MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION - Round 13

[Nascent 7,555]

This week Nathan Jones will run out for game 235 sitting him equal 10th in MFC's most games played with Brett Lovett. Love your work Chunk. 

 

Edited June 15, 2017 by Nascent
as always, spelling

[Young Blood 2,036]

7 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Thank god. A ruckman! 

Neal Bullen or Harmes out are my guess. No other changes 

No change I think. I think against this team we will be wanting as much mobility and positions switching options as possible. Especially on a fast surface. Very much doubt we will see Spencer this week.

ANB and Harmes played a major part in getting us over the line on Monday. I reckon they'll stay in.

[Wiseblood 24,636]

I may be looking through rose coloured glasses, but I feel as though we match them all over the ground. Dogs don't scare me, which means we probably lose... 

Happy to go with no ruckman - we have wpn more than we have lost without one. Spencer won't make much of a difference. 

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,503]

Gawn wasn't selected because they don't want him to back up his return on a 6 day break in WA next round.And that's why he's also a chance to miss the WC game next week as there's another 6 day break for the Sydney's game.

i must be the only one not exited about his return. He's going to be woefully underdone in the first couple of weeks before he hits his straps.

Edited June 15, 2017 by Bring-Back-Powell

[At the break of Gawn 3,748]

Doubt Spencer will play given he's listed on the I/C. I'm smelling no changes to be honest or possible Kennedy in for Harmes or AnB.

[Wiseblood 24,636]

4 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Gawn wasn't selected because they don't want him to back up his return on a 6 day break in WA next round.And that's why he's also a chance to miss the WC game next week as there's another 6 day break for the Sydney's game.

i must be the only one not exited about his return. He's going to be woefully underdone in the first couple of weeks before he hits his straps.

You're never excited about anything so that's hardly surprising. 

[Nascent 7,555]

Thought Wagner was unlucky to be dropped and then was a clear best on in the VFL.  Probably not much room in the backline at the moment but have no doubt he'll find his way back in the team soon.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

11 minutes ago, Nascent said:

This week Nathan Jones will run out for game 235 sitting him equal 10th in MFC's most games played with Brett Lovett. Love your work Chunk. 

 

Lovely work Nascent. Pretty soon this will be an enormous stat to watch. By my count, if he doesn't miss any games, he'll be in 9th by the end of the year over Jeff White... And in the end of 2018 he'll be 4th, in between Stynes and Yze.

[Young Blood 2,036]

10 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I may be looking through rose coloured glasses, but I feel as though we match them all over the ground. Dogs don't scare me, which means we probably lose... 

Happy to go with no ruckman - we have wpn more than we have lost without one. Spencer won't make much of a difference. 

Geez I am definitely scared of them. I think we do match up OK on paper but I've watched this very team cut so many teams up at Etihad with their pressure and ball use.

Just hope Dees come out switched on or it could turn ugly. This Bulldogs team is angry with their performance last week.

[Diamond_Jim 12,064]

Weideman being named probably means there is a small doubt on Watts.

I read nothing into Spencer's selection ......could be part of the Watt's issue

Kennedy being named even as an emergency is a wake up call to Kent

All will be revealed come 7pm Saturday as the men in red and blue run out onto the mist laden fields of Culloden... I mean Casey !!

[jnrmac 19,399]

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

Then we play Swans off a short 6 day break after Perth. Terrible fixturing.

3 games in a row where are disadvantaged.

Good that we have a fairly young side.

Guys like Lewis, Vince, Pedo and Jones will feel it.

2 x 10 goal wins will make life easier  If we are in hard scraps it wil take its toll

[Sideshow Bob 2,165]

gee whiz Junior.... reigning premier, west coast in Perth, runners up in consecutive weeks on 6 day breaks.... and you want 2 x 10 goal wins! hooly dooly (would make it easier though you are right)

 

these next 3 weeks will show us where we are as a team this year.... contenders or pretenders. its s big month of footy

[Pates 9,541]

I agree with others thoughts that given Spencer is named on the bench I doubt he will remain in the final 22. 

I see the bench being: Salem, Melksham, Harmes, ANB/Kennedy

I don't think ANB was bad vs the Pies, like many others his first half was pretty poor. But I equally don't think he played a huge role in our comeback so maybe this is the week BenKen gets his chance. 

There are some interesting contests this round and I can see out match vs the Dogs being the best of them. It's another that has big implications win or lose for both teams, and it's a fantastic opportunity for us to prove our credentials as a top 8 side. 

I definitely don't fear the dogs, for that matter there's no team I fear this year, but we can't afford a slow start. Can we please be the team that's up by 20pts at half time (but go on to win!)?

Edited June 15, 2017 by Pates

[DemonWA 3,578]

Winnable IMO

The lads will need to play very well, but it can be done!

