On 1/12/2023 at 4:03 PM, drdrake said:

If Schache starts round 1 we are in serious injury trouble for the start of the season.  Same with Melksham.

 

Right now.. SCHACHE is the shocker (in the mix for R1 = 💯)

 

I'm gonna do a R1 & what I think (should be do the miraculous) our Flag team would look like in GF for us to have best shot..

 

ROUND 1 VS BULLDOGS 

FB: Rivers  May  Bowey

HB: Salem  Petty  Lever 

C: Hunter  Petracca  Langdon

HF: Pickett  McDonald  Spargo

FF: Grundy  Van Rooyen  Fritsch

FOLL: Gawn   Oliver   Viney 

Interchange: Schache  Neal-Bullen  Sparrow  Melksham

Strategic Sub: Jordon

———————————————————————————

2022 GF LINEUP VS LIONS/TIGERS/BLUES

FB: Howes  May  Lever

HB: Salem  Petty  Rivers 

C: Hunter  Petracca  Langdon

HF: Seston  McDonald  Jordon

FF: Gawn  Van Rooyen  Fritsch 

FOLL: Grundy   Oliver   Pickett 

Interchange: Viney  Chandler  Sparrow  Spargo

Strategic Sub: Schache

 

IN: Howes, Seston, Chandler 

OUT: Melksham, Bowey, Neal-Bullen

I think a few a discounting B Brown, terrible year last year but was asked to play a role that he struggled with.  Bring in another tall to do the work further up the ground and get him back closer to goal and he is still capable of kicking 40 plus goals for a season

6 hours ago, drdrake said:

I think a few a discounting B Brown, terrible year last year but was asked to play a role that he struggled with.  Bring in another tall to do the work further up the ground and get him back closer to goal and he is still capable of kicking 40 plus goals for a season

Agree. It's possible we go with just one tall forward, Gawn and Grundy and Fritsch with 4 smalls. If we do that then the one tall will be TMac or Brown, unlikely to be the inexperienced JVR with Gawn/Grundy.

I think we need 2 tall forwards - so 50 games combined from TMac, Brown and JVR, and it's unlikely we'll get 25 from any one of them. I think they each get to play a fair amount of AFL games.

Edited January 25, 20232 yr by old55

57 minutes ago, old55 said:

Agree. It's possible we go with just one tall forward, Gawn and Grundy and Fritsch with 4 smalls. If we do that then the one tall will be TMac or Brown, unlikely to be the inexperienced JVR with Gawn/Grundy.

I think we need 2 tall forwards - so 50 games combined from TMac, Brown and JVR, and it's unlikely we'll get 25 from any one of them. I think they each get to play a fair amount of AFL games.

With the new Sub rule, I think we might start tall, 2 key forwards plus resting ruck, then Fritsch, Kosi, high small forward mid role.

Have a small mid size as your sub

15 hours ago, Nudge said:

Right now.. SCHACHE is the shocker (in the mix for R1 = 💯)

 

I'm gonna do a R1 & what I think (should be do the miraculous) our Flag team would look like in GF for us to have best shot..

 

ROUND 1 VS BULLDOGS 

FB: Rivers  May  Bowey

HB: Salem  Petty  Lever 

C: Hunter  Petracca  Langdon

HF: Pickett  McDonald  Spargo

FF: Grundy  Van Rooyen  Fritsch

FOLL: Gawn   Oliver   Viney 

Interchange: Schache  Neal-Bullen  Sparrow  Melksham

Strategic Sub: Jordon

———————————————————————————

2022 GF LINEUP VS LIONS/TIGERS/BLUES

FB: Howes  May  Lever

HB: Salem  Petty  Rivers 

C: Hunter  Petracca  Langdon

HF: Seston  McDonald  Jordon

FF: Gawn  Van Rooyen  Fritsch 

FOLL: Grundy   Oliver   Pickett 

Interchange: Viney  Chandler  Sparrow  Spargo

Strategic Sub: Schache

 

IN: Howes, Seston, Chandler 

OUT: Melksham, Bowey, Neal-Bullen

No Brayshaw? Must be a great side if Gus cannot make it!

Awfully hard to only pick 23 at this point in time. I’m hoping the AFL change the rules in the next month to increase player numbers from 23 to 30! That would make me happy.

