My two cents.

Jones is playing -  so whether we think he should be or not we should get behind a great Melbourne man this weekend. Whether he plays game 301 the following week - I'm not so sure. 

Weideman in for M.Brown. Fritch (if fit) in for Melkshem. May (if fit) in for Petty. Would gamble on playing May if close to full fitness to match up on Lynch but wouldn't play Fritch if not 100% fit as we have forward cover. Ben Brown has to wait another week as we can't completely restructure the forward line and expect to beat Richmond. Play McDonald as a high lead up half forward (not sold on him as a wingman) with Weideman and Jackson playing deeper forward. Can't afford to drop any of the small forwards - there pressure has been immense over the first 5 games. 

Edited April 19, 20213 yr by RodGrinter14

43 minutes ago, Hannibal Inc. said:

Jones will obviously play, but if Bedford keeps up that type of form the quicker he's in (at Jones' expense) the better.  He would make us better than Jones presently does.

I’m not convinced of that. Bedford has some good defensive pressure traits and speed but we’re already playing 3 small pressure forwards in ANB, Spargo and Koz.

Jones’ value right now is that he gets to the right place as a high half forward and 3rd wingman. Bedford can’t do that job better than Jones from what I’ve seen, he just isn’t all that smart with positioning or strong in the contest.

It will take a reshuffle of Melk, JJ or Fritsch’s role to fit in another pressure forward and cover the wing minutes. 

A healthy Harmes, Chandler, Bowey or this weeks mystery injury candidate in Laurie probably have better attributes if you were doing a straight swap.  

2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I’m not convinced of that. Bedford has some good defensive pressure traits and speed but we’re already playing 3 small pressure forwards in ANB, Spargo and Koz.

Jones’ value right now is that he gets to the right place as a high half forward and 3rd wingman. Bedford can’t do that job better than Jones from what I’ve seen, he just isn’t all that smart with positioning or strong in the contest.

It will take a reshuffle of Melk, JJ or Fritsch’s role to fit in another pressure forward and cover the wing minutes. 

A healthy Harmes, Chandler, Bowey or this weeks mystery injury candidate in Laurie probably have better attributes if you were doing a straight swap.  

Disagree.

I think we need to be very careful about when, and at what rate, we bring in players that have been out for long periods (Weeds and BBB etc) or unproven AFL players (Bedford, Chandler etc).  Unless injury forces our hand, I'd hate us to bring in more than one of those types at a time, especially against a team like Richmond.  The gulf in quality from VFL to AFL is bigger than ever thanks to Covid last year.  A player dominating at VFL level could very well come in and struggle to get a kick at AFL level.

If May and/or Fritta are fully fit and ready to go, bring them in.  But definetely no more than one of Weeds/BBB/Bedford/anyone else who is pushing to come in too.

At whose expense?  I really don't know.  I feel LJ could really, relly benefit from a multi-week run at Casey.  Like, it would be best for his long term development type of benefit.  But in doing so, do we lose too much of what he provides as back-up ruckman?

Tough week to be a selector.

 

Anyone else thinking that ANB's position could be in jeopardy.  He had a very good game in round 2 vs Saints but has been relatively poor in the other games. 

If this wasn't such a critical game and if we didn't have so many inexperienced players in the 22 I could see he being dropped.

You have to love when a team can drop a very good player so they can play an even better player. 

32 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Anyone else thinking that ANB's position could be in jeopardy.  He had a very good game in round 2 vs Saints but has been relatively poor in the other games. 

If this wasn't such a critical game and if we didn't have so many inexperienced players in the 22 I could see he being dropped.

I thought the first half of the weekend was his first poor half and that he'd been at least good in all other games. Would be shocked if he was dropped.

5 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I thought the first half of the weekend was his first poor half and that he'd been at least good in all other games. Would be shocked if he was dropped.

He may not get dropped this week but he needs to really lift his game.  His season averages look ok because of the very good round 2 game vs Saints.  For other games he has been in the bottom 1/3rd of players.

My best guess would be.  

OUT: Petty, Neal-Bullen, Brown

IN: May, Weideman, Fritsch 

Fritsch is too good to miss if fit, but hard to know who he replaces, it's Neal-Bullen, Melksham or Spargo for me, i'd say Spargo has been the best of the three, and Melksham is Goodys best mate and will get looked after 

Edited April 19, 20213 yr by Patches O’houlihan

1 hour ago, old dee said:

So you going to ditch the 6 best player on the ground for what?

Tom Mcdonald isn't going to be apart of our future mate. Like I said, he has been playing well so credit to him. I don't read too much into stats. He had 22 touches but a lot of them were in the backline. So I'd prefer to have Ben Brown who is a bigger target inside 50m to straighten us up. Weideman also comes in after kicking 7. 

 

5 minutes ago, Patches O’houlihan said:

My best guess would be.  

OUT: Petty, Neal-Bullen, Brown

IN: May, Weideman, Fritsch 

Fritsch is too good to miss if fit, but hard to know who he replaces, it's Neal-Bullen, Melksham or Spargo for me, i'd say Spargo has been the best of the three, and Melksham is Goodys best mate and will get looked after 

Dude, May was out for 2-4 weeks. Try again

If we drop ANB and bring in Fritsch, and we also bring in Weideman and Melksham retains his spot (which he surely will), then I think we will really lack that forward pressure that has been so crucial to our success this season.

Against Richmond keeping the ball in our forward 50 is going to be extremely important, as I suspect we will likely break even in the middle, and we know their forwards are deadly and could expose our defenders (especially if May is not ready). 

