3 hours ago, Hawny for Gawny said:

I agree, both teams have enough changes that it’s more of a clean slate compared to the last game, didn’t convey that well enough. 

Personnel might be altered... game styles are the key.

Their biggest out is Daicos. The man who orchestrates the angles...as it were.

Their game relies on swarming ( running with intent and backup ) .  They dont bomb away... they pick their way through.  Hawthorn tried that too.

We'll have to be on our guard and on our toes.

I wonder how the 'learnings' dept is preparing for this game.....

13 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

Grundy kicked 3 goals last game where his AFL best has been 2 goals. Maybe has learned some forward craft?

They won by 100pts, let’s over blow the performance against the Nth Melb 2’s team 

I can’t wait for next Thursday, let’s get it done Dees!!!

I think we will give them a reality check. I see a bit of a belting coming on.

6 minutes ago, gOLLy said:

I think we will give them a reality check. I see a bit of a belting coming on.

Gee I hope you are right! 

And then there were eight.

I really think we can roll the pies.

Tmac will come in for Milk.

We have struggled with an unsettled and injured fwd line all year.

Won't make much of a difference.

First and foremost we are a defensive unit.

Tmac in will also free up Jvr.

We have played them once this year in a finals type environment and we beat them.

Moore will be underdone and Daicos will be out.

My main concern will be slippery conditions in a night game.

Win this and I reckon we will go all the way.

We go in with better form.

 

Edited August 28, 20232 yr by leave it to deever

7 hours ago, brendan said:

Massive advantage to Collingwood to play Thursday given their fans attend neither work nor school 

Yes, but day release mean many can't get to night games.

45 minutes ago, gOLLy said:

I think we will give them a reality check. I see a bit of a belting coming on.

Dirty talk!! Love it!

I can see Smith playing a defensive roll on Moore he is perfect for it.

11 hours ago, Pulp Fritschon said:

Would love Tommy to come in for Melksham but concerned about his movement. If he is moving well he ticks off what we need most.
 

If Tommy is stuck on the treadmill we are better off playing another runner and play Trac more forward. 

Laurie is growing in confidence. Woey and Spargo other options for mine. 

Harmes and Jordon are out of the picture. 

Watched Goody on 360 last night. When asked about Tmac form. He said it was great to have him kicking goals but it’s his movement that they are most impressed with said he will definitely get his chance over the coming weeks. 
 

Edit just listened to what Goody said again-“ it’s not really the way he has performed, it’s the way he has moved, he’s back moving to his best, he’s injury free and feeling free in his body and Tom at his best is a really important player for us. He’s put himself in the selection mix and an opportunity is certainly going to come his way at some stage”

Big praise from Goody

Edited August 28, 20232 yr by Colm

Last time we kicked 8g 18b and won by 4pts. We smashed them but couldn't kick.

We absolutely set ourselves for that game and trialled a new game style the week before against Carlton. A very high press not letting the Pies get their overlap running game going and locking the ball in our fwd 50. We then put that back in the memory bank. Go back and watch the two games you will see a marked difference in the way we played.

I said at the time its exactly what Geelong did in 2022 when they trialled a new game plan against Melbourne and then parked it till finals because they assumed they would have to beat us to win the flag.

The boys will be confident they can beat the pies.

26 minutes ago, Colm said:

Watched Goody on 360 last night. When asked about Tmac form. He said it was great to have him kicking goals but it’s his movement that they are most impressed with said he will definitely get his chance over the coming weeks. 
 

Edit just listened to what Goody said again-“ it’s not really the way he has performed, it’s the way he has moved, he’s back moving to his best, he’s injury free and feeling free in his body and Tom at his best is a really important player for us. He’s put himself in the selection mix and an opportunity is certainly going to come his way at some stage”

Big praise from Goody

If we can get back the Tom circa early 2021 we will win the flag.
People forget that his role is the one we’ve been most desperate to replace. That player who can take a mark or bring the ball to ground repeatedly on the wings and provide the down the line target. 

If he can recapture that form for 3 games, it allows us to play Gawn behind the ball if needed, JVR can play deep when not helping in the ruck, and we can get Smith to play a defensive role on the opposition’s intercept defender. 
 

I for one would be bloody thrilled to get a fit and hungry Tmac back!

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

And then there were eight.

I really think we can roll the pies.

Tmac will come in for Milk.

We have struggled with an unsettled and injured fwd line all year.

Won't make much of a difference.

First and foremost we are a defensive unit.

Tmac in will also free up Jvr.

We have played them once this year in a finals type environment and we beat them.

Moore will be underdone and Daicos will be out.

My main concern will be slippery conditions in a night game.

Win this and I reckon we will go all the way.

