The thing about any potential changes this week will really depend a lot on our opponent.  Geelong are quite tall and mobile (not necessarily quick) all around the ground;

Forwards; Hawkins, Rata-whatever (who relieves in the ruck)

Mids; Their Kolo, Menegola

Backs; Taylor, Blicavs, Henry

Ruck; Stanley

 

Their forwards v our backs;

We won't be taking all three of May, Oscar and Frost in to this game.  And given previous selections, I'm certain Frost will be the one that makes way.  I actually prefer the Frost vs Rata matchup (as opposed to Oscar), but I just can't see Goody dropping Oscar.  The biggest challenge will be keeping Ablett, Rohan and Dahlhaus (who traditionally plays well against us) under control.  We do that, we go a long way to winning this game.  We need big games from Jetta and Hibberd, as one of them will be on Rohan and the other Ablett.

 

Their mids v our mids;

Obviously we need to be better this week.  There won't be any changes to our midfield (providing they are all fit).

 

Their backs vs our forwards;

TMc and Weed will attract Taylor and Blicavs, so I think this is where we can get them.  I'd be starting Melksham on Stewart, and dragging him straight to the goal square at the start of every contest.  He's our best one-on-one marker, and Stewart is poor under pressure.  I'd play Fritsch on Henry and get him playing a high half forward role.

 

With all that in mind, and the fact that our depth isn't great, I can see the one change of May for Frost.  The only other option could be to bring Stretch in for Hore, then move Hunt back to negate Dahlhaus.

 

 

i would re-aquaint Viney with Abletts' shoulder and suggest he grinds it into the ground. 

  On 25/03/2019 at 23:16, stevethemanjordan said:

I could have sworn I heard our leaders say multiple times how much that prelim loss burnt and how it was going to spur them on all summer. And that's the level of intensity and aggression we get in round 1?

No 'steve' we've moved that on to the Port game...

According to Nathan Jones after last weeks loss

"I think that'll burn a lot of players inside but hopefully inspires the reaction our fans will want to see and inspire us to play the way we want to play."

Sometimes I really wish our players would just shut up and let their performances do the talking.

As you say the intensity and aggression shown in round 1 didn't indicate any residual burn from the prelim, looks like they forget what they were burning about...

  On 25/03/2019 at 05:53, GCDee said:

Spargo will play at his best when our midfield is up and firing. Believe it or not his worth is providing the spread forward of centre and not wrestling in marketing contests with opponents double his size, which kept happening to the poor guy on the weekend. 

This has been a problem with a lot of players coming into the AFL system......like Charlie Spargo, he has played predominantly as mid for his whole junior career, then all of a sudden, he's thrown into the system as a half forward which is somewhat foreign to him. I can see his benefit as a mid/rover type as he is a very smart little player, but this would be difficult for him to make the transition. ANB the same.....played most of his career as a high pressure inside mid & then the same thing happens......he has to survive as a half forward.

I know its an option that we would all take if we had the same opportunities, but unless your an Oliver or Brayshaw, your probably not going to come into the system playing the position you have been or love.

ANB plays in the centre when back at Casey......Spargo played rover when back at Casey & I'm sure its the same with others too.....

Maybe lets cut these blokes a little slack.

  On 25/03/2019 at 09:48, WERRIDEE said:

I understand that but 3 that I mentioned are not up to AFL level. We need to bring in players that can play May is one Kolodjashnij is another and they need to give Petty a go he can't be any worse than the spud we have at full back now.

May and Kolodjashnij will definitely play so Frost and Hore should make way. I'm not sure they will have the balls to play Petty so unfortunately I will have to vomit my through the game watching Oscar spud it up. I can't believe we have our very own Zac Dawson.

KK has been in rehab for a number of weeks & has had 1 game for Casey......do you think its great prep for his first AFL game? (considering the obvious lack of fitness & form from some players in the same boat last weekend)

  On 26/03/2019 at 00:54, rjay said:

No 'steve' we've moved that on to the Port game...

