The Dees will play their final practice match before the start of the 2024 seasons against the Blues at Ikon Park. What are you wanting to see in this final hit out before the season proper? Will Clarry & Salo return to the side?

2024 AAMI Community Series | Carlton v Melbourne
Date: Wednesday 28 February
Time: 6:40pm (AEDT)
Location: IKON Park | Wurundjeri

FB: McDonald May McVee
HB: Brayshaw Lever Bowey
C; Windsor Petracca Langdon
HF: Billings Fritsch  ANB
FF: Pickett JVR Spargo 
Foll: Gawn Salem Viney
Int: Rivers Sparrow Laurie Verrall
S: Schache 

E: Chandler, Woey, Tomlinson

Out: Tomlinson, Howes, K. Brown, Chandler
In: Brayshaw, Salem, Spargo, McDonald if fit

Another week in the 2’s for Clarry.

That would be my plan. 

The coaches need to find the right balance between maintaining our defensive structure while allowing us better opportunities to score 

We applied no pressure and our defensive structure was a mess against Richmond - I’d like to see us improve in these areas next week while still putting more speed on the ball to create a more open fwd line 

A challenge but that’s what the coaches need to do for us to go deep this year 

Oh and less turnovers pls 

 

Is the Blues game...a proper game ?.... or another hybrid hash like today ?

Cheers

Just now, beelzebub said:

Is the Blues game...a proper game ?.... or another hybrid hash like today ?

Cheers

Proper match. 4 Quarters.

22 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Another week in the 2’s for Clarry.

Is there even a 2s game for him to play in next week?

Time for Clarry to come home

It seemed obvious to this befuddled old curmudgeon that the team today was incapable of properly implementing any ( or much ) of any new game ( derived from...'learnings') . The skills were lacking for many and the team lineup was short of any duscernable cohesion.

That might well change with a better selection.  But by how much ? 

The problem with days like today is if you are indeed trying new tricks...and undermanned in that endeavour there's every chance you will look even worse for the effort because strangely enough the other team will be hell bent on stopping you..

Richmond seemed to ooze more poise .

We really had very little. They were a rough diamond perhaps to our bit of ballast.

Carlton will tell us more.

 

10 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Is there even a 2s game for him to play in next week?

Possibly not on the Wednesday but I’d be surprised if they don’t have something organised for the vfl guys closer to the weekend. If nothing at all is available then maybe a half for Clarry in the side 

🤔 whos our 3rd up defender.... might be an opening.....just sayin' 

Tomlinson is not the guy to have against a fastball team other than in the last line and we have May for that.

Turner was probably the next in line but he's now out for months.

Suppose that leaves Howe. Is he up to it?

10 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

🤔 whos our 3rd up defender.... might be an opening.....just sayin' 

I’d be tempted to go small. Lever takes a man. Gus plays as the interceptor, a role he excels at. McVee and Rivers take on some height.

But we are hardly stacked for flankers. If Salo is moved to the midfield to finally attempt to fix the unbalance in the midfield we are looking at another medium tall in Hore playing out of position, Howes - who cant defend at all but has interesting flanker skills, or possibly mix it up with Woewodin?

I’d even think of trying Sparrow on a back flank if he continues to be an almost player as a mid.

10 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Tomlinson is not the guy to have against a fastball team other than in the last line and we have May for that.

Turner was probably the next in line but he's now out for months.

Suppose that leaves Howe. Is he up to it?

Hore maybe?

2 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I’d be tempted to go small. Lever takes a man. Gus plays as the interceptor, a role he excels at. McVee and Rivers take on some height.

But we are hardly stacked for flankers. If Salo is moved to the midfield to finally attempt to fix the unbalance in the midfield we are looking at another medium tall in Hore playing out of position, Howes - who cant defend at all but has interesting flanker skills, or possibly mix it up with Woewodin?

I’d even think of trying Sparrow on a back flank if he continues to be an almost player as a mid.

Interesting isnt it. 

If they're looking to rejiggle some of last years into new roles/positions have they placed too much reliance on what others might be able to do...as opposed what some can ?

Might be some auditioning this week perhaps 🤔

2 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Interesting isnt it. 

If they're looking to rejiggle some of last years into new roles/positions have they placed too much reliance on what others might be able to do...as opposed what some can ?

Might be some auditioning this week perhaps 🤔

Howes played on Bolton for a fair chunk of the game and got beat up, clearly a harsh test that he wouldn’t get in a real game.

McVee played on no one of note and up the ground more and whilst he had good moments I thought he was lost in transition at times.

A simple change to help the backline defending is revert McVee to his job. Gus or Salo to half back where they have more experience.

But the talls is still a worry. We need guys who can cover ground and variable match ups if we are playing more open at the back. And they need skills as well. May bombed every kick and spilled every chest mark. Lever was rusty with the ball. Tomlinson didn’t do enough on the counter.

seems to me the plan is for salem to play in the guts in 2024

i expect, given this is the last run before season start, they'll go with a similar line-up to that which they intend to take on sydney with, which might mean pickett doesn't play in this practice game

Get Clarry and Salo in the team vs the Blues. Brayshaw also in if he is over his illness. Of the other injured players I'm not sure any are match ready given their injuries.

If TMac is fit will he play Forward or Back?

Play the strongest side possible

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, McDonald, Rivers

C: Brayshaw, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Billings, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen

F: Pickett, Fritsch, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Sparrow, Chandler, K. Brown

SUB: Verrall

EMERG: Windsor, Woewodin, Howes

5 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Play the strongest side possible

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, McDonald, Rivers

C: Brayshaw, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Billings, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen

F: Pickett, Fritsch, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Sparrow, Chandler, K. Brown

SUB: Verrall

EMERG: Windsor, Woewodin, Laurie

I forgot Laurie I put him as an emergency ahead of Howes.

44 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

I forgot Laurie I put him as an emergency ahead of Howes.

Clarry? 

1 minute ago, 58er said:

Clarry? 

Ruck rover

Just now, WERRIDEE said:

Ruck rover

Sorry WDee can’t get much stronger perhaps Petty andMcAdam.

just wondering if it’s worth dicing  our luck and give Jed Adams a go from the start at third tall and fast track him as we would have done with Turner hopefully. Is it too soon and Jed better off with Casey for a few games and if injury or opportunity presents include him then like Petty was. Not that we want any more injuries!!

It’s a gamble because I like Tmac and hope he can pull it off just like I liked Harry’s highlight reel I also see Jed’s as very promising. Looks a cool customer and nice kick out of defence plus a good mark to boot 196cm as well. 

Time will tell let’s hope Disco can come back better than ever also. 

9 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Play the strongest side possible

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, McDonald, Rivers

C: Hunter, Brayshaw, Langdon

HF: Petracca, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen

F: Pickett, Fritsch, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Sparrow, Chandler, Billings

SUB: K. Brown

EMERG: Windsor, Woewodin, Laurie

 

17 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

Play the strongest side possible

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, McDonald, Rivers

C: Brayshaw, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Billings, van Rooyen, Neal-Bullen

F: Pickett, Fritsch, Spargo

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Sparrow, Chandler, K. Brown

SUB: Verrall

EMERG: Windsor, Woewodin, Howes

I would have Tomlinson in for TMac, he’s coming off a calf niggle and a lot of people have listed him as cooked? I would also give Windsor another run and Verrall needs to be in the starting 22 to support Max.😁