The Herald Sun has listed 3 moves the club should make in 2024. What moves do you think the club should make in 2024?

MELBOURNE

1. Give Daniel Turner a run as the third tall defender

He has managed just the three games over the past two years but it is time to give the man known as ‘Disco’ a run as the third tall. This will free up Harry Petty and allow him to have a 40-plus goal season.

2. Give Bailey Laurie first crack as Jake Melksham’s replacement

With Melksham out for most if not all of 2024 with his knee injury, someone needs to step up. After playing five games in 2023, Laurie is ready to have a crack and the Demons need to give him at least 15 games in the role

3. Blood Matt Jefferson up forward

The 195cm young key forward is yet to make his debut but the Demons need to refresh their attack and it is time for a forward line of Petty, Jacob van Rooyen and Jefferson.

Agree on the first two, I would like to see a bit more of a Jefferson breakout at Casey before bringing him in. I would prefer to see Fullarton in the forward 50 and providing a chop out for Max.

Yes to Turner, no to the other two.

Seen only flashes of Laurie but there's nothing in him that suggests he is anything more than depth. McAdam is clearly the Melksham replacement.

Happy to give Jefferson a game but only if we're playing against a struggling side and need to rest the other talls.

Quick ball movement to an uncluttered fwd line and practice goal kicking.

We threw the flag away last season.

1 hour ago, DeeZone said:

Agree on the first two, I would like to see a bit more of a Jefferson breakout at Casey before bringing him in. I would prefer to see Fullarton in the forward 50 and providing a chop out for Max.

Agreed. He has not shown enough as yet. Im hoping he and Adams can push for selection this year. 

These guys are all capable of winning spots but each has strong competition and would need to put forth a great preseason to get the crack.

Turner has to outperform Tomlinson Hore Tmac and Adams. (Smith too but yknow). Would love to see him be the best option, would mean good things going forward.  

Melkshams role was not only being a marking option but negating tall interceptors. The thought of Laurie contending against anyone in a marking contest doesn’t fill me with hope. 

I still fear for Jefferson not being given the space to perform the way he excels, even at Casey level. His junior highlights saw him kicking goals from creating space and working into it. There was marks too but I don’t remember towering pack marks. Hope he gets an opportunity to cook like he owns the kitchen, even if others have seniority. 

1) Learn how to use the sub

2) Hire a chauffeur 

In all seriousness Tomlinson deserves first crack at the third defender position.

Straight Sets Simon was made to look very silly after he came back into the team and played well after the horrendous decision to drop him after the Collingwood game earlier in the year.

Edited December 16, 20231 yr by Super Sub Schache

I’m hoping AMW becomes a AFL player this year. Jefferson won’t play AFL unless our injury list is extensive. Laurie is a maybe but unlikely. Yes to Turner, got to give the kid some games. 

I think people forget that Melksham's spot was really a make up spot because of other injuries to KPF's

If we look at our preferred structure, 2 KPF's and a ruck/forward.

..If BBB is fit then we have 2 spots to fit him JVR and Petty for starters.

Plus a lot of pressure on for the small/medium forwards.

Interesting 2024 ahead.

yes to turner, no to the other two

laurie is a completely different player to milkshake; he simply doesn't play the same role

jefferson needs a big pre-season to be pressing for a position in the senior side, but i see all of petty, jvr, sideshow bob, and possibly even fullarton and plugger mac - even tho the latter is training with the defensive group - ahead of him for a role as a tall in the forward line in 2024

2 hours ago, Super Sub Schache said:

1) Learn how to use the sub

2) Hire a chauffeur 

In all seriousness Tomlinson deserves first crack at the third defender position.

Straight Sets Simon was made to look very silly after he came back into the team and played well after the horrendous decision to drop him after the Collingwood game earlier in the year.

Oh yeah I forgot Tomlinson played his career best game on Kings Birthday only for our master mind of a coach to drop him the next week in a bad loss to Geelong.

Not as bizarre as dropping the third tall defender for the Collingwood final but still pretty baffling.

Edited December 16, 20231 yr by Bring-Back-Powell

Melksham was replacing Petty initially wasn't he? Don't think I'd give Laurie the first crack at Petty's spot.  McAdam on the other hand could replace the Laurie's/Chandler spot.

Edited December 16, 20231 yr by John Demonic

Ben Brown, Tholstrup, Windsor, McAdam and Fullarton will all be vying for best 22 spots based on current info. I'd say that is where there will be more dramatic improvement in our game rather than Jefferson, Laurie and Turner. Turner and Laurie really need to start pushing to become best 22, but the club aren't reliant on them at this stage to become best 22 for their to be improvement in our game, it's more of a bonus if it happens I'd say.

5 hours ago, seventyfour said:

Yes to Turner, no to the other two.

Seen only flashes of Laurie but there's nothing in him that suggests he is anything more than depth. McAdam is clearly the Melksham replacement.

Happy to give Jefferson a game but only if we're playing against a struggling side and need to rest the other talls.

Laurie has shown more in games at any level of AFL than Jefferson. Not saying, don’t give Jefferson a go,  more saying give Laurie a go… 

Moves Our Supporters Should Make In 2024…

Stop bagging our Coach.

 

Calling him Straight Sets Simon is puerile and doesn’t achieve anything except to irritate others who are sick to death of hearing it ad nauseam.

