Melks was poor last year. Pressure has never been his strong suit but the fact is he was sub par in all facets of his game.

Initially i was dead against bringing him back in but i've re-considered. There is nothing like competition to adjust attitudes. He now knows that sub-par performances and he's out of the team. Maybe that will provide the spur for him to lift. If 2018 Melks re-appears we are a better team for it. Sparrow has been solid and dependable and it'll be tough on him if he's dropped but maybe it's time to give Melks a run to see if the penny has dropped. I gave Tmac no chance this year and he proved me wrong rounds 1 and 2. Maybe Melks will do the same.

 

We'll bury them. 8+ goals. Bookmark it.

46 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

Melks was poor last year. Pressure has never been his strong suit but the fact is he was sub par in all facets of his game.

Initially i was dead against bringing him back in but i've re-considered. There is nothing like competition to adjust attitudes. He now knows that sub-par performances and he's out of the team. Maybe that will provide the spur for him to lift. If 2018 Melks re-appears we are a better team for it. Sparrow has been solid and dependable and it'll be tough on him if he's dropped but maybe it's time to give Melks a run to see if the penny has dropped. I gave Tmac no chance this year and he proved me wrong rounds 1 and 2. Maybe Melks will do the same.

 

Agree with this. We also have Hunt, ANB and Spargo along with TMac who were all pretty average last year and in and out of the team. They have all improved big time.

If Melk can have a similar turnaround we are a much better team. As putrid as he was last year, If he’s been bringing it at training he’s worth a look. 

8 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Big no to Jake "zero tackles" Snake for mine.  Today's forward game revolves so much around pressure and we can't afford to bring someone in who brings the complete opposite and allows the opp to waltz out of the back line under little or no pressure.

Hopefully Dazzle's sauce is a bit off on this one as it would send a terrible message through the entire team.

About the only change for this week for mine, which probably won't happen anyway, is Hibb for Jetta.

No sauce mate just makes sense after reading the case line up and Goodwin stating last week that Melksham won't be the sub again.

Given 2020 was an unusual year for the AFL competition prepared to cut #18 some slack. In fact to these eyes his form earlier in the disrupted, uncertain road trip that was the season was not “putrid” (sic) but contributed positively to the team performance.
 

The hub experience was not to every team or individuals liking. Perhaps changing nappies and disrupted sleep patterns away from home were a factor. If footy IQ and high level forward  skills are required JM should be seriously considered.

Edited April 9, 20214 yr by Tarax Club
accessibility

52 minutes ago, Hell Bent said:

Agree with this. We also have Hunt, ANB and Spargo along with TMac who were all pretty average last year and in and out of the team. They have all improved big time.

If Melk can have a similar turnaround we are a much better team. As putrid as he was last year, If he’s been bringing it at training he’s worth a look. 

Speculative negatives, speculative positives across the DL board, this morning. It's getting difficult to pick a reliably worthy team from the advantage point of depth. As far a the Cats are concerned, we need mongrel - a team could be selected with this in mind. 

1 hour ago, Hell Bent said:

Agree with this. We also have Hunt, ANB and Spargo along with TMac who were all pretty average last year and in and out of the team. They have all improved big time.

If Melk can have a similar turnaround we are a much better team. As putrid as he was last year, If he’s been bringing it at training he’s worth a look. 

But at the end of the day players have to earn games,nothing Melksham has done so far this year even comes close, not training form ,plus he is coming back from injury. We will set a dangerous precedent and if Sparrow is dropped given his huge games in the bank and upside I will not be happy ,nor should he! Same goes for anyone else in a 3 zip winning team

Edited April 9, 20214 yr by picket fence

On 4/7/2021 at 7:22 PM, Pates said:

I think it’s more to do with where they rank Hibberd vs Jetta. Hibberd can play tall and small, and probably has more legs in him. I agree that Jetta’s first two rounds were good so I’d hesitate to drop him, but he was found out against Greene and made some very poor decisions along the way. Why he chose to scoop the ball back for Greene’s first goal baffles me with his experience, clearly could’ve rushed the behind. 

If the club stays healthy (big if knock on wood) I’m starting to wonder if we take more of a squad mentality along the lines of football teams in Europe. Perhaps we rotate some of the players in and out to keep them and the team fresh, don’t do more than say one or two changes per week but give others a crack, while potentially giving some older players rests/lighter loads. 

Toby Greene is probably the best small forward in the comp, I dont think Jetta got "found out" Greenes just that good and was basically gws' only target

8 hours ago, Deestroy All said:

He doesn't look a day over 85 there.

If that’s indeed Philip in the photo, he’d be the oldest looking 50 year old I’ve ever seen.

2 hours ago, praha said:

We'll bury them. 8+ goals. Bookmark it.

Love your confidence Praha 8 points more likely. 

2 minutes ago, old dee said:

Love your confidence Praha 8 points more likely. 

