43 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Melksham has been cleared, I am in shock.

It looked like it deserved weeks.

can the AFL appeal?  

so with Milkshake ok and Salem looking good to play.... no changes?  let them redeem themselves?  if you drop players from poor efforts there wouldn't be many on the ground on sunday

Maybe Weed for the Peed?

I would like to see Gus included this week.  He's had a couple of games under his belt, a solid block of training for several weeks prior to playing, will add some grunt, class and hopefully fresh legs. I can't call the out for him though.

1 hour ago, Older demon said:

I am surprised that no one has pinged Trac. His last 2 games have been poor. Trying to take on the field and getting caught in the tackle and holding the ball. If you want to make a statement then let Trac know he isn't an automatic selection every week. Also can the coaches instruct Clarry to kick the ball. If we want quicker movement out of stoppages we need to stop over handling and kick the ball. Kick it into space and let someone run onto the ball instead of 3 handballs and trying to pinpoint someone in a one on one.

Hannan is very important, as he is the mobile 3rd target and where is a small goal kicking forward as we have lost the spread of goals from the mid field in the last 2 games. Richmond have shown the effectiveness of a set up with quick small forwards who run to space with only 1 key forward.

Need to see if Salem's ankle is ok later in week and if Melksham gets a week as the 2 potential outs and Trac maybe. In Hannan, JKH and Gus.

Point 1: Disappointingly a number of our younger players are starting to look tired similar to last season. I think big chunks of the year without some of our senior players has added to this issue. On this list I would put: Trac, Hannan, Hunt, OMac, Harmes, ANB and Clarry (to a lesser extent). The senior injuries have meant that the club hasn't been able to rest them like they may have if the injuries hadn't have occurred. Give them another pre-season and we'll have a much better chance of reaping our rewards next season. If we were to make the finals (and that's a big if at the moment) the bye in between Rd23 and finals week 1 would see these guys hit the ground super fresh and firing. Unfortunately I think its too late now to give these guys a rest, we are going to have to make the best of a bad situation.

Point 2: Personally I don't disagree with your comment, but if Clarry starts to kick the ball more out of packs he will quickly become despised like Tyson on this site (people on here don't like quick kicks out of packs - unless the player plays for another team and then they ignore the high rate of errors such play brings with it). 

Point 3: As for everyone heaping it on Watts, have a look at our F50 entries over the last two weeks - they have been absolutely atrocious. Blaming the forwards for the mistakes of those up the ground is not going to fix our problems.

Point 4: Everyone please thank their someone/some-thing if they are of that mind for Milkshake not being sited by the MRP (Melbourne Resistance Panel).

In: Grandstands that block strong winds blowing to one end of the ground

Out: Dumb football and open boutique stadiums where we think that the wind will do the hard work for us

Hannan has to come in. was "rested" for GWS and has been lively.

Not sure who the out is...

16 minutes ago, DubDee said:

so with Milkshake ok and Salem looking good to play.... no changes?  let them redeem themselves?  if you drop players from poor efforts there wouldn't be many on the ground on sunday

Maybe Weed for the Peed?

Thank goodness you wrote it that way round. If it was reversed I would have thought you were talking about the next development in random roadside drug testing.

We are $1.65 favourites...   would much prefer to go in as the underdog.

36 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

We are $1.65 favourites...   would much prefer to go in as the underdog.

I had a look this morning and I was a bit surprised on our current form we would be that short, for once I hope the bookies have this right.

On a side note, MCG estimate for attendance is 37,000,  hopefully we get more than that, we need red and blue everywhere.

Edited August 7, 20178 yr by Demon77

I agree with a few posters that with the injuries and suspensions, we haven't been able to rest players, or ease players into the squad as the coaches would have liked.

In saying that, anyone else think Frost is in some horrendous form? Seeing TMac in the backline for a quarter shows his class and how much we have missed not having him back there. 

In: Weideman, Hannan

Out: Frost, Harmes

If Brayshaw is truely ready I would look to rest Petracca for Brayshaw as he looks like a man who needs a week off, carrying an injury that is reducing his effectiveness on the field. Or hopefully the 8 day break will do him wonders. 

On a side note - Nice to see Gawn finally get back into some good form, Watts showed an improved endeavour in the second half. Hopefully that is the first domino off the rank to start getting the other players: Vince, Jones, Viney and Salem to start finding their pre-injury form...in Vince's case his pre-toe injury form. 

I like that by beating the WCE, we are only percentage out of the top 8, but it puts a lot of fire in the belly of the Saints players. They were playing hard off of the Nick Riewoldt, and hopefully with our key mids recapturing their lost form, we can get over the line this week.

