PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[Deemania since 56 6,202]

1 hour ago, old55 said:

Selection conundrums ...

Bowey is out.  We could move Salem back but that would disrupt the new midfield set-up.  If we do then the logical replacement appears to be Woewodin.  The other backman choice is Hore but they may be worried about a lack of pace with Tomlinson and Lever. The left-field alternatives backline replacements are headlined by Billings who is experienced and could learn the system quickest and is a lovely kick.  Woewodin and K.Brown are punts.

Spargo sounds injured, apparently seen hobbling in duress at the Sydney airport and in the rehab group at Monday's training.  The logical replacement is the ubiquitous Woewodin.  Longer odds on Tholstrup, AMW, K.Brown or Sestan.

Laurie was subbed but IMO, given Spargo's situation, is likely to be retained in the 23.  Assuming Woewodin replaces Spargo then again the candidates are Tholstrup, AMW, K.Brown or Sestan.

Schache - it seems "the hate Shack is a little old place that we can get together".  The replacement candidates in order of longest out of rehab but shortest on recent proven record are Fullarton, BBB and Petty.  I think TMac is a backline replacement these days.  They may stick with the love Shack. 

I left out that Kosi is an automatic in.

C'mon and bring your jukebox money ...

Such situations necessitate the best possible performances by Sparrow and Rivers. Otherwise, we gap fill, once again. Time for these two 'up the sleeve aces' to shine. Please, someone, motivate them both to excel with confidence.

 

[WalkingCivilWar 32,805]

Popping in then immediately out of this thread just to show folks who haven’t had the good sense to visit the positive news only thread aka the best thread ever, what they’ll see behind the goals on Sunday…

As many rows as possible of the CS will be awash with these. We’re gonna paint red wings on them (copyright be damned!) and we’ll cut out ear-holes… in the right spot, unlike Gussy who cut out his ear-holes incorrectly last year in Adelaide and had to play the first quarter sans helmet. 🙃
 

 

*hotfoots it back to the positive news only thread*

Edited March 13 by WalkingCivilWar

[leave it to deever 16,011]

Will teams who have already played have an advantage over those who haven't?

[leave it to deever 16,011]

13 hours ago, DubDee said:

No way Petty can come straight in after a single full training session. 

Round 3 would be a great outcome for him considering his ongoing foot issues 

Can we sub him back in?

[Pates 9,537]

50 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Will teams who have already played have an advantage over those who haven't?

I hope so, I'm hoping that last week blew off some cobwebs while the dogs will still be rusty.

[DeeZee 6,805]

I would bring in Pickett, Ben Brown and Fullerton for Schache , Spargo and Laurie, and Marty Hore for Bowey and use Chandler as the Sub.

I think we can really stretch them with this set up.

[Gawndy the Great 7,643]

Just out in the media (yes huge caveats on reliability) that JUH is linked with the Hawks. Mentions Collingwood, Essendon and a few others also in the mix. Why oh why are we not in there? It is very early days, but surely we have been having some sort of conversation with his management for a while now. Why are we always late to the party or never invited at all? Given our obvious issues, our massive warchest, our list demographic we are the best place for him... It is infuriating. 

Edited March 13 by Gawndy the Great

[Pipefitter 2,027]

Salem goes back. Give billings a full crack in the midfield. Their skill set is pretty similar. 
 

Spargo out for Kosi.

Shache stays in and breaks the all time contested possesion record…

[Bigfoot 240]

Kozzy in for Laurie

Petty/Fullarton in for Schache

Hore in for Bowey

I would like to see K Brown Dog in for Spargo but I don't think Goody will drop Spargo or make this many changes.

[Diamond_Jim 11,941]

1 hour ago, Gawndy the Great said:

Just out in the media (yes huge caveats on reliability) that JUH is linked with the Hawks. Mentions Collingwood, Essendon and a few others also in the mix. Why oh why are we not in there? It is very early days, but surely we have been having some sort of conversation with his management for a while now. Why are we always late to the party or never invited at all? Given our obvious issues, our massive warchest, our list demographic we are the best place for him... It is infuriating. 

JUH is a bit of a Fritsch clone although skills are different.

Assuming you have Petty and a resting ruckman plus JVR we get a little tall.

It's a tough one

Lose Petty at season's end everything should be on the table

Edited March 13 by Diamond_Jim

[Gawndy the Great 7,643]

11 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

JUH is a bit of a Fritsch clone although skills are different.

Assuming you have Petty and a resting ruckman plus JVR we get a little tall.

It's a tough one

Lose Petty at season's end everything should be on the table

JUH is almost 2m tall and is super athletic and mobile. Probably better to compare against Joel Smith in our team wrt role and athleticism but clearly trumps on talent and skill. 
 

Having Petty, JVR, JUH may just turn our mediocre forward line to premiership quality. Also gives us the option to send Petty back if we want to line up smaller or if Jeffo comes of age. 

[Demon Dynasty 15,749]

6 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Salo goes back for Bowey is a no brainier.

Kozzie will spend time in the middle but hopefully not the whole game.

 

Simon's never played him in the middle for significant minutes so far LD.  Minor only.

Very much doubt he would play more than 10% or more.  His pressure much needed up forward anyway so understandable. 

Personally i'd like to see 20%- 30% though in a shared role with Tracc.

