PREGAME: Rd 23 vs Hawthorn

[Demonland 70,251]

The Demons return to the MCG in Round 23 as they take on the Hawthorn Hawks in a bid to claim a home final. Who comes in and who goes out?

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,707]

Out: Jordan

In: Harmes

[leave it to deever 17,446]

Milk had one mark and no goals.

He was great for one game but this is why he is never a constant in the team. Like last year when he popped up, he kicked three goals in a game and fell completely flat in both finals. Sadly the fwd cupboard is well and truly empty. 

What do we do?

Is Tommo worth a gamble?

Got to try something.

It's not Grundy. Not Bbb. Not Schacke, not Tmac and not Melksham. 

At least Jvr is consistent.

[Lord Travis 10,457]

Can we find a tall forward please? Just bloody anyone. Play Jefferson if we have to. Anyone who has any sense of forward nous.

Gawn and Grundy are both good ruckmen, but the combo doesn’t work and we missed the extra small around the ball tonight. We got torched on the outside too with one less runner. Hard call needs to be made as time is running out.

[adonski 10,805]

It's WIZARD time

[DeeSpencer 24,695]

8 minutes ago, adonski said:

It's WIZARD time

It’s really not 

[adonski 10,805]

4 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

It’s really not 

Geez you're a miserable cuynte ds

[Bates Mate 4,422]

15 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Milk had one mark and no goals.

He was great for one game but this is why he is never a constant in the team. Like last year when he popped up, he kicked three goals in a game and fell completely flat in both finals. Sadly the fwd cupboard is well and truly empty. 

What do we do?

Is Tommo worth a gamble?

Got to try something.

It's not Grundy. Not Bbb. Not Schacke, not Tmac and not Melksham. 

At least Jvr is consistent.

We need another tall, can't be a main marking target. I hope tmac gets through tomorrow if put him or brown back in. They know where to lead to and can at least create a contest 

[deanox 9,641]

If TMac is even serviceable tomorrow, I think he has to come in. He always takes a few games to find form, so better now than in the finals.

I think Melksham is safe until Fritsch comes back.

Although we could consider TMac, JVR and Grundy forward (Melksham out for TMac), Tomlinson/Hibber come in down back and Smith back to sub.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Out: Jordon

In: Hibberd

Sub: Smith

 

We looked so much better once a Hibberd was in the backline and Smith went forward.

Grundy isn’t a forward but I still like him as a second ruck because it freed JVR up, Gawn just needs to learn to work with him.

Therefore, we still need that second forward option of Smith is the sub, scraping the bottom of the barrel now. 

[DeeSpencer 24,695]

Hibbo to start.

Smith to sub.

Schache tomorrow playing for his chance next week.

Harmes, Laurie, Spargo and Moniz-Wakefield playing for JJ’s spot next week.

Id have Hunter out, Gus to the wing and Woey on ball rotation.

Hunter continues to provide absolutely no drive with everything backwards and sideways. He’s simply too slow and soft to play in finals. And Gus is too slow to play as a midfield runner when Oliver is pill hunting. Balance between contested and uncontested on ballers is way off. 
 

We need someone, anyone to link a handball and run the ball through the middle or we’ll never score against good back lines.

Salem could do with a rest but we’re out of half back options.

[DeeSpencer 24,695]

5 minutes ago, adonski said:

Geez you're a miserable cuynte ds

Geez you’re an [censored] to suggest selecting a kid who gets 5 touches a week. Grow a brain 

[dl4e 5,843]

How about Jordan out and Dunstan in.

[Dee-monic 620]

Please Goody, please, will you finally accept that Gawn + Grundy is a formula that does not work? Grundy is fine as a ruckman but in general play he looks like a goods train going up a steep hill. Pending Fritsch's return, Joel Smith up front and Tomlinson at the back seems the best bet.

Also, I know there are some Jordon fans on this site, but if we want to win premierships he just isn't good enough.

And even the normally reliable Salem could be in the firing line. Tonight's performance was surely his worst ever in a Melbourne shirt.

If Carlton win their last two matches, it is still statistically possible for them to push us out of the top four, so a win next week is important even though chances of finishing second now look remote.

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Dee-monic
Spelling correction

[SPC 3,475]

Jordan out, Woey in.

Grundy out, Any fit key forward in

[dazzledavey36 52,729]

Watching Casey tomorrow all of a sudden gets really interesting...

[leave it to deever 17,446]

12 minutes ago, SPC said:

Jordan out, Woey in.

Grundy out, Any fit key forward in

Yea but who?

There isn't anyone left.

[bush demon 1,989]

Lever or May. Otherwise the cupboard is bare. We can't win without a narking forward.

[Damo 3,238]

Grundy out tmac in

[Dee Zephyr 19,149]

T Mac, T Mac, T Mac

[titan_uranus 24,578]

Jordon has to be dropped. A mile off it tonight, sadly. 

I’m very close to ruling a line through the Gawn/Grundy combo. Is it a coincidence that Gawn had his worst game since Grundy went out and we kicked a low score too?

Smith should be the sub or a forward. Hibberd should be a defender or not playing (but not the sub).

Major query on Salem but I think we back him to find his form.

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 6,529]

Casey will be getting a few eyes on the game tommorow.

Best of luck to Tmac and those pushing to make a late charge into the 1st's.

Edited August 12, 2023 by YesitwasaWin4theAges

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

11 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

T Mac, T Mac, T Mac

It’s starting to look that way, if he can get through the rest of the season he could be our answer.

 

[david_neitz_is_my_dad 4,083]

If Tmac stinks up the VFL we are shot

[Bates Mate 4,422]

Jordon, Grundy out . 

Hibberd , tmac in. Smith sub.

Salem Lucky, won't ever get dropped but gees he's a shadow of himself the past month after a great patch of form