2 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

Would have liked to see Jacko given a rest and run Weid in the same role just to see what Weid has got to give when released from the key forward role that he struggles with so far in his career. At VFL level he looks comfortable in a more mobile role, he has size, mobility and clean hands when not in a pack, just don’t believe we have fully explored this guy’s best position, which I think could be as a CHB. 

Too late for a major switch up this year me thinks Earl.  He's a decent performer at VFL and appears very comfortable at that level.  Unfortunately to this point he's been unable to handle the step up to seniors.

1 hour ago, nacnud said:

Do you ever stop with your negative emotional hyperbole?

You haven't been here very long NN have you

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

Whilst Melksham might have brought in better kicking forward of centre, there are downsides. One is his 2021 form. Another is his lack of defensive pressure. And a third is that we'd then have to send TMac or Brown into the ruck and we'd at those times be back to one tall forward: remember how we looked with one tall forward vs GWS?

We're also not going to flip a switch just by bringing Melksham in: we need to demand improvement in decision making and execution from Petracca, Oliver, Viney, Harmes, Brayshaw and Gawn as well. If they keep turning it over, we'll largely look the same.

This isn't to say Jackson deserves to hold his spot, just that it's hardly "perplexing" that we didn't make that change.

Sorry, why do we need to send someone tall into the ruck? Send in Fritsch what difference does it make? Do brody and gawn lead to clearances?  Nic nat is the only true clearance ruckman. 

But i would argue that yes, bringing in someone new is the only way to 'flip a switch'. Those names may or may not hit targets inside 50. Decision making and execution of those players will be the same for coming years. I say that because its been the same for past years.  But playing the suns we probably get away and win comfortably so its moot. 

2 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

Would have liked to see Jacko given a rest and run Weid in the same role just to see what Weid has got to give when released from the key forward role that he struggles with so far in his career. At VFL level he looks comfortable in a more mobile role, he has size, mobility and clean hands when not in a pack, just don’t believe we have fully explored this guy’s best position, which I think could be as a CHB. 

Agree, think he would make a good chb, before being moved back forward.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Can someone confirm why the best kicker at the club can’t get a game?

Clealry we’re not interested in giving Jackson or Rivers a clearly needed rest.

We shouldn't rest them all at once. I'd say they'll rest a few more next week.

4 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Too late for a major switch up this year me thinks Earl.  He's a decent performer at VFL and appears very comfortable at that level.  Unfortunately to this point he's been unable to handle the step up to seniors.

Should have been given a rest and Sam an opportunity to shine in the second Ruck and forward role. Clearly Sam  a different player when not minded by one defender and is quite creative and skilful with handball etc. Agsin  Goody misses a trick and timing is the key.

Also go along with other posters who said CHB trial for Sam would be good.

Small defenders role ( assuming Bowey plays forward) is still a worry.

 

4 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Too late for a major switch up this year me thinks Earl.  He's a decent performer at VFL and appears very comfortable at that level.  Unfortunately to this point he's been unable to handle the step up to seniors.

It's never too late !!!  2nd Ruck  and forward pocket trial for Sam should have been done for this game. 
 

Maybe  Sam can be the Med sub!! 

3 hours ago, Jjrogan said:

Sorry, why do we need to send someone tall into the ruck? Send in Fritsch what difference does it make? Do brody and gawn lead to clearances?  Nic nat is the only true clearance ruckman. 

But i would argue that yes, bringing in someone new is the only way to 'flip a switch'. Those names may or may not hit targets inside 50. Decision making and execution of those players will be the same for coming years. I say that because its been the same for past years.  But playing the suns we probably get away and win comfortably so its moot. 

Fritsch could get injured and our best forward  is out for the season Thst made you happy?? 

28 minutes ago, Jack7 said:

When i read Melbourne will be travelling under strict Qld Gov. Guidelines,i'm thinking the team is travelling up Saturday to avoid visiting a GC Hotel coming from a Red Zone,which means 5am wakeup,meeting at Airport,waiting an hour to board the plane,2 hours flight time,bus from GC Airport to Metricon (40 minutes) play the game,back to the airport for the flight to Perth.

