8 hours ago, Patches O’houlihan said:

I'd be giving Tmac a scratch match to find some form before bringing him in. 

His eye says ‘not again’.....

I'd actually like to see T'mac get some form and confidence in a scratch match or two before returning, and Jackson didn't do anything to lose his spot either in fact I think at the moment, he provides more than t'mac. 

I'm not sure whether I give the benefit of the doubt to Lockhart or not, I'd like to see Jonesy come back into the team but I'm just not that sure. Rivers is also a possibility but again i think in a winning team, Lockhart gets the benefit of the doubt for another week.

all in all then, no changes for me. 

1 hour ago, Dr.D said:

The following users have been a bit quiet since saying that Oliver needed to be dropped and has been a liability? Where are you guys now? Typical reactionary posters.  Players don't improve their skills/decision making in a fortnight so why not drop him now?

elegt
spc
deetox
fanatique demon
myfavouritemartian
Rodney grinder
demon dude
cards13
coq au vin
layzie
deespicable
the jackson 6
deezone

 

Rodney Grinder is about as porn star a name as you can get. Not too sure about compiling lists of people that disagree with me however. It's a bit deestopian

Edited July 20, 20204 yr by John Demonic

Based on that win, you would be hard pressed to drop any of our players based on performances in the last couple of games.

I also think we match up fairly well v Brisbane I think, and any changes should be due to opposition match up, with an obvious rider that they would be closely keeping an eye (sorry TMac) on Bennell and AVB and managing their fitness.  

Don't understand why people wanting Lockhart drop.

Brisbane have Cameron, McCarthy, Rayner as their smalls up forward who are all dangerous in their own way.

Lockhart you'd think takes one of them.

With the number of games we have to play in the next few weeks with five day breaks etc. I would not be surprised to see a couple rested. 

10 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

 

I'm not entirely sure how the structure changed this week with Jackson compared to Tom for 1/4 last week. I think Tom was starting to lead and jump at the ball better the last few weeks and can still crash a pack as well as a kid in his second game. And either he or Weid could do the forward ruck work and 2 minutes a quarter to rest Max.

The most obvious difference between Tom and Jackson, and (Weid and Jackson) was Jackson's forward pressure. That's the one area where he did a few things that made a subtle but important difference.

The 2 biggest factors in Max's dominance down the line more than the talls have been 1: forward pressure and 2: the skinny ground limiting options for the long down the line kick. 

That said, it's the perfect opportunity to make a disguised statement about Tom's form. Plus with all the short breaks Tom will be back in soon enough I'm sure.

Jackson rucked in the forward 50 and competed to lock the ball in. As a natural ruckman, he knew where to hit the ball. This allowed Gawn to set up behind the play and intercept the Hawthorn dump kick out of defence. McDonald does not provide this. Also, when Gawn needed a a rest, Jackson went into the middle and became another midfield, who has the ability to win the hit out. That's why he stays. McDonald does neither of the above. 

Hawks beat lions by 28 in round 1, we beat Hawks by 43 in round.  So we should win this one by 71?

Looking forward to this, good chance to see if we have turned a corner and can match it with one of the premiership favourites, or if we just beat up on bad sides.

No change.

33 minutes ago, Ouch! said:

Based on that win, you would be hard pressed to drop any of our players based on performances in the last couple of games.

I also think we match up fairly well v Brisbane I think, and any changes should be due to opposition match up, with an obvious rider that they would be closely keeping an eye (sorry TMac) on Bennell and AVB and managing their fitness.  

AVB looked to struggle with the pace of the game last night and to a lesser extent, the week week before. His disposal was ordinary, but he does tackle well. I dunno if he can be carried another week, or whether a reset and refresh is needed. 

Out Lockhart and Brayshaw, In Rivers and Jones.

With that said I won't be disappointed if there's no change.

1 hour ago, Dr.D said:

The following users have been a bit quiet since saying that Oliver needed to be dropped and has been a liability? Where are you guys now? Typical reactionary posters.  Players don't improve their skills/decision making in a fortnight so why not drop him now?

elegt
spc
deetox
fanatique demon
myfavouritemartian
Rodney grinder
demon dude
cards13
coq au vin
layzie
deespicable
the jackson 6
deezone

 

Ironic

14 hours ago, dworship said:

Melksham rested, TMac in

 

Or Bennell rested, but only if it's part of his 'management' program.

1 hour ago, Dr.D said:

The following users have been a bit quiet since saying that Oliver needed to be dropped and has been a liability? Where are you guys now? Typical reactionary posters.  Players don't improve their skills/decision making in a fortnight so why not drop him now?

elegt
spc
deetox
fanatique demon
myfavouritemartian
Rodney grinder
demon dude
cards13
coq au vin
layzie
deespicable
the jackson 6
deezone

 

I certainly didn’t say drop him. 

I think I said I’d like to see him spend more time forward (still do) first of all.

Secondly I believe I said he needs to improve his disposal significantly or he will be in danger. I think he has shown a significantly improved performance on that front in the last two weeks.

It is ok to have an opinion. Have a relax.

