A few changes here and there isn't the priority. A lift from our midfield is what's really needed.

But there are a few changes to be made.

Looks like Sparrow's going to be out for a while. Will Jones get his spot back?

Fingers crossed Gawn's fit and can come back in. Should be for Preuss. However, I'm not a fan of TMac's current form and I think we need to consider dropping him. But we may be reaching too many changes.

And finally, Melksham. We know Goodwin/the FD rate him given he was captain vs North. But this is probably the 8th game he's played this year which simply isn't good enough. Another 50m conceded, another weak defensive game, and to top it all off a set shot kicked into the man on the mark. IMO, those sorts of performances should result in being dropped, particularly when they're on the back of a year of largely poor performances. Bennell could be a replacement.

I'd keep Pickett in because there's no better option out of the side and he did lay 5 tackles to his credit, but he keeps being close without actually converting that into a solid performance. Maybe he needs to kick an early goal to get into it, and he had two chances today. 

Sparrow out with Jones back in will sort the outside run issues ?

IN: Jones (or Jordon if Jones isn't right), Bedford, Hunt, Rivers, Gawn

OUT: Sparrow (inj), Melksham, vandenBerg, Hannan, Preuss

 

Move Harmes into Sparrow's role. Also feel it's time to change up the forward mix, get more run in there and less midsized forwards who don't tackle. Wouldn't be against Brown for TMac either.

 

We all love vanders, but 5 turnovers and 2 clangers from 11 disposals and 1 tackle is not helping us.

Edited August 22, 20205 yr by Lord Nev

I know Bedford is playing as a forward but he has great endurance. Could he play mid for sparrow? Or is this something for the future years?

Surely it’s time to give Bennell another shot at it. Gawn in, as Preuss showed a lack of footy smarts and that Max is light years ahead of him. I’d like to see Salem moved up the ground. He was fairly ordinary today. Hibberd is not the answer off half back either. He butchers every kick. I’d look at Rivers back in for either Hibbo or Lockhart. Jones for Sparrow the obvious one. 

15 minutes ago, Nelo said:

I know Bedford is playing as a forward but he has great endurance. Could he play mid for sparrow? Or is this something for the future years?

Bring in Bedford for sure, huge tank and some zip.

Saints are a great running team and quick, so this is the week to get him in. 

Gawn comes in for Preuss.  That is a no brainer.

Sparrow out opens up a few possibilities.  Do they push Harmes up the field and bring in Rivers?  Or, if he is right to go, does Jones come straight back in?

There are others they might look at, but it's a bit like deckchairs at the minute.  I mean, dropping a Pickett is something that will come up, but is swapping him for Bennell only making the issue of pressure even worse for us?

Some want to give Bedford a run but the bloke hasn't been in the mix since Round 1.  I can't see them wanting to rush him in to the side.

I think it will end up being

In:  Gawn, Jones

Out:  Preuss, Sparrow

I'll be surprised if Jones comes back, quads aren't 6 day injuries, and his punch suggested more than just cautionary tightness. 

Harmes has been very poor down back, although I'm unsure if they'll drop a senior player. Id like to see Rivers take his spot.

Bennell will come in for Sparrow if Jones isnt right. His disposal at least adds a point of difference. Also, any other change options will result in reshuffling (ie Omac in, Tomlinson to the wing).

Gawn back if fit. I think Preuss has given us more than TMac has the last two weeks, so i'd drop TMac and try to use Gawn or Preuss forward of the ball. 

Melksham has been terrible but does keep generating scoring opportunities, so will probably hold his spot. 

Out: Sparrow (inj.), Harmes, Preuss/Tmac 

In: Bennell, Rivers, Gawn, 

In -  Gawn, Bedford, Bennell,  Rivers

Out - Sparrow,  T Mac,  Hannan, Spargo

 

Start Preuss forward, I said last week he couldnt do any worse than T Mac and I stand by that.

Edited August 22, 20205 yr by Pickett2Jackson

Goodwin and Tom McDonald. 

19 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Surely it’s time to give Bennell another shot at it.

From what I've heard, they're aiming for the Freo game for his return, could be back for the Sydney one though. Just part of his management.

 

We don't see the scratch matches or training so it's really hard to tell if there's anything there.

Tempted to play Brown in place of T mac assuming Gawn plays and use Tomlinson for relief if needed in the ruck.

Not sure on Pickett or Spargo but if we are to challenge this year they need to play.

Hannan Melksham and AVB are all on the edge but is there anybody better? No use just trying in hope (Of course lose next week and we may as well experiment.)

Bennell is the quandary but my guess is not yet and maybe not this year.

10 minutes ago, deanox said:

I'll be surprised if Jones comes back, quads aren't 6 day injuries, and his punch suggested more than just cautionary tightness. 

Harmes has been very poor down back, although I'm unsure if they'll drop a senior player. Id like to see Rivers take his spot.

Bennell will come in for Sparrow if Jones isnt right. His disposal at least adds a point of difference. Also, any other change options will result in reshuffling (ie Omac in, Tomlinson to the wing).

Gawn back if fit. I think Preuss has given us more than TMac has the last two weeks, so i'd drop TMac and try to use Gawn or Preuss forward of the ball. 

Melksham has been terrible but does keep generating scoring opportunities, so will probably hold his spot. 

