PREGAME: Rd 04 vs West Coast

[DistrACTION Jackson 8,283]

People calling for Howes in, I enjoyed his game and nice to see him get touches but I would be surprised to see him picked atm. He got a lot of easy possessions across half back and I think still needs to build up his body and improve his contested game to be selected.

 

[Deeko2 778]

9 hours ago, rpfc said:

As an aside, I am a simp for Melksham but how good is the ability to bring him in for Brown and upend what we throw Sydney. It seemed to really make the McCartins uneasy.

 

8 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

Melksham really is the perfect sub at this point in his career.

Great decoy forward, defensive forward or pure forward.

I agree with all of this.  He can go into the midfield and pinch hit for a stoppage or 3 plus he is dangerous as a high half forward with his elite kicking.  Also, some of the defensive jobs he has completed on interceptors like Sicily & Stewart in the past has been solid and I think the sub role wouldn't frustrate him as much as a young kid as he's probably aware where his career is at and is just happy getting any match time.

He's now played 97 matches for the club as well and hoping he gets in another 3 to raise the bat.  The sub role is really carrying them towards this and that's fine with me.

Pretty sure he has a few kids so this can't hurt to improve our future father sons/daughters.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,653]

49 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

I think we will see Howes over the next month.  

Kozzie in for JJ is a no brainer and if BB is injured then T Mac or Schache will come in. 

Can anybody confirm how Sestan has been going for Casey? 

Not so sure I agree. Langdon and Hunter played their best games as a combination of wingmen in our last game. Was that because Jordon gave each of them a chop out? And he also played on ball and drifted forward. I'm not convinced Jordon will be the one who misses out. If it's a small forward who gives way for Pickett, it's out of Spargo and Chandler, neither of whom deserve to miss. If it's a midfielder, I would have thought Sparrow was at greater risk of losing his spot than Jordon. Either way, whoever misses out is very, very unlucky.

[heath55 63]

11 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

He was ordinary. He's been ordinary all year even in the practice games.

i honestly have no idea what you’ve been watching? He’s the third leading defender who took the best forwards whilst may was out - in other words, he played a different role and did it well. He then played the forward defensive role and look how efficient we were going forward….that isn’t by chance

[picket fence 16,702]

1 hour ago, MadAsHell said:

Don't recall saying I wanted to drop him. In fact I seem to remember saying he would be really stiff.

Spots are at a premium and it's one of him, Nibbler or Spargo to make way as the most like for likes. Whoever loses their spot is stiff.

Ok happy to retract .PF

[WalkingCivilWar 39,264]

2 hours ago, deejammin' said:

I agree that Harrison Petty looked very good in his short stint in the ruck, he had a huge leap and his follow up work and tackling was good. Tom Petty I see more as a freefallin’ heartbreaker.

… who don’t come around here no more. 

[WalkingCivilWar 39,264]

8 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Percentage gains on the horizon! We could find such boosters very useful on top of the four points and it could last for quite a few weeks. 

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. This kind of talk ⬆️ makes me nervous. And I’m already nervous enough on GameDay. Every. Single. Week. Even the bye week.

TIA! 😘

[leave it to deever 17,485]

30 minutes ago, Action Jackson said:

People calling for Howes in, I enjoyed his game and nice to see him get touches but I would be surprised to see him picked atm. He got a lot of easy possessions across half back and I think still needs to build up his body and improve his contested game to be selected.

 

Even with all our injuries, this is a tough team to break into. The club has recruited brilliantly. Kozzie will come back and maybe Sparrow will have to be dropped. If Bbb is out, Tmac will be included.

[Ethan Tremblay 30,120]

3 hours ago, Action Jackson said:

Happy to offer my members barcode if that helps ET

Oh man that would be amazing! 🙏 

[adonski 10,901]

1 hour ago, Demons11 said:

I think we will see Howes over the next month.  

Kozzie in for JJ is a no brainer and if BB is injured then T Mac or Schache will come in. 

Can anybody confirm how Sestan has been going for Casey? 

JJ could have 50 touches and Demonland would still have him dropped before 10 touch per game Sparrow

One of the great Demonland conspiracies!

[Orion 332]

6 hours ago, layzie said:

If Chandler gets dropped I'll go troppo.

No way he's being dropped.  He ranks in the top three for Melbourne for goals, goal assists, score involvements and tackles inside fifty

[Sir Why You Little 36,670]

11 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

He was pantsed by Ryan. He would have been pantsed by Naughton if he kicked straight. He got pantsed by the worst footballer in the league Daniher. He was ordinary up forward didn't do any better than what McDonald would have done. He's been our worst performer by a mile this year. Tomlinson's form has been better and he's in the reserves.

