2 hours ago, —coach— said:

Was listening to ABC radio today and BBBs manager was on talking footy with the ABC commentary team. He was discussing Melbourne and he said he can’t understand why we aren’t playing BBB at the moment.

Now of course a manger will go into bat for one of his own, but what it tells me is that we are simply not choosing BBB as opposed to him being injured or doing a training block or any other reason.

Sometimes players don’t get a great deal of the ball and if you look in isolation at their stats you would say drop them, but some players despite limit stats just make the team better for structural/game style reasons. I wonder if Fritta and JVR wouldn’t be better with BBB in the team. The argument that he can’t pick the ball up from the ground is moot as none of our small forwards are doing that anyway so given you would likely replace a small to bring him in I don’t think we would loose a lot at ground level, but would gain by forcing the oppo to spread their defense a little thinner.

Anyway just thought it was interesting.

He had fluid drained from his knee two weeks ago. Wtf is his manager suggesting? That we play a guy with a busted knee?

4 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

He had fluid drained from his knee two weeks ago. Wtf is his manager suggesting? That we play a guy with a busted knee?

Beggars belief doesn't it. Can only think his manager is on a percentage of Brown's match payments 

11 hours ago, Roger Mellie said:

That's the perfect name for KP! Love it

I wish i could take the kudos RM.

Someone else on here coined that one.  Fantastic and everyone should be using it from here where possible.

29 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

He had fluid drained from his knee two weeks ago. Wtf is his manager suggesting? That we play a guy with a busted knee?

Im not sure if he's always had that problem since returning from the back injury though Jaded.

Might've just flaired the last few weeks.

If that's the case and i have know idea if it is, then Manager might be referring to prior this issue.

3 hours ago, —coach— said:

Was listening to ABC radio today and BBBs manager was on talking footy with the ABC commentary team. He was discussing Melbourne and he said he can’t understand why we aren’t playing BBB at the moment.

Now of course a manger will go into bat for one of his own, but what it tells me is that we are simply not choosing BBB as opposed to him being injured or doing a training block or any other reason.

Sometimes players don’t get a great deal of the ball and if you look in isolation at their stats you would say drop them, but some players despite limit stats just make the team better for structural/game style reasons. I wonder if Fritta and JVR wouldn’t be better with BBB in the team. The argument that he can’t pick the ball up from the ground is moot as none of our small forwards are doing that anyway so given you would likely replace a small to bring him in I don’t think we would loose a lot at ground level, but would gain by forcing the oppo to spread their defense a little thinner.

Anyway just thought it was interesting.

Sounds like BBB's manager missed a real good chance to keep his mouth shut.

Along with back injuries, having fluid drained from his troublesome knee and VFL form that hasn't been setting the world on fire, why make such a comment? 

On 6/22/2023 at 10:06 PM, adonski said:

IN: Brown, Tomlinson, Oliver, Woewodin
OUT: Smith, Petty, Jordon, ANB

Smith had a good first half until Stewart was put on him. Worth persisting with, even if BBB comes in

Edited June 24, 20232 yr by Stiff Arm

12 hours ago, —coach— said:

Was listening to ABC radio today and BBBs manager was on talking footy with the ABC commentary team. He was discussing Melbourne and he said he can’t understand why we aren’t playing BBB at the moment.

Now of course a manger will go into bat for one of his own, but what it tells me is that we are simply not choosing BBB as opposed to him being injured or doing a training block or any other reason.

Sometimes players don’t get a great deal of the ball and if you look in isolation at their stats you would say drop them, but some players despite limit stats just make the team better for structural/game style reasons. I wonder if Fritta and JVR wouldn’t be better with BBB in the team. The argument that he can’t pick the ball up from the ground is moot as none of our small forwards are doing that anyway so given you would likely replace a small to bring him in I don’t think we would loose a lot at ground level, but would gain by forcing the oppo to spread their defense a little thinner.

Anyway just thought it was interesting.

He will play next week! Facts 

The thing about dropping role players who are doing their role, is it encourages other players to chase stat's rather than stick to their role.

ANB likely stays for that reason alone!

Assuming he is doing his role.

Inns.. Clarrie (if fit), BBB, Bowser, Melksham

Outs..Chandler, Spargo, Hibbo, JVR ( managed) 

Possibly Thommo in as well, Nibbler extremely lucky if he stays in

Edited June 24, 20232 yr by picket fence

Our forwards though need a change up.

They may often find space, but then just wave their arm and wait for the ball to be kicked to them, rather than moving towards the balll.

We have to many specialist small pressure forwards, that don't kick regular goals.

Our talls allow to many intercept marks.

The resting ruck forward becomes a predictable long kick where the opposition then floods the area with numbers, making crumbing goals considerably more difficult.

Smith is veyter suited as the third tall, not full gorward - hes really a backup for Fritsch 

We are also getting regularly getting beaten at the clearances (and spilled marking contests).  We actually don't have enough genuine  midfielder. Spargo, Chandler, ANB, Picket, Rivers and even Jordan are not genuine (nor is Melksam, And at thos stage Woey).

