Best 44 for Melbourne

[adonski 12,143]

2 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

I thought we were having a spud-off 

[Lord Nev 13,512]

Just now, adonski said:

I thought we were having a spud-off 

You win.

[layzie 33,805]

Who would have thought this thread would be 3 pages as opposed to the regular 2 posts. 

[David-Demon 566]

On 12/9/2022 at 10:04 AM, WERRIDEE said:

Today Melbourne tomorrow North Melbourne

B: Lever, May, Hibberd

HB: Salem, Petty, Brayshaw

C: Hunter, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Neal-Bullen, McDonald, Pickett

F: Gawn, B.Brown, Fritsch

FOLL: Grundy, Viney, Oliver

IC: Harmes, Spargo, Rivers, Sparrow

Reserves

B: Adams, Tomlinson, J.Smith

HB: Bowey, Turner, D.Smith

C: Howes, Laurie, Woewodin

HF: Melksham, van Rooyen, Chandler

F: Jefferson, Schache, Sestan

FOLL: Verrall, Jordon, Dunstan

IC: McVee, Farris-White, Moniz-Wakefield, N\A

 

Melbourne has a spot left for a train on either Burgoyne or Turner.

Sorry to say that B Brown needs to make way right from round one for JVR.

The other change I would make is Chandler for Spargo. But let's see how the Season pans out with injuries before we get too far down this track.

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,735]

18 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Current All Australian ruckman demoted to the bench. No way.  Gawn will start in my view. 

The bench now is really just for player rests, so it doesn't really matter if he starts there or on the field.

[D4Life 2,475]

On 12/11/2022 at 6:50 PM, Great Sage said:

Clearly we multiple options for a variety of positions next year. A great place to be. Injuries will often dictate options but I'm hoping we return to form being the deciding factor for selection each week. 

It's why Bowie kept his spot after Hunt recovered and Jones didn't play in the finals despite many of us wanting him to in 21. It will ensure pressure for spots which ultimately makes us a better team. 

2021 felt like a little bit of providing opportunities to players, 2022 felt like pick 2021 premiership team where possible, only badly injured players in Salem, TMac dropped, the odd player dropped on form e.g. Rivers who looked to carry a leg injury all year, then Bowey got bullet and not given a look in thereafter.

Zero dare in selections. Hopefully 2023 JVR given a chance and Chandler 4-5 consecutive games. Grundy and Hunter make us stronger!

[dee-tox 4,835]

BBB went under the knife immediately after the season. Will be interesting if he can get back to full fitness.

Be interesting too who can perform Hibberd's lockdown role. I don't see any standouts. 

 

[Travy14 1,917]

On 12/10/2022 at 1:34 AM, WERRIDEE said:

Today Melbourne tomorrow North Melbourne

B: Lever, May, Rivers

HB: Salem, Petty, Bowey

C: Hunter, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Neal-Bullen, McDonald, Pickett

F: Gawn, B.Brown, Fritsch

FOLL: Grundy, Brayshaw, Oliver

IC: Harmes, Spargo, Rivers, Sparrow

Reserves

B: Adams, Tomlinson, J.Smith

HB: Hibbard, Turner, D.Smith

C: Howes, Laurie, Woewodin

HF: Melksham, van Rooyen, Chandler

F: Jefferson, Schache, Sestan

FOLL: Verrall, Jordon, Dunstan

IC: McVee, Farris-White, Moniz-Wakefield, N\A

 

Only changes i would make in Bold, hope JVR forces his way in also which maybe for McDonald depending on his pre-season.

Brashaw is a midfielder now, as much as everyone thinks he is a def.  He finished last year in the Mids and will pick up there i believe, which will be fine as i expect Salem to return to his best.

Rivers i expect to overtake Hibbard as the lock down def.

I am very optimistic about this side with Salem, Rivers, McDonald, Brown  and Lever hopefully sorting out the injuries that plagued them last yr. which will give our side more stability and Brown some support up forward with another couple of talls.

I'm sure there will be a couple that also force their way into the team from the VFL and hopefully that is the case, make everyone fight hard for positions.

 

 

[WERRIDEE 5,479]

2 hours ago, Travy14 said:

Only changes i would make in Bold, hope JVR forces his way in also which maybe for McDonald depending on his pre-season.

Brashaw is a midfielder now, as much as everyone thinks he is a def.  He finished last year in the Mids and will pick up there i believe, which will be fine as i expect Salem to return to his best.

Rivers i expect to overtake Hibbard as the lock down def.

I am very optimistic about this side with Salem, Rivers, McDonald, Brown  and Lever hopefully sorting out the injuries that plagued them last yr. which will give our side more stability and Brown some support up forward with another couple of talls.

I'm sure there will be a couple that also force their way into the team from the VFL and hopefully that is the case, make everyone fight hard for positions.

 

 

You left out Viney

[Travy14 1,917]

50 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

You left out Viney

Mistakenly put Rivers on field and on the bench, have Viney on the bench as first midfield rotation

[monoccular 17,429]

4 hours ago, dee-tox said:

BBB went under the knife immediately after the season. Will be interesting if he can get back to full fitness.

