The Tom McDonald dilemma

[Rossmillan 473]

Tom McDonald has played 3 out of the last 4 games very well in his current role and at AFL level.  
 

Weid has played one blinder and one half of footy at VFL level where he didn’t get near it from all accounts.

I’m not convinced we should be rotating 3 or 4 players around to fit Weid in at this stage.  I’d like less changes to a winning formula not more.

On the basis of form, Weid gets told to give us another solid game in the VFL.  He needs to push Tom out.

[CBDees 3,162]

2 minutes ago, Rossmillan said:

Tom McDonald has played 3 out of the last 4 games very well in his current role and at AFL level.  
 

Weid has played one blinder and one half of footy at VFL level where he didn’t get near it from all accounts.

I’m not convinced we should be rotating 3 or 4 players around to fit Weid in at this stage.  I’d like less changes to a winning formula not more.

On the basis of form, Weid gets told to give us another solid game in the VFL.  He needs to push Tom out.

Why on earth does he need to push Tom out? ? Why not Mitch Brown? ?

[Lucifers Hero 36,984]

This article the-key-shift-that-turned-melbourne-from-pretenders-to-contenders  identifies improvement in our 'front half' game as the reason for our success and Tom is integral to this:

"Last year...Melbourne...ranked ninth for forward 50 tackles without a single Demon inside the top 30 for players in the stat in the competition.  This year there's three in the top 10 with Tom McDonald (2.5 forward 50 tackles per game), Kozzy Pickett (2) and Charlie Spargo (1.8) leading the charge for a team average of 15.5 per game".

Yesterday, he was on the ground 98% of the time showing his stamina and fitness.  He had 11 score involvements (2nd highest), 10 marks, 421 meters gained (4th highest),  14 Uncontested possessions (2nd highest) etc. 

He is outstanding in his role and regardless of whether we bring in Weideman or B. Brown I would be really reluctant to change his role. 

Putting him on the wing means changing Brayshaw's role who has been very good on the wing..

We are reaching the point where players are settled in their roles and when changes are made a player slots into the vacated role rather than move players around.  Players are becoming predictable to one another.  I wouldn't mess with this synergy.

imv, Tom stays in and stays in his current role.

Edited April 18, 2021 by Lucifer's Hero

[Rossmillan 473]

11 minutes ago, CBDees said:

Why on earth does he need to push Tom out? ? Why not Mitch Brown? ?

Mitch Brown is playing The Fritsch role which Fritsch gets back as soon as he is ready.

There is no doubt Mitch Brown is on borrowed time.  I’m not convinced swapping Weid in for a game playing that role benefits him?

[Superunknown 3,307]

Can't drop McSizzle.

[durango 1,976]

I noticed that when TMac is in form the players like Jake Melkshem are better, their form mirror each other in 2018 Tmac was very good and so was Jake but in 2019 and 2020 both were poor.

[Cards13 9,117]

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

This article the-key-shift-that-turned-melbourne-from-pretenders-to-contenders  identifies improvement in our 'front half' game as the reason for our success and Tom is integral to this:

"Last year...Melbourne...ranked ninth for forward 50 tackles without a single Demon inside the top 30 for players in the stat in the competition.  This year there's three in the top 10 with Tom McDonald (2.5 forward 50 tackles per game), Kozzy Pickett (2) and Charlie Spargo (1.8) leading the charge for a team average of 15.5 per game".

Yesterday, he was on the ground 98% of the time showing his stamina and fitness.  He had 11 score involvements (2nd highest), 10 marks, 421 meters gained (4th highest),  14 Uncontested possessions (2nd highest) etc. 

He is outstanding in his role and regardless of whether we bring in Weideman or B. Brown I would be really reluctant to change his role. 

Putting him on the wing means changing Brayshaw's role who has been very good on the wing..

We are reaching the point where players are settled in their roles and when changes are made a player slots into the vacated role rather than move players around.  Players are becoming predictable to one another.  I wouldn't mess with this synergy.

imv, Tom stays in and stays in his current role.

His first qtr yesterday, in particular was outstanding! 

[Red and Blue realist 2,026]

13 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

Whilst it can be said for the majority of the team today, Brayshaw was bog ordinary for the first 3 quarters (and i don’t like him as a winger).

Maybe try TMac on a wing as a link up tall (Max can’t continually be relied upon to be that link man and will need time to rest either up forward or on the bench) and then have Langdon patrol the ‘quiet’ wing, as his pace and endurance is first rate, as is his unwavering effort.

The question then turns to what we do with Gus, but I’d definitely have TMac in ahead of him atm.

Not sure you're correct on your assessment of Brayshaw's game, but I'd play both of them (TMac and Gus) on the opposite wing to Langdon. Obviously only one can start their but the other either starts in the Fwd50 (TMac) or back50 (Gus) and they run up and down, hopefully passing the ball to each other. Gus has played well as a defensive wing, while I can see TMac continuing to do the hard yards and providing an outlet kick as well, he's taken a few good grabs around 75m out from the defensive goal. So i don't think the answer is one or the other, the answer hopefully is both!

