I don't understand the argument that says Mitch Brown is the logical replacement for Fritsch. M Brown is 196 cm and 91 kg while Fritsch is 188 cm and 84 kg. I accept he could be a replacement if we thought we needed to go taller in the forward line, but, equally, we might decide to go shorter, perhps with someone like Chandler.

For what it's worth, I think playing Melksham (186 cm/84 kg) in the Fritsch role is the most like-for-like option and it's what I would do. That opens a spot in the midfield which can be filled with any number of options, including Sparrow or even Brayshaw (although I like Brayshaw's game in the backline after May went off - perhaps he should stay there).

1 minute ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I don't understand the argument that says Mitch Brown is the logical replacement for Fritsch. M Brown is 196 cm and 91 kg while Fritsch is 188 cm and 84 kg. I accept he could be a replacement if we thought we needed to go taller in the forward line, but, equally, we might decide to go shorter, perhps with someone like Chandler.

For what it's worth, I think playing Melksham (186 cm/84 kg) in the Fritsch role is the most like-for-like option and it's what I would do. That opens a spot in the midfield which can be filled with any number of options, including Sparrow or even Brayshaw (although I like Brayshaw's game in the backline after May went off - perhaps he should stay there).

fritsch is a key marking forward.....that makes him a tall key forward despite his puny 188cm and 84kg

you know it's so

3 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

fritsch is a key marking forward.....that makes him a tall key forward despite his puny 188cm and 84kg

you know it's so

I partially disagree. More marks are often taken on any day by non-tall key fowards. The tall forwards might take more contested marks and have a role in bringing the ball to ground, but smaller players, such as Oliver, Petracca and Harmes often take more marks than the key forwards. And it's not just the case with our team (with its dysfunctional forward line, at least before this year). To me Fritsch is not and never will be a tall key forward. That doesn't mean he doesn't have a role. He does and he plays it well. I think Melksham is better suited to that role than Mitch Brown.

And, I note with some irony given he's being compared in this discussion with Melksham, that if you were to ask an Essendon supporter why Essendon let Mitch Brown go, I think you'll find most of them would say it was because he didn't impose any defensive pressure.    

12 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

fritsch is a key marking forward.....that makes him a tall key forward despite his puny 188cm and 84kg

you know it's so

Exactly, Fritsch is an undersized key forward like Membrey from the Saints. Mitch Brown is a mobile key forward that provides another marking option and can be a foil for McDonald and Jackson as a 3rd tall. Some people just don't understand how forwards structures work and the roles players play. 

18 minutes ago, Caligula's cohort said:

Exactly, Fritsch is an undersized key forward like Membrey from the Saints. Mitch Brown is a mobile key forward that provides another marking option and can be a foil for McDonald and Jackson as a 3rd tall. Some people just don't understand how forwards structures work and the roles players play. 

Agree...except you probably think I'm one of those people to which I vehemently disagree!?

If the new look is to stamp out the infringement of the arm/wrist/shoulder etc when going for marks, i cannot see a problem with going tall.

IE. Majak, Macca and Brown.

6 minutes ago, willmoy said:

If the new look is to stamp out the infringement of the arm/wrist/shoulder etc when going for marks, i cannot see a problem with going tall.

IE. Majak, Macca and Brown.

you forgot fingernail.

21 hours ago, deanox said:

What is good is that there are actually heaps of options.

-Gawn forward, LJ more ruck.

-Petty forward, Hibberd back.

-Melksham forward, Sparrow in middle.

-Mitch Brown or Majak Daw.

All are real options, and all come before Weid and Brown return from injury.

 

Also May is out, and we've got Petty and Hibberd as potential replacements. 

We've got Sparrow waiting in the wings for the midfield. Harmes is a few weeks away.

Bowey and Laurie may be a way off but they are a chance to get games if needed as a rotation.

Lockhart will come back from injury and put pressure on Jetta.

 

When a team plays well it looks likenit has depth.

Our risk is needing too many of these depth players at once.

If we thought Fritsch's inaccuracy was going to cost us, we can't be relying on one of the worst kicks in the league to kick us a winning score, it's unsustainable. We might get lucky one week, but Max is just a terribly inaccurate kick. 

1 minute ago, A F said:

If we thought Fritsch's inaccuracy was going to cost us, we can't be relying on one of the worst kicks in the league to kick us a winning score, it's unsustainable. We might get lucky one week, but Max is just a terribly inaccurate kick. 

job for choco then

41 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Agree...except you probably think I'm one of those people to which I vehemently disagree!?

I don't mind how you feel... everybody views things differently, but I was just stating how people have NFI on match up's in this thread wanting to go small. Why change a winning formula that has us 2nd on the ladder and undefeated. 

2 hours ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Is that their VFL side?    We cant lose to this mob surely.....  

poor team on paper but they are playing quite well considering. Came close with the Cats. 

8 minutes ago, DubDee said:

poor team on paper but they are playing quite well considering. Came close with the Cats. 

If we win this to make us 5/0, I will consider answering phone calls from the membership department to renew my 3 from last year.

Can't ask for much more from the team thus far, and I've certainly given them enough chances to fail.......

9 minutes ago, Caligula's cohort said:

I don't mind how you feel... everybody views things differently, but I was just stating how people have NFI on match up's in this thread wanting to go small. Why change a winning formula that has us 2nd on the ladder and undefeated. 

Which is why the obvious move is Melksham playing Fritters role.

Basically the same size (2cms shorter and 1kg heavier), but like Fritter he plays tall.  And is a good mark - though not as good as fritter i don't think.

He is as good a kick at goal as Fritter and has good goal sense too.

As is the case for fritter, if he can snag 2-3 goals it doesn't matter so much that he is not getting big disposal numbers (not in Fritters job description in any case).

