Coaches have mentioned trying different game tactics in games. 

Maybe Melksham is to experiment with ball movement into our fwd line.  The # of points we kick says our fwd work isn't as good as the rest of our game.

And, by now other clubs have done their homework on us and working out tactics to counter our strengths.  If we change up our mid to fwd ball movement it helps make their ideas less damaging and give us better scoring accuracy.

Good timing to change aspects of our game with Freo, Sydney, Pies and Lions over the next month.  Even if Melksham doesn't hold his spot if we are trying something new and it works the selection will be a success.

Lets not look at Melksham's stats but at the role he plays.

20 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Having watched Casey all year I'd have thought Dunstan was the obvious replacement with Melk a close second. I'm sure the 200 games came into the equation.

Dunstan is not a forward

The thinking seems to be if Viney, Oliver or Trac are out then Dunstan comes in to directly replace them. If Harmes, ANB or Sparrow are out then it's Melksham. BBB, TMac, LJ and maybe Fritta (we haven't seen that yet) then Weid gets a go. Kossie or Spargo then it's Bedford into the 22. One of the tall defenders goes out then it's Tomo.

However, if one of the running/smaller defenders goes out then shuffle Brayshaw or JJ back - so I can't wait for Salem and Hibberd to be available to see what the plans with the team are then? My guess, Salem comes back in, probably for Rivers or Hunt depending on form or even if we need speed or stronger defence more. The Salem, Gus and JJ all play a hybrid wing/half back roles, rotating with one on the bench the whole time. Salem might stay closer to the backline initially but as he builds back to full fitness have the same licensee to run as the other 2 do at the moment. Of course Langdon just does his thing on the other wing. 

I'm OK with Melksham playing. There could be many reasons for this selection but perhaps he got the nod over Dunstan and Bedford due to a concern that we're not really kicking large scores, even though we're winning. Melksham provides a better forward target and a better forward distributor than either Bedford or Dunstan. The latter two provide better on ball work and probably better defensive pressure, but perhaps we use Neal-Bullen more on ball this week to compensate for that part of Harmes's game that will be missing.  

1 hour ago, binman said:

Dunstan is not a forward

I didn't say he was.

training today https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1130467/match-preview-rd-10-sam-radford?videoId=1130467&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1653012207001

what ground is this?

15 hours ago, Nasher said:

Exactly my first thought too: probably the closest like-for-like option available. I don’t mind it. Good luck to him, hope he gets to 200. He’s been an excellent servant of the club since coming over from Essendon.

Brown plays his 150th vs his old club this week.

Melksham plays his 200th in a home game at the MCG next week.

Neat.

6 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

training today https://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/1130467/match-preview-rd-10-sam-radford?videoId=1130467&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1653012207001

what ground is this?

Somewhere in South Melbourne?

7 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Somewhere in South Melbourne?

Port Melbourne's home ground

22 minutes ago, old55 said:

Brown plays his 150th vs his old club this week.

Melksham plays his 200th in a home game at the MCG next week.

Neat.

Good to have you back old55!

It's probably not as surprising as it first seems. Melksham is a closer fit for Harmes' spot than Bedford, even if Bedford has been on the cusp of selection longer than Melksham has.

8 hours ago, DubDee said:

You seriously think Milkshake is not the best player to come in, in the coaches eyes but is playing ahead of more deserving players to get him to 200 games??

I can see this for a club legend like Jones to get to 300 but Melksham who has played 84 games for us I don’t get it. 

I wasn't being entirely serious but on reflection maybe I should give up on humour because I'm clearly not very good at it.

I'm sure Melksham is being picked on merit and I think that was proved by the fact that he wasn't picked as medisub last week ahead of Chandler. Instead he was only picked once Harmes was out through injury. Clearly he is being picked as the best replacement for Harmes, even if I and some others don't necessarily agree with the decision. Good luck to him. I hope he plays well and if he does he deserves to retain his spot.

3 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

Good to have you back old55!

Just starting to sober up after last year 🙃

1 hour ago, Sydney_Demon said:

I wasn't being entirely serious but on reflection maybe I should give up on humour because I'm clearly not very good at it.

I'm sure Melksham is being picked on merit and I think that was proved by the fact that he wasn't picked as medisub last week ahead of Chandler. Instead he was only picked once Harmes was out through injury. Clearly he is being picked as the best replacement for Harmes, even if I and some others don't necessarily agree with the decision. Good luck to him. I hope he plays well and if he does he deserves to retain his spot.

hey it doesn't stop me so I say go for it!

19 hours ago, MrFreeze said:

Melk is - he can play a role and will make way when needed 

Let’s hope Melk actually does this which I am not confident but time will tell. 

7 hours ago, Red and Blue realist said:

The thinking seems to be if Viney, Oliver or Trac are out then Dunstan comes in to directly replace them. If Harmes, ANB or Sparrow are out then it's Melksham. BBB, TMac, LJ and maybe Fritta (we haven't seen that yet) then Weid gets a go. Kossie or Spargo then it's Bedford into the 22. One of the tall defenders goes out then it's Tomo.

However, if one of the running/smaller defenders goes out then shuffle Brayshaw or JJ back - so I can't wait for Salem and Hibberd to be available to see what the plans with the team are then? My guess, Salem comes back in, probably for Rivers or Hunt depending on form or even if we need speed or stronger defence more. The Salem, Gus and JJ all play a hybrid wing/half back roles, rotating with one on the bench the whole time. Salem might stay closer to the backline initially but as he builds back to full fitness have the same licensee to run as the other 2 do at the moment. Of course Langdon just does his thing on the other wing. 

All too true just now, it seems ...  https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1130811/viney-to-miss-roos-clash

Yep, and Luke Dunstan is the ideal replacement for Jack Viney.  Isn’t it great that we have such fantastic ‘like for like’ depth on our list?

Edited May 20, 20222 yr by Deeoldfart

No one concerned we have two “hammys” at once, with a new fitness guy at the helm? Something to think about for sure 

Lot of experience on the list these days, 2 hundred + gamers waiting in the wings to come in 

 

Didn’t miss a beat with Dunstan in last time. It’s an awesome to be in a position where we’ve got AFL quality backups ready to go on every line. 

8 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Maybe Melksham is to experiment with ball movement into our fwd line.  The # of points we kick says our fwd work isn't as good as the rest of our game.

Lets hope Melk has his kicking accuracy working (both at goal & kicks coming inside).  Without that im not sure what other assets he actually brings as a HF/Mid.

If he can't bring that in the next few weeks then we should be getting a few more games into Bedford well before finals IMV.

If Melk brings that plus his 2018 intensity then he will most likely have met the role the FD are hoping for.  Should be able to bring this against the lowly Norf this week as a minimum.

Anyone have any idea if Viney is a proper hammy or just tight/precaution?

31 minutes ago, qarocks said:

No one concerned we have two “hammys” at once, with a new fitness guy at the helm? Something to think about for sure 

Prevention better than cure i reckon Q.

And no better week to pull out the conservative card than this week against Norf eh

The $5 for Demons under 40pts is looking tempting