The event is fantastic and well worth attending.  The game will most likely not live up to the event which is a real shame.  I am hopeful rather than optimistic that our mob can can put on a good show but I do like Lockhart, Stretch and Garlett as ins.  At least they can all run, which is a massive improvement on the blokes they've replaced.  Bull Smith has a crack.  He'll make a contest and hits it hard.  Maybe we can make things uncomfortable for the Tigers.

Not one of the ins has demanded a place on form.

Garlett snagged a couple of goals against North who last year were goalless against us at VFL level and then got a goal against the kids.

Smith.. cannot recall him doing anything

Stretch.. probably the most deserving but is the perennial inclusion/exclusion

ANB... a game against the boys

Lockhart... shows our lack of depth

As to speed three of these guys were in the team that was taken apart by the Hawks VFL team.

Hard to get enthused

 

Lewis on Dustin Martin? Surely that will be an outstanding success! ?

Could ANB tag Martin? Has the tank, give him a job to focus on, run with him all night?  

 

I like the changes to be honest, i mean it would be better having AVB and Hannan come back in to the side, with May and Lever, but thats not happeing.. so get some pace, get some Rn and get some aggression, as i stated earlier somewhere, Tim Smith should be told to hurt blokes.. make them earn everything, take Grimes out of the contest.. 

The only hope is that Richmond haven't quite hit stride for the season.

7 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

He is a running machine, they could do a lot worse.

Exactly, at least give it a go. The only game our mids stuck with their opponents was against the Swans - and suddenly our forward line looked dangerous and our backline looked capable.

In current form ANB isn't tackling, using the ball or running to the right spots to be of any use as a forward, but maybe using his legs we can get some value from him.

57 minutes ago, Nelo said:

Very uninspired by these inclusions. I’d be surprised if we get within 10 goals of Richmond. 

What else did you expect?

I wouldn't mind seeing the midfield mix shaken up a bit. its had a bit of sameness to it all year. run some pace through there at times. also wouldn't mind seeing Smith poleaxe Grimes in the first 5 minutes either.

Edited April 23, 20195 yr by Demon Dude

Melbourne by 18.

Tigers are a good side but not highly skilled, unlike Collingwood. Look what the Pies did to them last year in the prelim. We need to play like we did against Geelong in the elimination tomorrow night if we are to be any chance. Our tackling that night hurt Geelong, our intensity overwhelmed them. Right now we’re no chance so to be any chance we need to beat them at their own game.

Demons for the win, I’m not done with this year yet.

Lockhart direct replacement for Jetta.

Bull and Weid forward.

Tmac on Riewoldt, Frosty on Lynch.

Hard tag Harmes on Dusty.

9 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Exactly, at least give it a go. The only game our mids stuck with their opponents was against the Swans - and suddenly our forward line looked dangerous and our backline looked capable.

In current form ANB isn't tackling, using the ball or running to the right spots to be of any use as a forward, but maybe using his legs we can get some value from him.

Not sure it will happen but I like your thinking. 

Surely they have to throw things around a little 

47 minutes ago, Radar Detector said:

His press conference comments about owing Lewis loyalty for what he’d contributed at Melbourne (and Hawthorn ffs) says it all in my opinion

Except he didn't speak about loyalty did he. He spoke about respect, in the context of insulting comments directed at Lewis.

49 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Would actually like to see ANB played in the centre square and given the freedom to run all over the ground. Test some of the Tigers mids for fitness. I know he'll be ineffective with the ball but it's not like we are dominating clearances as is.

Then our actual mids can all spend more time resting forward and play at a higher work rate when in the middle.

The wings have copped a lot of the blame for the lack of transition running but if you watch the games it's actually Oliver, Brayshaw and Viney who are even further behind play. Harmes is about the only one sticking with it.

Won’t be any worse then Viney in there, his disposal efficiency has been pretty bad. ?

Edit: Just googled Viney’s disposal efficiency this year, I stand corrected, it stats he’s going at 71.88%. Surprised the hell out of me, I would’ve put it at around 50%. ?

Edited April 23, 20195 yr by Males

50 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

One thing that might help us is that Rich haven't worked out how to play effectively with two tall forwards.  The two big losses were with Lynch and Riewoldt in. 

Lucky for them they play Melbourne this week. I'm guessing Lynch kicks 10, Jack 5, with Grimes floating forward for 3 goals and 12 marks.

They bring in Riewoldt we bring in strecth and neal bullen. I know others but couldn't they rest Riewoldt for another week. Seriously with no Oscar Frost can't stop both Lynch and Jack. 

Seriously though the pre game show is awesome. So good with the lights off and just people's phones seeing the light horseman go around the G with the flame. 

Edited April 23, 20195 yr by dees189227

Bull Smith should improve our goal kicking - not!

This game could give the dreaded 186 a nudge

Demonland becoming collectively homocidal/suicidal is usually a sure sign we’ll pluck a miracle out of nowhere. That’s about all I’ve got to cling to at the moment because all signs point to this being really bad.

1 hour ago, watchtheeyes said:

Hopefully the additions of Lockhart and Garlett will solve the ground balls inside 50. Stretch and ANB need to be given simple tasks, run up and down all day and tackle. Don’t need their involvement on the  inside - sick of seeing all of our players sucked in to the contest.

Tmac goes back with T Smith replacing him, hopefully more mobile up forward.

 I’m interested. 

This is where it starts to break down. We win the ball and we are tackled, they win the ball and they are away.

We need to contest smartly

48 minutes ago, Demon3 said:

Could ANB tag Martin? Has the tank, give him a job to focus on, run with him all night?  

 

I like the changes to be honest, i mean it would be better having AVB and Hannan come back in to the side, with May and Lever, but thats not happeing.. so get some pace, get some Rn and get some aggression, as i stated earlier somewhere, Tim Smith should be told to hurt blokes.. make them earn everything, take Grimes out of the contest.. 

ANB would quiver in his boots. He's already the most nervous player we have.

1 hour ago, Demons11 said:

He is a running machine, they could do a lot worse.

 

42 minutes ago, ding said:

I have the next 2 days off but would prefer to sit in front of the mirror and slowly insert toothpicks into my eyes than watch what promises to be a mauling live. In fact i will be doing my best to avoid watching on TV as well. Maybe the odd score-check until the game is obviously done and dusted just to save my family from my foul mood.

Cant believe how quickly the team has turned my confidence into utter despair.

 

My modus operandum for watching Melbourne matches live to air so far this year. Turn the TV on but it's sound off and you can't see it without turning around from a laptop set up in the "sports room" as my other half calls it. Follow the updated scores on the regular AFL site occasionally and nervously. Turn up sound when we get lucky and quickly switch back to TV again. We get in front or even remotely mount a challenge... Cough loudly as I sneak another bottle of whatever's available into the front room and hope for the best. Getting flogged..you can guess the rest.

44 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Tigers are a good side but not highly skilled, unlike Collingwood. Look what the Pies did to them last year in the prelim. We need to play like we did against Geelong in the elimination tomorrow night if we are to be any chance. Our tackling that night hurt Geelong, our intensity overwhelmed them. Right now we’re no chance so to be any chance we need to beat them at their own game.

Demons for the win, I’m not done with this year yet.

Hnmm Bombay Ive had a couple but sheeit I like your optimism.

Wasn't going to go ... but being a member might just be tempted!?

I’m just sad that we’ve had such a good run of prime time games and free to air exposure and we have totally stunk it up!