Until then my humble 23 is as follows:

B. Rivers  May  Lever

HB. Brayshaw  Petty  Salem

C. Langdon. Petracca  Hunter

HF. Sparrow  TMac  Jordon

F. Pickett  JVR  Fritsch

R. Gawn  Oliver. Viney

INT. Grundy. Bowey. Hibbert. Schache. Chandler

12 hours ago, drdrake said:

I think a few a discounting B Brown, terrible year last year but was asked to play a role that he struggled with.  Bring in another tall to do the work further up the ground and get him back closer to goal and he is still capable of kicking 40 plus goals for a season

I agree — love the fact we’ve got some tough calls for R1 & if Ben returns to full fitness and 2021 form he will no doubt play 15+ games 

15 hours ago, Nudge said:

Right now.. SCHACHE is the shocker (in the mix for R1 = 💯)

 

I'm gonna do a R1 & what I think (should be do the miraculous) our Flag team would look like in GF for us to have best shot..

 

ROUND 1 VS BULLDOGS 

FB: Lever  May  Bowey

HB: Salem  Petty  Brayshaw 

C: Hunter  Petracca  Langdon

HF: Pickett  McDonald  Spargo

FF: Grundy  Van Rooyen  Fritsch

FOLL: Gawn   Oliver   Viney 

Interchange: Schache  Neal-Bullen  Sparrow  Rivers 

Strategic Sub: Jordon

———————————————————————————

2022 GF LINEUP VS LIONS/TIGERS/BLUES

FB: Howes  May  Lever

HB: Salem  Petty  Rivers 

C: Hunter  Petracca  Langdon

HF: Seston  McDonald  Pickett

FF: Gawn  Van Rooyen  Fritsch 

FOLL: Grundy   Oliver   Brayshaw 

Interchange: Viney  Mcvee  Sparrow  Spargo

Strategic Sub: Schache

 

IN: Howes, Seston, Mcvee

OUT: Melksham, Bowey, Neal-Bullen, Jordon

Brayshaw re-included 🤷🏻‍♂️   

Edited January 25, 20232 yr by Nudge

23 hours ago, jayceebee31 said:

Agree….and he is training  like he really wants it….6 more games to qualify as father/ son with the Dees…..he will really succeed this year IMO.

 

On form he's probably ahead of Spargo.

If Schache plays we are in trouble. Don't let his training form fool you, he's only there to cover Gawn and Grundy if they go down.

I wonder if they will do a chunk with Melksham and get him through the first 6 games to get him to 100 Melbourne games then pick him on form?

Going on training reports my line up is

B: Lever, May, Hibberd

HB: Salem, Petty, Brayshaw

C: Langdon, Petracca, Hunter

HF: Pickett, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen

F: Fritsch, McDonald, Gawn

FOLL: Grundy, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Harmes, Sparrow, Melksham

SUB: Chandler

 

Reserves

B: D.Smith, D.Turner, J.Smith

HB: Rivers, Tomlinson, McVee

C: Howes, Dunstan, Woewodin

HF: Chandler, Schache, Spargo

F: Sestan, Brown, Jefferson

FOLL: Verrall, Jordon, Munro

IC: Laurie, White, K.Turner, Burgoyne

EMERG: Moniz-Wakefield, Farris-White, Adams

 

I always find it hard to select a team for Round 1 from just training reports in January. I will not let this deter me from expressing an opinion. This January there looks to be a healthy list and more than a few players that look likely.

I really like the way that players are being developed and I do recall talk of making sure there is flexibility in the positions players are capable of playing. The coaching staff look to have followed through on that.

BACKS:

The key players look to select themselves to a degree. May, Lever and Petty to my mind are certainties for R1 if fit. As a unit they are, if not the best three-man defensive unit in the league, so damn close to It, it does not matter. Salem is another that I would think is an automatic selection if fit and firing. After that it is horses for courses and who is in form. Bowey, Hibberd and Rivers all could be selected for R1. There is plenty of quality depth and coverage for defence in the key positions as well as the small/medium defenders. Tomlinson sounds like he is super fit and keen and will cover the keys while we know Brayshaw can slot in to the back six if required.

