It is first and foremost unrelenting pressure particularly in our forward half.
 

They have unusually tall and skilful defenders. Do not let their intercept game going. Which means no bombing into f50, or to the wings from kick ins. 

Get those right and we may just win the game. 
 

Freo have looked very vulnerable to fast ball movement in the corridor. Yes we expose ourselves if we do this, but the Melbourne way will not work without BBB and TMac. 

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I've been quite vocal for his inclusion for a few weeks now.

Now watch us select Mitch Brown for this weekend.

Is it bad that whenever Mitch Brown is selected I immediately think “We are in trouble”?

Anyway, it’s important I go on-the-record as having a pot at Mitch, because it means he’ll kick five goals this week  

 

We'll be lucky to kick 10 goals this week if we go in with the same personnel in the forward line.

Another big body is a must, which presumably means JVR to come in as virtually the last man standing. Relying on Daw to be our entire ruck / forward depth looks more stupid with every passing week. 

Spargo has kicked 1 goal 3 behinds since round 9, so he is the obvious man to come out. Only 5 goal assists in the past 8 weeks as well. I don't care how many touches he gets on the wing, he has to kick goals and make forward 50 tackles to hold his spot.

Hunt to HBF, Brayshaw to the wing, Jordon to VFL. Should free up Salem a bit as well.

Lever in for Tomlinson. I'm yet to be convinced that Tomlinson wasn't largely responsible for Ugle-Hagen's goal feast.

Very tempted to bring in Dunstan for either Sparrow or Harmes, probably Sparrow, because I have no idea what he contributes when he is not in the midfield.

If Rivers is out as mooted, Bowey to return.

On notice: Jackson, Salem, Harmes.

 

Ben Brown and Weideman offer about the same, so Brown being out is no loss IMO. (Can't play both IMO.)

I love Salem but I wonder if he is safe? Bowey plays the same role and is more dynamic at the moment.

N.B. The argument that Salem has been thrown out by Brayshaw being in the backline is a load of bollocks IMO. And Jordon has been fantastic this year on the wing.

25 minutes ago, poita said:

We'll be lucky to kick 10 goals this week if we go in with the same personnel in the forward line.

I mean, we kicked 15 goals last week with that lineup...

15 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

I mean, we kicked 15 goals last week with that lineup...

And the Dockers kicked only 7.

10 goals might be enough!

18 hours ago, layzie said:

It's not Jordon from the massive falcon he copped?

So who was the mystery player that was cited as having concussion? Nothing on the injuries report. Stirring the pot Lord Nevr?

14 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

So who was the mystery player that was cited as having concussion? Nothing on the injuries report. Stirring the pot Lord Nevr?

No pot stirring, it's come via a family member of a player. Potentially may not be announced til the team comes out, not sure, but source is pretty good.

9 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

No pot stirring, it's come via a family member of a player. Potentially may not be announced til the team comes out, not sure, but source is pretty good.

Nev do you know when the alleged concussion occurred?  My concern is that the mandatory 12 days out would wipe out our Friday Freo game this week, but also the following Friday game against Collingwood...?

Just now, gs77 said:

Nev do you know when the alleged concussion occurred?  My concern is that the mandatory 12 days out would wipe out our Friday Freo game this week, but also the following Friday game against Collingwood...?

Apparently happened during the game but the coaches/fitness staff had no idea at the time.

Not sure how it works time line wise as the concussion test didn't happen until Monday I believe (but not 100% sure if that's the case, could have been post-game).

We were in front for 95% of the time and only in the last quarter we were found wanting for run (not necessarily pace)  Lever for Thomlinson would help there and also BBB for Weiderman.

Melksham was good for 3/4 but again couldn't run in last, but maybe you could live with that, using the bench.  I'd prefer JVR, but it looks like they will wait til next year.

I think Turner back in for Salem who is sadly out of form would add a lot.

