BACK	Libby Birch	Tahlia Gillard
HALF-BACK	Sinead Goldrick	Shelley Heath	Maeve Chaplin
CENTRE	Blaithin Mackin	Tyla Hanks	Aimee Mackin
HALF-FORWARD	Alyssa Bannan	Megan Fitzsimon	Eden Zanker
FORWARD	Tayla Harris	Kate Hore
FOLLOWERS	Lauren Pearce	Olivia Purcell	Paxy Paxman
INTERCHANGE	Maddi Gay	Georgia Campbell	Jordan Ivey
	Eliza McNamara	Lily Mithen	Eliza West
	Charlotte Wilson	Samantha Johnson

Interchange McNamara, Gay and Mithen?

Personally would take in Campbell not sure on the other spot.

I would assume Paxy, Gay and Mackin A are definite to get back in if fit.  We've lost Rhi and Casey, and Gall is out, so that's a straight forward three for three from last week.  However I'd like Campbell back so Tayla can spend more time rampaging across half forward, and with North's tall forwards Wilson might be needed.  So two more need to go to make room.  Ivey and......?

From the selected extended list of 24 that would mean, Ivey, Johnson and one more to go.  It's a hard call.

Edited November 9, 20231 yr by Craig T

 

27 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Dropping West is an absolutely terrible decision. 

A bit of background to the QF. Seems like a long time since we played North, a few weeks back!

Across the H&A season, Melbourne and North's top four teams played were the same (Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong and each other). In those games, Melbourne had 10 goalkickers for a total of 27 goals; North had 8 for 16. Melbourne conceded 148 points; North 135.

Avg. games experience selected teams QF (and Round 8 for comparison): Melb 45.2 (42.8); North 42.4 (37.9)
Avg. finals experience selected teams QF: Melb 5.7; Nth 4.0

From the Round 8 team that faced the Roos, Sherriff, West and Wilson are out, and Harris, Ivey and A.Mackin are in.

Bit of a pre-game trivia question. Which two of Melbourne's players have the most finals experience?

1 hour ago, Dannyz said:

Dropping West is an absolutely terrible decision. 

No, disagree...she hasn't had a good year & was the obvious one to go.

Given Heath will come into the midfield as a tagger there is no place for West.

1 hour ago, Dees_In_October said:

 

Bit of a pre-game trivia question. Which two of Melbourne's players have the most finals experience?

Lib and Paxy? (Incl. Lib’s Bulldogs finals games)

Lil and Loz close behind.

Forgot about Tay. With her time at Carlton and the Lions 

Edited November 10, 20231 yr by WalkingCivilWar

2 hours ago, Dannyz said:

Dropping West is an absolutely terrible decision. 

Absolutely loving the ins, can’t say the same for the omission of Westy. Didn’t see that coming. But I guess what rjay said (above) makes sense. Someone had to go 

By the way… is it just me or is this the longest week ever????

It’s only been six days but it feels like round 10 was a lifetime ago. Probably just nervous for the girls. The result of this match means so much.

22 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Someone had to go

If 'DeeSpencer' was the chairman of selectors I'm sure Birch would be on the chopping block.

 

2 hours ago, rjay said:

If 'DeeSpencer' was the chairman of selectors I'm sure Birch would be on the chopping block.

 

Can you imagine?! Half the side could be out injured and Lib would still struggle to get a game. 

13 hours ago, Dannyz said:

Dropping West is an absolutely terrible decision. 

Tend to agree here. Westy wasn’t great last game but she wasn’t alone there. She is great at winning contest and clearances which will be vital against North. The player that I think is lucky is Eliza McNamara. I don’t think she has been great for a while now and needs to get involved and provide more run and carry. Understandably hasn’t been the same since her serious injury but on merit I think she is lucky. Great to see Georgia Campbell back in the team. 

29 minutes ago, Dee Viney Intervention said:

The player that I think is lucky is Eliza McNamara. I don’t think she has been great for a while now and needs to get involved and provide more run and carry. Understandably hasn’t been the same since her serious injury but on merit I think she is lucky. 

McNamara's 25 disposals in round 9 wasn't too bad!

