TEAMS: Rd 21 vs West Coast

[cantstandyasam 700]

1 hour ago, elton_jog_on said:

I can’t be the only one that wants to see Jones back in the side

I don't

[titan_uranus 22,287]

51 minutes ago, AllMyTeamsAreWank said:

I don't know if anyone else here saw the game they played in Perth against the dogs in the wet, but they were absolutely awful. Tried their chip/possession game and got pulled apart. Hopefully same happens against us. If that is anything to go off, we should win comfortably.  

It was wet vs North Melbourne too, another home game they lost.

22 minutes ago, Pollyanna said:

Wet weather didn't hurt when we beat Geelong, Richmond and Sydney earlier this year.

But it did hurt vs Hawthorn just three weeks ago.

[titan_uranus 22,287]

Still some doubt over TMac: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/demon-mcdonald-in-race-to-be-fit-for-monday-night-clash-20210806-p58ghb.html

[old55 21,268]

7 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

But it did hurt vs Hawthorn just three weeks ago.

Do you think that it being wet was the problem?

[Dee*ceiving 876]

I'd love Jones back in the side... if he was still 29 years old. 

Sadly, just too slow now. 

[titan_uranus 22,287]

51 minutes ago, Pollyanna said:

Do you think that it being wet was the problem?

Actually in my mind I was thinking about the Bulldogs game, not sure why I referenced the Hawthorn game (two consecutive MCG games in front of no crowd, they all blend together I guess).

And yes, against the Bulldogs I thought the wet football made us even more fumbly than we are otherwise at times prone to be.

[RodGrinter14 19]

19 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

But seriously, if Vardy plays (and I think there's a fair chance he will, to provide ruck support for Naitanui who will blow up after 15 minutes of trying to follow Gawn and Jackson around the ground), I hope we're into him from the first bounce. For whatever reason I cannot and won't forget him mocking Gawn after Ryan took mark of the year on his head in 2019.

I also can't shake the image of Vardy ruffling Max's hair after Ryan's mark. The audacity of the guy to do that after having his pants pulled down all day by Gawn was astounding. Having said that - he's not worth wasting any energy on. The dense [censored] would probably see it as a complement. 

[Dee Zephyr 17,423]

Melksham is back as the 1 inclusion for Viney and Jordon (medi-sub)

Edited August 7, 2021 by Dee Zephyr

[DemonOX 8,530]

Melk in FMD. 

I would rather Jones in tbh. 

[dazzledavey36 48,707]

Good decision. 

Looks like they'll give McDonald until the very last minute. 

[Lord Nev 13,511]

Hibberd in the emergencies is interesting given he wasn't in the initial squad.

[Redleg 37,556]

14 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Melksham is back as the 1 inclusion for Viney and Jordon (medi-sub)

I would have thought in the predicted very wet game, a harder player might have got the nod, like VDB or even JJ. Maybe they want Melksham’s foot skills in the poor conditions, to score, or set up a couple of goals.

[ucanchoose 1,803]

Vdb is the slowest on our list.    Big grounds are not his forte

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Pretty wild that we are favourites despite West Coast’s poor form.

[Nicko 1,222]

Milkshake will go alright on Monday night I reckon - he’s got at least the next two games to prove himself as a lock for finals 

[Demon Dynasty 15,377]

Melk's usual output is just not AFL worthy.  He will need to lift substantially to be included from week to week including connecting with targets inside while also pushing forward.  Impacting with pressure acts / tackling (especially with no Viney here) and on the scoreboard.

For our sake i really hope he does as he just might be the missing silk we need coming out of mid field and around the arc.  Connecting with the likes of BB, Macca & Fritta also.

[old55 21,268]

Maybe Melksham is in to play a negating role on McGovern or Hurn.

[Pates 9,536]

I think Melks has a lot to prove, his form before he was dropped was very poor but I can see the theory for bringing him in. He’s a good ball user going inside 50, but we will need a higher impact from work rate. 

[Nascent 7,234]

Melksham hasn't played for a while. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a finals audition of sorts. He's on the fringe of best 22 and the likes of Sparrow, Jordan, Hibberd, vdb etc would want to take their chances when they come or risk missing out on finals action.

[dazzledavey36 48,707]

Absolutely pouring down in Perth. Ground going to be an absolute slog.

[DubDee 20,547]

Although I’ve been hard on Melk due to lack of intensity, he deserves another go. We would be a better team with him in it if he plays his role. 

does he want it enough?

last chance coming up

[Boots and all 894]

1 hour ago, Rusty Nails said:

Melk's usual output is just not AFL worthy.  He will need to lift substantially to be included from week to week including connecting with targets inside while also pushing forward.  Impacting with pressure acts / tackling (especially with no Viney here) and on the scoreboard.

For our sake i really hope he does as he just might be the missing silk we need coming out of mid field and around the arc.  Connecting with the likes of BB, Macca & Fritta also.

I predict less than 8 touches and 2 or less tackles.

[Half forward flank 1,022]

On 8/6/2021 at 12:21 PM, Deemania since 56 said:

Blame Goodwin. Smith is a forward (F-O-R-W-A-R-D) not a stop-gap, lucky-to-get-a-game backman. 

He can leap at the ball

like a forward. How do you rate his kicking.

[Jaded No More 57,784]

2 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

Hibberd in the emergencies is interesting given he wasn't in the initial squad.

Salem must be in some doubt 

[Deeoldfart 7,720]

1 hour ago, Pates said:

I think Melks has a lot to prove, his form before he was dropped was very poor but I can see the theory for bringing him in. He’s a good ball user going inside 50, but we will need a higher impact from work rate. 

Agree Pates.  The Meks / Ben Brown combination could be decisive at finals time.