4 hours ago, Pates said:

Pretty close to our round one side I’d say, big question looking ahead is whether Kozzie has done enough to warrant a spot vs the Eagles. I’d be leaning towards no but having said that let’s see what our forward pressure is like without him. Bedford has had some high praise by track watchers here so perhaps he gets first go. 

Plus there’s something about him debuting on the G that conjures up a bit of romance.

Rnd1 against West Coast,  in Perth.   I wonder if we go in with as much experience and strength as we can put together for this crucial game.?  And possibly take no gambles at selection.?

It will be interesting to see which way we go, with this game.?

2 hours ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

Saty nothing against Omac but look at the Hawks  team and give me your view on who are the other two tall forwards Lever and May play on. I know May is versatile but I feel we will get chopped up at ground level.

You need to realise that Lever is not a big fella and best suited to float around the back line, reading the play and what we got him for to intercept and drive us forward.

3 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

Omac will take Patton, allowing Lever and May to play their roles ,not sure which bit the experts don't get on here. The coaching staff have faith in Omac, a young defender still learning his craft

 

We arent winning a flag with O Mac in the team.

 

9 minutes ago, JakovichScissorKick said:

We arent winning a flag with O Mac in the team.

 

We got one win away from a GF appearance with him in the team

there's been plenty of stranger premiership heroes than o mac would be for us

4 hours ago, In Harmes Way said:

I’m surprised we haven’t heard from @WERRIDEE yet!

I posted on the first page. Just happy to see Bedford get a go.

4 hours ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

Omac, May, Lever with Hibberd is one tall too many in my view. Kozzie’s absence really leaves the door open for Bedford to take his chance whilst its there. Was very good against North and could have easily kicked 4. Will be interesting to watch how we use the bench to manage minutes or whether we will play 22 and the other 4 are purely to sub on an as needs basis. 

Maybe if we were restricted to 22 players but the expanded bench gives us scope. I don't consider Hibberd at 186 cm to be a tall. I'd imagine the other three you mention are gonna be rotated with only 2 on the ground at any one time. The Hawks have named Patton & Lewis in their forward line. The rest are Puopolo & a bunch of Collingwood six-footer types, So the likes of Pig, Nev, Harmes, Lockhart & Hore will get plenty of work

interestingly, hawks backline is stacked with talls - frawley, frost, and mcevoy is taller than anyone in our forward line, plus stratton, sicily and glass are all 190cm too, plus greaves 'plays tall' despite and is 186 or so

very interesting the way clarko intends to play mcevoy behind the ball this year

Edited March 5, 20205 yr by whatwhatsaywhat

6 hours ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

Jackson, Spargo, Brayshaw, Bedford, AVB, Hore, Brown, Lockhart

Interesting interchange list, I assume like against Adel they will play with 5 on the bench and 2 subs. Brayshaw and AVB are obviously in but I wonder who the other 3 will be. Jackson, Lockhart and Brown?

Personally I'd like to see them play Bedford, both to see him at the level and also if they intend to play Kozzie rd1 then it will be the like for like forward structure. 

I was thinking along similar lines AW. I'd like to see Lockhart play a half, alternating with Nev, and Bedford a half, alternating with ANB. From what I can tell ANB is picked for his ability to get from contest to contest. Bedford's only just behind him in the time trials, and looks to have better skills. Is he an upgrade? I'd love to have a look.

5 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

Omac will take Patton, allowing Lever and May to play their roles ,not sure which bit the experts don't get on here. The coaching staff have faith in Omac, a young defender still learning his craft

 

May will take the number 1 forward that's his job. O.Mac will play on Lewis allowing Lever to play smaller.

I’ll tell you one thing, no more injuries and we will be fielding a very strong side in the VFL if nothing else. I remember all of last year watching Casey games with only a handful of MFC players, none of whom were really ready for the seniors. Looks like a completely different story this year, touch wood.

12 hours ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

Jackson, Spargo, Brayshaw, Bedford, AVB, Hore, Brown, Lockhart

Interesting interchange list, I assume like against Adel they will play with 5 on the bench and 2 subs. Brayshaw and AVB are obviously in but I wonder who the other 3 will be. Jackson, Lockhart and Brown?

