PREGAME: Rd 23 vs Hawthorn

[Adam The God 30,421]

34 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Grundy is playing Goody said so does he replace Jordon?

That's not what Goody said at all, he was cagey about Grundy. And since @Dannyz has said Grundy is out and Smith is forward, take that to the bank.

[leave it to deever 17,517]

15 hours ago, Winners at last said:

I would prefer to see Tomlinson in, and Smith remain the sub. He's an impact player, and is good value coming on later in matches.

I'd stick with Grundy for this match, although it appears unlikely.

It's no from me re Spargo. He just doesn't get enough of the ball.

JJ out. Do we need another onballer? No to Laurie. Now isn't the time for blooding new players. 

Bowey on thin ice. Perhaps out for Hibbo in the 22?

Yea Na Maybe .Mr winners.

Smith needs to go fwd and Grundy needs a spell. Sorry.

I reckon this will happen too.

Agree on Spargo. Your on the money.

JJ. I don't knowlove Pig back on and I guess Bowey is the most likely out for him.

I guess Tommo comes in for Smith fwd.

Sub. Don't know.

[layzie 34,013]

Hibbo was always going to be managed from time to time and I think he'd be better for a hitout at VFL level than being a sub again. 

[leave it to deever 17,517]

Is Melksham on thin ice?

I mean if he's average, will he come out for Fritta?

Or was that always the plan?

[binman 43,813]

29 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Spargo and Laurie had great games for Casey. Spargo looked good in the midfield and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up there

He didn't play in the midfield.

It might of looked like it because he ran up and down the ground all day, spent a lot of time in the defensive 50 and often was where the ball was at, so to speak.

First half, he was on the wing.

Second half he played his normal high half high forward role. 

Did a power of work all game.

In terms of role, a good comparison is Gryan Miers for the cats.

High half forward (ie not a crumbing small forward like chandler), get back and help out in defence, provide an outlet option on transition and spot up forwards with good kicks inside 50.

Like miers (who is a chance of being an AA forward despite having only kicked 6 goals this season) offensively his kpis are goal assists and score involvements not goals.

I suspect spargs comes in tgis week and plays that role.

By the by, miers is averaging almost twice as many possessions as spargs. I suspect spargs has been in the twos to get his tank up so he can get to more contests.

[layzie 34,013]

5 minutes ago, binman said:

He didn't play in the midfield.

It might of looked like it because he ran up and down the ground all day, spent a lot of time in the defensive 50 and often was where the ball was at, so to speak.

First half, he was on the wing.

Second half he played his normal high half high forward role. 

Did a power of work all game.

In terms of role, a good comparison is Gryan Miers for the cats.

High half forward (ie not a crumbing small forward like chandler), get back and help out in defence, provide an outlet option on transition and spot up forwards with good kicks inside 50.

Like miers (who is a chance of being an AA forward despite having only kicked 6 goals this season) offensively his kpis are goal assists and score involvements not goals.

I suspect spargs comes in tgis week and plays that role.

By the by, miers is averaging almost twice as many possessions as spargs. I suspect spargs has been in the twos to get his tank up so he can get to more contests.

The comparison with Miers in terms of role is a very good one. I would just love to see Spargo get a bit more footy and in turn more score involvements.

Averaging about 10 possessions a game this year, if he could get those few extra game then he'd bank his position in the side for me. 

[DubDee 26,123]

11 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

I’ll eat my hat if Grundy is selected based on Goody’s answer in the presser.

I think the changes will be:

Ins: Tomlinson

Out: Grundy, Hibbo (sub)

I think sub will be one of JJ, Spargo or Laurie.

 

 if JJ is the sub he’ll have to ‘dropped’ and someone else will need to come into the 22

man i hate the sub rule and the way the way the afl announce teams

just pick 23 on thurs/fri night. then one of them is the sub

[deelusions from afar 1,861]

14 hours ago, DubDee said:

Hibberd was the 23rd player last week - sub. he is not in the 22 this week.  sub yet to be named. 

not on the extended bench so he’ll play for casey

Thanks!  Can't believe he's not in the team or the sub.  Hope he's not injured

[deelusions from afar 1,861]

31 minutes ago, binman said:

He didn't play in the midfield.

It might of looked like it because he ran up and down the ground all day, spent a lot of time in the defensive 50 and often was where the ball was at, so to speak.

First half, he was on the wing.

Second half he played his normal high half high forward role. 

Did a power of work all game.

