1 hour ago, adonski said:

He's cooked, he can't move. They're not dropping him after going 4-0 if they're confident on his return to form.

He's being managed i reckon. Has more than held his own over the first 4 rounds.

49 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Getting to the stage where you'd have to think that players like Lockhart and even Joel Smith are ahead of him - with players like Bowey waiting in the wings.

This is what we need; that competition for spots keeps players thinking and striving for betterment. Anything short of this is cushioning reality if success is to be achieved. For Nev, it is sad - as a sunset is for so many - he has been a great contributor to the Club and a rock in the foundations of our difficult years and gradual improvement. Not forgotten and particularly, not overlooked as his skills are still needed at the Club - he's not at the end yet, in other words.

 

55 minutes ago, Better days ahead said:

Has more than held his own

Didn't help Patton.

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

I’d say Sparrow is most likely sub once again. Hard to see Baker, Daw or Jetta.  

The fact Sparrow trained with the squad this morning and the others mentioned didn’t, says to me it’s Sparrow again. 

The team looks a little top heavy and out of balance to me. Our forward line appears mild on paper and I hope we have enough strength and skill to make the most of our midfield strength.

Disappointed about Nev but not surprised, if it is not injury or illness. 

I'm more disappointed about Sparrow being dropped than Jetta.

I thought Sparrow did a really good job after being the sub last week. Jordon wasn't bad either but if I had to pick one to miss this week I'd have picked Jordon.

Edit: good luck to M Brown. He has big shoes to fill. He can't just be a lead up forward. Fritsch has lifted his defensive game this year, and M Brown has to follow suit. 

2 hours ago, bing181 said:

Getting to the stage where you'd have to think that players like Lockhart and even Joel Smith are ahead of him - with players like Bowey waiting in the wings.

Not on Jetta's form so far this year.

Probably not on Jetta's 2020 form either.

Edited April 17, 20214 yr by titan_uranus

No doubt Jetta has been on the brink all season, but I’m not calling him finished. Long way to go in the season yet.

I love the ins. Hibberd for Jetta, Petty for May and M.Brown for Fritsch. I think we should account for the Hawks comfortably but it won't be that easy.

I worry about our fire power up forward, but I have been all year. Frustrating to lose our one reliable goal (and sometimes behind ?) kicker. 
Need a big big lift from Melksham. I bet they won’t drop him after 4 average games like they did with Jetta...

6 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

I love the ins. Hibberd for Jetta, Petty for May and M.Brown for Fritsch. I think we should account for the Hawks comfortably but it won't be that easy.

No games going to be easy this year. Pleasing aspect is that my mates looked at each other after the win against the Pussiecats and said “ Jees the had a real crack, didn’t they!”

I like that our backline has been set up with such an offensive stance... gives us a lot of quality forward entries given the quality of our mid field... keep winning and when Ben and Sam get back we’ll find another level...

First time in a while I've looked at a team list and felt like we had winners all over the ground.

They have the least depth of inside mids I've ever seen, clearance are basically O'Meara and Mitchell then... Wingard?!

I say assign Viney to bite chunks out of O'Meara like an angry velociraptor and see if the Hawks cope.

I also seriously doubt Hawthorn's defenders could cope at all if we bring our new and improved forward harassment to this game.  I wonder how many turnover goals we'll get from Frost trying to run it and being mown down or kicking wildly in panic?

My only concern is that a couple of Hawthorn's smaller forwards might get a little free and do some damage.  That all comes back to our defensive effort to get back and give support.

Simple fact is, if we play the way we've played so far this season we win, May and Fritsch or not. And there's the test.

I like these changes given the forced outs and the opposition.

Unless there’s a time machine to get late 2017 and all of 2018 Melksham back, Mitch Brown is the most similar player we have to Fritsch as a pretty pure lead-up forward in style despite being much taller, so that makes sense when trying to preserve the current structure.

Hibberd provides more flexibility than 2021 version Jetta. In prior years I would’ve said Jetta had superior agility, but even though Hibberd is on rails sometimes for agility it’s on par with Jetta these days. The two Hawks forwards that worry me are Breust, who has been a bit flat this year, and Wingard who has been mostly a mid. Amongst Hunt, Rivers, Hibberd and Salem I think there’s enough options for those two.

Petty for May was the only realistic call his excellent preseason form and given Hore is injured and I guess Smith is regaining form. Hawks look quite weak for tall forwards, and have dropped Ceglar. Given there’s no obvious tall threat, maybe Petty can take who May would’ve and then Tomlinson and Lever can keep doing their thing to minimise disruption in the backline.

3 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

The team looks a little top heavy and out of balance to me. Our forward line appears mild on paper and I hope we have enough strength and skill to make the most of our midfield strength.

Disappointed about Nev but not surprised, if it is not injury or illness. 

An extra tall into the forward line doesn't necessarily put us out of balance. Jackson and TMac (different player and body shape to last season) are both agile and endurance talls. So Gawn and Brown are the lead ups. We have plenty of smalls to get the ground ball and apply that swarming pressure. The rotations through the forward area will be made according to how the game plays out.

