3 hours ago, tappysquads said:

My team from who will currently most likely be available

Vs Port Adelaide at the G on a satdy afternoon

 

Jetta (gray) May (Dixon) Hibberd

Fritsch   OMac   salem

KK   Viney   Brayshaw

Petracca  TMac  Melksham 

Garlett  Weed  AVB

Gawn  Harmes  Oliver

 

Jones Preuss ANB Lewis

Emerg- Hunt Lever Frost Hannan Spargo Stretch Hannan Smith 

Harmes will have to get Gray. Harmes plays on the best mid and Gray is the best mid.

11 hours ago, Caligula's cohort said:

FB: - N.JETTA(180cm) - S.MAY(193cm) - M.HIBBERD(186cm)

HB:  - J.LEVER(195cm) - S.FROST(194cm) -  C.SALEM(183cm)

? - J.HARMES(185cm) - C.OLIVER(187cm) - K.KOLODJASHNIJ(190cm)

HF: - C.PETRACCA(186cm) - S.WEIDEMAN(195cm) - J.MELKSHAM(186cm)

FF: - A.VANDENBERG(188cm) - T.McDONALD(194cm) - A.NEAL-BULLEN(182cm)

RR: - M.GAWN(208cm) - A.BRAYSHAW(187cm) - J.VINEY(178cm)

INT: - N.JONES(180cm), B.FRITSCH (188cm), J.SMITH(191cm), B.PRUESS(206cm) 

EMG: O.McDONALD(196cm), M.HANNAN(189cm), C.SPARGO(173cm), J.LEWIS(186cm)

If Lever doesn't get up then replace with Lewis. O.mac doesn't get into the 22 just yet as he's spent the majority of preseason in rehab while Frost has been tracking nicely.

There’s no right or wrong in this thread, but if OMac is not in your 22 for Round 1 due to time in rehab, why is Melksham? 

Edited January 25, 20196 yr by Dee Zephyr

4 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

There’s no right or wrong in this thread, but if OMac is not in your 22 for Round 1 due to time in rehab, why is Melksham? 

Because Melksham is a Jet!

POSSIBLE PORT SIDE

B: JONAS, CLUREY, BYRNE-JONES

HB: HARTLETT, HOWARD, BURTON

C : BONNER, R.GRAY, EBERT

HF: MOTLOP, WESTOFF, WATTS

F: RYDER, DIXON, ROCKLIFF

FOLL: LYCETT, BOAK, WINES

IC: POWELL-PEPPER, ROZEE, BUTTERS, DUURSMA

 

OUR POSSIBLE LINE UP

B: O.MCDONALD, MAY, SALEM

HB: JETTA, FROST, HIBBERD

C : KOLODJASHNIJ, HARMES, BRAYSHAW

HF: PETRACCA, WEIDEMAN, NEAL-BULLEN

F: MELKSHAM, T.MCDONALD, FRITSCH

FOLL: GAWN, OLIVER, VINEY

IC: JONES, VANDENBERG, LEWIS, PREUSS

 

4 KEY MATCH UPS

HARMES V R.GRAY - Best tagger vs best mid.

VINEY V WINES - 2 best mates going against each other

MAY V DIXON - This is the job we pay May to do.

GAWN\PREUSS V LYCETT\RYDER - Ruck duel will decide the game.

 

Couldn't find room for Spargo due to match ups and Hannan doesn't seem to be match fit.

3 minutes ago, Caligula's cohort said:

Because Melksham is a Jet!

....and that settles it, can’t argue with that, he is a jet.

15 hours ago, ProDee said:

Most people don't, which is why it should be called 'rare sense'.  Although I appreciate a self-effacing comment when I see one.

Melbourne, like Richmond (and unlike West Coast), play a high pressure and chaotic territory game.  But even then, the better teams, despite their differing styles, are in the positive when it comes to 'metres gained differential'. 

Fast ball movement, high pressure, out-number at every contest possible, play on quickly, and get the ball into the F50 is our 'one wood'.  We had the most inside 50s in 2018 and the best inside 50 differential, as well as being no.1 in countless other stats.  And if we can't mark in the F50 we at least want to bring it to ground.  It's no accident we're the highest scoring team in the AFL by 25 goals.

Here is a stat I found very interesting and it confirms that our manic game-style has its advantages:

Being no.1 in 'metres gained differential' obviously was a large reason we were no.2 in 'points gained differential', as you can see above.

To retain the ball in the F50 and to out-number at every contest isn't helped by having a second lumbering ruckman.  West Coast play a different game-style (precise kicking / retain control of the footy) to us that is more conducive to a second ruck.  And it's also worth noting that Vardy is a very mobile and athletic big man with decent pace.  He's as much a forward ruck as a ruckman, so a different type of ruck to Preuss.