11 hours ago, picket fence said:

Ive seen him play some "Useful" games but he is very very average in quite a few areas

1 Slow

2 Cant kick more than 35-40 m

3 Doesn't kick enough goals to justify his place

Cannot continue to play him for these reasons

Sadly Charlie hasn’t been the same since he was out with concussion just doesn’t seem to be getting to the action like he was prior when he replaced JJ Thursday night their was an immediate drop off, he had two touches in nearly a half a game of football. He played a lot better Friday night at VFL level and perhaps should stay at that level until he gets his spark back.!!

I'd try and address our midfield / small fwd mix by. Noting to many changes is disruptive to team systems.

Lever.     May.     Hibberd/Mcvee

Salem.    Petty    Bowey

Hunter   Oliver    Langdon

Brayshaw JVR.  Pickett

Fritsch.    BBB.    ANB

Gawn Trac Viney

Grundy Sparrow Rivers Harmes/Dunstan

Sub Woey 

Teach Brayshaw to play ANB or Spargos role. Teach Rivers to be midfielder.

Woey as sub

OK this week swap Woey for Harmes So that he debuts in the team.

Thinking slightly outside the square though:

Lever.     May.     Hibberd/Mcvee

Salem.    Gawn    Bowey

Hunter   Oliver    Langdon

Brayshaw  Petty  Trac

Fritsch.    BBB.  Picket  

Grundy Viney Harmes

Sparrow Rivers Dunstan/Laurie Smith

sub Woey

When Gawn rucks Petty/Smith play CHB

Harmes to be the defensive midfielder

Get midfield time into Chandker/Spargo/ANB at Casey

Teach Jordan to take the game on, to move the ball on quicker at Casey

But importantly develop our midfield depth. Is Casey's best midfield Munro, White. Dunstan (that says something).

10 hours ago, layzie said:

Sounds like BBB's manager missed a real good chance to keep his mouth shut.

Along with back injuries, having fluid drained from his troublesome knee and VFL form that hasn't been setting the world on fire, why make such a comment? 

I reckon it's inappropriate for a manager to make any such comments regardless.  Does his player no good either.   Keep it for selling the player to another club at trade time (which will not happen with someone as old as Brown anyway).

1 hour ago, Nudge said:

He will play next week! Facts 

For?

15 hours ago, —coach— said:

Was listening to ABC radio today and BBBs manager was on talking footy with the ABC commentary team. He was discussing Melbourne and he said he can’t understand why we aren’t playing BBB at the moment.

Now of course a manger will go into bat for one of his own, but what it tells me is that we are simply not choosing BBB as opposed to him being injured or doing a training block or any other reason.

Sometimes players don’t get a great deal of the ball and if you look in isolation at their stats you would say drop them, but some players despite limit stats just make the team better for structural/game style reasons. I wonder if Fritta and JVR wouldn’t be better with BBB in the team. The argument that he can’t pick the ball up from the ground is moot as none of our small forwards are doing that anyway so given you would likely replace a small to bring him in I don’t think we would loose a lot at ground level, but would gain by forcing the oppo to spread their defense a little thinner.

Anyway just thought it was interesting.

Now only if the club had recruited a leading type of forward to fill that position instead of bombing the ball in and hoping for a pack mark.... oh wait.......................

Think you will find we are holding Brown back for one run at the finals.  

1 hour ago, sue said:

I reckon it's inappropriate for a manager to make any such comments regardless.  Does his player no good either.   Keep it for selling the player to another club at trade time (which will not happen with someone as old as Brown anyway).

If he absolutely must say something just go with the tried and true "Ben's working very hard at the moment and I really hope to see him force his way into the team soon" line or something to that effect.

IN: Brown, Bowey

OUT: Gawn, Chandler.

Give Max the weekend to refresh and put some k's into his legs without the body on body impacts of playing.

3 hours ago, YearOfTheDees said:

Think you will find we are holding Brown back for one run at the finals.  

Which may be one game, good strategy

FB: Hibberd May Lever
HB: Rivers Petty Bowey
C: Langdon Petracca Hunter
HF: Woey Smith Sparrow
FF: Pickett Brown Fritsch
Foll: Grundy Viney Salem
Int: McVee Chandler Brayshaw Gawn
S: ANB

In: Bowey, Brown, Woey 
Out: JJ, JVR, ANB

Time to roll the dice with Salem and/or Rivers in the guts to give us some skill and run on ball.

Similarly Woey as the 3rd wing/half forward for some more speed. Langdon some half forward too.

Im hardly convinced Nibbler should be dropped but at the same time he could do with getting some touch and we can use his spot to rotate numbers through the midfield.

BBB a run and JVR a rest. Unless Grundy is in need of a week off.

Coaches to be ready for Petty forward, Gus or Salo back, Woey on ball if needed. But I still think our issues are far more ball movement, run and skill than height.

24 beautiful degrees in the Alice today, but then rain starts tomorrow and continues until Saturday, with big falls of around 20mm on Wednesday and Friday. So the Todd River will be flowing! Thankfully it is forecast as dry on Sunday, but cold, just 11 degrees maximum after three similarly cold days preceding it. And here I was, looking forward to escaping the Melbourne chill. 😒

Will the cold weather help us, who knows?

Any word on Clarrys scans? I would expected to have heard something by now. 

9 hours ago, Ungarieboy said:

Smith is veyter suited as the third tall, not full gorward - hes really a backup for Fritsch 

Agree with all your points @Ungarieboy.

Especially like the term “gorward” as an abbreviation of “gorilla forward” (which of course Smith is not)!