Max is out for 6 weeks. Petty is needed. It’s that simple 

[Deemania since 56 6,562]

50 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. This kind of talk ⬆️ makes me nervous. And I’m already nervous enough on GameDay. Every. Single. Week. Even the bye week.

TIA! 😘

I think we all are nervous on game day. By thinking positively of success, I can justify optimism to some extent and thus, reduce the stress of those realities I have been attempting to ignore. It also provides a deeper analysis when the game is finally on - soon after the first bounce - making me appreciate what our players are attempting to do under all circumstances and processes. However, each to their own, I guess; we all have mechanisms unique to our own psyche.

[In Harmes Way 7,712]

2 hours ago, Deebauched said:

Goodwin said during his presser that if you play well, you play next week. Chandler, Jordan McVee and VDR will continue in the seniors as long as they play well.

I would be shocked if Brown doesnt play if fully fit. Hes in really good form. Rest him?  WTF.  The flight is to Perth not Greenland. ffs

Who is VDR? Darth Vader?

[Demonstone 21,849]

 

10 minutes ago, In Harmes Way said:

Who is VDR?

Well, der.  Vacob dan Rooyen, of course. 

I want to know who this Jordan McVee guy is.

[jnrmac 19,905]

2 hours ago, BigFez said:

Chandler going far too well to be dropped. 

Anyone suggesting Chin should be dropped has seriously no idea about football

[adonski 10,901]

I was sceptical about Chandler but he's been awesome to start the season. No way he'll get dropped. 

Edited April 4, 2023 by adonski

[Slartibartfast 16,900]

2 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

I have seen about half of the Casey game (first and last quarters).

Howes looks a beautiful mover and has some star AFL traits. But he is not fit enough for AFL and does not give enough second efforts. When he hits the ground he takes too long to get up and he also needs to be more desperate in the contest. He looks like a young Jack Watts but he shows potential to become a star player like Hird, Josh Kelly or Gunston.

Sestan looks nowhere near AFL fit IMO and is a 2024/25 prospect (if he makes it). He will have to really want it because he does not have a body ideally suited to AFL. He will have to become as good a runner as Petracca or Kossie (at least) and he's a way off, noting that ANB, Spargo and Chandler look to be better endurance runners than those two.

AMW was a player who looks to have improved and looks one to watch. He plays with AFL intensity.

I've watched it all and agree with all you've said other than about Sestan.  He has a terrific body shape for AFL.  Short legs, very low centre of gravity will make him very hard to move off the ball.  He's a beautiful kick, some at the Club think he's the best there.  His body shape is like Peter Daicos and Wayne Carey, they went all right.

His fitness is the issue but if he wants to become a very good AFL footballer I think he will.  I love a smokie and he's one!

[jnrmac 19,905]

4 minutes ago, Slartibartfast said:

I've watched it all and agree with all you've said other than about Sestan.  He has a terrific body shape for AFL.  Short legs, very low centre of gravity will make him very hard to move off the ball.  He's a beautiful kick, some at the Club think he's the best there.  His body shape is like Peter Daicos and Wayne Carey, they went all right.

His fitness is the issue but if he wants to become a very good AFL footballer I think he will.  I love a smokie and he's one!

Daicos like....

[DeeSpencer 24,792]

Melksham for Brown. We can’t overload Grundy, Petty and JVR’s plates, a third taller forward option to do some bullocking is required. Whilst I don’t love the idea of a full Melk game I didn’t see enough from T Mc at Casey.

Who makes way for Pickett:

Chandler - no, he’s doing his job as the specialist small
Spargo - unlikely, he’s still the connector 
JJ - makes sense as last in, first out, but he was excellent against Sydney and I think it’s vital to get him some momentum in the side in a new role
Sparrow - probably the most logical choice but he’s a super hard worker and bursting with potential. I really think he’ll break a game open soon 

So from a process of elimination I’d give ANB a potential rest as sub purely to give others an opportunity. He’d be straight back in next week regardless.

[mo64 5,504]

2 hours ago, Demonstone said:

With Kozzy playing more as a midfielder this year, replacing a small forward isn't really like for like.

Kozzy's and Harmes' midfield minutes were eaten up by JJ this week, and there's no way in hell he should be dropped. Same goes for Sparrow, who was big when the game was in the balance.