It's also worth noting that turnovers are the no.1 scoring source for scoring shots in the AFL.  Generally speaking, mid-size players force more turnovers that 206cm giants.

Gawn, Tom McDonald, and Weideman for me is enough talls to provide an aerial forward threat.  Gawn won't be needed to fill the hole down back this year, so when he does need a rest Weideman can pinch hit in the ruck and Gawn can prowl the F50.  And occasionally McDonald might get a 5 minute ruck burst. 

They'll most definitely try the Gawn/Preuss combo and if it works great.  But for our game-style and strengths (outlined above) I'm not keen on it.  We need to build on what works, not strip it back.  There's plenty of room for improvement, which will come from hopefully Viney playing more than 7 games in the H&A, Weideman progressing, May/Lever controlling D50, Kolodjashnij and Fritsch up around the wings, for once a fit vandenBerg, and the natural improvement from over half the best 22 due to their age. 

I know we'll tweak our game-style.  It doesn't need reinventing, just some improvement.  The foundations are very strong.  But I'm not convinced a second 206cm ruck helps our game-plan.  For me it hinders it.  You occasionally have to give something up to take a step forward, but playing Preuss gives up too much in my mind and I don't see the benefits of him playing with Gawn as any great panacea to where we're deficient. 

A wingmen has to be able to deliver inside F50 with precision.  Smith on a wing is a diabolical suggestion.  If you read training reports you'll see that Kolodjashnij has been playing this role well.  He's the prototype wingmen and I suspect it's why we got him to the club.

Thanks for your analysis @ProDee

11 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Because he’s the less exciting option than others.

I’d personally rather Garlett for his potential 3-4 goal haul on any given week over Spargo’s manic defensive pressure. However I acknowledge that Spargo is probably ahead in the pecking order.

It must be said that Spargo was outstanding in a final vs Hawthorn which is outstanding for an 18 year old kid.

When he is on, Jeff is silk, and it happens too infrequently throughout a season. If I was 14yo I would want Garlett for the 'excitement' - as it stands 14 goals in 18 games as an 18yo who provides pressure and contributes with greater effect for others to score goals as part of an overall system is who I'd be having.

14 hours ago, Skuit said:

Every year this same thread and I never know if its predictions, desires, a horses-for-courses best 22 as to round one, or just a list of each poster's favourite players squeezed into a team

 

Here’s my hoped-for round one team, based on the sole criteria of being the players I most want to watch play and succeed put together into a single list.

 

Hibberd           May                 Jetta

 

Salem               Lever               Frost

 

Kolodjash        Viney               Hunt

 

Oliver              Gawn               Brayshaw

 

Petracca           TMac               Fritsch

 

Garlett              Weid                Melksham

 

Harmes        ANB        Jones       Pruess

 

Emerg (others I’m looking forward to seeing play this year) Bedford, Baker, Stretch, Sparrow

 

Some of the players not in this team who played finals or more than 10 games last year and can provide back-up:

 

Lewis   AVB    Omac   Spargo   Hannan   J. Smith 

 

Notes: the above interchange is a pretty serious midfield rotational back-up. Also, I said it last year and I'll say it again, Goody will again double-down on our game-plan. That means even more of: a lot of frustrating quick forward thrusts, manic midfield ball-movement, and an exposed, leaky defence. The team above has the capacity to reduce leakage by two-to-three goals per game (which is top spot/premiership significant) while the half-backs and mids are all tough and instinctive with a a heap of dynamic weapons. This will be the most exciting team the MFC ever assembled.

 

 

Good line-up at this early stage. Would play  'Light' Lever off the flank in a mobile role towards CHB and side-approaches, with the stronger Frosty at CHB to exploit slightly more mobility and aggro, not locked into flank space but with more of a movement range in which to run. 

10 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

The Hawks game wasn't one of his better games but I think he had a better second half of the year than O.Mac. He kept Hawkins in check while O.Mac couldn't

He cost us the game down at geelong by coming off Hawkins and getting caught in no man's land on that last play.

Edited January 25, 20196 yr by binman

Have I missed the purpose of this discussion, getting the wrong mail or something, but I keep hearing that Lever won't be ready for selection until around Rd 9 - 12, so I'm having problems understanding why so many here (and in the 'proffesional' media) have got him in their Rd 1 sides for us.

15 hours ago, Watson11 said:

Everything you say is logical and couldn't agree more re forward 50 pressure and turnovers being key.  But playing 2 rucks does not necessarily mean you have 3 big guys in the forward 50, so it will be about rotations.  Last year, rotations saw Tmac off for 14% of game time, Gawn for 15%, Weids for 20% (Hogan was off only 11%).  They vary game to game but up to 40-50% of game time we had a big guy on the bench.  We can't afford Max to ruck for 85% game time again as he was cooked in September.  That 40-50% of game time last year where we were down one big man, we would have Preuss on.  Maybe add another 10-20% of game time for Preuss and that is when we have 3 big guys in the forward 50 and we use that to create a match up headache.  If we get a really good mismatch, the coaches leave it longer to really take advantage.    If it is done right I expect Max to impact a few games in the forward 50 ala Cox on Queens Birthday against us and in the prelim.

