15 minutes ago, Old Bear said:

Wouldn’t be surprised if the changes are announced late Saturday 

Agree

Suspect Harmes, Hogan are in doubt

2 minutes ago, CelebratingJade said:

Agree

Suspect Harmes, Hogan are in doubt

Funnily enough , Harmes is the one we can`t afford to lose based on his efforts last weekend. The only likely replacement is AVB and I reckon that would be a huge win for the Crows.

2 years out, 2 games in the 2s and back into a finals like match, he can`t be ready in my opinion but the fact they`ve named him shows how bare the cupboard is and he is every chance of getting a call up.

5 minutes ago, CelebratingJade said:

Agree

Suspect Harmes, Hogan are in doubt

SHUT UP! We need everyone to play don't curse us. JKH YUCK prefer Vanders.

31 minutes ago, monoccular said:

B Joel Smith, Sam Frost, Neville Jetta

HB Christian Salem, Oscar McDonald, Jordan Lewis

C Tom McDonald, Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw

HF Jake Melksham, Jesse Hogan, Bayley Fritsch

F Jay Kennedy Harris, Christian Petracca, Charlie Spargo

FOL Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince

I/C James Harmes, Dom Tyson, Alex Neal-Bullen, Jeff Garlett

EMG Cameron Pedersen, Aaron vandenBerg, Sam Weideman, Josh Wagner

No Change

 

Obviously a vote of confidence in VDB's progress though unlikely to be ready for this week.

JFK remaining is a bit of a shock though.   Must have played the role demanded of him.

Or it could just mean we’re going to lose our 4th game based on Selection blunders from these slow learners. 

I know this is slightly off topic, but the inclusion of Vanders after so long out, when others like Bugg or even Kent are available, doesn't bode well for their chances of securing a contract past this season.  The writing might already be on the wall for a few.

25 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I know this is slightly off topic, but the inclusion of Vanders after so long out, when others like Bugg or even Kent are available, doesn't bode well for their chances of securing a contract past this season.  The writing might already be on the wall for a few.

Bugg has gone a bit quite down at VFL level.. i reckon he knows his papers are stamped and is just going through the motions.

I know i will be on my own here, but i honestly thought JKH wasn't even that bad last week. Hes physicality has improved alot and was a goal away from being a hero in this website. He shows good defensive pressure and was one who really tried to crack in.

JKH would have felt a bit dejected knowing that probably his name was first on the chopping block, but Goodwin is backing him in and i have a good feeling he might play well this weekend.

Nervous about possible late changes (Harmes, Oliver, Hogan?).

Break out game coming for JKH  -  27 touches, 8 tackles, 2 goals.

Deez by 44

50 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I know this is slightly off topic, but the inclusion of Vanders after so long out, when others like Bugg or even Kent are available, doesn't bode well for their chances of securing a contract past this season.  The writing might already be on the wall for a few.

unfortunately while our VFL team may be a winning combination at VFL level it has been a relative failure in the area of skill improvement for its members.

Other than Weideman in respect of whom the jury is still well out and our two additions this year in Petty and Baker(too early) hard to pick a player other than Stretch who has genuinely put up his hand for a spot.

JKH's form improvement in the VFL was only recent. Five or six weeks back you can read the posts about him going through the motions.

Would like to see much more emphasis next year on skill improvement even if it comes at the expense of losing  a few games. The days of rejoicing at a win in the reserves are well and truly gone albeit on a nice day there is nothing more enjoyable than going to an old suburban stadium with your comfortable chair.

Edited July 26, 20186 yr by Diamond_Jim

34 minutes ago, goodwindees said:

Or it could just mean we’re going to lose our 4th game based on Selection blunders from these slow learners. 

I agree with "selection blunders" however, disagree about JKH who is not up to playing in the AFL at the moment- witness the poor turnover kicks (one resulted in a Geelong goal), The Ablett miss tackle (Ablett did not even have the ball) that resulted in a Geelong goal and the missed goal in the last few minutes.

Can't believe we did not bring in Can Pederson for this match. The Crows forward line is very tall with McGovern 190 cm, Walker 193 cm, Lynch 193 cm, Jenkins 200 cm - we will regret not picking Pederson 193 cm, to help Frost, Oscar and Smith. Smith may be OK but is a 8 game player. The Crows forward line is much taller and more experienced. We don't need JKH.

