On 03/07/2023 at 21:18, The Jackson FIX said:

Anyone know when/where training is this week? Keen to take the Billy lids down for a look

Due to the FIFA Women's World Cup, Melbourne will be based at Casey Fields for all main training sessions throughout July and August. 

This was posted https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

  On 04/07/2023 at 02:28, Diamond_Jim said:

thanks for the face palm Drysdale Demon but why do you think the Grundy/Gawn combo will be any better next year?

The football world wondered how the combo would work as did many on this site. Other commentators said we had too much of our salary cap invested in the ruck dept. These are the kind of discussions we need to have.

That we will have to wait and see. Discussions by who? If you mean the football depatment they will just be trying to get it going smoothly on a weekly basis. If your referring to supporters you can discuss it forever it won't have any bearing on what the club does.

What I think will happen:

Outs                                    Ins

Fritsch - injured.                - JVR

Chandler - out of form      - Spargo

Harmes - played poorly    - Oliver

Goodwin rarely makes more than 3 changes.

Melksham sub maybe Jordan in. But with Fritsch out I think they will give Melksham another game as backup forward.

 

Tomlinson in wings for Petty forward if BBB doesn’t get going in next three weeks or if Smith totally inconsistent!

I’d rest Max in goalsquare Pickett next to him. Get BBB to be leading rather than pack marking FF. Also have Trac playing 50% in forward half.

Edited July 4, 20231 yr by D4Life
Additions

  On 03/07/2023 at 21:20, Dee Viney Intervention said:

If I was ST.Kilda I would do what they used to do at Moorabbin and leave the sprinklers on

Yeah thats a great idea, problem is they are playing at Sheetihad and not Linton St!

Edited July 4, 20231 yr by picket fence

  On 04/07/2023 at 03:21, picket fence said:

 

 

I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned in this or other threads but did anyone else notice the many, many times Max and BBB were competing for the same mark against the giants?!?

please don’t do this against the saints, it just invites every tall defender to exactly the same spot (which would be fine if we decided to hit up other targets…!?)

 

  On 04/07/2023 at 02:47, bobby1554 said:

Ok, let me put it this way. Which opposition defender would win a one on one against CP5 (given that is was a contest for a ground ball). Would said defender give up the contest in the hope that Trac sprays to shot on goal?

I barely think that would matter as he would be unlikely to threaten on the scoreboard. If we gunna go some last resort set up, which imo is not great regardless of which player you have one out, Petracca would not be my choice.  Try it with Kozzie one out and tell him not to go outside 30m arc.  Trying anything would be great atm, don't really give a stuff who they choose but it would be nice to see any sort of adapation in game plan that creates some movement and gets away from this congested mess we seem to desire.

I think we’re lucky Membrey is injured. We always get touched up whenever he plays and usually kicks a fair few snags on us. 

  On 04/07/2023 at 08:18, OhMyDees said:

I think we’re lucky Membrey is injured. We always get touched up whenever he plays and usually kicks a fair few snags on us. 

Kent Kingsley memorial trophy winner on many occasions. 
 

  On 04/07/2023 at 05:47, Nicko said:

I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned in this or other threads but did anyone else notice the many, many times Max and BBB were competing for the same mark against the giants?!?

please don’t do this against the saints, it just invites every tall defender to exactly the same spot (which would be fine if we decided to hit up other targets…!?)

 

We spoil each other all the time. Total lack of awareness.  

  On 04/07/2023 at 02:47, bobby1554 said:

Ok, let me put it this way. Which opposition defender would win a one on one against CP5 (given that is was a contest for a ground ball). Would said defender give up the contest in the hope that Trac sprays to shot on goal?

The talk of putting Trac forward more permanently is a bit desperate imo.

The only way it works is if the ball gets kicked on his head in a genuine one on one. Which is very, very difficult in modern footy and even more so with our game plan. He’s not beating anyone in the air so it’s either outmuscle, create a spill and win on the deck or a flukey one in a stoppage with an actual defender rather than someone who’s also trying to win the footy

 

 

Edited July 4, 20231 yr by BW511

Ins: JVR, Oliver

Out:  Fritsch, Smith

I think Fritch out will show we need two talls up fwd, as well as the resting ruck.

Not saying Fritsch isn't in the side, but think he has been asked to play a different role.

Oliver into the midfield obviously, and Harmes gets another go as a half fwd/rotation and midfield depth.  But needs to perform much better than the weekend.

Schache down the front would straighten us up.

  On 04/07/2023 at 09:22, deefender said:

Schache down the front would straighten us up.

I take it you haven’t seen Schache play much senior footy. 
 

  On 04/07/2023 at 09:22, deefender said:

Schache down the front would straighten us up.

I’ve been watching Schache for 6 weeks in the two’s. I hoped, like really hoped, he would help our forward live. I’m not convinced. He’s just not a combative beast that’s required at AFL. Look at JVR, he loves the contest.

B: Lever, May, Bowey

HB: Salem, Petty, Rivers

C: Hunter, Oliver, Langdon

HF: Petracca, van Rooyen, Sparrow

F: Pickett, Brown, Melksham

FOLL: Gawn, Brayshaw, Viney

IC: Grundy, McVee, Woewodin, Howes

SUB: Jordon

IN: van Rooyen, Oliver, Woewodin, Howes, Jordon

OUT: Fritsch, Chandler, Neal-Bullen, Harmes, Smith

  On 03/07/2023 at 02:28, Clintosaurus said:

Hey @binman I'm guessing the training loads this week will be reduced from previous weeks?

