3 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

Supporters overrate Joel as a defender by his shiny, sparkly athleticism. 

I don't think we'll see him again unless injury strikes. 

I'm not sure supporters appreciate Tomlinson's positioning and body work off the ball which allows both May and Lever to intercept a mark or completely kill the ball. It's almost the most important component of our backline. And Gawn basically stated as much with his weird post match comment regarding Smith. 

Would love Smith to be in the side for his positive attributes. But his lack of defensive smarts, positioning as well as his regular brain fades that turn into opposition goals make it hard to trust him. And trust is paramount in a defensive unit.

 

Can't see it happening but would it be worth swinging Smith forward and T-Mac back for a stint and see how that goes for two weeks or so?

Thats assuming BB comes in for Weid and not T-mac of course.

Assuming Smith recovers from Covid well, I would bring him back at Tomlinson's expense. I think Smith offers more than Tomlinson now and also think he has scope to become a really good player by September if we give him enough games. Plus GWS has a fairly small forward line and Hogan is the only player that Tomlinson could play on.

Brown will come back for Weideman, who will also be stiff. TMac is better on the deck and gives our team more balance.

Petty has only had one game in the VFL and could do with another run.

1 hour ago, jayceebee31 said:

I would consider resting Gawn this week due to Pruess being rubbed out, giving Daws a worthy surprise.Furthermore  BBB will come in for TMac, whilst Duncan deserves a run as well.

Sorry…..should have read Dunstan 

Edited April 11, 20222 yr by jayceebee31
Wrong name

14 minutes ago, binman said:

He has played  a lot more pure one on one defence this year compared to last season, but I think Hunt is most valuable when he get the opportunity to use his pace, run off half back, carry and launch long into our forward half. Territory is his go. 

He did more of that against Port and looked more damaging as result.

Not 100% sure that's correct. He had his lowest meters gained for the year against Port.

  

14 minutes ago, binman said:

Whilst acknowledging his weakness with disposal and in on on one situations, I like Hunt in the side.

I think his contribution  was a bit under rated last year and  thinks he really adds something positive to the mix, particularly in the home and away season where his pace can catch teams out, because he gets a bit more space to operate in when the pressure is not at finals like intensity.  

Yeah that's pretty fair. I don't feel strongly either way about him tbh, but I really see him as more a 'second tier' option and think he's first out once Salem is back (as things stand currently anyway). He could even come out for Hibberd depending on his form when he starts playing again.

16 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Not 100% sure that's correct. He had his lowest meters gained for the year against Port.

 

Confirmation bias on my part. 

43 minutes ago, one_demon said:

Won't happen.  They're defenders and that's how the coaches see them.

Ok - wasn't TMac firmly in the camp at some point ?

1 hour ago, jayceebee31 said:

I would consider resting Gawn this week due to Pruess being rubbed out, giving Daws a worthy surprise.Furthermore  BBB will come in for TMac, whilst Duncan deserves a run as well.

If Gawn was rested we’d probably go with 3 tall forwards instead, and have Weideman play a similar ruck role than he does in the VFL. 

22 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Ok - wasn't TMac firmly in the camp at some point ?

Until mid 2018. 

Since then he has played defence in a 'break glass in an emergency' situation.

Can't see him going back to defence as we have better options there.

I know it is hypothetical but why would we 'rest' Max, our captain, when he has just played his best game for the year. 

He would do a big dummy spit at the thought.

Max gets plenty of rest when he goes forward or back to let Jackson take the ruck.

We are all about building physical resilience in players, not resting them. 

5 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Until mid 2018. 

Since then he has played defence in a 'break glass in an emergency' situation.

Can't see him going back to defence as we have better options there.

Agree - my comment was in response to @one_demon saying that Petty and Smith are defenders and therefore they wont be tried up forward 

I was simply pointing out that originally TMac was considered a defender too and look what happened 

Personally don't see any reason why Smith or Petty couldn't be an option in F50 if the need was there and there wasn't a space for either in the D50. 

Anyway, I'm not a selector so just my opinion happy for others to disagree

 

On 4/9/2022 at 10:59 AM, dazzledavey36 said:

The other issue was Weideman had a pretty injury interrupted junior career as well so whether he got the required off field coaching and education as well then who knows.

Unfortunately you're right about his psychological nature. It was pretty evident last year and it brought back memories of Jimmy Toumpas in tears when he was subbed out for a game against Brisbane.

Knew then that he wouldn't survive at AFL level after seeing that.

I think Weideman may be heading down that same road as well.

... after such a long apprenticeship, occupying contract time, effort, money; after being granted (when there were others) so much game time for limited performance in return; after renewed confidences in his form and potential contributions onfield; after incredible team support and widespread tolerance from the fans of the MFC. It is most disappointing that this will most probably be the end result.

