6 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Melksham is a shadow of his former self at the moment, but I think he is too good a player to drop right at the moment as well.

a) despite not racking up huge numbers, he still did a few handy things

b) my observation was that he was being manned by Jarrod Harbrow last night, who I rate as one of Gold Coasts best defender's and Harbrow had little influence on the game.  Also think it shows the respect that the opposition show him and if Harbrow doesn't take Melksham, he's taking one of our other forwards and making life harder for them.

I'm actually wondering if we should throw Melksham onto the ball for periods as he has shown the ability to be quite effective there at times as a tagger and could help bring him into the game more.

He was thrown into the middle for a brief stint last night Balls.  Did a couple of good things but certainly not enough to keep him off the "omitted" radar.  Continues to turn the ball over consistently (2nd of all forward role players only behind Kozzy ...a rookie in his first few games) and very little to nil pressure from what i've seen inside 50 with only 1 tackle inside 50, yes you are reading that right 1 miserly tackle against the Blues, in 5 matches of football.

Would be looking at Brown at this point.

The pressure needs to be applied on all players and Melk has not done enough or shown enough effort so far (imv) to suggest he is worthy of retaining his spot without serious scrutiny this week.

Only out for me would be TMac if injured. Otherwise no change.

I can’t recall Tomlinson doing anything of note up forward for GWS. I’d rather May up there noting Hawks will lose Patton.

If not, it’s pretty hard to look past Brown. I’m not a massive fan but he’s done everything right in the twos and you need to reward form.

 

Edited July 12, 20204 yr by Deeko2

Hopeful news on the TMac front

1 hour ago, Swooper1987 said:

If TMac doesn't come up I think Tomlinson is the logical replacement. He can swing between mid and forward and he played a great game against Hawthorn in the Marsh series. 

Agree. He can also run his man all over the ground and get free much like Hogan did.

9 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

It's not possible to judge defensive running watching on TV.

Yes it is. Barely runs at the ball carrier 

The natural tendency when a team wins is to keep the line up as stable as possible and not to make changes unless absolutely necessary. However, this is not a normal season and all teams are competing in unusual circumstances. The home and away season will be 17 matches if not interrupted by necessity in coping with the pandemic. Games are played with shortened quarters and many teams are situated in interstate hubs. There is no competition available or players outside each week’s 22 players. 

This is not a normal season and it’s being mooted that rounds will be compacted so that 4 or 5 day breaks will become common and we also have to remember that Melbourne has to make up an extra game. We’ve also had a slow start and are down 2-3 and with a poor percentage. We are therefore both under pressure to catch up to the pack in terms of ladder position and ensure that the team we put out onto the park is able to compete from week to week and maintain optimum performance and energy levels over the next 2½ to 3 months. 

I wouldn’t be surprised therefore if we do make some changes on a weekly basis simply to ensure that we can keep going and build up momentum even when injuries come or players get tired and need a rest. At this stage, we’re lucky in that we don’t have an injury list as deep as the one we had last year and, after all the disappointment so far we're effectively a game out of the eight with a game in hand and we've already played the last two season's premies in WCE and Richmond and the top team after the 23 rounds in Geelong.

 

17 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

The natural tendency when a team wins is to keep the line up as stable as possible and not to make changes unless absolutely necessary. However, this is not a normal season and all teams are competing in unusual circumstances. The home and away season will be 17 matches if not interrupted by necessity in coping with the pandemic. Games are played with shortened quarters and many teams are situated in interstate hubs. There is no competition available or players outside each week’s 22 players. 

This is not a normal season and it’s being mooted that rounds will be compacted so that 4 or 5 day breaks will become common and we also have to remember that Melbourne has to make up an extra game. We’ve also had a slow start and are down 2-3 and with a poor percentage. We are therefore both under pressure to catch up to the pack in terms of ladder position and ensure that the team we put out onto the park is able to compete from week to week and maintain optimum performance and energy levels over the next 2½ to 3 months. 

