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PREGAME: Rd 18 vs Brisbane

Demonland
Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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13 hours ago, SPC said:

Who shall he [Cameron] kick 5 on this week? 

I expect that you have a list of prospects in your negative box, SPC

6 hours ago, picket fence said:

Cariiyst the VFL is a basket case of a competition byes here there and everywhere. The AFL clubs need to go to the AFL and DEMAND an AFL Reserves comp just like it should be. The VFL IS AMATEUR HOUR. How does a club get momemtum and games into young players??

PATHETIC🤮

fence - the VFL, as it stands, (principally the endless byes, and far too many teams requiring interstate travel for part timers who also have real jobs) is just not a good place to rigorously develop talent, and ease players back from injury.

Bring the VFL back to V - the interstate teams can play their "reserves" in their own local competitions.  And get an even number of teams FCS - though I guess we will be expected to get used to the rolling bye in AFL as just another inequity in an already grotesquely compromised schedule (amusingly also AKA a 'draw') 

    • Like 6
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    Might be an unpopular take, but I thought Rivers was poor last night,at least in the first half. Lots of effort but also lots of uncharacteristic turn overs and out of position a few times.

    It would be harsh, given I think he has had a great year, but IF Hibbo is fit, he's the one I'd make the change for this week, not Bowey.

    Why is anybody talking about Bowser being dropped? He’s well on his way to a 200 game career.

    Weird.

    • Like 8
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    7 minutes ago, deanox said:

    Might be an unpopular take, but I thought Rivers was poor last night,at least in the first half. Lots of effort but also lots of uncharacteristic turn overs and out of position a few times.

    It would be harsh, given I think he has had a great year, but IF Hibbo is fit, he's the one I'd make the change for this week, not Bowey.

    I'd be giving certain players licence to use angles and take on kicks. Those players in the back half would be McVee, Salem and Bowey. (That's why it'd be nice to eventually get Howes in there too)

    Other than that, I'd be saying to the rest of the team, win your contest, or do your intercepting, or provide a handball receive outlet, or take short hittable kicks, nothing else.

    Gus and Rivers shouldn't be taking those kicks on and neither really should May and Lever. Petty is one defender who actually plays within his wheelhouse and understands his limitations by foot and keeps it simple.

    Now that we've got more kickers in the back seven, I'd hope we start to set these rules for certain players, because if I were the opposition, I'd be very happy with Gus or Rivers having the ball and trying to be creative.

    • Like 5

    12 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

    Why is anybody talking about Bowser being dropped? He’s well on his way to a 200 game career.

    Weird.

    Well, he's already been dropped this season and he got his place back presumably due to Hibbo's injury.

    I love Bowser and he'd be in my team every week, but I have a feeling there's gonna be an unlucky defender in there somewhere at the back end of this year. And I hope it's not him.

    Edited by A F

    • Like 4
    5 minutes ago, A F said:

    Well, he's already been dropped this season and he got his place back presumably due to Hibbo's injury.

    I love Bowser and he'd be in my team every week, but I have a feeling there's gonna be an unlucky defender in there somewhere at the back end of this year. And I hope it's not him.

    I thought he missed from concussion? Was he dropped prior A F? I must have forgotten that.

    Anyways I agree. He’s a gun.

    • Like 2
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    6 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

    I thought he missed from concussion? Was he dropped prior A F? I must have forgotten that.

    Anyways I agree. He’s a gun.

    Yeah, good call, he wasn't dropped, he had concussion. But he didn't come back for the Geelong game, which was well outside the concussion protocol period, so essentially had to bide his time.

    In retrospect, that was a mistake not to play him down there.

    • Like 2
     
    6 minutes ago, A F said:

    Yeah, good call, he wasn't dropped, he had concussion. But he didn't come back for the Geelong game, which was well outside the concussion protocol period, so essentially had to bide his time.

    In retrospect, that was a mistake not to play him down there.

    His kicking is elite and needed but he can be found out in 1-1s. I don’t envy MC towards the back end of the season and finals.

    2 minutes ago, rpfc said:

    His kicking is elite and needed but he can be found out in 1-1s. I don’t envy MC towards the back end of the season and finals.

    I don't feel he gets found out 1v1 any more than any other defender.

    Sure, his height goes against him at times, but he usually makes a good fist out of it, even when he's at a height disadvantage. 

    • Like 7

    1 hour ago, fr_ap said:

    Harmes was awful I thought. Our midfield depth is a concern - our first bounce against the Lions will be Viney, Sparrow and Jordon in all likelihood. A top end midfield draft pick or two is in need before the era of track and Clarry begins to pass.

    i agree that we need to stock up with class - and this year is the opportunity to do so, potentially - but petracca and oliver are top tier mids and should be for some time to come

    players are at their peak for much longer these days, in part due to the increased high performance culture around afl clubs

    8 hours ago, Billy said:

    Kozzie was better than Spargo?

    Or are just hoping for a Kozzie return to form again?

    Kossie plays deep forward, spargo plays up the ground more.  Which is why i think Harmes is the replacement for him.