19 minutes ago, BigMacjnr said:

 

If Brayshaw is truely ready I would look to rest Petracca for Brayshaw as he looks like a man who needs a week off, carrying an injury that is reducing his effectiveness on the field. Or hopefully the 8 day break will do him wonders. 

Three rounds left, fighting for finals.  I agree he has looked tired the last 2 weeks but we are fighting to make finals and he is our weapon so theres likely zero chance he gets rested.

We have an eight day break so that will help any sore bodies.

Edited August 7, 20178 yr by Petraccattack

IN- Tackling and Repeat efforts, more kicking, Hannan

OUT- TURNOVERs, whoever is carrying an injury

Changes this week need to be positional and player game style.

- Watts plays on Reiwoldt like he is his nappy! On kick outs Watts takes Reiwoldt away from the 1st contest. But runs to create link up if we win the ball. If not stick to Nick.

- Hannan and Garlett play deep forward. 

- Petracca needs to kick more than handball this week. Dusty Martin kicks 70% of all his possessions. Trac needs to model his game on Dusty. I would like to see Trac play out the square like Dusty too.

- Hunt plays half back and stays there with his run.

- Tmac rotates with Gawn at FF/Ruck. These guys should be capable of kicking 3 goals each. Longer needs to be run ragged.

- Seb Ross gets a heavy tag. I suggest Melksham.

- I want to see Bernie Vince play in the centre square. He is the only one with brains who wants to kick the ball. Got a goal or two in him this week.

- Lewis plays midfield. 

- Jack Billings gets close attention. SALEM!

- ACRES is another one other than Reiwoldt who rips us up aswell. Need to respect him off the bench.

 

Glad Melk is free to play

In -   Brayshaw,  Weideman, Hannan

Out -  Harmes,  Pedersen,   ANB

Watts probably deserves to be dropped, but he loves playing on the MCG and this game is huge. You cant just replace his skill set and foot skills. But if he has another shocker hes gone.

Hannan just needed a freshen up. Would bring him straight back in. Played really well against Saints Round 1 and offers desperately needed pace.

Out: Pedersen or Watts

Would be crazy to bring Brayshaw in for what should be a helter skelter, super hot "elimination final". One more dominant performance at Casey and he can come in against Brisbane the following week.

 

Watts is on 4th game back. Hoges took a while to blow out the cobwebs Gawn was good 1st week back before taking another couple to hit his straps. So Watts needs to step up and against the Saints we can't just bomb it long Carlisle will have a field day and they will counter quickly hitting Reiwoldt leading hard up the ground. Think we need to go mobile as we can inside fwd 50 and with the season on the line roll the dice and have as many players as possible who can rotate through the middle

Jetta Omac Hibberd

Hunt Frost Salem

Vince Tyson Harmes

Trac Tmac Melksham 

Garlett Weid Watts

Gawn Viney Jones

Lewis ANB, Brayshaw, Hannan

 

4 minutes ago, Watts Jurrah Dunn? said:

Hannan just needed a freshen up. Would bring him straight back in. Played really well against Saints Round 1 and offers desperately needed pace.

Out: Pedersen or Watts

Would be crazy to bring Brayshaw in for what should be a helter skelter, super hot "elimination final". One more dominant performance at Casey and he can come in against Brisbane the following week.

 

We can bring in the whole Casey team against Brisbane if we get done this week.

Bringing  Brayshaw in this week doesn't seem too crazy in my opinion, it's not like we need to save him for anything, he has returned for a few games and confidence seems to be there as evident by his numbers in the VFL. We just need some refreshment and he could provide it.

Apart from Gus, Hannan is the only other player with a touch of class available.

 

On 06/08/2017 at 9:07 PM, Diamond said:

The way the dees have been playing and are likely to play this weekend I'd be surprised to see more than about 24,000

Plenty of Snow could affect crowd

 

 

 

Saints supporters love the stuff.

6 minutes ago, dpositive said:

Plenty of Snow could affect crowd

 

 

 

Saints supporters love the stuff.

Not the sort of snow we're renowned for loving.  

Someone tell Oliver and petracca we want to see more kicks than handballs from them, both are beautiful kicks but choose to handball instead way to often.

Wagner to Half Back

Hunt and Brayshaw on the wings

Hannan to Half Forward 

Out: Harmes, Maynard, Melksham

15 hours ago, Petraccattack said:

Glad Melk is free to play

In -   Brayshaw,  Weideman, Hannan

Out -  Harmes,  Pedersen,   ANB

Watts probably deserves to be dropped, but he loves playing on the MCG and this game is huge. You cant just replace his skill set and foot skills. But if he has another shocker hes gone.