In terms of role, a good comparison is Gryan Miers for the cats.

High half forward (ie not a crumbing small forward like chandler), get back and help out in defence, provide an outlet option on transition and spot up forwards with good kicks inside 50.

Like miers (who is a chance of being an AA forward despite having only kicked 6 goals this season) offensively his kpis are goal assists and score involvements not goals.

I suspect spargs comes in tgis week and plays that role.

By the by, miers is averaging almost twice as many possessions as spargs. I suspect spargs has been in the twos to get his tank up so he can get to more contests.

Interesting take - but can we can have him, ANB, Kozzie and Chandler in the one side? 

I remember Spargo spending time on the wing a few times last year and getting found out for pace and in marking contests - but potentially it was his tank.  We definitely miss his foot skills - I guess with Clarry back, it's better to have Spargo forward than a combination of Sparrow / Jordon when they are not in the midfield or on the bench.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

47 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Is Melksham on thin ice?

I mean if he's average, will he come out for Fritta?

Or was that always the plan?

Possibly.

Between round 17-20 he was averaging 6.5 marks and 2.5 goals a game. Last 2 games it's down to 2 marks and 0 goals per game. If that rolls into a third game, it might be curtains for him for the year with Fritsch likely back next week.

[binman 43,813]

28 minutes ago, deelusions from afar said:

Interesting take - but can we can have him, ANB, Kozzie and Chandler in the one side? 

To be honest, I don't really think it is a 'take', in the same way that calling maxy a ruck is not a take.

But leaving that aside, personally I put a lot of stock in the team they select in the first round of the season in terms of a guide to what their preferred method and best 22 looks like (obviously this can change - Laurie was in the round one team for instance, as was grundy)

Full list to choose from and all players are at optimal fitness so can play their assigned role in the way it needs to be played. 

Round one against the dogs, Koz , Spargo (who had 15 disposals, 2 goals and 8 score involvements), ANB and Chandler all played - kicking 8 goals between them.

So, no reason to think it can't work again. 

Edited August 18, 2023 by binman

[dazzledavey36 55,360]

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

Is Melksham on thin ice?

I mean if he's average, will he come out for Fritta?

Or was that always the plan?

Yes.

Fritta will be ready next week and based on form it's a direct swap for me.

[Deebauched 1,220]

Hawthorns line up looks a bit messy with their outs and ins..

Must put them away. Contain Sicily and we're almost there.

Never trust the Suns  but if they can beat  SUPER arrogant cocky blues  ooop norf  our H&A season is officially done. We can start experimenting as of this Sunday.

Go Suns.

[praha 11,240]

21 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Possibly.

Between round 17-20 he was averaging 6.5 marks and 2.5 goals a game. Last 2 games it's down to 2 marks and 0 goals per game. If that rolls into a third game, it might be curtains for him for the year with Fritsch likely back next week.

Who do you replace him with?

A forward line of Fritsch, Melksham, JVR, and Smith is agile, strong, and plays taller than it is. 

[Kent 2,914]

9 minutes ago, Deebauched said:

Hawthorns line up looks a bit messy with their outs and ins..

Must put them away. Contain Sicily and we're almost there.

Never trust the Suns  but if they can beat  SUPER arrogant cocky blues  ooop norf  our H&A season is officially done. We can start experimenting as of this Sunday.

Go Suns.

so who minds Sicily?

[Roost it far 8,627]

7 minutes ago, praha said:

Who do you replace him with?

A forward line of Fritsch, Melksham, JVR, and Smith is agile, strong, and plays taller than it is. 

Not to mention Petracca and Kozz. It’s actually a pretty strong lineup

[Roost it far 8,627]

1 minute ago, Kent said:

so who minds Sicily?

Melksham 

[Fromgotowoewodin 1,606]

6 minutes ago, praha said:

Who do you replace him with?

A forward line of Fritsch, Melksham, JVR, and Smith is agile, strong, and plays taller than it is. 

Agree, it’s not like we’ve got a stack of marking players, for me it’s Fritsch in with Melksham not instead of. 

I’d be more inclined to go Fritsch for Smith unless Smith plays a blinder this week but there’s room for all 3 without any other talls fit

[chook fowler 19,551]

1 hour ago, binman said:

He didn't play in the midfield.

It might of looked like it because he ran up and down the ground all day, spent a lot of time in the defensive 50 and often was where the ball was at, so to speak.

First half, he was on the wing.

Second half he played his normal high half high forward role. 

