4 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

I'll be howled down for it, but I think Fritsch is the one who misses.

Hannan has been very good this pre-season and, for now, Garlett is an automatic selection in the 22.  Having said that, there is more competition for his role in the side so he won't get away with having a few off weeks.

Bugg is the controversial one.  He has some positives (tough, gets to the right spots, can kick goals, gives 110%) and then he has some negatives (misses too many shots, can be a pest, disposal overall only average), but I think the FD like what he brings into our side and he will get a gig in Round 1.  Just a gut feeling with that one.

I'm willing to cop it on the chin for even suggesting Fritsch misses out, but someone has to.  We can't fit them all in, and even though he has shown some terrific glimpses during this pre-season, I think he'll have to wait a few weeks for a debut.

Edit - and, for the record, I'm super happy to be wrong in my assumptions here.  If Fritsch plays Round 1 then I'll be cheering for him as loudly as anyone.  I just think, at the moment, he's the one who will be VERY stiff to miss the 22.

No howling down from me. Leaving him out has to be an option. He's probably the weakest of the 4 defensively and he doesn't have the tank of Bugg or the speed of the other two. Hasn't shown any significant midfield ability either. 

But I like his skills too much to leave him out. I think we just have to play him. 

I'd be testing all of the small-medium forwards in a heap of defensive pressure drills over the next two weeks. If Garlett and Hannan thrive in those drills then I'd leave Bugg out. If Bugg aces the field and the rest are just mediocre then it's back to the same tough decision.

17 hours ago, ProDee said:

You're comparing apples and oranges.  Harmes provides outside run, while also being hard at it, which is why I like him, and Tyson is a clever inside mid.

With Petracca and even Oliver spending time forward it makes Tyson more valuable due to his ability to win clearances.

They're not competing for a spot in the 22.

Unfortunately when it’s this tight to select a 22 from virtually a full list, you have to compare an orange to an apple. For real.

I understand they’re different players. Which is why it’s worth asking what the team misses out on if one or the other were to be left out.

We disagree on the importance of Tyson to our side. He’s really valuable when he’s at the top of his game, but anything under that and he becomes a liability due to his lack of versatility. Which is why I’d prefer someone like Harmes in the side side over him.

Now that Viney is missing however, Tyson is clearly next in line as a pure ball winning mid. 

 

On 10/13/2017 at 2:28 PM, DaveyDee said:

I've went for a tad different line-up and only listed what I think are best 22, plus Ive went for the smaller forward/backline combinations

B:        Jetta      xxxxx    Hibberd

HB:      Salem   Lever       Hunt

C:         Brayshaw       Oliver      Petracca

HF:      Melksham      TMac      Hannan

F:         Garlett   Hogan    xxxxx

Fol:      Gawn     Jones     Viney

Int: Lewis, Maynard, xxxx, xxxx

Im tinkering with my team - now ready to fill in the blanks and deal with the Viney injury

B:        Jetta     O'Mac    Hibberd

HB:      Salem   Lever       Hunt

C:         Brayshaw       Oliver      Petracca

HF:      Melksham      TMac      Hannan

F:         Garlett   Hogan    B Fristch

Fol:      Gawn     Jones     Tyson

Int: Lewis, Harmes, ANB, Vince

Emegencies - Bugg, Stretch, Pedo, Maynard - and geez it was tough any of them could have got a game

Oh and just for the record I'm keen to get Salem, Jones and my bench all to rotate thru the midfield and Half back flank. 

Go Dees

Edited March 9, 20187 yr by DaveyDee

12 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

FB: Hibberd   Oscar   Jetta
HB: Hunt   Lever   Lewis
C: Harmes  Oliver  Jones
HF: ANB   Hogan  Melksham
FF: ##### T Mc  ######
Foll: Gawn  Petracca Salem
Int: Vince  Tyson  Brayshaw  #####

Happy with that 20. Still not sure which 3 out of 4 of Bugg, Garlett, Hannan and Fritsch play.

Hannan's midfield burst and important late game goal kicking can be so valuable and he's a bit stronger and maybe more of a tackler this year. Its very hard to leave him out.
Fritsch gives us a bit more in the air and a beautiful kick to set up or score goals.
Bugg's the fittest player on the list and the ability to keep running is so important late in early season games.

I'm wondering if we need Garlett, but if he's at his best he's an automatic selection (I think).

