Just saw the Viney offence on AFL website. Absolutely a d***head act, however much Collins may or may not have deserved it. Will be made an example of, and he’s got no room to argue. Idiotic behaviour, and he needs to own it. 

We flew to QLD last weekend to play, the Suns, then sat on a tarmac for hours, before returning to Melbourne.  Our game against the Suns was re-scheduled for an early start the following day.  Now we have to travel to Perth, for a game, scheduled for next Monday.

Mark McGowan could shut down WA on a moments notice.  The fixture has been compromised time and time again, since COVID, yet the Eagles have not played us in Melbourne for 4 years.  Why????

Anyway Dees, we will just have to get it done.  Go you good things.

Tactics question

can Bowey play heavy defence. At VFL level he plays a similar role to Salem.

Rivers also plays the running defender job.

Interesting mix which places resposibility on Petty, Lever and May

If we were playing an in form Richmond who plays on Dusty?

8 minutes ago, Webber said:

Just saw the Viney offence on AFL website. Absolutely a d***head act, however much Collins may or may not have deserved it. Will be made an example of, and he’s got no room to argue. Idiotic behaviour, and he needs to own it. 

I don't know how how many elbows into heads I've watched this year with no consequences but yeah it was stupid and he'll get melbourned

On 8/1/2021 at 3:02 PM, Clint Bizkit said:

We’ve looked tired for over a month now.

I want to see some rotations and give some Casey guys a taste in case they are needed come finals.

I’d even take Melksham at this stage because one thing he can do is kick the ball.

Good, timely rotations are a key to our success. We have the impacting personnel to make strong contributions. Such onfield variations provide opportunities across the board, not constant struggles to get the pill where it ain't.

 

6 hours ago, Marco said:

Sadly due the foot injuries Viney can only run in straight lines these days, which means he can not side step tackles. Maybe he can create some mayhem in the forward line with his pressure and short passing.He has never been a lace out long kick.

 

That's total BS.  He has pivoted on the spot at speed to execute great hit ups to leads in both the past two matches 

OUT: viney (supended)
IN: jordon 
MEDI-SUB: jones

Bit of a rumour Salem didn't travel to WA and won't play on Monday.

 

Does anyone here know the full squad we flew to Perth??  25, 28?  How many back ups do we need to take into quarantine?

2 hours ago, Watson11 said:

And Harmes and Viney were #1 and #2 for pressure acts.

But apparently of the 16 free kicks the Suns got in the game yesterday, every second one of Viney’s 22 possessions led to 7 holding the ball free kicks

???

Edited August 2, 20214 yr by Pennant St Dee

I notice some are mentioning Salem might be a little sore. I'd look at Melksham playing that half back quarterback role. Obviously started as a half back in his early career, so if Christian is sore, no experience or foot skills lost there...

5 minutes ago, A F said:

I notice some are mentioning Salem might be a little sore. I'd look at Melksham playing that half back quarterback role. Obviously started as a half back in his early career, so if Christian is sore, no experience or foot skills lost there...

Maybe, but if I recall when Melksham came to MFC he played a bit off half back and was "leaky" and lack of pressure / accountability lead to him being moved forward. (Happy to stand corrected).

Edited August 2, 20214 yr by monoccular

Rumor Salem didn’t travel with the team and has been playing with a sore groin for a while. Explains his big drop in form since missing. Hopefully he gets a rest and can recover his brilliant pre-bye form.

We could have up to three forced changes it sounds like.

Out: ? Viney (susp), ? Salem (inj), ? McDonald (inj)

Jordon, Hibberd and Weideman the three most likely as like-for-like replacements I would suspect.

 

 

So could well be three forced changes, with Viney, Salem and TMac all out.

Would have Weid for TMac and Hibberd for Salem. Viney out would mean Harmes and Sparrow stay. Jordon for Viney? vandenBerg? Melksham?

2 hours ago, I'va Worn Smith said:

We flew to QLD last weekend to play, the Suns, then sat on a tarmac for hours, before returning to Melbourne.  Our game against the Suns was re-scheduled for an early start the following day.  Now we have to travel to Perth, for a game, scheduled for next Monday.