Be interesting too who can perform Hibberd's lockdown role. I don't see any standouts. 

 

I think I saw shots of BBB at training without any knee bandage / support which suggests that he has recovered to whatever extent he can from his surgery.  
I still would be extremely surprised if he were to play more than maybe half the games?

[jnrmac 20,065]

On 12/10/2022 at 2:04 AM, WERRIDEE said:

Today Melbourne tomorrow North Melbourne

B: Lever, May, Hibberd

HB: Salem, Petty, Brayshaw

C: Hunter, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Neal-Bullen, McDonald, Pickett

F: Gawn, B.Brown, Fritsch

FOLL: Grundy, Viney, Oliver

IC: Harmes, Spargo, Rivers, Sparrow

Reserves

B: Adams, Tomlinson, J.Smith

HB: Bowey, Turner, D.Smith

C: Howes, Laurie, Woewodin

HF: Melksham, van Rooyen, Chandler

F: Jefferson, Schache, Sestan

FOLL: Verrall, Jordon, Dunstan

IC: McVee, Farris-White, Moniz-Wakefield, N\A

 

Melbourne has a spot left for a train on either Burgoyne or Turner.

Barring a catastrophe JVR will play round 1 Take it to the bank.

[monoccular 17,429]

On 12/12/2022 at 9:37 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

Current All Australian ruckman demoted to the bench. No way.  Gawn will start in my view. 

 

On 12/13/2022 at 3:51 PM, Action Jackson said:

The bench now is really just for player rests, so it doesn't really matter if he starts there or on the field.

Action - point taken, however (in general) I don't think captains should start on the bench.  The leader needs to be there at the first bounce to lead.

[Harrisonrules 273]

On 12/11/2022 at 10:17 AM, whatwhat say what said:

i think the gap week robbed us of momentum heading into finals and then we were clearly walking wounded in the semi

it was a shocking end to the season, but we achieved the main goal of being top four - indeed, top two - at the end of the home and away

everything that could go wrong in the two finals did go wrong

 

[Harrisonrules 273]

The untold story of our second half year fade outs was the growing injury list. By the Lions loss injuries were substantial

[adonski 12,143]

This is the leaked round one line up, you can tell as it's on a spread sheet

[Grouse 192]

On 12/14/2022 at 5:02 PM, monoccular said:

 

Action - point taken, however (in general) I don't think captains should start on the bench.  The leader needs to be there at the first bounce to lead.

Didn't selwood start on the bench for most of the season? I'm not certain but had a vague idea he did. 

[58er 6,440]

On 12/14/2022 at 5:23 PM, Harrisonrules said:

The untold story of our second half year fade outs was the growing injury list. By the Lions loss injuries were substantial

So true 11 players in X-rays the week before Lions game I heard!!

So much upside and 4 new players Brodie Grundee Lachy H JVR and Tmac !!

Also Bowey and Schacky look real like the real deal! 

 

[58er 6,440]

On 12/13/2022 at 9:20 PM, D4Life said:

2021 felt like a little bit of providing opportunities to players, 2022 felt like pick 2021 premiership team where possible, only badly injured players in Salem, TMac dropped, the odd player dropped on form e.g. Rivers who looked to carry a leg injury all year, then Bowey got bullet and not given a look in thereafter.

Zero dare in selections. Hopefully 2023 JVR given a chance and Chandler 4-5 consecutive games. Grundy and Hunter make us stronger!

Good summary D4life very true snd so much upside from our new players snd couple of good Casey Dees boys JVR snd Chandler. 

[spirit of norm smith 16,459]

Still trying to work out how Max Gawn as Captain and the current All Australian ruckman … is being put as full forward, forward pocket or bench. Grundy comes in but surely he starts on the bench and rotates in.  Gawn can rest forward or a spell on the Pune only.  

[58er 6,440]

20 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Still trying to work out how Max Gawn as Captain and the current All Australian ruckman … is being put as full forward, forward pocket or bench. Grundy comes in but surely he starts on the bench and rotates in.  Gawn can rest forward or a spell on the Pune only.  

What about loose on the backline shuring up our defence? 

[Kent 2,909]

1 hour ago, 58er said:

What about loose on the backline shuring up our defence? 

Exactly how it will be played 58

[ManDee 7,148]

2 hours ago, 58er said:

What about loose on the backline shuring up our defence? 

Not sure about that. 🙂

[picket fence 17,169]

On 12/12/2022 at 1:42 PM, Roost it far said:

Brown is surely cooked

Hibberd is an injury away from retirement

Bowey has to play

JVR better be playing after the hype fest around here

Hunter and Jordan will need to train the house down to get in above the other.

Only injuries stop us winning this 

If Voss can coach and Carlton stay fit surely they are pushing

Brown looked very very good at training last week and Hunter was sensational. He hasnt been recruited to play at Casey

[58er 6,440]

6 hours ago, ManDee said:

Not sure about that. 🙂

ManDee Kent and SONS 

Go back to Gawny playing loose in defence marking forward thrusts of the opposition.  He didn't do that and still thinks led the saviour of the forward line.

I believe we have enough tall forwards back free of injury or coming on (JVR) now that Gawny is best saving goals by his superior marking.