27 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Nervous about possible late changes (Harmes, Oliver, Hogan?).

Break out game coming for JKH  -  27 touches, 8 tackles, 2 goals.

Deez by 44

We wish.

This side will come out breathing fire ? on Saturday or it will get blown away. 

Coach preperation. It’s all on the line Goody. 

There is no more Coulda, Shoulda involved. 

Win and we progress...

For those that think VandenBerg isn’t ripe enough yet, cast your mind back to the pre-season where he was looking likely to break out this year. Prior to his injury, he was highly motivated and is still today, a competitive beast. I have high hopes for him this weekend, I hope you do too - go dees!

34 minutes ago, Sargent Shultz said:

I agree with "selection blunders" however, disagree about JKH who is not up to playing in the AFL at the moment- witness the poor turnover kicks (one resulted in a Geelong goal), The Ablett miss tackle (Ablett did not even have the ball) that resulted in a Geelong goal and the missed goal in the last few minutes.

Can't believe we did not bring in Can Pederson for this match. The Crows forward line is very tall with McGovern 190 cm, Walker 193 cm, Lynch 193 cm, Jenkins 200 cm - we will regret not picking Pederson 193 cm, to help Frost, Oscar and Smith. Smith may be OK but is a 8 game player. The Crows forward line is much taller and more experienced. We don't need JKH.

So unhappy about him not being dropped. Goodwin must be so pig headed. 

5 minutes ago, DeezNuts said:

For those that think VandenBerg isn’t ripe enough yet, cast your mind back to the pre-season where he was looking likely to break out this year. Prior to his injury, he was highly motivated and is still today, a competitive beast. I have high hopes for him this weekend, I hope you do too - go dees!

The one positive in his corner is that he now has three games under his belt and is, from all reports, running out those games really well.  I think if he does get the call up that he can contribute well and not struggle after missing so much time.

JKH keeps his spot...I give up. 

If Smithy improves the amount that he did from two weeks ago to last week, he will be good enough.......

On ‎7‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 7:31 AM, Demonland said:

TOOTH AND NAIL by The Oracle

Two months ago when Melbourne comprehensively demolished Adelaide in the heart of the country, the club was seemingly on its way to a top four berth and regarded in many quarters as a genuine premiership contender.

Since that game, the Demons have won three times and lost once against lowly sides in the competition and dropped all three games against fellow finals contenders in Collingwood, Port Adelaide and Geelong. Three of their losses in this period have been by ten points or less. It is arguable therefore that with a little more application on their part, they would have been a lock in to make the finals.

The reality however, is otherwise.

The losses are mounting and with four of the remaining five games against finals contenders, Melbourne has a major fight on its hands to gain a place in the eight at the end of the home and away season. 

Despite the last gasp defeat when they ventured to the Cattery last Saturday night, the Demons at least proved that they can hold their own in hostile territory. The home team needed everything to go right to win in those dying moments and with a 100% conversion rate in the last quarter (80% for the game), the blood rule and a few very lucky breaks to get them home - and they did just that with a kick for goal after the siren. Melbourne has to overcome that heartbreak.

When the Demons venture to an equally hostile ground at Adelaide Oval this Saturday night, they will be under no illusions as to the task ahead of them. The Crows will not be the easy pickings they were back in May in Alice Springs and they will have to fight tooth and nail if they want to keep its finals aspirations alive.

THE GAME

Adelaide v Melbourne at Adelaide Oval  Saturday 28 July, 2018 at 7.40pm

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall - Adelaide 24 wins Melbourne 14 wins

At Adelaide Oval - Adelaide 1 win Melbourne 2 wins

Past five meetings - Adelaide 2 wins Melbourne 3 wins 

The Coaches - Don Pyke 1 win Simon Goodwin 2 wins

MEDIA

TV - Channel 7 Live at 7.30pm Fox Football Channel Live at 7.20pm

RADIO - TBA
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET

Melbourne 23.8.146  defeated Adelaide 8.7.55 Round 10, 2018 at Treager Park, Alice Springs

Melbourne stamped itself as a premiership contender when it ruthlessly demolished an injury hit Adelaide in Alice Springs. The knockout blows were delivered early and the Demons kept up the pressure for a full four quarters to record a comprehensive 91 point victory.