 

 

Rest Vanders and Melksham. Give Tomlinson a run against brisbane. TMac if fit in for Melksham. Half tempted due to a rush of blood to rest Brayshaw for Nath Jones. Busy schedule coming up and a good rotation system in the midfield might be required. 

52 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Don't understand why people wanting Lockhart drop.

Brisbane have Cameron, McCarthy, Rayner as their smalls up forward who are all dangerous in their own way.

Lockhart you'd think takes one of them.

I agree we need him in to take those sorts of players, but he's not in great form so I understand the calls for him to be dropped. Him, Jetta and Hibberd are going to need to have good games this week if we're to be any chance.

4 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

I agree we need him in to take those sorts of players, but he's not in great form so I understand the calls for him to be dropped. Him, Jetta and Hibberd are going to need to have good games this week if we're to be any chance.

Lockhart certainly made some mistakes yesterday but when I watched highlights he was involved in more handball chains than I realised, and there are some things he's doing right. Next week will be a big challenge.

14 hours ago, deanox said:

VDB was our "worst on" today but even he wasn't that bad. The options to replace him are Hunt, Spargo, Tomlinson so I think he gets another few weeks.

AVB does good things to the psychological well-being of opponents and hits hard so they do not forget. The Hawks tried to 'skirt' him, avoiding contact as best they could. With game time, I'd expect AVB to be even more active and yet he made good ball collections across the game in the whole four quarters.

Tomlinson is our space man; on the flanks, he finds space to receive, and apply run and carry plus disposal deep into the forward set-up. His positioning in this regard is very good. He was not 'seen' on many occasions in our game against the Suns - and many turnovers resulted - but with our latest forward line, there are astute runners and collectors moving to space instead of the static edifices of which we are all familiar. (I'd like to see the Weed stay close to goal when not competing for area marks, purely for his 'feed' value in that zone.)

We did miss Hunt's pace and carry against the Hawks.

Spargo, not yet at the level required for a small.

Lockhart could be overlooked at selection for a while as he gathers more diverse skills and anticipation. 

It's all a field of options - but things are looking up for the Dees. Great game from Hannan against the Hawks; his contributions were timely, thoughtful and competent. He is such a good kick at goal! Conventionally and when executing those bananas, and when looking for a 'target' receiver.

I think people forget how hard it is to play as a small defender in the modern game.  Like us, every other team is trying their hardest to cause front half turnovers.  Even in our worst games this year we still caused our opponent's defenders to turn it over a few times.

Lockhart is quick (i.e. has great closing speed), tough, has good skills, is creative and doesn't release the ball until he can get it to someone in a better position.  Every week he will be involved in passages of play where the ball is turned over... but show me a player that plays the same role in ANY TEAM that isn't involved in similar turnovers.

We don't have a better option to play his role (Rivers plays a different role).  

Give the guy a break - he has shown he has all the tools required to be a very good player in this position.  People forget he wasn't even on our list at the start of last year - and last year played predominantly forward.  Crazy to drop him - he is doing his job.

 

14 hours ago, whatwhatsaywhat said:

t mac will come in for jackson you'd think

Why can’t you have them both in the 22? Jackson plays as a utility in many ways and also gives Max a chop out.

 

 

12 hours ago, Hell Bent said:

Only Viney and Harmes had more pressure acts than AVB which I've no doubt is one stat that coaches rate far higher than the average supporter.

No chance he comes out,  we are a better team when he plays,  have been for years. 

Agree 100%.

He is a hard man, and not a bad footballer. 

I notice that opposition teams regularly drive Fritsch into the ground. He's a lightly built bloke and is getting pulverised.

I wonder if some one (cough AVB cough) could help out...

Edited July 20, 20204 yr by frankie_d

Why would you want any changes?

19 minutes ago, Dockett 32 said:

Why can’t you have them both in the 22? Jackson plays as a utility in many ways and also gives Max a chop out.

 

 

I feel that at the moment he could offer a bit on the wing as well. He's such an exciting prospect ?

It will be a really tough selection week. Obviously the easy selection would be to make no change. But:

• TMac is in our best side and we need to get him up and playing at his best. And I don't think we should go with 3 talls, as pressure is so important.
• Charlie Cameron is a tough match up for us and a key to winning. He is way too fast for Jetta and too good in the air for Lockhart. Joel Smith could be our best match up from an athletic perspective.
• I still think Jones off half back would make us a better side.

42 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

We did miss Hunt's pace and carry against the Hawks.

Did we? I thought our pace and carry againstthe Hawks was pretty good.

Putting my faith and trust in the selectors this week. I’d say no changes, unless players genuinely need a rest (hopefully this doesn’t include Harley). 

This next game is huge. A lot of folks praising Goodwin as a tactical genius now, a mere two wins later from one of the more emphatic collective blow-torchings I’ve seen on DL. 

Of course I took immense pleasure watching yesterday’s match (twice), but Hawthorn are a club out to sea right now, and Gold Coast could have beaten us with the mere inclusion of a guy playing his 5th ever game of AFL. 

If the Dees can provide the same connection and cohesion against the Lions (a club who know how to play us) then I’ll be genuinely excited for the first time since 2018, but these last two wins aren’t enough to solidify my faith.