Mahoney’s interview on 7NewsMelb gives a pretty decent indication that Maxy will be out there on Saturday 

 

 

Edited August 19, 20205 yr by DemonLad5

40 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

Jon Ralph ???

The bloke is a peanut and by far the worst sport journalist on the planet.  

He's a street and a cut above Rohan Connolly

1 hour ago, Stevienic23 said:

Shades of Nuclear Power Plant softball team about this week 

At least a Preuss finally shaved off his sideburns!

28 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

He's a street and a cut above Rohan Connolly

That’s only because he barracks for the dirty bombers 

6 hours ago, DemonOX said:

During the week the weather is just about perfect then come the weekend it can sometimes be ****house. 

I once read some scientific reasoning behind this phenomena but have forgotten the basis. Something to do with cars from memory. Can't be bothered googling but it's probably in the internet aether somewhere for those keen to investigate.  

If no Preuss , Jackson or Gawne and considering Smith has been emergency often recently, they might use him as a foil against English.   I don't know if he has rucked before but he would certainly have the leap over English at Centre bounces.  He gives a lot away in height though.  Oscar could match him for strength but doubt he could keep up.   Other than Bradke, there's not many choices.

6 hours ago, Demon_spurs said:

I reckon, if Gawn, Preuss, and Tim English are out of the game, Dees and The Bullies should nominate Daniel and Spargo as the ruckmen

Lol this would be amazing.

1 hour ago, stinga said:

If no Preuss , Jackson or Gawne and considering Smith has been emergency often recently, they might use him as a foil against English.   I don't know if he has rucked before but he would certainly have the leap over English at Centre bounces.  He gives a lot away in height though.  Oscar could match him for strength but doubt he could keep up.   Other than Bradke, there's not many choices.

That's an interesting idea. I suspect in that situation they'd try McDonald in the ruck and play someone like Smith forward, but if it does eventuate that neither Preuss or Gawn get up, I'd like to see us try something bold like that.

2 hours ago, stinga said:

If no Preuss , Jackson or Gawne and considering Smith has been emergency often recently, they might use him as a foil against English.   I don't know if he has rucked before but he would certainly have the leap over English at Centre bounces.  He gives a lot away in height though.  Oscar could match him for strength but doubt he could keep up.   Other than Bradke, there's not many choices.

If Preuss and Gawn are both unavailable then it’ll be TMac main ruck with Tommo chopping out. 

17 hours ago, Grimes Times said:

Seems to have rained every 2nd game in QLD. So much for beautiful one day perfect one day

Seems to have rained every 2nd game in QLD. So much for beautiful one day perfect one day

Some rain to put the Dbah fire out might be handy

I've still nightmares of the NNSW fire season last year and our eldest at 5yo seems a bit traumatised by it

The problem I have with TMac in the ruck is that he can no longer jump limiting his effectiveness at stoppages and for that matter around the ground.  And not sure he has the strength to stop a ruckman jumping over him.  So I'm seeing lots of easy taps over the midfielders heads to a running bulldog rather than the ball come to ground.  

I don't think we can take Sam away from FF. 

So I would go for Tomlinson as ruckman of last resort.

Edited August 19, 20205 yr by Lucifer's Hero

If Max and Brayden are both out then Brown has to play IMO and do some rucking with TMac.

The other alternative is to play OMac and move Tomlinson Fwd/Ruck but I like this less.

Edited August 19, 20205 yr by Pollyanna

Would Tmac losing the taps be the end of the world? Plenty of teams do well against us in the middle when max is owning the taps.

Our mids seems to have better connection over the last 3 weeks and are capable of balancing this out

English is taller but I'd bet Tmac, even in current condition, has the stamina to run him off his long legs.

Hopefully we are all getting ahead of ourselves and big Maxy will be fine. Just keeping the doggies guessing

3 minutes ago, Dee-lusional said:

Would Tmac losing the taps be the end of the world? Plenty of teams do well against us in the middle when max is owning the taps.

Our mids seems to have better connection over the last 3 weeks and are capable of balancing this out

English is taller but I'd bet Tmac, even in current condition, has the stamina to run him off his long legs.

Hopefully we are all getting ahead of ourselves and big Maxy will be fine. Just keeping the doggies guessing

My thinking is that when other teams do well with Max owning the taps is because they 'shark' to him when the ball comes to ground.  With TMac I see English tapping it over the top into the hands of a running bulldog so our mids have less opportunity to 'shark' the ball.  Also, TMac is now very slow, no longer the speedy player he was 2 years ago.

But as you say, hopefully Maxy will be fine.

11 hours ago, Skuit said:

I once read some scientific reasoning behind this phenomena but have forgotten the basis. Something to do with cars from memory. Can't be bothered googling but it's probably in the internet aether somewhere for those keen to investigate.  

Might be thinking of confirmation bias, availability heuristic or duration neglect.  If you get a red car, all of a sudden you see all of the red cars.  Might also be a case of MFCSS.