The thing you lose by this is an average of 1-2% of extra time on ground for the other 18 players, and maybe Max spending less time on the ball.  So it will only work if Preuss is really good when on the ground.  I suspect we will be able to review this after round 1 because Preuss will play that game.  If Preuss is really good in the ruck he'll play most games, and Ryder and Lycett is a good first up test.

That's exactly how I see him being played w11. Good analysis.

Agree with pd that preuss doesn't help us up forward but I really think they have brought him in to help manage maxy's loads and have as cherry ripe as possible come finals.

He wont play every game. Maybe 13-16. Will spend a fair bit of time on the pine. Which as you say will impact on how much time others get to rest, but we can cover that.

I think at some point, perhaps before or after the bye they will rest maxy and preuss will play solo.

 

based on the presumption that lever will be the only 'definite' out at this stage, it's going to be interesting to see how we structure up - will we go 'tall' against port given their height in the shape of lycett / ryder, dixon, watts / marshall, plus westhoff who floats everywhere? i would suspect that whilst we'd prefer to play two key defenders and rely upon the cluster zone defence, this might be one game where a relatively tall line-up is preferred

i also personally think that a taller line-up suits the mcg perfectly - particularly on a beautiful saturday afternoon

tall line-up:
B: Jetta - May - Frost
HB: Salem - O Mac - Hibberd
? Harmes - Brayshaw - KK
HF: Petracca - T Mac - AVB
F: Preuss - Weideman - ANB
Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney
I/c: Jones - Spargo - Melksham - Fritsch
Emerg: Lewis - Hunt - Garlett - J Smith

small ball:
B: Jetta - May - Hibberd
HB: Salem - Frost - Fritsch
? Harmes - Brayshaw - KK
HF: Petracca - Plugger - AVB
F: Melksham - Weideman - ANB
Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney
I/c: Jones - Spargo - Hunt - J Smith
Emerg: Lewis - Preuss - O Mac - Garlett

like others, i can't see how jones and lewis can play in the same side, really, going forward, unless they have ripping preseasons and excellent jlt form

i'm also one of those who favours fritsch behind the ball, but really he can play pretty much any role

there also seems to be lotsa speculation that bedford and sparrow are looking particularly 'ready' on the track of the newbie kids, but i just can't see either forcing themselves into the starting 22 given our depth

yes, our depth! ye gods it's a nice thing to finally talk about

key match-ups:

• jetta vs gray (when forward)
• harmes vs wines / gray / rockliff (when in the midfield)
• may vs dixon
• gawn (+ preuss, possibly) vs lycett / ryder (when rucking)
• frost / o mac vs ryder / lycett (when forward)
• melksham vs hartlett / broadbent / dbj / houston / burton (whoever plays their rebound sweeper role)

there's a lot more queries and variables around port's line-up in 2019 than there is ours:

• will they go with watts or marshall or both?
• does wetshoff play on the wing as a permanent role going forward?
• can the combo or ryder and lycett work well together; both are much better as the starting / primary ruckman as opposed to a switching role?
• will rockliff recapture some semblance of form?
• can boak play the half-forward pressure role?

Edited January 26, 20196 yr by whatwhatsaywhat

12 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Harmes will have to get Gray. Harmes plays on the best mid and Gray is the best mid.

Agree that Robbie Gray is their best mid, probably their best player to my mind.

...but they tend to play him more as a forward with the occasional run in the midfield.

Maybe Wines is his match up but I suspect we might just let them worry about us as we have the better, more damaging midfield group.

7 minutes ago, rjay said:

Agree that Robbie Gray is their best mid, probably their best player to my mind.

...but they tend to play him more as a forward with the occasional run in the midfield.

Maybe Wines is his match up but I suspect we might just let them worry about us as we have the better, more damaging midfield group.

Harmes on Wines would be a great match-up, but agree it's or only a matter of time until the hunter becomes the huunted with Harmes. 

Possibly even having good mates Viney and Wines going head to head.  The prospect of unleashing a fully fit raring to go Viney Rd 1 is mouth watering.

The big question to talk about is who matches up on Jack Watts?

Ooops, I forgot Casey doesn't play in the SANFL!

Jetta.  May.  Hibberd

Salem   OMac  Hore

KK    Brayshaw  Jones

Gawn  Oliver   Viney

Trac   Weed   Melksham 

Fritter  TMac  Garlett

Harmes  Hannan Nibbler Vanders

emergencies Preuss Lewis Spargo Frost.

