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CHANGES: Rd 15 vs Sydney

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in Melbourne Demons

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5 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

We're a side that is building form as a group when we've struggled to get any continuity into our 22. 

We can't afford to chop and change the side as much as having 8 players in/out in one week. There's no need to rest players for Rounds 17 and 18, and/or finals, if we don't win Rounds 15 and 16.

4 changes, maybe 5, will be enough to rotate the bottom half of the squad and find fresher legs for some tired expendable legs. Otherwise, we have to back our fitness in. 

We just made 6 changes and won.

Continuity would be good in a normal season but this ain’t. 

 
8 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

We just made 6 changes and won.

Continuity would be good in a normal season but this ain’t. 

Yes, we just brought 6 new players in. Do we need to send another 8 players out straight away?

1 minute ago, Fat Tony said:

We just made 6 changes and won.

Continuity would be good in a normal season but this ain’t. 

Interesting hearing Chris Scott on the footy show just then talking about continuity being more important than rotating players for freshness as you come into finals.

Hes obviously got some experience here, just thought it was interesting to hear.

Id like to hope we have our best 22 sorted very soon and hoping for minimal changes going forward.

 
34 minutes ago, Deeko2 said:

Interesting hearing Chris Scott on the footy show just then talking about continuity being more important than rotating players for freshness as you come into finals.

Hes obviously got some experience here, just thought it was interesting to hear.

Id like to hope we have our best 22 sorted very soon and hoping for minimal changes going forward.

Cats have a bye this week, so they don’t have to deal with the short breaks. 
 

And the Cats made 6 changes for the freo game which was the middle of their condensed fixture. 

    • Like 5

    I think our objective for the remainder of the H&A season is to win our way to finals, so best team every week. At no point take our foot off.

    Complementing that is to identify, solidify and get continuity into what the coaches see as our best 22 if/when we’re playing finals. 
    That said it’s a challenge to sort out the last 6 players in our best 22 at the moment.

    Edited by PaulRB

    • Like 1

    Problem is we would be replacing extra baggage with extra baggage.

    I would put Lockhart, Fritch and Bennell in. Replace Bennel the following game with Harmes but bring Bennell back for the last 2 games.

    Outs would be Hibberd (injured) kozzie (rest) and any one of about 1/2 a dozen other players.

    1 minute ago, dl4e said:

    Problem is we would be replacing extra baggage with extra baggage.

    I would put Lockhart, Fritch and Bennell in. Replace Bennel the following game with Harmes but bring Bennell back for the last 2 games.

    Outs would be Hibberd (injured) kozzie (rest) and any one of about 1/2 a dozen other players.

    I’m not convinced Bennell is “finals ready” in terms of defensive pressure and physicality. He’s one I’d almost put a line through for rest of 2020... despite his sublime skills.

    • Like 4

    Is it just me or are the afl continue to look after premiership/top sides with the fixture, eg tigers want travel for the remaining games baring the last one tbc inc a bye... very nice going into finals just like 2019 which was 6 games in Melb vs us play in Darwin then fly back @ 3am then 5 days to play in cairns. I’m certain the afl manufactured the fixture to suit top teams. 

    • Like 2
     
    6 minutes ago, dl4e said:

    Problem is we would be replacing extra baggage with extra baggage.

    I would put Lockhart, Fritch and Bennell in. Replace Bennel the following game with Harmes but bring Bennell back for the last 2 games.

    Outs would be Hibberd (injured) kozzie (rest) and any one of about 1/2 a dozen other players.

    The next two games are in a way irrelevant. Sure we have to win them and we should do so. Lose and we just aren't good enough.

    The key is putting together a competent team.The one that played last night did their job in the context of the match but they won't take us far.

    Bennell has to come in simply because he is the one potentially class player we have. I like Rivers but I think Pickett needs a couple of weeks off.

    The Jetta position needs to be resolved and I doubt that Wagner is the answer.

    Would love to know exactly where Jackson is but I think we need to settle on our third big man...MacDonald, Brown or Preuss. None excite but we need one.

