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CHANGES: Rd 07 vs Hawthorn

Nasher
Nasher
in Melbourne Demons

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4 hours ago, Fifty-5 said:

I'm feeling bullish about our line-up, assuming TMac gets up and with Weid and OMac back in, we're looking similar to the line-up that played the Hawks in the 2018 finals, but I think our personnel is clearly improved:

In: May, Lever, Lockhart, Langdon, Bennell, Pickett
Out: Frost, Lewis, Jones, Tyson, ANB, Spargo

Clarkson is a great coach and will bring all his expertise.  He has a very experienced line-up - clearly second oldest and most experienced behind only Geelong - the Hawks believe they are in premiership-mode now.  It's going to be a great test.

ANB was involved in a lot pressure acts in that finals series and Spargo involved in a lot of scoring chains. Lockhart looks lost to me, but I'm hoping he might click and eventually fulfil Nev's role. 

I reckon we have to be a lot more creative and bold with our ball movement than we have been, if we want to beat Hawthorn.

This game will tell us a lot. Have we got our backs up and can we continue the momentum for the rest of the season or do we fall short again and end up being a bottom 6 side.

 
1 hour ago, Robbie57 said:

Indeed. If Lockhart needs a rest I'd go with Rivers. In place of TMac I'd like to see us play Jackson who may be too mobile for their ageing backline. I think it would be a mistake to go for Brown who is exactly the sort of Forward their backs are used to dealing with. 

Might not be a bad idea Robbie.

We will know on Thursday and definitely on Friday when the final team is announced.

    • Like 1
    3 minutes ago, Mental Demons said:

     

    ANB is not a natural forward and has been very hit and miss when asked to play forward. Cozzi has more score involvements and adds defensive pressure to the forward half. Cozzi also knows where the goals are. In some games I have seen, ANB could not find the goals if he had a map. ANB' biggest natural talent is his endurance running and not as much help in the forward line as Cozzi's burst speed. Unfortunately ANB's run rarely ends in a goal. ANB's tackling is soft and his goal kicking is crap. 

    The Carlton game he kicked 2 goals as did hunt. They are not without talent. I do agree he will be better in the future but I think a rest is in order. 

     
    2 minutes ago, A F said:

    ANB was involved in a lot pressure acts in that finals series and Spargo involved in a lot of scoring chains. Lockhart looks lost to me, but I'm hoping he might click and eventually fulfil Nev's role. 

    I reckon we have to be a lot more creative and bold with our ball movement than we have been, if we want to beat Hawthorn.

    This game will tell us a lot. Have we got our backs up and can we continue the momentum for the rest of the season or do we fall short again and end up being a bottom 6 side.

    Definitely, we got a bit lucky with some turnovers from the Gold Coast for our goals which had little to do with our pressure and more just errors on their end. Still need to show a lot of improvement coming inside 50 and getting value for our entries.

     

    • Like 2
    4 minutes ago, A F said:

    ANB was involved in a lot pressure acts in that finals series and Spargo involved in a lot of scoring chains. Lockhart looks lost to me, but I'm hoping he might click and eventually fulfil Nev's role. 

    I reckon we have to be a lot more creative and bold with our ball movement than we have been, if we want to beat Hawthorn.

    This game will tell us a lot. Have we got our backs up and can we continue the momentum for the rest of the season or do we fall short again and end up being a bottom 6 side.

    That's true but since then they've been horrible and Bennell and Kosi are a massive upgrade on them.  They've only played one game together so far.  I'm looking forward to Krakouer brothers-style magic coming up.

    Yes it will be fascinating to see whether we are on a roll.

    • Like 2

    11 minutes ago, old dee said:

    Yes that is a disaster In  2020. I see they played a 10 a side scratch match last weekend. God help them when a few injuries surface. 

    Luckily we are healthy this year for a change.

    1 minute ago, old dee said:

    For this week's game I would play ANB. And I wasn't setting a bait just interested in other people's views.

    I'm 50/50 on Kozzi. He provides something that no one else has but his output is minimal even though he's trying. ANB will add pressure but his disposal worries me. Spargo not up to it anymore, Bedford only just getting to main group? Tough choices. Hunt can't play that role IMO. Harley has his spot.

     
    41 minutes ago, old dee said:

    For this week's game I would play ANB. And I wasn't setting a bait just interested in other people's views.

