I feel that only a few changes need to happen this week. After quarter time, we didn't play all that badly last night, and I think our first win is right around the corner. Port are an improved side and will be tough to stop, but I think that at the MCG we can do it! A few changes that are pretty obvious need to happen:

Out:

Mark Jamar - has run out of chances. Week in week out he doesn't do enough. Can compete in the ruck, but just does not throw his weight around like he should. If he is going to go forward, he needs to bust packs and take big marks, not just try and reach over the top and grab it. Paul Johnson competed well in the ruck last night, and is a better long term prospect. He also is more versatile.

Colin Garland - not quite ready for AFL I think. Looked a bit overwhelmed and the speed of the game seemed too great for him. He'll be back though!

Nathan Brown - isn't AFL standard. His disposal is sub-par, and he just isn't worth it. I would much rather Ward or Bizzell in the team.

Matty Bate - injured his knee I believe. Probably needs some time at Sandy anyway.

In:

David Neitz - should be ready to go, and don't we need a target up forward.

Brad Green - is hopefully over his hammy soreness, I thought we missed him last night.

Clint Bizzell - not sure why he was dropped after the Freo game, he really wasn't that bad.

The fourth 'in' could be anyone. Holland could come in to play on Tredrea, or Fergs might be preferred. Depends who plays well down at Sandy today. Maybe Buckley will be given a go.

I think the fourth in should be Warnock (unless Ferguson performs better for Sandy) to play on Thurstans. Agree with the other changes.

B: Bizzell, Carroll, Warnock

HB: Bell, Rivers, Petterd

C: Johnstone, Bruce, Green

HF: Dunn, Miller, Pickett

F: Davey, Neitz, Yze

FOLL: White, McDonald, Moloney

I/C: Godfrey, C Johnson, P Johnson, Sylvia

Defence:

Carroll - Tredrea

Petterd - Motlop

Rivers - White

Warnock - Thurstans

P Johnson - Lade when resting

Midfield:

Bruce - P Burgyone

Godfrey - S Burgoyne

McDonald - K Cornes

If Miller starts forward there is a good chance C Corns will pick him up. If we play one KPP in the forward line short like against Sydney we will effectively unleash C Cornes into the midfield. And that can't be good for us...

like the changes, maybe newton a chance as he has 3 for sandy so far, or holland to take the resting ruckman for port

To be honest Pickett probably doesn't deserve his spot next week. Maybe Newton could come in for him.

  Gouga said:

To be honest Pickett probably doesn't deserve his spot next week. Maybe Newton could come in for him.

Pickett needs to gain his fitness. I have no problem if he does that at senior level, given the amount of injuries we currently have.

The bottom line is, he still hurts the opposition with his presence.

Newton is not a substitute for Pickett, it's like replacing Holland with Davey.

but picket can turn a game and against port you HAVE to play him

From all reports Newton played well for Sandy today.

I wouldn't mind seeing him come in for Garland assuming he did play as well as has been suggested.

Nothing against Garland who had a tough ask playing in the forward line against Sydney. At least now he has a better understanding of what it takes to play at AFL level.

I think the first thing is that if Neitz is back then Jamar has to go. Has offered little over the last few weeks. Done okay in the ruck at times but just not enough around the ground. Was need as a tall option in the absence of Neitz but if he is back then will not be needed with PJ slowly on the up (at least he offers something around the ground).

Good for Garland to get a taste but I think it could be Newtons turn this week after a strong performance for Sandy.

I hope Green is back this week because he will be needed to replace Bate (is there any offical word on Bates injury?).

Davey Neitz Dunn

Pickett Miller Yze

Johnston Moloney Green

Bizzle Rivers Petterd

PJ Carroll Bell

White JMac Bruce

Sylvia Newton Godfrey

The last spot can be any one of CJ, Brown or Bizzel. CJ has the better skills but the other 2 have the better endevour. My pref would be Biz.

  s-t-i-n-g-a said:

I think the first thing is that if Neitz is back then Jamar has to go. Has offered little over the last few weeks. Done okay in the ruck at times but just not enough around the ground. Was need as a tall option in the absence of Neitz but if he is back then will not be needed with PJ slowly on the up (at least he offers something around the ground).

Yep, spot on. Every week I think PJ's confidence is rising, and I think that if Jamar is dropped as he should be, then Johnson could well become our second choice ruckman ahead of Jamar permanently.

As for Bate's injury, not too sure, I think he needs scans first. Regardless of how bad his injury is, his form doesn't warrant a spot in the team. Although you could say that for about 10 players.

B: Warnock Carroll Ward

HB: Bell Rivers Pettard

C: Johnstone McDonnald Godfrey

HF: Sylvia Miller Pickett

F: Davey Neitz Yze

R: Johnson Bruce Moloney

I.C: White, Bizzell, Garland, Green

Out: Garland, Brown, C.Johnson

P.Johnson to do all ruck as White will get slaughterd

  occo said:

You've got Garland on the bench and in the outs.

Ward - apart from being ordinary, is injured

Godfrey on the wing is scarey

how far is brock away from returning?

round 7 for chook im pretty sure

In: Newton, Buckley

Out: Garland, Bate (if inj), Brown (if Bate not inj).

