21 minutes ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

My mail is that BBB will come in after the bye.  Apparently he is doing a mini pre-season again like in 2021 and they want him firing for end of year

If he isn’t he should be, but I can’t see him playing every week in the VFL whilst doing a preseason.

He should have a month off and some German calves blood to be any chance.

31 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Raised this on the game thread but if Viney’s opponent’s head made contact with the ground in the tackle then he’ll get an automatic 1 week at the MRP I’d imagine.

If only he wore a Carlton jumper 

Out: Bowey, Harmes, (potentially) viney

In: Hibberd, Oliver, one of dunstan or jordon or woey for viney  (not sure who is dominating casey so take your pick)

Tomlinson got throughly beaten but I haven't seen May and Lever play that well for a while so for lack of petty, tomlinson has to stay for structural purposes. 

14 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Then where’d the information come from? Your cousins second best friends wife?

From my coworker in Melbourne who is a mad Dees fan and has a friend at the club.  Us lawyers call that hearsay evidence... but my coworker did fly to Perth for the 2018 final so I'd hope he's checked properly with his mate

In Clarry, out Bowey, Gus to go behind the ball at half back. 

Hibbo has been great but I like the 3rd tall defender.

Gonna go on record here. This is the biggest game MFC has played in 50 years that actually doesn't really mean anything.

Pies by 25 but it doesn't, and I can't stress this enough, matter.

IN: Oliver, Hibberd, Turner

OUT: Bowey, Tomlinson, Harmes

Chandler the sub.

Don't want to see Tomlinson in a Melbourne jumper again he's too slow Turner should have always been ahead of him.

 

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Turner, Rivers

C: Hunter, Oliver, Langdon

HF: Petracca, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen

F: Fritsch, Grundy, Pickett

FOLL: Gawn, Brayshaw, Viney

IC: Hibberd, Sparrow, Spargo, Smith

SUB: Chandler 

I don't want to be negative and I know many have been raving about his performances lately, but Rivers is really struggling. I don't want him with ball in hand, because he's so unreliable by foot. 

I want him taking those great intercept marks, going back with the flight like he did so often in 2021 and did again a couple of times tonight.

But I don't want him sprinting off half back, trying to bite off more than he can chew, because he's been butchering it.

He actually looked incredibly fatigued tonight. I lost count of how many times he'd kicked 45-50m kicks off the side of his boot and his kicking really lacked penetration. 

We have Clarry to fit in next week (confirmed by Goody again in his post match presser) and I just wonder if Rivers gets a rest. Hibbo in for Bowey, Oliver in for Rivers.

1 minute ago, A F said:

I don't want to be negative and I know many have been raving about his performances lately, but Rivers is really struggling. I don't want him with ball in hand, because he's so unreliable by foot. 

I want him taking those great intercept marks, going back with the flight like he did so often in 2021 and did again a couple of times tonight.

But I don't want him sprinting off half back, trying to bite off more than he can chew, because he's been butchering it.

He actually looked incredibly fatigued tonight. I lost count of how many times he'd kicked 45-50m kicks off the side of his boot and his kicking really lacked penetration. 

We have Clarry to fit in next week (confirmed by Goody again in his post match presser) and I just wonder if Rivers gets a rest. Hibbo in for Bowey, Oliver in for Rivers.

Been getting plenty of the ball but disposal is ordinary. 

Won't be dropped. 

I hope the two games against North and WC soften up Collingwood like what happened with us at same time last season. 

1 hour ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

My mail is that BBB will come in after the bye.  Apparently he is doing a mini pre-season again like in 2021 and they want him firing for end of year

Yep, this makes perfect sense.

Which means Smith will keep his spot next week (thought he was serviceable and created the first goal for ANB) and then rotate with JVR for the rest of the season forward, I'd say.

I'd be quite happy to give BB from Rounds 18 onwards (5 MCG games, a trip to his home state and the SCG), but can understand the Round 15 onwards view too.

6 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

Been getting plenty of the ball but disposal is ordinary. 

Won't be dropped. 

Very likely correct.

I guess was thinking more what I'd do, rather than what will happen there.

10 minutes ago, A F said:

I don't want to be negative and I know many have been raving about his performances lately, but Rivers is really struggling. I don't want him with ball in hand, because he's so unreliable by foot. 

I want him taking those great intercept marks, going back with the flight like he did so often in 2021 and did again a couple of times tonight.

But I don't want him sprinting off half back, trying to bite off more than he can chew, because he's been butchering it.

He actually looked incredibly fatigued tonight. I lost count of how many times he'd kicked 45-50m kicks off the side of his boot and his kicking really lacked penetration. 

We have Clarry to fit in next week (confirmed by Goody again in his post match presser) and I just wonder if Rivers gets a rest. Hibbo in for Bowey, Oliver in for Rivers.

