MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION - Round 15

[WERRIDEE 5,572]

 

3 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Vince has been named on the bench quite a lot the last few weeks. Wouldn’t read too much into that. I think he needs to go though.

I can't remember Bernie being on an extended bench. I think Bernie's luck has just run out he will be emergency.

Why would Pedersen play back last week if he was to replace Tommy makes no sense. Tommy will be fine.

IC: Fritsch, Harmes, Tyson, Weideman

[DV8 2,271]

1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

Looking at that bench I reckon you're right.

And as much as I love Bernie it would be the right call.

Bern will be back, next match.  mmw's.

[Dee Zephyr 19,269]

Garlett is a concern. He’s slipped down the pecking order rapidly.

[Cards13 9,117]

Don’t know if this has been mentioned but the Welcome Game, the MFC wants us to bring all of our old member scarfs down. They will then give them away to new fans, great recycling idea.

 

https://membership.melbournefc.com.au/the-welcome-game-scarf-drive?camefrom=EMCL_2357557_103798047

[picket fence 17,973]

Bernie Cooked

Frost should have got a game

Jeffy cannot see why he is not playing crumbing forward.

BENCH baring T Mac who is extremely doubtful 

Weeds, Stretch, Spargo, Fritta 

[picket fence 17,973]

2 hours ago, ding said:

Geezus i will have another heart attack if Stretch replaces Plugger. I love the kids dedication, but cant see him making the grade long term. Loved his old mans guts back in the day, but his boy isnt the same quality. Hope one day he makes me eat crow, but until then............

Ahh serious?? Have you seen the 88 Grand Final?? Hnmmm !

[Demon Dynasty 17,130]

28 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Garlett is a concern. He’s slipped down the pecking order rapidly.

If Jeffy puts in one decent game (decent pressure also) and Hannan drops off a little from last week, i have a feeling Jeffy will come straight in.

Can Jeffy be bothered doing the pressure stuff though?  Probably needs to kick 4 to 5 if he isn't pressuring much to get a call up if Hannan mucks (and i'm not wishing this on Hannan....just saying).

[Dee Zephyr 19,269]

6 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

If Jeffy puts in one decent game (decent pressure also) and Hannan drops off a little from last week, i have a feeling Jeffy will come straight in.

Can Jeffy be bothered doing the pressure stuff though?  Probably needs to kick 4 to 5 if he isn't pressuring much to get a call up if Hannan mucks (and i'm not wishing this on Hannan....just saying).

I wanted him back in the team but it’s been two months since he got dropped with 7-8 VFL games. Has he been held over as emergency in this time? 

Interesting times ahead anyway Rusty. I don’t believe Spargo will play this week and I don’t think we can read much into him being named ahead of Garlett on the extended bench...or can we?

[Earl Hood 6,142]

29 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Ahh serious?? Have you seen the 88 Grand Final?? Hnmmm !

Cheap shot Pickett! 

[Demon Dynasty 17,130]

5 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

I wanted him back in the team but it’s been two months since he got dropped with 7-8 VFL games. Has he been held over as emergency in this time? 

Interesting times ahead anyway Rusty. I don’t believe Spargo will play this week and I don’t think we can read much into him being named ahead of Garlett on the extended bench...or can we?

I think Spargo plays DZ.  I will be stunned if Goody hasn't learned his lesson from last week going in without a crumbing small, which cost us dearly.  Pretty sure he will come in for Harmes or Tyson.

[Deeoldfart 8,105]

30 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Ahh serious?? Have you seen the 88 Grand Final?? Hnmmm !

There's always one in a crowd!

[Big Demon 197]

Yes the Saints refreshed and Denons coming off a close game will make is closer, really bringing what what might have been a 15 goal Demon win down to 10.

 

Interesting team selection hopefully T-Mac gets up, Brayshaw picked again when he is the turnover king week after week is getting old, Frisch and Harmes have been in our best 10 players this year so will obviously both play, Spargo looks to have upside then Tyson or Bernie for the final spot.

[titan_uranus 25,174]

The first of three must-win games. As far as I'm concerned, they're close enough to elimination finals for us. If we're not 11-5 after Round 17, with the final 6 games we have, I don't think we're playing finals.

We've approached games against the bottom sides well this year. Let's hope we're focused not just on winning, but on fixing the mistakes that crop up against the good sides.

Nice to see Petty debut. Interestingly, it's not at the expense of Joel Smith, so we're adding a tall to the backline. Given that, I wouldn't be surprised if Vince is dropped to make room for Petty, with Petty to play Lever's role and J Smith to play a smaller running role, i.e. taking Vince's role.

Weideman for T Smith IMO, with Pedersen only named as cover for TMac. We ought to get Spargo into the side too, and if so it will be one of Harmes or Tyson dropped (if it were up to me, I'd drop Harmes).

13 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Make no mistake, St Kilda will be up and about big time and looking to extend ‘The Streak’.

Hopefully we’re preparing for their best. 

Extend what streak?

We've won the last three.

[DaveyJones'sLocker 647]

Footy live app has fritsch dropped,  can’t be right ?although good for my SuperCoach with Higgins on my bench with 109

[SFebes 4,884]

6 hours ago, DaveyJones'sLocker said:

Footy live app has fritsch dropped,  can’t be right ?although good for my SuperCoach with Higgins on my bench with 109

Surely the won’t drop Fritsch, I thought he’d been ok lately and provides 50-70m carry most times and one of our best disposers. If he gets dropped ahead of Vince, J Smith, Tyson or Hannan I’d be shocked.

[Mickey 4,756]

I don't think the bye will assist St Kilda as much as people think it will. Not many teams win first game back from the bye, from memory.