47 minutes ago, Bonkers said:

Ben Brown, Tholstrup, Windsor, McAdam and Fullarton will all be vying for best 22 spots based on current info. I'd say that is where there will be more dramatic improvement in our game rather than Jefferson, Laurie and Turner. Turner and Laurie really need to start pushing to become best 22, but the club aren't reliant on them at this stage to become best 22 for their to be improvement in our game, it's more of a bonus if it happens I'd say.

Billings says hi.

I've said this before, but:

1) I'd play three wingers and allow our running backs more freedom to get up the ground and attack, knowing cover is out the back in the form of the wingers. 

So I'd play one less forward, which should also open up space forward of centre to slingshot back into.

The three wingers in question should come from Langdon, Gus, Hunter, ANB, Billings, Windsor, Spargo, Laurie and Howes.

2) I'd play Bowey and McVee through the midfield at times, I really think Bowser has extremely similar attributes to Butters, maybe not as good a side step. But I'd build his upper body a bit this off season.

These two moves probably mean bringing in Howes. And this also means more midfield time for Rivers, who is absolutely ready now for more sustained midfield minutes.

3) The forward set up should be dynamic, fluid and unpredictable outside of some obvious personnel. Petty should be the key pillar. I'd play McAdam anywhere from the goal square to high half forward. Fritta will always be in that forward mix too, as will Kozzy. 

So given I'd play 6 forwards and not 7, that leaves two positions. JVR would be my second KPF and second ruck. And the 6th forward I'd have would be Billings. I'd play him almost strictly as an inside 50 player, but given the modern game, it's highly unlikely anyone would stay strictly inside 50.

I'd then, depending on the game, float Trac forward.

The team I'd go with in round 1 injury permitting would look something like this.

McVee May Lever

Rivers Turner Salem

Langdon Oliver Gus

Billings JVR McAdam

Kozzy Petty Fritta 

Max Viney Trac

Bowey Sparrow ANB Howes

Of that team, I'd see 8 mids (non wingers): Rivers, McVee, Oliver, Kozzy, Viney, Trac, Bowey and Sparrow. I'd leave Gus on the wing, but he's another mid option.

Rucks are the big problem here with any in game injury, otherwise it feels a little short, but dynamic and fresh.

Our backline dominated against the Pies, incredible coaching job from Goody and co who nailed the selections down back.

They stuffed up not going smaller up forward and the issues remained (as they have for 2 years) that we lack healthy tall forwards at the right time of the year and we lack midfield speed, class and run.

Billings, Laurie, an in form Charlie Spargo are all important options.

If Laurie is picked he needs to be trusted to play some midfield where he can create in space.

3 moves for me:

1. Blake Howes: if he’s up to the level he can really run and kick

2. Pickett and Rivers in to the midfield for the run and skills we need 

3. Billings and Shane McAdam in to the forward mix

1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Moves Our Supporters Should Make In 2024…

Stop bagging our Coach.

 

Calling him Straight Sets Simon is puerile and doesn’t achieve anything except to irritate others who are sick to death of hearing it ad nauseam.

Is this the Premiership coach they're talking about 'Walking', the one who broke a 57 year drought????

Let me see, who is that doesn't have a clue???

Premiership coach or know it all on a fan site.

IMO, Tomlinson fully deserves the 3rd key defender position first up. He made a strong statement coming in first place in the time trial and the coaches will be taking note of that. I'd be more than happy to trial Disco as our super sub who can play forward or back if one of our tall's aren't firing. 

As for Laurie, I just don't see how he gets in the team when we brought in better skilled forwards in McAdam and Billings. If anything Laurie would be trying to get ANB's/Spargo's spot as that running forward that creates options. Laurie finishing 4th in the time trial is really promising so I think he just needs to keep plugging away in the VFL much like Chandler did for 4 years. 

I do feel it's time we see what Howes is made of so I'd like to see him get 5-10 games this season and with Hibberd's retirement there may be a spot for him to break into our strong backline. 

As for Jefferson we don't need to rush him, we have ample depth and I would much prefer to play Turner forward than Jefferson this season as he has had 2-3 more years in the system and should be AFL ready by now. Don't write off Schache this year either it's probably his last crack at AFL this season so he has to show something to warrant a contract extension. 

2 hours ago, John Demonic said:

Melksham was replacing Petty initially wasn't he? Don't think I'd give Laurie the first crack at Petty's spot.  McAdam on the other hand could replace the Laurie's/Chandler spot.

McAdam plays tall like Melky.

We really need to commit to Gawn as ruck/defensive half interceptor, and using a forward as a ruck for stoppages in attack. Makes the most efficient use of Gawn and gives us a chance to develop ruckcraft in our other talls.

Get our shiny new swarm of mid-sized half-forwards drilled to run together, drawing opponents to release each other, picking the freshest one to go for the fast-break into space close to goal, arriving hot to the fall of the ball, and being a constant obstruction to any opposition movement out of their defence.

Play a 2xCHF tall forward structure with alternating duties of long leads vs remaining 'on station' so that our breakaways from defence and midfield always have a predictable get-out option.

3 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Moves Our Supporters Should Make In 2024…

Stop bagging our Coach.

 

Calling him Straight Sets Simon is puerile and doesn’t achieve anything except to irritate others who are sick to death of hearing it ad nauseam.

Well he’d want to improve on his last match……that was a howler

8 hours ago, Bay Riffin said:

Agreed. He has not shown enough as yet. Im hoping he and Adams can push for selection this year. 

We threw the flag away in 1963 as well. But l can't remember why.

10 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Quick ball movement to an uncluttered fwd line...

 

An uncluttered forward line is difficult these days. All teams flood numbers back. Sometimes as many as 30 players.