Anyone due to come back from injury this week? If Neitz is back I'd drop Jamar but suspect PJ is more likely to be in the firing line.

Unlike most I'm not just throwing Buckley in the side for the sake of it. I just don't see who else there is to replace Bate, and I really can't see what worth Brown adds to the side at this point that Buckley couldn't cover.

Garland has had his tastes, now it's time for him to hit some good form for Sandy.

As much as I think Jamar is not the answer to our rucking needs I don't think we should drop him, the reason is that leave PJ developing where he is, if we drop Jamar then PJ will need to go into the ruck. At this stage I don't think that that would be the best thing for him.

I'd like to see Buckley given a go, by reports he played ok for Sandy and we desperately need some run through the middle.

In: Buckley, Warnock

Out: Bate, Garland

If Neitz and Green are ok then:

In: Neitz, Green, Buckley

Out: Bate, Garland, N.Brown.

Jarka, I agree 100% with your "if Green and Neitz are okay" team. I certainly like it much better than the seven change teams people have proposed above.

  occo said:

B: Warnock Carroll Ward

HB: Bell Rivers Pettard

C: Johnstone McDonnald Godfrey

HF: Sylvia Miller Pickett

F: Davey Neitz Yze

R: Johnson Bruce Moloney

I.C: White, Bizzell, Garland, Green

Out: Garland, Brown, C.Johnson

P.Johnson to do all ruck as White will get slaughterd

not only, as previously mentioned do you have garland twice, you also have named 3 outs (effectively only 2 because you still named garland) , but had green, bizzell, warnock, ward and neitz (5 players) all come in.

so who 'disapears' to allow this team to play?

When is the last time we promoted anyone who had kicked 12 goals against anybody?

When is the last time we had the opportunity to promote someone who had recently kicked 6 goals for our affiliate/seconds side?

If Neitz and Green can play:

Out: Bate (inj), Jamar, Garland, Brown, C. Johnson

In: Green, Neitz, Newton, Bizzell, Ferguson

FB: Ferguson Carroll Bell

HB: Bizzell Rivers Petterd

C: Johnstone Bruce Green

HF: Pickett Miller Dunn

FF: Newton Neitz Davey

Foll: White McDonald Moloney

Int: Godfrey P. Johnson Yze Sylvia

From Sandy today,

Newton did enough to justify selection at FF.

Just like Brown has killed his career with that game last night, Bizzell did the same at Sandy. Just went and looked slow. Got pinged holding the ball twice when he failed to take the first option then overstepped the goal square on a kick out. Very ordinary.

Warnock was OK but did not do enough to justify selection.

Ferg is good at this level but struggles higher up.

Buckley was very good in the first and last quarters especially.

Ins: Newton, Buckley,Green

Out: Garland, Brown, Bate (inj) .

If Neitz is fit, then PJ goes. Jamar is not rucking well, PJ cant ruck.

In: Buckley, Neitz, Newton, Green

Out: Brown, Garland, Bate, CJ

Brown - past it

Garland - had his go, was ineffective, hopefully he can earn his spot in the team with some big bags at sandy

Bate - Injured and hasnt been very good when he gets the ball

CJ - didnt do too much, green is a better midfield option

Give Newton and Buckley their time to impress, chances are one of them will give it a red hot go

Neitz and Green are must ins, both add class and leadership to our team

No to the bizzell, fergs, warnock suggestions, all have been tried and failed

  DemonStorm said:

how far is brock away from returning?

2 matches I think

  Rhino Richards said:

Ins: Newton, Buckley,Green

Out: Garland, Brown, Bate (inj) .

If Neitz is fit, then PJ goes. Jamar is not rucking well, PJ cant ruck.

Perfect.

I completely agree with that selection, and I would actually like the club to be extra careful with Neita.

The season is gone, and there is no point risking him and causing further injury. We still want him around next year when we might be a chance again.

  Jaded said:

Perfect.

I completely agree with that selection, and I would actually like the club to be extra careful with Neita.

The season is gone, and there is no point risking him and causing further injury. We still want him around next year when we might be a chance again.

..i dont know about u jaded... but some of us have not lost hope.... this is the biggest game of the year atm for MFC..... i would risk neitz .... if he does have an injury re occurance the odds are he will be back by next year anyway.....

melb must win this game... interstate team vs melb at the G this is our biggest chance.......

melb need to start winning.... being underdogs suits us.... we are known chokers .... we win a game or too with injuries who knows we could storm into the 8 come round 22 with a fit side and who knows wat is to come.....

OUT

bate injured/omitted, Brown, Garland, Cj

IN

Neitz, Green, Buckley, Newton

  occo said:

P.Johnson to do all ruck as White will get slaughterd

Are you kidding?

1) nobody can ruck all game

2) white is so much better than PJ it is not funny

3) PJ cant ruck fullstop

4) if white gets slaughtered then what do you think would happen to PJ

PJ and jamar are not good enough. there is no two ways about this. at the moment it is finding who is 'less bad' at the time and attempting to utilise their 'less bad' attributes

  Rhino Richards said:

Ins: Newton, Buckley,Green

Out: Garland, Brown, Bate (inj) .

If Neitz is fit, then PJ goes. Jamar is not rucking well, PJ cant ruck.

you're on the money RR