I wouldn’t be surprised therefore if we do make some changes on a weekly basis simply to ensure that we can keep going and build up momentum even when injuries come or players get tired and need a rest. At this stage, we’re lucky in that we don’t have an injury list as deep as the one we had last year and, after all the disappointment so far we're effectively a game out of the eight with a game in hand and we've already played the last two season's premies in WCE and Richmond and the top team after the 23 rounds in Geelong.

it may depend upon what sort of schedule we have after hawks

you'd imagine it'll be the swans or gw$ - so either the scg or still at the boondocks; i'd expect the games will be at minimum four days apart too

we might be going hawks on sunday, gw$ on thursday, swans the following tuesday on a five day break, then hightailing it to brisbane / gold coast to start our hub rotation up there the following tuesday after another five day break

it's going to be some time turnarounds coming up that's for sure

Edited July 12, 20204 yr by whatwhatsaywhat

21 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

Langdon stood flat footed and let Rankine shark the tap

Hibberd was on him when he did the soccer goal

Rankine side stepped Harmes for his first goal

Nev made one error on Rankine

Please watch the game before writing off Nev

 

The only disappointment for me tonight was Garry Lyon commentating like he wanted the Dees to lose

I agree, I hate when he commentates Melb games.  Lyon is a [censored]!

I don’t think they will want to keep Tomlinson  out for long , 

Im thinking  either he or Rivers for Lockhart.

Mitch Brown  if TMac doesn’t come up 

Melky is a fave of  Goodys so I dont think he will be dropped.

vandenBerg ran past Melksham to lay a tackle in the last quarter.

Melksham has been no good since 2018.

Weid out (complete liability when not marking, which happens rarely) Brown or Jackson in

Jetta out (unfortunately passed it, a first gamer tore him a new one) - Rivers back in

11 hours ago, Laughing Goat said:

Toby Bedford isn't even in the 'Hub', so he probably can't play......astounding considering he played round 1.

What are the rules about the number of players allowed in the hub, and if there is a limit isn’t that a huge disadvantage to the Victorian teams 

12 hours ago, Hell Bent said:

Agree Balls. Melk often takes the oppos backline playmaker and minimises their influence on games. 

Need him to do a job in Sicily next week. Wouldn’t be the first time.

Ok, just watched the game.

After taking account all the expert commentary from this site last night and today it was rather illuminating.

Melksham was ok, will stay.

Brayshaw didn't get a lot of it but again did his job, what I like about him is when in the centre bounces he knows how to spread and create space. He's knows how to get a clean clearance from the middle. I was looking for all that dejected, head down stuff that I read and saw none of it. He can do more but sometimes when Trac, Oliver and Viney are getting a lot of it there's not as much to go around.

Kozzie, well worth his spot in the team. directly responsible for at least 3 goals...will hit the scoreboard himself soon. a bit unlucky at times  but gives us something we don't have. Clever player and good ball user.

AVB was pretty average but redeemed himself with some good tackles, he's going to have to do a lot more than that going forward. Needs to hit targets more...and whilst he is a strong tackle, is too easy to run around.

Nev & Lockhart struggled but I'm not sure what the options are, Hunt, Rivers, Jordon...I would be grooming Sparrow for the deep role myself as I think his attributes of strength, leg speed and ability in the air would be assets, I don't think he is a natural ball winner so not going to make it as a mid.

If Tmac doesn't come up then it's Jackson or Brown.

They could even try Brown back and move May forward...

Could even bring Thommo in as a back or forward, I would prefer back.

I liked that Goody switched things around a bit during the game.

Trac had an off day by foot, he's usually a lot better than that.

Ollie, some good, some not good...Jack the same.

Langdon a bit stiff to get a couple kicked on him, one from a very soft decision but I can see why we got him...the boy knows how to get the ball and is just starting to settle.

Seemed to be some lessons learned.

So I would think not much change to the team, maybe one defensive change and Tommy out if he doesn't come up.

OUT: Lockhart, Jetta, T Mac (if injured)

IN: Tomlinson, Rivers, Brown (if required)

I feel like some of the changes could be dependent on whether the AFL does announce a lightning period of games being in short succession. 

If that does happen I could picture a couple potentially being rotated. 

