37 minutes ago, Hannibal Inc. said:

Melksham is no longer popular around here, but it's a new year and for me he makes us better if he's perfoming.  I'd like to see how he goes and I can live without Sparrow's 4 disposals.

Fair point.

The coaches may well feel they can't have someone with melksham's talent sitting on the pine.

If they do pick him he better improve his pressure on last year's insipid level

It’s interesting seeing the debate of Jetta vs Hibberd. For me I look at it as pure quality and I think Hibberd is ahead of Jetta in most key aspects, I also feel that when he needs to be Hibberd can play defensively. If it was just that change we have a bit of flexibility with Jordon and Sparrow as potential options to move onto a small forward. It’s a really tough call though. 

As for Jonesy and his 300th, he’s doing his role. He’d be in our bottom 8 players but he’s contributed positively every week so far so right now every game he gets isn’t being gifted at all. Moot point right now. 

4 hours ago, Jaded said:

Jetta and Hibberd are not competing for the same spot. Hibberd is competing for a spot with Rivers and Hunt.

Hibberd is not a primarily small shut down defender like Jetta, in fact, he is anything but. His strength is his run and carry off half back.

Jetta has never, nor will ever be a zippy player. He wins contests on pure strength and courage. That has not changed. 

Jetta, if he is to be replaced, needs to be replaced with a small lock-down defender. If there is someone on our list that anyone here thinks will do a better job than Jetta currently,  I am open to suggestions.

 

Hibberd is a better stopper when tasked than given credit. 

Didn’t realise Hibbo was a lock down defender. Jetta stays in.

I also don’t recall Melks ever being much of a pressure player either. His strength has always been clean, penetrating delivery into our forward line which he didn’t do last year. Maybe the game has evolved and we can’t carry a player who doesn’t apply enough pressure anymore but I would have though his skillset is want is required to unpick a congested Geelong defence. My concern is his sharpness. If he’s off the pace he’s pretty much useless. I’ll leave it to the brains trust to make the call but it’s a toss of the coin between Melks and Sparrow for mine.

Off topic I know but...

Wondering how hoth brown and weid fit in.

Does Tmac come out?

What if hes going gangbusters.

Does Fritta go to the wing?

Will Jackson get dropped?

Its going to be very interesting as surely having them both in is the ideal.

 

1 hour ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

Hibberd is a better stopper when tasked than given credit. 

I don’t disagree, I just don’t think this is where he excels. Hibberd, Hunt, Salem and Rivers in the same backline seems a touch too risky for me. Too many attacking players, not enough players defending. It will mean Lever will need to play a more 1 on 1 role, which doesn’t suit us so well. 

8 hours ago, IRW said:

Ok  on form in a team that's winning and with  no one kicking the door down to get in  he stays in indefinitel

its amazing its even being spoken about.

Last season and the one before he looked vulnerable because he needed to do more for a crepe team.

He fits in just fine at present

Don’t get me wrong. Not for a moment was I suggesting he doesn’t have a spot in the starting lineup. He does. But I don’t think his looming 300th should be a part of the conversation for “best starting 22”, nor should anybody’s ever be. 

First game live this year.. looking forward to the Bullring bar a half time with a 5 goal lead. 

11 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Off topic I know but...

Wondering how hoth brown and weid fit in.

Does Tmac come out?

What if hes going gangbusters.

Does Fritta go to the wing?

Will Jackson get dropped?

Its going to be very interesting as surely having them both in is the ideal.

 

I agree this is the real dilemma. Brown in for McDonald seems likely but listen info to Gus n Gawny joke about the wingers club there is no McDonald. 

And then there Weideman. He and Jackson competing for the same spot. At this stage Weideman probably beings more as a foward but Jackson is improving each week and brings more in the ruck. 

23 minutes ago, SPC said:

First game live this year.. looking forward to the Bullring bar a half time with a 5 goal lead. 

Yeah good luck with the Bullring

Takeaway only last time I was there and the Blazer ran out of draft beer at half time

God the catering at the G is useless

35 minutes ago, Kent said:

Yeah good luck with the Bullring

Takeaway only last time I was there and the Blazer ran out of draft beer at half time

God the catering at the G is useless

SPC You obviously  haven't read The info on this season at the G ( or any where else for that matter).

Have you  ticketed correctly?

Just asking !

Enjoy your new Covid 2021 experience you will be able to watch and drink at the same time BUT NOT celebrate  our win after the game in any MCG Bar!

12 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Off topic I know but...

Wondering how hoth brown and weid fit in.

Does Tmac come out?

What if hes going gangbusters.

Does Fritta go to the wing?

Will Jackson get dropped?

Its going to be very interesting as surely having them both in is the ideal.

 

They prob don't Beever

BBB does but Weed may have to wait depending upon Tmac form and team contribution.

Only an id..t Coach would remove Fritta from the forward line He is the BEST forward  ( Other than Kossie) with all the skills and is irreplaceable there. 
 

No Tommy for wing either as Gus us doing just fine. His shirt passing to forwards leads is elite and greatly under noticed.

Reckon Jacko is a given as he does so much team things plus enables Gawny to peel off forward or back!!

Play BBB and either Tmac or Weid  plus Jacko and Fritta and 2 smalls.

If its not enough pressure make sure the 22 are flexible plus the mad sub. 

Hibberd or Bowey would give us more run as a replacement for Jetta whose disposal under pressure has really deteriorated.

Im thinking Melksham for Sparrow, but even though he isn’t getting a lot of possessions he is one of the best in the team at pressure acts and performs his role.

10 minutes ago, 58er said:

They prob don't Beever

BBB does but Weed may have to wait depending upon Tmac form and team contribution.

