TMac had a very strong game last week. 

This is going to be a very tough game now. 

Tmac has a knack of getting himself back into good form and then getting injured. 

Not as confident now that T-Mac will miss. Freo are no mugs and we will have to be at our best. 

42 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

My opinion is he doesn't need anymore time. I think where he's at is where he'll likely always be. A solid backup option/depth player that can play an ok role up forward but won't be a game breaker consistently.

I think people just still consider his draft position and are waiting for some kind of 'break out', but I don't reckon that will happen, at least in a way where it leads to consistently great games.

Absolutely agree

Delete.

Edited May 27, 20222 yr by John Crow Batty

15 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

This is going to be a very tough game now. 

Tmac has a knack of getting himself back into good form and then getting injured. 

Frustrating thing with Tmac is he has been getting injured when just hitting good form and it takes him ages to get it back once he returns from injury. 

T Mac offers so much more than Weid, so it's not a like-for-like replacement.

Matt Taberner reported  to be in doubt for Freo. Could not finish training today and has to pass fitness test tomorrow morning. Huge out for them if so and hard to replace. 

Edited May 27, 20222 yr by John Crow Batty

1 hour ago, Lord Nev said:

Seems a bit of a harsh call to judge him on one game as a late replacement coming off a bye...

7 years in the system for 56 games drafted in the same year as Charlie Curnow, Eric Hipwood and Harry McKay.

The fact he's still battling it out at VFL and can't seem to overtake Tom McDonald (realistically that has to be the ideal scenario for us) is imo a concern for his own career.

So far this year he hasn't fully grabbed his opportunity ( already been dropped) and now with Jacob Van Rooyen breathing down his neck I would think he needs to grab his opportunity this weekend because Tom McDonald is clearly ahead of him at this stage with his current form.

His consistency this year hasn't been up to the standard I had hoped this year.

1 hour ago, Lord Nev said:

I don't begrudge anyone having made their mind up about him by now, fair enough. But to say 'if he doesn't perform in this one game then he's never gonna make it' seems a bit over the top to me.

Yeah but how long have we been saying it? He has been given an abundance of chances to make the spot his. What makes you think this time will be different? 

4 minutes ago, CYB said:

Yeah but how long have we been saying it? He has been given an abundance of chances to make the spot his. What makes you think this time will be different? 

I didn't say anything about this time being different.

6 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

7 years in the system for 56 games drafted in the same year as Charlie Curnow, Eric Hipwood and Harry McKay.

The fact he's still battling it out at VFL and can't seem to overtake Tom McDonald (realistically that has to be the ideal scenario for us) is imo a concern for his own career.

So far this year he hasn't fully grabbed his opportunity ( already been dropped) and now with Jacob Van Rooyen breathing down his neck I would think he needs to grab his opportunity this weekend because Tom McDonald is clearly ahead of him at this stage with his current form.

His consistency this year hasn't been up to the standard I had hoped this year.

I just reckon everyone needs to give up on their big hopes for him. Forget the draft order, just recognize he's a depth player.

I've accepted that with him tbh.

Last time I saw Weed was marking everything on the wing with clean forward delivery

The Weed is a confidence player, he will be fine, always provides a contest.

I'll ask the same question I said to a mate before the Essendon game: If Weid kicks 4 goals does he hold his spot and who's place (if anyone) does he take the following week?

8 minutes ago, Stiff Arm said:

I'll ask the same question I said to a mate before the Essendon game: If Weid kicks 4 goals does he hold his spot and who's place (if anyone) does he take the following week?

Barring an injury to Ben Brown, Weid can only be vying for TMac's spot. Here's hoping he gives the selectors a headache once TMac's ankle is mended.  

3 hours ago, DubDee said:

Freo is easily the best defence we have come up against (the last 2 weeks aside). It will be fascinating to see how we play. I don't think we can afford to be waste so many inside 50's this week. Lower your eyes and hit targets.

Freo are almost full strength.  How much will we miss Langdon? A lot is my guess. Especially without another proper winger on the other wing. Him, Salem and Harmes are all significant outs as they are all link men and involved in so many scoring chains.  Time for Jordon and the like to really step up.