Fullarton a must in for Shack and Billings/Woe in for Spargo/Laurie if we're to have any chance this week.

You cant carry players who contribute diddly squat for an entire match (injured or fully fit).

Very bad for team morale... and so is losing!

Can we pls not play under-done players when better options are obvious and sticking their hand up!

Edited March 13 by Demon Dynasty

[Roost it far 6,239]

Is Fullerton happy to hit packs?

[58er 5,632]

7 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Salo goes back for Bowey is a no brainier.

Kozzie will spend time in the middle but hopefully not the whole game.

 

Salo staying in the mids role is even more a no brainer. 
Woe or Marty are chances at half back. 

[Diamond_Jim 11,941]

19 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Is Fullerton happy to hit packs?

Hasn't played much at AFL level (19 games.. 12 of which were in 2021). Not sure about his VFL form

Ex basketballer with five years at the Lions

Not expecting much but hopefully will surprise

I like this from an interview he did with SEN when joining MFC

“I can bring a lot of energy to the club, first and foremost,” Fullarton added.

“On the field my skillset is not like Luke Jackson, but I sort of watch him play a lot and I feel like I can keep progressing and emulate my game off him.

“I can get around the ground, I’m pretty good at ground level and I feel like that’s what I can bring to Melbourne.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/10/25/why-fullarton-departed-the-lions-and-why-he-ended-up-at-the-demons/

Edited March 13 by Diamond_Jim

[58er 5,632]

1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

JUH is a bit of a Fritsch clone although skills are different.

Assuming you have Petty and a resting ruckman plus JVR we get a little tall.

It's a tough one

Lose Petty at season's end everything should be on the table

JUH can play tall and is good on the ground. In NO way could you honestly say NO to getting him. He also takes a very high mark as a tall sometimes. 

It’s like saying no to Jeremy Cameron. If Geelong continues on with its disgraceful watch on Clarry almost stalking in the media then we say we would want Jezza and one of their mids in return. Dee how they like that.

Stand up and support Clarry it’s disgraceful action when he is still recovering his form fitness and lifestyle and the Cats are hovering around waiting for him to slip up. 

Dees make a statement it’s not good enough. Let Clarry get his return as he should respected by the other Clubs as a still medical issue. Not on!! 
 

[DubDee 21,036]

If Fullarton plays can we please give him a few weeks before we right him off??

coming off no base, hasn’t ever played regular AFL footy

 

[leave it to deever 16,011]

56 minutes ago, 58er said:

Salo staying in the mids role is even more a no brainer. 
Woe or Marty are chances at half back. 

I don't think do. I'll wager you'll find Salo spends time down back with Bowey out and Kozzie back in. Marty isn't similar to Bowey. Woey maybe but we need someone with Christian's elite disposal down back. Also Im not sure if Salos strong enough to play the whole game in the midfield.

 

[Deemania since 56 6,202]

On 12/03/2024 at 02:16, John Demonic said:

Shake up ... is Goodwin hungry enough to take the team where it deserves to be? 

[58er 5,632]

33 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

I don't think do. I'll wager you'll find Salo spends time down back with Bowey out and Kozzie back in. Marty isn't similar to Bowey. Woey maybe but we need someone with Christian's elite disposal down back. Also Im not sure if Salos strong enough to play the whole game in the midfield.

 

Didn’t mean he can’t play there in the middle. We are playing a different team and Marty might be assigned to zJUH cos I can’t think who can mind him. 

[mauriesy 6,822]

2 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Is Fullerton happy to hit packs?

I wonder if Fullarton is happy that no-one can spell his name?

[stinga 475]

Schache out for Fullarton.  Fullarton is not only a better ruckman but also a better overhead mark.  Even if he doesn't take the mark he would rarely be marked against.   He also kicked many goals last year in VFL

Hore for Bowey.   Our backline is our strength and you can't afford to take players from other positions to play there and expect to have the same cohesion.

Keep Salem in midfield.   Playing him in the back half in the last quarter against the swans allowed their midfield to take over.

Picket for Spargo  (could also be Chandler but Spargo was less of a contributor).

Billings for Woewodin  You need a sub who can come on and make an impact with run and aggression even if they don't actually get the possessions.   Woewodin had an impact last year whereas Billings was on for nearly a half and you hardly noticed him.

Laurie for AMW.   It's about time for him to see what he can do even if it's only as the sub.

That's 5 ins but if Picket, Bowey and Laurie are forced and you don't count the sub, it's really only the one unforced change (Schache for Fullarton)

[Boots and all 896]

3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Hasn't played much at AFL level (19 games.. 12 of which were in 2021). Not sure about his VFL form

Ex basketballer with five years at the Lions

Not expecting much but hopefully will surprise

I like this from an interview he did with SEN when joining MFC

“I can bring a lot of energy to the club, first and foremost,” Fullarton added.

“On the field my skillset is not like Luke Jackson, but I sort of watch him play a lot and I feel like I can keep progressing and emulate my game off him.

“I can get around the ground, I’m pretty good at ground level and I feel like that’s what I can bring to Melbourne.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/10/25/why-fullarton-departed-the-lions-and-why-he-ended-up-at-the-demons/

So not unlike Grundy who can also get around the ground and is pretty good at ground level. 

[Dannyz 2,335]

Unfortunately no Petty until next week. 

[Demonland 65,951]