Yep, it's an easy team to pick now.

R1

B: VINCE, O.MCDONALD, LEWIS

HB: HIBBERD, LEVER, HUNT

C: PETRACCA, OLIVER, JONES

HF: MELKSHAM, T.MCDONALD, NEAL-BULLEN

F: GARLETT, HOGAN, HANNAN

FOLL: GAWN, TYSON, HARMES

IC: JETTA, BRAYSHAW, SALEM, FRITSCH

EMERG: STRETCH

CASEY

B: KEILTY, HUTCHINS, WHITE

HB: J.WAGNER, FROST, J.SMITH

C: C.WAGNER, MAYNARD, BAKER

HF: KENT, PEDERSEN, BALIC

F: T.SMITH, WEIDEMAN, BUGG

FOLL: KING, VINEY, KENNEDY HARRIS

IC: JOHNSTONE, SPARGO, PETTY, GENT

EMERG: SCOTT

INJ: MCKENNA, VANDENBERG

Edited March 9, 20187 yr by WERRIDEE

14 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

R1

B: VINCE, O.MCDONALD, LEWIS

HB: HIBBERD, LEVER, HUNT

C: PETRACCA, OLIVER, JONES

HF: MELKSHAM, T.MCDONALD, NEAL-BULLEN

F: GARLETT, HOGAN, HANNAN

FOLL: GAWN, TYSON, HARMES

IC: JETTA, BRAYSHAW, SALEM, FRITSCH

EMERG: STRETCH

CASEY

B: KEILTY, HUTCHINS, WHITE

HB: J.WAGNER, FROST, J.SMITH

C: C.WAGNER, MAYNARD, BAKER

HF: KENT, PEDERSEN, BALIC

F: T.SMITH, WEIDEMAN, BUGG

FOLL: KING, VINEY, KENNEDY HARRIS

IC: JOHNSTONE, SPARGO, PETTY, GENT

EMERG: SCOTT

INJ: MCKENNA, VANDENBERG

I think you nailed the Melbourne Rd. 1 22. 

No such things as fixed positions for Melbourne side. Every player will play 2-3 positions throughout a match.

Now that is what I call versatility.

Ah jeez. No Viney now.

If I were Geelong I’d be concerned about Ablett.

S.Selwood, Henderson and likely Cockatoo to miss as well

4 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

If I were Geelong I’d be concerned about Ablett.

S.Selwood, Henderson and likely Cockatoo to miss as well

If I were Ablett . . . I'd be concerned about Ablett!

2 hours ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

I have a feeling Viney's gonna get up for round one...

 

 

2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Viney officially ruled out of round 1 according to Josh Mahoney.

So everyone needs to remove him from the side.

6 hours ago, jnrmac said:

He might but he has played 4 games in total and there is nothing to suggest he is best 22. 

Wow. Sitting on your hands for nearly 5 months to say that?  Hope you feel better now legend.

1 hour ago, Barney Rubble said:

I think you nailed the Melbourne Rd. 1 22. 

No such things as fixed positions for Melbourne side. Every player will play 2-3 positions throughout a match.

Now that is what I call versatility.

Yep, that is a good side, fully versatile, Hunt moved intra - match to the HF Flank, others doing several things out of the set positions, the epitome of flexibility, skill and lethal football. 

3 hours ago, Demons11 said:

That’s absolute rubbish 

They are very close l like you to know that................................Rubbish or not.

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).

Edited March 9, 20187 yr by DeeSpencer

12 minutes 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).

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.

Edited March 9, 20187 yr by Wiseblood

Garlett definite, Hannan and Bugg due to Viney missing.

Fritsch will get his opportunities during the year.

36 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

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

I reckon we need his 40 goals per year. I have hopes he might get close to 60 this year. 

He is by far our best finishing small forward and the quickest I’d guess

58 minutes 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.

Goody said after yesterday’s game, that he would be playing. 

3 hours ago, nosoupforme said:

They are very close l like you to know that................................Rubbish or not.

No [censored] they are brothers but Oscar playing won’t determine if Tom signs

19 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

Goody said after yesterday’s game, that he would be playing. 

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

7 hours ago, Demons11 said:

That’s absolute rubbish 

Offensive towards TMAC's character rubbish too.

38 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

No [censored] they are brothers but Oscar playing won’t determine if Tom signs

I"m giving you my version, no need to ark up . Don"t you think l want him to sign?

round 1

just an experimental lineup.

B: Jetta, OMc, Hibberd
HB: Lewis, Lever, Brayshaw
C: Jones, Salem, Hunt
HF: Petracca, T Mac, Melksham
F: Hannan, Hogan, Garlett

Foll: Gawn, Oliver, Tyson

IC: ANB, Harmes, Vince, Fritsch

Em: Bugg, Stretch, Frost, Pedersen,

 

When Hogan goes on-ball, Petracca can go to the goal square, with TMac at CHF, and we should add pace inside 50.  Maybe Salem forward, when Hogan's ruck-roving ?

