Looking forward to seeing Joel Smith forward, I reckon he'll bag a hatfull

3 hours ago, adonski said:

T Mac just posted an instagram story where he appeared to at hospitality with a cast on left foot (?)

Ankle surgery 

19 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Sure we haven't lost a Coleman medalist, but we have (on goal stats) in effect lost our leading gaol kicker of the last few years, Fritta, whose form and output has been way below his best.   Injury?  Opposition worked him out?  Even worse delivery forward than in previous years?

Players cutting across his leading lane doesn't help. I was still seeing him ice his foot in the rooms 4 weeks ago but haven't seen a replay since so I don't know if that's still occurring. He did kick 2.2 last week and would have had 3 if not for Spargo. So he might be on the improve. I think the 10 day break before KB might do him good.

1 hour ago, Jjrogan said:

If Grundy + Gawn arent close to BOG as a collective they are kidding themselves.  Pittonet out and their ruckman is a kid who's played less than 50 games in 5 years. 

I recall almost word-for-word comments when it was Pittonet in, for something like his 7th game and first at Carlton. Gave a good rugged contest, was one of Carlton's best on the day, and set up his career.

Okay, after checking I just need to take a moment to be amazed that I had that 7th and 1st exactly right.

For the record, Gawn also had a bit of an on-field party that day and I don't think letting TWO top quality around-the-ground rucks run free will do Carlton any favours. I'm just reflecting on what has actually been a curious pattern of new rucks proving their attitude in games against Gawn.

Smith was leading up to the ball really well at Casey, and has a great set shot too. I think he'll have a great game.

Not overly happy with the changes. Surely Brown had to come in. What the hell has Smith done? If Melksham didn't get suspended he'd be in. Tomlinson how many chances does he need to prove that he's NQR. Turner should be in look to the future. Not confident in this game at all. If we lose to Carlton it will be completely unacceptable and will spell the beginning of the end for Goodwin. Can't drop this game.

7 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Not overly happy with the changes. Surely Brown had to come in. What the hell has Smith done? If Melksham didn't get suspended he'd be in. Tomlinson how many chances does he need to prove that he's NQR. Turner should be in look to the future. Not confident in this game at all. If we lose to Carlton it will be completely unacceptable and will spell the beginning of the end for Goodwin. Can't drop this game.

I never ever agree with you ...... damn!

Bumped into a former Blues player at kids footy training - Sons are good mates. He looked defeated and was adamant we would win - ‘broken’ was the word he used. Wouldn’t give me much else. 

2 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Why is everyone suddenly worried about who kicks goals. Because we lost TMac? He isn’t exactly kicking bags at the moment. JVR and Smith can easily get 2 themselves. It’s not like we’ve lost a Coleman medalist.

The bulk of our goals need to come from smalls as they have all year. If Fritta can find that magic goal kicking foot of his again, I’d be very thankful. 

Fritsch is a vital ingredient that’s gone missing. Our leading goal kicker for four seasons running (including the current one). His usual contribution to the scoreboard would have won us three of the games we’ve lost this year. He must be playing sore, but we desperately need him to come good. 

Its a curiosity isnt it regarding Brown.

Been playing AFL longer than Goodys been a snr coach.    So is it fair to say BBB has some idea of what he's doing ? 

Probably also fair to say Melbourne's style is quite a bit different from the Kangas ( Brown era )...   I mean...they coukd deliver to a fwd... us....not so much.

There was some suggestion that Benny still needed to show something in the Magoos about his game before reinstatement.   This cant be true surely.  He probably knows more about FWD footy than our coaches.

We targeted him and brought him across.  ...what ...to teach him how to be a fwd ...or because he WAS a fwd.....of merit .

I cant believe he isnt rated by the club. 

That he isnt playing leaves only two avenues of thought...to me.    He's either useless...or carrying something that just doesn't get talked about.

I never believe Footy clubs.  They lie. Its a tool of the trade.

If Brown isnt playing and Smith is....wtf is really wrong with Benny.

 

3 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Its a curiosity isnt it regarding Brown.

Been playing AFL longer than Goodys been a snr coach.    So is it fair to say BBB has some idea of what he's doing ? 

Probably also fair to say Melbourne's style is quite a bit different from the Kangas ( Brown era )...   I mean...they coukd deliver to a fwd... us....not so much.

There was some suggestion that Benny still needed to show something in the Magoos about his game before reinstatement.   This cant be true surely.  He probably knows more about FWD footy than our coaches.

We targeted him and brought him across.  ...what ...to teach him how to be a fwd ...or because he WAS a fwd.....of merit .

I cant believe he isnt rated by the club. 

That he isnt playing leaves only two avenues of thought...to me.    He's either useless...or carrying something that just doesn't get talked about.

I never believe Footy clubs.  They lie. Its a tool of the trade.

If Brown isnt playing and Smith is....wtf is really wrong with Benny.

