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CHANGES: Rd 15 vs Sydney

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2 hours ago, D4Life said:

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?

Let’s think about this seriously for a moment. Does this team have what it takes to win the flag this year? Within that lies your answer. 
 

Issue is if we have to carry him through until next year. Has he got another pre season left within him? Do we have a spot on our list to hold him for another year?

 

it would be cruel and a huge culture blow if the club stand in his way imo.

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    41 minutes ago, Pates said:

    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. 

    His contribution offensively has been minimal but his willingness to run up and back and put pressure on is so valuable. 

    I don't mind ANB as an in. Always gives everything. Would like to see him replace one of our mid fwds.

    The recipe I'd like to see is two bigs (Weid/?), one mid-size (Fritsch) and three pressure smalls (Pickett/Spargo/Bedford or C.Wagner or Chandler or ANB).

    We haven't tried that extra genuine pressure player and I don't think we'll have the boldness at the selection table to drop Melksham, but gee, I'd love to see us give it a crack.

     
    44 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

    His contribution offensively has been minimal but his willingness to run up and back and put pressure on is so valuable. 

    I don't mind ANB as an in. Always gives everything. Would like to see him replace one of our mid fwds.

    The recipe I'd like to see is two bigs (Weid/?), one mid-size (Fritsch) and three pressure smalls (Pickett/Spargo/Bedford or C.Wagner or Chandler or ANB).

    We haven't tried that extra genuine pressure player and I don't think we'll have the boldness at the selection table to drop Melksham, but gee, I'd love to see us give it a crack.

    I think the mix is two big forwards (Weid & Jacko/Brown/TMac) , two mid sized (Fritta & Melksham), two small/pressure forwards (Pickett, Spargo, ANB, Bedford, AvB). 

    Melksham was really good in the first quarter but when missing pretty badly after that  sort of came back with a couple of important touches in the last quarter.

     

    O Mac comments both predictable and ignorant. Membrey had 3 marks for 1 (lucky) goal. Second most 1%ers behind Lever, and more than any St Kilda player/defender. No accident that May and Lever always do better when Oscar is in the side. I'd also take Oscar over Tomlinson as a stay-at-home defender any day.

    Though whether there's a role for him against the Swans, hard to say.

    Otherwise, Fritsch in, someone out, then perhaps Lockhart for Hibberd or just rejig around Tomlinson. Plenty of calls for Bennell, but from reports, he's not been exactly setting the house on fire in the two's (practice matches). Could be wrong.

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    20 hours ago, wheaters31 said:

    I want Oscar McDonald out and never picked again. Sydney aren't tall, and I thought he was terrible. 

    This bloke is mere sabotage to our team. Slow, scared, missing, error-ridden, non-combative, clumsy, chicken-hearted and lazy. 

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    2 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

    This bloke is mere sabotage to our team. Slow, scared, missing, error-ridden, non-combative, clumsy, chicken-hearted and lazy. 

    Obviously unless you are getting 45 possessions and taking 12 uncontested marks, they are no good. Last night showed that a lot of players did not get high possessions, but a hell of a lot did the team thing. We are in the position that if May, Gawn, Petracca, Oliver and Brayshaw /Viney dominate the rest can really play a team game. Their role is to not lose control (which does not show up on the stats sheet.)

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    8 minutes ago, bing181 said:

    O Mac comments both predictable and ignorant. Membrey had 3 marks for 1 (lucky) goal. Second most 1%ers behind Lever, and more than any St Kilda player/defender. No accident that May and Lever always do better when Oscar is in the side. I'd also take Oscar over Tomlinson as a stay-at-home defender any day.

    Though whether there's a role for him against the Swans, hard to say.

    Otherwise, Fritsch in, someone out, then perhaps Lockhart for Hibberd or just rejig around Tomlinson. Plenty of calls for Bennell, but from reports, he's not been exactly setting the house on fire in the two's (practice matches). Could be wrong.

    Agreed. He'll be in and out of the team based on matchups. 

