I can't work the permutations, but the three outs are huge, especially Viney, who drives the standards in the mids and lets Trac and Clarry do their thing.

I would put Sparrow in, to rotate through the guts with Jones and Brayshaw. Jones will be the old head v Kennedy and Parker.

Put Petty back - May really rates him, according to a recent interview, so let him find his feet down there.

TMac to the wing and maybe Weid in for Melk (not direct swap)? It looks a bit too heavy, but who else do we have to put the pressure on in the F50?

 

11 hours ago, rpfc said:

I am intrigued by TMac on a wing... I don’t think Brayshaw is a natural for it and we could begin a month of seeing how it goes with The below;

Viney replaced in mid rotation by Brayshaw

Brayshaw replaced on wing by TMac

Weideman in to replace TMac 

Petty in to replace Tomlinson

Also gives Petty a period of time to impress and if it doesn’t work out we battle on with TMac in the backline and our preferred forward set up when we started to prepare for this season and constructed the list.

I think we paid the price for having an inexperienced winger in the side. We proved that you need more than speed. Angus doesn't have a lot of speed but he reads the play and defends well, be it out of our on 50 or going in to theirs; he gets there and contributes. I lost count of the number of times I saw North go out on Sunday through Baker's flank, and the only time I saw him roll back, he missed the tackle on Cunnington and he kicked their only goal for the last quarter.

I know your argument wasn't pro-Baker, but my point is if we're to move Brayshaw out of the wing, we want to be REALLY sure whoever takes his spot has the nous to play it so we don't shoot ourselves in the foot. As an experienced player I have more faith in TMac than I do Baker, but my main preference would be to keep the player who has proven capability in the role to keep doing it, even if he's not a natural per se.

I think Petty needs to get first crack at Tomlinson's role. This is not a one off final and we need to think long term.

Fritsch is hard to replace. While I hate Weideman languishing in the VFL and think he offers a much more rounded game than Ben Brown, Brown needs another go on the MCG to see if it can work. I would go for Chandler on the basis that our forward line already has enough marking players with McDonald, Brown and Jackson.

Baker is not skilled enough and does not make good enough decisions for an outside midfielder IMO. I would bring Jones back in.

I would make Sparrow the sub and have him play VFL on Sunday if he doesn't get a long run.

Melksham is on thin ice but I don't think we need to make four changes to an undefeated side and with Fritsch out, he has a role to play.

10 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

I think Petty needs to get first crack at Tomlinson's role. This is not a one off final and we need to think long term.

I started out preferring to swing TMac back and bring Weideman in, but as time goes on I'm coming around to this view as well. There is a need for a KPD for the rest of the season; we would want Petty to be established and settled by the time finals rolls around - and if it turns out he's not up to it, we've got plenty of time to adjust. It also means more continuity for the forward line as well, especially now that it looks like Fritsch is out.

8 minutes ago, Nasher said:

I started out preferring to swing TMac back and bring Weideman in, but as time goes on I'm coming around to this view as well. There is a need for a KPD for the rest of the season; we would want Petty to be established and settled by the time finals rolls around - and if it turns out he's not up to it, we've got plenty of time to adjust. It also means more continuity for the forward line as well, especially now that it looks like Fritsch is out.

Even if we go for TMac back, I am sceptical that we can fit Ben Brown and Weideman into the same side. Both are poor/below average below their knees and chasing. 

It’s actually interesting because I think this might be our first look at what the team trained over the last 6 months - Weed and Brown forward and TMac on a wing. If nothing else I’m intrigued to see it in action.

Weed in for Fritta, Petty for Thommo. Our backline still looks strong. The hardest loss to cover is actually Viney, as with him in the middle Trac could play more of Frittas role. It might be we bring in Harmes for that very reason. For him to be the defensive mid, and for Trac to be the more mobile forward option.

I also don’t mind Harmes playing as that mobile forward and swapping on ball with Trac either. I think I’ve talked myself into it.

Edited May 4, 20214 yr by The heart beats true

Really want to see Harmes playing. He has skills.

Tmac, Salem, Lever, Hunt have all stepped up to their best form. Harmes the chance to do likewise.

 

Petty for Tomlinson

Sparrow for Baker (Brayshaw back to wing)

Bedford for Fritsch

Jones as sub

 

Reading the individual players report (Alan Richardson’s) from Casey, he says Sparrow was BOG by a big margin. Sparrow is a pure midfielder....size, grunt, good decisions, good disposal. What we obviously missed on Saturday, where Cunnington’s influence stood out like Kangaroos balls, was Jack Viney, the role player it seems just as obvious Sparrow is modelling himself on. Based on this, I’d be staggered if he doesn’t come in this week.  

Not too concerned about the possibilty of Buddy playing against us. Hes one of the oldest in the comp and has a permanent injury cloud over him.

Hickey, Rampe and Melican all have injury issues as well. Welcome to the MCG  fellas.

Our coaching staff wont play injured players. Longmuire  seems a little desperate to me.

Furious about Fritsch. Was never getting off. What about the whack behind play which dropped him to the deck right in front of atleast one ump?  However, not worth 10K to challenge + costs for Tommo's op. Move on.

