Match Preview and Team Selection - Preliminary Final

[Brownie 5,969]

47 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

I hope they drop Dom over Fritsch and move Bayley to the wing for Smith 

Smith has to come in, we’re facing a great forward line and we need defensive flexibility 

Fritch's clean delivery is important. Would hate to see him dropped before Tyson

[Superunknown 4,214]

2 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

@Whispering_Jack I think you may have missed one mathematical advantage we have.

Since the AFL changed the fixture to give all teams a bye to refresh the week before the finals it seems to disadvantage the top teams that get a bye the following week for winning.

No team finishing in the top 4 has won since, whereas, previously you almost had to finish top 4 to have a chance.

Good point. 2 games in a month? (I'm sure they're training to overcome this, but still....)

[demon191919 60]

3 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

@Whispering_Jack I think you may have missed one mathematical advantage we have.

Since the AFL changed the fixture to give all teams a bye to refresh the week before the finals it seems to disadvantage the top teams that get a bye the following week for winning.

No team finishing in the top 4 has won since, whereas, previously you almost had to finish top 4 to have a chance.

What about Richmond last year?

[jnrmac 20,055]

I like Fritsch but he was very fumbly v the Hawks. When the heat was on he played on when he shouldn't have and he turned the ball over a couple of times (he wasn't alone)

I think Fritsch is being played out of position. He is also not great one on one and that is finals footy. I still maintain he would be better on the wing with Smith being a flexible defensive option. That for me leaves out Tyson who is somewhat superfluous, prone to turnovers and not particularly damaging. It's also possible that the bring in Hunt although it wouldn't be on form. Simply the wish to inject more pace.

 

 

[Pennant St Dee 13,118]

16 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

@Whispering_Jack I think you may have missed one mathematical advantage we have.

Since the AFL changed the fixture to give all teams a bye to refresh the week before the finals it seems to disadvantage the top teams that get a bye the following week for winning.

No team finishing in the top 4 has won since, whereas, previously you almost had to finish top 4 to have a chance.

Didn't Richmond finish 3rd last season

[What 18,810]

16 minutes ago, Brownie said:

Fritch's clean delivery is important. Would hate to see him dropped before Tyson

We need running power over there.  We have been overwhelming teams with our midfield depth.

Even if Tyson has an off game hes still clocking up huge kilometers.  And his  kicking is perfect for our 'chaos' game plan. 

[Demonland 71,614]

39 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Melksham and Hibberd flying over today. 

Source - Melkys Insta. 

And Max and Jonesy as per a friends photos.

I would presume that Lewis is on that flight too as those 5 were all on my flight last time a day earlier than the rest of the team.

[Jones 62]

16 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

@Whispering_Jack I think you may have missed one mathematical advantage we have.

Since the AFL changed the fixture to give all teams a bye to refresh the week before the finals it seems to disadvantage the top teams that get a bye the following week for winning.

No team finishing in the top 4 has won since, whereas, previously you almost had to finish top 4 to have a chance.

I'm not sure this is right. Correct me if I'm wrong but both Richmond and Adelaide had 2 breaks last year. Both went on to play in the GF and Richmond to win it.

Adelaide finished 1st / Richmond finished 3rd

Adelaide def GWS / Richmond def Geel

[durango 2,005]

I think if Smith is brought in Hannan or Tyson should be the one's to be dropped not Fritsch., but Goodwin is in a no win situation if they win he's a genius whether he drops a player or not and if they lose he's an idiot because he kept a player or dropped a player.

[bobby1554 1,244]

8 minutes ago, Jones said:

I'm not sure this is right. Correct me if I'm wrong but both Richmond and Adelaide had 2 breaks last year. Both went on to play in the GF and Richmond to win it.

Adelaide finished 1st / Richmond finished 3rd

Adelaide def GWS / Richmond def Geel

Correct Jonesy. In 2016 the opposite happened, both Geelong and GWS who had the extra break, both lost prelims

[Dee tention 616]

Massive upside for the Dees this week is Jack Viney!

He played 60% game time v the Cats and 66% v Hawks with great impact...

I expect he will play closer to 80% v Eagles and go h2h with Shuey. Viney 7# will crush him!

?7#?? 

A hard Harmes 4# tag too Yippy Low Yeo!

 

 

[GCDee 3,199]

9 minutes ago, Dee tention said:

Massive upside for the Dees this week is Jack Viney!

He played 60% game time v the Cats and 66% v Hawks with great impact...

I expect he will play closer to 80% v Eagles and go h2h with Shuey. Viney 7# will crush him!

?7#?? 

A hard Harmes 4# tag too Yippy Low Yeo!

