. Bugg will play to annoy the hell out of Johanissen. O-mac was great second half and good first half (with a couple of errors) but we cant go in too tall again. Melksham and Harmes didn't do enough to keep Wagner out and I suspect Vince will play on The Bont next week opening a half back spot. 

In Gawn, Wagner 

Out O-Mac, Melksham

24 minutes ago, bandicoot said:

Etihad is a ground that you can get away without a ruckman. I still wouldn't won't to be gifting 70 hitouts to the dogs. Spencer or Gawn are a must 

Not only that but we couldn't win a contested mark around the ground for the first half.

No way will Melksham be dropped. Gawn in and one of Bugg, ANB or Harmes to go. Some reports Bugg had a hammy so may be out. Oscar won't be dropped but may be out injured.

I thought OMac was on the chopping block when we bring a ruckman back, but he was very good after quarter time today.

1 minute ago, chook fowler said:

No way will Melksham be dropped. Gawn in and one of Bugg, ANB or Harmes to go. Some reports Bugg had a hammy so may be out. Oscar won't be dropped but may be out injured.

I know early in the game he copped something to his arm and I think he had it strapped for the rest of the game. I suspect this week will be mostly about managing the players than training them hard. 

Wagner sounded like he played well, and Spencer put his hand up. Goodwin seemed to indicate he liked what he saw from Pencil so I have a feeling he will come back in. Gawn's probably a week away, still needs conditioning I'd imagine. ANB and Harmes as you pointed out didn't impact the game much but Harmes was good last week so I think he'll retain his spot.

ANB could make way for Wagner, and if OMac is sore than bring Pencil in.

Bloody hard to drop O.Mac after that. Can't go tall in defence as Dogs have a small forward line. Carlisle had to go forward when St Kilda played them because he had no matchup

I'd love to see Stretch in the team.

Hopefully Spencer gets a run. Gawn could do with the extra week.

IN: Gawn/Spencer 

OUT: O.Mac

 

If Hoges is good to go he'd replace Neal-Bullen

Our bottom tier were very poor for the most part today, so any one of 6-8 could go out if the selectors want to make changes. That said, I can't see compelling reasons to bring in anyone other than Gawn.

I'd rather stick with the more mobile ruckmen, rather than bring in Spencer who is a liability when the ball hits the ground. If Wagner is the best we have at Casey, I'll stick what we have,

1 minute ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I'd love to see Stretch in the team.

Stretch for ANB? Would be a like for like swap and ANB didn't do much. That said he played well vs GC.

Hard to say, the better selection headaches are here.

50 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I feel I will be in the minority here, but I'm liking what Buggy brings to the side at the minute.  He is a deceptively good mark, he puts on some pressure at ground level AND he knows how to hit the scoreboard.  Granted, he has wasted opportunities over the last month, but I think that will improve for him over the coming weeks.  He is offering more than guys like Kent, JKH and even Harmes, at the minute and I think he deserves to keep his spot going forward.

Hasn't been able to cement it with finishing touches but I believe Bugg has been slowly nailing down a spot over the last few weeks. Didn't quite stick them all today but his contested marking has improved dramatically up forward - gets to the right spot, gets enough elevation to get clean hands on the ball in contested marking situations, gets the tick from me. But it's a pretty close three-way between him, Harmes and Hannan, and at least someone will have to come out for Hogan - maybe two if we choose to go with Pedo up forward when both Hoges and Gawn are back (which, unlike others, I don't think is a given in Goodie's intentions). Tim Smith the other likely loser in all of this. Seems a long road back into the seniors for him atm.

9 minutes ago, poita said:

Our bottom tier were very poor for the most part today, so any one of 6-8 could go out if the selectors want to make changes. That said, I can't see compelling reasons to bring in anyone other than Gawn.

I'd rather stick with the more mobile ruckmen, rather than bring in Spencer who is a liability when the ball hits the ground. If Wagner is the best we have at Casey, I'll stick what we have,

I know Stretch hasn't been setting the world on fire at Casey but watching today's game, particularly our misplaced 15 - 30m F50 kicks, we desperately need a cooler head with pressure like we experienced today. There were several culprits so picking an individual wouldn't be easy but I'm convinced we're burn g far too many opportunities to score.

 

18 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

IN: Gawn/Spencer 

OUT: O.Mac

 

If Hoges is good to go he'd replace Neal-Bullen

The Bulldogs don't have many big forwards so what we do with our three big defenders is a huge question.

Wagner apparently played well for Casey and probably shouldn't have been dropped in the first place.

Bugg continues to frustrate, could Kennedy come in for him?

Stretch would be a nice inclusion as well, not sure who comes out.

I would feel better if Melksham wasn't in the team, but maybe he can back it up playing on Bontempelli.