1 minute ago, CYB said:

Why is it so ridiculous? Explain why else we lost against the Swans, cats and Pies? We cannot cope with the pressure. 
 

Whether the Lions can do it is another thing - granted - but it is plain for everyone to see, like it or not.

It's ridiculous because you write as if "4 quarters of relentless pressure" is some sort of magic kryptonite to beat us.

it's the formula to beat every single side in the competition.

If we roll the dice with Petracca, guarantee there is no chance we would also roll the dice with McDonald. In fact, even if we rested Petracca, I doubt we would bring McDonald in, because Goodwin would want to minimise changes. This might infuriate most of us here, but it’s the truth.

On 9/2/2022 at 8:52 AM, Click_Bate said:

Out: ANB, Melk, Harmes (suspension)

In: Chandler, JVR, and potentially Dunstan for Harmes 

Look I can see min changes but Dunstan could well be in the mix. 

10 hours ago, McQueen said:

If Tmac is still too risky I’d give Joel Smith a crack at Melksham’s role. 
 

The way Melksham carries himself on the field is so depressing to watch. 
 

And Bedford for ANB. 

I'd prefer JVR to replace Melksham.

I've watched a fair bit of VFL this year and the kid takes a great mark and is a quality set shot.

He'd take a lot more pressure off BBB as a leading forward option than Smith would.

We should have given him an opportunity six weeks ago.

Goodwin really hasn't rewarded good form in the vfl much at all this year or punished poor games in the seniors.

I'm pretty dirty with Melksham's misses opportunities but I doubt anyone will get dropped.

Is it stubbornness by Goody? I dunno.

I feel like creating some more tension for spots might outweigh the benefits of backing your regulars but it's not going to happen.

If we drop this next final what does it say to 

JVR who has been consistent all year while watching BBB struggle and Gawn not perform forward.

Dunstan, who failed with his opportunity mid season but absolutely dominated that first final

Chandler, who has been playing absolutely manically the last few weeks.

Casey has been a bloody solid team all year who have responded to a lot of challenges and knuckled down and won (apart from one game).

I would have liked to have seen more rotation between the two teams all year. But nope.

 

I also don't see the point of playing Trac on half a leg, literally.

I know he is a champion, but if we beat Brisbane and playing ends his season, we are worse off. We CAN beat Brisbane without him, but we CAN'T win the flag without him.

4 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

I also don't see the point of playing Trac on half a leg, literally.

I know he is a champion, but if we beat Brisbane and playing ends his season, we are worse off. We CAN beat Brisbane without him, but we CAN'T win the flag without him.

I'm in the same boat. It's not just that, but the potential to do much damage to the injury and affect his pre season. 

Rest him and bring in Dunstan to provide some real grunt in the midfield.

9 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

It's ridiculous because you write as if "4 quarters of relentless pressure" is some sort of magic kryptonite to beat us.

it's the formula to beat every single side in the competition.

Exactly, it is literally the secret sauce to winning football games. Geelong and Sydney's pressure is currently the best in my view, surprise surprise look where they sit. 

14 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

I also don't see the point of playing Trac on half a leg, literally.

I know he is a champion, but if we beat Brisbane and playing ends his season, we are worse off. We CAN beat Brisbane without him, but we CAN'T win the flag without him.

Absolutely 100% couldn't agree more. This is idiotic Nat Fyfe style managing by the sound of it. 

For mine, Petracca plays:

• While in the midfield Oliver is less likely to be tagged.
• We need Harmes or Brayshaw to mind Neale
• Even parked in the goal square he is dangerous as his many snaps out of pack goals show. 
• He is unselfish around goal and if he can't kick he will hand ball.
• Petracca will attract a midfielder or a defender when forward.

Not playing him just makes Brisbane's life easier.

I just can't see any player we bring in being better overall value than Petracca. 

Big ask beating a team 3 teams in a season, apparently impossible unless the other side is flu-ridden on the 3rd attempt. 

So McInerny is out for the lions. That means our rucks have a great chance to dominate unless lions have a good backup waiting in the wings?. That might also be a reason that our selectors choose not to take a punt on TMac.

30 minutes ago, Deetective Sgt. Taggert said:

So McInerny is out for the lions. That means our rucks have a great chance to dominate unless lions have a good backup waiting in the wings?. That might also be a reason that our selectors choose not to take a punt on TMac.

