5 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Weak and pathetic. 

Tad cynical STMJ, I understand some supporters concerns going into this game.

Jones, Viney and Melksham underdone, cloud over Harmes.

Underwhelming pre-season from some key players,

I still have massive concerns about the way we deliver the ball inside 50, just seems as though we get it in straight to contests that easily turn into 2 on 1's and the ball quickly goes the other way. I also have reservations about the way our forward line will function generally.

What i'd really like to see is if opposition teams get a run on, say 1, 2, 3 quick goals, how we react to this, by slowing the game down, playing possession football, having a feel for the game, as opposed to routinely following the same game plan.

Anyway it will be an interesting test first off, Port may be missing a few key players, however they'll be debuting several talented and earnest youngsters like Drew, Butters and Duursma. Still think this a danger game if we go in expecting to do it easy.

 

Edited March 18, 20196 yr by The Stigga

12 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Weak and pathetic. 

Lol, what?

8 hours ago, Demon Dude said:

yep its remarkable how little info we've received about our pre season from the footy club media department this year full stop. its really gone backwards from previous years and not very good promotion of the club imo. most stories we do get are just lifted from the AFL site anyway.

Matt Burgan's departure from the club has been noticeable in the lack of articles and the reduced quality of articles coming from the club this preseason. I think his departure has probably hurt the club's PR a bit more than they realise. 

50 minutes ago, A F said:

Lol, what?

Your defeatest attitude is carp. 

43 minutes ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Your defeatest attitude is carp. 

Settle down, Steve. It's not defeatist. It's logical. No continuity with the backline and no continuity with the midfield. There's a reason pre seasons are important. Nowhere have I said we won't make finals and nowhere have I said we won't make the top 4. I said we'd struggle to start with. I hope I'm wrong, but let's wait and see.

Edited March 18, 20196 yr by A F

8 hours ago, The Stigga said:

Tad cynical STMJ, I understand some supporters concerns going into this game.

Jones, Viney and Melksham underdone, cloud over Harmes.

Underwhelming pre-season from some key players,

I still have massive concerns about the way we deliver the ball inside 50, just seems as though we get it in straight to contests that easily turn into 2 on 1's and the ball quickly goes the other way. I also have reservations about the way our forward line will function generally.

What i'd really like to see is if opposition teams get a run on, say 1, 2, 3 quick goals, how we react to this, by slowing the game down, playing possession football, having a feel for the game, as opposed to routinely following the same game plan.

Anyway it will be an interesting test first off, Port may be missing a few key players, however they'll be debuting several talented and earnest youngsters like Drew, Butters and Duursma. Still think this a danger game if we go in expecting to do it easy.

 

I too am anxious about the early rounds.  Less than confident going into the Port game to be honest.  

3 hours ago, hells bells said:

I too am anxious about the early rounds.  Less than confident going into the Port game to be honest.  

I'm a little anxious about the Cats game...  as we'll need be at our top for this game,  and I'm not sure we are there yet.

The Port game is one we need to click in,  Re teamwork.

I think we will warm into the season as we go.?

Best guess with our current injury/suspension landscape:

FB: Jetta - McDonald - Hore

HB: Hibb - Frost - Lewis

C : Salem - Oliver - Fritsch

HF: Trac - Weid - Melk

FF: Spargo - T-Mac - ANB

R: Gawn - Viney - Brayshaw

I: Harmes - Jones - Hunt - Stretch

------

Missing from Best 22: May, Lever, AVB, Garlett, Hannan --- pretty long list!

any injury I just blame Misson these days. but I'm pretty annoyed that we mismanaged viney and cost us as season without him, Lever had a setback,  vandenberg looks like he'll miss half the season, joel Smith was played injured during the fricken JLT.its really starting to add up and annoy me. 

5 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

any injury I just blame Misson these days. 

How lazy of you.

2 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

How lazy of you.

Well surely Misson was one of the people that decided to put Joel Smith back on the ground? 

Was he involved in rushing Viney back in and screwing up his body for a year?

I don't know who it was but the joel smith screw up proves that they don't prioritise a healthy list before round 1. 

Probably half of our 22 on the weekend will have had a seriously interrupted pre-season. 

1 minute ago, Dr.D said:

Well surely Misson was one of the people that decided to put Joel Smith back on the ground? 

Was he involved in rushing Viney back in and screwing up his body for a year?

