Salem for Hunt 

No other changes

Hope ANB  realises he is on thin ground

This should be a percentage booster

9 hours ago, ProDee said:

Hunt had 11 kicks.  Eight hit their target.  Two that missed were "up and unders", but neither resulted in turnovers.  One was a good pass with 30 seconds to go to Tyson on the boundary line (wing), but Tyson's opponent maneuvered himself ahead of him to spoil it over the line.  Hunt's kicking last round was good all things considered.

I like Hunt's speed, courage and urgency.  He's not immune from being dropped, as we've already seen, but I hope he gets the opportunity to regain some form, because I thought his game against St Kilda was heading in the right direction.

Our first goal was a little spear from Hunt, inside to Spargo. Usually he would have bombed it to the square.

4 minutes ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

Our first goal was a little spear from Hunt, inside to Spargo. Usually he would have bombed it to the square.

He squared to Hannan inside 50, but Hannan missed the set shot.

We all know what he needs to work on, but a fit and firing Hunt is a real weapon.  I hope they persist with him.

21 hours ago, Maxwell Edison MD said:

Fair call mate, think I'm just conditioned to expect the worst, you know, he comes straight in and picks up a new injury or is reinjured. Guess it could happen  playing VFL, can't see him taking it any easier at that level anyway. 

A waste of another week of Viney's footballing life - he does not need to spend it at VFL level when we are playing the Suns. He could easily come off the bench, several times, for a workout/run and benefit from this initial exposure as a serious training run for a full game next match, as intended. Just having him in the selected team would be an asset to those players who currently have lapsed a little in their form. Now that their 'form' is picking up - just imagine what Viney's presence will do for them onfield. He is that charismatic for the team. A risk this week, or a bigger risk next week? 

1 minute ago, Deemania since 56 said:

A waste of another week of Viney's footballing life - he does not need to spend it at VFL level when we are playing the Suns. He could easily come off the bench, several times, for a workout/run and benefit from this initial exposure as a serious training run for a full game next match, as intended. Just having him in the selected team would be an asset to those players who currently have lapsed a little in their form. Now that their 'form' is picking up - just imagine what Viney's presence will do for them onfield. He is that charismatic for the team. A risk this week, or a bigger risk next week? 

It’s not about Viney as much as about the team.  If there is any problem, at VFL he can be put on ice and there are enough warm bodies and the stakes are not so high.  If he plays 60, 70% and kills it, all good.  But to get match touch after 6 months out of the game and allow him to be held back if he pulls up sore is both great risk management and in the interests of the team.  It also means no travel, and sets a benchmark about team first thinking.  If It was only about Viney, we would rush him back before he is ready and open him up to a poor first game, and the potential of reinjury.  Remember that?

5 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

It’s not about Viney as much as about the team.  If there is any problem, at VFL he can be put on ice and there are enough warm bodies and the stakes are not so high.  If he plays 60, 70% and kills it, all good.  But to get match touch after 6 months out of the game and allow him to be held back if he pulls up sore is both great risk management and in the interests of the team.  It also means no travel, and sets a benchmark about team first thinking.  If It was only about Viney, we would rush him back before he is ready and open him up to a poor first game, and the potential of reinjury.  Remember that?

Agree with the key points of what you raise and my only hesitation is one of risking a win-win positive on game day vs, risking Viney himself and team cohesion. Just high hopes, I guess...

16 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

No, that would not be my logic.  Past performance at the ground means what, exactly?  Kicking 5 against the suns (who had a different coach, different players and a different system) means what? These two things would be very low on my list of considerations in selecting the team. 

Can he play a role?  Will he play that role?  Is he in form?  Does he deserve to be there more than the alternates? 

He was dropped.  If he has done what he needs to do, then consider him.  To consider him because he did something in the past or done something at some geographic location really is flawed thinking.  The sort of stuff I would expect of Mark Neeld, not Goodwin.

Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.

(Unless you're Greg Norman at Augusta)

10 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

It’s not about Viney as much as about the team.  If there is any problem, at VFL he can be put on ice and there are enough warm bodies and the stakes are not so high.  If he plays 60, 70% and kills it, all good.  But to get match touch after 6 months out of the game and allow him to be held back if he pulls up sore is both great risk management and in the interests of the team.  It also means no travel, and sets a benchmark about team first thinking.  If It was only about Viney, we would rush him back before he is ready and open him up to a poor first game, and the potential of reinjury.  Remember that?

This is a really, really good post. Had not thought of it like this, thanks.

9 hours ago, dworship said:

Fabulous reasoning, however the game is against Whorethorn, Viney will be out to prove he should be in the ones, he just won't be able to tone it down. We run the real risk of him being suspended because I see him going in too hard at that level and other players seeing the chance to take out a threat.

That'll be on the VFL coach, Goodwin and Viney to manage. He's an adult.

I'd reckon he's across the plan - VFL this week, don't do anything dumb, come back against John Elliot's mob next week and throw down.

It's pretty clear.