Only an id..t Coach would remove Fritta from the forward line He is the BEST forward  ( Other than Kossie) with all the skills and is irreplaceable there. 
 

No Tommy for wing either as Gus us doing just fine. His shirt passing to forwards leads is elite and greatly under noticed.

Reckon Jacko is a given as he does so much team things plus enables Gawny to peel off forward or back!!

Play BBB and either Tmac or Weid  plus Jacko and Fritta and 2 smalls.

If its not enough pressure make sure the 22 are flexible plus the mad sub. 

Who do you reckon is our "mad "sub 58??

2 minutes ago, Kent said:

Who do you reckon is our "mad "sub 58??

Thanks Kent med sub of course maybe  Chandler Again  or Petty? 

24 minutes ago, 58er said:

SPC You obviously  haven't read The info on this season at the G ( or any where else for that matter).

Have you  ticketed correctly?

Just asking !

Enjoy your new Covid 2021 experience you will be able to watch and drink at the same time BUT NOT celebrate  our win after the game in any MCG Bar!

Celebrated the Fremantle win in the Frank Grey Bar on Level 3 till 5pm when the bar closed ...

1 minute ago, 58er said:

Thanks Kent med sub of course maybe  Chandler Again  or Petty? 

Petty may be usefull !

12 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Off topic I know but...

Wondering how hoth brown and weid fit in.

Does Tmac come out?

What if hes going gangbusters.

Does Fritta go to the wing?

Will Jackson get dropped?

Its going to be very interesting as surely having them both in is the ideal.

 

Barring a massive form drop, I can’t see Jackson getting moved out of the team. No doubt Ben Brown and Weideman are better forwards, but Jackson can at least compete down there and would be averaging a goal per game if his kicking had been a bit better.

But Jackson provides such a tactical point of difference with Gawn it’s a huge advantage for Melbourne.

Jackson’s presence enables Gawn to play whatever role is most advantageous on the day and in response to how the opposition is playing.

Neither Brown or Weideman can provide that ruck cut out who can double up as an on baller. As rucks they are both like Gawn in style, but far less capable. they are both either forwards or inferior cut out rucks and nothing else, so having both relatively inflexible players in the team isn’t ideal. But Jackson brings something so different in style to Gawn that it’s very difficult for opponents to plan and structure for both Gawn and Jackson.

I would assume one of Brown or Weideman will come in for McDonald as while Mcdonad has been ok in a couple of games, I doubt he’s going to explode. For all the talk of McDonald on a wing or going back into defence, I just don’t see it as there are clearly superior options in both areas now.

Unless Weideman really dominates in the VFL I’d think Brown would get first chance. Historically he’s a far better forward than Weideman.

Fritsch needs to stay in, he’s a really good mid sized forward and can play as a more ground level forward if required, plus provides flexibility in game as he can move onto the wing or even half back.

It was not long ago Daw was being talked about here as needing to be rushed in due to tall forward emergency, and now we are at the embarrassment of riches stage.

It won’t take much for a couple of injuries or form slumps to get back to only one or two viable choices again.

8 minutes ago, Deestar9 said:

Celebrated the Fremantle win in the Frank Grey Bar on Level 3 till 5pm when the bar closed ...

Well done  like me no stone unturned for a drink or a parking spot!!

Enjoy our win !!' Deestar 

34 minutes ago, DeeZee said:

Im thinking Melksham for Sparrow

I think this will happen this weekend as he can play as a medium tall fwd until brown or weid is available. 

Edited April 8, 20213 yr by leave it to deever

27 minutes ago, 58er said:

Thanks Kent med sub of course maybe  Chandler Again  or Petty? 

I would have thought it likely that the medical sub should be a player with versatility given (based purely on numbers) that the injured player to be replaced is most likely to be anyone other than a key position player. I therefore expect that key position players such as Petty, Weideman and both Browns are unlikely ever to be the sub. A key position player with versatility so they can play on smaller players, onball or on the wing, such as McDonald or May (although obviously I don't mean that May would ever be in this position) might be suitable to be the sub.

On 4/4/2021 at 10:42 PM, titan_uranus said:

Fair re: Sparrow. 4th most pressure acts for both sides despite only 66% time on ground. But on the other side of the coin, just four touches.

Melksham won't offer us that level of pressure but at his best links us up better from the back half to the front.

If we're honest, Melksham's spot is probably being taken by Jones right now.

Hunt is all about balance. The run is important, but to be fair to him he's doing more than that. His bodywork and aggression is better than it's ever been. But yes, his errant kicking is an issue and he needs to tighten that up, and not let himself get completely sucked up the ground too frequently.

Melksham crucially has kicked pressure goals in pressure games, notably in Perth when we beat WC prior to the finals in 2018. He is a big occasion player. He has to prove that tho as we meet our main rivals in the next six weeks. I worry that we have some good servants, who go missing in cut throat games. This is now getting serious as we move towards being genuine contenders, the selection criteria therefore becomes a little different.

 

Jones,Jetta - Out

Melky, Hibbo - In

 

17 minutes ago, Grimes Times said:

Jones,Jetta - Out

Melky, Hibbo - In

 

Jones will be playing. 

20 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

Jones will be playing. 

Im not sure how Jones has gone form fringe last year to best 22 this year. Hes slow, adds no pressure, and is playing for himself with little team first actions.  Has burnt free team mates in better positions every game and has instead gone for the glory shot from 50 and missed each time. I agree he'll more than likely get picked but Id play Melky in front of him. Both offer no pressure but at least Melky can hit a target and kick straight. Hibbo comes in to get 2 games match practice before he tags Dusty out of the game ANZAC eve.