Personally I'd like to see them play Bedford, both to see him at the level and also if they intend to play Kozzie rd1 then it will be the like for like forward structure. 

I think you have figured out who we will run with fairly well there AW.  I suspect with his performances to date that Brown is pretty close to a lock too and Jackson may be in to cover for Gawn to be eased back into things a bit such that he doesn't take quite as much of the ruck load that he normally does.  Personally I'd like to see Weid playing more time forward this game than as a make shift ruckman.

I personally think Spargo is showing some good indications that he is close to the sort of form that made him a regular in 2018, but his finishing by foot (particularly in front of goal) just doesn't quite seem to be there at present.  I hardly noticed Hore against North, so would be surprised if he gets a gig.  Thought Rivers was the standout backman in the North scratch match, so surprised he wasn't named in the 26.

5 hours ago, FireInTheBennelly said:

I was thinking along similar lines AW. I'd like to see Lockhart play a half, alternating with Nev, and Bedford a half, alternating with ANB. From what I can tell ANB is picked for his ability to get from contest to contest. Bedford's only just behind him in the time trials, and looks to have better skills. Is he an upgrade? I'd love to have a look.

Anything is a upgrade on ANB. I would like to Honestly say that i would be absolutely shocked if ANB is in our round 1 side. If the coaches are fair dinkum about picking a strong side against the eagles then he doesn't get a gig.

 

 

3 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Anything is a upgrade on ANB. I would like to Honestly say that i would be absolutely shocked if ANB is in our round 1 side. If the coaches are fair dinkum about picking a strong side against the eagles then he doesn't get a gig.

 

 

Maybe dazzler. But I don't think you can underestimate the importance of a player playing the role assigned by goody. And i reckon ANB does, most particularly in the distance he covers.

I understand the knock on his game but my gut tells me plays round one.

From November 2018 AFL Draft Central:

 

Quote

Toby Bedford – Small Forward/Midfielder

The Next Generation Academy member is an exciting prospect for Melbourne who oozes skill, class and speed. His agility is second to none and could really challenge for a spot in the Dees best 22. With speed to burn Bedford can burst away from the pack and cause havoc around goals if given the chance. He impresses with his aerial capabilities and can also go to work at ground level scrapping the ball and posing as a dangerous pressure forward. Even though he has a light frame the former Dandenong Stingrays player can lay a ferocious bump and is not afraid to get involved in the contest. While he may not win big numbers of the footy, it is what he does with the ball that counts.

 

All the attention has been on Kossie, so Bedford has been a bit of a sleeper and gone under the radar a bit.

In general, from a situation of being bereft of small forwards we may end up with it as being a strength.  If they are both in good form, don't see why we couldn't play both of Kossie and Bedford.  Then we could also have the luxury of ANB, Spargo, Hunt and Baker all fighting it out for competition for a spot in the team - all of which are very capable on their day.  If Hannan and/or Smith ever make it off the injury list, they are both pretty quick forward types very much capable of making an impact in the air or on the ground.

9 hours ago, binman said:

We got one win away from a GF appearance with him in the team

Yes we did.  Doesnt change the fact hes no good.

Interesting robust discussion on OMac, I’m not a huge fan of his but I think as a second tall he does a decent enough job DEFENSIVELY. When he gets the ball I may panic attacks though. 

That said I would always expect May to be taking the opposition’s no. 1 key forward which leaves OMac/alternative option on their second tall forward and Lever floating as the interceptor. 

For now I think OMac has done enough to have that place in the team, I’m just glad we don’t have both him and Frost there together. 

14 hours ago, deanox said:

There is a lot of pressure on the ANBs and Weids, Hibbards and OMacs to play well to keep their spots.

Key areas of extended, gross tolerance within ... if there is limited individual success this time, it's going to be 'curtains' one would hope. Just take a look at the continuing talent overlooked, missing out, striving to get to the grade.  