    If chandler has a good few weeks in the VFL and Kossie doesn't improve then you do that switch 

    For me it’s gotta be:

    In: Tomlinson

    Out: Spargo 

    Petty Fwd. makes no sense why this hasn’t happened — best we’ve looked is when he’s up there & is a nice foil for BBB.

     

    Pickett has 1-2 more weeks to lift or AMW/Chandler comes in For mine just to help him light-up a bit.

    • Like 2
    1 hour ago, Travy14 said:

    Kossie plays deep forward, spargo plays up the ground more.  Which is why i think Harmes is the replacement for him.

    If chandler has a good few weeks in the VFL and Kossie doesn't improve then you do that switch 

    Def should he tried as it’s only time he’s looked dangerous in 6wks — But Spargo also out of sorts for mine I’d prefer Howes, Chandler or AMW atm (Woey can play up ground)!

    10 hours ago, fr_ap said:

    Harmes was awful I thought. Our midfield depth is a concern - our first bounce against the Lions will be Viney, Sparrow and Jordon in all likelihood. A top end midfield draft pick or two is in need before the era of track and Clarry begins to pass.

    Agree with this and while he found a lot of the footy, there were too many fumbles and fend-offs neither of which translate to AFL level.

    • Like 1

    16 hours ago, SPC said:

    I like the idea of moving Bowey forward. Rivers will take Bailey or Rainer and McVee will take the other. 

    it aint broke dont fix it leave bowey back

    10 hours ago, A F said:

    Well, he's already been dropped this season and he got his place back presumably due to Hibbo's injury.

    I love Bowser and he'd be in my team every week, but I have a feeling there's gonna be an unlucky defender in there somewhere at the back end of this year. And I hope it's not him.

    If he was such an integral part of our backline, I'd love to see him crumbling up forward. Reckon he would be good for at least two every week.

    10 hours ago, deanox said:

    Might be an unpopular take, but I thought Rivers was poor last night,at least in the first half. Lots of effort but also lots of uncharacteristic turn overs and out of position a few times.

    It would be harsh, given I think he has had a great year, but IF Hibbo is fit, he's the one I'd make the change for this week, not Bowey.

    I don't think we can or should drop Rivers. IMO he offers positional flexibility and should be rotated between the backline and midfield as part of our ongoing attempts to revitalise our midfield. He's also been very good for most of the year and even if he was down this weekend that can't cost him his spot.

    • Like 9
    2 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

    I don't think we can or should drop Rivers. IMO he offers positional flexibility and should be rotated between the backline and midfield as part of our ongoing attempts to revitalise our midfield. He's also been very good for most of the year and even if he was down this weekend that can't cost him his spot.

    Our two weakest ball users in the back half IMO both offer the best versatility. That's why it's likely neither will be dropped (Rivers and Gus).

    To be honest, I think Rivers is better as an intercepting and 1v1 half back, with a bit of licence to get high offensively, but with that licence he tends to get involved with chains and often turnovers them over. Maybe these errors will lessen in time, as our backs gel with playing this more offensive chaining?

    • Like 1
    2 minutes ago, A F said:

    Our two weakest ball users in the back half IMO both offer the best versatility. That's why it's likely neither will be dropped (Rivers and Gus).

    To be honest, I think Rivers is better as an intercepting and 1v1 half back, with a bit of licence to get high offensively, but with that licence he tends to get involved with chains and often turnovers them over. Maybe these errors will lessen in time, as our backs gel with playing this more offensive chaining?

    When Rivers turnovers them over does that mean he retrieves his turnover? Kind of like kick to kick I guess 😂

    • Haha 2

    4 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

    When Rivers turnovers them over does that mean he retrieves his turnover? Kind of like kick to kick I guess 😂

    Sometimes. He's a bit bull at a gate with disposal on slingshot.

    On 7/9/2023 at 9:23 AM, SPC said:

    I would love to see Smith come in and play on Cameron.

    We tried that once already

    • Like 1

    Sasche has to be considered after bagging 4. He's got all the skills just needs to go in harder and show some m0ngrel. Goal posts are the same VFL or AFL. We need fwd options now that Fristch is out for a stretch.  I'd risk it. JVR doesn't appear to be quite ready yet.

     

    Edited by Deebauched

     

    Our back line really is elite, isn't it? 

    When we start talking about dropping the likes of Rivers after one average (not awful) it really shows the standard we have in our back half. There are no weaknesses.

    Bowey's decision making and ball use is just pure class. You forget he's only 20 and only going to get better. 

    I would be keeping Hibberd on ice as much as we can leading up to finals.

    Another random note that I don't think has been talked about enough is that because of our incredible depth down back it's meant one less position Gus has had to fill or help out in. He's been able to be released into Midfield and forward half which really benefits us with winning the ball in the front half.

    • Like 8

    You have to score to win.

    At present scoring is our weakest area and it doesn't seem to be improving.

    Not a fan of Petty forward but I'm willing to try Tomlinson back and Petty in the CHF role. Desperate times etc

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