A tall who takes marks and a robust player who backs himself, come in for a tall/strong and a small, one on one player. 

I can't see the imbalance, especially when compared to previous weeks.

Edited April 17, 20214 yr by kev martin

2 hours ago, Nasher said:

No doubt Jetta has been on the brink all season, but I’m not calling him finished. Long way to go in the season yet.

And Burgoyne is also at least 8 years older than Jetta, so Jettas got plenty of time left 

 

49 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

And Burgoyne is also at least 8 years older than Jetta, so Jettas got plenty of time left 

 

I don't think Burgoyne has been playing well. Game has gone past him.

Our speed and pressure won't help him improve.

Though he is smart if he can get the ball in space.

Let’s go for 3 Brownlow votes this time Mitch. 

8 hours ago, Jaded said:

I worry about our fire power up forward, but I have been all year. Frustrating to lose our one reliable goal (and sometimes behind ?) kicker. 
Need a big big lift from Melksham. I bet they won’t drop him after 4 average games like they did with Jetta...

I think it was @jnrmacthat said that Jayden Hunt said the high HF role was hard to play- you would play the same way two weeks in a row, in one touch the ball 4 times, the next touch it 20 and kick 4 goals. 

That’s the role Melksham plays and I think it needs to be taken in to account when judging performance. I reckon he gets a bum rap on here generally; the conspiracy theory that he gets special treatment will run rampant for a few weeks and then he will break a game open. That’s just the type of player he is. 

I really don't understand dropping Ceglar and leaving big boy to face that's ruck craft one out with Jackson to switch. Clarko must have a plan, he's had alot of respect for that's ruck craft for years...

Edited April 17, 20214 yr by DaisyDeeciple
The too obvious grammar mistakes

I love Nev, the man has and will continue to squeeze every inch out of himself and for the team. He has been serviceable 4 rounds in but has been holding on until someone goes passed him to better the team. That is what should happen with good sides. Hibberd is a quality player now fit and by all reports in form. May is two players in one, a premium stopper but also a key driver of our half back attacking edge. We are basically replacing the two sides of May in our back 7 with Petty and Hibberd and that means someone’s gotta give. 

Whilst I was against it early Mitch Brown was the obvious choice to replace Fritta in the side for a like role though I do wonder what the purpose of Melksham. Melksham whilst it was only a first week did not make me confident 2018 Milkshake was on the return.

Baker, Daw and Nev have been named for Casey so the sub will be Sparrow

Edited April 17, 20214 yr by low flying Robbo

36 minutes ago, big_red_fire_engine said:

I love Nev, the man has and will continue to squeeze every inch out of himself and for the team. He has been serviceable 4 rounds in but has been holding on until someone goes passed him to better the team. That is what should happen with good sides. Hibberd is a quality player now fit and by all reports in form. May is two players in one, a premium stopper but also a key driver of our half back attacking edge. We are basically replacing the two sides of May in our back 7 with Petty and Hibberd and that means someone’s gotta give. 

Whilst I was against it early Mitch Brown was the obvious choice to replace Fritta in the side for a like role though I do wonder what the purpose of Melksham. Melksham whilst it was only a first week did not make me confident 2018 Milkshake was on the return.

Why were you against  Mitch? He is in my mind a very serviceable forward. Marks Kicks a couple per game  and chases and competes. What is not to like? Hope he shows his worth today making the most of this opportunity in a crowded talented team.

I know thwy started the year with injuries but with Fritta out how many clubs like ours have all 3 main forwards out?

Probably none.

I hope Tmac and Lj keep doing the bussiness and our small forwards continue to dominate.

 

3 hours ago, Nasher said:

I think it was @jnrmacthat said that Jayden Hunt said the high HF role was hard to play- you would play the same way two weeks in a row, in one touch the ball 4 times, the next touch it 20 and kick 4 goals. 

That’s the role Melksham plays and I think it needs to be taken in to account when judging performance. I reckon he gets a bum rap on here generally; the conspiracy theory that he gets special treatment will run rampant for a few weeks and then he will break a game open. That’s just the type of player he is. 

I don’t think that applying defensive pressure is something you can’t control. If he doesn’t kick goals due to lack of opportunities then so be it, but he is trash at two way running and doing the defensive thing, and that to me is non negotiable. 
And I don’t think it’s a conspiracy theory. I watched him play every game last year, and even captain us, while doing zero defensive work. As a senior player he should be pulling his weight and contributing. Even if he doesn’t get much of the ball, there are still things you can do to influence the game. Last week he had zero influence. 

16 hours ago, kev martin said:

Good selections, Hibbs has experience and needs to cement his place, reads the ball very well and will back up Lever for getting to the ball drop.

Petty for his contested marking ability. Has been in the system for a while, and could work well under General Lever. 

Mitch Brown to give us a leading target, hoping for 2 to 4 goals.

Majak must have been close as he is the emergency.  

Our balance still looks good. The depth we have is fine.

Go Dees.

Nailed it. Esp your reading the ball comment to strengthen levers support