PREGAME: Rd 22 vs Carlton

[Lord Travis 10,729]

Tomlinson into the backline. Smith to the forward line. It’s the most realistic option with fit players available.

[layzie 33,794]

8 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

I don’t disagree but we recruited him, he knows how we play, he knows what the role is. It just seems a chance worth taking atm. 

Well we have few other choices. I'm just so far from convinced he can put together a 4 quarter game. 

[Jaded No More 68,906]

1 minute ago, Lord Travis said:

Tomlinson into the backline. Smith to the forward line. It’s the most realistic option with fit players available.

Agreed. 
Smith doesn’t give you the leads that Petty does tho. 
The JVR Petty chemistry was so good 

God dammit why are we cursed?! MFCSS is so real 😭

[DeelightfulPlay 2,548]

4 hours ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

@Jaded No More surprisingly cannot see Petty! But also they're lining up for the flight behind where I am standing so that might explain it

Terrible photo incoming when I get my internet to work

As promised! Definitely not quitting my day job to become a sports photographer...

Maysie, Melky, Smith, Salo a few can be spotted in this Where's Wally lookalike photo

[ben russell 764]

OUT: Harmes (forever), Petty (inj)

IN: Oliver, Tomlinson/Hibberd

Such bad news re: Petty. Not only does it stuff our forward structure but it also stuffs us in defence. I thought Smith was superb in defence against North before he was switched forward when Petty went down. Tommo/Hibberd to defence and Smith forward for the foreseeable future. Grundy just isn’t a forward and hasn’t had enough exposure at VFL level for us to select him at this stage.

[WERRIDEE 5,473]

Why do people want Tomlinson in? In: Oliver, Hibberd Out: Petty sub Harmes. Lever takes DeKoning and May takes Curnow.

B: McVee, May, Lever

HB: Salem, Hibberd, Rivers

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: Petracca, J.Smith, Neal-Bullen 

F: Melksham, van Rooyen, Pickett

FOLL: Bowey, Sparrow, Jordon, Chandler

SUB: Harmes 

[Older demon 2,741]

I hope Clayton is back and he replaces Harmes. Carlton run with Pittonet and De Koenig rucking so I think we need to leave Roo down forward and bring in another 2nd ruck/forward and go with either Grundy or Schache. 

Petty won't be back for a long time and we need to work out who plays finals and I strongly believe we cannot go in with Max as our solo ruck as good as he is. Not having a VFL game this week rather complicates things.

[David-Demon 563]

3 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Why do people want Tomlinson in? In: Oliver, Hibberd Out: Petty sub Harmes. Lever takes DeKoning and May takes Curnow.

B: McVee, May, Lever

HB: Salem, Hibberd, Rivers

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: Petracca, J.Smith, Neal-Bullen 

F: Melksham, van Rooyen, Pickett

FOLL: Bowey, Sparrow, Jordon, Chandler

SUB: Harmes 

So I take it we are resting Gawny and Viney next week are we ?

Edited August 6, 2023 by David-Demon

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

In:  Clarry,  Scache,  Hibb

Out:  Harmes,  Petty,  Smith

Sub:  Smith

Haven't watched the entire match just the Kayo mini but sounds like Harmes was either very iffy or average to ok depending on who was doing the watching.

In 21/22 form Harmes would've been ideal as a cooler for Cripps.

That role probably now goes to Sparrow.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Harmes is a fair way off his last two years form/fitness it seems.

Clarry and others would take the Cripps run with previously but wouldn't want to see Clazz getting that job first up if he's back.

Scache a handy ruck foil for Maxy and he'll need the assist to combat Pitt & DeKoenig, remembering that we still need to preserve Max a little as best we can in prep for finals.

Also allows Max to play a few more minutes behind the ball as well.  Will be handy on Koenig when he's resting / pushing forward and to offer another tall intercept mark to assist May & Lever on occasions and to block/spoil some of the leading lanes of Curnow.

Scache can stretch the Blues defence a little too, in a similar fashion to having BB in the team and if he performs well enough, Weitering may go to him at times taking the heat off JVR a little.

Even though he's doing a sterling job as a chop out ruck foil for Maxy at CBAs and up forward, i'm not big on JVR having to play so many minutes here (as a young developing forward).

Scache can take the chop out role away from JVR (aside from rare ones up forward if needed) allowing JVR to instead use more of his energy to impact the game as much as possible as a heavy hitting forward and work his butt off defensively, especially at ground level.  Schache not great defending at ground level in forward 50 so it makes sense for him to take the ruck contests and have JVR focussing more on this side to assist the smalls & mediums.  Play both to their strengths / weaknesses.

It also means Smith back as the sub who imv is the best 'impact' option in this role.

Scache also holds his own at CBs and is 'Ok' at ground level, not that dissimilar to Grundy, albeit Grundy will hit in alot harder at the contest post bounce.  If we're being honest though,  even Grundy is not the ground level post bounce beast we used to watch pre-injury at the Pies.

Scache obviously not as good as Grundy at CBs after the bounce but can take a decent mark or two on the lead, offer an option higher up on occasions and pretty decent accuracy in front of the sticks.  He's also not bad at tap work.  Got the height and leap to go with anyone here.