I don't know who it was but the joel smith screw up proves that they don't prioritise a healthy list before round 1. 

Probably half of our 22 on the weekend will have had a seriously interrupted pre-season. 

So you can't pin anything of the above on Misson, but you'll just blame him for it anyway?

Great logic.

5 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Probably half of our 22 on the weekend will have had a seriously interrupted pre-season. 

Yeah I know, I can't believe he sent players in for surgery when they had injures. Should have forced them through a full preseason and just hoped they don't break down through the year.

 

I still blame Jack V as I believe he simply said he was ok and "the Club" said ok and it went from bad to worse in 2017 and 2018.

Joel Smith  Vanders Walker Hannan May Nitschke are  a mixed bag some of our own doing and of course about half a dozen have had interrupted and short preparations.

Round 1  looks like our last test before the Melb Cup (vs Cats at KP) and it will need every one if our A graders yo stand  up and play near their best to get us over the line or be very competitive.

Put Jones in the forward pocket.

FB: Jetta  Oscar  Hibberd
HB: Salem  Frost Lewis
C;  Fritsch  Oliver  Jones
HF: ANB  T Mc  Petracca
FF: Melksham  Weid  Spargo
Foll: Gawn  Brayshaw Viney
Int: Hore, Harmes, Stretch, Hunt

That's what I expect gets named tomorrow.

Don't love Hore down back but I can see why they'll give him first crack at it. Stretch, Hunt and ANB all make me concerned but they are fit and have experience in the side. Keen to see if Goody has a surprise pick instead.

Frost Lewis and Oscar down back scares the hell out of me. 

My Round 1 team prediction:

Back:         Jetta                  McDonald                  Hore

H/B:          Hibberd              Frost                           Lewis

Centre:     Salem                 Viney                          Jones

H/F:          Petracca             McDonald                 Melksham

F:              Spargo                 Weideman                Harmes

R:             Gawn                    Oliver                         Brayshaw

Int:           Fritsch                 Neal-Bullen               Hunt

                 C Wagner

51 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Frost Lewis and Oscar down back scares the hell out of me. 

We won two finals with those three down back so not sure what you're scared of?

Obviously this is th back 6 we want but will have to wait a while for this:

Jetta         OMac        Lever

Hibbo        May           Lewis

That is as good as anyone

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

FB: Jetta  Oscar  Hibberd
HB: Salem  Frost Lewis
C;  Fritsch  Oliver  Jones
HF: ANB  T Mc  Petracca
FF: Melksham  Weid  Spargo
Foll: Gawn  Brayshaw Viney
Int: Hore, Harmes, Stretch, Hunt

That's what I expect gets named tomorrow.

Don't love Hore down back but I can see why they'll give him first crack at it. Stretch, Hunt and ANB all make me concerned but they are fit and have experience in the side. Keen to see if Goody has a surprise pick instead.

The front 6 is what worked at the end of last season, and would be a safe bet.  Our issue in JLT was the ball came out of our forward 50 way too easily.  Hope these 6 are back to locking it in and causing turnovers, and if they do the back 6 will be fine and we’ll win easily.

3 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

So you can't pin anything of the above on Misson, but you'll just blame him for it anyway?

Great logic.

1.38 in this video regarding Joel Smith:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2019-03-12/injury-update-march-12

 

 

i'll go...

B: Jetta – Frost – Hore
HB: Lewis – O Mac – Hibberd
? Jones – Brayshaw – Salem
HF: Petracca – T Mac – Viney
F: Melksham – Weideman – ANB
Foll: Gawn – Oliver – Harmes
I/c: Spargo – Stretch – Hunt – Fritsch
Emerg: Sparrow – Petty – Keilty – C Wagner

but basically it's throwing dartboards at the wall in terms of players 15-26

3 hours ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

Yeah I know, I can't believe he sent players in for surgery when they had injures. Should have forced them through a full preseason and just hoped they don't break down through the year.

 

But you can't deny the fact that all these injuries and surgeries will probably cost us in the long run.

You don't hear of too many premiership winning teams that had seriously interrupted pre-seasons such as ours.

Edited March 20, 20196 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

38 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

1.38 in this video regarding Joel Smith:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2019-03-12/injury-update-march-12

 

 

And? 

Whether or not Joel Smith would have played Round 1 or not is irrelevant ,  the issue here is risking long term groin issues in a young exciting player on the rise and who was one of our few bright spot in JLT.

Should never have gone back on the ground.