PREGAME: Rd 24 vs Sydney

[Superunknown 3,356]

This is going to be the most relaxed I’ve been in ages watching us play. 

[Engorged Onion 9,392]

1 minute ago, Superunknown said:

This is going to be the most relaxed I’ve been in ages watching us play. 

Stressing over injuries though 😵

[Travy14 1,510]

16 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Not sure bringing Tmac on a wet and horrible day is ideal.

Have some not learnt from the Ben Brown in Alice Spring fiasco?

i hadn't seen the forecast, totally agree if that's the case

[Fat Tony 4,465]

Laurie did some good things but overall he looked like a player not up to the speed of AFL on Sunday. Laurie needs to be well above average with disposal given his lack of pace, role and size. His handballs hit the ground and kicks were intercepted and spoiled. Laurie is the obvious omission for Fritsch and he is not a versatile choice of sub.

It will then be interesting how we structure the forward line. Melksham is playing a great role as the negator to the oppositions best interceptor. Smith was fantastic at competing in the air and on the ground. Van Rooyen is looking in great form. And Fritsch is best closer to goal where he is elite at finishing. I think that each of Smith, Fritsch and Melksham are going to have to take turns pushing up the ground because there will be around 10-20% of the game when Gawn, Van Rooyen, Smith, Fritsch and Melksham are all on the ground at the same time. Petracca also needs room to play closer goal at times, so we will need players to sacrifice for this to work.

The other big call to make is Tomlinson. He is way too slow and while Lever is better as the third tall, we can't be playing a passenger in the second tall role to facilitate it. We could go back to Smith even though he does not possess the smarts and synergy with the other defenders. I would strongly consider Daniel Turner, who plays a lot like Tom Stewart and is far too good for the VFL. I feel the criticism of his game against Casboult at the Suns is a touch unfair because Casboult's overall impact was not that significant  and he is one of those players that is too big and strong for most defenders.

Hibberd would be another potential inclusion but for concussion and Bowey and Salem need to improve to be locked into the side in September. We could also go with a smaller and faster backline with Hibberd, albeit Lever becomes less effective.

[David-Demon 503]

12 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Possible team

B: McVee, May, Lever

HB: Rivers, D.Turner, Salem

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: Petracca, J.Smith, Neal-Bullen

F: Melksham, van Rooyen, Pickett

FOLL: Gawn, Brayshaw, Viney

IC: Bowey, Sparrow, Fritsch, Chandler

SUB: Laurie

EMERG: Spargo, Jordon, Schache

Not a bad selection. The only change I would make is to dump Smith and bring in McDonald, if only for his experience and a run b4 the finals 

[Jaded No More 58,489]

14 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Stressing over injuries though 😵

Same. 
Result doesn’t worry me, only injuries do. 

Luckily the Swans will be in similar self preservation mode, having secured a finals birth. They won’t want to risk injuries or suspensions either. Although they apparently don’t cop suspensions 🙄

[bobby1554 1,146]

24 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Same. 
Result doesn’t worry me, only injuries do. 

Luckily the Swans will be in similar self preservation mode, having secured a finals birth. They won’t want to risk injuries or suspensions either. Although they apparently don’t cop suspensions 🙄

Yes, but if Sydney win they secure a home elimination final

[Diamond_Jim 11,922]

45 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Stressing over injuries though 😵

why did you have to remind me

All eyes on the forward connection and the small forwards for me.

 

Edited August 23, 2023 by Diamond_Jim

[drysdale demon 4,184]

2 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Tommo is playing a little better than 'OK' and is a trusted 'fit' with the rest of the backline - plus another game responsibility and settlement into that role will continue to add to his confidence. 

He is, I was just pointing out to Kent that Turner had already played a game and did okay.

[picket fence 15,341]

13 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Possible team

B: McVee, May, Lever

HB: Rivers, D.Turner, Salem

C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter

HF: Petracca, J.Smith, Neal-Bullen

F: Melksham, van Rooyen, Pickett

FOLL: Gawn, Brayshaw, Viney

IC: Bowey, Sparrow, Fritsch, Chandler

SUB: Laurie

EMERG: Spargo, Jordon, Schache

You want to play a guy that has played 1 game in a KP in round 24?? Yeah Right!

[Dannyz 2,332]

I get the feeling that Goody will want to give Harmes the chance to show he deserves a spot, or at least a sub spot for the finals. 

[Jaded No More 58,489]

35 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

I get the feeling that Goody will want to give Harmes the chance to show he deserves a spot, or at least a sub spot for the finals. 

Any ideas why he didn't play for Casey on the weekend? 

[Webber 10,174]

2 hours ago, Superunknown said:

This is going to be the most relaxed I’ve been in ages watching us play. 

Are you though? (Asking for a friend) 

[Grand New Flag 3,226]

If this game ends up a dead rubber for us as it is likely to then surely, surely, we rest Gawn and bring Grundy in as first ruck. 

The entire idea of recruiting Grundy was to ensure Gawn came into finals 100% fit and fresh.  When Gawn in 100% he is worth 3 players. He was banged up in the finals last year and was a shadow of himself.  Gawn was badly beaten last weekend, he looked tired.  He is our most important player and captain. There is simply no point in playing him in the wet in Sydney in a dead rubber.

