Typically, Titus O'Reilly nails it with this line:

As for this game, I’m just relieved it’s June and Melbourne are still in touch with the eight.

Source: https://www.titusoreily.com/afl/a-highly-unhelpful-guide-to-round-two

4 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Seems like the right amount or so. We've got Bennell, Jackson and Rivers locked in, Smith, Salem and Jones as almost definites, then possibly Weid, vandenBerg, Hannan, Hunt, Sparrow all around the mark to choose from.

Feels like a lot at first, but then you think it's basically another round 1 given the break.

There's really no point in comparing teams from round 1, and this week. Naming ins and outs is useless, best to just name the team. Guys like Bennell, Salem, Jones, Smith and VDB weren't able to be picked in the first game, while the young guys have got an extra 3 months or so training behind them so might be more physically able. Personally I think they should have wiped the first round and started again.  

33 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

There's really no point in comparing teams from round 1, and this week. Naming ins and outs is useless, best to just name the team. Guys like Bennell, Salem, Jones, Smith and VDB weren't able to be picked in the first game, while the young guys have got an extra 3 months or so training behind them so might be more physically able. Personally I think they should have wiped the first round and started again.  

Why? To me it just seems we've had a multi-week bye. I haven't enjoyed it (I don't even like a one week bye), but it's still the same season playing under the same rules.

Just now, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Why? To me it just seems we've had a multi-week bye. I haven't enjoyed it (I don't even like a one week bye), but it's still the same season playing under the same rules.

I just feel a continuous season has a bit more merit, playing 1 week, in particular as there were games played when they knew the season was put on hold, then having such a huge wait doesn't seem right to me. If it was only a break of 3 or 4 weeks then I don't see much change, but this has really been like full pre-season break, we're potentially going to put out 6 or 7 different players than that last game and we won't be the only ones. If we miss the finals by 1 games, or percentage, will we always be thinking - if only we had our round 2 team? By restarting it gets rid of that.

It's only my opinion but the first round seemed like a careless pre-season game but it's now counted along with games that matter. 

Cartlon has put together a pretty decent forward line with Casboult, McGovern, McKay, Cunningham, Betts, Martin and young SOS.  I think we will need to get use our advantage in the ruck and midfield to win this one.  Harmes to Cripps is a must IMO.  If they get it forward enough they now have a forward line capable of kicking a wining score. 

1 hour ago, nosoupforme said:

I got it from the grape vine that we are going to make  at least 7 changes from the last game. 

What do you think LN.

My guess is Hunt also to be included if we change 7. We have a comeback story in Bennell, two debutants, why not include a player seemingly out of favour. One more surprise. 

Just out of curiosity I have had a look at the number of changes between Round 1 2019 and Round 14 2019 (we had a bye in Round 13 which was held from 13-16 June last year). We had 7 changes of personnel in that time.

For completeness, the changes were:

In: May, Lockhart, Baker, J Wagner, Petty, T Smith and Hannan

Out: Spargo, Hibberd, Melksham, Sparrow, C Wagner, Jetta, O McDonald 

When you compare our current squad versus the 2018 finals squad, its a lot better:

In
May, Lever, Tomlinson, Langdon, Bennell, Kosi, Jackson, Rivers, Bedford, Lockhart, Brown,

Out
4 2018 prelim selected players have left: Hogan, Lewis, Frost, Tyson.
(Jones, Weid, AVB, Hannan, Salem, played but missed round 1.)

A fair arguement that we lose in KPF quality,  but gain in KPD, wings and small/medium forwards.

I know that I'd rather have the ins than the outs as a group. It's a better list. But with that many new players, they're going to have to gel quickly in a shortened season.

 

In: Bennell, Rivers, Jackson, Salem, Jones, Hunt, Smith

Out: Hibberd, Lockhart, Spargo, Bedford, Brown, ANB, OMac

1 hour ago, Dee Zephyr said:

My guess is Hunt also to be included if we change 7. We have a comeback story in Bennell, two debutants, why not include a player seemingly out of favour. One more surprise. 

And you thought you were joking!

No surprises as to Spargo, Bedford or Brown.

I am surprised that OMac has gone but I think we suspect Carlton will go in with a smaller forward line and we can cope without him.

I'm surprised, but not disappointed, that ANB and Hibberd have been dropped.

I'm surprised and disappointed that Lockhart has been dropped.

I'm even more surprised that Hunt is in the side.

Edit: OMac's not an emergency (Spargo, Hibberd, Weideman and Jordon) so we must be confident in Lever's fitness.

Edited June 11, 20205 yr by titan_uranus

Well we certainly have a lot faster team compared to last year. Let’s hope they can do something with the ball too. 

Hunt in is a surprise, as are Lockhart and OMac out.

Happy enough with the other outs.

7 players omitted with no injury to any of them must be some sort of record

I love the team.  Seriously exciting on paper..  O Mac out is going to please a lot of people.  Joel Smith come on down.

Edited June 11, 20205 yr by TheKozzieExperience

Lockhart very unlucky.

And to think I’d assumed they had just about given up on Jayden Hunt.

All in all, that is a good team on paper.

I love the ins! The majority of the outs are just fringe players.

2 minutes ago, Mickey said:

Hunt in is a surprise, as are Lockhart and OMac out.

Happy enough with the other outs.

 

Just now, TheKozzieExperience said:

7 players omitted with no injury to any of them must be some sort of record

 

Can't verify 100%. but was some talk going around Lockhart was 50/50 due to injury or soreness.

However, given we didn’t fix our forward entries in the months leading into round 1, I can’t say I’m supremely confident everything will click after a couple of weeks back training.

3 minutes ago, TheKozzieExperience said:

7 players omitted with no injury to any of them must be some sort of record

I love the team.  Seriously exciting on paper..  O Mac out is going to please a lot of people.  Joel Smith come on down.

This is the best team we have had on paper in a very long time.

I don’t see Hibbo out for very long, I assume with the passing of his brother his training loads would have been reduced and would be behind most.

Edited June 11, 20205 yr by Demons11

Clearly going for speed. Shorter quarters, faster footy?

Anyone know if Hunt has been training with the forwards or the backs? Smith I know will be in defence 

The seven new players are close to like for like replacements:  Bennell/Bedford, Rivers/Hibberd, Jackson/Brown (thank you), Salem/Lockhart, Jones/Spargo, Hunt/ANB and Smith/OMac.

I like the look of this side and reckon we'll have a win.  Welcome back footy!

Quite a few surprises in there, Hunt coming in for one, I was also expecting OMac to be retained but I understand the theory with a smaller Blues forward line. Lockhart and Oscar the only two unlucky, the rest are fair. 

Seven changes means little from round one given the time off, this might as well just be a new round one with some teams starting behind. 

Bring on footy!!!

Just now, demonstone said:

The seven new players are close to like for like replacements:  Bennell/Bedford, Rivers/Hibberd, Jackson/Brown (thank you), Salem/Lockhart, Jones/Spargo, Hunt/ANB and Smith/OMac.

I like the look of this side and reckon we'll have a win.  Welcome back footy!

I think is a fair way to look at it.

I agree that, on paper at least, this side looks better than the Round 1 side.

Having said that, if there isn't improvement from the likes of Langdon, Gawn, Oliver, Viney and Brayshaw in terms of their disposal going inside 50, some of these changes won't make as much difference as they could.

A very interesting side. I just hope that we have the skills across the team to exploit our strengths.

Speed is all very well but if we cannot cut down the turnovers we will be in trouble.