When I look back on the injuries to really good players of which we have had very few, with who takes their spot  , i.e. Warren Dean out, Brad Sparks in;

we now have a whole field of guns, stuff all injuries and we are trying to squeeze in Jack Viney and Ed Langdon! 

Edited June 6, 20213 yr by Damo

100% yes. 

If we're confident of his fitness then yes. He's always had the grit but over time he has become an unselfish and smart player and completes our inside mid group.

This is a debate we would have had back before Brayshaw fully got his head around his role on the wing, but not now.

 

2 hours ago, doc roet said:

Jamie Elliot says hi.

1st game back after 9 weeks with a broken leg wasn't too bad.

Wow, kicking 6 goals with a broken leg is an awesome effort !!!!

??

Edited June 6, 20213 yr by bingers

48 minutes ago, bingers said:

Wow, kicking 6 goals with a broken leg is an awesome effort !!!!

??

He wouldn't have kicked it with his broken leg, he did with his other.

Never in doubt. If our vice-captain is fit for a finals campaign then let him loose.

He'll do to whatever opposition we face the same that we copped in our last two appearances in the GF.

Take no prisoners. It's in the Viney DNA.

This shouldn't even be a question. Viney is 100% straight in. 

4 hours ago, doc roet said:

Jamie Elliot says hi.

1st game back after 9 weeks with a broken leg wasn't too bad.

Hi Jamie!

Wish you came over a few years ago - you’re quite good!

It's unbelievable that this question is being asked.

Yes, he comes straight back in once he's fit enough to play a full game of AFL football.

We are at our weakest when we are being beaten in clearances. Viney makes us better at clearances. Whether it's Melksham, or Sparrow, or Petracca plays more forward, Viney comes in and makes us better in an area we need to be strong in.

You can't have enough tough bastards to play in finals, it is a known fact they thrive in them.

He is a bull who brings final type intensity to every contest.

Absolute must. 

 

 

7 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Yes

Agree, Yes

Totally agree YES..!!!!

What a fantastic problem to have..

"Is one of the best contested players in the league good enough to warrant automatic selection in our team"?

How far we have come.....

4 hours ago, Nelo said:

100% yes. 

Ill answer by saying his feet might well be the only thing which holds us back from the Holy Grail! So important is he at this piont given the way we are playing

Other crucial decision for this club is BB or Weids

If he’s fit, he’s a walk up start. He’s vice-captain FFS. 

ABSOLUMENT!

Most definitely

9 hours ago, Jaded said:

Sparrow or JJ. They don’t have the tank to play 120 minutes, both can play defensive roles and both can hit the scoreboard. Their kicking is probably not as good, but they’ll do better defensively. 
When Viney is ready he can slot back into the middle and I would play one of JJ or Sparrow at half forward. 

I know they are both young but Jordon and Sparrow are chalk and cheese in the tank department.

Jordon played wing on Friday, 86% time on ground and covered more ground than anyone else afield. 

For contrast, Sparrow played 58%.

 

 

IMO the reasons why JJ has excelled are primarily; he has been given 2 years to work through good habits at Casey, and in 2021 he has been give a clear, defined role for all of his games. He doesn’t need to context switch every time he comes back on. 

Playing extended minutes also helps.

I would avoid a kid having to play the Melksham role - it’s a role to facilitate the best players getting a chop out, getting them into the bench, et al.

It’s not a role that sets a kid up for success.

I’m glad we are taking the overly cautious  approach with Viney. He is absolutely critical to our chances of winning a flag and winning finals. 

that anyone would ask this question, shows they have no idea about our team

I would bring him back cherry ripe for the Port Adelaide match. To me that is a big danger game. If we beat them, West Coast and Geelong at GMHBA, then I think that we will win the Premiership.

15 minutes ago, Thehardtackler said:

I would bring him back cherry ripe for the Port Adelaide match. To me that is a big danger game. If we beat them, West Coast and Geelong at GMHBA, then I think that we will win the Premiership.

If we win those 3 there's a good chance we won't lose for the rest of the season.

I think Viney is the missing ingredient for us. He's the one who can give us the consistency we need on clearance to get the game played in our half more often.

We've been launching from the back half really well but I don't think that's the way our game plan is intended. Teams have often got a hold of us on centre clearances which has meant we've had to play a different style. 

The Bulldogs have Libba driving that clearance work and Viney can be that player for us.

I can see Viney being the difference between us having solid wins and really putting teams to the sword.

15 hours ago, daisycutter said:

bye bye melky

Yep, I think this is the move. Jack certainly wouldn't replace JJ, who is third in the league for tackles (an incredible effort) and I don't believe on form, Sparrow.

The difficulty will be that I think Melksham may well come out for Langdon. So then who comes out? I don't think you can drop Harmes.

This is a similar problem to the one we had in 2018. When Jack first went down we thought, [censored], how are we going to cover him, but then Harmes and Brayshaw stepped up. It's the same thing this year. JJ and Harmes have stepped up.

It's a very tough one IMO. Maybe it has to be Sparrow, but if there are any slip ups from Harmes or others, Sparrow would be the next one up.

2 hours ago, Cheesy D. Pun said:

I think Viney is the missing ingredient for us. He's the one who can give us the consistency we need on clearance to get the game played in our half more often.

We've been launching from the back half really well but I don't think that's the way our game plan is intended. Teams have often got a hold of us on centre clearances which has meant we've had to play a different style. 

The Bulldogs have Libba driving that clearance work and Viney can be that player for us.

I can see Viney being the difference between us having solid wins and really putting teams to the sword.

Our Libba is clearly Oliver for mine. Jack can be the go to contested winner, but I reckon he'll play the defensive role that JJ has been playing and they'll push JJ to the half forward flank as the inside slider, so we get his tackling as stoppage, but then get Viney's as well.

JJ and Sparrow's development has really deepened our midfield in a terrific way. Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Harmes and JJ would be one of the best midfields going around. A really good blend of ball winning, explosiveness and defensive intensity. The only thing it's a bit light on for is goals.