Fort and McStay will compete.

Ironically, this makes the smaller and more dangerous up forward and better equipped to get around May, Lever and Petty.

1 hour ago, Lucifers Hero said:

For mine, Petracca plays:

Not playing him just makes Brisbane's life easier.

I just can't see any player we bring in being better overall value than Petracca. 

Yes but would they be better than half a Petracca?

4 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Yes but would they be better than half a Petracca?

Yes.

Any other player even at 100% can be ignored by Brisbane.

1 hour ago, Deetective Sgt. Taggert said:

So McInerny is out for the lions. That means our rucks have a great chance to dominate unless lions have a good backup waiting in the wings?. That might also be a reason that our selectors choose not to take a punt on TMac.

Fort will likely replace him. He is a big loss to them, as he does so much more than just take hit outs.

Having Petracca as a permanent fwd is funny.. look at his goal kicking stats.. atrocious and is what is separating him from being a really really good player to the best in the comp. He is a shocking converter. And frankly its costing us. If he converted more it might take pressure of our fwd line. He has to get better. 

But if we cant work out a way to hit a player on the lead more than we do we aint winning. And there is not a chance we smack the Lions like we have the last 2 games they will never be more confident, Rayner and Answorth back in.. we are a bit beaten up..  its going to be hard to win.

I have ruled myself out with a 'back'.  (Not sure if it is a hamstring related back or a back related hamstring).

Cant wait to get back to FNQ and get some heat on it.

I'll get flack for this but hardly anyone has suggested putting Weid in means that he should probably be desisted.

It's not personal,  maybe he will do better at another club.

We have to risk playing another forward and dropping Melksham.

Or be creative and use a defender maybe Tomlinson up there.

Or let Gawn ruck the whole game and leave Jackson up forward all the time.

Bbb has been taking all the heat because he's the only tall in our forward line.

Come on Goody shake things up . Not much to lose at this point.

Sure we can beat the lions but after that, it's all over for us.

I hope we get a great big strong, proven and experienced chf for dogga.

He seemed mentally moved on against the Swans.

Best of luck to him. I can understand moving back home but we need to be well compensated and then some more.

As for Melksham. He surprised us all with 2 great games but then put in a shocker. I hope he can recapture that great form but we need someone taller there. Is Adam T an option?

Got to do something Simon. What about Petty or Lever?

Before people start screaming our backline will fall apart....aside from the lions game it already has.

Lever did little in his last game. A few marks and a few ineffectual kicks.

Why not put him up Forward?

And Tomlinson down back?

If we dont put a 2nd tall in our forward line than we will see few goals kicked.

Bbb is always monstered by 2 or 3 tall defenders. 

Let's think outside the box for once. Goody is a great coach but his only flaw is his unwillingness to take risks or make bold decisions.

His constant choice of Melksham is proof of that. And while for 2 games it actually paid off....in the other 20 he played he was average at best. I think Goody just got lucky with Milk with those 2 games.or maybe he thought he had no other options. 

Why hasn't Milk played like that for the last 2 years? It's great that he played so well but what happened to him in the Swans game. His lack of chasing and tackles was limited at best.

I don't have the magic answers....but I believe putting everything on the table is a good start to finding one. You have to manufacture options. There's always some solution if you look and try hard enough.

Lever was having little impact down back so why not plonk him at ff and Max down back for half a quarter.

I can't be hard on Simon ....he got us a flag after so long but I wish he was a little more proactive at times.

He's had to a lot with less this year. No doubt about it. Constant backline ins and outs has been very unsettling.

Our midfield hasn't been the same as Tracca has been carrying injures all year so teams just need to focus on shutting down Oliver. Thankfully Jv stepped up but had a bad one against the Swans.

Tmac going down was about the time we started struggling. Weid has never really answered the call. Bbb has struggled in form at times too. 

It's been a tougher year compared to last, injury wise. 

We did well to finish 2nd. But to throw away that double chance with so many players simply not turning up was completely disappointing.  Kozzie even if he doesn't kick goals always pressures by running all day to curb players...force them to make mistakes. Didn't see him do much of this.  Even his tackle count was way down.

He was not alone there are asnanother half a dozen who  also had mares.

Yes and Sydney played well but we played more poorly in my view.

We have the lions covered at least  but it's hard to see us going any further.

But as dees fan we live in hope. Plus we've got the 21 gf replay to watch.

