3 minutes ago, Tom Dyson said:

spargo on thin ice, possibly replaced by garlett or bugg 

jack viney, please get your bloody foot right for september...

Garlett is the definition of a front runner, which is very frustrating, because he has all the instinct and talent, but NOT what we want in finals. Watch Charlie Spargo rise to the occasion after a week off into finals.

No change.... wonderful phrase

 

Forecast for next Sunday.... 19 and light winds.... perfect day for footy

Edited August 19, 20186 yr by Diamond_Jim

I believe viney will play in the VFL final when we have our bye, been given special permission by the AFL (so my source tells me, and no, I won’t name my source ?)

gets through the game and he plays in our first final.

6 minutes ago, Yokozuna said:

I believe viney will play in the VFL final when we have our bye, been given special permission by the AFL (so my source tells me, and no, I won’t name my source ?)

gets through the game and he plays in our first final.

makes sense... didn't realise that it required AFL approval. I thought it was open slather re using players if you were still in the finals. (Another quirk of the bye.)

13 hours ago, DubDee said:

Players get their rest after round 23. 

No chance O Mac is even looked at fir the darling incident. Was a terrific tackle, one motion only. 

And Garlett back in after we got 22 players buying in and not choking?? Please!!

delist. 

I'd be disappointed if the MRO didn't look at every incident that caused a concussion. That being said, once it's looked at I can't see how O Mac would be penalised.

If Hibberd is in any way sore, he should be rested. Would Joel Smith be ready to come back? If not, I assume that leaves Wagner as his replacement.

I don't think Spargo is adding enough for a full game at the moment, but I can't see Garlett coming back for him. Maybe he could be replaced by Kennedy-Harris who I think can offer more.

Finally, if/when Viney comes back, I wouldn't be opposed to him starting off in a small forward role. I suspect small forwards still run a lot but probably not as much as midfielders, so it might help him through the game in his early one back.

So, if Hibberd is out - in J Smith or Wagner. And I'd replace Spargo with JKH (or Viney in the unlikely event that he's ready).

 

1 hour ago, Clint Bizkit said:

We do lack leg speed, but what you are referring to is often a result of having too many players running forward of the ball because we always look to play-on.

If we actually stop, prop and kick our way forward (instead of just playing on and handballing at every opportunity) we would be far less likely to give up these loose goals out the back.

Exactly.  The balance just needs to be right and we don't always get it right at the moment.  The most repeat maximum effort sprints in a game is shared by Sculley and Robertson at 36, which is only 9 per quarter and that is the elite level.  We spend too many of our maximum efforts spreading.  Hence we are the highest scoring team but we leak goals at times, and need to learn to balance the effort and slow it down when needed.  As supporters we all want every player to put in 60 repeat maximum effort sprints per game but it will never happen, and we call them lazy when we see them running defensively at 85% effort.  The lazy tag is used far too loosely.

10 hours ago, rjay said:

With that massive home crowd they will draw...only joking 'Red'..

It would be justice to knock the Cats out of the finals.

We have won 6 on the road. Road trips are good for us.

5 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

We have won 6 on the road. Road trips are good for us.

Has any Melb based club ever won 6 games interstate before?

Haven't given one iota of thought to changes this week. Might start thinking about it tonight.

There were definitely guys who had an average game by their standards.

Thought Bailey wasn't in the game as much as he has been but still showed poise with ball in hand. Wasn't a huge fan of some of defensive efforts. If they gave him a spell and some rest Wagner would be a good replacement.

Kent went OK but can see him getting another game. I saw him do some nice things off the ball using his body to block and open up passages of play. Might just need to work on his positioning after first game back in a while. Boy that goal at the end was brilliant under pressure in front of his home crowd.

Charlie was great in patches and thought he played a great third quarter running with confidence with ball in hand. Still hasn't played a full four quarters but he's getting closer. I can't see them resting him now. He gives so much pace and intensity at every contest and uses it so well.

Melksham was rusty but competed well all day. Got on the end of a few late so was good to see the persistence to get himself back into the game.

People on here might call for Nibbler to be dropped as per usual but its not going to happen. He provides so much defensive pressure and runs both ways incredibly well. Wasn't his best game but besides hit the score board he played his role.