Just depends how straight we kick, its gonna be one or the other haha

35 minutes ago, picket fence said:

But at the end of the day players have to earn games,nothing Melksham has done so far this year even comes close, not training form ,plus he is coming back from injury. We will set a dangerous precedent and if Sparrow is dropped given his huge games in the bank and upside I will not be happy ,nor should he! Same goes for anyone else in a 3 zip winning team

This is a massive overreaction, the last practice game the coach reported Melk was clear best on ground, and they also had an inter club last weekend, so the coaches will have seen him in action. I'm all for no changes, but also understand the need for a squad to take us deep this year, so expect to see lost of players get games this year. 

2 hours ago, Better days ahead said:

Melks was poor last year. Pressure has never been his strong suit but the fact is he was sub par in all facets of his game.

Initially i was dead against bringing him back in but i've re-considered. There is nothing like competition to adjust attitudes. He now knows that sub-par performances and he's out of the team. Maybe that will provide the spur for him to lift. If 2018 Melks re-appears we are a better team for it. Sparrow has been solid and dependable and it'll be tough on him if he's dropped but maybe it's time to give Melks a run to see if the penny has dropped. I gave Tmac no chance this year and he proved me wrong rounds 1 and 2. Maybe Melks will do the same.

 

2018 Melk was awesome and on that form is a lock every game.

Its a gamble but not a huge one as Sparrow while fierce has not been fantastic.

My feeling is that he will be another tall that we need given Tmac was shaky last week and Jackson has not kicked many goals.

Like Tmac, Melk has all the skills.

Will he bring them?

If hes selected I think players know there aint much room for passengers.

Edited April 10, 20214 yr by leave it to deever

No doubt a committed Melksham somewhere near the top of his game make us a better side. Forward of centre I think I prefer the ball in his hands more than anyone's. He makes good decisions and his delivery is sound & sometimes superb.

However last year he took short cuts & played like a bloke who was frightened of getting hurt. Disappointing from a supposed leader.

We aren't privy to the info the match committee has but personally, I'd want to see a demonstration that he's got that [censored] out of his game before I could trust him again.

Hope he gets his act together. His best is very good

How about we select the right side to match and beat the opposition?

Just a thought. 

 

There seems to be a lot less experimenting with personnel in the first few rounds this year compared to previous years. It might be because we're winning or it might be because we're more mature as a group. We've certainly shown greater signs of maturity in the first 3 rounds. 

I probably stand alone here;

Melksham is a quality player. Get him in.

Just now, Dannyz said:

I probably stand alone here;

Melksham is a quality player. Get him in.

Seems some people think he cant bounce back from a poor 2020, not sure why. 

I welcome the return of the Melk, you aren't alone.

Yes he goes missing sometimes but I am taking Melksham’s upside over Sparrows 4 touches last week 

and I really like Sparrow 

I'm reluctant to change a winning team, but i'd be tempted to bring in Melksham for Sparrow, Melkshams field kicking has been a real weapon for us. it could be important against the cats 

20 hours ago, picket fence said:

If this is so it is an absolute disgrace!! Period. Melksham offers zero pressure, has no form, an outs a player who has done EVERYTHING RIGHT!!

I will be thoroughly peeesrd of if this occurs> FFS Goody make him earn it!!?

Mate, Sparrow had 4 touches last week.....

I'd rather back Melksham to regain his 2018 form than worry about omitting the underwhelming Sparrow.

I have vivid memories of Melksham beating the highly rated Sicily in that second final.

Also, Melksham's kicking inside 50 was written about in that year. 

''The Demons forward has won nine out of his 14 one-on-one contests in the attacking 50m this season, with his career-best form a key reason behind the club’s surge to third on the ladder.''

''This season the Demons have retained possession from 23 out of Melksham’s 35 kicks inside 50m, ranked No.2 in the AFL and above elite ball users Martin, Scott Pendlebury and Dayne Zorko.''

''If you look at the ‘‘money kick’ men over the past four weeks, Melksham towers above the rest of the competition.''

Melksham's best is quality.  I'd much rather get him back in form than gift more games to Sparrow.  Sparrow will get more opportunities, but the window to set up our season and a potential top 4 finish is now.

No doubt Melksham was a defensive liability last year, but at his best his defensive game is actually a strength. One of his career best games was the round 22 win against West Coast in Perth to lock in finals. From memory he played as a defensive forward against McGovern and kicked 4.

Side note - I've found him a tough player to like, even when he was playing well. I'm not even sure why - I blamed it on the ex Essendon factor, but that hasn't seemed to taint Hibberd.

Bottom line is he's a frustrating player but we're a better side when he's playing well. 

23 hours ago, Turner said:

...

so by my maths melky is the carryover and only pissible change/sub

Intended typo?

Clearly some late love for Milkshake here.

It would be awesome if he could recature his old form.

It was silky smooth.

Worth a shot at Sparrow's expense. Will happen.  A one off af least.

TAKE THE DISCUSSION TO THE TEAM SELECTION THREAD: https://demonland.com/forums/topic/49916-teams-rd-04-vs-geelong/