Out: Sparrow (inj.), Harmes, Preuss/Tmac 

In: Bennell, Rivers, Gawn, 

Why don’t they revert back to playing Harmes as a tagger? Seemed to work. 

out: pickett, harmes, Preuss, tmac, sparrow 

in: bedford, jordan, gawn (if fit), brown, chandler    

there's no way jones would come up you'd think if he's got issues with his quad

sparrow and preuss are clearly going to be out and then i guess it becomes about what forward make-up we want

melksham, avb, pickett, and hannan all should be under the gun, as should t mac, harmes and lockhart, but i don't think there's much depth to replace them with - don't see any of the wagners, hunt, o mac near best 22 personally

who knows what they'll do, but personally i'd go with...

OUT: hannan, preuss, t mac (all omit), sparrow (inj)
IN: gawn, bennell (but i wouldn't be surprised if it was more of a mid selected, so possibly jordan to debut?), rivers, brown

harmes to replace jones in the hff moving up into the midfield, rivers as the 7th defender, bennell to try and encourage pickett, spargo, melksham to apply some defensive pressure...would be handy if he could too...and brown to offer better ground ball involvement than tommy mac

gawn will be going up against ryder and marshall, who are working together in tandem very well, so they could also opt to try preuss instead of brown as a forward but i somehow doubt it

Desperately need pace

 

In: Gawn, Rivers, Bedford, Baker, Brown, Hunt

Out: Tmac, Sparrow, Spargo, Pickett, Hannan, Lockhart

IN: JONES, BROWN, RIVERS, GAWN, BENNELL, BEDFORD

OUT: SPARGO, T.MCDONALD, HARMES, PREUSS, SPARROW, HANNAN

Edited August 22, 20205 yr by WERRIDEE

9 minutes ago, Nelo said:

Why don’t they revert back to playing Harmes as a tagger? Seemed to work. 

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/teams/melbourne/how-melbourne-stumbled-on-a-gun-tagger-in-james-harmes/news-story/d09d859f1cc5c6c9c507473a5fc0e49b

Harmes went into the midfield with Viney out and Petracca forward. He is behind Clarry, Truck, Viney and Brayshaw for a spot in there. 

40 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Surely it’s time to give Bennell another shot at it. Gawn in, as Preuss showed a lack of footy smarts and that Max is light years ahead of him. I’d like to see Salem moved up the ground. He was fairly ordinary today. Hibberd is not the answer off half back either. He butchers every kick. I’d look at Rivers back in for either Hibbo or Lockhart. Jones for Sparrow the obvious one. 

Nope not against the saints. He has zero pressure in his game.

In; Gawn, Bennell, Rivers, Jones 

out: Harmes, Preuss, Sparrow, Spargo 

Out: Preuss  In: Gawn
Out: Sparrow  In: Rivers
Out: Melksham  In: Hunt

FB: Hibberd  May  Tomlinson
HB:  Rivers  Lever  Salem
C;  Vanders   Oliver   Langdon
HF: Spargo  McDonald   Pickett
FF: Hannan  Weid  Fritsch
Foll: Gawn  Petracca Viney
Int: Lockhart Brayshaw  Harmes   Hunt 

6 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Out: Preuss  In: Gawn
Out: Sparrow  In: Rivers
Out: Melksham  In: Hunt

FB: Hibberd  May  Tomlinson
HB:  Rivers  Lever  Salem
C;  Vanders   Oliver   Langdon
HF: Spargo  McDonald   Pickett
FF: Hannan  Weid  Fritsch
Foll: Gawn  Petracca Viney
Int: Lockhart Brayshaw  Harmes   Hunt 

First two changes I can get around.

Not sure about Hunt for Melksham (I'm in favour of dropping Melksham though). I accept St Kilda is fast but is Hunt reliable enough to use his pace to our advantage?

16 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

IN: JONES, BROWN, RIVERS, GAWN, BENNELL, BEDFORD

OUT: SPARGO, T.MCDONALD, HARMES, PREUSS, SPARROW, HANNAN

B: LOCKHART, MAY, LEVER

HB: HIBBERD, TOMLINSON, SALEM

C : LANGDON, PETRACCA, VANDENBERG

HF: MELKSHAM, BROWN, FRITSCH

F: PICKETT, WEIDEMAN, BEDFORD

FOLL: GAWN, OLIVER, VINEY

IC: JONES, BRAYSHAW, BENNELL, RIVERS

4 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

First two changes I can get around.

Not sure about Hunt for Melksham (I'm in favour of dropping Melksham though). I accept St Kilda is fast but is Hunt reliable enough to use his pace to our advantage?

Melksham has to go if Goodwin is fair dinkum about setting a culture of professionalism.

Hunt's the best of a bunch of suboptimal choices. I'd play him as the 3rd wingman as well as forward. Harmes to play forward/mid.

10 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Out: Preuss  In: Gawn
Out: Sparrow  In: Rivers
Out: Melksham  In: Hunt

FB: Hibberd  May  Tomlinson
HB:  Rivers  Lever  Salem
C;  Vanders   Oliver   Langdon
HF: Spargo  McDonald   Pickett
FF: Hannan  Weid  Fritsch
Foll: Gawn  Petracca Viney
Int: Lockhart Brayshaw  Harmes   Hunt 

Agree on first two, plus

Out Pickett, needs a break.  In Hunt

Out Hannan, gap between good & bad games is too wide. In Bedford or Bennell or Smith