10 hours ago, Big Col said:

On a radio interview after the game, Max said that Harmes would be available next week.

Harmes might have to come back through the VFL.

We have to find a way to get BBB into the side. The North Hobart oval has some weird winds happening, and North Melbourne play it well. It would seem that next week is a particularly good time to give BBB a game and see how he can fit in.

I can't nominate anyone to be dropped though!

North Hobart and Blundstone are two different places..

We will not mess with our 3 pressure forwards. Brown is the only player outside our current side that must be brought in as we need to get him settled and once in will make us a better side. I also think if we want to get Brown in the team (which we should) then you need to remove one of Melksham/Fritsch and Jones/Jordon and also bring in another faster ground level player to counter balance. Jordon is playing more mid/forward than forward mid therefore whilst impacting stays.

Jones played a satisfactory role this week and was probably his best game of the season thus far. However Jones body does not make him a 22 game player this year and if he is smart he will want to be there with a chance when the whips are cracking. Therefore I can see him being managed at times to get him through the year and playing in team or as sub when opportunity arises (which it will).

Weid will need to bang the door down and show form that puts him passed TMac or Jackson. His VFL effort whilst ok this week was not even on par with the AFL impact of Jackson or TMac. 

In Brown, Chandler

Out Melksham (sub), Jones (managed)

Edited April 25, 20213 yr by big_red_fire_engine

15 minutes ago, Nasher said:

Comes back to the point made by Jayden Hunt as relayed by jnrmac - high half forward is a feast-or-famine role by nature.

Spargo’s value to the side is defensive effort. It’s a strength and he helps is trap the ball in. I still think there is a bar for minimum number of times for being involved in a possession chain though and 6 is below it for mine.

Fair enough, take your point there mate. I just reckon Spargo was one of the players who was important early at setting the scene with his pressure when things weren't going our way. Not saying he was great, obviously more involvement would be good, just don't reckon he'd be in danger of being dropped if he's doing those things. Personally I probably give him a bit more credit in the bank as I think he's our best user going inside 50.

People with rose tinted glasses think milkshake doesn't do enough but he does his role and only played 65% of game time.  Not everybody plays 80% plus

He can't be dropped for Brown, it disrupts the team balance.

No change

Edited April 25, 20213 yr by ucanchoose

21 minutes ago, Patches O’houlihan said:

Only change i'd consider is if Harmes is passed fit to play, i'd swap him for Melksham 

Harmes can go and earn his spot in the VFL. Not only was he ordinary in the pre season games, he was ordinary round 1. James Jordon has him covered so far this year.

If Melksham was to go out then it has to be for Ben Brown. He is far too good to be sitting in the VFL and if theres one game we can ease him in its the North game.

Edited April 25, 20213 yr by dazzledavey36

9 minutes ago, ucanchoose said:

North Hobart and Blundstone are two different places..

Yes - the place with the weird winds he described is Blundstone though. 

Just now, dazzledavey36 said:

Harmes can go and earn his spot. Not only was he ordinary in the pre season games, he was ordinary round 1. James Jordon has him covered so far this year.

If Melksham was to go out then it has to be for Ben Brown. He is far too good to be sitting in the VFL and if theres one game we can ease him in its the North game.

I'm just a bit worried about Team Balance tbh dazzle, i think our success is coming off the back of forward pressure. i don't think Brown can come in unless a tall goes out. 

I don't mind Harmes having to earn his spot, just finding it hard to see changes that would actually improve us, other than to say Melksham was ordinary last night

 I would give Pickett a rest after the impact on his knee at one stage last night 

Brown will take us too a whole new level

I’ve never been more confident of the annihilation of an opponent in the form of the Kangaroos next week.

The team must now add this important facet of ruthlessness to their repertoire and smash the living bejesus out of North and to do that I’m thinking we’ll need the big forwards. 

Brown must play. He will bag 10 goals with accurate supply and Weed has to play too. This is the game where we can afford to see how the forward line will function with all the talls.

I don’t envy the match committee this week but they have to make way for the key forwards to strut their stuff. 
 

Let’s start banking some Percentage!!

Edited April 25, 20213 yr by McQueen

With the first proper test completed, think it’s not a bad idea to start rolling some guys in/out over the next 4 weeks.

We need to be confident 25-30 blokes can play a role and the only way we can is by exposure.