Its really interesting reading how many D-Landers see things differently, perhaps it’s the classic playing favourites, maybe it’s just seeing things a little different. 

One thing that is interesting is that Melksham, AvB, Hannan, Pickett, and Fitta all had low possession games but all impacted at different times. Personally I felt that of that group AvB was the least effective but I also acknowledge he had some telling moments. I had Melksham and AvB as the two on notice leading into this game, did either do enough to keep their spot? Who would we bring in for them? Jones, ANB, Brown, Bedford, LJ?

As for Tommy has there been any work in his eye? If he got a proper rack of the eye (totally accidental) it could’ve done some serious damage and could take a bit to heal. If he’s ok then I think he goes again but if not then I feel Brown comes in for us to continue with the two tall forwards approach. I think to have both Weid and LJ could be problematic with two younger players as our targets. 

Brown in for Tmac

ANB for Melksham

Brayshaw on the ball all game to see if he can recapture his form.

Never thought I would say it, but Oscar really impressed me with his skill and finally some  real aggression.

keep AVB he really started to show something in the second half.

 

Cant understand people saying to drop Nev and Lockhart - Rivers and Tomlinson play different roles. Although Nev is not at his best, I would back his experience to do better than any alternative.  Lockhart has shown he has all the attributes to be a very good small defender going forward - let him play with the rest of the backline for a bit and see what he can do once he's settled.

 

Yes he has got caught a few times for holding the ball but he is quick and seems to have reasonable awareness - I put this down to not wanting to release the ball unless he can get it to a player in a better position which is a good trait.  

I like the look of Rivers but he seems more to be battling Hibberd for that role - and Hibberd has shown in recent weeks why he is in front (for the moment).

23 hours ago, Laughing Goat said:

Toby Bedford isn't even in the 'Hub', so he probably can't play......astounding considering he played round 1.

MFC is clearly a Family First club.

12 hours ago, Radar Detector said:

Need him to do a job in Sicily next week. Wouldn’t be the first time.

I would prefer he did in Sydney

Bedford did well in Rd1 but we were also without Hunt/Hannan

If Tmac is out i'd rather Tomlinson over Brown/Jackson as he's more versatile. 

This season is a strange one, you want to give players a run to find form, but its a reduced season and every win counts. So don't envy the match committee 

1 hour ago, deelusions from afar said:

Cant understand people saying to drop Nev and Lockhart - Rivers and Tomlinson play different roles. Although Nev is not at his best, I would back his experience to do better than any alternative.  Lockhart has shown he has all the attributes to be a very good small defender going forward - let him play with the rest of the backline for a bit and see what he can do once he's settled.

 

Yes he has got caught a few times for holding the ball but he is quick and seems to have reasonable awareness - I put this down to not wanting to release the ball unless he can get it to a player in a better position which is a good trait.  

I like the look of Rivers but he seems more to be battling Hibberd for that role - and Hibberd has shown in recent weeks why he is in front (for the moment).

Nev got annihilated by a first gamer and Lockhart was basically unsighted for 3 quarters.

Team changes don’t have to be like-for-like. 

13 hours ago, Garbo said:

Weid out (complete liability when not marking, which happens rarely) Brown or Jackson in

Jetta out (unfortunately passed it, a first gamer tore him a new one) - Rivers back in

You must be joking ?? Weeds OUT?? What game were you watching ? he competed, did what was asked, crunched a few packs, presenting crumbing opportunities and when Tommy was out was our only tall, kicked 2 vital goals, and will get better with confidence AND GAMES.

He stays in for the rest of the year in my book unless his form drops right of!

My changes would be:

Jetta out for Jones.

TMac out if injured for Smith playing forward.

Harmes to play forward and Melksham at half back.

 

Lockhart OMcDonald Lever

Salem May Hibberd

Vandenberg Oliver Langdon

Harmes TMcDonald/Smith Bennell

Pickett Weideman Fritsch 

Jones Melksham Brayshaw Hannan

10 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

TMac out if injured for Smith playing forward.

If you think Smith was a headless chook playing back, have you seen him in a real game playing forward.