7 hours ago, rpfc said:

Fritsch doesn't do what he did without Brown and TMac.

This.

With TMAC in the team, Bayley got the 3rd best defender (though that might now change).

16 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

In the big league and in important games you can't only provide that off the ball as a key position forward. 

He had 4 touches. If it was a defensive forward role and he was instructed to shut an important oppo player down and only had 4 touches then we'd view it differently. 

But he was poor again for the second week in a row. Really poor. Just look at his body language post game, he looked dejected compared to everyone else. 

Tricky situation. I'm of the believe that we function better one tall less. So I'd look at dropping T Mac and potentially bringing Melksham back depending on who we play. T Mac and Brown were also going up for the same ball on many occasions. I don't think they compliment each other. 

I have no idea what we'll do, but we've carried Tom the past two weeks. 

 

One must concede that TMac could be replaced by Melksham, based on current form.

I've been a 'hater' for most of his career, and had to eat my words a number of times - including this season, but not as early as some give credit for. Had a great sting of matches mid-season though, hat tipped. It's not just being ineffectual again that worries me, it's that he gets in the way and is such a slow decision-maker (and over-estimates his capabilities, which he has been admittedly better at this year, and I think is a Roos hangover). A couple of our goals yesterday were roved off his poor attempts, where it would have been easier if he just summed up the situation and palmed off. That said, I think he should stay in, as Brown-Jackson-Tmac (plus Fritsch) looks our best KPF structure. 

15 hours ago, Flower Magic said:

TMac must continue to play, given that our likely GF opponent is Port Adelaide. He will take Alir Alir, leaving BB and Fritta with lesser defenders. I'll be happy if he then spends the entire GF taking Alir Alir where the ball isn't. We will laud his game if he gets only a few kicks, but Alir Alir is taken out of the game.

But we know that he will retain his place because Goody has total faith in the 22 players who destroyed the Lions, so this discussion is pretty pointless.

Trouble is T Mac cant or wont do this and always always goes to the ball even spoiling our other forwards in better positions

I would have him in to do this if he would just do that

He won't be dropped for the PF.

The only changes we'll make from here on in will be because of injury.

Reality is we don't have alternatives for TMac. Options are the Weid or Melks but they are not playing reserve footy. Can't bring them into a PF side and expect them to perform with no match practice.

TMac must contest and bring the ball to ground. If he does that we'll be ok as BB and Fritsch will take the I50 marks and kick the goals for us

17 hours ago, Grr-owl said:

It's great that TMac can have two down games in a row and the forward line still functions well overall. If one, or even two as last week, are off, others are there to pick up the slack. Not ideal, but imagine if we dropped someone every time they were off.... We'd destroy confidence and never settle. If it ain't broke.....

Generally if Tom has two poor weeks and isn't smiling it leads to four or five bad weeks

Will depend upon the view of his fitness and who we play for the PF.

His last two weeks have been pretty poor but does an extra week's fitness cover that given he's had a very good season? Do we need the extra tall? Probably yes and I wouldn't bring in Weidemann 

He syill takes the 2nd big defender. Frees Fritsch and protects our crmbers more. This discussion is really a chance for some people to vent their prejudice.

Even if he assisted 15 goals some people would complain that he did not kick them himself.

He is part of a good structure that is working well. If part of your job is to lead away from other forward then he supplies team structure

 

Like the old cricket saying "Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust, if Thomson don't get ya, Lillee must".

They all play a part, even if one is quiet. 

Replacing a CHF in a prelim final is a really big call. Structurally it will be a massive change. 

Can't see us doing it, so long as Tmac can keep his opponent busy and bring ball to ground. 

I think the week off is well needed for Tom, he isn't moving well and a week off will certainly help him get over any niggles he has.  

Aint being dropped - playing his role.  I love how opposition coaches now need to stress about matching up against Brown, Fritsch, Jackson, TMAC as talls alone - I wouldnt want that headache

Edited August 30, 20213 yr by Waltham33

6 hours ago, dimmy said:

He syill takes the 2nd big defender. Frees Fritsch and protects our crmbers more. This discussion is really a chance for some people to vent their prejudice.

Even if he assisted 15 goals some people would complain that he did not kick them himself.