I expect the players to be fresher on Saturday night than in recent weeks.

They won't be able to do hardly work between flying out late Sunday night, Monday a wipeout and suit up Friday night.

So, agree  hopefully they'll be fresher.

They'll love not playing in frigid wet conditions- something they would not have planned for in their program given the game was in the Alice.

That game will have taken alot out of them. Maybe good to roll some fresh players through?

I expect spargo to come back in, maybe jordon and jvr. So that's three. Unlikely to he any more than 3 changed

But it helps the saints are also off six day break and had to travel back from Perth.

I still reckon we are a couple of weeks away from being cherry ripe. 

Edited July 4, 20231 yr by binman

  On 04/07/2023 at 09:42, binman said:

They won't be able to do hardly work between flying out late Sunday night, Monday a wipeout and suit up Friday night.

So, agree  hopefully they'll be fresher.

They'll love not playing in frigid wet conditions- something they would not have planned for in their program given the game was in the Alice.

That game will have taken alot out of them. Maybe good to roll some fresh players through?

I expect spargo to come back in, maybe jordon and jvr. So that's three. Unlikely to he any more than 3 changed

But it helps the saints are also off six day break and had to travel back from Perth.

I still reckon we are a couple of weeks away from being cherry ripe. 

Can we not play Jordan FFS. It’s like buying vanilla when chocolate and neopolitan are also in the fridge. Surely one of Woewodin, Howes or Laurie get the call up

Fritsch out injured. JVR in.

Harmes or Sparrow out. Clarry in.

If BBrown isn’t fit, then Petty moves forward and Tomlinson comes in to play down back. Need to maintain the three headed dragon down back. 

Half forward line to be rejigged. Kozzie stints further up the ground or played out of the square as a leading forward. Spargo potential in for better ball use to replace Chandler who is well out of form.

  On 04/07/2023 at 09:31, Roost it far said:

I’ve been watching Schache for 6 weeks in the two’s. I hoped, like really hoped, he would help our forward live. I’m not convinced. He’s just not a combative beast that’s required at AFL. Look at JVR, he loves the contest.

He’s not the combative beast like JVR but he only has to complement such leaders, not compete with them.

He’s skilful, aged ~ 26 and for a big man it’s about his time.

He couldn’t do any worse than Smith and Brown.

I’d give him a decent chance of proving himself. Fritsche is out for weeks and Schache can kick a goal.

Edited July 4, 20231 yr by deefender
Clarity.

  On 04/07/2023 at 09:59, deefender said:

He’s not the combative beast like JVR but he only has to complement such leaders, not compete with them.

He’s skilful, aged ~ 26 and for a big man it’s about his time.

He couldn’t do any worse than Smith and Brown.

I’d give him a decent chance of proving himself.

Could you imagine a forward line of JVR, Brown, Gawn and Schache

No need for Brown in that forward line.

  On 03/07/2023 at 12:56, JimmyGadson said:

That's the art of Coaching though. He's got to have more of an influence on our players or make the hard calls and change the list/positions etc. 

If they're not up to it or not listening, there's got to be some sort of statement made no? This is where I think his unwavering faith in his players works against him. 

I think supporters overrate Trac and Oliver. That sounds wild. But for elite players, they give the ball up far too often. And I'm not talking about their disposals when under pressure. 

Gus while not of the same quality is another. 

It's this lazy, automated and unaware habit that just kills us. Is the number one reason we we kick ourselves out of games and or lose games when we are dominating every other facet. 

Add in other ball butcher(ers) around them and forward of centre in Sparrow, Viney, Langdon, ANB, Harmes and its plain to see why we struggle going forward. 

The flow-on effect this has on gane-plan, motivation levels, crowd atmosphere etc is much bigger than people give credit. 

 

Overrated is not the right word but I know what you mean. 

They are both champions of our club and will go down in history, but I think they are not complete footballers as todays game demands. They tick all the boxes in contest, power, endurance but lack the finesse and game iq. That is what holds them back from being elevated to the next tier  alongside the Ablett’s, Franklin etc. 

 

IN: JVR, Spargo (sub), Oliver (please)

OUT: Smith, Chandler, Fritsch

Melky stays in for game 100 as a dee as does Brown in better conditions and Harmes as theres no value to flipping he and Jordon every single week. 

Grundy would be an out for me too but they just won't do it 

Ideally it would be this

IN; JVR, Spargo, Oliver, Jordon (sub)

OUT: Smith, Chandler, Fritsch, Grundy

  On 04/07/2023 at 09:32, WERRIDEE said:

B: Lever, May, Bowey

HB: Salem, Petty, Rivers

C: Hunter, Oliver, Langdon

HF: Petracca, van Rooyen, Sparrow

F: Pickett, Brown, Melksham

FOLL: Gawn, Brayshaw, Viney

IC: Grundy, McVee, Woewodin, Howes

SUB: Jordon

IN: van Rooyen, Oliver, Woewodin, Howes, Jordon

OUT: Fritsch, Chandler, Neal-Bullen, Harmes, Smith

I love it. Brave. Progressive.  Howes and Woey deserve the chance.  Marvel suits their run and athletic ability. 
Though not sure on Melksham - that’s a risk given he’s only his last legs right now.  
But I doubt that love children like Smith or ANB actually get omitted.  Spargo despite no form also likely to be a Goody loves me inclusion.