Demons by 4 points 

'...Jordan and the likes...' are going to be the keys to the match for the Mighty Dees, right across the ground. We still have the 'grunt' and the reliability of the 'grunt men' spaced well in each zone. Outside of these reliable enforcers, other than those who will be match-winners anyway (such as Trac, Ollie, Gawn, Jackson and Viney), it is now big-time for Lever and his consistency, for Spargo, Kozzie, Jordan, Rivers, Sparrow and ANB to produce the 4-quarter goods; Gus will do many great things, and the deep forwards had better be mobile finding space in which to play better games and leading their opponents with extending space in that search. We should flick the switch early, often and with courage. Our previously-Christened 'permanent medical sub' has a very great opportunity to shine, as well, getting familiar with the tricks before goal that he has already trialled in a couple of games so far. It is going to be a big test for all. It will be a novel match for us, adapting to the losses in personnel that we presume we can ill-afford to omit. Freo will be reduced to the status of that famous African tribe - We're the Far Car We?

Dees by 25 pts and if it clicks, 50 pts. 

1 hour ago, Lord Nev said:

I just reckon everyone needs to give up on their big hopes for him. Forget the draft order, just recognize he's a depth player.

I've accepted that with him tbh.

Sam has to hold the Marks he almost takes.
That is the difference between a good key forward and a depth player. 
He can do it, we have seen glimpses of it, but he has to do it consistently 

1 hour ago, bluey said:

The Weed is a confidence player, he will be fine, always provides a contest.

I'll be blunt. If you need confidence to play well, you have a problem. When you're under constant scrutiny, (your coach, your peers, yourself) if you need confidence, you'll struggle to be consistent. Exhibit 1. Sam.W...... (seems like a lovely bloke though).

He seems to lack any sort of competitive streak.

2 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

I just reckon everyone needs to give up on their big hopes for him. Forget the draft order, just recognize he's a depth player.

I've accepted that with him tbh.

Well I actually haven't fully accepted that yet. I've thought of it and last year he tested my patience but also knew he had an interrupted pre season.

Reason why is because I still have hope that he can still recapture some of that 2018 form from the back half of the year. Against Geelong in the final he was monstering the likes Harry Taylor and Mark Blicavs in marking contests. That form alone would easily be in our best 22 right now.

And to be honest both McDonald and Ben Brown are 30 this year. They haven't got much time left and realistically we need Weid to start to at least show he's ready to take over from either. But unfortunately he hasn't shown anything remotely close which now leaves us with limited depth in our tall forward stocks.

I rate JVR enormously high, but he's yet to taste AFL action.

 

5 hours ago, Nasher said:

It surprises me a bit* that Melbourne supporters, who watch us play every week, struggle with the concept that Melksham and Dunstan aren’t competing for the same spot in the team.

*not at all

And Brayshaw 3rd in Brownlow as midfielder come wingman come half back flanker!! Who is to say Dunstan can ONLY be played as a mid??

5 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

That's a huge loss considering how good of a form he is. 

If Weideman doesn't perform then makes you wonder if it'll ever click for him at AFL level.

That's now Langdon, Salem, Harmes, McDonald and Hibberd missing from our premiership side.

This will be a mighty win if we get up.

As Darth Vader would say.....

"I find your lack of faith disturbing"🙂

5 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

That's a huge loss considering how good of a form he is. 

If Weideman doesn't perform then makes you wonder if it'll ever click for him at AFL level.

That's now Langdon, Salem, Harmes, McDonald and Hibberd missing from our premiership side.

This will be a mighty win if we get up.

Yeah, so we're only taking 18 of last year's Premiership players into the game... plus Hunt, Bedford, Melksham, Weideman....

Vs Freo (0??) Premiership players

On MCG

#DeesAreUnderdogs 😉

I’m surprised people are losing confidence with TMac out. Sure he’s been good recently, but a month ago he was out of the best 22 (and the player who has replaced him was in it) and we were fine.