We all know the AFL commisson is a farce.

 

Edited May 4, 20214 yr by siam juntaRus

30 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

It’s actually interesting because I think this might be our first look at what the team trained over the last 6 months - Weed and Brown forward and TMac on a wing. If nothing else I’m intrigued to see it in action.

Brown and Weed didn't train really until around 4/5 weeks ago.

17 minutes ago, Webber said:

Reading the individual players report (Alan Richardson’s) from Casey, he says Sparrow was BOG by a big margin. Sparrow is a pure midfielder....size, grunt, good decisions, good disposal. What we obviously missed on Saturday, where Cunnington’s influence stood out like Kangaroos balls, was Jack Viney, the role player it seems just as obvious Sparrow is modelling himself on. Based on this, I’d be staggered if he doesn’t come in this week.  

Weideman was clearly BOG IMO and North's VFL were woeful. That said, you are right that we should look to shift Brayshaw back onto the wing and open an inside midfield spot up for Jones, Sparrow or Harmes.

Don't flirt with form!  Keep McDonald forward and leave the forward line alone.  They got us to 7-0.

1 hour ago, one_demon said:

Don't flirt with form!  Keep McDonald forward and leave the forward line alone.  They got us to 7-0.

Our forward line is where the most improvement can come from.  We will tinker with it until we get the most potent mix.

Getting to 7-0 is great but we wont win a flag with Tom McDonald as our only key forward.

12 minutes ago, Pickett2Jackson said:

Our forward line is where the most improvement can come from.  We will tinker with it until we get the most potent mix.

Getting to 7-0 is great but we wont win a flag with Tom McDonald as our only key forward.

good call. but I say, we sure as hell won't win a flag with Tom Mcdonald in the backline! 

1 minute ago, Dr.D said:

good call. but I say, we sure as hell won't win a flag with Tom Mcdonald in the backline! 

You might be right.    He has been a much improved kick as a forward but I think that's more to do with less pressure when delivering the ball inside 50 than him actually improving his field kicking.   If he goes back I do fear he will freeze up and start kicking it straight to the opposition again like he used to when he was a defender.

 

22 hours ago, Pollyanna said:

You said he'd be sacked by Round 8 sunshine

Doctors aren't all brain surgeon's. I suspect that one may have a phD in mythological studies.

4 hours ago, Red and Blue realist said:

Not sure why people keep saying that Weid and BBB shouldn't be in the same team together, they played the 3 games at Casey before Brown came up

Sure, but they also didn't have TMac, Gawn and Jackson in the Casey team with them. It's about the overall balance, particularly given we play a forward pressure game, not just about how 2 players work together. Context.

3 minutes ago, ManDee said:

Doctors aren't all brain surgeon's. I suspect that one may have a phD in mythological studies.

Ph.D in hubris, perhaps?

Sparrow a very good chance this week you'd think...

Richardson: “He was the best player on the ground by some margin."

 

If Fritsch is out and Viney missing a few, I’d like to see Weid and Sparrow both come in. The only question then is does Tmac go back or stay forward. If back then I’d like to see Bedford or Kade Chandler be given a run, other wise Petty comes in down back for Tomlinson.

Edited May 4, 20214 yr by Garbo

I keep forgetting that we have Majak in the ranks. I do recall him playing some solid footy in D50 for the kanga's. I know he's been running around the ruck in the magoos, but is he a left field choice for Tomo? 

His tank will be the biggest challenge and i do get we have to blood Petty somewhat given the age of May, but i think its worth some consideration. 

14 hours ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I probably lean towards preferring TMac stays forward but your comments are ludicrous.

This is elite level football. You don't fail for 7 years.

He was very close to All-Australian as a defender in 2014, achieving that as the number 1 defender in an awful side.

Don't get me wrong, his move forward was a stroke of genius, but calling him a failure as a defender, is just blatantly wrong and fails to take into account how difficult playing in that defence would have been.

I'm sorry but I disagree. Jack Wats failed for his whole career as a forward. But lets not reverse over that again. 

I don't read into AA honours. It's chosen by ex players and guys like Gillon McLachlan who I question how much footy he actually sees. I guarantee not as much as I do.

 

I have flip flopped on this a bit but i think McDonald needs to stay forward because he's so different to Weid/Brown in terms of his endurance running, if he gets 20 every week and kicks his 2-3 goals, keeps leading up the ground and providing an option, happy for him to stay at CHF all year. 

In terms of Brown, he was a bit rusty, he'll get a few weeks to ease into it and if he doesn't, Weid will take his spot. i don't think they can both play. 

4 hours ago, godees said:

Petty for Tomlinson

Sparrow for Baker (Brayshaw back to wing)

Bedford for Fritsch

Jones as sub

 

I like this but with Chandler not Bedford who has some tricks has performed well and is good on the chase and defensive acts

Sparrow is a natural Viney replacement. Dont try and find a Fritsch exact swap / copy he is an original. If there is enough pressure and if the bigger talls present the crumbers will feed. Trac can rotate through the fwd line to further challenge Sydney

Edited May 4, 20214 yr by dino rover
Chandler has better stats that Bedford