According to Nathan Jones after last weeks loss

"I think that'll burn a lot of players inside but hopefully inspires the reaction our fans will want to see and inspire us to play the way we want to play."

Sometimes I really wish our players would just shut up and let their performances do the talking.

As you say the intensity and aggression shown in round 1 didn't indicate any residual burn from the prelim, looks like they forget what they were burning about...

Rule #1 don't believe/disregard any coach/f-d personnel 

Rule #2 when players speak..  apply rule 1

  On 25/03/2019 at 23:49, chook fowler said:

i would re-aquaint Viney with Abletts' shoulder and suggest he grinds it into the ground. 

Unlikely that Viney will play and if he does he will be struggling to catch Ablett and thats saying something.

Of the holy trinity, I think Ablett will be the big threat at KP.  I think his possessions are much more damaging that the Dangerman.

  On 26/03/2019 at 01:34, hemingway said:

Unlikely that Viney will play and if he does he will be struggling to catch Ablett and thats saying something.

Of the holy trinity, I think Ablett will be the big threat at KP.  I think his possessions are much more damaging that the Dangerman.

Spot on Ernest!

  On 25/03/2019 at 04:23, Laughing Goat said:

I agree with Frost being a depth player, but I haven't seen any evidence thus far that suggests that Oscar is a depth player.......the proof will be when Lever returns in the later half of the year when May is also in the side.

We all know he's one of Goodwin's fav's so let's not dance around that fact either. 

He wont be dropped.

OMac has run out of excuses and needs Casey-time. One-handed marking, spoiling and other pleasures do not work and neither do running under the ball, running 4 metres behind your opponent as a defender and shirking the responsibility of the execution of shepherding, blocking and clearing a crush are regularly being observed. He is a chicken.

  On 26/03/2019 at 01:34, hemingway said:

Unlikely that Viney will play and if he does he will be struggling to catch Ablett and thats saying something.

Of the holy trinity, I think Ablett will be the big threat at KP.  I think his possessions are much more damaging that the Dangerman.

By hell, we'll get May into the team for Geelong but we desperately need AVB. 

  On 25/03/2019 at 12:24, old dee said:

Tough decision there SJ swapping a player who could not get the ball with one who cannot kick it. I would stay with Viney we know he is good enough. Stretch hmm hardly ever best 22. 

If Viney doesn't get up who would you bring in old dee?

  On 26/03/2019 at 02:03, Stretch Johnson said:

If Viney doesn't get up who would you bring in old dee?

Play Sparrow in his spot and bring in a second ruck / forward. 

  On 26/03/2019 at 01:12, Laughing Goat said:

KK has been in rehab for a number of weeks & has had 1 game for Casey......do you think its great prep for his first AFL game? (considering the obvious lack of fitness & form from some players in the same boat last weekend)

Well it would be in line with their selection of Viney. Melksham and Jones

 

  On 25/03/2019 at 22:15, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't wish to sound ungracious to Gold Coast, but the Melbourne that was struggling against PA is nothing like the Gold Coast that has been struggling all the time KK was with them. I don't know if he's ready to play, but if he is, he doesn't have to wait for the rest of the team to find form before he gets picked. It will still be a better team than what he has had to put up with over his career to date. 

What i said was that KK himself was struggling with his form, Re injuries,  concussions,  and general confidence levels...  because of all those things you mentioned.  And this is why I would shield him until we are showing signs of finding our structures again.

 

I want him to get off to a positive introduction into this team...  not one were he is under the pump right from the first bounce.   And given the cattery is so narrow,  I wouldn't pick him this week,  but leave his selection for one more week and practice match with Casey.

He can come back in,  for our home game against the bummers at the 'G'.   Rnd 3.

  On 26/03/2019 at 03:54, binman said:

Well it would be in line with their selection of Viney. Melksham and Jones

Of that three I thought Milkshake was ok. The other two ZIP.

  On 25/03/2019 at 23:36, The Chazz said:

Rata-whatever (who relieves in the ruck)

He has a name: Esava Ratugolea

Surely KK wont come in to the side after 1 VFL practice match when the whole team looked underdone last week.