1 minute ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

My thinking is that when other teams do well with Max owning the taps is because they 'shark' to him when the ball comes to ground.  With TMac I see English tapping it over the top into the hands of a running bulldog so our mids have less opportunity to 'shark' the ball.  Also, TMac is now very slow, no longer the speedy player he was 2 years ago.

But as you say, hopefully Maxy will be fine.

Your right he has slowed down but hopefully he can still run all day. I think/hope if our mids are accountable we can negate the over the tops. Good honest one on one.

Watching previous games when max was dominating we seemed to be getting first hands on the ball but being pressured into fumbles or hospital passes. 

Would be good to see max back now that Clarrie has gone up a gear and Gus has turned a corner. Skies the limit

32 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

The problem I have with TMac in the ruck is that he can no longer jump limiting his effectiveness at stoppages and for that matter around the ground.  And not sure he has the strength to stop a ruckman jumping over him.  So I'm seeing lots of easy taps over the midfielders heads to a running bulldog rather than the ball come to ground.  

I don't think we can take Sam away from FF. 

So I would go for Tomlinson as ruckman of last resort.

I know Grundy is well below his best, but TMac seemed to have good enough body position against him so the ball consistently hit the ground only a meter or so from the bounce/throw up when he went up against him. So while he could get jumped all over, if he uses his body well then it gives our mids their best chance. 

It's a really interesting match up, because I think our mids have that see ball get ball attitude where the ball heading straight to ground would favor us, while the doggies players, besides libba, tend to like the ball a little wider so they get it already on the move as compared to moving to it. If we can stop them getting easy breaks then it goes a long way to defeating them, while if they can get quick ball out of the center we could be in trouble. I still think one of Gawn or Pruess will play, but TMac/Tommo bringing it straight down isn't a bad option, as long as they can do that. I'd happily bring back OMac to cover in defense and have Tommo play more ruck time, I agree there is no way (except for the odd Fwd50 contest), should Weid ruck at the moment. 

I just hope the Pruess injury does not lead to us rushing back Max. We need him as healthy as he can be in the run home, i would give him 2 more weeks.. Pruess injury sounds like an annoying one, but again, we cant afford to carry him if it is enough to hamper his output. Tom Mc and Brown. Leave Weid Fwd.

12 minutes ago, Demon3 said:

I just hope the Pruess injury does not lead to us rushing back Max. We need him as healthy as he can be in the run home, i would give him 2 more weeks.. Pruess injury sounds like an annoying one, but again, we cant afford to carry him if it is enough to hamper his output. Tom Mc and Brown. Leave Weid Fwd.

Issue is this game is the very definition of a 8 point game, loose this and dogs take our place in the 8, then we have to wait till they or someone else slips up. No point saving Gawn if we don’t play finals

If both Preuss and Gawn don't play I would bring in Brown he can play CHF OR CHB allowing T.Mac and Tomlinson more time in the ruck.

4 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

If both Preuss and Gawn don't play I would bring in Brown he can play CHF OR CHB allowing T.Mac and Tomlinson more time in the ruck.

yes good plan

Brown knows how to play an opportunity

Agree that Brown is the man to replace Preuss this week with Tomlinson and T.Mac to share ruck duties.

The only question for me then is whether we need the flexibility and pace that Joel Smith provides, especially against the Dogs who are quick.

Goody will also want Hannan back in side, but I'm not sure how that happens as everyone was so good against the Pies.

1 hour ago, Garbo said:

Issue is this game is the very definition of a 8 point game, loose this and dogs take our place in the 8, then we have to wait till they or someone else slips up. No point saving Gawn if we don’t play finals

I don't think any single game is important enough to put the rest of Gawn's season in jeopardy. Even with Preuss potentially out, my position is still not to take any undue risks with Gawn. He only plays if he's 100%.

21 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

Agree that Brown is the man to replace Preuss this week with Tomlinson and T.Mac to share ruck duties.

The only question for me then is whether we need the flexibility and pace that Joel Smith provides, especially against the Dogs who are quick.

Goody will also want Hannan back in side, but I'm not sure how that happens as everyone was so good against the Pies.

Hannan out until he replaces one of Melk or fritz. We need to stick with the 2 big, 2 medium and 2 small mix.

Max will play, We win this and finals is very much on the radar. We should win v Freo/Syd/Ess which is 10 wins. Finals! 

My only concern with the Dogs is pace. Jones/Harmes. The latter might need to go to Bont if he gets the upper hand in the guts.

Could be an open game, depending on wind ferocity. Hannan/Bennell for Jones? Jonesy was ok but may need a freshen up.

Can't see too many changes this week.

In: Gawn and either Hannan/Bennell/Hunt/Jordan

Out: Preuss Jones

But if no Ruck, Tomlinson and TMac to share. Omac comes in. Can't allow Lever to be a key position. Hannan/Brown would need to come in as a marking forward. Windy conditions might favour Hannan.