3 minutes ago, binman said:

He did indeed.

Shows his character, courage, passion and toughness.

It might come down to match ups, but it's hard not to think goody will go with hibbo in the finals precisely because of those attributes.

I get the very strong sense they are managing hibbo to ensure he is in great nick and is at his explosive best week one of the finals.

Can you see a scenario where McVee and Hibbo both play? 

23 minutes ago, Sydee said:

McVee is one player that is reliable in terms of decision making and execution when he has possession 

We have a couple of others in our back six that are capable of some costly turnovers. We also have a couple that aren’t at their best when the ball hits the ground - In this area McVee is a standout 

Our back six is much better with Judd in it imo - maybe he is feeling the pinch but if not he stays in 

Who are they?

10 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Can you see a scenario where McVee and Hibbo both play? 

Yes.

But, personally I'm not a huge fan of the 'if player x comes in, who comes out' game. 

And even less a fan of the more aggro variant 'you can't just say player x comes in without saying who comes out'.

For one thing, statistically I'd be guessing more often than not a best 22 player has to miss any given game thru injury.

And if we are talking finals, we'll that is 6 weeks away. So anything can happen on that front.

And secondly, it doesn't nessarily have to be a like for like swap. Roles can be juggled, particularly in modern footy where you don't have a back or forward six - you have a back 7 or 8 and and forward 7 or 8.

Thirdly, even if a direct swap it will be for a role not a generic position eg forward for forward.

Case in point, Spargo. Spargo, who I firmly believe will come back in by finals, is not in competition for say chandlers spot as even though they ate both small forward,spargs is really only nominally a forward and they play very different roles.

Spargo's role is the high half forward role, which involves running up and down the ground all game and providing defensive cover, an outlet option on transion and the last kick inside 50.

Whereas Chandler's best role is as  pure crumbing, small forward that kicks goal. Of course, like all players he works up and down the ground, but nowhere near to the extent of chandler (and even less again than nibbla).

We don't want Chandler gassed all the time, we want him explosive and ready to pounce. Same goes for koz.

Spargs and nibbla can do the 16-17km per game donkey work that frees up our goal scorers to go to work - a point I have heard tracc make on several occasions.

19 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Who are they?

Steven may for one.

4 minutes ago, binman said:

Steven may for one.

Yes agree but the more you get your hands on the pill the odds are your likely to make a mistake percentage wise.

I have a peculiar feeling we're setting ourselves for the 1st QF....and against the Pies....  that i think is our best crack at the Flag..

In that view we might be 'trialling' a few more modified line ups if for no other reason than the observe the checks and balances of the group.

The finals campaign as we all observe is a different kettle of fish.  If all goes well for us it might be but 3 games.  But we need contingency through all of that. There may occur the necessity for a bit of plug and play if injury surfaces. 

Tomorrow's game is an excellent opportunity for refining the optimum mix whilst maintaining fitness through the list.

Those that trot out will be expected to.do the job on Norf...to do the things they've trained and to do them better and better with each outting. 

I always seem to have my stomach in knots with Joel playing a full game but his efforts recently have been stalwart. Can.he apply same for 4/4 atm ? That's a q the fd are im sure asking and for Smith to answer. Again this game a good one for that to be tested.

Dusty comes in and out of games now. His best is brilliant. It will test anyone. I think Riv is growing in leaps and bounds...but he'll still be handed lessons... he's still young ( really ) 

Woey... this season.is a bit of a blooding. We need to temper expectations.... he might or not get many more munutes this year but another full preseason.. will help immensely.  He's on his way.  Already a handy backup.

Milky...  love his footy..  This end of the season and finals is made for him and he for them. 

Hibbo.. has qualities a few others dont.  He'll be played when suits.

Brodie...  no idea really. I can only guess the real plan for him over this and coming years is not quite what we thought...though i sense some revision by the club ( and him ) has occurred.  Time will tell...  Have a sneaky he might be cleverly instrumental during finals.