  On 23/03/2019 at 09:21, dazzledavey36 said:

Well put. Unfortunately Oscar is a very own Zac Dawson. He will continue to be gifted games for as long as rhe selection committee finally wake up and realise what a crap defender he is.

Halleluha. Finally people are waking up....

  On 25/03/2019 at 05:24, binman said:

It's remarkable how so may posters don't seem to get this fact. But there you go.

May will come in for Frost. Absolute certainty. If there are no injuries Frost will struggle to get another game this season i'm afraid.Frankly i'm pizzed off at May for his stupidity. We needed him round one.

People know my views on Omac so no need to rehash them. Except to repeat that Goodwin knows a great deal more about footy than posters on DL and he will pick Omac ahead of Frost (and won't drop him this season). So it is safe to assume he rates OMac more highly than Frost, which will do me.

Those that get discombobulated by Omac being in the team side best work out a way to deal with it for the sake of their own well being. He is a lock for the rest of the season (and his career). Even after Lever comes back.

The other defender who will come under scrutiny is Hunt. Its all well and good to focus on Omac and Frost (who was poor i will concede) but he does not butcher the ball like Hunt. His first four kicks were turnovers.  A woeful kick. I doubt he'll be dropped but he is lucky we have so many out at the moment.  

Talk about Weed getting dropped for Keilty is just plain crazy. Won't happen.

KK might be chance to come in, but really i think the likely scenario is just the one change - May for frost.

Your defence of OMac is truly pathetic. He is a terrible footballer with no attributes other than being tall.

  On 25/03/2019 at 05:24, binman said:

Those that get discombobulated by Omac being in the team side best work out a way to deal with it for the sake of their own well being. He is a lock for the rest of the season (and his career). Even after Lever comes back.

 

  Lever was playing was playing at CHB for us before he went down, with O Mac at FB.   He was just settling in and was brilliant for us in his last full game against the Crows before doing his knee next game.

May and Lever will be our two key defenders, and O Mac should be out of the team.

Edited March 26, 20196 yr by Petraccattack

  On 26/03/2019 at 08:50, Petraccattack said:

  Lever was playing was playing at CHB for us before he went down, with O Mac at FB.   He was just settling in and was brilliant for us in his last full game against the Crows before doing his knee next game.

May and Lever will be our two key defenders, and O Mac should be out of the team.

So if we play Port again, and if they go with 3 tall forwards 197cm and taller again, would you still go with an undersized 3rd defender.  

  On 26/03/2019 at 08:58, Watson11 said:

So if we play Port again, and if they go with 3 tall forwards 197cm and taller again, would you still go with an undersized 3rd defender.  

We always fail to counter Wesfhoff sour 3rd tall (or first or second talls can't either Ususlly we go in with no one minding him and hence Saturday's result again !!

  On 26/03/2019 at 09:52, 58er said:

We always fail to counter Wesfhoff sour 3rd tall (or first or second talls can't either Ususlly we go in with no one minding him and hence Saturday's result again !!

His best mark up forward was when Oscar ran in a circle all around the ball, otherwise a lot of his better play was at ground level or when he shifted to a wing for the last 5 minutes.

Losing Vanders as a 190cm+ physical wingmen who could hurt him and defend him was a loss. Same with Kade Kolo who would be a decent wing match up as well.

Otherwise the way Port were moving the ball at least one of their forwards was going to do damage. The rucks and Marshall did pretty much nothing, so not surprised it was Westhoff.

In terms of a long term plan Lever is much better as a 3rd tall and combined with big body midfielders we can finally counter Westhoff, but it's a matter of finding that 2nd genuine stopping key defender. 

  On 26/03/2019 at 09:59, DeeSpencer said:

In terms of a long term plan Lever is much better as a 3rd tall and combined with big body midfielders we can finally counter Westhoff, but it's a matter of finding that 2nd genuine stopping key defender. 

This is an interesting conversation especially in the context of our own forward line not currently playing a third tall and stretching defenses.

Edited March 26, 20196 yr by John Demonic