12 hours ago, rjay said:

If 'DeeSpencer' was the chairman of selectors I'm sure Birch would be on the chopping block.

 

He would have delisted her already

2 hours ago, waynewussell said:

McNamara's 25 disposals in round 9 wasn't too bad!

On the face of it no. But she had 77% time on ground, 5 changers and went at 48% disposal efficiency in that game against Freo who we beat up on. She had 287 metres gained for that game so let’s call it 11 metres per possession.She has good speed and élite endurance but at the moment there is no hurt factor with her. Paxy, Bannon,Heath, Mackin sisters Goldie the all have hurt factor. While Westy is not a great kick, she will win a contest and is good with creative handball , that’s her role. I just think that at that height and frame you need to have some tricks or offer something other than being a good runner. Right now with McNamara I am not sure what that is. I genuinely do hope she can recover her from Pre injury which was sensational. Right now I think she is fortunate to be in the team and Westy is a bit stiff to miss out, but each to their own.

Edited November 10, 20231 yr by Dee Viney Intervention

If things go our way tomorrow, what's the best result in today's Adel vs Bris?  Eg. what gives us the best chance of continued home finals?

58 minutes ago, Palace Dees said:

If things go our way tomorrow, what's the best result in today's Adel vs Bris?  Eg. what gives us the best chance of continued home finals?

Adelaide losing would be the best thing for us. That would negate any chance of us going to Brisbane for a prelim.

 

I just realised the two QFs are a repeat of round 8… Dees vs North and Crows vs Lions.
We beat North in that match, and the Lions beat the Crows, albeit in Brisbane. Let’s hope for a repeat of those results!

Edited November 11, 20231 yr by WalkingCivilWar

West was awful against Brisbane. Panicked disposals which cost us goals and field position repeatedly. If she can’t handle the pressure of home and away then how is she going to be in finals?

Fwiw I think she is probably just down on confidence and she definitely has it in her to be one of our best, as she showed most of last season. It’s a big call to drop her.

1 hour ago, godees said:

West was awful against Brisbane. Panicked disposals which cost us goals and field position repeatedly. If she can’t handle the pressure of home and away then how is she going to be in finals?

Fwiw I think she is probably just down on confidence and she definitely has it in her to be one of our best, as she showed most of last season. It’s a big call to drop her.

What was that story about her having to change her lucky hairstyle?  Something about the tight cornrows (or something like that) being considered dangerous?  Apologies if I've got it all wrong, I don't know a lot about hairstyles! 😟

6 hours ago, Dee Viney Intervention said:

On the face of it no. But she had 77% time on ground, 5 changers and went at 48% disposal efficiency in that game against Freo who we beat up on. She had 287 metres gained for that game so let’s call it 11 metres per possession.She has good speed and élite endurance but at the moment there is no hurt factor with her. Paxy, Bannon,Heath, Mackin sisters Goldie the all have hurt factor. While Westy is not a great kick, she will win a contest and is good with creative handball , that’s her role. I just think that at that height and frame you need to have some tricks or offer something other than being a good runner. Right now with McNamara I am not sure what that is. I genuinely do hope she can recover her from Pre injury which was sensational. Right now I think she is fortunate to be in the team and Westy is a bit stiff to miss out, but each to their own.

I think you're being harsh on McNamara...

She's very important to the defensive structure with her running and she does use it well with time going forward. Can be pushed off the ball when kicking and this is where some of those stats you mentioned came from.

Westy is a bit unlucky but her form has been down and having 3 inside mids of similar size, someone needed to make way & it wasn't going to be Hanks or Purcell. Her disposal is the big issues with her game, that and getting caught out of position.

We've gone without a true relief ruck at times but I'm pleased they selected Campbell, I don't think Pearce can do it alone.

I'm guessing with Heath coming in to the midfield there isn't another position she can play. In the end team balance was against her.

 

Come on Lions! 
YESSSS!

Edited November 11, 20231 yr by WalkingCivilWar

Good result

Does this mean if we win tomorrow and keep winning we get a home Grand Final (even if Adelaide make it)?

Just now, Demonland said:

Does this mean if we win tomorrow and keep winning we get a home Grand Final (even if Adelaide make it)?

Adelaide have to get through us to make the GF so yes.