The conversations around Gus are interesting, on the one hand he’s one of my favourite players and it actually frustrates me seeing him played in a position I know isn’t natural to him. But here’s the thing, if we need him playing that role and for the team it’s creating the right balance to allow us to win matches then so be it. 

If it means every week he’s getting around 18-22 touch’s and playing in a supporting role then so be it. Whatever gets us into the best position to be in contention. 

  On 01/04/2021 at 05:56, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I'm not a fan of having two of ours tackling one of theirs. It means the opposition has a spare player somewhere, usually nearby, and if the ball does get released, that spare player may be off to the races before we know it.

Yes indeed you highlight a concern and potential error,  but, it just shows how much more intensity and pressure we are placing on the other side,  but yes if the other sides spare can get into it we lose out perhaps

  On 28/03/2021 at 07:08, Demon Dude said:

Weideman kicks goals, Jackson doesn't. but they're not really competing for a spot imo, like i said before i think it's TMac and BB that are competing for the same role, then it's between TMac and Jackson as the 3rd/back up ruck. both TMac and Brown aren't great at contested marks and are better suited at lead up roles. i doubt we'll play both of them if all are fit, and i'd expect BB to be more dangerous than TMac. nothing wrong with what TMac is doing this year but i just think Brown will do it better.

Weid is a better option than Jackson down forward, jako is a terrible setshot.

1st world problems but I'm finding the lack of team announcements on Thursday very irritating. Was hoping that would be reinstated for this season.

I see Chunk Jones is expecting twins. A good incentive to play well - he’ll need a 5 year contract to pay for that lot.

  On 02/04/2021 at 03:25, Ugottobekidding said:

Weid is a better option than Jackson down forward, jako is a terrible setshot.

First you have to get the ball!

  On 02/04/2021 at 06:04, old dee said:

First you have to get the ball!

We need Jacko to do 2nd tuck duties refer Last week  vs Ssints.

  On 02/04/2021 at 06:49, 58er said:

We need Jacko to do 2nd tuck duties refer Last week  vs Ssints.

Yep, sadly the Weid is no automatic selection.

Team?

 

  On 02/04/2021 at 08:24, Damo said:

Team?

 

announced tomorrow evening

  On 02/04/2021 at 03:43, Nascent said:

1st world problems but I'm finding the lack of team announcements on Thursday very irritating. Was hoping that would be reinstated for this season.

Considering that the clubs generally pick their teams on a Tuesday with a proviso on 1 or 2 being fit enough to play,  not getting the teams until the day before is an unnecessary delay

If anything, we could get the weekend teams as early as a Wednesday evening.  If there are a few late changes so what?  We've had that scenario for decades anyway (late changes)

The rest of it all is just ducks & drakes with the AFL kowtowing to the coaches (again)

You have to wonder who actually runs the sport these days

  On 02/04/2021 at 09:22, Macca said:

Considering that the clubs generally pick their teams on a Tuesday with a proviso on 1 or 2 being fit enough to play,  not getting the teams until the day before is an unnecessary delay

If anything, we could get the weekend teams as early as a Wednesday evening.  If there are a few late changes so what?  We've had that scenario for decades anyway (late changes)

The rest of it all is just ducks & drakes with the AFL kowtowing to the coaches (again)

You have to wonder who actually runs the sport these days

The broadcasters most of the time.

  On 02/04/2021 at 09:34, old dee said:

The broadcasters most of the time.

I'm often on the side of the broadcasters in a few areas ... more open footy (less congestion) more scoring, less stoppages etc etc.

But we don't see a lot of our team on prime-time TV for good reason.  Losing a lot creates its own issues

But they (the broadcasters) are paying the bills so they are obviously going to get a say in proceedings.  They plough in $Billions

The coaches on the other hand darn near ran the sport into the ground with their boring defensive mindsets.

Thank goodness for Steve Hocking.  He cops a lot but he's got his heart in the future of the sport.  He has listened and acted

The footy has been great this year (finally) and I take my hat off to the AFL for recorrecting where the game was heading

Have you heard anyone critisising the game this year old dee?  I've heard virtually nothing and I talk footy to a stack of people on a weekly basis (outside of the internet)

Most I know are back on board and we're talking a sizable demographic

By the way,  with more attacking footy and more scoring comes more blowouts.  That effect as a consequence stands to reason

Edited April 2, 20214 yr by Macca

What’s the reason for later squad announcements? I know last year it was a lot to do with the craziness of COVID but surely now we can return to squad announcements on Thursday. 