Having said that, all options outside of Petty pale a little in comparison and/or just aren't available / capable in terms of carrying injuries (BB who i doubt we'll see back at AFL level) or coming back from them eg; TMac....still weeks away from a call up even if ready from this week... & will need to find match fitness / form at Casey surely.

Will need to find a filler obviously and one that not only holds his own as a TF replacemenf but who assists the team overall, especially Max and JVR.

I don't feel Goody & the FD are keen on the Shack though.  So more likely Smith will go forward for Petty.  I didn't see enough of the game to know how Smith went.  Did he play as Petty's direct replacement up forward?  How did he go?

Hibb in to counter the Blues' small forward bias and helps the likes of Bowey, McVee & Rivers with the ground ball battle inside D 50.

JJ sounded solid.  I would still prefer the more outside role that Woey offers but he's probably an additional pre-season & about a half season of game time at Casey away from getting to a level that sees him hold his place most weeks.  It's a pitty as i love what he brings with ball in hand when he gets on the end of it.

Who comes in as the sub if Smith stays in as Petty's replacement.  Harmes or Grundy?

Painfull timing with the Casey bye this week.  VFL program is shizen.

Edited August 6, 2023 by Demon Dynasty

[Bring Back Barassi 552]

Petracca forward to replace Petty, Oliver in to replace Petracca mid, 

Hibbo in, Smith sub

[Tracca 850]

10 hours ago, Travy14 said:

Out:  Petty, Harmes, Smith, Hibberd 

In: Schache, Oliver, Thomlinson

I think Schache could be a good option, but im not confident in any options really.  Hibbo unlucky and Smith back to his sub role which is now more important to us with Petty out.

Why would you drop Smith? Makes no sense he's been fantastic

[Deemania since 56 6,634]

14 hours ago, YearOfTheDees said:

Blues looking 2nd rate at the moment.

Yes, the Blues look ripe for the picking.

[Roost it far 8,259]

2 hours ago, Demon Dynasty said:

In:  Clarry,  Scache,  Hibb

Out:  Harmes,  Petty,  Smith

Sub:  Smith

Haven't watched the entire match just the Kayo mini but sounds like Harmes was either very iffy or average to ok depending on who was doing the watching.

In 21/22 form Harmes would've been ideal as a cooler for Cripps.

That role probably now goes to Sparrow.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, Harmes is a fair way off his last two years form/fitness it seems.

Clarry and others would take the Cripps run with previously but wouldn't want to see Clazz getting that job first up if he's back.

Scache a handy ruck foil for Maxy and he'll need the assist to combat Pitt & DeKoenig, remembering that we still need to preserve Max a little as best we can in prep for finals.

Also allows Max to play a few more minutes behind the ball as well.  Will be handy on Koenig when he's resting / pushing forward and to offer another tall intercept mark to assist May & Lever on occasions and to block/spoil some of the leading lanes of Curnow.

Scache can stretch the Blues defence a little too, in a similar fashion to having BB in the team and if he performs well enough, Weitering may go to him at times taking the heat off JVR a little.

Even though he's doing a sterling job as a chop out ruck foil for Maxy at CBAs and up forward, i'm not big on JVR having to play so many minutes here (as a young developing forward).

Scache can take the chop out role away from JVR (aside from rare ones up forward if needed) allowing JVR to instead use more of his energy to impact the game as much as possible as a heavy hitting forward and work his butt off defensively, especially at ground level.  Schache not great defending at ground level in forward 50 so it makes sense for him to take the ruck contests and have JVR focussing more on this side to assist the smalls & mediums.  Play both to their strengths / weaknesses.

It also means Smith back as the sub who imv is the best 'impact' option in this role.

Scache also holds his own at CBs and is 'Ok' at ground level, not that dissimilar to Grundy, albeit Grundy will hit in alot harder at the contest post bounce.  If we're being honest though,  even Grundy is not the ground level post bounce beast we used to watch pre-injury at the Pies.

Scache obviously not as good as Grundy at CBs after the bounce but can take a decent mark or two on the lead, offer an option higher up on occasions and pretty decent accuracy in front of the sticks.  He's also not bad at tap work.  Got the height and leap to go with anyone here.

Having said that, all options outside of Petty pale a little in comparison and/or just aren't available / capable in terms of carrying injuries (BB who i doubt we'll see back at AFL level) or coming back from them eg; TMac....still weeks away from a call up even if ready from this week... & will need to find match fitness / form at Casey surely.

Will need to find a filler obviously and one that not only holds his own as a TF replacemenf but who assists the team overall, especially Max and JVR.

I don't feel Goody & the FD are keen on the Shack though.  So more likely Smith will go forward for Petty.  I didn't see enough of the game to know how Smith went.  Did he play as Petty's direct replacement up forward?  How did he go?

Hibb in to counter the Blues' small forward bias and helps the likes of Bowey, McVee & Rivers with the ground ball battle inside D 50.

JJ sounded solid.  I would still prefer the more outside role that Woey offers but he's probably an additional pre-season & about a half season of game time at Casey away from getting to a level that sees him hold his place most weeks.  It's a pitty as i love what he brings with ball in hand when he gets on the end of it.