 

Think Brown is now Back up Benny.   Not to be discounted as we need players who CAN step in.

Harmes, Spargo, Jordan are role players...not all roles every week. ....and with Clarry coming back ( some point....one day ) ...well theres only so many deckchairs you can shuffle.

Will watch the game with much interest...more about the HOW we go about it than the scoreboard. 

Go Dees

11 minutes ago, binman said:

Steven may for one.

At times yes but his occasional shank kick can be forgiven for everything else he brings. Lever is generally reliable then we’ve got Bowey, Rivers and Salem. Is the poster referring to Brayshaw?

11 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

I have a peculiar feeling we're setting ourselves for the 1st QF....and against the Pies....  that i think is our best crack at the Flag..

i have a feeling we're setting ourselves up to be 2nd by the end of this round and not lose a game for the remainder of the year and stay there til the finals, meaning we won't play the filth until a prelim at the earliest

i maintain that it's a completely different season once finals begin; anything can, and does, happen

2 hours ago, dee-tox said:

Expecting a 19 year old kid built like a rake to lock down on an in form Dusty when he went forward was delusional! 

You mean that a Dee, who has more than held his own as a first year player in a team that won a premiership 679 days ago, was beaten by, nominally, the best ever player to play the game? I wonder who was expecting Judd to "lock down" on Dusty?

14 minutes ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

At times yes but his occasional shank kick can be forgiven for everything else he brings. Lever is generally reliable then we’ve got Bowey, Rivers and Salem. Is the poster referring to Brayshaw?

Brayshaw's shanks tend to be on the run in front of goal.  Comming out of defense, I feel he's generally more reliable, choosing short safer chip kick options, rather than biting off the risky kicks too often.

Edited August 5, 20231 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

There’s only a 3cm height difference between Smith and Tomlinson and Smith has a much better vertical leap so in some ways it’s almost like for like (albeit Tomlinson has a bigger frame). 

22 minutes ago, doc roet said:

Yes agree but the more you get your hands on the pill the odds are your likely to make a mistake percentage wise.

Sure.

All players have clangers.

Bowey, arguably our best kick, missed a 20 metre kick under no pressure over the head of a teammate all by himself last week, gifting a shot on goal from 40.

17 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Will we look back on this team selection and say it cost us our finals series a la 2022.

Time may tell

What the feck are you talking about Jimbo?

Hi everyone, we arrived down at Hobart last night and very excited to be here for the game. Does anybody know if the boys will be having a light run at all today? Thanks.

19 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

I have a peculiar feeling we're setting ourselves for the 1st QF....and against the Pies....  that i think is our best crack at the Flag..

In that view we might be 'trialling' a few more modified line ups if for no other reason than the observe the checks and balances of the group.

The finals campaign as we all observe is a different kettle of fish.  If all goes well for us it might be but 3 games.  But we need contingency through all of that. There may occur the necessity for a bit of plug and play if injury surfaces. 

Tomorrow's game is an excellent opportunity for refining the optimum mix whilst maintaining fitness through the list.

Those that trot out will be expected to.do the job on Norf...to do the things they've trained and to do them better and better with each outting. 

I always seem to have my stomach in knots with Joel playing a full game but his efforts recently have been stalwart. Can.he apply same for 4/4 atm ? That's a q the fd are im sure asking and for Smith to answer. Again this game a good one for that to be tested.

Dusty comes in and out of games now. His best is brilliant. It will test anyone. I think Riv is growing in leaps and bounds...but he'll still be handed lessons... he's still young ( really ) 

Woey... this season.is a bit of a blooding. We need to temper expectations.... he might or not get many more munutes this year but another full preseason.. will help immensely.  He's on his way.  Already a handy backup.

Milky...  love his footy..  This end of the season and finals is made for him and he for them. 

Hibbo.. has qualities a few others dont.  He'll be played when suits.

Brodie...  no idea really. I can only guess the real plan for him over this and coming years is not quite what we thought...though i sense some revision by the club ( and him ) has occurred.  Time will tell...  Have a sneaky he might be cleverly instrumental during finals.