 

Whatever it is, I can’t believe it’s what some others are suggesting, which is essentially “the coach is being mean to him”. 

4 hours ago, Orion said:

Oh dear.  Joel Smith as a key forward.  We really have problems

Don't worry. I won't say told you so.

4 hours ago, binman said:

Smithy!!!!!!!

Love it.

I've never been a big fan, but you can't say the FD or Goodwin aren't adventurous. 

Smith's agility in the air and on the ground could be huge in our forward half. He just needs to make sure he's a threat on the scoreboard too, otherwise teams will zone off him.

3 hours ago, Demons11 said:

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

And not just Lever. If Lever is freed up to intercept, our smaller half backs can get on the move too. If we can get our defensive intercept game going, watch out. 

11 minutes ago, A F said:

Don't worry. I won't say told you so.

I will lose my scheiße the first time he spoils a Fritta mark.

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Don't mind tge changes. We needed the extra big defender.

The Smith forward experiment will be so intriguing to watch.

Hopefully Smith can take a hanger like his old man!!!

17 minutes ago, A F said:

Don't worry. I won't say told you so.

Fair enough 

3 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

JVR is very lucky I reckon. He’s been pretty terrible the last few weeks.

Brown over him would have been a good swap on form but I guess the coaches want more agility at ground. 

And like Selwood and Dangerfield last year, Hibbo and BB are most certainly being managed this year.

I agree with @Jaded No More in that we'll see BB in the second half of the season, when games start to congest more and hopefully our midfield and forwards are running on top of the ground. The rest of the team can make up for BB's and Max's weakness at ground level, meanwhile they can become super dangerous tall targets if we can move the ball quickly to 1v1s.

Looking forward to seeing what Fritta can do in this one, reckon he'll bag a hatfull.

3 hours ago, bush demon said:

The rumours - previously published here, and not denied by anyone at the club were that BBB had run over the coach's cat.  Unfortunately this scenario is appearing more and more plausible each week.

 

2 hours ago, Demonsone said:

What’s the explanation for BB our only truly recognised fwd sitting at Casey??? is Smith the  answer?? Sachce why the hell did we draft him can’t get a game, Feel for JVR & needs a rest…. Club just continues to struggle to find or develop a power fwd… Neitz was our last & retired in 08 that’s 15 years ago 

BBB has been struggling at Casey.

Last week is the first game he's managed to get  a bit of the ball.

If he strings a few games together & gets a bit of movement in his body then we will see him soon.

55 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Not overly happy with the changes. Surely Brown had to come in. What the hell has Smith done? If Melksham didn't get suspended he'd be in. Tomlinson how many chances does he need to prove that he's NQR. Turner should be in look to the future. Not confident in this game at all. If we lose to Carlton it will be completely unacceptable and will spell the beginning of the end for Goodwin. Can't drop this game.

But what has Brown done that Smith hasn't at VFL level recently? 

 

2 hours ago, layzie said:

Can't wait to see Tommo go one out with McKay. I think he'll win

McKay has 9cms on him. Let's hope McKay continues with his mental demons and Tomlinson can halve contests.

For the record, I wanted Tomlinson in against McKay, May to Curnow and Lever third tall/interceptor, so it's the right move, but in an ideal world, we'd have another 197cm Petty to play back as well as forward.

54 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Not overly happy with the changes. Surely Brown had to come in. What the hell has Smith done? If Melksham didn't get suspended he'd be in. Tomlinson how many chances does he need to prove that he's NQR. Turner should be in look to the future. Not confident in this game at all. If we lose to Carlton it will be completely unacceptable and will spell the beginning of the end for Goodwin. Can't drop this game.

BBB see above.

Turner would be smashed by McKay, he's better at the Lever role but we still Lever...not saying Tomo won't but at least he has the strength to match him.

Let's hope good Tomo turns up.

...or hope McKay still has the yips.

56 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Not overly happy with the changes. Surely Brown had to come in. What the hell has Smith done? If Melksham didn't get suspended he'd be in. Tomlinson how many chances does he need to prove that he's NQR. Turner should be in look to the future. Not confident in this game at all. If we lose to Carlton it will be completely unacceptable and will spell the beginning of the end for Goodwin. Can't drop this game.

But give us a best 22 anyway, mate.

6 minutes ago, layzie said:

But what has Brown done that Smith hasn't at VFL level recently? 

 

He's got more possessions and kicked more goals. They are going back to last year with one key forward and Gawn up forward it didn't work last year and I doubt it will work now.

5 minutes ago, A F said:

But give us a best 22 anyway, mate.

B: Turner, May, Bowey

HB: Salem, Lever, Rivers

C: Hunter, Brayshaw, Langdon

HF: Pickett, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen

F: Fritsch, Brown, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Petracca, Viney

IC: Sparrow, McVee, Grundy, Chandler