36 minutes ago, 58er said:

DJ Clearly Sam is our 2nd best ruck/forward/ around the ground option at this stage

His 20 posies inc some good handballs and Contests.

He gets far more marks and value when used as a Ruck backup and perhaps that his role !

tom boyd shoulda won a norm playing back up ruck and tall target

4 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

What a horrendous article. Well done guys for drumming up something to talk about while nothing is happening... But this is pretty poor. 

“Melbourne need to see him, I think they’ve gotta see him,”

“You’re either right or you’re not, aren’t you?"

“They need to find out."

Or... We could just ease him back through Casey for a week or two which would be more logical than "We gotta see him"

Apologies if already mentioned, but thought this was a great addition to the website (particularly given the staff/hours cuts atm).

Who starts Round 2? Pick your best 22

 

For mine (well, a bit of a mix of opinion and realistic guesses), I would have...

B: Jetta, May, Hore
HB: Salem, Lever, Harmes
B: Langdon, Brayshaw, Tomlinson
HF: Melksham, Fritsch, Petracca
F: Bedford, T.McDonald, Pickett

FOL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Jackson, Jones, Hibberd, Neal-Bullen

Lockhart & Weid probably unlucky, wouldn't be surprised at all to see them play.

Being conservative with Bennell and vandenBerg.

 

Edited June 7, 20205 yr by Lord Nev

1 hour ago, BAMF said:

Or... We could just ease him back through Casey for a week or two which would be more logical than "We gotta see him"

 

Unfortunately there are no VFL games to “ease him back through”.

Selection or promotion can only be based on training track form this year, although there was some talk of unofficial scratch matches between AFL listed players not selected.

If Bennell gets a game at any time, it will likely only be off the back of the kind of work he’s already been doing.

I’d personally rather take a risk on a potential match winner with untraceable natural talent (5% success rate in my mind that Bennell comes off even medium term due to his body) and then fall back onto a Spargo or ANB if it fails than vice versa.

 

3 hours ago, 58er said:

Sorry HFF where is your alternative 

Haven't seen your team within the Last  3 weeks Or any comments!

So I need to comment before I comment?  Interesting house rules. 

2 hours ago, BAMF said:

What a horrendous article. Well done guys for drumming up something to talk about while nothing is happening... But this is pretty poor. 

“Melbourne need to see him, I think they’ve gotta see him,”

“You’re either right or you’re not, aren’t you?"

“They need to find out."

Or... We could just ease him back through Casey for a week or two which would be more logical than "We gotta see him"

 

100% @BAMF - its a useless article that presumably is deliberately avoiding their own knowledge of how to bring a player back from rehab.  

8 hours ago, Lampers said:

Unfortunately there are no VFL games to “ease him back through”.

Selection or promotion can only be based on training track form this year, although there was some talk of unofficial scratch matches between AFL listed players not selected.

If Bennell gets a game at any time, it will likely only be off the back of the kind of work he’s already been doing.

I’d personally rather take a risk on a potential match winner with untraceable natural talent (5% success rate in my mind that Bennell comes off even medium term due to his body) and then fall back onto a Spargo or ANB if it fails than vice versa.

 

Hmm.. didn't think of the vfl being cancelled. Great point. Maybe its just that I expected him to play his way through Casey before getting a senior game. It still feels like we are throwing caution to the wind just to play him.

I stand by calling out that rubbish article though. King has a habit of making these quasi 'its now or never' statements and it annoys me greatly.

 

12 hours ago, Half forward flank said:

So I need to comment before I comment?  Interesting house rules. 

Well give reasons and/or an alternative?

A Bland "No" is a nothing comment or statement. 
If you have a reason for your view put your money where your mouth is!!

14 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

For mine (well, a bit of a mix of opinion and realistic guesses), I would have...