 

Last year we flew from Alice Springs into Cairns 4 days after playing the Saints,played 2 hours later and got flogged by the Swans,the players were as flat as.

 

Please tell me the team is flying up here tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

My guess sadly is that it will be fly up on the day, which means a stupidly early start. These sorts of situations can be seen as obstacles thrown up that suck or challenges that can galvanise the group. 

It’s bloody well time the players stuck their heads in and got the job done, we’ve had our slump, it sucks but move on and get the [censored]ing win. 

I love Max but his leadership has been found wanting in the last month, him, Jack, and the other leaders at the club need to be the ones to pull us out of this funk. You can’t expect the kids to do it. 

Oh and thank you @Lord Nev, you basically said everything I needed to say re: Jackson/Weid. 

9 hours ago, nacnud said:

Do you ever stop with your negative emotional hyperbole?

So you disagree then?

No issue with the outs. I'm not sure what role Jordon has played since Viney's return, but he hasn't been impacting games in that period. Hibberd's defensive work has been okay, but his constant fumbling is a liability.

Jackson and Spargo are very lucky to survive. We are playing two short up forward at the moment.

Good luck to Jake Bowey - big ask for a young kid to come in at this point of the season, having barely played for a couple of months. Not so sure about Sparrow - he really needs to be played only as a replacement for Viney or Harmes, not alongside. I would rather bring in another half forward such as Melksham or Jones to fill that spot.

 

Looks like the Suns are employing the same strategy as the Dogs did last week by going tallish up forward.

They've brought in Zac Smith as a recognised ruck in order for Burgess to go forward along with King, Corbett and this new fellow Jeffrey who kicked 9 snags last week in the 2's.

Clubs are clearly working out that to beat Melbourne, one of the first things you've gotta do is quell May and Lever and force them to match up on talls, particularly Lever.

14 hours ago, DubDee said:

they don't have much up fwd but their young midfield looks full of run and talent

if May/Petty and Lever can handle King then we should be OK

 

ps. Cunnington is stiff being marked as 'managed' this week. Bloke lost a nut!

Is 'ironic' the appropriate word to use here when noting that a comment that Cunnington has 'lost a nut' is liked by someone going under the name of 'Rodney "Balls" Grinter'? (Good luck to Ben, by the way.)

12 hours ago, bobby1554 said:

So we have 4 games this week, where the odds heavily favour one team, Geelong v North, Bulldogs v Adelaide, Brisbane v Hawthorn and Melbourne v Gold Coast (although GCS have tightened in from over $5 to $4.60). Which one are you backing for the upset?

Of all those teams, I'm backing Melbourne for the upset. I think this week we'll surprise everyone by finally overcoming a bottom half-of-the ladder team.

12 hours ago, bobby1554 said:

So we have 4 games this week, where the odds heavily favour one team, Geelong v North, Bulldogs v Adelaide, Brisbane v Hawthorn and Melbourne v Gold Coast (although GCS have tightened in from over $5 to $4.60). Which one are you backing for the upset?

After cleaning up on the Dogs last week, hard not to go past the Suns.

For Bradbury fans, and for your back pocket, you'd be wanting the Bombers to beat the Swans too, paying, I think, a fairly generous 3.15 at present.

6 hours ago, 58er said:

It's never too late !!!  2nd Ruck  and forward pocket trial for Sam should have been done for this game. 
 

Maybe  Sam can be the Med sub!! 

That's a completely different role than trying to blood him at CHB in the last four rounds 58.  I wouldn't be averse to the above for a short trial for LJ to see how he goes.

Having said that, it needed to happen this week IMV.  Actually make that about two weeks ago!

Edited July 30, 20213 yr by Rusty Nails

1 hour ago, Pates said:

My guess sadly is that it will be fly up on the day, which means a stupidly early start. These sorts of situations can be seen as obstacles thrown up that suck or challenges that can galvanise the group. 

It’s bloody well time the players stuck their heads in and got the job done, we’ve had our slump, it sucks but move on and get the [censored]ing win. 

I love Max but his leadership has been found wanting in the last month, him, Jack, and the other leaders at the club need to be the ones to pull us out of this funk. You can’t expect the kids to do it. 