Edit: few more than I thought, but mostly top 8 teams beating strugglers

Edited June 28, 2018 by Mickey

[CBDees 3,167]

Interchange: Fritsch, Spargo, Stretch, Weideman? 

[What 18,810]

22 minutes ago, Mickey said:

I don't think the bye will assist St Kilda as much as people think it will. Not many teams win first game back from the bye, from memory.

 

They finally got a win  and then the bye hit. They probably hated it.

Anyway we are coming off two huge breaks ourselves.

[pineapple dee 2,892]

8 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

The first of three must-win games. As far as I'm concerned, they're close enough to elimination finals for us. If we're not 11-5 after Round 17, with the final 6 games we have, I don't think we're playing finals.

We've approached games against the bottom sides well this year. Let's hope we're focused not just on winning, but on fixing the mistakes that crop up against the good sides.

Nice to see Petty debut. Interestingly, it's not at the expense of Joel Smith, so we're adding a tall to the backline. Given that, I wouldn't be surprised if Vince is dropped to make room for Petty, with Petty to play Lever's role and J Smith to play a smaller running role, i.e. taking Vince's role.

Weideman for T Smith IMO, with Pedersen only named as cover for TMac. We ought to get Spargo into the side too, and if so it will be one of Harmes or Tyson dropped (if it were up to me, I'd drop Harmes).

Extend what streak?

We've won the last three.

Yeah, but the Saints have won one in a row. Can they keep it up ??? Nup !!!

[samcantstandya 1,068]

8 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

The first of three must-win games. As far as I'm concerned, they're close enough to elimination finals for us. If we're not 11-5 after Round 17, with the final 6 games we have, I don't think we're playing finals.

We've approached games against the bottom sides well this year. Let's hope we're focused not just on winning, but on fixing the mistakes that crop up against the good sides.

Nice to see Petty debut. Interestingly, it's not at the expense of Joel Smith, so we're adding a tall to the backline. Given that, I wouldn't be surprised if Vince is dropped to make room for Petty, with Petty to play Lever's role and J Smith to play a smaller running role, i.e. taking Vince's role.

Weideman for T Smith IMO, with Pedersen only named as cover for TMac. We ought to get Spargo into the side too, and if so it will be one of Harmes or Tyson dropped (if it were up to me, I'd drop Harmes).

Extend what streak?

We've won the last three.

I agree I'd bring in Spargo for Harmes.

[Deemania since 56 6,763]

13 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Melbourne squad: round 15

B: Harry Petty, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Michael Hibberd, Joel Smith, Jordan Lewis
? Christian Petracca, Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw
HF: Christian Salem, Jesse Hogan, Clayton Oliver
F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Mitch Hannan, Tom McDonald
Foll: Max Gawn, Jake Melksham, Nathan Jones
I/C (from): James Harmes, Charlie Spargo, Dom Tyson, Billy Stretch, Cameron Pedersen, Bernie Vince, Sam Weideman, Bayley Fritsch

In: Petty, Spargo, Stretch, Pedersen, Weideman
Out: T.Smith

Unless we go in with an extra forward it seems likely that Bernie may not play as he is the only regular defender on the extended bench.

While Tyson didn't have his best game last week hope he gets another go as not a fan of a player being dropped after one week when nearly the whole team was down.

Tyson should play for the above reasons, and to put in a serviceable one, at that, at this stage of the season. The team has to be prepared to run into space Sunday, where Tyson and Petracca can kick to leads, and Fritsch, too.

Great for Petty, just the right spot for him in the pocket to help OMac settle rather than roam one step behind his opponent.

Like the proposal of Hannan at FFwd with TMac at his side. Joel Smith at CHB is a big challenge but I would expect a shuffle from the bench to assist him, possibly Pedo for a change.

The interchange is interesting and my thoughts are a reduction to: Pedo, Stretch, Tyson, Petracca with Fritsch coming in on a wing.

Trac can start on the bench - then we can unleash what hopefully will be a raging bull in the second quarter when his game tends to fall away.

I doubt if Lewis is suitable on the HB flank without mobility and physical challenge at this stage. Hence, rolling out the Weed as a flanking backman might be an interesting point to roll him in as a second ruck, relieving Gawn. Certain swapsies could take place in the forward line, where Melksham could swing with Salem/Weideman onto the HFF, rather than force the former to 'rove' as a utility. The Melk will be a key finals player for us. That would enable Salem to more fully occupy Lewis' HBF position. If Pedo is not in the starting or interchange listing, then Spargo could come in to rumble the Saints, with Joel or Weideman taking CHB. Lots of alternatives....

[picket fence 17,973]

11 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

Cheap shot Pickett! 

But true!

Edited June 28, 2018 by picket fence

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

"Tyson should play because you don't drop a player after one game".

Posters constantly surprise me with their creative outlook. 

Tyson was insignificant against Port. And he most certainly didn't do his chances of playing this this game any good given the form of others at VFL level. 

Hopefully we bring in someone who will actually help us improve in the areas we lack. Tyson doesn't do that. 

[Demon17 5,227]

14 minutes ago, picket fence said:

But true!

I was at the 88gf. No one fired a shot exvept jim stynes.  It was a cheap shot and did not define stretchs career. 

[What 18,810]

If Petty can pull a Fritsch/Spargo and immediately look at home from day 1 and lock down the Lever role, we are back in business and the balance is restored.

Frees up Joel Smith to use his speed off half back and Hibberd to go back to accumulating the footy and giving us drive.

I hate to put that mush pressure on a first gamer, but he can be a HERO.