I was thinking during the game:

Wow my expectations of Rivers have significantly increased, given I think he is playing just ok tonight.

He had equal 5th disposals on the ground, and equal third for demons.

8 minutes ago, deanox said:

I was thinking during the game:

Wow my expectations of Rivers have significantly increased, given I think he is playing just ok tonight.

He had equal 5th disposals on the ground, and equal third for demons.

Good call. Maybe I judged his last few weeks too harshly.

In other news, Grundy only played 67% ruck time. I presume that's in preparation for a big game KB or simply managing his loads.

We looked better at stoppages with Max tonight IMO.

 

14 minutes ago, A F said:

I don't want to be negative and I know many have been raving about his performances lately, but Rivers is really struggling. I don't want him with ball in hand, because he's so unreliable by foot. 

I want him taking those great intercept marks, going back with the flight like he did so often in 2021 and did again a couple of times tonight.

But I don't want him sprinting off half back, trying to bite off more than he can chew, because he's been butchering it.

He actually looked incredibly fatigued tonight. I lost count of how many times he'd kicked 45-50m kicks off the side of his boot and his kicking really lacked penetration. 

We have Clarry to fit in next week (confirmed by Goody again in his post match presser) and I just wonder if Rivers gets a rest. Hibbo in for Bowey, Oliver in for Rivers.

That’s so interesting that you saw that @A F

I reckon he’s been so good this year. His marking and courage is really impressive. I think sometimes fatigue impacts his kicking, and he often tries to kick the ball 60 metres, but doesn’t have the distance.

I think it’s just taking time for him to develop composure at this level. I think he’s going to be a great player, it’s just consistency and knowing what decisions to make when.

7 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

That’s so interesting that you saw that @A F

I reckon he’s been so good this year. His marking and courage is really impressive. I think sometimes fatigue impacts his kicking, and he often tries to kick the ball 60 metres, but doesn’t have the distance.

I think it’s just taking time for him to develop composure at this level. I think he’s going to be a great player, it’s just consistency and knowing what decisions to make when.

Yeah, I know I'm in the minority, but I've been calling it each week and now my family have picked up on it as well, and felt tonight he really butchered it.

But his marking and courage has always been really impressive. That was a hallmark of his game in our flag year IMV.

And don't get me wrong. He's developing nicely and I think he's a beauty, I'd just like him to take the easier options by foot, not the Christian Salem options, because Salem can hit them. So can McVee. Rivers, not so much.

35 minutes ago, Chook said:

Gonna go on record here. This is the biggest game MFC has played in 50 years that actually doesn't really mean anything.

Pies by 25 but it doesn't, and I can't stress this enough, matter.

What hyperbolic nonsense.

5 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

What hyperbolic nonsense.

I agree. We will win.

But he's right in saying the result isn't the 'be all and end all'. I suspect both sides will make the top 4 regardless of the result - it's all about peaking, being most fresh and ready when it matters in September.

31 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

I hope the two games against North and WC soften up Collingwood like what happened with us at same time last season. 

Yep and Collingwood are seemingly making the same mistake we made last year - not resting players when they have the golden opportunity to. They could leave half a dozen of their big names home this weekend and easily account for WCE. % is irrelevant for them anyway as they're likely to finish clear 1st after the H&A season - doesn't mean much if they aren't able to peak come the finals, which I suspect is what will happen

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Raised this on the game thread but if Viney’s opponent’s head made contact with the ground in the tackle then he’ll get an automatic 1 week at the MRP I’d imagine.

Yep, thought the same. Viney's having a pretty good season and we'll really need him next week.

Couldn't see Christensen citing him pfffft

1 hour ago, dee-tox said:

What hyperbolic nonsense.

Thanks - that's what I was aiming for. Not that it matters.

On current form line, we won't get close to Collingwood.

I just really hope we can put some form together for the second half of the year. 

Atm it feels like second half of last year all over again. 

So unconvincing, sloppy, selfish and patchy. 

Collingwoods speed of ball movement is a massive concern and they are great by foot and hand. Hope our defensive mechanisms hold up. Must win contested footy

Edited June 2, 20231 yr by Dee Viney Intervention
Wrong thread

I think a few are harsh on Tommo. McKay was red hot last night and a tough matchup. 
Viney and Bowey out, Woewi and Clarry in. 
Love how this games sets up for us as the underdogs..

I’m calling it… we will win! 

7 hours ago, A F said:

Good call. Maybe I judged his last few weeks too harshly.

In other news, Grundy only played 67% ruck time. I presume that's in preparation for a big game KB or simply managing his loads.

We looked better at stoppages with Max tonight IMO.

 

I think I was trying to say that I was judging him as not being on top of his game too, and then realised that's because my expectations for him had gotten so much higher. 

If he played that hasn't in the first couple of rounds I'd probably have been pretty happy.