B: Jetta, May, Hore
HB: Salem, Lever, Harmes
B: Langdon, Brayshaw, Tomlinson
HF: Melksham, Fritsch, Petracca
F: Bedford, T.McDonald, Pickett

FOL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Jackson, Jones, Hibberd, Neal-Bullen

Lockhart & Weid probably unlucky, wouldn't be surprised at all to see them play.

Being conservative with Bennell and vandenBerg.

 

Exactly Lord Nev 

Weid and Lockhart and Oscar would be unlucky given the games of Hibbo and Smith and ANB!

Who is Hore going to mind ? McGovern?

Would rather give Joel Smith a try than Hore who is an interceptor and Lever can play that role.

15 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

tom boyd shoulda won a norm playing back up ruck and tall target

Exactly !!

Not sure poor old Weid would survive the Demonland-lynching in the likely event of a  goalless outing against Weitering.

Play Jackson for confidence. Or play Brown - it’s the sort of side he would feast on.

Sorry if it’s been mentioned elsewhere but Lever had his knee iced during the filming of the FIFA gaming challenge with May. 

51 minutes ago, The Jackson 6 said:

Not sure poor old Weid would survive the Demonland-lynching in the likely event of a  goalless outing against Weitering.

Play Jackson for confidence. Or play Brown - it’s the sort of side he would feast on.

So don’t play Weid because he may play on Weitering, he may go goalless and there may be some upset people on here? That is the best reason for not playing a player I’ve ever heard. 

Edited June 7, 20205 yr by Ethan Tremblay

5 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

So don’t play Weid because he may play on Weitering, he may go goalless and there may be some upset people on here? That is the best reason for not playing a player I’ve ever heard. 

Ok. Weid isn’t up to it and there are better options. 

I'd play Charlie Spargo in the ruck. He might go really well, why knows? Be bold we don't know unless we try it. He may do things that have never been done on the football field, beautiful.

This will be our line up IMO

Jetta, May, Hibbard

Salem, Omac, Lever

Langdon, Viney, Tomlinson

Melksham, Tmac, Jones

Pickett, Weid, Fritch

Gawn, Oliver, Petracca

Int  Brayshaw, Harmes, Lockart, Bennell

Emg  Anb, Brown, Smith, Sparrow

3 hours ago, 58er said:

Well give reasons and/or an alternative?

A Bland "No" is a nothing comment or statement. 
If you have a reason for your view put your money where your mouth is!!

In truth I did not say, NO. My intent was not to critice your selection ability. However if after a year from hell and an injury recovery period, covid that is our best half back line we will not win finals. Salem is a good average player and massively over rated by some. OMac is a plodder who gets by on the odd good performance. Harmes is not a half back and its true we will have to wait and see but a ridiculous move.  Who you replace them with. Well Lever the over rated, at 195cm needs to earn his money in a key post so there is one. Salem gets his spot and Hibberd on one of his last chances. 

Help me out here.

In : Bennell, Jones, Salem, Weid 

Out: Bedford, Spargo, Brown, ????

Possibly ANB, Lockhart might be the unlucky one to miss with Salem coming back into defence and with Harmes set to play back there also. 

 

4 hours ago, 58er said:

Exactly Lord Nev 

Weid and Lockhart and Oscar would be unlucky given the games of Hibbo and Smith and ANB!

Who is Hore going to mind ? McGovern?

Would rather give Joel Smith a try than Hore who is an interceptor and Lever can play that role.

Yeah, look a few names are by no means set in stone, but you have to make a call. Personally I think Hibberd will benefit from the time off and that's what made me select him.

ANB by all reports has looked like he's recaptured some form in training, and without VFL games training is the only barometer the selection committee have at the moment.

Joel may be close, would no be surprised at all to see him play, but he's been out a LONG time, and tbh I'm just a fan of Hore and think at this stage he's the 'safer' option in a backline where clearly the offseason mantra has been 'make it safer'. To me, Joel is also an interceptor, and there's only 1cm between them so I don't see a big difference in defensive capabilities in one on one battles.

Given we generally play a zone, I'm not too fussed about specific matchups tbh, I just feel we have often gone too tall at either end in the past and it has cost us some run.

