PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Sydney

[bing181 8,164]

Don't think they'll make more than 3 changes unless forced (injury), Goodwin and co. have always favoured continuity and consistency. May for Thommo plus someone for Max would be 2. Then it's perhaps a tossup between JJ for Harmes and Hibberd for McVie.

Tom Mac has indeed been underwhelming, but Max out perhaps throws him a lifeline, at least for a bit. Not the week to be dropping a tall who can pinch-hit.

[WERRIDEE 5,209]

59 minutes ago, ANG13 said:

If I was a betting person I would be loading up on Sydney at their odds and history of beating us. I would also take Luke Parker for best on ground. 

Gulden to be best on ground. If I wasn't a Melbourne man I'd be tipping Sydney not confident at all without Gawn and Kossie. Need a big lift from and I think it will happen from Clarry disposal disgraceful last week, Trac couldn't get into the game and Viney was terrible. Petty needs to lift too I think he will with his mate May back in the side.

[WERRIDEE 5,209]

6 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Don't think they'll make more than 3 changes unless forced (injury), Goodwin and co. have always favoured continuity and consistency. May for Thommo plus someone for Max would be 2. Then it's perhaps a tossup between JJ for Harmes and Hibberd for McVie.

Tom Mac has indeed been underwhelming, but Max out perhaps throws him a lifeline, at least for a bit. Not the week to be dropping a tall who can pinch-hit.

I have a sneaky suspicion Laurie is in front of JJ. Hibberd for Harmes I think and Brayshaw in the middle.

[At the break of Gawn 3,486]

I know most of the focus is on team changes at the moment, but I can’t stop thinking about how important this game is. I truly believe this game will determine how well we’ll go this year. No Gawn (and Kozzy) against a team that has had the wood over us who are also in terrific form. We can’t just tread water and hopefully win some games while we wait for Gawn to come back. We had a terrible record against top 4/8 teams last year. Here’s a golden opportunity to prove that we’re going to be a genuine contender this season.

[radar 1,848]

Not keen on JVR potentially rucking. 
Terry Smith forced to in his first game from memory. 
Not sure it helped his career. 

[Left Foot Snap 1,875]

7 minutes ago, radar said:

Not keen on JVR potentially rucking. 
Terry Smith forced to in his first game from memory. 
Not sure it helped his career. 

Do you mean Nick Smith (426)?

[dee-tox 4,798]

6 hours ago, chook fowler said:

Hunt would have been handy this season.

Not sure when when you are down 32 clearances for the game, a defender with ordinary disposal is going to help you.

 

[David-Demon 484]

7 hours ago, bing181 said:

Don't think they'll make more than 3 changes unless forced (injury), Goodwin and co. have always favoured continuity and consistency. May for Thommo plus someone for Max would be 2. Then it's perhaps a tossup between JJ for Harmes and Hibberd for McVie.

Tom Mac has indeed been underwhelming, but Max out perhaps throws him a lifeline, at least for a bit. Not the week to be dropping a tall who can pinch-hit.

One change:  Gawn out - Srawbs in...

[Brownie 5,171]

There's been a lot of focus on Gawn's injury but watching TMac at the game on Friday.

He looked so slow and proppy.

Can we afford to rest him?

Can we afford to risk playing him?

I'm not confident at all that he's anywhere near fit. I wonder if he's going to come good at all this season.

He's pretty vital to our campaign as well

[brendan 3,380]

Mind boggling that Sydney are $2.20 that’s just free money 

[layzie 28,698]

If T-Mac is healthy keep him in. 

[Dee Zephyr 17,426]

Football is a funny game and it certainly plays tricks with your brain. Only a week ago most were predicting a comprehensive win against the Lions on their turf. Now, a few days after a poor display people by our high standards and the loss of the skip people are salivating at Sydney's odds. I'm expecting a big response.

[dazzledavey36 48,708]

1 minute ago, layzie said:

If T-Mac is healthy keep him in. 

But he's not though..

[layzie 28,698]

9 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

But he's not though..

Didn't get to pay close attention to him on Fri, is it the off the mark movements that he's restricted in or did he not cover his usual territory as well? Or both?

Edited March 26, 2023 by layzie

[leave it to deever 15,317]

Not sure after Weid leaving we didn't find another big fwd as insurance.  We seem top heavy with mids for some reason.  Given Tmacs age and foot issues and Bbbs end of year dip in form, it may have been prudent to find an experienced chf. Maybe nobody was available. 

[leave it to deever 15,317]

15 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

I'm expecting a big response

Hope so. It won't be easy against a cracker of a team like Swans. A win by us will be huge. Hopefully many of us get to the game. I know Trac and Oliver will lift. 