We go in with better form.

 

TMac to play on Moore or would that be Fritta?

JVR needs to go to their third tall and make him run all over the place.

16 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

If we can get back the Tom circa early 2021 we will win the flag.
People forget that his role is the one we’ve been most desperate to replace. That player who can take a mark or bring the ball to ground repeatedly on the wings and provide the down the line target. 

If he can recapture that form for 3 games, it allows us to play Gawn behind the ball if needed, JVR can play deep when not helping in the ruck, and we can get Smith to play a defensive role on the opposition’s intercept defender. 
 

I for one would be bloody thrilled to get a fit and hungry Tmac back!

Agreed. If and it’s a massive if we could get peak Tmac for 3 games then it would be massive for our flag chances. 
Kinda feels like it’s lining up that way too with how everything has been timed.  He normally needs a few weeks to get up and going after an injury and it sounds like he has been building form in the VFL. Will get another run this week. 

Goody in his post match presser gave the high performance team most of the credit for getting Fritter back in such good form. Let’s hope they also have another big win with Tmac’s form when we need it most. 

6 minutes ago, ElDiablo14 said:

TMac to play on Moore or would that be Fritta?

JVR needs to go to their third tall and make him run all over the place.

Whoever, plays on Moore has to stop or limit his intercept marking and run. Not an easy task mind you as he is very good at both. From an athleticism point of view, I'd be leaning toward Smith but if TMac is moving well perhaps he's the other option they will use. 

2 hours ago, Demons11 said:

They won by 100pts, let’s over blow the performance against the Nth Melb 2’s team 

Maybe he is the reason they won by 100pts. I don't rate VFL form but he was seriously good on Sunday as was TMac.

22 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

Grundy and Tmac could play a half each forward.

Grundy is not a forward

 

 

WE kicked 8:18

We smashed them in general

Gotta take the opportunities and we will win this

Go demons

1 hour ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

I can see Smith playing a defensive roll on Moore he is perfect for it.

Yep, make Moore accountable

Melk used to do that so well, but alas....

Edited August 28, 20232 yr by Stiff Arm

Just now, Stiff Arm said:

Yep, make Moore accountable

and run him around

he's got a history of hammy troubles that have taken time to recover from

he'll be about 3 weeks since the last one

make him work it

42 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

If we can get back the Tom circa early 2021 we will win the flag.
People forget that his role is the one we’ve been most desperate to replace. That player who can take a mark or bring the ball to ground repeatedly on the wings and provide the down the line target. 

If he can recapture that form for 3 games, it allows us to play Gawn behind the ball if needed, JVR can play deep when not helping in the ruck, and we can get Smith to play a defensive role on the opposition’s intercept defender. 
 

I for one would be bloody thrilled to get a fit and hungry Tmac back!

Tmac circa early 21 is a total game changer.

Would love to see this.

It's been a long time though.

But we desperately need him to step up.

 

Edited August 28, 20232 yr by leave it to deever

1 hour ago, Colm said:

Watched Goody on 360 last night. When asked about Tmac form. He said it was great to have him kicking goals but it’s his movement that they are most impressed with said he will definitely get his chance over the coming weeks. 
 

Edit just listened to what Goody said again-“ it’s not really the way he has performed, it’s the way he has moved, he’s back moving to his best, he’s injury free and feeling free in his body and Tom at his best is a really important player for us. He’s put himself in the selection mix and an opportunity is certainly going to come his way at some stage”

Big praise from Goody

Did anyone ask Goodwin the obvious question? That is, if McDonald is moving the best he's been for some time, why was he playing previously if he wasn't right? 

1 hour ago, Colm said:

Watched Goody on 360 last night. When asked about Tmac form. He said it was great to have him kicking goals but it’s his movement that they are most impressed with said he will definitely get his chance over the coming weeks. 
 

Edit just listened to what Goody said again-“ it’s not really the way he has performed, it’s the way he has moved, he’s back moving to his best, he’s injury free and feeling free in his body and Tom at his best is a really important player for us. He’s put himself in the selection mix and an opportunity is certainly going to come his way at some stage”

Big praise from Goody

Good news.

3 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Did anyone ask Goodwin the obvious question? That is, if McDonald is moving the best he's been for some time, why was he playing previously if he wasn't right? 

Nope wasn’t asked. But isn’t Tom’s foot injury one that will constantly have to be managed? Bit like BBB,s knee. Hopefully they have it cherry ripe for a 6 week period. 

9 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Tmac circa early 21 is a total game changer.

Would love to see this.

It's been a long time though.

But we desperately need him to step up.

 

Unfortunately, the North VFL team were witches hats, so 5 goals isn't really a true reflection of where he's at. Hope I'm wrong though