State of Origin Squads

[Mel Bourne 4,483]

28 minutes ago, DubDee said:

you don't want us to play practice matches before round 1??

they are important to get some match fitness and getting rid of some rust

Sure, but isn’t there an argument that if all teams started out “rusty” then it’s just an aspect of the regular season? I guess my point is that the nature of the game these days is so much more physical and high-risk, that any kind of match that takes place with your team’s best players on the ground should be for premiership points. 

Plus, the nature of pre-season training/intra-club matches these days is so intensive that I don’t think you’re going to see any teams start out rusty in any overt way. 

I realise it’s an unpopular opinion, but if I see any of our players injured in this series I’ll only dig my heels in on it more. And I’ll also swear. Swear a lot. 

[buck_nekkid 5,833]

All selected on name value and last years form.  No current form line to judge the current ‘best players’.  Not having the 3 max per club rule means many will be disinterested, as their teams are poorly represented and swamped by the usual suspects and commentator favourites.

A massively pointless time waster.  Less value than the Mrs Marsh Colgate Cup, or scratch matches where the teams can work on playing game style and co-ordinated footy together.

[Whispering_Jack 29,451]

I’m thinking that the fact that we had one player selected across the two teams is a sad indictment on our recruiting efforts in recent years. 

[Deemania since 56 6,584]

16 hours ago, Pates said:

Possibly Petracca? But yeah Oliver would be the only one I can think of that would be right up there.

It is a reward for the players like a golden halo with reath. However, it is also a black mark for injury prone MFC players and thus, should be avoided. 

[Mel Bourne 4,483]

8 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I’m thinking that the fact that we had one player selected across the two teams is a sad indictment on our recruiting efforts in recent years. 

Is it our failure to find talent or inability to nurture it? 

[Accepting Mediocrity 1,418]

7 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I’m thinking that the fact that we had one player selected across the two teams is a sad indictment on our recruiting efforts in recent years.

Possibly true, but for perspective it's worth remembering that Gawn, Oliver, TMac, May and Lever would probably be pushing for selection if they weren't coming off injury ravaged/ career-worst seasons.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,590]

So Jade Gresham's (0 All Australians and 0 B&F's) a better player than All Australian and 2 time best and fairest winner Clayton Oliver.

Seems logical.

 

[Accepting Mediocrity 1,418]

10 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

So Jade Gresham's (0 All Australians and 0 B&F's) a better player than All Australian and 2 time best and fairest winner Clayton Oliver.

Gresham's nowhere near as good as Oliver, but he is a better forward - it wouldn't make sense to stack the interchange with midfielders. Oliver would have been on the cusp of the team - but I don't think we can claim he was robbed on 2019 form.

[tiers 2,816]

Who cares?

[rjay 24,716]

In one way I'm happy we are short on representation (only Nev).

We need our players working together as a team and it means they can play both of our practice games without compromise.

...but I do feel for Oliver.

He deserves to get the honour and the jumper.

[monoccular 17,371]

9 minutes ago, tiers said:

Who cares?

Exactly.  A run in this game isn’t going to do anything positive like a preseason hit out as a team, to tweak tactics and layout and carries possibly a greater chance of injury  

IF however fundraising was the prime purpose of this match then surely one or two players from each team would be likely to raise greater interest. 

[Demonland 70,902]

Just now, monoccular said:

IF however fundraising was the prime purpose of this match then surely one or two players from each team would be likely to raise greater interest. 

That was the initial plan. Obviously the selectors struggled to come up with 3 names from half the teams.

[Demonland 70,902]

Rushed last minute and obviously unused "artwork".

He would have looked good in the Big V.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,664]

2 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Sure, but isn’t there an argument that if all teams started out “rusty” then it’s just an aspect of the regular season? I guess my point is that the nature of the game these days is so much more physical and high-risk, that any kind of match that takes place with your team’s best players on the ground should be for premiership points. 

Plus, the nature of pre-season training/intra-club matches these days is so intensive that I don’t think you’re going to see any teams start out rusty in any overt way. 