Equally importantly putting Grundy in will give him an opportunity to connect him to our mids should Gawn go down and Grundy is required in finals. Gives us some real insurance.  It also gives Grundy an opportunity to show his trade value to our benefit.

I just don't see any downside, only risk of injury to Gawn.

Two weeks break to Gawn (like 2021) will have him in absolute top fitness for finals.  Don't forget how incredible Gawn was for us in those finals, particularly v Geelong.

Rest Gawn!

 

[Deemania since 56 6,196]

3 minutes ago, Grand New Flag said:

If this game ends up a dead rubber for us as it is likely to then surely, surely, we rest Gawn and bring Grundy in as first ruck. 

The entire idea of recruiting Grundy was to ensure Gawn came into finals 100% fit and fresh.  When Gawn in 100% he is worth 3 players. He was banged up in the finals last year and was a shadow of himself.  Gawn was badly beaten last weekend, he looked tired.  He is our most important player and captain. There is simply no point in playing him in the wet in Sydney in a dead rubber.

Equally importantly putting Grundy in will give him an opportunity to connect him to our mids should Gawn go down and Grundy is required in finals. Gives us some real insurance.  It also gives Grundy an opportunity to show his trade value to our benefit.

I just don't see any downside, only risk of injury to Gawn.

Two weeks break to Gawn (like 2021) will have him in absolute top fitness for finals.  Don't forget how incredible Gawn was for us in those finals, particularly v Geelong.

Rest Gawn!

 

Absolutely! Dead rubbers are nice to win; a fit and ready Gawn is an absolute joy for us all. A rest for big Max, please and toss in Grundy (supported by Tomlinson at times, perhaps) and big Max can rest easy without head and neck trauma from the pecking Swans. Our midfielders are good enough and cunning enough to rove the taps from the Swans ruckmen, anyway. We will be a fast-break, circular spectacular. If it doesn't work, it really won't matter yet Max will be rested and ready for what is to come.

[DeeSpencer 23,256]

2 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

The other big call to make is Tomlinson. He is way too slow and while Lever is better as the third tall, we can't be playing a passenger in the second tall role to facilitate it. We could go back to Smith even though he does not possess the smarts and synergy with the other defenders. I would strongly consider Daniel Turner, who plays a lot like Tom Stewart and is far too good for the VFL. I feel the criticism of his game against Casboult at the Suns is a touch unfair because Casboult's overall impact was not that significant  and he is one of those players that is too big and strong for most defenders.

 

Agree entirely apart from the Tom Stewart comparison.

For 2 years now Disco has looked ready to step up and play a role at AFL level and the strength of our backline and consistent bad luck with injuries has set him back. 

We’ve effectively been given a free hit at the Swans. Give Disco a go, if he’s up to it we don’t have to shift Smith or rely on a pair of clydesdales in T Mc and Tommo.

Edited August 23, 2023 by DeeSpencer

[WERRIDEE 5,218]

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

You want to play a guy that has played 1 game in a KP in round 24?? Yeah Right!

He's better than Tomlinson

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,493]

I understand the rest [insert name of important player here] in the final game of the H&A series. My concern, though, is whether the bye between the last H&A game and the first final means that any rested player ends up having too much of a rest with what will become a three week gap between games. 

[Fat Tony 4,465]

1 hour ago, Dannyz said:

I get the feeling that Goody will want to give Harmes the chance to show he deserves a spot, or at least a sub spot for the finals. 

Is Harmes injured? He didn’t play on the weekend. 

[Diamond_Jim 11,922]

28 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I understand the rest [insert name of important player here] in the final game of the H&A series. My concern, though, is whether the bye between the last H&A game and the first final means that any rested player ends up having too much of a rest with what will become a three week gap between games. 

You can deal with this by varying the training load. All you are doing is removing the physical bash and tackle.

I'd be resting May as well.

Both are 200 plus game players. I doubt they'll forget how to play in two weeks.

The only reason I could see to play them is team cohesion but I think the role these two play in the gameplan can be imitated by Grundy and Tomlinson.

It's a golden opportunity... Use it !!!

PS: If you're worried Sunday is dry in Melbourne. They could be played in alternating halves for Casey

Edited August 23, 2023 by Diamond_Jim

[Roost it far 6,239]

I'd rest Gawn, Viney and May and play Grundy, Turner and Spargo

[Dee*ceiving 949]

Agree with recent sentiments, hard to fathom the need to send Max, on a plane to Sydney to play on a heavy track in a dead rubber before finals. 

Gold Trip doesn't run on a heavy 9 at Mornington the week before the Melbourne Cup. 

 

[Dee Zephyr 17,784]

Not sure we will rest anyone. Goody post-match said he wants to make sure we’re playing great footy and won’t be resting anyone. 

[Jaded No More 58,489]

I think a lot will depend on what happens on Friday night and Saturday. Pies and Lions both win and we have no incentive to win and should rest players. Pies lose and Lions win (or lose!) and suddenly the optics change. 

Edited August 23, 2023 by Jaded No More

[BDA 20,289]

We're running out games beautifully. best performed 4th quarter team in the league according to champion data. No obvious reason to rest anyone imo.