PREGAME: Rd 23 vs Hawthorn

[Jaded No More 68,915]

2 hours ago, picket fence said:

One team was playing finals footy..We were terrible!

We were so terrible we technically won 

[Deevout 492]

Max’s 200th game I believe.

Smith forward. Out Jordan, In Hibberd 

[Diamond_Jim 12,586]

Meant to post in this thread....

Four tall forwards injured and one ineffectual in any form of crowd.

Not our year guys

BBB being injured today after a bye doesn't auger well even for those of us who are desperate.

TMac might provide some definition to the forward structure but I doubt that we can expect the TMac of old

 

[Jaded No More 68,915]

1 minute ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Meant to post in this thread....

Four tall forwards injured and one ineffectual in any form of crowd.

Not our year guys

BBB being injured today after a bye doesn't auger well even for those of us who are desperate.

TMac might provide some definition to the forward structure but I doubt that we can expect the TMac of old

 

He doesn’t need to be the Tmac of old. If he can run a game out and compete in the air, that’ll do. 
He understands forward patterns and leading. Assuming his foot injury hasn’t impacted his ability to take a mark or halve an aerial contest. That’s all he needs to do. 
Much like BBB, we just need one of them to find enough juice to play 6 games at ok pace for 120 minutes. 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,215]

Out Jordon Grundy

In Hibberd and someone I dunno who, TMac?

Grundy was ok but overall team balance is out when he plays. Gawn is better as solo ruck with JVR chopping out. Maybe Smith forward and then Spargo in.

[Jaded No More 68,915]

1 minute ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Out Jordon Grundy

In Hibberd and someone I dunno who, TMac?

Grundy was ok but overall team balance is out when he plays. Gawn is better as solo ruck with JVR chopping out. Maybe Smith forward and then Spargo in.

I agree re Grundy 

JVR is a fine second ruck. Problem is, that without a second tall forward, when he goes in the ruck Max has to rest forward or we have to play a forwardline of smalls. It’s not going to work. We have to bring in a second tall. 

Shache is awfully soft but maybe he comes in and plays the second ruck role? I dunno anymore. 

[drysdale demon 4,833]

12 hours ago, Dee-monic said:

And even the normally reliable Salem could be in the firing line.

No he is not.

Edited August 13, 2023 by drysdale demon
spelling

[—coach— 3,496]

Feels like we can shuffle the deck chairs around a little but ultimately we just don’t have the cattle with injuries etc atm.

Expecting to fall short of ultimate success, but hoping thing can fall our way if we give it an red hot go for the next few week, and REALLY hope we can address our forward half concerns over the off season with our swag of picks.

💙❤️💙❤️

[Demons11 7,014]

12 hours 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.

Melksham took Weitering out of the game 

[Fat Tony 5,230]

Smith was good in defence and up forward last night. I can’t get why people want him to be sub. He definitely deserves a spot in the 22.

I think two ruckmen isn’t optimal. We should play Smith forward to replace Petty and look at Tomlinson or Hibberd in defence. 

TMac is another option but he will need to play well in the VFL to be considered. 

[dazzledavey36 54,936]

2 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

Melksham took Weitering out of the game 

Are you sure it was Melksham?

Pretty sure it was JVR who was matched up to Weitering majority of the night and actually did a fairly good job.

[Jaded No More 68,915]

6 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Are you sure it was Melksham?

Pretty sure it was JVR who was matched up to Weitering majority of the night and actually did a fairly good job.

Did a sensational job did JVR. He’s a kid being asked to play the main key forward role. He kicks those two goals and he has as good a game at Curnow. He’s really impressing me. His attack on the ball and follow up work at ground level is fantastic. 
An absolute star in the making. 

[DeeSpencer 25,703]

1 hour ago, JackVineyNo1Fan said:

I agree with all the vfl dominance Dunstable needs a go

He really really doesn’t.

We have 4 elite ball winners in the midfield. We need run and skill. JJ at least has run. Dunstan has neither 

[Adam The God 30,254]

Ins - Spargo, TMac, Hibbo

Outs - JJ, Grundy, Smith to sub

Hibberd May McVee

Salem Lever Bowey

Langdon Oliver Hunter

Spargo TMac ANB

Petracca JVR Kozzy

Gawn Viney Gus

Melksham Rivers Chandler Sparrow

Sub: Smith 

I'd be tempted to keep Smith in the team at the expense of Melksham...

Edited August 13, 2023 by Binmans PA

[titan_uranus 25,018]

16 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Smith was good in defence and up forward last night. I can’t get why people want him to be sub. He definitely deserves a spot in the 22.

I think two ruckmen isn’t optimal. We should play Smith forward to replace Petty and look at Tomlinson or Hibberd in defence. 

TMac is another option but he will need to play well in the VFL to be considered. 

I don’t agree. I think he looked more of an asset forward. In the backline I just feel he gets lost and that impacts May and Lever’s willingness and ability to zone and cover. 