  On 02/04/2021 at 13:11, Pates said:

What’s the reason for later squad announcements? I know last year it was a lot to do with the craziness of COVID but surely now we can return to squad announcements on Thursday. 

teams being named the night before is the new normal

coaches liked it, wagering companies liked it, afl wasn't fussed, it's only the FANS who don't like it and, pfft, as if they count 

Edited April 2, 20214 yr by whatwhat say what

  On 02/04/2021 at 13:23, whatwhat say what said:

teams being named the night before is the new normal

coaches liked it, wagering companies liked it, afl wasn't fussed, it's only the FANS who don't like it and, pfft, as if they count 

Does the new normal include no more players running through banners as well? Or is that another fan tradition gone the way of the dodo?

As for the game, no change would be fine by me but Melksham may come in for someone very unlucky. We do need some class set shots around goal.

As for GWS, watch out for Jake Riccardi who’ll come back. He looked very dangerous last year as a forward option. Assume Hogan isn’t ready yet?

 

 

Man I dislike the naming of teams being moved from Thursday’s. 

It’s obvious that most of us really dislike the ritual of Thursday night teams vanishing. All because clubs think it gives them better flexibility to name a team the night before. That’s pretty much the answer I got when I contacted SEN to find out the exact reason although the host did agree with me that it’s rubbish.

Like mentioned above teams pretty much know their final 22 two to three days prior to a game, the NRL clubs announce squads on the Tuesday before and there’s nothing wrong with that. At least give us an extended squad on Thursday nights so we can argue on here for a good two days about the final interchange.

Edited April 2, 20214 yr by Dee Zephyr

What difference does it make? If they announce early it will often change. The clubs would prefer not to provide teams at all. I assume same as last week until there's a change. It really makes no difference to the supporter. It is just a list.

Those advocating Melksham or anyone else must have forgotten his abysmal 2020 season where he should have been dropped but wasnt. Hunt, Jones and Nev all doing enough and I m backing Gus to improve. For mine Vanderburg is cooked and cannot give consistency given his injury concerns. Hibbo maybe but again needs to force himself into a winning side. Jordon and Sparrow are the future and should be perservered with at all costs. With Ben Brown and Weeds to come back competition for places willbe hotly contested. This game would in the past be a typical Melbourne fail, however with Choco and Yze now having a large say, lets hope that we dont revertback to old typical Dees. One thing ill be watching is Fritsch kicking for goal coz unless he converts his place may be in jeopardy! NO CHANGE THIS WEEK

 

If they are not going to release teams on a Thursday night, then it should be compulsory for Werridee to release his side on a Thursday night. Has he even submitted a team this week? 

  On 02/04/2021 at 23:05, picket fence said:

Those advocating Melksham or anyone else must have forgotten his abysmal 2020 season where he should have been dropped but wasnt. Hunt, Jones and Nev all doing enough and I m backing Gus to improve. For mine Vanderburg is cooked and cannot give consistency given his injury concerns. Hibbo maybe but again needs to force himself into a winning side. Jordon and Sparrow are the future and should be perservered with at all costs. With Ben Brown and Weeds to come back competition for places willbe hotly contested. This game would in the past be a typical Melbourne fail, however with Choco and Yze now having a large say, lets hope that we dont revertback to old typical Dees. One thing ill be watching is Fritsch kicking for goal coz unless he converts his place may be in jeopardy! NO CHANGE THIS WEEK

 

If we get done by this garbage GWS team everyone will want Melk and Hibbo back in.

  On 02/04/2021 at 22:25, ManDee said:

What difference does it make? If they announce early it will often change. The clubs would prefer not to provide teams at all. I assume same as last week until there's a change. It really makes no difference to the supporter. It is just a list.

It's generally the biggest talking point week to week for supporters.

For an AFL that has been masterful at dominating the media landscape it feels like a misstep to have done this. Disagree it makes no difference to supporters, it pretty obviously does, I mean we're 9 pages deep here just on one game, and that's without having the actual teams.

Alot of conversation about Gus in this thread... Just wondering if the reason he has been removed from playing in the middle has been to reduce the risk of head clashes/concussion?

Weather forecast for overcast afternoon but no showers is holding.

If so then maybe no change to side.

Not happy about footybet odds firming on Melb. Classic danger game Mfc 5 gws 16 on ladder. 2 wins v none.

Hopefully Yze and Burgess have made the difference. Any players doing selfies for their gf's  should  be dropped from team and fined.

Time for discipline.