It is all such a dilemma - who to play, who to omit, the sound reasons why everyone should be playing.  As the season progresses, I'd think that a few 'regulars' may wane in their fitness, not remaining uninjured and/or slowing down, considerably - this would give a few of the 'dilemmas' more opportunities. I am not sure that Lewis, Vince, Pedo, Jones and Gawn can last a whole season or in our best 22 without some considered rest or substitution during games. We walk a tightrope with Gawn playing injury-free for whole matches at a time. Plus, despite his enthusiasm to contribute all over the ground, he is in real need of a backup ruck, a mobile rucking rover and time solely in the fwd line where he is lethal after a 'resting' during the game. Just a series of opinions, that's all. 

31 minutes ago, DaveyDee said:

Im tinkering with my team - now ready to fill in the blanks and deal with the Viney injury

B:        Jetta     O'Mac    Hibberd

HB:      Salem   Lever       Hunt

C:         Brayshaw       Oliver      Petracca

HF:      Melksham      TMac      Hannan

F:         Garlett   Hogan    B Fristch

Fol:      Gawn     Jones     Tyson

Int: Lewis, Harmes, ANB, Vince

Emegencies - Bugg, Stretch, Pedo, Maynard - and geez it was tough any of them could have got a game

Oh and just for the record I'm keen to get Salem, Jones and my bench all to rotate thru the midfield and Half back flank. 

Go Dees

Looking at most people’s round 1 team, the above team, plus minus a player or two is pretty close to the mark. What I like most is the improvement on nearly every line from last year.

Backs - OMac bigger, Stronger more composed 

Hibberd coming in fit from round 1

HBs - Lever positive addition

Salem fitter, stronger

Centre - Oliver, Brayshaw and particularly Petracca look fitter stronger and a full preseason for all of them

CHF - Melksham ready to fly and I would definitely play Hogan at CHF and he looks really good to go after a full preseason

FF - whether it’s Fritsch who brings something new and highly skilled, Hannan, ANB or Harmes all look to have advanced significantly on last year

Rucks - Max fully fit, Tyson fully fit is positive

Interchange - Just looks a lot stronger whoever is in, Vince fully fit after toe injury last year

You bring Viney back in and we have to drop a solid player.

When I look at the overall improvement the team seems much stronger and players will be under pressure to perform week in week out. Sitting outside the 22 above are Bugg, Frost, Pedersen, J Smith, & Weideman. This should lead to less of the bad loses.

While I’m a glass half full supporter, the Demons look ready for a breakout season!

 

3 minutes ago, D4Life said:

Looking at most people’s round 1 team, the above team, plus minus a player or two is pretty close to the mark. What I like most is the improvement on nearly every line from last year.

Backs - OMac bigger, Stronger more composed 

Hibberd coming in fit from round 1

HBs - Lever positive addition

Salem fitter, stronger

Centre - Oliver, Brayshaw and particularly Petracca look fitter stronger and a full preseason for all of them

CHF - Melksham ready to fly and I would definitely play Hogan at CHF and he looks really good to go after a full preseason

FF - whether it’s Fritsch who brings something new and highly skilled, Hannan, ANB or Harmes all look to have advanced significantly on last year

Rucks - Max fully fit, Tyson fully fit is positive

Interchange - Just looks a lot stronger whoever is in, Vince fully fit after toe injury last year

You bring Viney back in and we have to drop a solid player.

When I look at the overall improvement the team seems much stronger and players will be under pressure to perform week in week out. Sitting outside the 22 above are Bugg, Frost, Pedersen, J Smith, & Weideman. This should lead to less of the bad loses.

While I’m a glass half full supporter, the Demons look ready for a breakout season!

 

I'm with you all the way - GO Dees

20 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Assuming Viney doesn't get up.

FB: Jetta O. McDonald Hibberd
HB: Hunt Lever Lewis
C: Neal-Bullen Oliver Salem
HF: Petracca Hogan Melksham
FF: Garlett T. McDonald Hannan

Foll: Gawn Tyson Jones
Int: Fritsch Vince Brayshaw Harmes

This team looks really good, any changes would be minor. 

Jones looks a little out of sorts, but maybe back in the guts is best way for him to come good, and would like to see Hunt on a wing at some point during the season.

When Viney comes back, the onball brigade will be great.

2 hours ago, D4Life said:

Looking at most people’s round 1 team, the above team, plus minus a player or two is pretty close to the mark. What I like most is the improvement on nearly every line from last year.

Backs - OMac bigger, Stronger more composed 

Hibberd coming in fit from round 1

HBs - Lever positive addition

Salem fitter, stronger

Centre - Oliver, Brayshaw and particularly Petracca look fitter stronger and a full preseason for all of them

CHF - Melksham ready to fly and I would definitely play Hogan at CHF and he looks really good to go after a full preseason

FF - whether it’s Fritsch who brings something new and highly skilled, Hannan, ANB or Harmes all look to have advanced significantly on last year

Rucks - Max fully fit, Tyson fully fit is positive

Interchange - Just looks a lot stronger whoever is in, Vince fully fit after toe injury last year

You bring Viney back in and we have to drop a solid player.