    I honestly think we would have won against Geelong with ANB in the team instead of AVB, but I don't think all of AVB, Bennell, Hannan and Kossie can play in the same team. I do think that with the way Clarko will potentially coach, which will be another keeping's off type game then ANB should be in high consideration. Yes he's limited, but his pressure acts, including slowing the opposition play down is very underrated. However, I can only see him playing if Kossie needs a rest as AVB hit some form against the Suns and Hannan has looked ok. 

    • Sad 1

    Kozi has slotted 2 goals and he's hit the post twice at this season i believe. 

    As noted by @Fifty-5  he helped get us over the line vs gold Coast.

    Yes he could be scoring more, but the whole team could.

    Leave him in the team to develop his game and also the link up game with other players.

     

    Stats this seaosn

    2.2 vs West Coast; 1 Goal asssist - 5 Scores involvements

    0.1 vs Geelong, 0 goal assists, 4 scores involvements

    0.1 vs Richmond; 1 goal assist, 2 score involvements

    0.0 vs Gold Coast; 3 Goal Assists  - 4 Score Involvements.

    • Like 9
    15 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

    I honestly think we would have won against Geelong with ANB in the team instead of AVB, but I don't think all of AVB, Bennell, Hannan and Kossie can play in the same team. I do think that with the way Clarko will potentially coach, which will be another keeping's off type game then ANB should be in high consideration. Yes he's limited, but his pressure acts, including slowing the opposition play down is very underrated. However, I can only see him playing if Kossie needs a rest as AVB hit some form against the Suns and Hannan has looked ok. 

    Leave Kozzzzzzzy in. Exciting. Sure a little raw but I love his energy. And his highlight pass to Bennell showed his skill and awareness.  

    • Like 2
    15 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

    I honestly think we would have won against Geelong with ANB in the team instead of AVB, but I don't think all of AVB, Bennell, Hannan and Kossie can play in the same team. I do think that with the way Clarko will potentially coach, which will be another keeping's off type game then ANB should be in high consideration. Yes he's limited, but his pressure acts, including slowing the opposition play down is very underrated. However, I can only see him playing if Kossie needs a rest as AVB hit some form against the Suns and Hannan has looked ok. 

    One Kosi tackle is worth 5 ANB "tackles", one AVB tackle is worth 10.

    • Like 1
    30 minutes ago, DeePressed said:

    I'm 50/50 on Kozzi. He provides something that no one else has but his output is minimal even though he's trying. ANB will add pressure but his disposal worries me. Spargo not up to it anymore, Bedford only just getting to main group? Tough choices. Hunt can't play that role IMO. Harley has his spot.

    Not sure what people with this type of view were expecting from Kozzie.  He's in his first season!

    We knew when we drafted him that he's not a high possession player (although apparently he racked up the stats in a scratch this year when moved on ball).

    Goals are nice but if he's handing them off to other players in better positions then he's doing his job.  He chases, tackles, shepherds, bumps, uses the ball well and has potential to be an aerial threat.

    Of the forwards, surely Melksham and Vanders are more likely to be dropped on form.


    4 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

    Drop Kozzie?  

    Tell him he's dreaming.

    Probably wise one!

    8 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    Leave Kozzzzzzzy in. Exciting. Sure a little raw but I love his energy. And his highlight pass to Bennell showed his skill and awareness.  

    I never suggested dropping him, just if he needed a rest then ANB wouldn't be a bad option against the Hawks.

    8 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

    One Kosi tackle is worth 5 ANB "tackles", one AVB tackle is worth 10.

    Sure, but one ANB pressure act is worth 10 from AVB, ANB's big strength is his continued running, and as funny as this sounds, no-one mans the mark better. He'll run flat out to slow the opposition from being able to set up or move the ball quickly. AVB is not that sort of player, he hits hard but isn't always great on the follow up. Anyway, as above my suggestion was only if Kosi needs a rest, I'd be doing it against the Hawks rather than against the Lions, purely because of the way both play. 

    Loving what Pickett is doing.

    A few times on the weekend the opposition rushed their kick and turned the ball over, simply because he was in the vicinity. As would i if i thought he was heading my way.

    Just wish he'd occasionally stop ramming into the player after they have already disposed of it, thus giving away down field free kicks. But perhaps it's best not to reign in the beast!

    • Like 2
    7 minutes ago, deelusions from afar said:

    Not sure what people with this type of view were expecting from Kozzie.  He's in his first season!

    We knew when we drafted him that he's not a high possession player (although apparently he racked up the stats in a scratch this year when moved on ball).

    Goals are nice but if he's handing them off to other players in better positions then he's doing his job.  He chases, tackles, shepherds, bumps, uses the ball well and has potential to be an aerial threat.