 

Think Brown is now Back up Benny.   Not to be discounted as we need players who CAN step in.

Harmes, Spargo, Jordan are role players...not all roles every week. ....and with Clarry coming back ( some point....one day ) ...well theres only so many deckchairs you can shuffle.

Will watch the game with much interest...more about the HOW we go about it than the scoreboard. 

Go Dees

Good summary BB.

I'm personally quite happy with the selections this week.  I'd thought Hibbo may have came in to rest McVee, but since Casey have the bye, Hibbo gets the week off to keep him fresh as I don't think he needs the validation of playing seniors every week and the evidence this season is that his aging body can do with a little extra TLC.

Really glad that Joel Smith is getting another crack at a full game.  Every time he's been bought on, he has competed brilliantly in the air and generally impacted well.  He did get a few full games back when our forward line was struggling, but the fact that we were struggling over all down there, together with the generally wet wether nature of the games made it had for him to really establish what he can do. 

Now that we have re-established some attacking capability, I think an important aspect (if/when Joel plays forward) is that our contested marking options of Petty, JVR, Melksham and Joel don't all go up at once and spoil each other.  Alternatively, I can also see Joel playing in the backline taking the role down there that Petty would have (probably more where Tomlinson and Joel have played in recient weeks) and Joel's form in this role has been quite strong and I feel he gives us both a great intercepting/contested marking option down there and also heaps of dash to rebound out of defense.

13 minutes ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Good summary BB.

I'm personally quite happy with the selections this week.  I'd thought Hibbo may have came in to rest McVee, but since Casey have the bye, Hibbo gets the week off to keep him fresh as I don't think he needs the validation of playing seniors every week and the evidence this season is that his aging body can do with a little extra TLC.

Really glad that Joel Smith is getting another crack at a full game.  Every time he's been bought on, he has competed brilliantly in the air and generally impacted well.  He did get a few full games back when our forward line was struggling, but the fact that we were struggling over all down there, together with the generally wet wether nature of the games made it had for him to really establish what he can do. 

Now that we have re-established some attacking capability, I think an important aspect (if/when Joel plays forward) is that our contested marking options of Petty, JVR, Melksham and Joel don't all go up at once and spoil each other.  Alternatively, I can also see Joel playing in the backline taking the role down there that Petty would have (probably more where Tomlinson and Joel have played in recient weeks) and Joel's form in this role has been quite strong and I feel he gives us both a great intercepting/contested marking option down there and also heaps of dash to rebound out of defense.

Smith has an opportunity to show us its been worth waiting  along long time for him to be fit well and firing

I really hope he does at least we will know his capability

 North will only have two talls and plethora of ^ footers Smith will be busy I think

 

26 minutes ago, A F said:

What the feck are you talking about Jimbo?

Maybe you missed Max Gawns comment that half a dozen players in last year's finals were "banged up" & carrying injuries.

24 minutes ago, Demondan75 said:

Hi everyone, we arrived down at Hobart last night and very excited to be here for the game. Does anybody know if the boys will be having a light run at all today? Thanks.

Apparently 3:30 at Blundstone Arena, entry via western gates, according to a post on Facebook. No player signing as they are on a tight schedule.

I'm surprised there's been so much speculation in this thread about who would start and who will be the sub, after@Dannyz, who has a great record here, said days ago that Smith would replace Tomlinson. That has already come to fruition. And the sub will be Hibberd. Bookmark it.

51 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

I have a peculiar feeling we're setting ourselves for the 1st QF....and against the Pies....  that i think is our best crack at the Flag..

In that view we might be 'trialling' a few more modified line ups if for no other reason than the observe the checks and balances of the group.

I don't see it this way at all. At this stage Melbourne will be attempting to finish 2nd. Now that may change going forwards, depending on results in games involving Port, Brisbane and Melbourne. And I'm not sure that finshing 4th is necessarily better than finishing 3rd, particularly if Port finish 2nd. History shows sides don't win from 4th (they haven't in the past 23 years since the current Finals System came in in 2000).