He is part of a good structure that is working well. If part of your job is to lead away from other forward then he supplies team structure

 

Don't think many if any are prejudiced at all most just want him in form and are pointing out atm he isn't. Certainly don't want him dropped.

On 8/29/2021 at 2:20 PM, Colin B. Flaubert said:

That can be, rightly or wrongly, relationship destroying stuff.

This ^^

 

Matthew Lloyd did make a good point this morning.

Yeah McDonald isn't firing, but the rest of the forward line are and we're still winning and kicking a good score. He went along the lines of saying that it's not a bad thing if McDonald isn't playing well as long as the rest of the forward line are. Which they are.

At best he's taking a tall defender. This still released Ben Brown and Bayley Fritsch. 

7 hours ago, IRW said:

Generally if Tom has two poor weeks and isn't smiling it leads to four or five bad weeks

Happy to take Tom being poor for four to five weeks given where we are in the season, if it means we win the big dance in another 2 games time. 👍

On 8/29/2021 at 3:03 PM, Flower Magic said:

TMac must continue to play, given that our likely GF opponent is Port Adelaide. He will take Alir Alir, leaving BB and Fritta with lesser defenders. I'll be happy if he then spends the entire GF taking Alir Alir where the ball isn't. We will laud his game if he gets only a few kicks, but Alir Alir is taken out of the game.

But we know that he will retain his place because Goody has total faith in the 22 players who destroyed the Lions, so this discussion is pretty pointless.

And he has the aerobic capacity as good or better than Alir who must follow him. If Smith goes out he maintains some running and height for the team. 

Too good a footy IQ  IMO, but will dpend on his back over next 2 weeks

On 8/30/2021 at 3:18 PM, Ouch! said:

Happy to take Tom being poor for four to five weeks given where we are in the season, if it means we win the big dance in another 2 games time. 👍

Well if MFC wins the flag that's a no brainer.

What's your reason for picking someone who can't carry an injury can't hold his form and doesn't even look like he's happy to be playing

7 minutes ago, IRW said:

Well if MFC wins the flag that's a no brainer.

What's your reason for picking someone who can't carry an injury can't hold his form and doesn't even look like he's happy to be playing

He had a poor game but he competed and was our second best forward for pressure acts (beside ANB).  When things don’t fall your way all you can ask is to compete and apply pressure as that creates opportunities.  His direct opponents had no impact.

On 8/29/2021 at 10:02 PM, Little Goffy said:

The back spasm and soreness clearly slowed him a bit but he has continued to play his role. Definitely the week off will be important for him and I suspect we've got a few other sore bodies, both old and young, who will appreciate some time to tend to their bruises.

I have a strange gut feeling that destiny is calling him to be a kind of forward tagger on Aliir Aliir, providing a priceless breakeven on grand final day.

But, for now, one game at a time.

It seems pretty clear that he is still struggling with back issues. His turning circle and flexibility looked poor.

 

I think the 2 week rest will be a godsend for Tom and the Dees

Was surprised to read he has kicked 30.22 for the year. I recall about two of those goals. If he kicked at 2017-18 accuracy he would have bagged 40-plus. But unfortunately only seven of those have come in the back half of the season. 

7 hours ago, Skuit said:

Was surprised to read he has kicked 30.22 for the year. I recall about two of those goals. If he kicked at 2017-18 accuracy he would have bagged 40-plus. But unfortunately only seven of those have come in the back half of the season. 

It’s funny you discuss accuracy in front of goal because if Fritta has the accuracy he had 2019-2020 then we probably aren’t in a prelim. Goes to show that taking your chances as a forward is primary, Fritta has done that this season and been fantastic. TMac used to be my favourite kick for goal in the team, this year not so much. 

I’m certainly in the camp of TMac will not be dropped next week and should we get to the big dance he won’t be dropped for the GF. We play so much of on structure and even if he’s not firing he’s allowing Fritta and Brown to play their roles better. I think the week off will help him and he will no better than anyone that his output has dropped. I’m back him to have a big say in our final push. 

My only concern with McDonald is he has lost his dead-eye goal kicking.

Love to know how is accuracy was in first half of year compared to second half.

Haven't alot of Demonlanders and Dees fans in general learnt a valuable lesson in writing off our meat eating spearhead T-shirt Tommy?