    Of the forwards, surely Melksham and Vanders are more likely to be dropped on form.

    I'm not expecting anything from Kozzi personally, he is a talent and I only meant 50/50 for this week. I'm 100% on him for the future. His opponents have been running him out of position. No Casey is not helpful.

    Pick best 22 on form and for the opposition. I don't have a good replacement for him therefore i'm 50/50. Do i want him to kick 5.0 and take a hanger on Frawley's head. Hell yes. I expect he's 1 game away from a breakout so hopefully it's very soon!

    • Like 1
    26 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

    I never suggested dropping him, just if he needed a rest then ANB wouldn't be a bad option against the Hawks.

    Sure, but one ANB pressure act is worth 10 from AVB, ANB's big strength is his continued running, and as funny as this sounds, no-one mans the mark better. He'll run flat out to slow the opposition from being able to set up or move the ball quickly. AVB is not that sort of player, he hits hard but isn't always great on the follow up. Anyway, as above my suggestion was only if Kosi needs a rest, I'd be doing it against the Hawks rather than against the Lions, purely because of the way both play. 

    Talk about damning with faint praise.  We'll never win a flag with players like ANB in the team.  I agree that there's a question mark on AVB too, he's not a lock. Kosi's flag material and unless he's out of petrol tickets, and he shouldn't be by now, he must play.

    • Like 1

    3 minutes ago, Fifty-5 said:

    Talk about damning with faint praise.  We'll never win a flag with players like ANB in the team.  I agree that there's a question mark on AVB too, he's not a lock. Kosi's flag material and unless he's out of petrol tickets, and he shouldn't be by now, he must play.

    There's role players in each and every flag team, guys like ANB and AVB are role players, and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as they play within their limitations. As I mentioned before I believe had we played ANB rather than AVB against Geelong we would have won, we needed his role play that day. I agree Kosi has the potential to be a real star, but I doubt they'll play him each and every game, for a first year player in his role that would be dangerous, not just to his fitness but confidence as well. 

    • Like 1

    My biggest concerns with Hawthorn is if they get their kicking game going and can move around and through us if our pressure isn't on up forward and our backline gets run out of position. 

    Smith on the wing/forward and Scully can really run and create gaps overlaps. No matter who we play up forward the Hawks will take intercept marks, so we have to make sure that they can then only go sideways/backwards/long down the line.

    I know it didn't work out in the first few weeks of the season but I'd think about Harmes at half back again purely because he has the run to go with Smith/Scully, where as Lockhart doesn't have a big tank and we don't want Salem doing all the hard running. Hibberd asked to do too much two way running isn't pretty either. I'd think about Joel Smith in a different role for the same reason, or even maybe a James Jordon if we want to take a chance.

    In the case of Harmes going back ANB would come in, because if we go with 2 talls, Melksham, Fritsch and Bennell we need to have some defensive pressure around those guys. 

    The club will have GPS numbers on Lockhart and maybe we just rotate him and keep him fresh and it won't be an issue.

    • Like 1
    39 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

    There's role players in each and every flag team, guys like ANB and AVB are role players, and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as they play within their limitations. As I mentioned before I believe had we played ANB rather than AVB against Geelong we would have won, we needed his role play that day. I agree Kosi has the potential to be a real star, but I doubt they'll play him each and every game, for a first year player in his role that would be dangerous, not just to his fitness but confidence as well. 

    I agree R and B.

     

    I consider myself a moderate rather than complete idiot - but there's something I don't get. So often in the AFL (not just Melbourne) we see long bombs into the forward line which land directly in the arms of a defender, even with even numbers. The forwards are off somewhere leading in different directions and the defender is left to read and play space. Why not coach a forward to play that same role? Like get Lever to fully pretend he's playing intercept defense in our forward line? 

    It's a serious question. 

    1 hour ago, Red and Blue realist said:

    There's role players in each and every flag team, guys like ANB and AVB are role players, and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as they play within their limitations. As I mentioned before I believe had we played ANB rather than AVB against Geelong we would have won, we needed his role play that day. I agree Kosi has the potential to be a real star, but I doubt they'll play him each and every game, for a first year player in his role that would be dangerous, not just to his fitness but confidence as well. 

    I agree there are role players in every team but ANB's fundamental football skills are not AFL level and a key to his role, his tackling, is poor.  It's something about #30 - Hoppy, Godders, ANB ...

    The problem against Geelong was not preventing them from scoring, it was us converting scoring opportunities.  If we had played some combination of Weid and Bennell along with Kosi we could have won.

    Edited by Fifty-5

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