MIDS:

If we look strong and well covered in the backs I think we are in an even better position in the midfield with the established players, the younger experienced players and the newer players coming through. Let’s see….. at the center bounce we have Petracca, Oliver, Viney and Brayshaw that have all been outstanding there and all looking strong at training. Add Sparrow, Harmes and possibly Pickett getting a run in the center or at bounces around the ground and we have good matchday cover and flexibility. Langdon on one wing is a certainty and it looks like Hunter to get first crack at the other. Jordon, Brayshaw (again) and ANB as backup on the wings. If required, I believe ANB could back up a wing and use his running and endurance as a weapon.

RUCKS:

Gawn as starting ruck: no question about it. BUT, What is the plan and does it work? A couple of questions that will only be answered when we are eating the pudding. Given Grundy’s experience and quality I think they will pull the trigger on playing them both in R1. There are so many ways to play the two of them with them either resting forward or back or a bit of bench time with a forward taking throwins in the Forward 50 and one or two of the rucks a kick behind. A lot of options that will have the opposition guessing.

FORWARDS:

Not an understatement to say there were a few problems in this area last season and it is hard to see any locks for the forward 50 besides Fritsch. Pickett is the other one I would lock in if he is to play forward predominately. The rest? Brown, TMac, JVR, Schache, Resting ruck? Key forward selection will depend on training perceived form and match practice. The smaller forwards are just as hard to predict. ANB and Spargo do not seem to kick enough goals but do have other abilities that standout. Anb’s running ability and endurance allows him to track from contest to contest so easily. Where Spargo is a good user of the ball and compliments that with good vision. Both have good cases for inclusion. Chandler looks to have stepped up a bit this pre-season and could make a case for a run in the forwards at the feet of the key forwards. Melksham to step up there as required?

LOCKS:

Backs: May, Lever, Petty, Salem

Mids: Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Langdon

Ruck: Gawn

Forwards: Fritsch, Pickett (?)

NEXT PICKED:

Backs: Two of Bowey, Rivers and Hibberd

Mids: Sparrow,Pickett(?) Harmes, Hunter, Jordon and Dunstan

Ruck: Grundy – dependent upon game plan

Forwards: two of Brown, TMac and JVR. Two of Spargo, ANB, Melksham and Chandler.

R1 OUTSIDER PICKS:

Backs: Tomlinson, Turner, J Smith, D Smith

Mids: Woewodin, Howes(wing)

Forward: Schache, Laurie.

January Guess for R1

Backs: Lever, May, Rivers

HB: Salem, Petty, Bowey

Mid: Langdon, Petracca, Hunter

HF: Pickett, JVR, Harmes

F: Fritsch, TMac, Spargo

FOL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

Inter: Brayshaw, Harmes, Jordon, ANB, Grundy

18 hours ago, CHF said:

I always find it hard to select a team for Round 1 from just training reports in January. I will not let this deter me from expressing an opinion. This January there looks to be a healthy list and more than a few players that look likely.

I really like the way that players are being developed and I do recall talk of making sure there is flexibility in the positions players are capable of playing. The coaching staff look to have followed through on that.

BACKS:

The key players look to select themselves to a degree. May, Lever and Petty to my mind are certainties for R1 if fit. As a unit they are, if not the best three-man defensive unit in the league, so damn close to It, it does not matter. Salem is another that I would think is an automatic selection if fit and firing. After that it is horses for courses and who is in form. Bowey, Hibberd and Rivers all could be selected for R1. There is plenty of quality depth and coverage for defence in the key positions as well as the small/medium defenders. Tomlinson sounds like he is super fit and keen and will cover the keys while we know Brayshaw can slot in to the back six if required.

MIDS:

If we look strong and well covered in the backs I think we are in an even better position in the midfield with the established players, the younger experienced players and the newer players coming through. Let’s see….. at the center bounce we have Petracca, Oliver, Viney and Brayshaw that have all been outstanding there and all looking strong at training. Add Sparrow, Harmes and possibly Pickett getting a run in the center or at bounces around the ground and we have good matchday cover and flexibility. Langdon on one wing is a certainty and it looks like Hunter to get first crack at the other. Jordon, Brayshaw (again) and ANB as backup on the wings. If required, I believe ANB could back up a wing and use his running and endurance as a weapon.

