Given we didn't play last week and will already be a little underdone, and playing at the big ground like the MCG, it makes perfect sense not to play Bennell. We can't afford to carry too many underdone players. 

7 hours ago, drysdale demon said:

Maybe he is just treating the media with the disdain they deserve.

No the bloke is uneducated and poor at explaining things.

16 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Given we didn't play last week and will already be a little underdone, and playing at the big ground like the MCG, it makes perfect sense not to play Bennell. We can't afford to carry too many underdone players. 

Agreed. At first I was disappointed that he was rested but now fully understand why.

Playing a player on severely restricted minutes who also can't or won't provide any defensive pressure is not going to help us win a game. What happens if we cop an injury or two early?

I'm looking forward to Bennell's career at MFC, but we need him playing 80-90% of games, not 50.

6 hours ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

As will I, he needs to be locked down. If he’s allowed to run free and do what he wants, I’ll start gryan. 

No use gryan over spilt Melk !

5 changes, Nev dropped.

 

IN

Aaron vandenBerg, Jay Lockhart, Kysaiah Pickett, Michael Hibberd, Mitch Hannan

OUT

Alex Neal-Bullen (Omitted), Harley Bennell (Omitted), Luke Jackson (Omitted), Nathan Jones (Omitted), Neville Jetta (Omitted)

 

1 hour ago, Half forward flank said:

No the bloke is uneducated and poor at explaining things.

Yeah okay professor

Another five unforced changes, 12 in two games - absolutely ridiculous. Yet, some people reckon everything is peachy. These selectors have absolutely no idea.

2 minutes ago, poita said:

Another five unforced changes, 12 in two games - absolutely ridiculous. Yet, some people reckon everything is peachy. These selectors have absolutely no idea.

To me it looks a better side than the first 2 games.

Neal Bullen 2 goals last game and gets dropped is a bit harsh , why isn't Jones in the team? 

Jetta wtf??

a midget forward line lol 

Like the team, and that Goodwin and the Selectors are picking the team based on what they’re seeing at training, while improving and developing the whole squad in this weird year. 
Jackson, Jones, Jetta, ANB and Bennell as outs makes sense, as each player has some clear and current issues or limitations. With bringing in VDB, Hannan, Pickett, Lockhart and Hibbard, I thing we both covering and improving on the outs. So it’s a good set of changes..

Bring on the cats...

Edited June 26, 20205 yr by PaulRB

Lord Nev is out of form, unfortunately, but credit to the club for having the strength to recognise it.

 

If we assume that Lockhart and Hibberd, on the bench, are going to play defence, and that means Harmes is actually a midfielder.

 

not a bad team at all, but  trusting a small forward line.

Sad about Nev, but understandable.

Don’t like the mosquito forward line and no back up Ruck for Max. Cant understand it 

1 minute ago, Leoncelli_36 said:

Don’t like the mosquito forward line and no back up Ruck for Max. Cant understand it 

I suspect Tomlinson will back up Max, with VDB moving onto the wing as required...

16 minutes ago, poita said:

Another five unforced changes, 12 in two games - absolutely ridiculous. Yet, some people reckon everything is peachy. These selectors have absolutely no idea.

3 of the ins and 3 of the outs are exactly the same as last week.

Added to that this week is Jetta/Bennell out and Lockhart/Hibberd in

Most thought Lockhart was stiff to miss selection last werk and if Hibberd coming in means Harmes can get back to the middle, then isn't that a good thing?

 

16 minutes ago, poita said:

Another five unforced changes, 12 in two games - absolutely ridiculous. Yet, some people reckon everything is peachy. These selectors have absolutely no idea.

They have a healthy list to choose from and have stated they are unclear what is our best combo. Most have stated our backline has not looked right And our forward line has not functioned well bar one quarter. We need to quickly shake it up to find the right dynamic and then settle it as fast as we can. 

I personally think we are a set up one tall forward short. I also hope Hibberd back in will allow Harmes back into the midfield rotation.  Otherwise I have no issue with what they are doing to try to get the right mix.

6 minutes ago, Leoncelli_36 said:

Don’t like the mosquito forward line and no back up Ruck for Max. Cant understand it 

Tomlinson is quite capable in the ruck and the cats don’t really have 1, so I would like to see maxy push forward every chance he gets as the cats have no one that can go with him, and if McDonald needs to get into the game he can also tuck 

i wonder if the racial attack has had any effect on nev?

i'm sure he'll be back

they're placing a lot of faith in a very inexperienced defence - smith, lockhart and rivers would barely have a season's worth of game experience

Edited June 26, 20205 yr by whatwhatsaywhat

Nev has been an amazing Demon.. but his propensity to keep flying for the ball suggests he is done.. too slow when the ball hits the ground. Nev and Jones out is sad but makes our team a lot more quicker.

1 minute ago, brendan said:

Tomlinson is quite capable in the ruck and the cats don’t really have 1, so I would like to see maxy push forward every chance he gets as the cats have no one that can go with him, and if McDonald needs to get into the game he can also tuck 

good calls - I really want Max to kick a few forward. 

His ball drop is such a concern though so hopefully he takes a few in the square haha

I thought Jetta was a bit stiff.

The only time he lowered his colours in rd 2 was when he was on McKay who’s about 38 centimetres taller than him.

I’m open minded about the changes, but it does seem very experimental at this stage. I hope the small forward line pays off.

Hannan hasn’t fired a shot since late 2018 so he’ll need to perform on Sunday.