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Match Preview and Team Selection - Preliminary Final

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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Smith is going to play second up and intercept... He will be fisting everything! Lol ? 

Bayley is really stiff! He can play wing and go forward and kick goals. Or need be back on the back flank. He has flexibility!

Dom should be counting his lucky chickens! ? He is one dimensional and can only be played on the wing... 

Interesting selection committee next week for the Granny. We are going to beat the Weagles! Haha 

Both the Tigers and Pies have smaller forward lines... So does this mean Bayley comes back in for Joel? Interesting!

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    It makes sense, but you gotta feel for Fritsch. I thought there was a good chance they would look at Smith, but didn't really think Fritsch would be the one to go out, even if it meant he went back into the forward line and someone like Hannan came out, or onto a wing for Tyson.

    Who knows, maybe Fritter can play in back to back grannies!

    Edited by Forest Demon

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    Feel for the Fritta. He has had a great year. Cant say that I agree with changing a winning formula but im not paid the big $ to make that call.

     

    Huge game for Smith.

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    9 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    I can see the logic behind this. While we will miss his ball use, he's been pushed off the ball easily down there and was beaten comfortably by Lecras last time. 

    Smith is taller, quicker, stronger and has a huge leap that could combat a Vardy or float across and take a mark in front of Kennedy or Darling.

    All he has to do is beat his man like Frost and keep it simple. Get the ball into guys like Lewis, Salem and Hibberd and he'll play his role perfectly. 

    Good luck Smitty!

    This post gives me great belief.  Love it dazzler.

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    My only problem with this move (Smith over Fritta) is when the moment comes for Joel to dispose the football. Joel's disposal & decision making under pressure can be very suspect... 

    Defend, spoil, tackle - keep it simple son.

     

    ?⭕

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    15 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

    Fritta is stiff, but they obviously have a clear role in mind for J. Smith, one that probably frees Hibberd up to play a more attacking role alongside Salem and Lewis.

     

    Smith coming in is fine, my concern is Tyson.

    Fritsch is a far better wingman than Tyson.

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    Just now, Clint Bizkit said:

    Smith coming in is fine, my concern is Tyson.

    Fritsch is a far better wingman than Tyson.

    We know, we know...

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    • Shocked 1

    Devastating for him but he should hope we win because he would be a big chance to come back for a certain tall that would have no match up against the Tigers...

     

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    Do not like this one bit. Fritta has been played out of position for weeks now. Had done a solid job for the team. Replaced by someone with no football skills.

    They've panicked.

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    12 minutes ago, Nasher said:

    They’ve gone for simplicity - defender for defender. It’s no surprise they’ve gone for Smith. There was an obvious need for another tall defender this week and Smith is the next best thing.

    I can only guess, but I suppose if they were decided on Fritsch or Tyson in the middle, they decided that the more imperfect disposal was outweighed by the superior contested game. Tyson has his issues and limitations, but at the end if the day would anyone be that confident Fritsch could deliver as a midfielder in the heat of a PF? I’m not that sure.

    Or maybe the option was never even on the table because Goodwin rates Tyson more than Demonland does. Who knows.

    Feel for Fritsch though. I reckon we can all agree that he’s bloody unlucky.

    Don't forget, good chance Bailey is super tired, played all but 1 game in his first year on an AFL list would make anyone pretty sore and tired this time of year. Would be interesting to see his running distance/effort numbers, they might have been down the last few weeks.

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    6 minutes ago, Drunkn167 said:

    Don't forget, good chance Bailey is super tired, played all but 1 game in his first year on an AFL list would make anyone pretty sore and tired this time of year. Would be interesting to see his running distance/effort numbers, they might have been down the last few weeks.

    This.

    He looks and plays tired.. 1st half to mid half of the year he was by far our cleanest player. But towards the end he's just started to look tired and his game day performance and kicking skills have deteriorated significantly the past few weeks.