All just opinion and chat though, I'm not super passionate about that being the 22 that runs out.

9 hours ago, BAMF said:

Hmm.. didn't think of the vfl being cancelled. Great point. Maybe its just that I expected him to play his way through Casey before getting a senior game. It still feels like we are throwing caution to the wind just to play him.

I stand by calling out that rubbish article though. King has a habit of making these quasi 'its now or never' statements and it annoys me greatly.

 

 I know we have to be confident that our conditioning of him has been spot on regardless of whether he plays in the seniors or reserves. However I think King is right in that if he's 100% fit he plays. In reality who is better than him that he'd be keeping out of the side? You ever see a Joel Selwood or Dustin Martin come back playing through the 2s? Yeah I get its been a long time between drinks for him, but this guy has some serious talent and I fear if we play him in whatever 2s competition this year we may never see him. 

FB: Jetta - May - (open spot)

HB: Salem - Lever - Harmes

C : Tomlinson - Viney - Langdon

HF: Melk - Weid - Trac

FF: Kozzy - TMac - Fritsch

R: Gawn - Oliver - Brayshaw

I: Jones - (Open back) - (open fwd) - (open fwd/mid)

Backline open spots: Hibberd, Smith, Omac, Lockhart, Rivers 

Fwd bench spot: Bennell, Vanders, ANB, Spargo, Bedford, 

——

Rationale behind selections:

- Hibberd: It’s still his spot to lose. Does give his heart to every contest and his penetrating kick off the half back at Etihad can be lethal. Rivers can be pushing for it later in the year.

- Smith: His versatility is very valuable. Can play on tall and small, and bounces out of the backline with pace. Can throw him fwd if we are struggling to convert and mark inside fifty.

- Bennell: If his body is ready, his smarts around goal could be the missing key. 75/25 forward to mid, and can work his way up to 60/40 if his body holds up. Has more talent than anyone on our list (and carltons).

- Vanders: We are a different team when he plays. He hits, and hits hard. His toughness lifts everyone around him. I value him in the top 10 on our list.

2 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Help me out here.

In : Bennell, Jones, Salem, Weid 

Out: Bedford, Spargo, Brown, ????

Possibly ANB, Lockhart might be the unlucky one to miss with Salem coming back into defence and with Harmes set to play back there also. 

I like it. Probably Bennell is not quite ready.  Anb would be the one on notice imo

57 minutes ago, GawnWithTheWind said:

FB: Jetta - May - (open spot)

HB: Salem - Lever - Harmes

C : Tomlinson - Viney - Langdon

HF: Melk - Weid - Trac

FF: Kozzy - TMac - Fritsch

R: Gawn - Oliver - Brayshaw

I: Jones - (Open back) - (open fwd) - (open fwd/mid)

Backline open spots: Hibberd, Smith, Omac, Lockhart, Rivers 

Fwd bench spot: Bennell, Vanders, ANB, Spargo, Bedford, 

——

Rationale behind selections:

- Hibberd: It’s still his spot to lose. Does give his heart to every contest and his penetrating kick off the half back at Etihad can be lethal. Rivers can be pushing for it later in the year.

- Smith: His versatility is very valuable. Can play on tall and small, and bounces out of the backline with pace. Can throw him fwd if we are struggling to convert and mark inside fifty.

- Bennell: If his body is ready, his smarts around goal could be the missing key. 75/25 forward to mid, and can work his way up to 60/40 if his body holds up. Has more talent than anyone on our list (and carltons).

- Vanders: We are a different team when he plays. He hits, and hits hard. His toughness lifts everyone around him. I value him in the top 10 on our list.

I like this a lot especially the call on Smith in a backpocket. I don't think the club would risk both Bennell and Vanders straight off the bat. Hibbo would really have to show something this game and prove that he can actually hit a target, his ball use has been deplorable in recent memory. From all reports Rivers seems like a big chance to take that rebounding role.