We can't manage the someone-else-doing-something-dumb risk but everything else can be controlled, except the angry juice preventing his brain working in the match.

We'll see I suppose.

Whose hands are creeping for the Seppuku drawer coz if things go haywire I'll be demanding someone takes it.

21 hours ago, billyblanks29 said:

Viney coming back to AFL this week could only have 1 of 2 outcomes:

1. He gets through the game unscathed but has an average output (sub 20 possession)
2. He re-injures his foot or does some other type of injury

The whole reason there's a 3-4 game preseason is to get players used to match conditions and into form. One does not simply waltz into a side after a year off and have a blinder with 30+ disposals.

Thankfully Wojinski won’t be playing. 

15 hours ago, chook fowler said:

I think we should accept the decision of the footy dept. I’m sure they’re as keen to see him play as anyone but he is needed in peak condition for the second half of the season and we can beat this mob without him.

chook.   The alternative being what? 

1 hour ago, ProDee said:

He squared to Hannan inside 50, but Hannan missed the set shot.

We all know what he needs to work on, but a fit and firing Hunt is a real weapon.  I hope they persist with him.

Watch the replay again

1 hour ago, buck_nekkid said:

It’s not about Viney as much as about the team.  If there is any problem, at VFL he can be put on ice and there are enough warm bodies and the stakes are not so high.  If he plays 60, 70% and kills it, all good.  But to get match touch after 6 months out of the game and allow him to be held back if he pulls up sore is both great risk management and in the interests of the team.  It also means no travel, and sets a benchmark about team first thinking.  If It was only about Viney, we would rush him back before he is ready and open him up to a poor first game, and the potential of reinjury.  Remember that?

Well said. BN 

Other posts smack to me of the ' messiah' complex about Viney so common with Melb in past years. Not the case, nor necessary.   

Tom McD has stabilised the structure, Hogans now a talisman, Gawn's on fire,  etc, etc, (apologies to Oliver, spargo,  Brayshaw, OMc, Lever... etc , etc,)

Viney is now the cream and won't deliver this week although I'd love him in the team he's not the key to success. The team will do that as a whole, then he's a bit more match hardened to blow away the blues at home having avoided the long haul to the gabba.

 

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

Thankfully Wojinski won’t be playing. 

chook.   The alternative being what? 

The alternative is continual carping about stuff we don’t know about. The footy dept obviously believe Jack is not quite ready. They got TMac right so I respect their decision.

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

Thankfully Wojinski won’t be playing. 

chook.   The alternative being what? 

The alternative is continual carping about stuff we don’t know about. The footy dept obviously believe Jack is not quite ready. They got TMac right so I respect their decision.

Hunt is a bit of a dilemma right now, at his best he cruises into our team, in terms of our list he is unique in terms of his pace, tank and pressure he can put on the opposition - he is simply the best athlete on our list.

Problem right now is his confidence is down and he’s not getting to enough contests, he knows it too and has looked frustrated over the last few weeks. No doubt he will be back.

20 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

A waste of another week of Viney's footballing life - he does not need to spend it at VFL level when we are playing the Suns. He could easily come off the bench, several times, for a workout/run and benefit from this initial exposure as a serious training run for a full game next match, as intended. Just having him in the selected team would be an asset to those players who currently have lapsed a little in their form. Now that their 'form' is picking up - just imagine what Viney's presence will do for them onfield. He is that charismatic for the team. A risk this week, or a bigger risk next week? 

Maybe the Casey Demons will profit from his charisma (and Hunt’s pace) against the unbeaten Box Hill Hawks? 

5 hours ago, CBDees said:

Maybe the Casey Demons will profit from his charisma (and Hunt’s pace) against the unbeaten Box Hill Hawks? 

Looks like that is going to be the case and so, it is not all that negative.

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Looks like that is going to be the case and so, it is not all that negative.

Particularly as the starting 18 at the Casey Demons are overwhelmingly Viney’s Melbourne Demons teammates! 

On 5/10/2018 at 9:44 AM, Devil is in the Detail said:

Watch the replay again

Yeah it was Hunt to Spargo who goaled. But I think the point being made is valid. Minutes earlier Hunt had hit up Hogan on the wing when clearing the ball from defense. Yes, he does bomb it but I think the signs were there that  he's looking to be more effective in his ball use, as he was in the back half of last season. I thought he was fine defensively - none of the Saints mid sized forwards really a lot of influence. And in the last quarter Hunt was still making repeat tackling efforts.

Plenty have said he had a shite game. I thought, for a player trying to recapture his best form, it was an encouraging game. For that reason and the fact that I thing he's important to us, I'd have left him in the side to build further on last week's game

We are only guessing it's his kicking, personally I think he has lost the run and carry , how many bounces has he had this year. This style of fwd pressure game has affected his running. He is struggling to break the lines

Down 25% metres gained.

 

On 5/9/2018 at 10:31 AM, daisycutter said:

recovering well from a vicious throat infection 

The delayed onset was the major concern.