Not bad, id keep Weideman out and leave ANB in. Play a shorter more mobile fwd line with Petracca up forward full time. 

5 hours ago, shorty said:

Wagner to Half Back

Hunt and Brayshaw on the wings

Hannan to Half Forward 

Out: Harmes, Maynard, Melksham

Milkshake won't be dropped - he's too versatile. Nor will ANB - 17 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 goals. Both favourites of the FD IMO. I reckon Gus may be brought in next week (against lesser opponents). My bet is Hannan in for Maynard. BTW I wasn't happy with Maynard's propensity to handball. His stats were 5 and 13 but I suspect he had 8 or more HB before a K.

8 minutes ago, M_9 said:

Milkshake won't be dropped - he's too versatile. Nor will ANB - 17 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 goals. Both favourites of the FD IMO. I reckon Gus may be brought in next week (against lesser opponents). My bet is Hannan in for Maynard. BTW I wasn't happy with Maynard's propensity to handball. His stats were 5 and 13 but I suspect he had 8 or more HB before a K.

I was happy that he got 18 possessions in his 1st game.

I finally got a chance to look at game completely and another huge night for selectors is on its way.

Clearly we lacked linebreaking outside run against GWS - hence why I was surprised Maynard got in for JKH last week.

We also struggled underneath, although I'd expect Jonesy to be more back in the swing of things and Viney will lift - the two skippers are probably the keys this week.

We also struggled with our choice of ball movement inside 50 - can we afford to again plonk Jeffy Garlett one-on-one in the goalsquare - he's not Eddie Betts, he more of a clever crumber or an over the back player?

Ultimately, though given the huge stakes involved I'd be disappointed if we made more than three changes this week - the guys who have given us a chance at making finals deserve to be given the final chance to resurrect things and that should mean Watts (who actually was pretty impressive in the second half) and Garlett and Petracca deserve to be persevered with this week.

We do need to correct our lack of outside run and Hannan's return will help a bit. Who goes out? Those of you who watch my comments will know that I am a huge fan of Harmesy, but I think he may need to go back and kick a few at Casey this week - his shots on goal have dried up in recent weeks. I love his attack on the ball and I want him playing finals though.

The next big issue is which of JKH, Stretch and Brayshaw get games and for who.

If you watched the telecast there was a lot of commentary booth love for Maynard - he had a very good final term. But rewind to the first three quarters and it was a disaster of a debut for him - understandably he needed to adjust to the extra pace. To his credit he kept trying and I am confident he deserves another game - but it should be against Brisbane, not St Kilda - he is not an outside runner - he is a clever inside player. The alternative is to drop our other quarterback style midfielder in Tyson and I'd be even more disappointed with that - as he deserves to either resurrect the ship, or go down with the ship, this week.

The final change I can see will depend on whether we decide to go smaller and that will depend on the conditions - at this stage Sunday might be a bit blustery.  But if it's wet, do we stick with Pedo? On one hand, the Saints are a very physical side and we may need Pedo's presence. On the other, the Saints would love having Brown on Pedo because Brown is a good nullifier - his main worry is when he's on a player with pace and with no Pedo, he'd have to go to Watts or Hannan with Carlisle on T-Mac.

Salem was another to have a howler on the weekend, but as with several others, he deserves  a chance to right the ship.

So ultimately just two changes in my book, with a third (Pedo), if it is going to be a wet day wipeout. As to whether JKH or Brayshaw or Stretch get back in, to me it's a choice between JKH's run and amazing form in the VFL and the thrill and extra buzz of having Brayshaw back. Billy will have to wait another week IMO.

I'm not confident as the Saints will be up for this after their win last week, but Goody has been a revelation as a coach this season and will hopefully make the gameplan correction up forward and a bit of homeside umpiring will help. Our guys just have to realise the gravity of this battle and I'd be very surprised if Viney and Jones don't get votes this week. Viney has to do his usual job on Steven, Jonesy has to be the key linkman and Melky needs to nullify Newnes' run.

 

 

 

 

This was on AFL website

18 hours ago, Demon77 said:

I had a look this morning and I was a bit surprised on our current form we would be that short, for once I hope the bookies have this right.

On a side note, MCG estimate for attendance is 37,000,  hopefully we get more than that, we need red and blue everywhere.

This was on AfL website, maybe get a few more than we expect:

Melbourne and the MCC have given away 20,000 tickets to the game to various schools and multicultural communities