The backline looks settled with May, Lever, Petty, Rivers, Hibberd, Salem and Hunt barring injuries.

I think the key questions are:

- Will they give Weid another crack at CHF - I doubt this week as he has played in a wet game on a Sunday so not much turnaround to Friday.

- Will they drop Sparrow for Harmes - I'm not opposed to this given Harmes ability to tag, but again he is coming off a short break and a wet game.

- Will they drop someone like Spargo - I think it's unlikely given Goodwin and Co like continuity in the team.

Only change I could see is Harmes for Sparrow but even that is unlikely.

20 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

I'm not advocating for Weid to come in, I'm just saying our efficiency is currently poor, we pretty much blast over CHF so don't think it matter who's there atm, and our forward line is not working that well currently - Our inside 50 efficiency is terrible and we're 18th for opponent rebound 50s.

We cannot play Weid. He is not going to assist our forward line workrate, either defensively or in attack. When one talks of 'efficiency', Weid must surely be the last player in so many teams we have fielded to make a desirable contribution. Joel Smith had a good experimental run up forward with Casey last weekend, getting his sensories together and attacking out front, and in deep; for the Club, this was ideal and provided exposure and thinking to assist get it all together across the forward line. With Bowser coming in, most likely, there could be some synergies from these two to really assist the '...our forward line is not working that well, currently...' scenario. An aggressive competitor with speed and agility and goal nouse and a 'dead-eye Dick' delivering the pill to those who make ground to receive. It could all end up being icing on the cake for the Melk, for BBB, for Fritta and the resting ruckman. With Tracca nearby, it is all very achievable.

I think Spargo has been lucky to hold his spot this year. 9 goals from 21 games is telling. (By comparison, Kossie has 34 goals from 20 games and Harmes 12 goals from 16 games.)

I know we lose a bit of skill from swapping Harmes for Spargo but Harmes gives us more physicality around the contest and flexibility and he wins a lot more of the ball.

 

 

1 hour ago, Action Jackson said:

The backline looks settled with May, Lever, Petty, Rivers, Hibberd, Salem and Hunt barring injuries.

I think the key questions are:

- Will they give Weid another crack at CHF - I doubt this week as he has played in a wet game on a Sunday so not much turnaround to Friday.

- Will they drop Sparrow for Harmes - I'm not opposed to this given Harmes ability to tag, but again he is coming off a short break and a wet game.

- Will they drop someone like Spargo - I think it's unlikely given Goodwin and Co like continuity in the team.

Only change I could see is Harmes for Sparrow but even that is unlikely.

The other key question is, if TMac gets fit, who loses their spot for him? The spot is currently occupied by Melksham, who probably has done enough now to see himself through to whenever our season finishes.

On 8/13/2022 at 10:21 PM, Clint Bizkit said:

Joel Smith or JVR in the forward line to create some dynamic contests.

Bowey in for Salem who has been awful all year.

Harmes in to tag Neale and remain a tagger for rest of his career because that’s where he plays his best football.

ANB or Spargo out because they simply do not provide the crumbing up forward we need.

Ben Brown out even though Weideman hasn’t been good we seem to play better with him in the team. I prefer Weideman to Jackson (contract distracted) as the second ruck at the moment.

Get Jordon the handbrake off the wing.

Do we have a better option than Sparrow?

JVR kicked one point for the VFL on the weekend and had a very low possession count. He’s never played AFL and won’t this year. Salem has been steadily improving the past few weeks. Weidemann has been pretty useless this year in the AFL. 

4 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

The other key question is, if TMac gets fit, who loses their spot for him? The spot is currently occupied by Melksham, who probably has done enough now to see himself through to whenever our season finishes.

That is a discussion for another time and my mail is TMac is still unlikely. But I think probably Melksham will make way.

I still think our best footy apart from our glorious September, was at the start of 2021, when we had TMac in place of Ben Brown or Weideman. That line up gives us the most manic forward pressure.

I dont see how Tmac comes back in this season, at best he will be available first week of finals and thats with no match fitness

Not sure about others, but surely Harmes would have played limited minutes on Sunday if he was in contention to play this Friday.. 

It was a wet slog of a game and he has five days to recover for what will be our biggest h/a game of the year. 

Doesn't add up to me and I'd be astonished if he came in to play. 

 

Edited August 15, 20222 yr by JimmyGadson

I have been Salem's biggest critic since he came back but the last two weeks he's played well. I thought he was great on Saturday. Spargo is a difficult one.  He's spending most of the game on the wing but I don't think he's suited to that role.  He's a true forward pocket / flanker.  Hard to drop him on lack of goals kicked when he's not being used as a forward.  Would love to see harmes in but not sure who for.  Smith is an interesting option.  Great versatility but who does he replace? Based on goodwins preference for minimal change, no change.  

6 hours ago, buck_nekkid said:

I was impressed by Weid in the VFL.  Would have him in, and sparrow out.  Rejig the lines (melk to hf).  Bowie is close, Harmes - got a heap of it but looked like he tried to do too much too often.