We need to be careful to get the balance of attack and defence right up forward. It has been the biggest change to our approach this season and probably the biggest factor in our 5-0 start. 

ANB for all his flaws, has found a really important role in our side. He does the defensive stuff really well and covers a lot of ground. His two way running has been exceptional and has allowed guys like Fritsch to play less accountable footy. He has also been getting his fair share of clearances around the ground, which is not something we will get out of any of his replacements. 

I don't envy the selectors. 

5 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Dude, May was out for 2-4 weeks. Try again

Goodwin's Presser indicated that May could be available if fit.

18 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Tom Mcdonald isn't going to be apart of our future mate. Like I said, he has been playing well so credit to him. I don't read too much into stats. He had 22 touches but a lot of them were in the backline. So I'd prefer to have Ben Brown who is a bigger target inside 50m to straighten us up. Weideman also comes in after kicking 7. 

 

Have been one of his biggests critis but Tom has been a gun this year.

We would be 3 games down without him.

Hes 28 and has at least 3 years left.

Regardless, playing like he is no coach could drop him.

Stats like 10 marks a game I reckon are pretty important. Could have had 2 more goals of players had missed his leads.

10 minutes ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

Goodwin's Presser indicated that May could be available if fit.

Playing mind games with the Tiges.

Petty for another week.

19 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Dude, May was out for 2-4 weeks. Try again

Not based on what Simon Goodwin said, he might not play,  but if he's fit he walks straight back in. 

20 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Dude, May was out for 2-4 weeks. Try again

Lift that rock up off your head. 

Dude. 

17 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Tom Mcdonald isn't going to be apart of our future mate. Like I said, he has been playing well so credit to him. I don't read too much into stats. He had 22 touches but a lot of them were in the backline. So I'd prefer to have Ben Brown who is a bigger target inside 50m to straighten us up. Weideman also comes in after kicking 7. 

 

If you bring in both Brown and Weideman one or both of them will have to spend significant time in the CHF up the ground role that Tom is playing. He had 2 touches in the back 50 and 69% of touches in the attacking half.

Replacing Tom when he's at peak fitness and in decent form for 2 guys who have played 1.5 games each and don't offer much at ground level or defensively doesn't make sense.

Bring one of Weid/Brown in this week, bring the next one in when they have a bit more fitness under their belt. 

There's 17 team weeks until finals, now is not the time to try to assemble our best possible line up or worry about who's in the long term plans. Picking the best team for right now has to be the aim and that means keeping the guy who took 10 marks at CHF.

1 minute ago, Patches O’houlihan said:

Not based on what Simon Goodwin said, he might not play,  but if he's fit he walks straight back in. 

correct. if he's fit he walks in. But he isn't so he won't. 

1 minute ago, Dr.D said:

correct. if he's fit he walks in. But he isn't so he won't. 

I wouldn't be so sure of that... 

but we will find out later in the week ;)

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Anyone else thinking that ANB's position could be in jeopardy.  He had a very good game in round 2 vs Saints but has been relatively poor in the other games. 

If this wasn't such a critical game and if we didn't have so many inexperienced players in the 22 I could see he being dropped.

Id drop him for sure.  We will be even better when Bedford is in the AFL team.

22 hours ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Jones was horrendous and must not be gifted a game next week. I dont care if its his 17th game or his 300th.

 

In  -  Weideman, B Brown, Bedford

Out  -  M Brown, Jones, ANB

Like that will happen. Jones to miss his 300.

1 minute ago, DeeSpencer said:

If you bring in both Brown and Weideman one or both of them will have to spend significant time in the CHF up the ground role that Tom is playing. He had 2 touches in the back 50 and 69% of touches in the attacking half.

Replacing Tom when he's at peak fitness and in decent form for 2 guys who have played 1.5 games each and don't offer much at ground level or defensively doesn't make sense.

Bring one of Weid/Brown in this week, bring the next one in when they have a bit more fitness under their belt. 

There's 17 team weeks until finals, now is not the time to try to assemble our best possible line up or worry about who's in the long term plans. Picking the best team for right now has to be the aim and that means keeping the guy who took 10 marks at CHF.

I hear what you're saying. I won't go into the stats because I reckon Tom got a lot of ball in the back half, not necessarily the back 50m.  But none the less, Tom has kicked 6 goals in 5 games (and 1 one his goals, he ripped from Jackson are potentially cost us a goal by getting it touched). But alas 6 in 5 games: It's not bad, but it's not great.

 I agree that Ben Brown and TMac can't be in the same forward line. What makes TMac valuable is his kicking for goal. I don't really like him roaming up the field. He is a see ball, mark ball, kick goal sort of player. I want his marks to be inside 50m or nowhere at all. And we've shown this year to be horrific in front of goal which makes accurate goal kickers more valuable. But Ben Brown is basically an accurate TMac but one that plays closer to goal. 

Also, finals is far from guaranteed. We're heading in the right direction but last year showed how we can capitulate. 


 

https://www.afl.com.au/news/598480/-that-s-the-big-ticket-will-trac-and-dusty-go-head-to-head-

17 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Have been one of his biggests critis but Tom has been a gun this year.

We would be 3 games down without him.

Hes 28 and has at least 3 years left.

Regardless, playing like he is no coach could drop him.

Stats like 10 marks a game I reckon are pretty important. Could have had 2 more goals of players had missed his leads.

He's kicked essentially 5 goals in 5 games. Lets pump the brakes a bit.