1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

Disappointing IMO for Sparrow that he's missed out on a midfield spot,

 

5 minutes ago, Brownie said:

Feel for Sparrow.

Looked like he picked up an injury at the end of the Casey game...so maybe that's a reason.

edit...Although I note that he is listed in the emergencies so maybe not a reason...who knows.

Edited July 16, 20214 yr by rjay

Ear infection explains the recent plateauing and slight drop off in form.  Sounds nasty.  That stuff can throw your whole system out.  He was a great foil for Viney while he was recovering and even surpassed him on occasions IMO.  Now we have Viney back but getting nowhere near his best and we lose Harmes.  Worrying times if both AVB and Viney go missing.  Puts a fair bit of extra pressure on the other mids. 

Good luck to Vanders who put in a solid showing the week before last at Casey.  Was reasonable last week also.  Body seems to be holding up ok and looks as fit as i've seen since 2018.

Wondering where the FD sees Melk at this point?  Obviously he isn't high on their priority list with AVB getting the nod.  Wouldn't be a bad option either given he's probably our best last kick coming inside 50 and we now have BB in.  And not saying he's a lock either.  Just worth a look and see whether him and BB click at all.

48 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Has carried it for a few weeks now. 'Ear infection' is underselling it, he's needing an operation but is hoping to put it off til post-season.

Gees that’s awful. Ear issues are no joke. Would be impacting balance and can be quite serious if fluid gets into the brain. 
I am in awe of the absolute [censored] footballers put their bodies through. 

5 minutes ago, Jaded said:

Gees that’s awful. Ear issues are no joke. Would be impacting balance and can be quite serious if fluid gets into the brain. 
I am in awe of the absolute [censored] footballers put their bodies through. 

Some say he is lacking between the ears could explain it...

you'd think avb will be perfect for the wet conditions - no frills, hard over the ball and in the clinches, loves a physical tackle

1 hour ago, Lord Nev said:

Has carried it for a few weeks now. 'Ear infection' is underselling it, he's needing an operation but is hoping to put it off til post-season.

Explains a lot: I noticed his 'fumbles' last week, then there were the rumbles about his team mates verballing him a game or so ago. I wish him all the best. I recall a practice match in 2016, at Casey. He got thumped in a collision and came off the ground bleeding from his head. He sat in the box in  interchange box in front of the stand, his head bandaged, and sitting right behind him was his mum. 

Time for Vanders to add even more grunt.  Hope he takes his chance.  

2 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Was wondering why I came across this at work today, ‘‘twas a sign.

Good luck AVB!

Fortune favours van the brave den south australia berg.

I dont know but I hope its just a mild ear infection  and not something  like  Menieres Disease? Hnmm I have had it from time to time and it is shocking . Balance, goes, hearing fluctuates shocking! HOPE HARMSY RECOVERS QUICKLY?

Edited July 16, 20214 yr by picket fence

Love the new time slot love Vanders in the side. Bad luck to Harmesey but Vanders gives us a harder edge and as Richo said he makes us a better side when in it. Go Vanders.

Always liked VDB, hope he hits his best, was good in the finals 3 yrs ago, could be a Smokey if he comes good again in time for our run to September. 

6 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Wondering where the FD sees Melk at this point?  Obviously he isn't high on their priority list with AVB getting the nod. 

Not sure. AVB is more of a like-for-like replacement for Harmes. If it had been Fritsch or ANB go down, you'd think they would have preferred Melksham.

Amongst all this, the other one that might have been taken is Jones, but he can hardly string 2 matches together now without picking up an injury.

2018 Vanders, great, 2021 Vanders l guess we'll find out 

14 hours ago, roy11 said:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/980201

 

OUT: Harmes (EAR INFECTION)
IN: Aaron vandenBerg 

 

Curious how AVB will go, if Nate was fit, wonder who would have gotten in

He been best at Casey for two weeks He will go ok Crunch time Go VDB!!

6 hours ago, bing181 said:

Not sure. AVB is more of a like-for-like replacement for Harmes. If it had been Fritsch or ANB go down, you'd think they would have preferred Melksham.

Amongst all this, the other one that might have been taken is Jones, but he can hardly string 2 matches together now without picking up an injury.

Yes, it looks like VDB is playing midfield rotation if he is replacing Harmes.

That would be different to his HFF role in 2018.

He’s a natural mid by the way, he might be a tad slow of toe but he knows where the footy will be.

VDB is a bit slow and has ordinary skills, but he makes every other Demon walk taller, and his crunching tackles worry the opposition players, putting added pressure on their ball disposal.

In finals and GFs there are always players who get picked for their hardness ahead of other more skilled players. Goodwin likes VDB for this reason!

3 hours ago, rpfc said:

Yes, it looks like VDB is playing midfield rotation if he is replacing Harmes.

That would be different to his HFF role in 2018.

He’s a natural mid by the way, he might be a tad slow of toe but he knows where the footy will be.

Or Viney goes to negative/tagging midfielder, Jordan steps up minutes in modified rotation, and VDB becomes the rotation/spare parts player on HFF and midfield rotations?

 

Harms played 69% TOG last week, our 6th lowest (Rivers at 62% everyone else >65%).

The week before against GWS Harms was our 5th lowest TOG with 72%> Sparrow was the lowest with 55%, and again everyone else >65%.

 

Edited July 17, 20214 yr by deanox

26 minutes ago, deanox said:

Or Viney goes to negative/tagging midfielder

The talk is he'll tag Mitchell.

 

Don't know if it's pouring in Melbourne,  but I'm guessing these weather conditions will suit Vandenberg. 

46 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

The talk is he'll tag Mitchell.

 

Makes sense. This year our plan for defensive roles has typically been to negate the value of possessions, rather then to prevent them all together.

Making sure that Mitchell's 30 dont hurt us is probably a stronger play than trying to try someone out of it.

Edited July 17, 20214 yr by deanox

51 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

The talk is he'll tag Mitchell.

 

I read on BF recently that Mitchell had 39 possessions and 1 score involvement.

2 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

The talk is he'll tag Mitchell.

 

The one game I don’t think we need to bother tagging anyone. But maybe they want him to practice tagging for finals. 

15 minutes ago, Jaded said:

The one game I don’t think we need to bother tagging anyone. But maybe they want him to practice tagging for finals. 

Could potentially also be that the coaches decided that's the best way to make the midfield mix work with Viney in there. We definitely seemed to have better cohesion in the Port game in that way. Not sure what it means for Harmes though, and a little concerned about our ball use forward out of the middle with vandenBerg in there, although to be fair it's not exactly been a strength of Harmes' also.

Looks like Joel Smith will get his chance next week.