[Wodjathefirst 2,273]

1 hour ago, Brownie said:

There's been a lot of focus on Gawn's injury but watching TMac at the game on Friday.

He looked so slow and proppy.

Can we afford to rest him?

Can we afford to risk playing him?

I'm not confident at all that he's anywhere near fit. I wonder if he's going to come good at all this season.

He's pretty vital to our campaign as well

I am concerned also. The only upside being that if he doesn’t come up, we have JVR as a potential back up.

We must get more proactive in taking controlled risk and utilise our depth.  Three guarantees in life-  taxes, death and footy injuries.  Blood and give our depth some experience now…. will most likely need them later on in the season and in the finals campaign.

Edited March 26, 2023 by Wodjathefirst

[dazzledavey36 48,708]

3 minutes ago, layzie said:

Didn't get to pay close attention to him on Fri, is it the off the mark movements that he's restricted in or did he not cover his usual territory as well? Or both?

Both. 

He looked like he had concrete boots on and struggle to get up the ground and be that leading CHF that we know him to be. 

I'm a tmac fan but unfortunately he looked absolutely cooked. Some had concerns with him round 1 against the doggies where as i didnt, but after Friday night I'm certainly concerned with his form and body moving forward.

[picket fence 15,103]

10 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

I have a sneaky suspicion Laurie is in front of JJ. Hibberd for Harmes I think and Brayshaw in the middle.

Laurie was hugely underwhelming in his first game and needs a bank of good form at Casey before being considered for a call up!

[DubDee 20,552]

Round 2 just done and we are already considering Schache coming in??

tell me it ain’t so?!? 

he is a poor fwd, an average back and not a ruckman whatsoever 

[Deeko2 698]

31 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Not sure after Weid leaving we didn't find another big fwd as insurance.  We seem top heavy with mids for some reason.  Given Tmacs age and foot issues and Bbbs end of year dip in form, it may have been prudent to find an experienced chf. Maybe nobody was available. 

I'm fairly certain we didn't with the view to one of Max/Grundy would be lurking deep forward to release TMac/BBB (or both) higher up.

We also picked up Schache who is fairly similar to the Weid and would be expecting JVR to play at a minimum a handful of matches this year.

In my opinion, a C-grade forward is hardly worth burning cash on (admittedly it wouldn't be much anyways)

[Deeko2 698]

15 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Laurie was hugely underwhelming in his first game and needs a bank of good form at Casey before being considered for a call up!

Agree completely.  I'm hopeful young Bill will come on and forge a decent career with us but he's clearly behind JJ who has at least show he can have an impact in the ones.

I'm happy however young Bill got a bit of a taste so he's aware of the difference and where he needs to be at.  

He looked very good in the twos on the weekend.  Hopefully he can maintain the rage and continually destroy it at that level.

[poita 3,573]

I would have played Schache if fit, has to be Van Rooyen now for Gawn. Hopefully Grundy can ruck 80% of the game, but I'm sure Ladhams will be testing out the ribs early on.

May (if fit) for Petty. I'd be thinking hard about Tomlinson to do some rucking as well, as McDonald has been ineffective in the role. I also don't think its helping Tom's work in the forward line.

Hibberd has to come in to take one of the mid-sized forwards. I like the idea of playing a lockdown small defender like McVee, but not sure if he is doing enough at present. Maybe McVee stays and Harmes misses out.

Melksham can head back to Casey, and we need someone with more versatility in the sub role. Maybe Smith, although he's just as likely to injure himself in the warm up, or even Howes.

Langdon on very, very thin ice.

[whatwhat say what 18,902]

14 minutes ago, poita said:

Melksham can head back to Casey, and we need someone with more versatility in the sub role. Maybe Smith, although he's just as likely to injure himself in the warm up, or even Howes.

if we ever 'debut' a player as a sub i will be very, very disappointed in the club

hate it when others do that 

[Demon Dynasty 15,386]

12 hours ago, bing181 said:

Don't think they'll make more than 3 changes unless forced (injury), Goodwin and co. have always favoured continuity and consistency. May for Thommo plus someone for Max would be 2. Then it's perhaps a tossup between JJ for Harmes and Hibberd for McVie.

Tom Mac has indeed been underwhelming, but Max out perhaps throws him a lifeline, at least for a bit. Not the week to be dropping a tall who can pinch-hit.

Seems a bit nonsensical in the sense that if you have players badly out of form and or better ones coming back.... plus you need an in or two for match ups.  In some cases, where necessary, you just have to make the odd sweeping changes (eg, 4 or more). 

Even if it meant say 6 changes eg; 2 for match ups, 1 for injury and 2 based on form and you have quality / in form players coming in (pretty rare for sure but you never know).... why not!?

Edited March 26, 2023 by Demon Dynasty