Ps can we definitely not try Weid again.

Tx for listenimg.

 

 

Edited September 5, 20222 yr by leave it to deever

I'm definitely rolling the dice with McDonald for Melksham and i'm even considering Bowey in for Salem who has been terrible

1 hour ago, rpfc said:

Fort and McStay will compete.

Ironically, this makes the smaller and more dangerous up forward and better equipped to get around May, Lever and Petty.

McStay did well against the Tiges. He's a handy back up ruck for his size

I said this on the other thread and I think my logic is pretty sound here…

Lions are well and truly a rung below Geelong, Sydney and the Pies as far as current form goes. 

Therefore if playing an injured Trac (and risking any further injury to him) is seen as the crucial difference in us getting over the line, then our season is rooted anyway. 
 

A win over the Lions without Trac will build confidence. A win with Trac will likely make him less prepared to face Geelong the following week. A loss without him will tell us we weren’t good enough anyway. And a loss with him would amount to a pointless and potentially damaging risk. 

What I would do:  

With Big O out for Brisbane, I would back in Gawn to beat their ruck on his own (One dominant ruck v two dominant ruck is much the same output) - rest Jackson for Geelong and bring in Tmac.  Tmac is a risk (being rusty) but, he also provides flexibility that if' hes not performing as a forward we can also swap him with Petty/May.  Harmes to tag Neale, means he will be in the midfield with Oliver and Viney. This would free up Brayshaw to  the wing, and/or allow more time for Trac to play forward (Melksam's role).  I'd bring in Dunstan for Melksam, so that he can play crash/bash inside role (take on Trac's and Brayshaws midfield minutes) - it also allows flexibility for Brayshaw to move to defence if one of the small defenders are getting beaten (I fear Hibberds lack of pace)  - and cover Oliver (goes forward) if he gets tagged.  Note: Tmac, BB, Melks and a resting ruckman do not apply enough pressure to the ball carrier on exit from our forward 50 so Trac/Sparrow/Dunstan/Viney/Oliver can do this.  At the moment only Brayshaw, May and Spargo take on the corridor with their kicks - so ideally another player like Bowey may add to this . This comes down to whether you go with a stronger body in Salem, or better ball use in Bowey ( I know Salem's known for his kicking, but this year he's predominantly just taken the very safe option or long down the line). With this lineup you would need a tall as the medical emergency (Jackson would be ideal) but as I'm resting him, then it would have to be Weidman, no JVR, no Tomilson, nope going with Jackson!!! 

My ins: Dunstan and Tmac. My outs: Melks and Jackson with Jackson to be medical sub.  This keeps the structure and team much the same; note, mass changes in finals is a recipe for disaster.

What I expect though is no change with perhaps Tmac as late inclusion for Fritsch/Melks/Trac!

Edited September 5, 20222 yr by Ungarieboy

At least the debate over Petracca will stop/delay the media from re-igniting Zorko-gate.

If the medical staff are happy with Trac playing - then so am i.

Melk played well towards the end of the season, but think he may have run out of credits in the bank. Really uncertain who they'll bring in though. 

Absolutely zero chance of any unforced changes this week. Goodwin has hitched his wagon to this group, and will work them into the ground before changing his mind. I'm also expecting us to err (yet again) on the side of taking unnecessary risks with injured players, rather than taking 22 fit players into this week's game. 

I'd be happy to see Spargo miss, Melksham take his role across half forward and another tall forward come in (McDonald preferably if fit). I'd also like to see Brayshaw back to the wing and Dunstan into the midfield, particularly if Petracca doesn't play. I don't think Harmes' positioning is good enough to play what is such a specialised role in our setup. Sparrow to miss if Petracca is fit.

I could make a very strong case for both Jackson and Salem to be dropped, but the chances of either happening are so miniscule that I won't bother.

1 minute ago, roy11 said:

At least the debate over Petracca will stop/delay the media from re-igniting Zorko-gate.

If the medical staff are happy with Trac playing - then so am i.

Melk played well towards the end of the season, but think he may have run out of credits in the bank. Really uncertain who they'll bring in though. 

I don’t subscribe to the theory that medical staffs always make the right decision. AFL history is littered with stories of quite the opposite. Medicos are always trying to mitigate other factors that aren’t exactly in the player’s best interests. Strangely, one of the biggest forces that go against the welfare of the player is the player themselves.