[Webber 9,974]

It’s ONLY Demonland who are questioning TMac’s value, or lack thereof. The external footy watching world are rating him as one of this season’s best performers. Not only does he stay, he’s one of the first picked every week. Selection dilemmas do NOT include him. Just as obvious is Mitch Brown going out, and slightly less obvious is Petty (he’ll be back) for May  (if ready). The rest (Weid, BBB) is a selection headache of the best kind. Glad it’s not my job. 

[Wunders 385]

Fritsch   BBrown Jackson

Spargo  Weid       Melksham

Not much pressure being applied. Not sure we can fit all of ANB, Tmac, Pickett and Jones in. I'd almost say Tmac is playing better/more consistent than Weid really ever has, so is our best team might actually be:

Fritsch   BBrown Jackson

Spargo  TMac      Melksham

With Picket and ANB rotating through to apply more pressure (Jones and Weid are emergencies moving forward).

 

[Ollie fan 2,116]

Bringing BBB and Weed in together is too big a change imv. Our attack is ranked sixth in the league on points scored, and if we had kicked straighter we would be a lot higher than that. Suddenly bringing in two marking forwards would completely change the dynamic, and against the top team…?

 

One or the other,  to replace Mitch Brown, is the way to go.

When Frisch is ready and Jones had his 300, the change is obvious. 

[hells bells 2,022]

TMac to the wing to play on McIntosh 

Melksham out, M Brown out

 

[Cheesy D. Pun 1,762]

For those saying there's no selection dilemma, you should add who you're leaving out.

Pending an absence of injuries, at least one of B.Brown, Weed, Jackson or TMac has to become a VFL player in 2021.

Trying to appease all of them is a recipe for disaster, in my opinion.

Balance is everything. Our small forwards (along with our defensive structure) are the main reason we sit 5-0. Going with 4 talls is a fundamental shift from the game plan that got us to this point.

[Diamond_Jim 11,679]

14 hours ago, loges said:

TMac is not the dilemma. Whether Weideman will replicate VFL form in the AFL is the dilemma.

If B Brown is fit and he looked that way on Sunday at the ground. Spent the whole game on the ground and moved up and down with the play.

On that basis he has the runs on the board way in front of Weideman.

The only issue which is one for the experts is team balance. Brown is not known for crashing packs and bringing in the smalls.

Hard choice and in a way a great week to have the dilemna.

[Diamond_Jim 11,679]

On T Mac he is an obvious trade at the end of the year. The other is Weid if he doesn't perform.

Amazing if we can get a good trade for a player who no one wanted even with a slary subsidy only a few months away.

Meanwhile what happens....??

[NeveroddoreveN 1,034]

The Weid was exceptional in the reserves....one of the best games i seen him play, intensity was up, he shoved out bigger ruckman to kick a great goal, kicked straight.  Brown was pretty decent, he had some good moments.

Be super surprised if Weid is not in on the back of that performance, he was fantastic.

[Mel Bourne 3,604]

14 hours ago, Farmer said:

I have never seen a player who looks less like a wingman!

I keep seeing this suggestion and cannot understand it. The best wing players have pace. Tom MacDonald does not. 

[FarNorthernD 5,839]

Normally I’d be super keen to grab the team selection sheet and drop half the team. However at 5/0 and with Weid, B Brown, Fridgy and May all nearing fitness or in-form I’ll happily hand that responsibility to the people who actually know what they are doing. Tough gig picking the team atm. 

[Red and Blue realist 2,026]

14 minutes ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

For those saying there's no selection dilemma, you should add who you're leaving out.

Pending an absence of injuries, at least one of B.Brown, Weed, Jackson or TMac has to become a VFL player in 2021.

Trying to appease all of them is a recipe for disaster, in my opinion.

Balance is everything. Our small forwards (along with our defensive structure) are the main reason we sit 5-0. Going with 4 talls is a fundamental shift from the game plan that got us to this point.

I'm not sure about this, I can see TMac moving up to a high half forward/offensive wing position, while LJ is critial in Max playing so well, it's about finding LJ a role when he's not rucking, but resting in the forward line isn't the worst thing. Weid and BBB are the only true stay at home forwards, and we're at all time going to have 1 on the bench, so only 3 will be on the ground at any time.

On the point about our smalls being a big part of why we've started so well, TMac is the equal leader of inside 50 tackles (with Kossie) for the whole league (Spargo, ANB, Jordon and Viney are all high up in that stat as well), to highlight that point, so as long as Weid and BBB come in with TMac's mindset to tackle and chase, the balance shouldn't be thrown out too much. 