I now prefer to name the team in a formation style ... it's not copying soccer,  it's keeping it real. 

A  2 - 5 - 6 - 3 - 2  formation as a starting point but some fine tuning would obviously be needed.       

                         

                              Hibberd    Oscar

          Vince      Jetta      Frost     Lever    Lewis

Hunt    Oliver     Gawn    Tyson   Brayshaw   Jones

                 Petracca    Hogan    Melksham  

                             Garlett      T Mac

 

Interchange:   Salem   Harmes   Hannan   ANB

44 minutes ago, Macca said:

I now prefer to name the team in a formation style ... it's not copying soccer,  it's keeping it real. 

A  2 - 5 - 6 - 3 - 2  formation as a starting point but some fine tuning would obviously be needed.       

                         

                              Hibberd    Oscar

          Vince      Jetta      Frost     Lever    Lewis

Hunt    Oliver     Gawn    Tyson   Brayshaw   Jones

                 Petracca    Hogan    Melksham  

                             Garlett      T Mac

 

Interchange:   Salem   Harmes   Hannan   ANB

love the formation idea

we also slip into a 2 - 5 - 7 - 2 - 2 at times, it depends how we're going at the contest, as sometimes there's really just 1 i50 which i guess would be a 2 - 5 - 8 - 2 - 1 i guess

Edited March 9, 20187 yr by DemonAndrew

9 hours ago, Wrecker45 said:

Garlett can rotate through the midfield in bursts.

As can Hannan. We usually have 13-14 guys in the 22 that can at the very least play bursts in the middle.

9 hours ago, DubDee said:

Peedo is going to be STIFF if he misses but I can't see a spot for him with T Mac and Hoges playing.  maybe with only lever and O Mac down back he could be a bench/utility?   def/fwd/ruck??

Thought Pedo really struggled to impact during the pre season, particularly in JLT2. May remain handy depth in 2018, but we really missed Tommy Mac yesterday.

Edited March 9, 20187 yr by A F

55 minutes ago, Macca said:

I now prefer to name the team in a formation style ... it's not copying soccer,  it's keeping it real. 

A  2 - 5 - 6 - 3 - 2  formation as a starting point but some fine tuning would obviously be needed.       

                         

                              Hibberd    Oscar

          Vince      Jetta      Frost     Lever    Lewis

Hunt    Oliver     Gawn    Tyson   Brayshaw   Jones

                 Petracca    Hogan    Melksham  

                             Garlett      T Mac

 

Interchange:   Salem   Harmes   Hannan   ANB

I like the formation idea too and I think you'll find Lever, Frost and Hibberd will rotate to play the anchoring role. I don't recall Oscar playing the anchor. Frost and Hibberd have the pace to play the role, while Lever has the smarts and ability to read the play that allow him to play it.

I agree with the other end of the ground and much like soccer/football, Hogan/TMac and Garlett/Petracca will rotate forward. I wouldn't be surprised if we try to ring the match ups from the midfield to the forwardline a lot in-season, much like the Bulldogs did against Hawthorn.

The more versatility our side has, the more unpredictable we can remain, with our mids and forwards continually rotating, leaving the opposition defence with constant mismatches.

This will all come with more maturity too and understanding of the game style.

As for my R1 team:

Jetta  O. McDonald  Hibberd

Lewis  Lever  Hunt

Harmes  Oliver  Brayshaw

Neal-Bullen  Hogan  Melksham

Garlett  T. McDonald  Petracca

Gawn    Salem  Tyson

Jones  Hannan  Vince  Fritsch/Frost

Neal-Bullen and Melksham are really dangerous half forwards and although Petracca is dangerous up the ground, I'd try and play him deep as often as possible, when not playing him in the midfield. He plays tall and can bring the ball to the ground, even against key defenders (as he exhibited last night).

Hogan is a true CHF, but will find himself switching deep at times with TMac. As well as, of course, stints in the midfield.

I think Jones' best position in this line up is half back. He's struggled a bit on the wing, whereas he's shone at times at HB. But, gee, he's looked rusty and hampered by that calf complaint.

I only have Vince in my team for experience and Dangerfield. Bernie worries me and I'm on record as being surprised by our decision to re-sign him last year. For a senior player, he is a turn over merchant and those ugly dink kicks he plays around with in the back half, almost always turn over. He's cusp 22 and he wouldn't be in this team were a fit Viney available.

The only player I'd consider swapping in is Frost for Fritsch. Frost can play small or tall and has the leg speed to get us out of strife when the ball gets over the back.

This one is a tough one though, because I'd argue Frost's inclusion allows the MC to give Hunt licence to press further up the ground and play between a more traditional centre wing position and half forward. While Fritsch certainly provides something offensively, but I'd have questions over his ability to sustain the required defensive pressure over four quarters.

And I wouldn't have Bugg anywhere near my best 22, all being well with injuries.