 

14 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Where the list is at:- 

Oskar Baker — not selected
Toby Bedford — selected v Hawthorn 
Harley Bennell — injured 
Austin Bradtke — not selected
Angus Brayshaw — selected v Hawthorn 
Mitch Brown —  selected v Hawthorn 
Kade Chandler — injured
Kyle Dunkley — injured
Bayley Fritsch — selected v Hawthorn 
Max Gawn — selected v Hawthorn 
Mitch Hannan — injured 
James Harmes — selected v Hawthorn 
Michael Hibberd — selected v Hawthorn 
Marty Hore — selected v Hawthorn 
Jayden Hunt —  emergency v Hawthorn 
Luke Jackson — selected v Hawthorn 
Neville Jetta — selected v Hawthorn 
Nathan Jones — selected v Hawthorn 
James Jordan — emergency v Hawthorn
Kade Kolodjiashnij — injured 
Ed Langdon — selected v Hawthorn 
Jake Lever — selected v Hawthorn 
Jay Lockhart — selected v Hawthorn 
Oscar McDonald —  selected v Hawthorn 
Tom McDonald — selected v Hawthorn 
Steven May — selected v Hawthorn 
Jake Melksham — selected v Hawthorn 
Alex Neal-Bullen — selected v Hawthorn 
Aaron Nietschke — injured 
Clayton Oliver — selected v Hawthorn 
Christian Petracca — selected v Hawthorn 
Harrison Petty — injured 
Kysaiah Pickett —  unavailable 
Braydon Preuss — injured 
Trent Rivers — not selected
Christian Salem — ill 
Joel Smith — injured
Charlie Spargo —  selected v Hawthorn 
Tom Sparrow — emergency v Hawthorn
Adam Tomlinson — selected v Hawthorn 
Aaron vandenBerg — selected v Hawthorn 
Jack Viney — selected v Hawthorn 
Corey Wagner  —  not selected
Josh Wagner — emergency v Hawthorn
Sam Weideman — selected v Hawthorn 

Interesting breakdown of selections/non-selected. 

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

All the attention has been on Kossie, so Bedford has been a bit of a sleeper and gone under the radar a bit.

In general, from a situation of being bereft of small forwards we may end up with it as being a strength.  If they are both in good form, don't see why we couldn't play both of Kossie and Bedford.  Then we could also have the luxury of ANB, Spargo, Hunt and Baker all fighting it out for competition for a spot in the team - all of which are very capable on their day.  If Hannan and/or Smith ever make it off the injury list, they are both pretty quick forward types very much capable of making an impact in the air or on the ground.

Don't leave out Chandler. Once he is over his wrist injury he will add more depth. Thought he was ahead of Bedford before that. 

Edited March 5, 20205 yr by Left Foot Snap
Wrong name.

As exciting as Kossie is, it would be hard to carry him in the west against a very stacked eagles side.

 

38 minutes ago, Pates said:

Interesting robust discussion on OMac, I’m not a huge fan of his but I think as a second tall he does a decent enough job DEFENSIVELY. When he gets the ball I may panic attacks though. 

That said I would always expect May to be taking the opposition’s no. 1 key forward which leaves OMac/alternative option on their second tall forward and Lever floating as the interceptor. 

For now I think OMac has done enough to have that place in the team, I’m just glad we don’t have both him and Frost there together. 

I think there’s a simplification of our defensive structure and the roles various players will play in it, and OMac often finds himself at the brunt of this misunderstanding. Comparing Frost and Oscar is an example of this overLy simplistic analysis and comparison, as each player plays quite different roles in our defensive structure...
 

Edited March 5, 20205 yr by PaulRB

14 hours ago, Bay Riffin said:

big game for Weideman, who never seems to be a consistent showing week to week.

I must say Omac seems to play way more games then what he offers. even with May and Lever in he's selected.

 

 

BR, these are continuous and now long-standing issues that many of us share; furthermore, across the last two years (at least), can be directly linked to win/loss circumstances for the MFC. The contribution is nearly always minimal. The skill gap and footy intensity of the whole team are regularly handicapped and interrupted; support is one thing, tolerance is another. 

13 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

All of Lever, May and Oscar would all be reasonably mobile talls at ground level wouldn't they?

Back to the old 2018/2019 '...own man plus continuous back-up tagging...' for the likes of Jetta, Harmes, May, Lever, Hibberd, Salem or whoever gets to play with intent on the backline when a certain KPD is graced a guernsey on the team sheet. It leaves us short of a reliable defender with appropriate characteristics and abilities on a rotational basis every game.