PREGAME: Rd 23 vs Hawthorn

[Roost it far 8,265]

That loss will fire this group up no end. Too much hard work has been done to let it slip now. i'm expecting 2 tight fought wins to round out the season. looking forward to the response on sunday

[Sydee 4,421]

12 minutes ago, Red and Blue realist said:

 

Yeah, completely understand that. But I think for our premiership aspirations we'd be better off to let Gawn be 100% for finals, and also hope Grundy can re-discover his confidence and best form which might mean Gawn has to play his 200th in Sydney. In my opinion (and I know I'll be in the minority - but I've been calling for a Gawn rest for a while) we have to make sure we don't make similar mistakes to last year and run into finals with players who aren't as close to 100% as they can be at this time of the year. It's a head over heart decision. 

We'd be well advised to pick our best possible team this week and win - lock in a top 4 spot and then do whatever floats your boat in the final game.  

[Fat Tony 5,228]

27 minutes ago, SPC said:

Not bad on paper, the challenge is we have no tall forward when JVR replaces Max in Ruck

For those minutes we would be relying on Melksham and Smith (who are playing in key position roles) and Petracca to provide a contest. It is not ideal, but TMac and Brown are not fit or in form and Grundy makes our forward line suffer in terms of mobility.

We are also missing Fritsch, who I would actually bring in for Jordon/Wowoedin when the time comes.

I would actually like to see us change our method of entry on a slow play to occasionally kicking torpedoes. These will be either mongrels dropping short or barrels going long. Either way, it does not help the intercept markers.

[Pennant St Dee 13,173]

7 hours ago, Kent said:

its our only option due to losing this week

It’s not, Collingwood win and we win our next 2 we can finish above Brisbane

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,243]

4 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

It’s not, Collingwood win and we win our next 2 we can finish above Brisbane

FWIW, Port Adelaide are a game ahead of us. So they'd have to lose at least one match and we'd have to win both to finish ahead of them.

[Diamond_Jim 12,578]

TMac did nothing wrong on Sunday. Delivery as usual was atrocious into the forward line.

Time to take a chance. Smith is not the answer as a forward.

Hawthorn will play the corridor so turnovers will determine the outcome. Backline will be under heavy attack if we can't hold the line across half back

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

We're 17-0 since the second last game of 2020 when May, Lever and Tomlinson all play in the same side. These include wins this year over the premiers elect and the same team that we lost to on the weekend.

Can someone please explain why we abandon this formula at the drop of a hat? 

[dazzledavey36 54,895]

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

That's right...in a game where there wasn't much service to the forwards......it was his defensive game that prevailed.

He didn't play on Weitering but..

[Sydee 4,421]

20 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

We're 17-0 since the second last game of 2020 when May, Lever and Tomlinson all play in the same side. These include wins this year over the premiers elect and the same team that we lost to on the weekend.

Can someone please explain why we abandon this formula at the drop of a hat? 

Trying to give someone else a chance ?
 

[leave it to deever 17,511]

On 8/13/2023 at 10:22 AM, Jaded No More said:

We were so terrible we technically won 

Carlton played out of their skins. I definitely don't think we played as well as we could. Some great individual efforts but after our smalls and Melksham giving us some hope lately, they were for the most part, mia. And I think we all knew that Grundy wasn't the answer. I don't get why Smith didn't play fwd from the get go . One of our rare markers inside our fifty. 

[Soidee 1,496]

This team and it's coaches have to be at the top of their game this week.  Take Hawthorn lightly and it's peanuts for this club.  Goodwin should stop publicly lauding the team for their comebacks. Lead from start to finish must be their whole focus. Get the start right and stay in front.  Even in our wins we struggle, I want to see statement this week. 

[Red and Blue realist 2,051]

1 hour ago, Sydee said:

We'd be well advised to pick our best possible team this week and win - lock in a top 4 spot and then do whatever floats your boat in the final game.  

The Sydney game is much more important than this week. They'll be playing finals type footy to try and secure a spot in finals in that last round, which would be the perfect tune up pre-finals. If we 'do whatever floats your boat' in that we rest players because we've secured top 4, not only does that give them 2 weeks off, but also if we get beaten badly then it sends a message to the rest of the comp that we're vulnerable against the better teams. 

Given what's at stake with finals, and how we limped in last years finals, giving Gawn a rest and seeing if we can get Grundy up and going this week makes sense to me, but as I said I'll be in the minority with that view.

[John Crow Batty 8,863]

I don’t think it’s a wise move to bring Tmac back in now. Takes him a while to get to form after an injury layoff.

[deelusions from afar 1,810]

35 minutes ago, Soidee said:

This team and it's coaches have to be at the top of their game this week.  Take Hawthorn lightly and it's peanuts for this club.  Goodwin should stop publicly lauding the team for their comebacks. Lead from start to finish must be their whole focus. Get the start right and stay in front.  Even in our wins we struggle, I want to see statement this week. 

Agree re we can't take Hawthorn lightly as they have beaten a number of top teams.

