CHANGES: Rd 18 vs Essendon

[Vineytime 847]

Out - Hunt, Jetta, ANB

In - Harmes, Sparrow , Hibbo. 

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Fritsch needs to make way for Harmes

Harmes offers a contest and is not useless when the ball hits the ground

[Biffen 12,941]

People have it in for ANB.

At least he can kick a drop punt.

Ditto for Fritsch.

General skills across the board are pretty poor.

 

[Half forward flank 1,022]

I would consider no change, even allowing for some poor individual performances,

AVB maybe, but you cannot bring in Harmes, no form line.

ANB, maybe, but he kicked an early goal,

Jetta maybe, but he is heart and soul.

I might just roll the winning dice.

[Smokey 4,389]

10 hours ago, Dr.D said:

most important game for the year? you've got to be kidding? The game of the year was vs Sydney and then consequently Freo. These games are meaningless.We can't make finals unless some big upsets happen. 

So we can still make the finals, but the next game is meaningless. 
 

Righto champ lol 

[Dr.D 1,771]

Out: Viney

In: Harmes

it won't happen though

[Ham 741]

10 hours ago, AaronDaveyChipsAndGravey said:

Harmes for ANB
Hibberd for Jetta
Jackson for Brown (if fit)

Harmes has to be the mid rotation through the fwd line, AVB just couldnt offer anything from the centre offensively and ANB just doesnt give us enough across the board. Jetta looked off the pace regardless of his ankle injury (his body on the line in the last was massive but if you cant offer much more than that you just cant play), however if the Pig isnt right, Lockhart would come in. I liked Brown's game. Was a good high high half forward and work rate was great so would be stiffed to be dropped, but if Jackson is right to go he offers our structure a lot more with Gawn able to go forward. 

I rate this, highly.

Also, on the point of Jackson providing, he does a significant amount to help Weid get into the game as well. 

[Dr.D 1,771]

3 minutes ago, Smokey said:

So we can still make the finals, but the next game is meaningless. 
 

Righto champ lol 

So even in the 5% chance that we make finals. We lose first round anyway. The football we have showed this year and especially in recent weeks has already shown we don'tdeserve to play finals. Good teams dont get hammered by Freo and Sydney

Edited September 12, 2020 by Dr.D

[NeveroddoreveN 1,034]

9 hours ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I'm tentatively throwing Tomlinson in the out column. He just really seems to lack effort and toughness.

He's probably doing a bit that we can't see on TV, but he is genuinely the most frustrating player on our list.

I'm really hoping for Jacko to come back in to provide a bit of assistance to Weideman. The Weid is starting to look tired but don't think we can afford to rest him.

I must watch a different game.  Tomlinson has been one of our most consistent performers over the last month at least.  He gets in the right spots, holds most marks that come his way, is neat by hand or foot.  Definitely goes hard when it is his turn to go. No way he will get dropped with his body of work.  When he was dropped earlier in the season that was for lack of effort.  Since then he has shown himself to be a very valuable player for us. Constantly doing the team things, has been a great pickup for us imo, and has some versatility to play a number of positions/roles.  

[NeveroddoreveN 1,034]

35 minutes ago, Half forward flank said:

I would consider no change, even allowing for some poor individual performances,

AVB maybe, but you cannot bring in Harmes, no form line.

ANB, maybe, but he kicked an early goal,

Jetta maybe, but he is heart and soul.

I might just roll the winning dice.

Jetta will not play, his last heroic effort saw him get injured :P

[DeeSpencer 25,673]

32 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

So even in the 5% chance that we make finals. We lose first round anyway. The football we have showed this year and especially in recent weeks has already shown we don'tdeserve to play finals. Good teams dont get hammered by Freo and Sydney

If the Bulldogs get hammered by Freo - who are actually a very competent side right now - then do we just have a 7 team finals series?

We’ll be very lucky to make it, but someone has to. Along with Essendon we haven’t had a bye and have played 14 or so games in about 12 weeks. Including FIFO trips to Cairns on 4 day breaks after playing in Alice.

Finals experience is finals experience. If it’s on offer we damn well take it an run 

[DeeSpencer 25,673]

6 minutes ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

I must watch a different game.  Tomlinson has been one of our most consistent performers over the last month at least.  He gets in the right spots, holds most marks that come his way, is neat by hand or foot.  Definitely goes hard when it is his turn to go. No way he will get dropped with his body of work.  When he was dropped earlier in the season that was for lack of effort.  Since then he has shown himself to be a very valuable player for us. Constantly doing the team things, has been a great pickup for us imo, and has some versatility to play a number of positions/roles.  

He’s been an awful waste of salary cap. Can only play 1 position - 3rd tall defender. He contributed 7 disposals and 95m gained which is stuff all for an apparently skilled player. And his lack of mobility at ground level continues to be costly.

He won’t be dropped because he’s probably the best of a bunch of bad options and likely does a lot of work off camera but Burgo has to work a miracle to get agility in to him over summer. 

[NeveroddoreveN 1,034]

2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

He’s been an awful waste of salary cap. Can only play 1 position - 3rd tall defender. He contributed 7 disposals and 95m gained which is stuff all for an apparently skilled player. And his lack of mobility at ground level continues to be costly.

He won’t be dropped because he’s probably the best of a bunch of bad options and likely does a lot of work off camera but Burgo has to work a miracle to get agility in to him over summer. 