7 minutes ago, WheeloRatings said:

Apparently 3:30 at Blundstone Arena, entry via western gates, according to a post on Facebook. No player signing as they are on a tight schedule.

Glad there are no player signing as we need every one of them.

1 minute ago, Sydney_Demon said:

I don't see it this way at all. At this stage Melbourne will be attempting to finish 2nd. Now that may change going forwards, depending on results in games involving Port, Brisbane and Melbourne. And I'm not sure that finshing 4th is necessarily better than finishing 3rd, particularly if Port finish 2nd. History shows sides don't win from 4th (they haven't in the past 23 years since the current Finals System came in in 2000).

Do we NEED to finish 2nd ??  There's no accolade. You DO get a home final..... but at the cost of going hell for leather to get there..  Whilst not often exhibiting tempo during a game perhaps we are with the season itself.

Its a marathon...  you have to pick when.to GO..  

Its interesting..  id be saving a little in the tank for week 1  Sept.

We were gassed by then last year....msybe another thing we've learnt.... we do seem very keen about "learnings" ..

 

25 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Do we NEED to finish 2nd ??  There's no accolade. You DO get a home final..... but at the cost of going hell for leather to get there..  Whilst not often exhibiting tempo during a game perhaps we are with the season itself.

Its a marathon...  you have to pick when.to GO..  

Its interesting..  id be saving a little in the tank for week 1  Sept.

We were gassed by then last year....msybe another thing we've learnt.... we do seem very keen about "learnings" ..

 

Agree BB, but conversely in 21, we came home with a wet sail and played some brilliant attacking football in the last half dozen or so game and were able to really attack finals brimming with confidence.

BTW, I don't think these are mutually exclusive mindsets.  I think the emphasis is on playing the way we want to, in order to set ourselves for finals and if we finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th at the end of the home and away, it's somewhat irrelevant as you point out, it's finals when we want to be really hitting our straps.  Finishing second might just be a byproduct of getting into the sort of form and game style we want for finals.

Edited August 5, 20231 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

Milky...  love his footy..  This end of the season and finals is made for him and he for them. 

Not to have a dig but sadly I thought Milks finals performances last year were well below adequate. I will say that two of  of his last three games have been outstanding. If he continues he's certainly going to play finals again. I hope he does. It also means he will play alongside Fritta who is always going to come back in if fit. It will make for an interesting fwd line. Melkshams marking and boundary goals have been a highlight for me and he seems to have found some of that pace he displayed when first playing for us. Love his goal celebrations too.

7 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Do we NEED to finish 2nd ??  There's no accolade. You DO get a home final..... but at the cost of going hell for leather to get there..  Whilst not often exhibiting tempo during a game perhaps we are with the season itself.

Its a marathon...  you have to pick when.to GO..  

Its interesting..  id be saving a little in the tank for week 1  Sept.

We were gassed by then last year....msybe another thing we've learnt.... we do seem very keen about "learnings" ..

 

No, we don't need to finish 2nd but it's a significant advantage going into finals compared to 3rd or 4th (although I acknowledge it doesn't guarantee anything. Look at last year). I agree there's no accolade for finishing higher up the ladder, even being minor premiers. But I don't accept that somehow if you play at 90%, concede you aren't going to finish 2nd, that somehow helps your prospects. We were carrying significant injuries last year at season end, weren't able to run out games and that was a factor in us losing our 2 finals but I don't accept that if we'd rested players, not played as hard & finished 4th things would have ended up any differently. You don't flirt with form.

Now, this could all change dependent on results over the next couple of weeks. I do concede if we reach the point when 4th is the best we can finish you might manage some players and/or change game style slightly. But even on this managing players thing, you don't rest players just because you can. You do it if there's a reason to do it, little niggling injuries that can benefit from a week's break etc. I'm happy to leave it up to Melbourne's fitness & medical staff to make those calls rather than pretend I have any expertise or inside knowledge.