Who comes in as the sub if Smith stays in as Petty's replacement.  Harmes or Grundy?

Painfull timing with the Casey bye this week.  VFL program is shizen.

Nice but they won’t play Schache I don’t think

[Roost it far 8,259]

Blues will throw everything they’ve got at us. I want to see us freeze them out. Not sure I want a shootout.

[Kent 2,909]

14 hours ago, Demonland said:

In: Clarry

Out: Harmes

Who comes in for Petty?

Schacke 

[Deemania since 56 6,634]

9 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Smith doesn’t give you the leads that Petty does tho.

I'd reckon that getting Smith to lead out from the forward line to opportunity is just a small tweak. He's mobile, fast and could be cunning in this role.

[Skuit 10,031]

Kozzie Pickett has only ever kicked four goals against the Blues, but I doubt many Carlton fans would take solace in such a stat. If he manages ten more goals over the next five 'guaranteed' MFC matches in 2023, he'll be just five shy of the half-way mark of Cyril Rioli's career tally, who took until his eighth season to kick 40-plus and only achieved the feat twice. Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron notched their first 40-plus seasons in their sixth go-around. Kozzie will likely have done so three times in his first four seasons.  

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

Nice but they won’t play Schache I don’t think

Yeah was and possibly still is a fair way behind on the pecking order Roost.

Petty out might change things but Goody will most likely go with Smithy forward and Hibb as his replacement for this week.

He may also have Grundy earmarked ahead of the Shack anyway.

Shack could kick 6 and have a PB in the McGoos and still miss.

Personally i'm not a big fan of Grundy as a 'mostly' forward nor a part-time onr.  And was never sold on him as a permanent 22 as a mostly ruck option either.

To repeat what i said months ago, would make a decent sub option IF Max was coming up against 2 serious / mature oppo main rucks and needed an assist after half time or later as required.

Aside from that he's a no for mine, even as sub.  Smithy the perfect sub, with the odd run in the 22 as we saw yesterday, in order to keep him fully primed and match fit.

Edited August 6, 2023 by Demon Dynasty

[Smokey 4,389]

Y’all overthinking this badly.

Smith forward, Tommo back. Simple. 

[JimmyGadson 3,455]

I'll go against the grain and say lets bring Grundy in to see if we can work it.

Last chance.

There were games earlier in the year where it worked and I think easing Max's load or more importantly, limiting exposure to constant crash and bash is somewhat important this time of year.

Grundy to start forward, we've always got the sub if it isn't working.

I'm just of the opinion that bringing a hungry Grundy in as well as Oliver against the blues, who will show up to the G will give us a big mental boost and bring some excitement to our players and supporters. (Who will hopefully show up)..

As McRae astutely noted in his presser, the game is as much above the shoulders as it is anything else.

These are the types of moves that can get a team rolling, bring some excitement and create some hype coming into the last few rounds.

I really think Grundy is made for these types of games. And we'd all want him to succeed.

I hope it happens.

Edited August 6, 2023 by JimmyGadson

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Tomlinson back in to the backline to help sure up Lever and May (third tall defender role).

Petty out injured (second tall forward role).

Brown/Grundy/Schache (getting a bit desperate but second tall forward role).

Smith forward (third tall forward role).

Oliver in.

Harmes and Jordon out.

Hibberd stays as sub.

 

This is a much better balanced team as there are three talls in both the backline and forward line.

 

 

Edited August 6, 2023 by Clint Bizkit

[Gillies 26]

9 hours ago, DeelightfulPlay said:

As promised! Definitely not quitting my day job to become a sports photographer...

Maysie, Melky, Smith, Salo a few can be spotted in this Where's Wally lookalike photo

Were the players from the 2 teams chatting with each other or keeping in 2 separate groups? Would be fascinating to see the dynamic between the players of both sides after such a physical game 

[layzie 33,794]

9 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Why do people want Tomlinson in? In: Oliver, Hibberd Out: Petty sub Harmes. Lever takes DeKoning and May takes Curnow.

B: McVee, May, Lever

HB: Salem, Hibberd, Rivers

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: Petracca, J.Smith, Neal-Bullen 

F: Melksham, van Rooyen, Pickett

FOLL: Bowey, Sparrow, Jordon, Chandler

SUB: Harmes 

We need your team selecting more than ever right now Werra. 

[DeelightfulPlay 2,548]

8 minutes ago, Gillies said:

Were the players from the 2 teams chatting with each other or keeping in 2 separate groups? Would be fascinating to see the dynamic between the players of both sides after such a physical game 

Mainly separate because it was a  packed joint, but generally some talking going on between both camps.  The coaches kept separate (unsurprising) but a few players were quite friendly (Spargo had a long chat with a Roo, someone was chatting with Kade and Trac, and Grundy also had a long one on one).  I'm pretty lax when it comes to knowing opp players, so anyone's guess is better than mine!

[Young Angus 797]

16 hours ago, YearOfTheDees said:

Blues looking 2nd rate at the moment.

We all thought North were an easy beat and they gave us a decent scare...