Have to wonder could Ben Brown come in for Jackson and play the back up ruck roll. While weid comes in for M.Brown. As much of a talent Jackson is he hasn’t exactly delivered in the goals department and if I remember correct Ben Brown did help with ruck at north from time to time 

19 minutes ago, AllMyTeamsAreWank said:

I'm really nervous about this game. My Dad just asked me how to buy a membership and my girlfriend who hasn't given a stuff about Melbourne since half way through 2018 just texted me asking if she can come as well. Last time we had this kind of buzz we all know what happened.... 

didn't we make a Prelim?

You cant kick seven goals and not get called up.

Wied has to be selected.

9 minutes ago, DubDee said:

didn't we make a Prelim?

I was more alluding to season 2019!

3 hours ago, MF-C said:

I don't think we bring in BBB this week. 

Love him and will become a fan favourite but I don't think we debut him against the Tigers. 

Can't believe some of you are thinking Milkman will be dropped too. There is no chance of that happening. 

In: Weed, Fritta and May

Out: Brown, Petty and Jordon

This.

No way Melksham gets dropped and I think Jordon will be the unlucky one.

For such a big game against a team built for the big occasion, you pick a 188 gamer who impacts the scoreboard by way of goals or goal assists over a 5 gamer.

Is it absolutely necessary for Weid to come back? His return will mean someone will be awfully stiff to be omitted.

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

The biggest question yet to be answered is - Is May fit to play or not?? Any news from the club on this or is it just rumour?  It will be very difficult to win with Petty in instead of May

Aside from that Fritsch and Weed come in for Brown and Melksham

Lever was interviewed on 3aw last night and he mentioned that his eye is going well and he just needs to pass the concussion protocols, and Lever said that he's going well in that regard.

I expect May to play.

25 minutes ago, Garbo said:

Have to wonder could Ben Brown come in for Jackson and play the back up ruck roll. While weid comes in for M.Brown. As much of a talent Jackson is he hasn’t exactly delivered in the goals department and if I remember correct Ben Brown did help with ruck at north from time to time 

He wasn't used much as a back up ruck, only once in his career has he had more than 10 hitouts, while the last game LJ had 22 (along with 17 touches and 5 inside 50s - both things than BBB has rarely done at all in his career). LJ gives Max much more than just backup, he gives him the freedom to move forward or back when required. BBB as backup ruck does nothing more than give Max a short rest. BBB is of course the better forward, but any ruck work he does should be confined to the fwd 50, so Max can sit 60-75 meters out and go the intercept mark.

I see on the website the pics of the guys in the weights room, Fritta still has a lot of strapping and tapping on his hand, I know he's still got a few days, but I wouldn't risk him unless they are 100% sure he's right. No point having someone out there trying to protect an injury, especially one who has to run back with the flight and has marking as a big weapon.  

LJ won't be dropped either. 

Had a very good game and love his work around the ground. 

We need to get as many games into him at AFL level as possible to learn from Max, May, BBB and others. 

LJ also had more hitouts than the entire Hawks team. 

Keep getting games into him. 

He will open a game up very soon. 



 

6 hours ago, binman said:

ANB is a very important player in our team in terms of both the forward pressure role but as importantly the distance he covers and his defensive and offensive spread.

He is incredibly fit and works super hard all game. His run and work rate is critical to our game plan working.

With his work rate he is almost always redlining.

And no one out of the team comes close to being able to matching that work rate.

AnB is a best 22 lock. 

I too have been so impressed by ANB this season. However, surely Ed Langdon would equal or even  better ANB's workrate.

From Burgos report:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/916331/injury-report-laurie-smith-set-for-stint-on-sidelines

Sounds like Fritta + May will be in. 

 

Yes, we'd all love to win it, but Saturday night is not a must win game.  A must win game against Richmond could come later in the year.

Maybe we shouldn't give them a look at our forwardline with both BBB and Weeds in it.  Let's give May another week so everyone knows they're not seeing our best defensive structure.  Same with Fritta.

The must do this week is for our midfield to withstand the Richmond pressure and to able to apply effective pressure of our own.  In doing so, we will give Jones a milestone game he desserves, win or lose.