Goody made special mention of Chandler in his presser when questioned about JVR. Wouldn't be surprised if Goody gave him 1 vote in the Coaches Award.

As for the role players, I think ANB is close to his 2021 form, and has been solid in every game. Personally, I think Spargo goes missing when the opposition get on a role. The Chandler goal was huge in changing the Swans momentum, and is another impact small forward that we needed.

Assuming there are no injuries: In: Kozzy Out: Spargo

 

[Fat Tony 5,090]

3 minutes ago, Slartibartfast said:

I've watched it all and agree with all you've said other than about Sestan.  He has a terrific body shape for AFL.  Short legs, very low centre of gravity will make him very hard to move off the ball.  He's a beautiful kick, some at the Club think he's the best there.  His body shape is like Peter Daicos and Wayne Carey, they went all right.

His fitness is the issue but if he wants to become a very good AFL footballer I think he will.  I love a smokie and he's one!

A low centre of gravity is an advantage when the ball is in close, but the game has evolved into far more of a running game since Peter Daicos and Carey. Heavy set players like Petracca and Martin are the absolute top of the tree, but having that elite power and also being able to cover 10-12km in a game is very unusual.

I see Sestan as a prospect a bit like Darcy Fogarty for the Crows, who is in his sixth year and finally looking like he could break out and star at AFL level. It took Fogarty five pre-seasons before he was an accretive AFL player, so I think we need to keep our expectations in check for a while.

[dazzledavey36 52,908]

11 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Melksham for Brown. We can’t overload Grundy, Petty and JVR’s plates, a third taller forward option to do some bullocking is required. Whilst I don’t love the idea of a full Melk game I didn’t see enough from T Mc at Casey.

Who makes way for Pickett:

Chandler - no, he’s doing his job as the specialist small
Spargo - unlikely, he’s still the connector 
JJ - makes sense as last in, first out, but he was excellent against Sydney and I think it’s vital to get him some momentum in the side in a new role
Sparrow - probably the most logical choice but he’s a super hard worker and bursting with potential. I really think he’ll break a game open soon 

So from a process of elimination I’d give ANB a potential rest as sub purely to give others an opportunity. He’d be straight back in next week regardless.

Rest?

It's round 4 mate and he's one of the fittest guys on our list and also best starting 18. We're not resting blokes purely for the sake of needing a rest just to open a spot up.

Not only that it's the reason why our forwards have functioned so well this year because it's the likes of ANB who is able to get up the ground and create the space behind, but also provide an extra link up option from mid to half forward

With McGovern out this week I'm fairly sure Petty, Fritsch and JVR can easily kick a winning score.

Out: Brown

In: Pickett.

[hemingway 7,615]

2 hours ago, BigFez said:

Chandler going far too well to be dropped. 

Great info mate. 
As previously mentioned, Chandlers form says a lot for his development and the wisdom of holding him back. It also says a lot for Chandler, a boy from South Aus who could have become impatient waiting for an opportunity in this star studded team. Says a lot for his loyalty, commitment and understanding of his development path. He could have easily put out the feelers to the SA clubs but there was a complete absence of speculation. He clearly wanted to stay with the Dees and the coaches clearly wanted to keep him. Now we see why. Love his story of perseverance and hard work. And loyalty. 

[DeeSpencer 24,792]

6 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Rest?

It's round 4 mate and he's one of the fittest guys on our list and also best starting 18. We're not resting blokes purely for the sake of needing a rest just to open a spot up.

Not only that it's the reason why our forwards have functioned so well this year because it's the likes of ANB who is able to get up the ground and create the space behind, but also provide an extra link up option from mid to half forward

With McGovern out this week I'm fairly sure Petty, Fritsch and JVR can easily kick a winning score.

Out: Brown

In: Pickett.

I haven’t been following the Eagles injuries closely but tall defenders is their deepest group, we shouldn’t entirely underestimate who they bring in. And given BBB is hopefully back in a week as well as JVR and Petty have 1 games experience I’d stick with the structure.

Of course no one healthy should need a rest, but it’s a marathon season with a short break and travel next week. Someone has to miss out if we keep the same 3 tall structure and if they aren’t dropped they are ‘rested’. Sparrow, JJ, Pickett, Chandler, Spargo are all fit enough to be up and back runners. Of course there’s no good options here.

If we do go small the one thing I’d be interested in would be playing Tracc heavily forward, including deep forward. I’d love to get his goal kicking going.