    The other key to going anywhere this year is leveraging our ruck domination. Would like to see Gawn take the ball out of the ruck from time to time as well as belt it forward

    • Like 1
    5 minutes ago, Hogan2014 said:

    Is it just me or are the afl continue to look after premiership/top sides with the fixture, eg tigers want travel for the remaining games baring the last one tbc inc a bye... very nice going into finals just like 2019 which was 6 games in Melb vs us play in Darwin then fly back @ 3am then 5 days to play in cairns. I’m certain the afl manufactured the fixture to suit top teams. 

    Collingwood and Geelong did the hard yards with the Perth hub.

    West Coast have had a mixed bag. Half home, half very much away.

    Brisbane and to a lesser extent Port have been fortunate but that’s out of the AFLs control.

    Richmond do seem to have had a good run but they’ve lost Houli for a period and Edwards. The only difference in their fixture and ours seems to be we’re up to Cairns for a couple of games, not the end of the world. 

    • Like 1

    4 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    The next two games are in a way irrelevant. Sure we have to win them and we should do so. Lose and we just aren't good enough.

    The key is putting together a competent team.The one that played last night did their job in the context of the match but they won't take us far.

    Bennell has to come in simply because he is the one potentially class player we have. I like Rivers but I think Pickett needs a couple of weeks off.

    The Jetta position needs to be resolved and I doubt that Wagner is the answer.

    Would love to know exactly where Jackson is but I think we need to settle on our third big man...MacDonald, Brown or Preuss. None excite but we need one.

    The other key to going anywhere this year is leveraging our ruck domination. Would like to see Gawn take the ball out of the ruck from time to time as well as belt it forward

    Jackson is expected to return in round 18. It was a serious hamstring. 
     

    Transition defending remains our biggest weakness and Bennell shouldn’t be seen until that is fixed.

    Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw will make things happen in the midfield. We are one of very few sides that can create through the corridor.

    Keep learning to walk before we run. 

    2 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

    Suspended after Adelaide game since played North, Pies  Dogs and Saintd

    Thanks PSDee 

    3 hours ago, Jontee said:

    It's raining and cold here at the moment.

    Can I just say I've got tickets?

    I didn't know cold was possible in Cairns.

    But then again if you are a local cold for you is like 25 degrees.

    • Like 1

    Just get jones to 300 then let him retire plz so he doesn’t feature on this topic every week.

    He is on 294 so we have to play 2 finals. Long shot at that  - probably why he was so [censored] last week.

    Edited by CYB

    11 minutes ago, CYB said:

    Just get jones to 300 then let him retire plz so he doesn’t feature on this topic every week.

    He is on 294 so we have to play 2 finals. Long shot at that  - probably why he was so [censored] last week.

    I don’t think he is up to it, you want him to play the next four with shortened breaks and then two finals. 
    His performance nearly cost us the game last night!

    Maybe you can sneak him in at position #22 in the team, but he is slow, his skills not great nor his judgement.

    Is making the finals and winning a few, or Jones getting to 300, most important for the team?

    • Like 1

    So harsh on Jones & McDonald. I’ve just watched reply & without the emotion you can be more measured in your comments. Sure Jones coughed up some crucial disposals but he sure wasn’t alone there. Apart from those there was nothing wrong with his game. Oscar is so maligned ....I think the Saints forwards got maybe 4 goals & Oscar wasn’t responsible for one. The goal Membrey got ...he couldn’t have done a lot with that. He at different stages covered Membrey/Ryder & Marshall. Even when May was on Marshall in the last part of the game he was out marked twice. He also allows May & Lever play their game. For those who stated without May & Trac we would have lost...how many times has Dusty, Danger,Fyfe & to a lesser extent Bont dragged their teams over the line. That’s what X factor players do & we finally have one. We did to the Saints what Geelong did to us ...it was ugly but we won. One of the best games from Tomlinson & thought Vanders last qrt was pretty good. We are a young team in terms of building synergy but we have a core of I believe 15 straight up best 22...it’s working who our bottom 6 are & with a healthy list we will play around a bit with that.  Anyway I will always err on the side of positivity because I’m so sick of the repetitive boring negativity. Go Dees ?❤️?❤️?

    • Like 6

    2 issues dominate selection:

    1. 5 day turnaround heading towards finals (hopefully) means some players will get rotated in or out.
    2. Historically, Goodwin makes very few changes after a win.