[Docs Demons 1,656]

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

This article the-key-shift-that-turned-melbourne-from-pretenders-to-contenders  identifies improvement in our 'front half' game as the reason for our success and Tom is integral to this:

"Last year...Melbourne...ranked ninth for forward 50 tackles without a single Demon inside the top 30 for players in the stat in the competition.  This year there's three in the top 10 with Tom McDonald (2.5 forward 50 tackles per game), Kozzy Pickett (2) and Charlie Spargo (1.8) leading the charge for a team average of 15.5 per game".

Yesterday, he was on the ground 98% of the time showing his stamina and fitness.  He had 11 score involvements (2nd highest), 10 marks, 421 meters gained (4th highest),  14 Uncontested possessions (2nd highest) etc. 

He is outstanding in his role and regardless of whether we bring in Weideman or B. Brown I would be really reluctant to change his role. 

Putting him on the wing means changing Brayshaw's role who has been very good on the wing..

We are reaching the point where players are settled in their roles and when changes are made a player slots into the vacated role rather than move players around.  Players are becoming predictable to one another.  I wouldn't mess with this synergy.

imv, Tom stays in and stays in his current role.

Totally agree. Our forward pressure is elite at moment and IF they put the Weid in he MUST BE told to chase, tackle, harass etc.  

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

LUKE JACKSON WILL NOT BE DROPPED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.  NOT ONLY IS HE PLAYING AMAZING FOOTY AND CAN LITERALLY DO EVERYTHING DESPITE BEING A TEENAGER,   HE IS FREEING MAX GAWN UP TO PLAY DEVASTATING FOOTBALL.  IN CASE YOU HADN'T NOTICED GAWN IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE COUNTRY BY A MILE AND HAS GONE TO ANOTHER LEVEL AND A LOT OF THAT IS DUE TO LJ

IF WE DROP LJ WHO PLAYS RELIEF RUCK?  SOME FORWARD WHO CANT RUCK TO SAVE HIMSELF AND WE HAVE TO MOVE GAWN STRAIGHT BACK IN WHEN WE ARE GETTING SMASHED IN THE MIDDLE?

WAKE UP!

[Neil Crompton 4,676]

3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

This article the-key-shift-that-turned-melbourne-from-pretenders-to-contenders  identifies improvement in our 'front half' game as the reason for our success and Tom is integral to this:

"Last year...Melbourne...ranked ninth for forward 50 tackles without a single Demon inside the top 30 for players in the stat in the competition.  This year there's three in the top 10 with Tom McDonald (2.5 forward 50 tackles per game), Kozzy Pickett (2) and Charlie Spargo (1.8) leading the charge for a team average of 15.5 per game".

Yesterday, he was on the ground 98% of the time showing his stamina and fitness.  He had 11 score involvements (2nd highest), 10 marks, 421 meters gained (4th highest),  14 Uncontested possessions (2nd highest) etc. 

He is outstanding in his role and regardless of whether we bring in Weideman or B. Brown I would be really reluctant to change his role. 

Putting him on the wing means changing Brayshaw's role who has been very good on the wing..

We are reaching the point where players are settled in their roles and when changes are made a player slots into the vacated role rather than move players around.  Players are becoming predictable to one another.  I wouldn't mess with this synergy.

imv, Tom stays in and stays in his current role.

I agree with you Lucy. It makes no sense to drop/move a player who is playing his role extremely well, with someone who had one good game at Casey. Form in the AFL always trumps form at VFL level.

[hemingway 7,583]

17 hours ago, Better days ahead said:

I'd play TMac against the Tiges. BB to come in for M Brown. I think the Weid has to bide his time. We can't fit the 3 of them in the same side

Agree completely. TMac will stay in, so only one of the Weed or BB. On Casey form you would probably go for the Weed. 

Minimum change to a winning side. 

[deelusions from afar 1,608]

When Jackson was picked, there was a lot of talk about him potentially becoming a midfielder one day.  Given the tall targets we have to come into the team will he also be given the opportunity to play up the ground (when he's not rucking) like TMac?

I think they have to be careful in not playing him in too many positions (some players careers have been ruined by being played out of position) - but if this is potentially his future role then it might be worth experimenting a bit.

having TMac and Jacko presenting as options (in addition to Gawn) when transitioning the ball from defence to attack could become a huge weapon for us as in most cases they will not be playing on players who have the ability to match them in the air.  

My gut feel is that we can't play Gawn, Jacko, TMac, Weid, BBB, Fritsch and Melksham in the same side as the forward pressure will drop away - but I'm super excited to see if they can find a way to make it work.  I hope they've been doing lots of work on complimentary leading patterns!

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,381]

17 hours ago, FarNorthernD said:

How unMelbourne is this? Debating about which in-form player should make way. 

If only Clarkson was our coach. He'd have a coffee with Gil this week and the AFL would make an immediate rule change to increase the squad to 24 and allow 19 players on the ground at all times.