Jump to content

Tagging Whitfield

Lord Neville X Flash
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

Posted

It's no secret that tagging Lachie Whitfield is a great way to quell the giants, he's an elite runner and ball user of the half-back line.

I think Neal-Bullen is the perfect forward to run around with Whitfield and prevent his damaging rebound 50's. 

Nibbla is our best runner, and may relish a defined role in the team after having a poor game against the eagles. 

If Nibbla can stop Whitfield and hit the scoreboard we will go along way to beating the giants. 

Thoughts?

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1
     

    I think Nibbler is the guy for the job

    Harmes to Kelly if he plays (which I think he will)

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Author

    Agreed. Kelly very devastating when at his best, and Harmes has well and truly earn't that responsibility.

    I'm not sure how good Nibbla would be as a regular defensive forward, just because he is slight of frame and his contested ball ability isn't amazing. But Whitfield is as skinny as Jeff Garlett so nibbla should have no problem matching him for strength.

    It will be interesting if either Goody holds back on some tactical moves, so we have some surprises up our sleeves if we play them in the finals. 

    Edited by Lord Neville X Flash

  • Quote
    •  

    Was on a footy show last night, Swans cut Whitfields run/space off at the back of the contest and they struggled to get the ball away quickly.

  • Quote

    Offer him a 5 year deal on saturday.  it will throw him off his game and he might accept after we smash them!

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Haha 1
    • Author

    Haha now that you mention it, he would fit in perfectly at the Dees. We need one more elite ball user to compliment salem of the half backline IMO. I would prefer Whitfield to Gaff, as he is still so young. 

  • Quote
    • Love 1

    Melksham is a good match up because he’d beat Whitfield in the air. Very smart about when to run forward and will kick a bag if Whitfield doesn’t show him respect 

  • Quote
    • Like 2
     
    • Author
    1 minute ago, Patches O’houlihan said:

    Melksham is a good match up because he’d beat Whitfield in the air. Very smart about when to run forward and will kick a bag if Whitfield doesn’t show him respect 

    IMHO we don't want melksham worrying about tagging someone. He is a key goalkicker and creator for us, and when we have the ball GWS won't put whitfield on melk.

    ANB is a better option because he is an elite runner and a pressure forward, but he is not a key cog in our forward line. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Who tags  Oliver?  Who  minds Brayshaw ? Who shuts Salem 's run from half back? Who stands on Melky? And  our big bodied  players?

    AND ON AND ON.   Let them stew on it.  We have Gawn and they will have to put someone on their shoulders to match him.

  • Quote
    • Like 5

    If you want the job done well, send Harmes to him. Harmes is our best run with player right now.

  • Quote
    15 minutes ago, Adzman said:

    If you want the job done well, send Harmes to him. Harmes is our best run with player right now.

    Could well be the case that Harmes goes to him, Harmes might go to Ward also. The few GWS games I’ve watched Ward has been their best midfielder. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Author

    Harmes could definetely do the job, but he has been shutting down the best midfielders in the comp.

    Putting harmes on a skinny half-back flanker is a waste when our forward pocket could potentially do the role. 

    I think harmes gets Kelly. 

  • Quote
    4 hours ago, Lord Neville X Flash said:

    It's no secret that tagging Lachie Whitfield is a great way to quell the giants, he's an elite runner and ball user of the half-back line.

    I think Neal-Bullen is the perfect forward to run around with Whitfield and prevent his damaging rebound 50's. 

    Nibbla is our best runner, and may relish a defined role in the team after having a poor game against the eagles. 

    If Nibbla can stop Whitfield and hit the scoreboard we will go along way to beating the giants. 

    Thoughts?

    I like the idea. He can definitely go with him and would help to add another string to his bow. 

    Need to tend to Whitfield for sure he's been a game changer.

  • Quote

    Harmes to Kelly,

    Nibbler to Cokefield

    Doesn't really matter, Gawn will absolutely deestroy them!