I think many call for him to be sub because he can cover for an injured forward or an injured defender. No one else on our list offers that flexibility. Given he had 5 touches in an entire game last night I’m not sure he’s shooting the lights out with full game time such that he necessarily deserves to hold his spot. 

[leave it to deever 17,511]

16 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

Melksham took Weitering out of the game 

Appreciate that. It's the same with Grundy. People say he can bring the ball to ground. A forwards job is to present and take marks and score goals. Melksham was supreme against the lions with ten marks. Yesterday his job wasn't to " take anyone out" it was to score goals. He failed. I'm not saying he's not a good player, I'm just pointing out why he hasn't featured in the team for the last two years. He's very hot and cold. Played a blinder like he did in round 22 against the blues last year. Then disappeared in his next three, including both our finals. When he is on, he's electric . As said before, I find him either on or off with a most uneven form scale. It's just the way he is. If it were not, he would be playing more often than he does. 

[DubDee 25,862]

3 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

Is Schache a dirty word?

no, he’s just not very good at AFL  unfortunately 

we need a strong competitive fwd

[DeeSpencer 25,703]

7 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Did a sensational job did JVR. He’s a kid being asked to play the main key forward role. He kicks those two goals and he has as good a game at Curnow. He’s really impressing me. His attack on the ball and follow up work at ground level is fantastic. 
An absolute star in the making. 

He had some exceptional marks and contests in the wet last night. Once he gets a tank to play genuine CHF he’ll get more easy footy. Wish we had 2 of him. I don’t care if he’s hopeless let’s give his brother a try in the draft! 
 

[Fat Tony 5,230]

8 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

I don’t agree. I think he looked more of an asset forward. In the backline I just feel he gets lost and that impacts May and Lever’s willingness and ability to zone and cover. 

I think many call for him to be sub because he can cover for an injured forward or an injured defender. No one else on our list offers that flexibility. Given he had 5 touches in an entire game last night I’m not sure he’s shooting the lights out with full game time such that he necessarily deserves to hold his spot. 

I agree Smith looks better forward. But the synergy with Smith and the other defenders was better last night. Carlton had 15 shots from 53 entries, so I don’t think your view on Smith’s impact really stacks up on last night’s numbers. 

My view on Smith is that he did a good defensive job on the resting ruckman for 3/4 and then switched forward to take a great mark and kick an excellent goal. 

I thought Bowey and Salem had much poorer games. 

[BDA 22,755]

This game had become critical to our season. The hawks are no easy beats. Win and top 4 is guaranteed. Lose and we’re heading to Sydney under the pump.

Grundy and JJ to be replaced by hibbo and TMac (praying he can find his mojo).

[DeeSpencer 25,703]

22 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

I agree Smith looks better forward. But the synergy with Smith and the other defenders was better last night. Carlton had 15 shots from 53 entries, so I don’t think your view on Smith’s impact really stacks up on last night’s numbers. 

My view on Smith is that he did a good defensive job on the resting ruckman for 3/4 and then switched forward to take a great mark and kick an excellent goal. 

I thought Bowey and Salem had much poorer games. 

Smith had a couple of very bad lost moments. One on Martin in the second. One leaving Curnow in the 3rd (caused by May charging up to spoil Rivers). 

I really think 10-20 straight backline games would largely fix it but Hibbo is probably the preferred option just lacking fitness and Smith is likely required forward (or sub). So it’s hard to see him getting that continuity down back. That’s always been the issue for Joel, he needs one continuous run of games down back and has never had it.

If we get T Mc and Fritsch back in round 24 I’d like to see JVR, T Mc, Fritsch, Smith combo with Melk sub. The mobility of Smith would take the load off T Mc and he’d provide much needed tackling pressure in a tall line up like that. Which then lets Kosi have a midfield roam.

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by DeeSpencer

[Demons11 7,014]

15 minutes ago, BDA said:

This game had become critical to our season. The hawks are no easy beats. Win and top 4 is guaranteed. Lose and we’re heading to Sydney under the pump.

Grundy and JJ to be replaced by hibbo and TMac (praying he can find his mojo).

I can’t see how they bring T Mac in after 1 game but let’s wait and see I guess.  

[BDA 22,755]

1 minute ago, Demons11 said:

I can’t see how they bring T Mac in after 1 game but let’s wait and see I guess.  

Ordinarily I would agree but we don’t have many games left. If he shows something I say bring him in.

[Jaded No More 68,915]

Smith is not reliable enough in the backline. He causes panic. We look way better when Hibbo was in there. He totally blanketed Martin. 
Smith is a high impact low possession player with versatility. He’s a perfect sub. 

[Docs Demons 1,791]

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

Did a sensational job did JVR. He’s a kid being asked to play the main key forward role. He kicks those two goals and he has as good a game at Curnow. He’s really impressing me. His attack on the ball and follow up work at ground level is fantastic. 
An absolute star in the making. 

And add in the lack of supply. He may well have dominated if we had as many inside 50's as the baggers. Particularly in that 1st qtr.