    Smith is not in the side for his clean kicking skills, thats for Salem, Lewis and Hibberd. Hes in the side for added height and his giant leap and marking ability to defend their tall forwards.

    Goodwin and co know what they're doing.

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    Fritsch didn't set it alight in the last couple of games, so I was expecting more from him this week. Well that won't happen, unless at Casey.

    Unlucky for him and a few others who are close to our best 22, JKH and Bernie. They should all feel part of our success and I imagine the MFC will do everything to enforce that sentiment. 

    Great for Joel. He has been working hard and they love the way he goes about it. Hope he runs hard, gets to contests, does the intercepts well and doesn't do any clangers.

    The MFC have been good at balancing our teams. In MFC I trust.

     

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    3 hours ago, layzie said:

    I'd hardly call him a 'bit-part player'. It can definitely be lost at selection if Smith stinks.

     

    Rubbish. Take the emotional side out of it. There's no clear match up for Fritsch, he doesn't really have a clear role, and is at the end of his first preparation.

    Smith has a clear match up, which will likely be Darling, he has the ability to push forward if Hurn and McGovern get on top.

    While I don't see what the FD see in Smith, he's our best option for playing this role.

    I hope he goes well. If he doesn't and we lose, only nuffies will say that this decision cost us the game.

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    8 minutes ago, Stretch Johnson said:

    Brave decision, good decision.  Smith can be swung to Kennedy or Darling should our match ups not work out.  They are also playing 2 rucks and they will alternate forward.

    Hard decision but an obvious one.

    The other option Smith provides is the player who has the speed to come off his man to help frosty and oMac as third man in and the strength and leap to really impact the contest. Strong in the contest as well.

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    2 minutes ago, binman said:

    The other option Smith provides is the player who has the speed to come off his man

    I think this is an important point 'bin'...

    Also think someone had to take responsibility for Gunston kicking 3.5 last weekend.

    Not being at the game I couldn't see the match ups but maybe Bailey was done over by a very good player?

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    Goodness, big call!  Clearly the selection committee see something in Smith which I for one haven't seen. But I trust them. Sorry for Fritsch, terribly sorry, but its a brutal game. He's young, a fantastic talent, he'll get another chance. 

    Go Dees!

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    3 minutes ago, rjay said:

    I think this is an important point 'bin'...

    Also think someone had to take responsibility for Gunston kicking 3.5 last weekend.

    Not being at the game I couldn't see the match ups but maybe Bailey was done over by a very good player?

    Interesting

    Was Fritsch on Gunston? If so that is a good point.

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    10 hours ago, McQueen said:

    Heap of noise on the book face pages that Fritsch is out for J Smith. 

    So tell us all Where did they get the good oil,  and can they tell us whos gunna win on Saturday   and the Lotto numbers would be nice as well    GO DEMONS !!!

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    9 minutes ago, binman said:

    The other option Smith provides is the player who has the speed to come off his man to help frosty and oMac as third man in and the strength and leap to really impact the contest. Strong in the contest as well.

    I like it.

    I also wouldn't be surprised if Smith goes straight to Darling and Frost to Kennedy and Omac to the resting ruck.

    Omac to Kennedy worries me, Kennedy gets a lot on the lead and Omac struggles with leading types.  He is much better under the high ball.

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    Anyone who saw Smith in last week's VFL prelim got any comment? How did he play?

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    44 minutes ago, RedLegs23 said:

    My only problem with this move (Smith over Fritta) is when the moment comes for Joel to dispose the football. Joel's disposal & decision making under pressure can be very suspect... 

    Defend, spoil, tackle - keep it simple son.

     

    ?⭕

    Play him next to Lewis and just handball to him at every opportunity 

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    • Shocked 1
     

    Not the move I would have made. I don't like messing with a winning group or taking in an injury prone player. Hope it works out for us.

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    It has all the makings of a Petty clanger. Smith had 6 disposals for Casey and is still under done from his injury. Nothing he has done gives me any confidence that this is the right decision.

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