Oh and thank you @Lord Nev, you basically said everything I needed to say re: Jackson/Weid. 

Yes,sadly we arrive at Metricon 2 hours before the bounce after 6 hours of travelling on Buses,planes,Buses,this will have a huge effect like the Cairns game against the Swans.

 

Suns will win this.

21 minutes ago, Superunknown said:

After cleaning up on the Dogs last week, hard not to go past the Suns.

For Bradbury fans, and for your back pocket, you'd be wanting the Bombers to beat the Swans too, paying, I think, a fairly generous 3.15 at present.

Sportsbet offering $4.25 on the Suns. Juicy odds.

27 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Looks like the Suns are employing the same strategy as the Dogs did last week by going tallish up forward.

They've brought in Zac Smith as a recognised ruck in order for Burgess to go forward along with King, Corbett and this new fellow Jeffrey who kicked 9 snags last week in the 2's.

Clubs are clearly working out that to beat Melbourne, one of the first things you've gotta do is quell May and Lever and force them to match up on talls, particularly Lever.

Clubs have simply worked us out. Man up Lever, limit the delivery to May and put enormous amount of heat and pressure on Salem and that's a significant win.

 

4 minutes ago, Jack7 said:

Yes,sadly we arrive at Metricon 2 hours before the bounce after 6 hours of travelling on Buses,planes,Buses,this will have a huge effect like the Cairns game against the Swans.

 

Suns will win this.

Where are you getting the "6 hours" from? Assuming the flight is to the Gold Coast, it's a 2 hour flight plus 30 minute bus ride at the Gold Coast end. That's 3+ hours at the Melbourne end. Are the players getting together at the Melbourne end first? 

13 hours ago, rjay said:

 

Like for like...how does Melk go in the ruck?

Jacko stays to give Max a proper rest...even Weid is only a pinch hitter in the ruck and not really an option.

You just get T McDonald to ruck for 5 mins a qtr.  You don't need a second ruck, look at last week, the bulldogs basically had no hit outs and won the clearances.

I just think playing Jackson in the form he is in basically is us playing with 21 men.  Mix up the forward line with a bloke that can kick goals and hit targets.  You need to drop players who are severly out of form

15 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Clubs have simply worked us out. Man up Lever, limit the delivery to May and put enormous amount of heat and pressure on Salem and that's a significant win.

 

Potentially why Bowey has been brought in, as a second transition option from back half turnovers

Edited July 29, 20213 yr by Pennant St Dee

15 hours ago, DubDee said:

I reckon they've decided this is our best fwd line set up and to give it more weeks to gel together.  Weed coming in didn't work, now BB is struggling but I think it's best to stick with it for now.

I reckon it's close to clicking.  Brown is known as an accurate kick (as far as key forwards go) but he wasn't last weekend.  If he had of taken his chances and kicked like he used to against us, he would have kicked 5.  To me that's not struggling. 

15 minutes ago, drdrake said:

You just get T McDonald to ruck for 5 mins a qtr.  You don't need a second ruck, look at last week, the bulldogs basically had no hit outs and won the clearances.

I just think playing Jackson in the form he is in basically is us playing with 21 men.  Mix up the forward line with a bloke that can kick goals and hit targets.  You need to drop players who are severly out of form

I think they might be playing the longer game here...Max might get fewer on ball/ground minutes to freshen up a bit.

As for the Dogs, they had 2 extras at the clearances...they would have won a hell of a lot more if we didn't have a recognised ruck.

3 minutes ago, rjay said:

As for the Dogs, they had 2 extras at the clearances...they would have won a hell of a lot more if we didn't have a recognised ruck.

I've heard this a few time this week.  How could they do that at CB with the 6/6/6 rule.  At least in the middle we started with even numbers?

51 minutes ago, Jack7 said:

Yes,sadly we arrive at Metricon 2 hours before the bounce after 6 hours of travelling on Buses,planes,Buses,this will have a huge effect like the Cairns game against the Swans.

 

Suns will win this.

Why are we going to such lengths when Tassie have opened their borders to Vic's with no quarantine!  Can hold the game there without all the bulkshiiite.