    The criticism of him is mostly one-dimensional opinion with nothing solid to back it up.

    He's not a great player by any stretch but he's capable of playing a role when he's not left one out.

    Edited by Cheesy D. Pun

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    2 hours ago, Megatron said:

    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. 

    I actually think that Spargo has more substance at the moment than Kozzie (who will be very good) Spargo is only 20 ,in his 3rd season AND HIS TACKLES STICK  which creates forward pressure.

    I also think Wagner was good after a nervous start. Has pace and is a great team person . Presents.

    We are obsessed with stats and get excited about 25 possessions. However there are people in the team who "run with" and provide "the get out of strife" option. These roles do not have high stats ,but are integral to the team performance.

    I remember Roos saying one night that Jeremy Howe played the best 1 possession half he had seen . Richmond have it imbued into them .

    • Like 4

    ANB in for Spargo

    Fritsch for Hannan

    Harmes  for AvB

    Rest stays unchanged unless Hibberd is out injured and then Hunt and a shuffle of the above to cover

    OMac was fine, did his job as a bog standard defensive brick


    29 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

    This bloke is mere sabotage to our team. Slow, scared, missing, error-ridden, non-combative, clumsy, chicken-hearted and lazy. 

    Other than that, he goes alright though 

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    31 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

    This bloke is mere sabotage to our team. Slow, scared, missing, error-ridden, non-combative, clumsy, chicken-hearted and lazy. 

    BFS

    He is perfectly suited as 3rd defender 

    42 minutes ago, bing181 said:

    O Mac comments both predictable and ignorant. Membrey had 3 marks for 1 (lucky) goal. Second most 1%ers behind Lever, and more than any St Kilda player/defender. No accident that May and Lever always do better when Oscar is in the side. I'd also take Oscar over Tomlinson as a stay-at-home defender any day.

    Though whether there's a role for him against the Swans, hard to say.

    Otherwise, Fritsch in, someone out, then perhaps Lockhart for Hibberd or just rejig around Tomlinson. Plenty of calls for Bennell, but from reports, he's not been exactly setting the house on fire in the two's (practice matches). Could be wrong.

    This was my concern also regarding Oscar. Sydney have two talls in Reid and McCartin and the rest are all small to medium forwards. Not sure where Oscar fits in there. Don't get me wrong, I thought he played a handy game with a few errors, but right now I can't see a match up for him.

    I'd leave him out for this week only and bring in an extra runner in Baker and move Tomlinson down back again as he's more mobile and can play on those medium forwards. 

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    15 minutes ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

    ANB in for Spargo

    Fritsch for Hannan

    Harmes  for AvB

    Rest stays unchanged unless Hibberd is out injured and then Hunt and a shuffle of the above to cover

    OMac was fine, did his job as a bog standard defensive brick

    I agree Fritsch for Hannan but that’s about it. Gotta keep Spargo and Vanders in. 
    Omac fees up Lever to intercept but makes me nervous when he has the ball in hand

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    9 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

    IN: Lockhart, Bedford, Fritsch

    OUT: Hibberd (inj), Kozzy (rest), vandenBerg

     

    Who do you have on the wing? Tomlinson?


    51 minutes ago, bing181 said:

    O Mac comments both predictable and ignorant. Membrey had 3 marks for 1 (lucky) goal. Second most 1%ers behind Lever, and more than any St Kilda player/defender. No accident that May and Lever always do better when Oscar is in the side. I'd also take Oscar over Tomlinson as a stay-at-home defender any day.

    Though whether there's a role for him against the Swans, hard to say.

    Otherwise, Fritsch in, someone out, then perhaps Lockhart for Hibberd or just rejig around Tomlinson. Plenty of calls for Bennell, but from reports, he's not been exactly setting the house on fire in the two's (practice matches). Could be wrong.

    Membrey could have had 3 though. Missed one shot and there was another where he was in space but the kick missed him, IIRC.

