We look to have a very small forward line this week.

2 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

If Brown was in for JVR those ins would have been perfect.

Hibberd out is huge.

JVR is giving us a lot more at ground level than Brown would. I think Brown will come in  at the back end of the season when JVR tires out and we need experience. 
I think Brown still has a role to play, but he isn’t the future and I’m glad we are getting games into JVR. 
 

Gawn and BB in the same forwardline is also the stuff of defensive nightmares. 
 

Reckon Hibbo is getting ready for KB. He will have a big role to play, whereas it’s Carlton’s talls we need to worry about this week. 

8 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

What’s wrong with TMac? Injured again or just struggling with age?

Reckon they’re getting Hibbo cherry ripe for KB. Maybe to play on Adams. 

Ankle surgery.

Tom McDonald will spend time on the sidelines after undergoing surgery earlier today, with GM AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson providing an update on the forward.

“Tom underwent minor surgery this afternoon following some lingering ankle soreness,” Richardson told Melbourne Media."

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1348296

Edited June 1, 20231 yr by DemonWorshipper

6 minutes ago, wizardinoz said:

Still no BBB? Joel Smith promoted after a whole 6 disposals for Casey last week as apposed to BBB with 19? FMD.

At least Smith has been kicking goals, especially over the last couple of weeks.

But Smith is much more athletic than BBB, so presumably FD are looking for a more mobile forward line - was quite stagnant last week.

7 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

If Brown was in for JVR those ins would have been perfect.

Hibberd out is huge.

Agree on Hibberd - this is a clutch game and Hibbo's drive and aggression will be missed....other than that, am ok with Tomlinson and Smith in. Thommo can take McKay , May tags Charlie and Lever floats. BBB not suited to wet footy anyway - his time will come. Our small forwards have to step up.

Edited June 1, 20231 yr by Diamond Tim
typo

Just now, DemonWorshipper said:

Ankle surgery.

Tom McDonald will spend time on the sidelines after undergoing surgery earlier today, with GM AFL Football Performance Alan Richardson providing an update on the forward.

“Tom underwent minor surgery this afternoon following some lingering ankle soreness,” Richardson told Melbourne Media."

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1348296

Age and his body has not been kind to him.

Not sure he has another year in him, despite contract.  

J Smith

has shown glimpses at Casey but not much more. It was either him or Shache I suppose and on recent Casey form it's Smith.

Let's hope we can get through tomorrow night with a win. The last few weeks have been tough going

I'm glad Tommo is getting another go - he is a good player.

Smith ? I wish him well but .....I really just don't know about this bloke. Hope for the best.

 

The best outcome is that Tomlinson recaptures his early 2021 pre ACL form and we get a fit Petty back into the forwardline to save us. 

Smithy!!!!!!!

Love it.

4 minutes ago, Redleg said:

We look to have a very small forward line this week.

Smith isn't that small ... still 191. 

4 hours ago, speed demon said:

 

I’m a “reader” and not a “poster” as evidenced by my 144 posts in 13 years. I’ve also never taken a fellow Demonlander to task before. Yet, your post kept me awake last night. I only post this now because of the high regard I hold for the quality of your posts and your influence on other Demonlanders. As an additional preface, I want to make clear that I share your concerns with all the issues you have raised about the present state of the game.

I have not followed the game for as long as you. However, in the 35 years I have followed the game, people have always complained about the umpiring, the rules, the tribunal and the administration. Furthermore, there have always been those who have claimed the game is at its lowest ebb. I suspect it has always been such and always will be. This discussion need not be restricted to football. People make similar comments about the state of society generally. So, I am naturally sceptical of such claims.  

What is missing from your post and similar lamentations is balance. For all the negatives you have identified – and with which I agree – there are positives. 

Most obviously is the phenomenal success of women’s football and the explosion in participation. This is great for the game, gender equality and public health more broadly.  

Football clubs and matches (AFL/VFL and local) were once places of open racism that was not only tolerated but encouraged. Racial slurs were seen as a legitimate way of putting an opponent off their game. Whatever you think of clubs taking a stance on the Voice, surely we can agree that there is less racism in football today and that is a good thing. 

What was once glorified as toughness has been better identified as thuggery and the game is cleaner. Does anyone really think we need more players running past the ball to shirt front an unsuspecting player? Toughness is better appreciated as playing the ball and never shirking a contest. Viney, along with Oliver and Petracca, are outstanding examples of tough and clean players.  

The players are bigger, stronger, faster and more skilful. The tactics and strategy are more complex. Fundamentally, when you strip away inconsistent umpiring and ambiguous rules, the game is still fascinating and spectacular.  

I look at my young boys. They love playing this athletic and skilful team game with an odd-shaped ball, just as I did at their age. They have no awareness of the concerns I have about the direction of the game. Though I’m sure they will when they are my age, when their own kids develop their love of the game and I bemoan how the game is not what is was in the 2020s when the MFC won a cabinet full of premiership trophies. 