When I look at the overall improvement the team seems much stronger and players will be under pressure to perform week in week out. Sitting outside the 22 above are Bugg, Frost, Pedersen, J Smith, & Weideman. This should lead to less of the bad loses.

While I’m a glass half full supporter, the Demons look ready for a breakout season!

 

My breakout summation is for Harmes. He is developing so well and blending with his teammates almost perfectly. I have been watching him closely, quietly and see enormous motor skills. He'd be my morphing agent to emulate Dusty in the future - and he is tough as nails. Great on the outside heading forward. 

Bugg is in my best 22.

I’ll be interested to see if he’s in the MFC coaching panel’s best 22.

 

21 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

Bugg is in my best 22.

I’ll be interested to see if he’s in the MFC coaching panel’s best 22.

 

I sure as hell hope not.

Good depth, but his skill level isn't at the required standard.

Regarding Bugg. Dynamic fella, full of courage and grit. Works hard, always. Not yet in the best 22 'cause he can't kick. Fit enough to last a full game in a roving-style, clearing role and prepared to take anyone on...

My old coach once told me that '...it ain't good to be where the ball ain't...' but Bugg meets this criteria well. So I apply a modification of this adage, thus: '...it ain't good to have a "kickable" receive in fronta goal, and miss so often...'

Enigmatic, ain't he?

3 hours ago, ProDee said:

I sure as hell hope not.

Good depth, but his skill level isn't at the required standard.

Correct.

20 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

Where?  I saw his press conference after the game and at no point did he say Fritsch was a certainty to play.

Not the press conference but an interview from the boundary rider on fox 

49 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

Not the press conference but an interview from the boundary rider on fox 

If we're going by his press conference, he made reference to the fact that he has some very, very tough decisions to make in the coming fortnight.  To me that says Fritsch is no certainty to be picked Round 1.

5 hours ago, ProDee said:

I sure as hell hope not.

Good depth, but his skill level isn't at the required standard.

He’s got a big engine. He runs to space. And he’s defensively sound.

That said, the MFC coaching panel might very well be in your camp.

 

24 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

If we're going by his press conference, he made reference to the fact that he has some very, very tough decisions to make in the coming fortnight.  To me that says Fritsch is no certainty to be picked Round 1.

It wasn’t in the press conference. He let the cat out of the bag straight after the game. 

Goodwin on the ground interview after the game with David King:

David King: "Some fresh faces for round one ?"

Simon Goodwin: "Yeah it looks like it, yeah look, Bayley Fritsch is playing some really good footy, so he's one guy I could nearly say that he's going to be pretty close to selection for round one".  He was nodding his head as he was speaking.

I read (heard) it as he's in.

Really dynamic forward line no matter which depth players make it; Hannan and Fritsch can make above their head (and on other peoples heads), Hogan, Petracca, Melksham, and ANB can go into the midfield, and Pedersen, McDonald and Hogan can all be targets for long footy.

As opposed to the last 6 players picked, I am looking for the following to be the best players on the park most weeks; Oliver, Petracca, Hogan, Hibberd, Lever, and ... Salem (yeah, I know...).

If that happens, we will win a lot of footy games.

Word is Danger has done a hammy. Huge for us if true.

2 minutes ago, Dappa Dan said:

Word is Danger has done a hammy. Huge for us if true.

Who gave you the word?

Fox Footy guys at the ground couldn't get any word a couple of minutes ago.

Edited March 11, 20187 yr by Redleg

Just now, Redleg said:

Who gave you the word?

He went down in the rooms. As I say only rumours. Not claiming anything official.

1 minute ago, Redleg said:

Who gave you the word?

We have seen this before of course with Danger. Looks like he's been shot. Comes back on and kicks 6.

2 minutes ago, Dappa Dan said:

He went down in the rooms. As I say only rumours. Not claiming anything official.

Rooms actually at ground level and plenty of us saw that watching Fox Footy. 

As I said did you actually get the word or are you just assuming the injury is a hammy?

I am not knocking you, just trying to verify source of info and accuracy.

Edited March 11, 20187 yr by Redleg

Just now, Redleg said:

Rooms actually at ground level and plenty of us saw that watching Fox Footy. 

As I said did you actually get the word or are you just assuming the injury is a hammy?

As I said. Just rumours. I had to leave the TV... has he come back on?

1 minute ago, Dappa Dan said:

As I said. Just rumours. I had to leave the TV... has he come back on?

No, done for the day.

Stanley also has a calf injury. 

Edited March 11, 20187 yr by Redleg