 

 

I don't think Harmes to Yeo would work... 

Yeo can drag him deep forward or back and would crush him in the air. 

Harmes to Shuey, Viney to Redden. 

Oliver & Brayshaw to run wild. 

[Jones 62]

We really need an extra defender against the Eagles. Fritsch hasn't been playing that well down back. He takes some good marks but last weekend he turned the ball over way too much. He also gets pushed off the ball easily. I love Fritsch, but this is what I have seen the last 2 games. He could be fatigued, we don't know. If there is not a spot for him on the wing or up forward he may need to get for Smith (if he is an inclusion). I'll back the coaches

[binman 42,673]

57 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

 

One thing thats probably not talked much about Tyson is that he has over 100 games of experience. Yes he has his moments, but also at times he shows that class and midfield nous that we just desperately need in these finals games.

 

Good points.

His weakness this year has been being caught with the ball. But he seems to have made an adjustment to his technique and is better at still getting a handball of when tackled.

His value comes in the second half of the game where his relative lack of pace is less an issue and his strength in the contest comes to the fore.

Fritter marks beautifully and reads the play well but is still not very strong, and made a couple of bad blues against the Hawks.  Very unlucky f he comes out, in large part because really he is a forward who has had to go back to cover the loss of Lever. Which may have cost him his spot in the end.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

Sorry my post above is fake news. A number of posters have correctly pointed out that the Tigers finished top 4 last year and to completely debunk my theory they won the first final and got the bye following that. 2 byes in short succession and went on to win the premiership.

 

[dazzledavey36 54,282]

15 minutes ago, GCDee said:

I don't think Harmes to Yeo would work... 

Yeo can drag him deep forward or back and would crush him in the air. 

Harmes to Shuey, Viney to Redden. 

Oliver & Brayshaw to run wild. 

Viney shouldnt have to go to anyone. If anything its Redden that will go to Viney.

Let Oliver, Viney and Brayshaw be the one let loose.

[chook fowler 19,446]

30 minutes ago, Jones said:

We really need an extra defender against the Eagles. Fritsch hasn't been playing that well down back. He takes some good marks but last weekend he turned the ball over way too much. He also gets pushed off the ball easily. I love Fritsch, but this is what I have seen the last 2 games. He could be fatigued, we don't know. If there is not a spot for him on the wing or up forward he may need to get for Smith (if he is an inclusion). I'll back the coaches

Agree re backing the coaches but I think Fritters disposal overall is better than Smiths - he can turn the ball over badly.

[D4Life 2,448]

31 minutes ago, GCDee said:

I don't think Harmes to Yeo would work... 

Yeo can drag him deep forward or back and would crush him in the air. 

Harmes to Shuey, Viney to Redden. 

Oliver & Brayshaw to run wild. 

Disagree, Harmes who is good in the air and has pinch hit in the ruck will not get killed in the air by Yeo!

Whether he plays on Shuey or Yeo, depends on who will hurt us more.

Too many tags is a risk, Hawks tried it last week, on Oliver & Brayshaw, and Brayshaw while down on possessions still kicked two. We won by 32, just playing okay.

[Copuchas 758]

4 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Agree re backing the coaches but I think Fritters disposal overall is better than Smiths - he can turn the ball over badly.

I agree Chook but I suspect the plan would call for the ball to be put in the hands of Hibberd, Salem and Lewis whenever possible (in much the same way as is the case for Frost and Omac).   The key issues here are the height of the West Coast forwards and the bigger bodies.   Smith with his leap and bigger build is better placed to contend in the air than perhaps Fritsch is.   It's a very tough call but I'll certainly understand the thinking if it goes that way.

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,772]

11 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

there's some information flying around.

Anything further on the Omac whispers QD?

[DubDee 25,668]

who do we bring in if O Mac doesnt get up???  Peedo I guess.  my confidence for a win would take a major hit

Can'r move T Mac back as he is our main target up front.

[—coach— 3,496]

13 hours ago, layzie said:

Quite the contrary actually. As much as I’d hate to dispute the brilliant pulitzer WC mind that wrote this. I think being open to the media exudes confidence and shows we are taking it on our stride whereas being hunkered down and avoiding it shows they might be a bit cagey. Think the nervous nellies are down the road!

Plus we are following a very similar script to Richmond last year in that they embraced the journey rather than shying away from it, worked ok for them 

[rjay 24,886]

Good Pix...

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2018-09-19/inside-melbourne-with-michael-willson

[Demonland 71,614]

Rumour gaining media traction.

 

[DSP 1,488]

Gotta be stiff to get dropped after such a dominant month.