My point is, just as the game and society change, so do we. Psychological research shows we have a tendency towards preferring to maintain the status quo as we age. We also have a cognitive bias towards negativity and we weight losses more than gains (i.e. the negative effect of losing $100 is greater than the positive effect of winning $100). Evolutionary psychology theory argues we have evolved thus because this confers a survival advantage (at the expense of our happiness and with the burden of anxiety). 

So, the negatives are easy to identify and we tend to overestimate their magnitude. We may need to look harder, but the positives are there as well. Across the course of my life, on balance, both football and society have changed for the better.  

Thanks for your great insights and humour over the years. I trust you will receive this post in the spirit with which it was intended. 

 

 

 

 

Speed Demon, your post was just what I needed, thanks for sharing some perspective. 

6 minutes ago, Redleg said:

We look to have a very small forward line this week.

One of Gawn or Grundy will make it taller 

I also think we need to clear the 50 for Fritta and Kosi more. It’s been too congested down there. 

1 minute ago, Jaded No More said:

The best outcome is that Tomlinson recaptures his early 2021 pre ACL form and we get a fit Petty back into the forwardline to save us. 

Apparently he didn’t lose a marking contest in those first 7 games prior to the ACL

I’m not enthused by these ins.

Best of luck smith but not sure how bb has fallen down the pecking order to this extent. 

2 hours ago, Dee Zephyr said:

This is from a friend and his ‘mail’ has been accurate lately in regards to changes. 
Joel Smith is in to play forward, Tomlinson and Hunter the other ins. 
 

Your friend was right. Nice one, DZ!

2 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Age and his body has not been kind to him.

Not sure he has another year in him, despite contract.  

He doesn’t.... imho..   i really like Tom... very personable.  A true swing player.. on his day an excellent user of the ball and one of those with as a Mr J Wayne would suggest ...true grit.  Always remember a game against Swans a few years back..  the bloids had come back and were besting us..  Tmac in the pocket..

Something snapped/switched..  he forced himself upon the ball.. flung aside a number of Swans ..pirouetteted to line up on sticks ..and bang..      I was mightily impressed...

But sadly Tommy cant bring that version to play anymore... his body is cruelling him.

Hes lost pace and though he still has a tank he's not quite there in AFL terms... and that must annoy him as he is a proud bloke.

If he can play and be useful at Casey...i hope he uses the time to his enjoyment. 

 

4 minutes ago, binman said:

Smithy!!!!!!!

Love it.

Yeah I'm one of the few on here that think he has something to offer up forward IF he's body gives him a chance.

He is not a Backman, is far too loose. He has pace and can jump I'm really hoping they can turn him into someone who can spoil the oppo rebounder. 

Good luck Joel 

32 minutes ago, Newport34 said:

What happened to Hibbo? 

 

23 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

What’s wrong with TMac? Injured again or just struggling with age?

Reckon they’re getting Hibbo cherry ripe for KB. Maybe to play on Adams. 

Seems to be managing for KB based on the MFC website:

"Michael Hibberd will also miss the game with the club taking a cautious approach and managing the Demon. "

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1348296

The Tommo & Smudge show. Strap yourselves in boys & girls. 

6 minutes ago, BDA said:

I’m not enthused by these ins.

Best of luck smith but not sure how bb has fallen down the pecking order to this extent. 

Many factors why BBB hasn't broken into the side:

- Fitness possibly still an issue. Might be on lighter loads until later in the year.

- His ability to get any separation from his man (which was always his no.1 strength) has been greatly reduced. No longer presents like he used to due to lack of pace and not much of a contested mark.

- Really struggles to do much when the ball hits the deck, especially in most likely wet conditions on Friday

- Lack of forward pressure. I would say this is the main one. We're getting burnt off opposition winning and releasing the ball too easily out of their back half. He's been a liability there for a while.

 

So I think its worth giving Smith a try 

About time they brought in another defender.   Hopefully this frees up Lever 

29 minutes ago, YearOfTheDees said:

I really hope he has a great game but 11 goals in 6 game at VFL level - not sure that fills me with confidence but he cam mark a ball.  .

That's actually a better hit rate than the 1 goal a game we are getting from JVR and Tom...

I like this side. It has versatility written all over it. Smith gives us something different. Bit like Frosty. Can do amazing things and unfortunately can also stuff up. Could give the Blues backs some problems. Tomlinson gives Lever a chance to do his thing and of course Hunter gives us better disposal efficiency. All up I'm happy with this side and hope to hell we give the Blue Baggers a horrible hiding. Go Dees

I like the ins, I’d prefer Hibbo was playing but good to see players being managed. Tomlinson has excellent VFL form so let’s hope he brings it. As for Smith, well nobody knows but he’s got a chance to prove he’s capable.