THE TEAMS

ADELAIDE 

B: Alex Keath, Daniel Talia, Luke Brown 
HB: Paul Seedsman, Kyle Cheney, Rory Laird 
? Wayne Milera, Bryce Gibbs, Rory Atkins 
HF: Tom Lynch, Josh Jenkins, Lachlan Murphy 
F:  Mitch McGovern, Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts 
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Matt Crouch, Rory Sloane 
I/C: Jordan Gallucci, Hugh Greenwood, Jake Kelly, Riley Knight  
Emg: Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, Paul Hunter, Andy Otten, Myles Poholke   

In: Taylor Walker

Out: Tom Doedee (concussion)

MELBOURNE 

B: Joel Smith, Sam Frost, Neville Jetta
HB: Christian Salem, Oscar McDonald, Jordan Lewis
? Tom McDonald, Clayton Oliver, Angus Brayshaw
HF: Jake Melksham, Jesse Hogan, Bayley Fritsch
F: Jay Kennedy Harris, Christian Petracca, Charlie Spargo
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince
I/C: Jeff Garlett, James Harmes, Alex Neal-Bullen, Dom Tyson
Emg: Cam Pedersen, Aaron vandenBerg, Josh Wagner, Sam Weideman 

 NO CHANGE
 
The full match preview and team selection will be loaded when available

How Kennedy Harris still gets a game is almost Science Fiction stuff! Seriously??

57 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Bugg has gone a bit quite down at VFL level.. i reckon he knows his papers are stamped and is just going through the motions.

I know i will be on my own here, but i honestly thought JKH wasn't even that bad last week. Hes physicality has improved alot and was a goal away from being a hero in this website. He shows good defensive pressure and was one who really tried to crack in.

JKH would have felt a bit dejected knowing that probably his name was first on the chopping block, but Goodwin is backing him in and i have a good feeling he might play well this weekend.

Bugg going through the motions - might signal a move to Werribee 

I would take a half fit Vanders over some of those mentioned who have been selected this week. 

 

24 minutes ago, DeezNuts said:

For those that think VandenBerg isn’t ripe enough yet, cast your mind back to the pre-season where he was looking likely to break out this year. Prior to his injury, he was highly motivated and is still today, a competitive beast. I have high hopes for him this weekend, I hope you do too - go dees!

Yep 17 tackles on the weekend.

Why are people saying Hogan might be a late out?

Wasn’t it established that he was ill and ordered to stay home? Then he’d train on Friday and play Saturday night.

8 minutes ago, george_on_the_outer said:

I would take a half fit Vanders over some of those mentioned who have been selected this week. 

 

Incredible how Vanders hasn't played in 2 years and he's gone from very much a fringe player to a champion. I think he's got some decent potential but he's not one who needs to be rushed back until the coaches are 100% satisfied he'll pick up the speed of senior level. 

42 minutes ago, DeezNuts said:

For those that think VandenBerg isn’t ripe enough yet, cast your mind back to the pre-season where he was looking likely to break out this year. Prior to his injury, he was highly motivated and is still today, a competitive beast. I have high hopes for him this weekend, I hope you do too - go dees!

He's in good nick I suspect he's spent an awful lot of time in the pool and gym

So from the Alice Springs game:

Melbourne

In: J Smith, JKH, Tyson, Garlett, Frost
Out: Hibberd, Hannan, Lever, Viney, T Smith

Adelaide

In: Walker, Sloane, Keath, Cheney, Seedsman, Murphy, McGovern, Knight
Out: Hartigan, Gibson, Ellis-Yolmen, Douglas, Fogarty, Poholke, Mackay, Doedee

We have three AA players missing and their replacements aren't exactly setting the world on fire at the moment. 

They lose Douglas and Doedee but get back Walker, Sloane, McGovern, Seedsman and Knight. Shows how many fringe players they had in their side in that game. 

No doubt this is a much stronger Adelaide side than the one we faced last time.

Edited July 26, 20186 yr by titan_uranus

I don’t care if it’s the ugliest game ever we just have to find a way to win this week. After suffering the heartbreak of an after the siren loss we have to focus on getting back to winning ways. I feel like if we get the victory this week finals is close to a lock. 

We shouldn’t be in this position, but we are. 

I think at least one of the boys that were sick/injured will miss out. It’s a big risk to play three players with question marks on their fitness. The fact that Oliver is traveling is a very good sign, they wouldn’t risk an interstate trip with him if they weren’t confident he would be fine. 

C’mon Dees, please do this for us! ?