    But that's not the part of the game that Oscar struggles with. It's everything else. He looked to have gained composure and confidence in transition early this year but that's all gone. He's back to looking lost, wanting to get rid of it whenever he gets a handball receive, and being pushed under/past the ball. His kicking is usually good but even that wasn't a lock for him last night with one awful turnover that stands out.

    I'm also not sure OMac is responsible for May and Lever's improved form. May and Lever have been building all year and our whole-team defence was top-notch in all the games OMac didn't play the last month other than the Dogs.

    In saying all that, I accept there is a structural benefit to playing him. But I don't think he played well last night and I disagree with the notion that criticism of him is misguided.

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    57 minutes ago, bing181 said:

    O Mac comments both predictable and ignorant. Membrey had 3 marks for 1 (lucky) goal. Second most 1%ers behind Lever, and more than any St Kilda player/defender. No accident that May and Lever always do better when Oscar is in the side. I'd also take Oscar over Tomlinson as a stay-at-home defender any day.

    Though whether there's a role for him against the Swans, hard to say.

    Otherwise, Fritsch in, someone out, then perhaps Lockhart for Hibberd or just rejig around Tomlinson. Plenty of calls for Bennell, but from reports, he's not been exactly setting the house on fire in the two's (practice matches). Could be wrong.

    May and Lever play pretty well without Oscar too.

    Oscar was deliberately responsible for the Marshall goal just before half time. He had a clear chance of the spoil, lumbered to the contest and let the ball spill straight to Marshall to crumb. 

    He also was responsible for the Ryder goal I think in the 3rd. Ran straight under the ball.
     

    Plus the easy Membrey lead. Plus the easy Marshall mark in the first. 
     

    The Saints kicked 7 for the night and Oscar gave up 3 of them. 

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    9 minutes ago, BAMF said:

    Who do you have on the wing? Tomlinson?

    Yeah guess so. Considered dropping OMac for Harmes, but thought maybe that's too many changes?

    Ins   Harmes , Bennell  and Fritch 

    Out  Kossi    to collect his thoughts and  regroup.

            Hannan  One good game for the year doesn't cut it. Needs to go back and work on his deficiencies. 

            Jones or spargo  cannot split,  keep experience or a crumber ?

     

     

    • Like 1
    16 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

    Yeah guess so. Considered dropping OMac for Harmes, but thought maybe that's too many changes?

    Omac has no match up this weekend as Sydney only play the two key forwards. I'd be dropping Oscar too.


    Just now, dazzledavey36 said:

    Omac has no match up this weekend as Sydney only play the two key forwards. I'd be dropping Oscar too.

    Alright, you guys have convinced me. Add him into the outs. Who gets Paps you reckon? Lockhart?

    Two things I've noticed with Oscar. He's the only player I've seen get led under the ball by an opponent who is in front of him, which means he's not watching the ball. Also he often seems to lack intensity. Didn't think he was terrible last night but always seems to frustrate.

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    19 hours ago, Skuit said:

    In all seriousness though: Pickett looks like he could do with a rest. 

    Also the perfect opportunity to switch out Jones for Harmes.

    Our structure seems more important this year than actual personnel. 

    So Omac stays unless we go small and recall Jetta or Lockhart.   

    Fritter (& Hunt) in for AVB and Hannan maybe. Also looking forward to Bennell. 

    Melksham will never be dropped so I'm wasting my time talking about it. 

    Hibberd i think unlikely to take the field and it shouldn't be rushed. 

    Out: Jones, AVB, Hibberd.

    In: Harmes, Fritsch, Hunt. 

    This looks about right to me.

    Just watching the replay and there’s no way Hannan should keep his spot. Was poor almost every time the ball went near him.

    Agree with earlier comment about Spargs’ defensive pressure being better than most. Should retain his spot on that basis.

    Pickett due for a rest.

    I’m wary to drop Oscar when May played arguably his best game of the year and Lever played his natural game.

    Wouldn’t mind see Hunt given an opportunity although I’d be happy for Demoniand villain Nibbler to come in. And time to release the Harley.

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