And like fritter, Melksham is no defensive star, though to be fair he still has Melksham covered. 

And unlike Brown Melksham is in our best 22. Or so says goody, it would seem. 

2 minutes ago, binman said:

Which is why the obvious move is Melksham playing Fritters role.

Basically the same size (2cms shorter and 1kg heavier), but like Fritter he plays tall.  And is a good mark - though not as good as fritter i don't think.

He is as good a kick at goal as Fritter and has good goal sense too.

As is the case for fritter, if he can snag 2-3 goals it doesn't matter so much that he is not getting big disposal numbers (not in Fritters job description in any case).

And like fritter, Melksham is no defensive star, though to be fair he still has Melksham covered. 

And unlike Brown Melksham is in our best 22. Or so says goody, it would seem. 

The Melksham of 2018/9 is in our best 22 binman the version that we saw last year and last weekend is a shadow of that player. I just don’t see him being anywhere near as good as fritter has been this year, best 22 he ain’t at present. 

Good week to exercise player lending rules and borrow Hoges back for a week? GWS don’t seem to want to use him!

1 minute ago, sisso said:

Good week to exercise player lending rules and borrow Hoges back for a week? GWS don’t seem to want to use him!

I don’t think we do either !

8 minutes ago, binman said:

Which is why the obvious move is Melksham playing Fritters role.

Basically the same size (2cms shorter and 1kg heavier), but like Fritter he plays tall.  And is a good mark - though not as good as fritter i don't think.

He is as good a kick at goal as Fritter and has good goal sense too.

As is the case for fritter, if he can snag 2-3 goals it doesn't matter so much that he is not getting big disposal numbers (not in Fritters job description in any case).

And like fritter, Melksham is no defensive star, though to be fair he still has Melksham covered. 

And unlike Brown Melksham is in our best 22. Or so says goody, it would seem. 

I'd still have Melksham and M.Brown in the forward line for this round. We can experiment with a few forward options this round to the lowly Hawks. We'll likely be playing a taller forward line in future when B.Brown and Weideman are back to match fitness. In which case Melksham most likely loses his spot.   

9 minutes ago, old dee said:

The Melksham of 2018/9 is in our best 22 binman the version that we saw last year and last weekend is a shadow of that player. I just don’t see him being anywhere near as good as fritter has been this year, best 22 he ain’t at present. 

Would love to know Goodys thinking here.

The side has entirely transformed itself this year as a manic defensive unit and the coach insists on bringing back one of the laziest defensive workers on the list.

For what gain?

Edited April 16, 20214 yr by faultydet

3 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Would love to know Goodys thinking here.

The side has entirely transformed itself this year as a manic defensive unit and the coach insists on bringing back one of the laziest defensive workers on the list.

For what gain?

Well very little in week one.

14 minutes ago, old dee said:

The Melksham of 2018/9 is in our best 22 binman the version that we saw last year and last weekend is a shadow of that player. I just don’t see him being anywhere near as good as fritter has been this year, best 22 he ain’t at present. 

You're preaching to the converted OD. But we aint Goody. And he clearly has him in his best 22.

And really with his talent he should be.

This is Melksham’s chance to have a 4 goal game. 
 

1 goal each Quarter 

2 minutes ago, binman said:

You're preaching to the converted OD. But we aint Goody. And he clearly has him in his best 22.

And really with his talent he should be.

How long will he wait? Tmac had a poor 2019 and was put on the nature strip with a take for free sign. 

21 hours ago, Forest Demon said:

I’m not advocating for Daw, but isn’t he lightning quick? Won the grand final sprint in an absolute canter one year didn’t he?

He is fast. Have you ever looked at his leap? It's good. His reach is powerful and extraordinarily long; in fact, at least as long as BBrown's and Ben is famous for the height his hands reach.

I'd play Daw for other reasons, as well. Not a solo performer but very good with a supporting team about him up front, down back and scurrying around the flanks when he is 'relief' rucking.

 

29 minutes ago, Caligula's cohort said:

I'd still have Melksham and M.Brown in the forward line for this round. We can experiment with a few forward options this round to the lowly Hawks. We'll likely be playing a taller forward line in future when B.Brown and Weideman are back to match fitness. In which case Melksham most likely loses his spot.   

I see your point.

But for the sake of argument lets count Melksham as a tall (as you have with Fritter).  Our line up this week is then three talls - Jackson and Tmac being the other two.  

A player like Sparrow can replace Melksham as a medium. 

In the future i think Brown is a lock. I have no doubt Jackson is a lock (though they might 'manage' him at some stage). But Weed isn't. For me its Tmac or Weed. At the moment i'd go with Tmac.

In that scenario the forward line would be Brown, Jackson, Tmac and Fritter. To that mix you have to add Kozzie, Spargo and ANB rotating though the forward half and bench. 

Hard then to see where Melksham fits, though many would say that it one tall too many. So lets say Tmac comes out. That frees up a spot. 

But i reckon those four talls can work as Jackson can play as a medium on the high half forward, such is his athleticism and mobility.

Also in this context its worth keeping in mind Tmac trained a winger in the preseason. And has almost played as one this season, with many of possessions up the ground. So he could also play at high half forward. 

Edited April 16, 20214 yr by binman

15 hours ago, 58er said:

Your kidding 

Since  2018 Melky hasn't finished any thing! Or started it either.

Perhsps  Chandler like for like Left footer etc. 

I hear ya mate, and I was a big critic of him last year. Just think, in form, he's a weapon for us and this is his best chance to find that form. A role where he can be a bit selfish and focus on kicking goals.

Wouldn't be against Chandler getting a shot, just think that totally changes our forward setup though.