RUCKS:

Gawn as starting ruck: no question about it. BUT, What is the plan and does it work? A couple of questions that will only be answered when we are eating the pudding. Given Grundy’s experience and quality I think they will pull the trigger on playing them both in R1. There are so many ways to play the two of them with them either resting forward or back or a bit of bench time with a forward taking throwins in the Forward 50 and one or two of the rucks a kick behind. A lot of options that will have the opposition guessing.

FORWARDS:

Not an understatement to say there were a few problems in this area last season and it is hard to see any locks for the forward 50 besides Fritsch. Pickett is the other one I would lock in if he is to play forward predominately. The rest? Brown, TMac, JVR, Schache, Resting ruck? Key forward selection will depend on training perceived form and match practice. The smaller forwards are just as hard to predict. ANB and Spargo do not seem to kick enough goals but do have other abilities that standout. Anb’s running ability and endurance allows him to track from contest to contest so easily. Where Spargo is a good user of the ball and compliments that with good vision. Both have good cases for inclusion. Chandler looks to have stepped up a bit this pre-season and could make a case for a run in the forwards at the feet of the key forwards. Melksham to step up there as required?

LOCKS:

Backs: May, Lever, Petty, Salem

Mids: Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Langdon

Ruck: Gawn

Forwards: Fritsch, Pickett (?)

NEXT PICKED:

Backs: Two of Bowey, Rivers and Hibberd

Mids: Sparrow,Pickett(?) Harmes, Hunter, Jordon and Dunstan

Ruck: Grundy – dependent upon game plan

Forwards: two of Brown, TMac and JVR. Two of Spargo, ANB, Melksham and Chandler.

R1 OUTSIDER PICKS:

Backs: Tomlinson, Turner, J Smith, D Smith

Mids: Woewodin, Howes(wing)

Forward: Schache, Laurie.

January Guess for R1

Backs: Lever, May, Rivers

HB: Salem, Petty, Bowey

Mid: Langdon, Petracca, Hunter

HF: Pickett, JVR, Harmes

F: Fritsch, TMac, Spargo

FOL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

Inter: Brayshaw, Harmes, Jordon, ANB, Grundy

You've named Harmes twice.

39 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

You've named Harmes twice.

What's wrong with that? It just confuses not only us but the opposition...

On 1/18/2023 at 6:11 PM, Slartibartfast said:

It's hard to judge Sparrow because he plays high half forward in rotation with Kossie, ANB and Spargo and a bit of time on the ball.  It's not like he's a full time mid and so his figures are hard to judge.  He's also in the midfield with some pretty handy players and is most likely sacrificing his game (ball getting) for them.

This, I went on a bit about this during last season when a few on here were saying Sparrow didn't do enough. At times he had as little as 35mins on the ground for the whole game and his numbers reflected that. The other player who was in the same boat was Harmes. It will be interesting to see if the same occurs this season. A better indication of player performance might be Supercoach points per minute of game time.

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

You've named Harmes twice.

True...... Drop one of the Harmes and add Sparrow

On 1/15/2023 at 6:36 PM, Bombay Airconditioning said:

The off season additions of Grundy and Hunter undoubtedly make us a better side, we are stronger than when we won the flag in 2021. Most on here agree with how the majority of the side will line up, the fwd line is where the majority of us disagree. If you had Fritsch and Pickett as the only locks, you could have any other other combination of fwds (not counting Petracca or Gawn/Grundy resting fwd) and easily account for 12-13 other sides due to our strength in all all other areas across the ground. Inside 50’s have never been an issue for us, being predictable and our delivery hurt us last year. In addition we have too many fwds that don’t impact the scoreboard. People are quick to point out act pressure acts, two way running but we need our fwds also hitting the scoreboard.

Im not sold on Jordan personally, Spargo out for Chandler and BB out for JVR. Hibberd late start?

Rivers May Lever

Salem Petty Bowey

Langdon Oliver Hunter

Chandler TMac ANB

Fritsch  JVR Pickett

 Grundy Petracca Oliver

Gawn Brayshaw Sparrow Harmes Melksham

 

Having only had a cursory look at the rest of this thread, has anyone mentioned Oliver being named in your side twice (I wish)?

