1 hour ago, Demonland said:

 

Love TMac, seems to be a really good bloke

3 hours ago, SFebey said:

I'm kind of hoping JKH makes it, may be a handy replacement for Nev when he slows down. I'll wait and see how he performs v Dogs before I judge too harshly, has been a while between games so may have improved.

Don't think JKH is much of a defender, seems more an attacking wing/half forward. That's where they've played him at Casey as well. While I agree it's an area we'll need to seriously consider if Nev slows down or is injured the only cover really are either mid/talls - J.Smith, Hunt & Wagner, or getting Vince or Lewis to play closer to goal, which won't work. Glad their trying to get Johnstone in that role in the 2s, but JHK is not the answer there. 

hoping he has the impact Stretch did, would be a big boost across the whole team if those who have been a Casey step up to perform when rewarded after good form, even if they have to wait for an injury to open up the opportunity. 

JKH replacing Nev in a few years time?  Since when is JKH, at 173cm, ever thought of as being a lock down defender?  Won't happen.  If he's going to make it, it will be in the role he has now, not down back where just about every player towers above him.

JKH has not developed as we had hoped, but his form at Casey has been great. He deserves his chance, as did Billy and Frost last week.

JKH is small and lacks pace, but he has been able to find plenty of ball and goals at Casey, in generally poor conditions and has clearly earned his recall and a chance to cement a place on the list and possibly even in the 22.

Do I think he will be on the list in 2019, not if he fails in this game.

7 hours ago, loges said:

He's got his chance it's up to him now. What I think means zilch.

That,s about it.

 

8 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I would be very nervous if i was Alex Neale Bullen..

I wouldn't. Vanders will not come close to covering the ground at speed that ANB does over 4 quarters.

2 hours ago, Redleg said:

JKH has not developed as we had hoped, but his form at Casey has been great. He deserves his chance, as did Billy and Frost last week.

JKH is small and lacks pace, but he has been able to find plenty of ball and goals at Casey, in generally poor conditions and has clearly earned his recall and a chance to cement a place on the list and possibly even in the 22.

Do I think he will be on the list in 2019, not if he fails in this game.

Hmm, now that’s one very equivocal viewpoint. A bob each way. 

6 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

JKH replacing Nev in a few years time?  Since when is JKH, at 173cm, ever thought of as being a lock down defender?  Won't happen.  If he's going to make it, it will be in the role he has now, not down back where just about every player towers above him.

 

7 hours ago, Red and Blue realist said:

Don't think JKH is much of a defender, seems more an attacking wing/half forward. That's where they've played him at Casey as well. While I agree it's an area we'll need to seriously consider if Nev slows down or is injured the only cover really are either mid/talls - J.Smith, Hunt & Wagner, or getting Vince or Lewis to play closer to goal, which won't work. Glad their trying to get Johnstone in that role in the 2s, but JHK is not the answer there. 

hoping he has the impact Stretch did, would be a big boost across the whole team if those who have been a Casey step up to perform when rewarded after good form, even if they have to wait for an injury to open up the opportunity. 

Sorry, but we'e those not the same things said about Nev in his early/pre Roos days.  Not sure Jay wants to be delisted at the end of the season.

7 hours ago, Billy said:

Love TMac, seems to be a really good bloke

Not only a good bloke (so totally down to earth, has never been the type to have tickets on himself like some in the AFL), but is also a champion of the game.

In my own assesment, I liken him to date as similar in many regards to Anthony Ingerson, though Tommy is more athletic and perhaps by the end of his career a comparison to Neitz may be more appropriate.

18 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

 

Sorry, but we'e those not the same things said about Nev in his early/pre Roos days.  Not sure Jay wants to be delisted at the end of the season.

My point Rod, is that JKH is just 173cm tall.  Jetta is 180cm tall and is able to handle most defensive situations.  Jay is too small for that role in the modern game.

It's also probably the reason why they're giving Dion Johnstone a run down back, as at 179cm he is probably just tall enough to handle small and mid size forwards.  I'm not saying Jay doesn't have the capacity for change, but we would be asking too much of him here.

Edited July 13, 20186 yr by Wiseblood

42 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

I wouldn't. Vanders will not come close to covering the ground at speed that ANB does over 4 quarters.