  • Quote

    I don't think it is about tagging Whitfield but keeping him in honest and accountable for his forward - Melksham to him for mine.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    3 hours ago, Lord Neville X Flash said:

    IMHO we don't want melksham worrying about tagging someone. He is a key goalkicker and creator for us, and when we have the ball GWS won't put whitfield on melk.

    ANB is a better option because he is an elite runner and a pressure forward, but he is not a key cog in our forward line. 

    Melky went with McGovern on the weekend, until they shifted him forward. He demands an opponent as well, they can't let him run lose anywhere as he's too dangerous either delivering inside 50 or getting the goals himself, so playing Melk on him effectively means Whitfield is forced to man up on him, rather than have ANB do a hard tag. I can't see Whitfield being comfortable when Melk drops back to full forward as he does.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    18 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    I don't think it is about tagging Whitfield but keeping him in honest and accountable for his forward - Melksham to him for mine.

    Melksham has done that job for us before and seems suited to doing it particularly against taller opponents. I just worry he's too important to our attacking play to send to a defensive role on a running flanker. He's strangely effective as a tagging half forward given he's really a lazy chaser in general. 

    ANB and Spargo are the incumbent defensive running forward flankers and they did a reasonable job on McVeigh and Lloyd against the Swans. Neither are in great form with the ball though. Will JKH replace one of them? Will Bugg be called in to do a specific job?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    1 minute ago, Red and Blue realist said:

    Melky went with McGovern on the weekend, until they shifted him forward. He demands an opponent as well, they can't let him run lose anywhere as he's too dangerous either delivering inside 50 or getting the goals himself, so playing Melk on him effectively means Whitfield is forced to man up on him, rather than have ANB do a hard tag. I can't see Whitfield being comfortable when Melk drops back to full forward as he does.

    We'd need the players up the ground to use the ball very effectively to engineer that match up though. Otherwise as soon as Melksham heads deep the Giants will swap the match up.

  • Quote

    2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

    We'd need the players up the ground to use the ball very effectively to engineer that match up though. Otherwise as soon as Melksham heads deep the Giants will swap the match up.

    We could then likewise move ANB onto him, but there would be a potential uncomfortable period for them where Melk is either by himself or he's double teamed and we've got someone else free. We've still got to have a good team defense to allow any match up, but I think we could be the ones to dictate this rather than be defensive from the start. 

  • Quote
    • Author
    28 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

    Melky went with McGovern on the weekend, until they shifted him forward. He demands an opponent as well, they can't let him run lose anywhere as he's too dangerous either delivering inside 50 or getting the goals himself, so playing Melk on him effectively means Whitfield is forced to man up on him, rather than have ANB do a hard tag. I can't see Whitfield being comfortable when Melk drops back to full forward as he does.

    Mcgovern plays deep defensive role, which suits melksham. Whitfield positions himself out the back of stoppages, we want melksham near the goals. Just because we put melksham on whitfeild dosen't mean another gws defender won't pick melksham up when we have the ball. 

  • Quote
    •  
    5 hours ago, nosoupforme said:

    Who tags  Oliver?  Who  minds Brayshaw ? Who shuts Salem 's run from half back? Who stands on Melky? And  our big bodied  players?

    AND ON AND ON.   Let them stew on it.  We have Gawn and they will have to put someone on their shoulders to match him.

    Lobb is no hack. He's just about the 3rd best ruck in the comp this year.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    4 hours ago, Chook said:

    Lobb is no hack. He's just about the 3rd best ruck in the comp this year.

    Yes  Lobb,  he can play but even though Gawn was a touch down dew to a corky on his calf recently, the game against the Eagles was almost back to AA status. Gawn is on top of his game and at his best he is a match winner and vital to us winning. Lobb will have  his hands full.  Who would you back?   Gawn hands down.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
    Reply to this topic...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Carlton

      Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: North Melbourne

      I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Werribee

      The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Carlton

      The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Like
      • 222 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: North Melbourne

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
      Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
      Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • 29 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

      The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

        • Like
      • 253 replies
      Demonland
    View All