I thought Sparrow played his best game since GF. I thought Salem was getting back to his best… Apart from Lever’s return and the whispers of a Covid case, I don’t see a lot of changes. Does JJ have concussion? Seems acute  knee jerk to drop players who give us an advantage (Jackson, Fritsch). Harmes may be dropped for Hunt, but I don’t think we will be dropping Premiership players that are fit

 

On 7/25/2022 at 4:12 AM, KingDingAling said:

I’d get Brayshaw out of the backline and bring Bowey back in. Salem and Bowey are good kicks, and that can start the sequence. Move Brayshaw back to the wing. JJ can replace Sparrow in the middle. In: Bowey, Chandler, Lever. Out: Sparrow, Spargo, Tomlinson.

Yep, whilst Gus has been brilliant in the backline, he was equally brilliant as a defensive wingman last year. 

Apparently Brodie could be out. No Brodie or Fyfe, & get Harmes to tag Brayshaw, and we have their midfield covered. 

1 minute ago, 1964_2 said:

Apparently Brodie could be out. No Brodie or Fyfe, & get Harmes to tag Brayshaw, and we have their midfield covered. 

 

10 hours ago, Demonland said:

Let JVR play in front of his family on his home deck.

Or it may make him want to play there every second week  😮 (MFCSS kicking in early).

8 hours ago, poita said:

We'll be lucky to kick 10 goals this week if we go in with the same personnel in the forward line.

Another big body is a must, which presumably means JVR to come in as virtually the last man standing. Relying on Daw to be our entire ruck / forward depth looks more stupid with every passing week. 

Spargo has kicked 1 goal 3 behinds since round 9, so he is the obvious man to come out. Only 5 goal assists in the past 8 weeks as well. I don't care how many touches he gets on the wing, he has to kick goals and make forward 50 tackles to hold his spot.

Hunt to HBF, Brayshaw to the wing, Jordon to VFL. Should free up Salem a bit as well.

Lever in for Tomlinson. I'm yet to be convinced that Tomlinson wasn't largely responsible for Ugle-Hagen's goal feast.

Very tempted to bring in Dunstan for either Sparrow or Harmes, probably Sparrow, because I have no idea what he contributes when he is not in the midfield.

If Rivers is out as mooted, Bowey to return.

On notice: Jackson, Salem, Harmes.

 

What the hell are you smoking?

2 hours ago, 1964_2 said:

Apparently Brodie could be out. No Brodie or Fyfe, & get Harmes to tag Brayshaw, and we have their midfield covered. 

We have it covered anyway.

They for us at the perfect time at the G. Gawn will want revenge. He has a long memory.

Brown out certainly makes selection easier, if we were going to try the 2 bigs together it wouldn't have been this week 

12 hours ago, binman said:

Ouch, BB out is a blow

where do you stand on the expectation of the move to play two key forwards going forward from now?

Injury update:

No mention of a player suffering from concussion.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1182344/round-20-injury-report-dees-prepare-for-trip-to-perth

55 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Injury update:

No mention of a player suffering from concussion.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1182344/round-20-injury-report-dees-prepare-for-trip-to-perth

You wouldn't dare to question Lord Nev would ya?

With Turner now playing again, it creates a little more depth for our bigger backs.  He came into the side at the expense of Tomlinson (omitted) for the Collingwood game, so went fit and going he is obvisouly rated by the coaching group.  As well as covering for injuries if we have more bad luck down back, he becomes an option if the coaches feel the need to move one of the backmen (Petty or Tomlinson) forward to cover for BBB and TMac.  6-7 weeks for TMac puts it right in the middle of the finals series which is a really unfortunate time to be coming back from a long term injury and he has never been one to find form quickly after a break.

If Chandler doesn't come in this week, I'll be disappointed with the club. 

They constantly state that strong VFL form is how you force your way into the side. And we had a number of underperforming players against the dogs. 

The team needs a shake up and an injection of new life imo. It's also going to be wet so a smaller forwardline is going to be a lot more difficult to deal with. 

He must be given a crack. What else does he need to do? 

Hopefully a two-tall forward policy this week - Weid and JVR

Chandler because he has definitely earned it.

Lever, of course.