 

Lever is unlikely to be available. Garlett seems to have extracted the digit. There are big wraps on Hore, especially his kicking. Lewis has lost me.

 

1 hour ago, chook fowler said:

Jetta.  May.  Hibberd

Salem   OMac  Hore

KK    Brayshaw  Jones

Gawn  Oliver   Viney

Trac   Weed   Melksham 

Fritter  TMac  Garlett

Harmes  Hannan Nibbler Vanders

emergencies Preuss Lewis Spargo Frost.

 

Lever is unlikely to be available. Garlett seems to have extracted the digit. There are big wraps on Hore, especially his kicking. Lewis has lost me.

 

Interesting that unlike many others you have also left Preuss out of the 22 for round 1.  A bit like you, I don't think Preuss is nessasrily a walk up start for Rd 1 either.  I do wounder if all of Fritsch, Hannan, Garlett, Vanders and Nibbler fit into the same forward line though, which could create the room for big Preuss.  Nibbler and Vanders will rotate on-ball, so I'm guessing that it's one of Hannan, Freitch or Garlett doesn't play if we go tall.

  I'm guessing that it could come down to whether Port look like playing both of Lycett and Ryder.  If they do, I think we will match their dual ruck setup.

 

Edited January 26, 20196 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

9 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Interesting that unlike many others you have also left Preuss out of the 22 for round 1.  A bit like you, I don't think Preuss is nessasrily a walk up start for Rd 1 either.  I do wounder if all of Fritsch, Hannan, Garlett, Vanders and Nibbler fit into the same forward line though, which could create the room for big Preuss.  Nibbler and Vanders will rotate on-ball, so I'm guessing that it's one of Hannan, Freitch or Garlett doesn't play if we go tall.

  I'm guessing that it could come down to whether Port look like playing both of Lycett and Ryder.  If they do, I think we will match their dual ruck setup.

If Preuss came in I think Vanders may miss out. Hannan is more versatile and a bit more polished with his ball use. 

5 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

If Preuss came in I think Vanders may miss out. Hannan is more versatile and a bit more polished with his ball use. 

If Vanders is fit he plays.  Guy is a bull and an absolute asset for breaking sides apart.

The more I stew over this, I'm also l'm also thinking how much it will come down to how our forwards/forward line functions in the JLT.  If Weid struggles to make much of an impact, Preuss could find a spot in the side to help cover our forward line arial presence or perhaps even someone like Tim Smith, Joel Smith or Keilty might get a gig.

Will make for a very interesting JLT series for Demons supporters, which on another note is such a refreshing change for Demons supporters from years gone by.  Where previously, we were looking to the preseason comp for signs we would be compeditive for the season comming, at the moment it's more about who has the inside running to make round 1 and what subtle structural changes we might be making to our game style and team setup.

4 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Have I missed the purpose of this discussion, getting the wrong mail or something, but I keep hearing that Lever won't be ready for selection until around Rd 9 - 12, so I'm having problems understanding why so many here (and in the 'proffesional' media) have got him in their Rd 1 sides for us.

spin.

They are puttin in their Demons 2019 'dream' side... pre practice matches.  It'll change soon.

26 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

If Vanders is fit he plays.  Guy is a bull and an absolute asset for breaking sides apart.

The more I stew over this, I'm also l'm also thinking how much it will come down to how our forwards/forward line functions in the JLT.  If Weid struggles to make much of an impact, Preuss could find a spot in the side to help cover our forward line arial presence or perhaps even someone like Tim Smith, Joel Smith or Keilty might get a gig.

Will make for a very interesting JLT series for Demons supporters, which on another note is such a refreshing change for Demons supporters from years gone by.  Where previously, we were looking to the preseason comp for signs we would be compeditive for the season comming, at the moment it's more about who has the inside running to make round 1 and what subtle structural changes we might be making to our game style and team setup.

I love our list - its depth, its versatility and its grunt. That’s why it’s so hard to pick the best 22. 

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

The big question to talk about is who matches up on Jack Watts?

Ooops, I forgot Casey doesn't play in the SANFL!

 I wish I could have AVB play him the whole game !

5 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

I love our list - its depth, its versatility and its grunt. That’s why it’s so hard to pick the best 22. 

Finally we have some people in list management that know watt their doing. a good job...  development and culture also say hello.

2 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

The big question to talk about is who matches up on Jack Watts?

Ooops, I forgot Casey doesn't play in the SANFL!

Hooker.

7 minutes ago, DV8 said:

spin.

They are puttin in their Demons 2019 'dream' side... pre practice matches.  It'll change soon.

I think best 22 is more equivalent to dream side.

This thread is Rd 1 team 2019, it's highly unlikely (just per any Rd really) that we wI'll have our best 22 to pick in Rd.1.