Jones and a few young ones are the starting point, possibly Maxy too

Weather conditions and venue to play a role in selection this week.

Also would not hurt to begin to "manage" a player or two if it was deemed in the team's interest.

Would also like to see what Chandler can do he looked in great form in the pre season....don’t think we’ve ever been in this position before so many players to try and fit in!

Tom Mac might get a week for that high wack off the ball.

 

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Harmes can go and earn his spot in the VFL. Not only was he ordinary in the pre season games, he was ordinary round 1. James Jordon has him covered so far this year.

If Melksham was to go out then it has to be for Ben Brown. He is far too good to be sitting in the VFL and if theres one game we can ease him in its the North game.

The great thing about this team is we now have 6-10 players that are to good for the VFL.

12 hours ago, Nasher said:

Jones, Melksham and Spargo are our clear bottom 3 at present. I think a case can be made for any of those three to go - but only one of them. I’d pick Brown ahead of Weid.

I’d be really tempted to go no change though. The present mix is working. The risk of breaking it has to be a consideration.

I agree on Melksham and Jones to

a degree but Spargo has been outstanding 

9 hours ago, kev martin said:

My guess would be

In:  B. Brown and Weids 

Out:  Melky and Jones

That's a significant shift in game plan.

I think we'd have to have hit a pretty rough patch to make that kind of change.

43 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

I’d be really tempted to go no change though. The present mix is working. The risk of breaking it has to be a consideration.

Yeah, I think you milk the current setup for all its worth, then when it looks like teams are starting to work us out, we have some alternatives up our sleeve.

12 hours ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I don't understand people wanting to bring in a key forward for a small or medium player.

We currently have a pretty good balance, so I certainly wouldn't be bringing a tall in without taking one out.

I've loved what Bedford is doing in the VFL and would love to see him replace Melksham but Melky seems to be bullet proof so it's an unlikely scenario.

A real conundrum.

T Mac's form last night was impeccable. Jackson.. probably career best game... Fritsch.. very solid

If Melksham was dropped as you say why not Bedford.

Not really sure what Jones' role is but it certainly isn't one that could be played by a tall.

The reality is that the list is unbalanced at present through no ones fault. Jackson has come on faster than many expected and T Mac has once again found his mojo.

And just to add further difficulty Harmes will be available in a few weeks time.

Not our usual MFC problem and happy to leave it to the coaches to work out

Without wanting to flirt with form or disrespect the roos, now would be the time to experiment with McDonald on the wing and bringing in Brown or Weid.

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

A real conundrum.

T Mac's form last night was impeccable. Jackson.. probably career best game... Fritsch.. very solid

If Melksham was dropped as you say why not Bedford.

Not really sure what Jones' role is but it certainly isn't one that could be played by a tall.

The reality is that the list is unbalanced at present through no ones fault. Jackson has come on faster than many expected and T Mac has once again found his mojo.

And just to add further difficulty Harmes will be available in a few weeks time.

Not our usual MFC problem and happy to leave it to the coaches to work out

I'd be very surprised if Wiedeman is still at Melbourne next year if he can't somehow break into the side.

15 hours ago, adonski said:

I actually think T Mac may get suspended for a week for his high hit which gave away a free kick. Hopefully just a fine. 

I reckon he'll cop a week.

39 minutes ago, Chook said:

I'd be very surprised if Wiedeman is still at Melbourne next year if he can't somehow break into the side.

A little bell is ringing in my head.... Weid out, Merrett in?

3 hours ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Tom Mac might get a week for that high wack off the ball.

 

Low impact. Low force. Tigers player whacked. 
$1000 fine. 

2 hours ago, Nascent said:

Without wanting to flirt with form or disrespect the roos, now would be the time to experiment with McDonald on the wing and bringing in Brown or Weid.

We don't need Tmac on the wing !

How many times have you suggested this mythical change in our structure?

Isn't his form good  enough ? Let the bloke do what he does best . The Mark McLure role in the forward line Marking kicking goals and making ways for and protecting our smalls. 
 

It's going well and honestly both Weid and BBB are not that same type of player to assist others.

Just wanting to play certain players to fit them in is not team football. They must all gel and right now Melksham is probably the elephant in the room.

Plus Angus is owning his wing with great support for the defenders and also a good feeder to the leads from Our forwards.

We don't need to experiment and risk mucking up Tmac'a form and the Forward line and centre line synergy.