But don't agree re Goody's comments - surely you realise what he says publicly is going to be different from what is said internally?  Of course they don't to be behind at any point but we're playing against competitive teams that are doing what they can to maximise their strengths and thwart ours.  It is important for the team (and supporters) to know they can come back when they are down in big matches (eg 2021 3rd Quarter and the commentators are saying "The bont has one hand on the cup and the other on the norm smith) they won't believe than can come back.

It's a competitive comp - no team in it is able to  dominate from start to finish.  We are as well placed as any other side in it right now.

[Pennant St Dee 13,173]

1 hour ago, Winners at last said:

FWIW, Port Adelaide are a game ahead of us. So they'd have to lose at least one match and we'd have to win both to finish ahead of them.

Yes but we still would finish 3rd, I’d much rather Port over there than the Lions at the Gabba

[highroller 112]

For all those calling to rest Gawn forget it - like literally our most important player. There is time for a rest two weeks in fact once we hit finals. 

He can have a week off between our first game and another week off if we win the qualifying final that's plenty of rest!

As far as the team goes they should be going with what works - clearly Grundy doesn't unfortunately but it throws out our whole team when he is in.

Playing Tommo down back does so keep him, a fit T-Mac would be amazing also but not getting my hopes up.

Get Spargo in - i know he is super frustrating but also super important for us to link up.

Need to make sure our pressure rating is right up there - thats what won us 2021 we were miles ahead of the others now its alot more even and others are playing that intense pressure for nearly as long as us.

A lumbering Grundy doesnt help the pressure at all, Petty did and a fit T-Mac could as well but if not him it has to be Smith down there at least he will apply maximum pressure when the ball hits the deck

 

[Bates Mate 4,486]

29 minutes ago, highroller said:

For all those calling to rest Gawn forget it - like literally our most important player. There is time for a rest two weeks in fact once we hit finals. 

He can have a week off between our first game and another week off if we win the qualifying final that's plenty of rest!

As far as the team goes they should be going with what works - clearly Grundy doesn't unfortunately but it throws out our whole team when he is in.

Playing Tommo down back does so keep him, a fit T-Mac would be amazing also but not getting my hopes up.

Get Spargo in - i know he is super frustrating but also super important for us to link up.

Need to make sure our pressure rating is right up there - thats what won us 2021 we were miles ahead of the others now its alot more even and others are playing that intense pressure for nearly as long as us.

A lumbering Grundy doesnt help the pressure at all, Petty did and a fit T-Mac could as well but if not him it has to be Smith down there at least he will apply maximum pressure when the ball hits the deck

 

Tmac dosent have it in him to give any type of pressure once it hits the deck. His body is past that. Was cumbersome at best even in his best years. Had a great tank which helped him get space but always pretty average once it hits the deck

[praha 11,240]

2 hours ago, Roost it far said:

That loss will fire this group up no end. Too much hard work has been done to let it slip now. i'm expecting 2 tight fought wins to round out the season. looking forward to the response on sunday

Nothing against Hawthorn but I think we'll put on a clinic on Sunday. I rate the Hawks but we'll get it done.

[buck_nekkid 5,858]

Forward issues:

bbb can only run in a straight line, and needs a clear runway to mark.

TMac is underdone, cant turn or operate below his knees.

jeffo is at least 1 maybe 2 preseasons away.

petty and frittata are injured.

need to get a bit funky from here to make it work.

melk on Sicily, Trac and cosi and max to work together, Reg Grundy in the ruck 

Edited August 14, 2023 by buck_nekkid

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,175]

3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

TMac did nothing wrong on Sunday. Delivery as usual was atrocious into the forward line.

It’s hard to do anything right or wrong if you cant run to a contest or jump at the ball. There is no way he plays his week. 

[loges 6,767]

Does anyone know what level of training Fritta is actually at, WCW perhaps.

[Nascent 9,212]

Mitch Lewis in doubt with a foot injury.

Hawks spearhead in doubt for Dees clash due to foot injury - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1009540

 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

34 minutes ago, Nascent said:

Mitch Lewis in doubt with a foot injury.

Hawks spearhead in doubt for Dees clash due to foot injury - https://www.afl.com.au/news/1009540

 

Saw a stat on one of the FOX footy programs suggesting they're hopeless when either of Sicily or Lewis doesn't play.

Edited August 15, 2023 by Bring-Back-Powell

[wmth 69]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/news/melbourne-demons-board-dispute-worksafe-victoria-launches-probe-as-simon-goodwin-hires-top-lawyer-over-drug-claims/news-story/72ce7365ac4c2ebb658e6f3d7a06a0ef

Another nicely timed hit piece before Max's 200th and a finals campaign 

[binman 42,922]

On 8/14/2023 at 5:47 PM, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

It’s hard to do anything right or wrong if you cant run to a contest or jump at the ball. There is no way he plays his week. 

I went to the game and watched him closely. 

No chance he plays.

Miles off being fit enough and as you say basically couldn't leave the ground. 

Cant see him playing again this season TBH