Did a power of work all game.

In terms of role, a good comparison is Gryan Miers for the cats.

High half forward (ie not a crumbing small forward like chandler), get back and help out in defence, provide an outlet option on transition and spot up forwards with good kicks inside 50.

Like miers (who is a chance of being an AA forward despite having only kicked 6 goals this season) offensively his kpis are goal assists and score involvements not goals.

I suspect spargs comes in tgis week and plays that role.

By the by, miers is averaging almost twice as many possessions as spargs. I suspect spargs has been in the twos to get his tank up so he can get to more contests.

I mistakenly include the wing as part of the midfield so i take your point 

[binman 43,813]

They must have seriously cut back on funding for comms.

We have two players playing huge milestone games in two days, including our skipper, and one of the greatest dees of all time playing his 200th, and unless i can't see them on the MFC website, there are no videos celebrating Nibblas or maxy's career and milestones. 

Maybe they will come out today, but really it's not good enough. Both deserve more. As do fans. 

And whilst of course members buymemberships to support the club, part of the value proposition is decent content, not to mention some level of clarrrity about injuries and the like. 

Edited August 18, 2023 by binman

[Fromgotowoewodin 1,606]

9 minutes ago, binman said:

They must have seriously cut back on funding for comms.

We have two players playing huge milestone games in two days, including our skipper, and one of the greatest dees of all time playing his 200th, and unless i can't see them on the MFC website, there are no videos celebrating Nibblas or maxy's career and milestones. 

Maybe they will come out today, but really it's not good enough. Both deserve more. As do fans. 

And whilst of course members buymemberships to support the club, part of the value proposition is decent content, not to mention some level of clarrrity about injuries and the like. 

Yes it’s pretty poor. 

Someone posted that they’d got an email with the merch for Maxy’s 200th, well between 4 memberships I didn’t get any email.. who knows what else im missing out on

My other gripe is the Ticketmaster mobile membership system is a nightmare but I think that’s forced on the clubs by HQ

[Young Angus 802]

I think Milkshake deserves to stay from the massive influence he's had in games to date, I want to see him playing alongside Fritta somehow, Milkshake is an x-factor and we need a bit of that in our team I think he's very important.

If he slumps then sure he might need to come out, but he deserves to keep his spot for a bit.

[Pipefitter 2,168]

Milkshake is the perfect player to get under sicilys skin. 

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

13 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

Agree, it’s not like we’ve got a stack of marking players, for me it’s Fritsch in with Melksham not instead of. 

I’d be more inclined to go Fritsch for Smith unless Smith plays a blinder this week but there’s room for all 3 without any other talls fit

You can't leave our only KTF or TF roles up to JVR alone as the rookie.

Smith has to play forward if we're to have a decent chance of kicking a winning score.

Tomo comes in for Smith forward for mine.

And looks like Spargo for JJ as we had one too many inside mids last week.

Woe had a very good first half and a bit (till knocked about in the third Q) at Casey.

Had he played the entire game out at the level he played in the first half he would've been vying for the JJ replacement me thinks. 

While he probably lacks the ability to read the game and get to the right spots as often plus consistency, he has the fitness, speed out of congestion and class with ball in hand when he's on.  Will make a very handy (or better) outside mid/winger.

Not far off a recall if he puts a three -  four quarter game in similar to last week imv.

[Fromgotowoewodin 1,606]

13 minutes ago, Demon Dynasty said:

You can't leave our only KTF or TF roles up to JVR alone as the rookie.

Smith has to play forward if we're to have a decent chance of kicking a winning score.

Tomo comes in for Smith forward for mine.

And looks like Spargo for JJ as we had one too many inside mids last week.

Woe had a very good first half and a bit (till knocked about in the third Q) at Casey.

Had he played the entire game out at the level he played in the first half he would've been vying for the JJ replacement me thinks. 

While he probably lacks the ability to read the game and get to the right spots as often plus consistency, he has the fitness, speed out of congestion and class with ball in hand when he's on.  Will make a very handy (or better) outside mid/winger.

Not far off a recall if he puts a three -  four quarter game in similar to last week imv.

In a forward line of JVR, Fritsch, Melksham and Smith the best 2 defenders are going to JVR and Fritsch. No one is going to be particularly worried about Smith with his 6 career goals unless he snags a couple early, then they might reconsider. 

He’s still playing on potential not proven performance. He plays this week but when Fritsch is back I wouldn’t be too worried if Smith was back to sub.