Let's not give them a free look against our best forwards and backs. 

 

So maybe just the one change...

IN:  Weeds

OUT M. Brown

Fritta and May to play it sounds like

11 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

I too have been so impressed by ANB this season. However, surely Ed Langdon would equal or even  better ANB's workrate.

Absolutely. I doubt nay player in the league surpasses Ed's work rate.

You might have misread my comment though. I meant to say that no one currently NOT IN the seniors could match his work rate.  So we lose something if he was dropped. 

Quote

 

As for Steven May (head) and Bayley Fritsch (hand), the club is yet to confirm whether they will be available for Saturday night’s clash with Richmond.

May has overcome all concussion concerns, but will need to complete Wednesday’s main training to prove his fitness after also fracturing his right eye socket against Geelong.

Fritsch’s return will be dependent on a meeting with his hand specialist, which at this stage is scheduled for Friday.

 

 

From a monitoring/rehab perspective, IF the club and the players (Brown and Weid) feel safe to come back from their respective injuries to play at what ever relevant % game time they can - then I feel they should both come in. 

Personally I don't subscribe to this  particular match being a measure of our side, or where we are at, or where our system is at. I feel it is moreso reflective of those components for Richmonds however...

In the makeup of our team there will be two situations

either

a) a forward line devoid of our best three targets (Weiderman, Fritsch and Brown) or

b) a forward line devoid of game time together of our best three targets (Weiderman, Fritsch and Brown) - as we all know - they have never played together. (not that the media would mention that).

Hence it is not a marker of the aforementioned.

Where overcoming rehab is concerned, it is now about getting as many games together as possible to build cohesion and trust in the forward half of the ground.

Edited April 20, 20213 yr by Engorged Onion

I'm no medical expert but that has to be some kind of modern miracle for May to only miss one match. Absolutely delighted. 

2 minutes ago, No Plan B said:

I'm no medical expert but that has to be some kind of modern miracle for May to only miss one match. Absolutely delighted. 

Sounds like it looked a lot worse than it actually was. 

3 minutes ago, No Plan B said:

I'm no medical expert but that has to be some kind of modern miracle for May to only miss one match. Absolutely delighted. 

I'm no medical expert either - but I think rephrasing of the injury report would be useful.

'May has overcome all concussion concerns, but will need to complete Wednesday’s main training to prove his fitness after also fracturing his right eye socket against Geelong.'

to

'May has overcome all concussion concerns, but will need to complete Wednesday’s main training to prove his fitness after also fracturing his right eye socket when Tom Hawkins threw back an 'errant' elbow that connected flush with the innocent parties eye socket and caused significant trauma.'

If Fritta and May come in then how does Weid get a spot? 

I watched Weideman on the weekend and he looked fit and ready to go. Whereas Brown I'd give another week. 

Having Weideman down Forward has the potential to really release Fritta and Jackson.

In  -       Weid,  May,  Fritta

Out  -     Petty,  M Brown,  ?

 

Gifting Jones a game this week really makes selection hard.  He would have been first out otherwise.

1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

If Fritta and May come in then how does Weid get a spot? 

I watched Weideman on the weekend and he looked fit and ready to go. Whereas Brown I'd give another week. 

Having Weideman down Forward has the potential to really release Fritta and Jackson.

Out comes Jordon too 

Tracc spends more time in the middle

55 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

You cant kick seven goals and not get called up.

Wied has to be selected.

Look at it from a different angle, you can kick seven in this side and not get a call up. 

May if fit replaces Tomlinson. Petty a genuine key defender who can free May up. Tomlinson more 3rd tall/utility.

Weed for M Brown.

If B Brown comes in then its Tommy Mac out.

Sparrow to full game in VFL after being medical sub  replaced by Toby Bedford who should be in the 22  instead of Jones but fair play I guess to get Jones to 300 given what the club put him through with its deep dive into mediocrity during his footballing prime.

Theres some media talk that the Tigers might debut Maurice Rioli Junior.    They must be jealous of all the attention Kozzie is getting.