I realise it’s an unpopular opinion, but if I see any of our players injured in this series I’ll only dig my heels in on it more. And I’ll also swear. Swear a lot. 

I agree with you. In addition, the players keep asking for shorter game time. One way to do that would be to eliminate the pre-season matches and any other non-intraclub practice matches. If that was done, other options become possible such as starting the season proper a week earlier and adding in an extra bye (as much as I detest them...I can appreciate the need) and have a longer break between the end of one season and the beginning of pre-season training. I'm sure the coaches would complain, but every team would still be starting the season off the same base.

[roy11 3,797]

1 hour ago, Accepting Mediocrity said:

Possibly true, but for perspective it's worth remembering that Gawn, Oliver, TMac, May and Lever would probably be pushing for selection if they weren't coming off injury ravaged/ career-worst seasons.

Reckon fully fit Gawn and May would 100% crack the respective squads uncertain about TMac due to the higher profile forwards from other clubs .

At least they can't break during State of Origin.

[DubDee 25,162]

2 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Sure, but isn’t there an argument that if all teams started out “rusty” then it’s just an aspect of the regular season? I guess my point is that the nature of the game these days is so much more physical and high-risk, that any kind of match that takes place with your team’s best players on the ground should be for premiership points. 

Plus, the nature of pre-season training/intra-club matches these days is so intensive that I don’t think you’re going to see any teams start out rusty in any overt way. 

I realise it’s an unpopular opinion, but if I see any of our players injured in this series I’ll only dig my heels in on it more. And I’ll also swear. Swear a lot. 

there are ~12 players on out injury list and none got injured during a match.

injuries happen

[DubDee 25,162]

10 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I agree with you. In addition, the players keep asking for shorter game time. One way to do that would be to eliminate the pre-season matches and any other non-intraclub practice matches. If that was done, other options become possible such as starting the season proper a week earlier and adding in an extra bye (as much as I detest them...I can appreciate the need) and have a longer break between the end of one season and the beginning of pre-season training. I'm sure the coaches would complain, but every team would still be starting the season off the same base.

how about shorter games?  these 135-140 minute games are too long.  go back to the old days of 120 minute matches I reckon.  itll be higher quality and less injuries

[Wiseblood 24,637]

2 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I’m thinking that the fact that we had one player selected across the two teams is a sad indictment on our recruiting efforts in recent years. 

Maybe, but you would like to think we would have had 4-5 selected if it was after the 2018 season (even though they probably wouldn't have played due to injury).

I think it's more reflective of the season we've just had than our recruiting efforts.  

[Mel Bourne 4,483]

3 minutes ago, DubDee said:

there are ~12 players on out injury list and none got injured during a match.

injuries happen

Sure, and I accept that training-related injuries are an unfortunate by-product of what is a very necessary practice. I just don’t think games where players are going full-tilt for the purpose of “warming up” are necessary. Just play the freakin’ game, already. 

[Accepting Mediocrity 1,418]

10 minutes ago, roy11 said:

Reckon fully fit Gawn and May would 100% crack the respective squads uncertain about TMac due to the higher profile forwards from other clubs .

If they picked the side 12 months ago, I think TMac would have been a shoo-in - he was the leading goalkicker from Victoria in 2018 (not that it matters of course!)

[Dirts 429]

20 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

I'd be happy for no Melbourne players to get a gig.

Only one player is good. I know it sounds a bit mean but we just can;'t afford anyone getting hurt. Good on Nev for putting hand up though.

[McQueen 17,864]

I'll be passing thru Melbs on the way back from Brisneyland and was looking forward to watching a few of our boys run around in this..

Alas, I will at least see more of them in the practice match at Arden st earlier in the day.

[CBDees 3,165]

4 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Oliver didn't even get selected for the VIC's??

Or am I overrating Oliver?

 

Thankfully ‘they’ are underrating him! ?

[dl4e 5,851]

Only one melbourne player. Good. I must admit I got a laugh seeing Gresham, Moore and Saad named in the vic squad. You have to be joking.

[old dee 23,610]

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

Rushed last minute and obviously unused "artwork".

He would have looked good in the Big V.

I am very very glad we won't see it.