Go Dees

[Dee Zephyr 18,126]

The 22 that played against the Pies seem the best 22 to handle the tough schedule over the next 3 weeks as they are the more conditioned of our players to handle the task. We can debate which players from  Casey deserve a call up but this seems the logical way to go. Watching Jones sprint from half back to become an option for Watts in that classic goal shows me there's plenty of run in our legs. This is the most settled we have been all year.  In 3 weeks they will probably be exhausted but Jesse and Max should be cherry ripe by then. 

Edited June 15, 2017 by Demon77

[Lucifers Hero 37,407]

IN 2016 WB was an ok home and away side that had a great finals series. But they haven't done anything of note this year. 

Comparative performance:  (MFC in Itallics)

• They have beaten one top 8 side - Rich by 5 points.
• Demons beat 1 top 8 side - Adel by 41pts
• They have lost to 3 top 8 teams - GWS, WCE and Geelong
• We lost to 2 top 8 teams - Geelong and Rich
• Their big wins (>30pts) have been BL and StK
• Our big wins (>30pts) were Adel, StK, Ess, GC
• Their % is just 102.5
• Our % is 110.9

So for mine our 2017 compares very favourably. 

We have banked 2 wins at Etihad this year so we can play that ground.  We have a better midfield and I don't see a line where they have an absolute advantage. 

They are not so formidable this year.  Don't get me wrong this will be a tough game to win and we can't give them a 5 goal head start.  In many respects we are the better side with better recent form.

It is a 50/50 game.  

Edited June 15, 2017 by Lucifer's Hero

[picket fence 15,683]

38 minutes ago, Pates said:

I agree with others thoughts that given Spencer is named on the bench I doubt he will remain in the final 22. 

I see the bench being: Salem, Melksham, Harmes, ANB/Kennedy

I don't think ANB was bad vs the Pies, like many others his first half was pretty poor. But I equally don't think he played a huge role in our comeback so maybe this is the week BenKen gets his chance. 

There are some interesting contests this round and I can see out match vs the Dogs being the best of them. It's another that has big implications win or lose for both teams, and it's a fantastic opportunity for us to prove our credentials as a top 8 side. 

I definitely don't fear the dogs, for that matter there's no team I fear this year, but we can't afford a slow start. Can we please be the team that's up by 20pts at half time (but go on to win!)?

Give me Ben Ken anyday over ANB and even Harmes

[picket fence 15,683]

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Geez Dogs ins are formidable.

T Boyd, Morris, Libba headlining a bunch of ins.

Libba will no doubt star.

Libba to star??! rub his friggen ugly melon into the Shitihad turf and say, Sorry Pal, you picked the wrong game to come back!! 

[Deestroy All 14,262]

6 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Give me Ben Ken anyday over ANB and even Harmes

ANB runs all day. Which means someone needs to run with him. 

Ben Kennedy's heat map is a 30 metre circle in the pocket with a thin line to the bench. 

[Coq au vin 754]

Some of our top players need to learn to spot up a player in the forward fifty and kick the ball to their advantage rather than just bombing it in long or bombing it vaguely in the direction of the big sticks from too far out. Watch the tapes of the last two or three games and you'll see what I mean. Hawthorn were excellent at this aspect of their game when they were at their peak.

[—coach— 3,473]

1 hour ago, Wiseblood said:

You're never excited about anything so that's hardly surprising. 

Maybe if Stephen Powell made a triumphant return he would be ?

[Nasher 33,187]

Far out, we're at selection day already? I haven't finished enjoying the Pies win yet, bunch of spoil sports.

Spencer in for Harmes or Melksham on that side. I see ANB as a notch above the other two at this stage.

Coach taking the piss naming Kennedy and Weideman. As if they will play.

[Wiseblood 24,636]

13 minutes ago, Deestroy All said:

ANB runs all day. Which means someone needs to run with him. 

Ben Kennedy's heat map is a 30 metre circle in the pocket with a thin line to the bench. 

I had high hopes for Kennedy.  But as you say, his tank is tiny and his disposal is questionable at best.  He's behind many players at the moment.

[Deestroy All 14,262]

8 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I had high hopes for Kennedy.  But as you say, his tank is tiny and his disposal is questionable at best.  He's behind many players at the moment.

I did too. 

I like his attack on the ball. That's about it. 

[Pates 9,541]

24 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I had high hopes for Kennedy.  But as you say, his tank is tiny and his disposal is questionable at best.  He's behind many players at the moment.

He's been performing very well in the VFL for a while so if anyone is going to get a chance to come in it should be him. We haven't seen him at AFL level yet this year so perhaps the time in the VFL has helped with his tank and is playing as less of a small half forward.

When he first came to the club he actually showed some promise so I'm not giving him the flick just yet.