So, looks like we will be playing the Casualty Ward next week in, what will be for us, a no win game. We take the 4 points and it is against a team that had no chance because of injury. We lose to them...... well we will get beaten up by the media and our supporters. Worst of both worlds is if we win but just scrape home.

Ah well....... whatever happens, happens.

The most interesting thing for me this week will be what happens over the cheese boards at selection. We have a couple of injury niggles that might mean a week or so rest could be in order for Brown and Hibberd. I would err on the side of caution for both of them. Rest them and let them sort out their problems without a couple of flights and a game in between. I believe we have enough depth and flexibility to cover them in this game.

Possible team:

B: Lever, May, Rivers

HB: Bowey, Brayshaw, McVee

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: ANB, Petty, Spargo

F: Chandler, JVR, Fristch

Fol: Grundy, Petracca, Viney

IC: Jordon, Sparrow, Pickett, Tomlinson

SUB: Melksham

Defence is pretty much [censored] is was last week except Hibberd to be rested to fix his injury. Tomlinson on the bench as defensive cover. Petty to stay forward except in case of emergency. Having made the switch give him a proper run there to see what he can do. I like his mongrel. 

Mids to do what they did last week. Beside the ones named in the center in the above side, Rivers, Brayshaw, ANB, Jordon, Sparrow and Pickett can all rotate through there.

Petty, JVR and Tomlinson can all fill in the ruck role when required.

Forwards have a couple of talls with Petty and JVR, a third tall in Fristch and a bunch of capable smalls to feed of them.

I can see us leading by 4 or 5 goals at 3/4 time and them easing away with better fitness and skills in the last to double the lead.

 

Go Dees!

 

17 hours ago, JimmyGadson said:

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

Great decoy forward, defensive forward or pure forward.

So dangerous when the game opens up and some of the heat is out.

Just looking, again, at the replay.

NO WAY #41 McVee gets dropped as someone suggested.

IF BBB has any back issues we would be insane to fly him to Perth and back.  And Hibberd with an "Achilles issue" probably shouldn't be risked.

So Kozzie in, and maybe a tall (Tomlinson or Disco - didn't see her he went at Casey) or even Scathe as the sub or Howes if he is really ready.

 

Edited April 4, 20232 yr by monoccular

This is gonna be a slaughter 

On 4/2/2023 at 9:59 PM, Big Col said:

And if Harmes is available, what do we do with him?
 

Casey

3 minutes ago, MrFreeze said:

This is gonna should  be a slaughter 

Absolutely 100% NO EXCUSES this time 

Edited April 4, 20232 yr by monoccular

On 4/2/2023 at 8:22 PM, DubDee said:

why would anyone give AF if he gets to 100? he already got to 200 games 

100 for us…already played over 100 for Essendon .

If no other injuries - Pickett for Hibberd or Bowey.

Edited April 4, 20232 yr by jayceebee31

Is Schache a possible selection if BBB needs a rest and TMac needs an extra run at VFL level? TMac hasn’t played for 9 months prior to his two games this year and looked rusty and not up to speed. 

25 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Absolutely 100% NO EXCUSES this time 

We beat them by 74 points last time.   

@Demonland Can we have a poll for the margin where the tipping point for satisfaction is?

42+ points: satisfied

30-42:  somewhat deflated...

18-30: not hungry enough for percentage...

1-18:  not a top 4 team.

Edited April 4, 20232 yr by Engorged Onion

They interviewed the rising star nom from West Coast earlier on 360 and they showed some footage from Eagles’ training today. It fair dinkum looked like they only had 12 players at training. 

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Yes but it also said that other than the infection he was TBC. Given that his broken bone was protruding through his skin that's a quick mend

TBC in that context does not mean "to be considered this week" - that's "test".  It means "return date to be considered". Have a look at the other players with that description. It's synonymous with TBA - dumb I know. Howe is many weeks away.

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

Just looking, again, at the replay.

NO WAY #41 McVee gets dropped as someone suggested.

IF BBB has any back issues we would be insane to fly him to Perth and back.  And Hibberd with an "Achilles issue" probably shouldn't be risked.

So Kozzie in, and maybe a tall (Tomlinson or Disco - didn't see her he went at Casey) or even Scathe as the sub or Howes if he is really ready.

 

More than likely Tomo for Hibb (if injured) imv if Tomo's Casey (and recent AFL) form is anything to go by.

4 minutes ago, old55 said:

TBC in that context does not mean "to be considered this week" - that's "test".  It means "return date to be considered". Have a look at the other players with that description. It's synonymous with TBA - dumb I know. Howe is many weeks away.

Exactly right. You don’t tear through skin with multiple broken bones and then run out on a footy field 3 weeks later. 
If he plays half a season it would be some sort of literal miracle. That he has an infection now would further push back his fitness base too, as he wouldn’t be allowed to break a sweat. 
 

Woewodin with a fractured finger has a 6-8 weeks timeframe. A finger. Not an entire arm. 

1 hour ago, Demonsterative said:

Is Schache a possible selection if BBB needs a rest and TMac needs an extra run at VFL level? TMac hasn’t played for 9 months prior to his two games this year and looked rusty and not up to speed. 

I doubt they'd promote Scache for an AFL game straight after concussion without a stint in the Mcgoos to let him find his feet again but stranger things have happened.

This is a real oppprtunity to put the foot on the throat of the Eagles.

Goody will need to enforce the no mercy rule though to avoid it becoming a casual slack fumbly shiiiitfest where the boys only do 'just enough' and we only win by 2 or 3 goals

Probably mentioned already somewhere.

Average winning margin for us at Optus. 
Last 5 games - 57.2

Last 4 games - 69.2

8 hours 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.

looks like BBB, Hibbo  and Lever have some issues as well. I feel that our strength is in our backup Casey players and I would not risk these guys if not fully fit.  

38 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

This is a real oppprtunity to put the foot on the throat of the Eagles.

Goody will need to enforce the no mercy rule though to avoid it becoming a casual slack fumbly shiiiitfest where the boys only do 'just enough' and we only win by 2 or 3 goals

Maybe Hunty could help us as well.....

Watching the replay of last week's game it was incredibly evident how fit some of our players are. Petracca was still chasing like a maniac. JJ was getting from contest to contest, Langdon, Spargo, May etc all getting to the fall of the ball first, tackling with intensity, making leads/space. 

Playing against a half wafl side against the fittest team in the afl, there is simply no way the last quarter and a half shouldnt be a slaughter.  Its men against boys at that point. 

Edited April 4, 20232 yr by Jjrogan

T-mac in?

10 hours ago, monoccular said:

Absolutely 100% NO EXCUSES this time 

Yep we should belt them but remember this time last year West coast played the Pies at Docklands with a WAFL squad and did the number on them. Can't take any game lightly and hopefully we display our ruthless edge this week.

In:   Pickett

Out: Melksham

         Jordan

Jordan (Sub)

16 hours ago, CHF said:

Possible team:

B: Lever, May, Rivers

HB: Bowey, Brayshaw, McVee

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: ANB, Petty, Spargo

F: Chandler, JVR, Fristch

Fol: Grundy, Petracca, Viney

IC: Jordon, Sparrow, Pickett, Tomlinson

SUB: Melksham

 

 

I hope this is how we line up for the next 10 games (10th being Collingwood). Hibberd to come back when ready but not sure who for.

14 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

This is a real oppprtunity to put the foot on the throat of the Eagles.

Goody will need to enforce the no mercy rule though to avoid it becoming a casual slack fumbly shiiiitfest where the boys only do 'just enough' and we only win by 2 or 3 goals