So I think no change unless someones sore.

 

 

Edited August 20, 20186 yr by Yung Blood

8 hours ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Is Viney running on solid ground yet?

Last I heard he was only on a treadmill, but that was a couple of weeks back... anyone know is he’s progressed?

I recall reading somewhere that he is running at Gosches in trainers. I hope we do not take any risk to rush him back for finals week 1. He has the tenancy to be a bull at a gate.

4 minutes ago, Moonshadow said:

I recall reading somewhere that he is running at Gosches in trainers. I hope we do not take any risk to rush him back for finals week 1. He has the tenancy to be a bull at a gate.

Goody on SEN a short time stated Viney will be training with the main squad this week or next in order to have him ready for the first week of finals.

.....and Jack was like a bull at the gate in the airport lounge late last night according to Goody. 

Edited August 20, 20186 yr by Dee Zephyr

I know Petracca will play next week but after just watching the game again he was pretty bloody useless  

11 hours ago, MudDogs Gawn Win.. someday said:

No Change for mine.

Lets lock in a home final!!

(I’ve booked a hotel in Sydney as a fail safe.)

How many rooms is that 'MD_G_W'   ?

16 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

I know Petracca will play next week but after just watching the game again he was pretty bloody useless  

I thought he was great. Especially his defensive pressure and physicality.

37 minutes ago, Yung Blood said:

There were definitely guys who had an average game by their standards.

Thought Bailey wasn't in the game as much as he has been but still showed poise with ball in hand. Wasn't a huge fan of some of defensive efforts. If they gave him a spell and some rest Wagner would be a good replacement.

Kent went OK but can see him getting another game. I saw him do some nice things off the ball using his body to block and open up passages of play. Might just need to work on his positioning after first game back in a while. Boy that goal at the end was brilliant under pressure in front of his home crowd.

Charlie was great in patches and thought he played a great third quarter running with confidence with ball in hand. Still hasn't played a full four quarters but he's getting closer. I can't see them resting him now. He gives so much pace and intensity at every contest and uses it so well.

Melksham was rusty but competed well all day. Got on the end of a few late so was good to see the persistence to get himself back into the game.

People on here might call for Nibbler to be dropped as per usual but its not going to happen. He provides so much defensive pressure and runs both ways incredibly well. Wasn't his best game but besides hit the score board he played his role.

So I think no change unless someones sore.

 

 

Not sure about resting Fritsch. He's one of the few players who actually kicks to advantage.

23 minutes ago, FarNorthernD said:

I know Petracca will play next week but after just watching the game again he was pretty bloody useless  

Are you mental? Just because he didnt kick goals means he had a bad game..

11 hours ago, Redleg said:

Not sure if that is completely correct, but he is playing well and getting a lot of contested ball. He has well and truly earned his spot.

He is. The difference is that now he doesn’t stand out as much because guess what? We have a gun midfield!

12 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

no change

josh Wagner. run speed and defence.

19 minutes ago, DV8 said:

How many rooms is that 'MD_G_W'   ?

I have booked a twin lol

9 minutes ago, layzie said:

Not sure about resting Fritsch. He's one of the few players who actually kicks to advantage.

Nope. Fritsch will have to wait for the bye round now, for a rest.  He is coping better than Spargo.  Must be his more mature body.

Spargo needs 2 weeks off to freshen up.

We will need him in the finals...  his midfield directing of the footy is important.

.

2 minutes ago, MudDogs Gawn Win.. someday said:

I have booked a twin lol

HaHa,   thats not enough for all of us.!

2 minutes ago, DV8 said:

HaHa,   thats not enough for all of us.!

Book your own dam Hotel! It’s free cancelation until the 5th where I booked. So if we win I’ll cancel.

11 hours ago, nosoupforme said:

I have a feeling Viney will play his first final. Nothing to lose and all to gain. He will take that chance if  foot feels ok. 

Gee i hope not, he is only 24 with a foot that could be Permanently [censored]

A Sydney final has the least chance of happening.

Edited August 20, 20186 yr by david_neitz_is_my_dad