You must miss Oscar.  Can't agree with any of what you said above.  He is not getting paid a fortune.

[Demon_spurs 1,846]

Brown played well up the ground last night,  even into the defensive 50. Drop Smith play Brown back, (This also gives us the flexibility to push him forward if somethings not working)

In: Hibberd Jackson

Out: Jetta (inj) Smith

[Deespicable 2,726]

Five potential ins - Hibberd, Harmes, Lockhart, Sparrow and Jackson with three of them facing fitness test.

Four potential outs with only one a gimme - Jetta (injured). Hibberd will be first cab in if fit and if not it is a question of Lockhart v Harmes.

The other three potential outs that I don't think will happen are: 

Smith - tough call given he plays so tight, but ultimately with Thommo playing the third tall and Hibberd back, we can afford a second small defender and Lockhart gives us the extra offense. If Hibberd doesn't get up I'd expect Smith to stay.

Removal of a small up forward - I've said it before but having three mega-smalls is unsustainable in finals or against good sides. We got away with it against the Giants but whilst I get Goody wants pressure like Richmond, the Tigers only play two tiny's and significantly dropped their third one (Higgins) when it counted against Cats. If by chance we make finals and head to Perth, then Jackson as our mobile tall third forward is a must.

Baker - even tougher call than Smith given his contribution goalwise against Giants, but Vanders was preferred on wing when it counted and if Harmes is fit, he has to play and given that coach has figured out that playing Petracca from goalsquare at times is not such a bad thing, then Harmes can even come back to a midfield role and tag Merrett.

[drysdale demon 4,830]

10 hours ago, Dr.D said:

you'll come around. The dees will lose to the bombers next week and I'll just be shaking my head at people like you that start venting weeks after when the season was really lost. 

Which team do you actually support and why are you wasting time being on this site?

[old55 23,541]

10 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Had a very good second half and we aren't dropping one of our best pressure players for a poor one.

Interesting that the coach thought the best place for ANB, aerobically fittest at the club, was on the bench with rookies Pickett and Baker when the heat was on in the final minutes.

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,765]

1 hour ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

I must watch a different game.  Tomlinson has been one of our most consistent performers over the last month at least.  He gets in the right spots, holds most marks that come his way, is neat by hand or foot.  Definitely goes hard when it is his turn to go. No way he will get dropped with his body of work.  When he was dropped earlier in the season that was for lack of effort.  Since then he has shown himself to be a very valuable player for us. Constantly doing the team things, has been a great pickup for us imo, and has some versatility to play a number of positions/roles.  

I don't disagree with this and it's part of the frustration.

There are several times in every game where there's a ground ball to be won, and he just stands there.

He's a huge unit and I'd love to see him start using his body to advantage.

You are right to point out his flexibility and I think this helps create a more balanced structure overall but he needs to bring more heat to the contest, if he's going to hang onto his spot.

[old55 23,541]

I feel sorry for Weid - KPF at MFC is the worst job description in the AFL with the chaos ball coming in on your head everytime surrounded by 3 tall defenders.  He played in impossible conditions in Cairns for two weeks and has been beaten up for countless matches in a row with short turnarounds.  Brown offers something but he doesn't offer another tall contested target and the less said about Preuss up there the better.

Changes:

Nev is my favourite player but he is totally cooked (like Nathan Jones) after years of punishment.  Showed his never-ending courage last night but he's a shadow of his former self.  Hibberd is the likely replacement.

I'm just not a believer in ANB and it seems the FD isn't either - 64% gametime for the fittest player at the club.  Harmes is a far preferable option.

Most of the debate about whether Luke Jackson should play is around swapping him for Brown, but I think Brown offers a target up and down the ground, was desperately unlucky to be dropped after the Swans game and played some smart football in the last quarter.  I'd retain him and Weid and bring Jackson in for Jayden Hunt.  Jacko can do everything Hunt can do and better.

In: Hibberd, Harmes, Jackson

Out: Nev, ANB, Hunt

[DeeSpencer 25,673]

36 minutes ago, Pollyanna said:

Interesting that the coach thought the best place for ANB, aerobically fittest at the club, was on the bench with rookies Pickett and Baker when the heat was on in the final minutes.

Brown and even Fritsch had made their way to spare defenders by then. So we had a 4 man forward line. Weid for a tall, Melk and Hunt as guys who can halve contests against multiple opponents and that leaves room for just the one small.

 

[Smokey 4,389]

39 minutes ago, Pollyanna said:

Interesting that the coach thought the best place for ANB, aerobically fittest at the club, was on the bench with rookies Pickett and Baker when the heat was on in the final minutes.

I noticed the same. How good is it 

[old55 23,541]

3 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Brown and even Fritsch had made their way to spare defenders by then. So we had a 4 man forward line. Weid for a tall, Melk and Hunt as guys who can halve contests against multiple opponents and that leaves room for just the one small.

 

That probably means it was Spargo ahead of ANB.

Edited September 13, 2020 by Pollyanna

[Skuit 10,031]

Why does ANB always have his mouth open? 

[demon3165 2,717]

13 hours ago, D4Life said:

Change the kick out strategy!

Giants swarmed Gawn and picked it off us so many times!!

That's been happing all year!!!

[P-man 13,366]

Why do people have it in for ANB so much? It’s really a bit crazy.