37 minutes ago, deelusions from afar said:

I actually have a sneaking suspicion that Weid will play his best game for us if he comes in.

He seems to be a confidence player and to a certain extent he gets a free hit in the ruck as the expectations aren't high on him in the way it is when he's forward.

He impacts a few contests early and then takes a mark and goals when he goes forward and we'll see a different player.🤞

Apt username. 😜

Having said that I hope you are right.

This is the season defining game. We've had a really bad run lately - leaks from the top, senior players punching on, contract delays with Jackson and 3 losses in a row to top 8 sides. The media is keen to push the narrative of the season coming off the rails.

During our 10 game streak, I was quietly hoping we would drop a few games, simply to allow the side to recalibrate and and surge towards the end of the season. I also felt it would be incredibly difficult for us to sustain mentally.

Having said that, the losses have gone beyond what I was expecting, and we desperately need to right the ship.

So this week I can handle a close loss, particularly if we look to be working through our issues forward of centre. However a bad loss would be devastating as we dispatched the Lions easily last season. It will really be undeniable indication of where we're at.

Out: Turner, Gawn

In: Weid, May

Whatever the result, I predict an absolutely massive game from Viney. His on field leadership in the absence of Gawn will be huge.

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

Well if he plays fwd that is not likely to happen but if he plays ruck/fwd like he often does for Casey he may be serviceable.

To be honest it wouldn't take that much to be his best game.  People single out his game against Geelong in the 2018 final.  There's not that many other standouts (in fairness to him often the delivery has been terrible and he's stuck in the forward 50).  He's been more lively when played in the ruck at Casey

The conservative, and likely, changes are May for Turner and Weideman for Gawn. 

The issue with those changes is that it means we go in with B Brown, M Brown and Weideman, who at times are all going to be in the same forward line, which inspires zero confidence.

An option is to drop M Brown, who hasn't done much if anything in the seniors to warrant retaining his spot, and replacing him with a small (e.g. Bedford, Melksham), or perhaps using Petracca more as a forward with, for example, Jordon getting more midfield time, Brayshaw going back to the wing, and Hunt coming back into the backline.

But if we drop M Brown, there will be periods of the game where Weid's rucking and Jackson's on the bench, and we'll be down to B Brown only.

This all goes to show how valuable Gawn is beyond simple ruck craft.

1 hour ago, titan_uranus said:

The conservative, and likely, changes are May for Turner and Weideman for Gawn. 

The issue with those changes is that it means we go in with B Brown, M Brown and Weideman, who at times are all going to be in the same forward line, which inspires zero confidence.

An option is to drop M Brown, who hasn't done much if anything in the seniors to warrant retaining his spot, and replacing him with a small (e.g. Bedford, Melksham), or perhaps using Petracca more as a forward with, for example, Jordon getting more midfield time, Brayshaw going back to the wing, and Hunt coming back into the backline.

But if we drop M Brown, there will be periods of the game where Weid's rucking and Jackson's on the bench, and we'll be down to B Brown only.

This all goes to show how valuable Gawn is beyond simple ruck craft.

I would not be surprised to see Melksham get a run. Has experience and great vision and kicking ability. That's if he gets the ball of course. And last but not least the coach likes him. 

In: May, Weid, Bedford. Out: Gawn, M.Brown, Turner. Need some dash from Bedford. 

39 minutes ago, Nelo said:

In: May, Weid, Bedford. Out: Gawn, M.Brown, Turner. Need some dash from Bedford. 

In May, Laurie, Rivers, Weid

Out Gawn, Turner Brown, Spargo

25 minutes ago, Ugottobekidding said:

In May, Laurie, Rivers, Weid

Out Gawn, Turner Brown, Spargo

Absolutely zero chance Spargo is dropped. He is being played out of position atm but he is a critical player for us and our forward line

19 minutes ago, The Swimming Dee said:

Absolutely zero chance Spargo is dropped. He is being played out of position atm but he is a critical player for us and our forward line

I know he was on the wing against Freo.  But apart from that I haven't noticed him played out of position.  Where has he been playing?  Why is he played out of position when we are not missing any small forwards or wingers?

7 hours ago, Supermercado said:

That tweet is terrible news for people who like punctuation. Great news for us getting some unnecessary free kicks on Thursday.

There is no way he plays. It’s a minimum 3 weeks given his age. 

5 hours ago, wisedog said:

This is the season defining game. We've had a really bad run lately - leaks from the top, senior players punching on, contract delays with Jackson and 3 losses in a row to top 8 sides. The media is keen to push the narrative of the season coming off the rails.