    OUT: 

    OMac or Tomlinson (due to Sydney's short forward line)

    Kozzie. A lot of faffing about for little impact

    IN:

    Lochhart

    Fritsch (very frustrating but he is a goal kicker and demands a good backman play on him)

    14 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

    Is Fritsch a certainty?

    I quite enjoyed not having to put up with his momentum killing behinds. 

    Im with you let him earn his place. Spargo just has to go for Bennell, Oscar goes as there is no match up maybe Lockhart returns and the only other one might be either Hannan or Melksham for Nibbler??


    16 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Don't be surprised if Corey Wagner gets a call up for Kozzy. Has apparently been dominating in the lower level and could slot in to give Koz a rest.

    I know Spargo only had 7 disposals but he made some crucial tackles and I thought his pressure was better then most forwards.

     

    Totally agree about Spargo. He nailed some tackles at time where if they got through or broke the tackle they would’ve scored. He’s always buzzing around. His opportunity to score will come. 

    • Like 2
    2 hours ago, Hogan2014 said:

    Is it just me or are the afl continue to look after premiership/top sides with the fixture, eg tigers want travel for the remaining games baring the last one tbc inc a bye... very nice going into finals just like 2019 which was 6 games in Melb vs us play in Darwin then fly back @ 3am then 5 days to play in cairns. I’m certain the afl manufactured the fixture to suit top teams. 

    That has been the case for many years now H20.  It's a dog's breakfast and fully compromised fixture that will always favour/benefit the AFL's favs.

    Any team sitting outside their bubble (eg., us) will need to have one helluva team and year to win an 'outlier' premiership, a la the Doggies in 2016.

    1 hour ago, picket fence said:

    Im with you let him earn his place. Spargo just has to go for Bennell, Oscar goes as there is no match up maybe Lockhart returns and the only other one might be either Hannan or Melksham for Nibbler??

    There is no need to bring in a defender for the sake of bringing in a defender for O-Mac imo PF.

    Tomlinson can just as easily cover for O-Mac down back, allowing Lever to keep playing as the assist / 3rd man intercept that he does so well.

    What we need to get right is the outside run & carry / contested marking on the non-Ed wing as well as the forward / HF side clicking.

    Tomlinson does provide the marking part when he's there so need to try & cover this off.  Possibly Big Maxy, which is not uncommon anyway, but also the obvious for me here is Harmes.  Not so shabby overhead and does well as an effective intercept / counter sling shot player running off his man.

    He's our 6th best intercept player just ahead of Maxy & Salem.  But also well ahead of the competition such as Tomlinson, Jones, AVB, Harley, Hannan, Fritta & AVB.

    Outside of Tomlinson & Salem (who could share this role nicely with Harmes), he's also ahead of his main competitors for this transitional wing/ HF spot for meters gained in Jones, AVB & Harley this season.

    One area he isn't doing so well in though, pressure, sitting a fair way behind AVB.  On another physical pressure measure though, tackles, he isn't far behind Jones & AVB.

    All up Harmes (sharing the role with Salem + assists in the air from Maxy) would be my selection to replace AVB this week.  This allows Tomlinson to move back taking over O-Mac's role (omitted).

    Solve this other wing and we go a long way towards getting our forward 50 entries up.  Then it's just a matter (again) of getting the connection / mix / form right up forward.  This also means we can go through either wing from the kick outs and we become dangerous for the opp on either side.  Switching to this wing also then becomes a more dangerous option, forcing  our opponent to pay a little more respect to that side (ie., more options for us and not as predictable, placing a little more doubt / pressure on the opp to cover the non-Ed side).

    If we do these two things it improves our overall balance and in theory this should take our scoring and winning % to another level.

    Edited by Rusty Nails

    • Like 1
     
    18 hours ago, Flower Magic said:

    In: Fritsch, Harmes

    Out: Hannan, Pickett (managed)

    We can not afford to rest Pickett.

    We need more pressure players at that end of the field not less.

    Edit: Would be happy if we had a like for like replacement but I'm not sure we do - Corey Wagner or Bedford?

    Edited by Cheesy D. Pun

    14 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

    We can not afford to rest Pickett.

    We need more pressure players at that end of the field not less.

    Bring in someone to cover him then because he did very little this week and at some stage will require a rest. Dare I say it ANB could be in the frame. 


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