Still, like many others, one must donate more tolerance and patience to him, our support (as MFC members) and opportunity to develop more completely if he is to be what we all wish him to be as a key player in our team.

 

On 4/9/2022 at 10:41 AM, rjay said:

A couple more good games at Casey, unless Tommy/Weid turns his form around I would think it's all there for JVR.

If hope had something to do with it all, as we have dedicated to Weid, a small shift to development and confidence of JVR in the best 22 over a short period of time might be something that turns the tables, up forward.

It has been extended in a monotonous series of re-starts to several 'allegedly' developing players from whom we still await a reliable spurt of talent. Except for an earlier TMac, the signing of BBB and Jesse, it has just not materialised. 

21 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Agree - my comment was in response to @one_demon saying that Petty and Smith are defenders and therefore they wont be tried up forward 

I was simply pointing out that originally TMac was considered a defender too and look what happened 

Personally don't see any reason why Smith or Petty couldn't be an option in F50 if the need was there and there wasn't a space for either in the D50. 

Anyway, I'm not a selector so just my opinion happy for others to disagree

 

I, too, support the concept of a F50 JSmith; in support of an ageing BBB and an  'unleapable' TMac if the case may be...

5 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I heard the comment too and get why May would be relieved.

In all honesty Smith lack of footy awareness and smarts shows out pretty evidently on game days.

Smith’s awareness and cohesion are improving, but still are way behind his natural athleticism at this stage, which is what keeps him in for now. 

7 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Smith’s awareness and cohesion are improving, but still are way behind his natural athleticism at this stage, which is what keeps him in for now. 

I think we need to be a little bit careful about reading too much into Max's comments about Smith / May

I really think Max's comments were largely tongue in cheek and trying to be a bit funny - he is not going to publicly can a team mate 

Of course May is going to say he prefers Level down in the D50 supporting him - who wouldn't ? Lever is one of the best defenders going around and a real general helping to get the other backs into the right position - that by default makes May's task easier 

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

I, too, support the concept of a F50 JSmith; in support of an ageing BBB and an  'unleapable' TMac if the case may be...

Don't mind Smirh forward but BBB looks anything but ageing !

interesting, gw$ appear to be running two 'coolers' (the just-too-hip-for-me-baby terminology for taggers) these days, with lachie ash playing that role alongside matt de boer

both are more than capable of winning their own ball and using it well; wouldn't surprise me at all to see the former assigned to langdon on a wing and the latter going inside on one of either petracca or oliver

i've come around to a different line of thinking in terms of ins / outs - now think it'll only be sideshow bob back in for one of t mac or weed

this is given the pretty tall forward line gw$ are running - hogan, himmelberg, and riccardi are all playing up front for them so far this year, but the latter two were completely anonymous (at least in terms of stats) against freo, so they might want to change it up for the game on saturday night

they're really missing toby greene, daniel lloyd, and brent daniels from a forward pressure scenario, which might be why they've 'gone tall' so far in 2022, but none of them will be available this week

Edited April 11, 20222 yr by whatwhat say what

14 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

assigned to langdon on a wing

Good luck to anyone running with Ed on the wing...

21 minutes ago, rjay said:

Good luck to anyone running with Ed on the wing...

ash may be one of few players who can go with him for both speed and fitness

On 4/8/2022 at 9:16 AM, Stiff Arm said:

Think only the one change.

Ben Brown in. Not sure who goes out, but I would rather Weid gets a run of 4-5 games. He's better as no. 2 or 3 key forward rather than the no.1 tall with Tmac running up field. Weid's best has been at the G and we have a run of games there

Perhaps play Tmac off the bench

This.

No change/BB in for T.Mac. 

7 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

@binman who was there in the night said he played 4 quarters.

👍

3 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

Assuming Smith recovers from Covid well, I would bring him back at Tomlinson's expense. I think Smith offers more than Tomlinson now and also think he has scope to become a really good player by September if we give him enough games. Plus GWS has a fairly small forward line and Hogan is the only player that Tomlinson could play on.

Brown will come back for Weideman, who will also be stiff. TMac is better on the deck and gives our team more balance.

Petty has only had one game in the VFL and could do with another run.

Tmac has the turning circle bigger than the titanic time to give weed 4 games straight with BBB then worry about it after that.

Certainly wouldn't be looking to give Hunt the chop yet, I think if any change is made it will be to bring Brown in and possibly Weid out. 

 

Looks like Weideman will stay in the side. Haven’t seen the incident but that sounds incredibly out of character for Ben Brown.