PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Fremantle

[ManDee 7,148]

11 hours ago, DubDee said:

We finished 3 places higher than Freo last year. Therefore we are a better team. Fact. 

Sorry Dubby, we were better. Past tense.

[deelusions from afar 1,810]

12 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Any chance we can throw Hunt back into the forward line?

Is a natural goal kicker coming off a 4 goal game versus Essendon and blind Freddy can see that our fwd line aside from Fritsch can’t kick a goal to save themselves.

Won't happen.  Not a bad idea but Hunt has spent the pre-season training in the backline.  With the rule changes his explosive speed from defence can be a weapon again.

Our forward half doesn't look potent but I think v the dogs that was actually more about the midfield not getting it in there enough or in spots that we are able to lock it into.  I'm hoping that Kozzie / Chandler / Spargo / ANB / whichever resting midfielders are there can put on manic pressure that creates turnovers.   We looked ok v Richmond - lets see how we go with most of our midfield back.

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

13 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

My team with Melksham and Hibberd unavailable.

 

Has this been confirmed?  We need them

[Deemania since 56 6,639]

On 3/10/2021 at 9:13 AM, BScotti said:

Like it.  Probably only change I would make is to bring in Baker onto the bench instead of Chandler.  Just adds more flexibility.

Generally agree, except for Baker who has had a decent run and opportunity to 'pre-season' display himself. He is not setting the world on fire at the moment indicative of more time needed at the lower level. 

Also, looking at Action Jackson's suggested line-up, I'd reckon that Petty, at CHBack should swing to CHForward -  and CHForward should be TMac, not Jackson. That way, Tom's defensive capabilities and experience can be utilised and hopefully, Petty's talent can burn a few goals or opportunities.

Jackson is a mover moreso than a key position player at present. I suggest that he therefore be considered as a utility - albeit in the forward line - and importantly, in support of the smaller forward brigade rather than as an end to the forward penetration.Jackson has the ability, size and mobility to be a play-maker and a difficult object to hustle from the ball without umpiring penalties.

ANB is deserving of a forward spot and in weeks to come, will most probably prove to be a great support to Melksham, on return. In the interim, we are getting some value and confidence from ANB - if he can sustain it, well and good as he is playing better footy so far this year than he has in the past.

If we can beat Freo - despite the ramp of excuses that they project - we could be on the way....

 

[P-man 13,366]

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Generally agree, except for Baker who has had a decent run and opportunity to 'pre-season' display himself. He is not setting the world on fire at the moment indicative of more time needed at the lower level. 

Also, looking at Action Jackson's suggested line-up, I'd reckon that Petty, at CHBack should swing to CHForward -  and CHForward should be TMac, not Jackson. That way, Tom's defensive capabilities and experience can be utilised and hopefully, Petty's talent can burn a few goals or opportunities.

Jackson is a mover moreso than a key position player at present. I suggest that he therefore be considered as a utility - albeit in the forward line - and importantly, in support of the smaller forward brigade rather than as an end to the forward penetration.Jackson has the ability, size and mobility to be a play-maker and a difficult object to hustle from the ball without umpiring penalties.

ANB is deserving of a forward spot and in weeks to come, will most probably prove to be a great support to Melksham, on return. In the interim, we are getting some value and confidence from ANB - if he can sustain it, well and good as he is playing better footy so far this year than he has in the past.

If we can beat Freo - despite the ramp of excuses that they project - we could be on the way....

 

Nibbler’s value has significantly increased with rotations dropping to 75 and the return to full length quarters. The boy can run as far as the day is long. Couple that with what looks to be a spell of strong form and It wouldn’t surprise me to see him playing the majority of games this year.

This game is must win IMO. If we don’t, it’s not an overstatement to say that Goodwin immediately goes on notice. He’s essentially done that to himself by stating in so many words that top 4 is the pass mark. We simply ,must start the season on our home ground against Freo with a W.

Edited March 12, 2021 by P-man

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,833]

2 hours ago, deelusions from afar said:

Won't happen.  Not a bad idea but Hunt has spent the pre-season training in the backline.  With the rule changes his explosive speed from defence can be a weapon again.

Our forward half doesn't look potent but I think v the dogs that was actually more about the midfield not getting it in there enough or in spots that we are able to lock it into.  I'm hoping that Kozzie / Chandler / Spargo / ANB / whichever resting midfielders are there can put on manic pressure that creates turnovers.   We looked ok v Richmond - lets see how we go with most of our midfield back.

Agree that we need Hunt's explosiveness across half back and it will pay off at times. However he is such a low possession gatherer and compare that to another half back flanker in Jayden Short from Richmond who got about 40 touches other night.

Hunt doesn't get involved enough in the game. Not sure what happened since 2016/2017 as he was way more involved back then.

So I'm thinking a 7 possession 2 goal game at half forward is of more value to the team than a 13 possession game at half back with only a couple of decent carries of the ball.

I agree with your last point in that our forward line functioned as well as it could Vs Richmond considering we had Brown, Weid, Melksham and Kozzie missing.

[Diamond_Jim 12,588]

We need a T Mac miracle if we are going to salvage the first part of our season. In the two practice matches he has shown nothing to suggest that such a miracle will be forthcoming but we've lived in hope rather than expectation for so many of the last 50 years...

[P-man 13,366]

12 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

We need a T Mac miracle if we are going to salvage the first part of our season. In the two practice matches he has shown nothing to suggest that such a miracle will be forthcoming but we've lived in hope rather than expectation for so many of the last 50 years...