During our 10 game streak, I was quietly hoping we would drop a few games, simply to allow the side to recalibrate and and surge towards the end of the season. I also felt it would be incredibly difficult for us to sustain mentally.

Having said that, the losses have gone beyond what I was expecting, and we desperately need to right the ship.

So this week I can handle a close loss, particularly if we look to be working through our issues forward of centre. However a bad loss would be devastating as we dispatched the Lions easily last season. It will really be undeniable indication of where we're at.

Out: Turner, Gawn

In: Weid, May

Whatever the result, I predict an absolutely massive game from Viney. His on field leadership in the absence of Gawn will be huge.

I do wonder if the coaching staff sense the significance of this game and hence have a lighter training run to ensure the boys are full of zip for Thursday night. We need to win the next 3 games to restamp our authority on the season and have some hope of holding onto top 4.

9 minutes ago, deelusions from afar said:

I know he was on the wing against Freo.  But apart from that I haven't noticed him played out of position.  Where has he been playing?  Why is he played out of position when we are not missing any small forwards or wingers?

It appears to me (admittedly watching on TV) that he has been playing up the ground more...traditional HFF. That may have been a result of us not getting our territory game right, but he has not been allowed for one reason or another, to play his usual game. To be most effectual I think Spargs needs to play between the goals and forward of the centre square...just my opinion

I'd like to give Hunt another go as a medium tall to replace M brown

Just have him lead hard from deep 50 to the 50 arc to mix up the deep kicks to the square 

58 minutes ago, Ugottobekidding said:

In May, Laurie, Rivers, Weid

Out Gawn, Turner Brown, Spargo

Laurie is nowhere near it. I watch more VFL Casey games than most because I put a $100 on Casey at $6.50 at the start of the year.

Laurie gets a fair bit of it but does little with. Three players at least are ahead of him.

4 minutes ago, MrFreeze said:

I'd like to give Hunt another go as a medium tall to replace M brown

Just have him lead hard from deep 50 to the 50 arc to mix up the deep kicks to the square 

Agree with many- Gawn, Turner replaced by May, Weid!

But like the little bit of left field thinking with Hunt, he can kick goals, has speed and defensive capabilities to put pressure on opponents backline. 
Leaves us a little small but only other alternative is Van R.

Laurie would do better in AFL than vfl system.

 

3 hours ago, Steamin Demon said:

Laurie is nowhere near it. I watch more VFL Casey games than most because I put a $100 on Casey at $6.50 at the start of the year.

Laurie gets a fair bit of it but does little with. Three players at least are ahead of him.

Really - I’ve watched quite a bit of Casey this year I don’t think his problem is not doing much with his possessions it’s more about getting more of it, building fitness and getting to more contests 

He is very skilled and has an excellent football brain - he reminds me a lot of Spargo. I’m a little surprised we drafted two players that are so similar and not sure how they both fit in the same team. Spargo has him covered atm with defensive pressure  

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

 

Dumb headline, what else are they going to say

5 hours ago, Ugottobekidding said:

In May, Laurie, Rivers, Weid

Out Gawn, Turner Brown, Spargo

No chance in hell Spargo gets dropped. None.

Genuinely surprised we are favourites for this game. I predict one of two things are going to happen on Thursday:

1) We get off to a good start and then get overrun again to further confirm we are still way off it and our season is in real danger

2) We play a sustained brand of footy and beat them and it actually looks like we’re back (despite missing Max)

 

11 hours ago, Nelo said:

In: May, Weid, Bedford. Out: Gawn, M.Brown, Turner. Need some dash from Bedford. 

A [censored] Men!

Zorko out for the lions 

Surely Gawn out means we are even more likely to lower eyes and look for a mobile target inside 50 so does that mean this is the game we introduce Van R for Mitch Brown (Weid for Gawn)?

Brown/Brown/Weid feels unbalanced and invites the bomb-and-hope that we don’t want. Van R introduces a different dynamic at ground level.

Edit: although MFC style is normally to announce a debutant well ahead of teams being announced and given we are 30 hours out from game time perhaps this is now unlikely

Edited June 22, 20223 yr by The Jackson 6

17 hours ago, MrFreeze said:

I'd like to give Hunt another go as a medium tall to replace M brown

Just have him lead hard from deep 50 to the 50 arc to mix up the deep kicks to the square 

Yep that’s what I’ve settled on too.

Although rather than just Hunt trying to lock down CHF I’d get Fritsch doing his fair share with Hunt trying to get out the back.

We don’t have a reliable tall option to replace Tommy Mc, so the logical conclusion is to go with the best medium option.