Dees pay high price for victory over Crows 

Herald Sun, August 5 

MELBOURNE got the 'W' last night with a 26-point win against the Crows at Adelaide Oval, but the win came at a cost.

The Demons are likely to be without captain Max Gawn for the next month, while star midfielder Christian Petracca came off late with soreness after a 24-disposal, three-goal best-on-ground display.

Gawn pulled up tight in the hamstring early in the first term and will now miss games against North Melbourne and Collingwood and key match-ups against fellow ruck stars Todd Goldstein and Brodie Grundy.

"It's a big blow for us," coach Simon Goodwin said. "We didn't see that coming. He was fine playing cards with Angus (Brayshaw) on the flight over here."

Asked why he had risked the AFL's No.1 ranked ruckman against the Crows, who have now lost their first 10 games, Goodwin said the shorter time frame between games was not an issue.

"Gawny said he was fine after training yesterday and we have a policy where we play our best team each week, regardless of how close the games are. It is what it is," he said.

Petracca had again played 90 per cent game time, resting up forward rather than the bench, as Goodwin looked for him to ice the game.

"He's a bit ginger and he'll miss the Roos game as well, but he should be right for the Pies," Goodwin said.

or:

Dees depth too good for Crows 

Herald Sun, August 5 

MELBOURNE got the 'W' last night with a 26-point win against the Crows at Adelaide Oval and must now find room for Max Gawn and two of its midfield stars for its clash with the Roos on Sunday .

The Dees decided to leave their skipper behind in Maroochydore, rather than risk him for the game against the winless Crows.

Young ruckman Luke Jackson shared the ruck duties with Adam Tomlinson and while the pair were beaten for hitouts by Reilly O'Brien, they combined for 8 clearances to offset the absence of Gawn. 

The Demons also opted to rest Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw against the Crows, but coach Simon Goodwin said the pair, who watched the game from the coaches box, will both return for the Roos clash.

Christian Petracca will firm in Brownlow betting after a 24-disposal, three goal game, while Aaron vandenBerg (12 tackles) and Nathan Jones (21 disposals) enjoyed time in the middle and helped set the win up.

The Demons also rotated forwards Bayley Fritsch and Jake Melksham through the middle. 

Petracca's efforts were all the more impressive given he was rested for the entire last quarter,

"After our bad loss on a four-day turnaround against Port we realised we had to rest players in these unusual times and hopefully having our core midfield fresh for the game against North will help us in the long run," coach Simon Goodwin said.

"Gawny, Olly and Angus all wanted to play, but we just felt that we had to look at the big picture."

I wouldn't rest both Brayshaw and Oliver. Rest one, give the other that additional responsibility.

4 minutes ago, deanox said:

I wouldn't rest both Brayshaw and Oliver. Rest one, give the other that additional responsibility.

I thought they all had a rest last week - WTF

So you think it's even remotely possible that an under siege coach would choose to rest Gawn and Oliver at the risk of losing his job, for the long term benefit of a team that almost certainly wont make finals anyway?

 

Hmmmmm.

42 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

Dees pay high price for victory over Crows 

Herald Sun, August 5 

MELBOURNE got the 'W' last night with a 26-point win against the Crows at Adelaide Oval, but the win came at a cost.

The Demons are likely to be without captain Max Gawn for the next month, while star midfielder Christian Petracca came off late with soreness after a 24-disposal, three-goal best-on-ground display.

Gawn pulled up tight in the hamstring early in the first term and will now miss games against North Melbourne and Collingwood and key match-ups against fellow ruck stars Todd Goldstein and Brodie Grundy.

"It's a big blow for us," coach Simon Goodwin said. "We didn't see that coming. He was fine playing cards with Angus (Brayshaw) on the flight over here."

Asked why he had risked the AFL's No.1 ranked ruckman against the Crows, who have now lost their first 10 games, Goodwin said the shorter time frame between games was not an issue.

"Gawny said he was fine after training yesterday and we have a policy where we play our best team each week, regardless of how close the games are. It is what it is," he said.

Petracca had again played 90 per cent game time, resting up forward rather than the bench, as Goodwin looked for him to ice the game.

"He's a bit ginger and he'll miss the Roos game as well, but he should be right for the Pies," Goodwin said.

or:

Dees depth too good for Crows 

Herald Sun, August 5 

MELBOURNE got the 'W' last night with a 26-point win against the Crows at Adelaide Oval and must now find room for Max Gawn and two of its midfield stars for its clash with the Roos on Sunday .

The Dees decided to leave their skipper behind in Maroochydore, rather than risk him for the game against the winless Crows.

Young ruckman Luke Jackson shared the ruck duties with Adam Tomlinson and while the pair were beaten for hitouts by Reilly O'Brien, they combined for 8 clearances to offset the absence of Gawn. 

The Demons also opted to rest Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw against the Crows, but coach Simon Goodwin said the pair, who watched the game from the coaches box, will both return for the Roos clash.

Christian Petracca will firm in Brownlow betting after a 24-disposal, three goal game, while Aaron vandenBerg (12 tackles) and Nathan Jones (21 disposals) enjoyed time in the middle and helped set the win up.

The Demons also rotated forwards Bayley Fritsch and Jake Melksham through the middle. 

Petracca's efforts were all the more impressive given he was rested for the entire last quarter,

"After our bad loss on a four-day turnaround against Port we realised we had to rest players in these unusual times and hopefully having our core midfield fresh for the game against North will help us in the long run," coach Simon Goodwin said.

"Gawny, Olly and Angus all wanted to play, but we just felt that we had to look at the big picture."

Whatever you had for lunch please stop it is really upsetting your powers of reason.