Someone else (Axis of Bob maybe?) posted our conversion from entries being basically the same as the Bulldogs. And we scored well against Richmond. Our failing against the Dogs was in the middle where we had no personnel. Well, that and our ball movement being noticeably sloppier than the opposition but that’s par for the course.

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

14 hours ago, DubDee said:

We finished 3 places higher than Freo last year. Therefore we are a better team. Fact. 

Nah they beat us when we had finals on the line. They are a better team.

[Dr.D 1,771]

15 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Any chance we can throw Hunt back into the forward line?

Is a natural goal kicker coming off a 4 goal game versus Essendon and blind Freddy can see that our fwd line aside from Fritsch can’t kick a goal to save themselves.

Hunt is a natural goal-kicker?. now I've heard it all. 

[spirit of norm smith 16,459]

Is Mitch Brown injured or underprepared? He was best on ground v Bombers in our last game of 2020. Had a pretty good last few rounds as an agile CHF. 

[The Swimming Dee 1,904]

This may have been said before but I would like to see Nathan Jones played forward. He is a reliable set shot, can win his own ball at stoppages and has some goal nous as evidenced in the game against Sydney at the SCG in 2019. It also spares me from watching him bomb it into the forward line

[forever demons 2,220]

Don't know why everyone looks to tmac to save the day or even compete at this level.He was a very ordinary chb ,cringeworthy most of the time,had a stellar few weeks when moved forward by suprise,then back to the same ol same ol

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,833]

6 hours ago, Dr.D said:

Hunt is a natural goal-kicker?. now I've heard it all. 

He actually is.

He’s a reliable set shot for goal and go back and watch his winning set shot for goal against Carlton in 2019 - 52 mtr set shot.

Or the 3 goals from 50 he kicked in round 18 last year.

Or the 75 mtr torpedo he kicked against Adelaide in 2017.

Or the accurate 21.10 he kicked in 2019 for a career total of 41.20.

Edited March 12, 2021 by Bring-Back-Powell

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,833]

Could Bowey do an Angus Brayshaw of 2015?

Little exposure in the pre season comp but hit the ground running in round 1. Just have a gut feel he could slot in straight away and contribute.

[binman 42,972]

5 hours ago, forever demons said:

Don't know why everyone looks to tmac to save the day or even compete at this level.He was a very ordinary chb ,cringeworthy most of the time,had a stellar few weeks when moved forward by suprise,then back to the same ol same ol

A stellar few weeks?

He came 6th in coleman with 50 odd goals in 2018.

Are you suggesting he kicked a bag of 10 for five weeks straight?

[dazzledavey36 54,944]

6 hours ago, The Swimming Dee said:

This may have been said before but I would like to see Nathan Jones played forward. He is a reliable set shot, can win his own ball at stoppages and has some goal nous as evidenced in the game against Sydney at the SCG in 2019. It also spares me from watching him bomb it into the forward line

He is being played forward.

[Wells 11 5,401]

51 minutes ago, binman said:

A stellar few weeks?

He came 6th in coleman with 50 odd goals in 2018.

Are you suggesting he kicked a bag of 10 for five weeks straight?

50 odd goals AND he missed the first 4 weeks of the season from memory. Tmac was a genuine forward force in 2018. 

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

After Caseys final hitout tonight, heres my team for Freo

 

B         Rivers              May               Lever

HB       Hunt             Tomlinson      Hibberd

C       Langdon           Oliver              ANB

HF      Chandler          Daw            Harmes

F        Jackson          Fritsch           Pickett               

R        Gawn             Petracca         Brayshaw

IC        Jones       Bowey       Spargo     Jordon

 

Emergencies    -     Sparrow   T Mac   Petty   Jetta

 

Salem, Viney, Melk not available

[dworship 3,342]

On 3/11/2021 at 9:27 PM, kev martin said:

Our practice game at Marvel, wasn't much chop.

Hoping when we play badly under the roof, we play better at the G.

Perhaps, the windy and open spaces at Casey set us up for that scenario. 

 

To say nothing of the width of the ground being the same as the G.

[dworship 3,342]

7 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

After Caseys final hitout tonight, heres my team for Freo

 

B         Rivers              May               Lever

HB       Hunt             Tomlinson      Hibberd

C       Langdon           Oliver              ANB

HF      Chandler          Daw            Harmes

F        Jackson          Fritsch           Pickett               

R        Gawn             Petracca         Brayshaw

IC        Jones       Bowey       Spargo     Jordon

 

Emergencies    -     Sparrow   T Mac   Petty   Jetta

 

Salem, Viney, Melk not available

You are delusional and that's a fact.

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

6 minutes ago, dworship said:

You are delusional and that's a fact.

Umm ok

[The Swimming Dee 1,904]

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

He is being played forward.

Sorry my post was not clear enough - I believe he is suited to a forward pocket

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,833]

29 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Umm ok

Your team is fine except that I don’t think Daw is AFL match fit ready, therefore T Mac reluctantly gets into the 22.

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

10 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Your team is fine except that I don’t think Daw is AFL match fit ready, therefore T Mac reluctantly gets into the 22.

Yeah I put ANB on a wing as he can run all day, my 2nd option would have been Tomlinson. Thats how desperate we are for mids who can spread and provide a counterpoint to our inside mids.

As for Daw,  he will at least give a contest and crash packs and is riding high on his second chance.  T Mac wont do anything and hasn't since 2018.