Melk to half fwd? He just played his best game in 4 years as a FP!!

On 8/14/2022 at 11:50 AM, old dee said:

It may be changed by how some at Casey play today. A big game from Smith, Chandler or JVR could force a change. 

None of that came to pass from what i saw Mr Old.  Obviously a bit hard to know where Chandler is at given he didn't play.

You were correct though.  Better to take a good look first.

Having done that i'm now of the view there should be no changes to the present line up.

27 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

Not sure about others, but surely Harmes would have played limited minutes on Sunday if he was in contention to play this Friday.. 

It was a wet slog of a game and he has five days to recover for what will be our biggest h/a game of the year. 

Doesn't add up to me and I'd be astonished if he came in to play. 

 

He needed the run because he had not played for 3 weeks, but you are right that he might not be selected off the back of a 5 day break.

2 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

He needed the run because he had not played for 3 weeks, but you are right that he might not be selected off the back of a 5 day break.

For sure, but not a full game in a slog within 5 days of a potential AFL recall. 

David king says don't get beaten by what you know.

Harmes must come in to tag neale.

Well someone needs to go to Neale. 

Out: Spargo, Sparrow, Jordon

In: JVR, Harmes, Chandler

 

Harmes to Neale, Brayshaw to wing, extra height to the forward line to support BB, Chandler to bring some fire that Spargo has lost.

 

Getting TMac fit and ready is mostly to have a cover for injury, IMV. Would have to be flying on the track to dislodge someone but might be a handy in should we get a couple of injuries to talls (forward and/or back) 

51 minutes ago, JimmyGadson said:

For sure, but not a full game in a slog within 5 days of a potential AFL recall. 

Agree Jimmy.

Hard to comment as we don't know Harmes' game time but one would hope 65% at most with a short turnaround coming up...but, 35 disposals suggests he probably played more than that 

39 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

David king says don't get beaten by what you know.

Harmes must come in to tag neale.

I would normally agree with this Demon and also thought this before watching him closely in the Casey game.  He's still a week or so away from handling that role IMV.   That's not to say we won't do so but just my view.  NQ ready yet.  Maybe ANB?

I love Spargs but, he has been terribly out of form for a lot of the year. His role isn't suiting him and I would prefer to have ANB further up the ground to play his role and Chandler as a replacement for some more potency up forward. There needs to be some sort of selection integrity regardless of the runs on the board. We simply must bring in Harmes for Sparrow who is a leader and can play a negating role on Neale.

In: Harmes, Chandler

Out: Sparrow, Spargo

5 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

I think it’s

in Harmes … to tag Neale (simply have to tag him to stop the Lions) 

out Sparrow (to the medi sub) 

Sparrow looks lost between roles. A half forward or a mid. We lost several Centre square clearances with him in the middle. 

BBB - stays in as Weid not capable and Tmcd injured.  JVR not ready to step up   

ANB - apparently plays his role but offensively not contributing up to standard.  Lucky Sparrow is in line for the medi sub  

Spargo - had another poor game.  9 goals for the year as a permanent forward.  Some goal assists but not really contributing in crumbing or getting to the footy. Twice was physically pushed aside and led to Carlton easily running the ball out of defence.   Hard to see him staying in but another coach’s favourite.  If Chandler was fit and ready to go, I’d swap Charlie out.  
 

I think the Sparrow for Harmes is the most likely change. But why did they have Harmes play a full game in the wet to be a 5 day break if he was in contention?

I think they would opt for Viney to play the defensive mid role if we need a tag or potentially Oliver if he's got a tag himself.  If Harmes were to come in to tag Neale it further complicates our midfield rotations if Brayshaw is to continue in there.  Would be surprised to see him pushed to a wing and Jordon squeezed out given he hasn't played wing all year.

Think you're judging ANB too harshly - his pressure and running are critical to the team.  He's not in the team to kick goals other than opportunist ones.

And on Spargo, as much as I am a fan of Chandler, he is not quicker or bigger than Spargo and so is just as likely to be pushed aside.  Spargo leads THE COMP for % of inside 50 kicks marked by a team mate.  Given its our biggest weakness, he is important.   Chandler has not shown this at AFL level (albeit with limited opportunities). But I agree Spargo has been found out numerous times when he goes to a wing.

Up early in the cold, busy at work, cheer me up, read the changes thread on Demonland   that's better    a really good laugh.....

Same as I got watching the so called Melbourne supporters leave before the end on Saturday night

I think Viney will play on Neale 

2 hours ago, Antioch said:

JVR kicked one point for the VFL on the weekend and had a very low possession count. He’s never played AFL and won’t this year. Salem has been steadily improving the past few weeks. Weidemann has been pretty useless this year in the AFL. 

I know none of those changes will happen, more just a reflection that we need some change because the current formula won’t stand up.

21 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

I think Viney will play on Neale 

Who played on Neale last time?