While I'm as stoked as anyone that AVB made a successful return from injury last weekend, I think we need to temper our expectations of him throughout this season and beyond.  As you say above, AVB is actually a far different player to Nibbler and I don't think they would end up competing for the same position.

Not only that, Vanders had the sort of weather that suits his game and he dominated in it.  I just want to see him stay fit and do this consistently before he is even considered for senior selection.  Plus there are still no guarantees he is contracted beyond this season as well.

This is the oldest and most experienced side we've fielded for quite some time.

Average Attributes
	Melbourne	Attribute	Western Bulldogs
	186.0cm	Height	186.9cm
	87.3kg	Weight	85.2kg
	25yr 2mth	Age	23yr 9mth
	101.5	Games	70.4
Total Players By Games
	Melbourne	Games	Western Bulldogs
	4	Less than 50	11
	10	50 to 99	4
	4	100 to 149	4
	4	150 or more	3

43 minutes ago, ProDee said:

This is the oldest and most experienced side we've fielded for quite some time.

Average Attributes
	Melbourne	Attribute	Western Bulldogs
	186.0cm	Height	186.9cm
	87.3kg	Weight	85.2kg
	25yr 2mth	Age	23yr 9mth
	101.5	Games	70.4
Total Players By Games
	Melbourne	Games	Western Bulldogs
	4	Less than 50	11
	10	50 to 99	4
	4	100 to 149	4
	4	150 or more	3

That's interesting.

10 players in the 50 to 99 range is starting to be up round the mark for top side. 

With Bont out and the average games differential so high we really should win and win well. 

13 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

If stability is the key to winning matches then the Dees are near certainties based on who is unavailable.

These are the teams that met just 6 weeks ago at Etihad when Melbourne won by 49 points despite giving away a start.

...

It's pretty clear that the the Dogs have some quality outs whereas the only compulsory change that the Dees have made to the starting side is Jake Lever.

On this basis, we should win and win well - if we don't, we're simply not worthy of going any further this season.

Lever was injured early in that game and so was Tim Smith which means that our team for tomorrow has to be at least on par with that one while the Dogs are about 25% weaker.

Rory Laird is 176cm and goes OK. 

MCG is becoming a curse for us. Beating a lower ladder side is a worry for us. Beating the dogs twice in a year rarely happens. If we don't beat them it will too too late for nappy san (the suff that prevents fade outs). Hopefully we will win.Hopefully Vanders "kills" the oppo in the reserves. Hopefully Hunt gets back to his best. These guys will may us a much better side.

13 hours ago, Danelska said:

I am frothing for VDB to come back - however the question where does he fit and who does he replace in the current side? Anythoughts anyone?

Halg forward bull imagine Vanders and Trac on the flanks that's scary.

I admit a little bit of MFCSS coming into this week, only because it’s a very similar situation to what we had vs the Saints and the dogs are a better team. 

We need this win, the players can’t take them lightly (and honestly what have they done to deserve EVER taking a team lightly). 

Apart from the Saints though we have beaten all that we should have beaten (pre-match thinking). We need to keep that rolling, hopefully Tracca can build on his much improved game from last week. He does tend to play quite well vs the Dogs. 

I’m quietly looking forward to seeing if JKH can make the most of what has to be his last opportunity. 

13 hours ago, hemingway said:

Hmm, now that’s one very equivocal viewpoint. A bob each way. 

Not really. I agree he deserves his chance, but don't think he will make it.

My biggest fear is the fatigue factor. I think we would need to be well up at 3/4 time to feel safe.

1 hour ago, Redleg said:

My biggest fear is the fatigue factor. I think we would need to be well up at 3/4 time to feel safe.

I'll only feel safe if we're well up 20 minutes into Q4 !!

 

Edited July 13, 20186 yr by bingers

15 hours ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

I wouldn't. Vanders will not come close to covering the ground at speed that ANB does over 4 quarters.

Agreed.

I love seeing the positivity around VDB, but he's played one VFL game in 2.5 years. There's a bit of water to go under the bridge yet.

And if/when he is knocking on the door, he's not an ANB replacement.

3 hours ago, Redleg said:

Not really. I agree he deserves his chance, but don't think he will make it.

Might be among the few still running in the 4th ...might be his moment in the sun (sts )