Mark McGowan could shut down WA on a moments notice.  The fixture has been compromised time and time again, since COVID, yet the Eagles have not played us in Melbourne for 4 years.  Why????

Anyway Dees, we will just have to get it done.  Go you good things.

7 years, actually.

Only two home games against them in that time, both in the NT.

43 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Maybe, but if I recall when Melksham came to MFC he played a bit off half back and was "leaky" and lack of pressure / accountability lead to him being moved forward. (Happy to stand corrected).

Yeah, different times though. That was 2017. This is 2021 and he just needs to play a role.

As for Viney and Harmes, they had me pulling my hair out yesterday, but despite their constant holding the balls, I think they're both building to something.

Further, they're allowing JJ some rest from the batter of defensive mid that he played so well earlier in the season. 

If Viney and Harmes get their decision making right, they, along with JJ, compliment the offensive ball winning ability of Oliver and Petracca. Our midfield has better defensive cover than either of the Bulldogs or Geelong IMO. The Bulldogs are almost all offence, except Libba.

In the clinches, this could prove telling come finals. There's no doubt Jack and James have to tidy up their ball use, but they still have the next 3 weeks to sort that. And FFS play Jack majority forward. 

Edited August 2, 20214 yr by A F

If Salem doesn’t play Hibbo surely comes in and Bowey plays the attacking role with Hunt. We don’t want to mess with the defensive structure too much at this stage I wouldn’t think. 

Still a chance McDonald gets up. Though I reckon they'll leave it last minute.  5 hour plane trip wouldn't help but if he has a light week on the track and is able to get up then hopefully he doesn't have to miss.

 

Looks like we are in for a wet one....

18 hours ago, monoccular said:

And Salem if there is any doubt about his groins. 

If Salem is out I suggest that Hibberd will take his place.

If Viney is out I suggest Jordon will take his place.

If McDonald is out I suggest that Weideman will take his place.

Edited August 2, 20214 yr by WERRIDEE

7 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

If Salem is out I suggest that Hibberd will take his place.

If Viney is out I suggest Jordon will take his place.

If McDonald is out I suggest that Weideman will take his place.

Sounds the most likely option.

If we were coming into the match against the Suns and this had happened would we consider Baker to take on Gus's wing and Gus into the middle i wonder?

Baker seems to be very much ready from a speed/fitness POV.  Albeit he is a ball destroyer on delivery.  Could instruct "just go long son"!?  I'm not sure how but we do manage to recruit some bloody ordinary ball users by foot every year.

The reason for the above.... trying to get a decent mover out and away from congestion.  The only serious options for Viney are too similar (or slower) in AVB & Jordan.   Both have poor agility / mobility from what ive seen and in the case of AVB he almost always plays slow with ball in hand which will bugger up our forward's leading patterns/timing.  He will probably also get caught just as often or similar.

The other option as ppl are suggesting is Melk.  Who offers the mobility and delivery once given the ball (he rarely going to get it himself) and he will bring little two way capability or pressure on whoever he's on.

We are seriously lacking a silk mid inside/outside fielder with some toe who can deliver inside 50 but is also accountable defensively and big two way runner.

Jones or Jordan for Jack.

Will there be a crowd at Perth?

Hoping they could keep the ferral pigs out for once.

12 hours ago, I'va Worn Smith said:

COVID, yet the Eagles

Eagles wont play us in Melb as like the other bird magpie...the eagles are a protected species. Same reason Magpies never play in Geelong.

Edited August 2, 20214 yr by leave it to deever

15 hours ago, Brownie said:

 

I thought Viney at least put some good short kicks into the forward line on Sunday.

 

I thought so too.  There was a patch in 3rd 1/4 I think where Jack was doing what he does best. tackiling , and then with the ball took the first options with low direct passes forward  less than 30m to a teammate in a better position.  he keeps doing that he's a lock to compliment our A-Graders