My thoughts are that for us to continue to improve we need Rivers, Bowey, Sparrow and Jordon, to take the next step in their evolution as AFL players and Chandler, JVR, Turner, Howes, Laurie and Woewodin to step up to AFL level. This along with the excellent recruitment of Grundy, Hunter and Schache will provide the necessary refresh to the team to keep us in the hunt for No.14.!!!

On 1/19/2023 at 1:07 PM, Colm said:

Yeah I agree with you AF locking down the best small forwards might be our Achilles heel this year. Hibberd did a lot better last year than I thought he would given his injury troubles early in the season. 
Cameron did get the better of him in the finals but overall he was superb. 
But he’s a year older now and has dodgy calves. 
Hunt sometimes played the role but he’s gone. Really we still haven’t replaced Jetta. 
We will need someone to step up this year to fill this role. 

Replaced Jetta??? I thought Bowey did that in 2021

13 hours ago, dworship said:

Having only had a cursory look at the rest of this thread, has anyone mentioned Oliver being named in your side twice (I wish)?

Viney….🤦🏼‍♂️

5 hours ago, picket fence said:

Replaced Jetta??? I thought Bowey did that in 2021

He may have slotted into the backline but he’s hardly playing the same role. Locking down the best small forwards in the game. 

Can't really select a team but would like to see less of ANB and Harmes. While I think they can both do some good things, I reckon most of my frustration comes from either of those 2, but who would you replace them with!?

Edited January 31, 20232 yr by AzzKikA

From the  Zerohanger website 

Melbourne

FB: Trent Rivers, Steven May, Harrison Petty

HB: Angus Brayshaw, Jake Lever, Christian Salem

C: Ed Langdon, Jack Viney, Lachie Hunter

HF: Kysaiah Pickett, Tom McDonald, Charlie Spargo

FF: Brodie Grundy, Jacob Van Rooyen, Bayley Fritsch

FOL: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca

I/C: Tom Sparrow, James Harmes, Alex Neal-Bullen, James Jordon

SUB: Jake Bowey

Pretty good team and looks a consistent theme.  Probably only Bowey for Jordon potentially.  
 

JVR should debut. 
 

Salem availability might be a query. 

32 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

From the  Zerohanger website 

Melbourne

FB: Trent Rivers, Steven May, Harrison Petty

HB: Angus Brayshaw, Jake Lever, Christian Salem

C: Ed Langdon, Jack Viney, Lachie Hunter

HF: Kysaiah Pickett, Tom McDonald, Charlie Spargo

FF: Brodie Grundy, Jacob Van Rooyen, Bayley Fritsch

FOL: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca

I/C: Tom Sparrow, James Harmes, Alex Neal-Bullen, James Jordon

SUB: Jake Bowey

Pretty good team and looks a consistent theme.  Probably only Bowey for Jordon potentially.  
 

JVR should debut. 
 

Salem availability might be a query. 

I'd say Bowey will start in Salem's place.

I've got a feeling Melksham will be the sub a lot of this year given his versatility.

Plus it's an easy way to get him to 100 games for future father son options!

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

From the  Zerohanger website 

Melbourne

FB: Trent Rivers, Steven May, Harrison Petty

HB: Angus Brayshaw, Jake Lever, Christian Salem

C: Ed Langdon, Jack Viney, Lachie Hunter

HF: Kysaiah Pickett, Tom McDonald, Charlie Spargo

FF: Brodie Grundy, Jacob Van Rooyen, Bayley Fritsch

FOL: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca

I/C: Tom Sparrow, James Harmes, Alex Neal-Bullen, James Jordon

SUB: Jake Bowey

Pretty good team and looks a consistent theme.  Probably only Bowey for Jordon potentially.  
 

JVR should debut. 
 

Salem availability might be a query. 

Very good side. Brown and Hibberd stiff but they don’t all fit.

We’ll likely get a better idea after the first practice match but here’s how I think we’re looking for round 1 based on the pre-season so far;

B: Petty, May, Rivers

HB: Brayshaw, Lever, Bowey

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: Neal-Bullen, McDonald, Fritsch

F: Pickett, Brown, Spargo

R: Gawn, Petracca, Viney

I: Grundy, Sparrow, Chandler, McVee

Sub: Harmes

E: Jordon, Hibberd, JVR, D Turner

Injured: Salem