PREGAME: Rd 01 vs Western Bulldogs

[Left Foot Snap 2,453]

Are the "What they are saying in opposition land" threads going to start up again this year?

I really liked those.

[Demonland 73,140]

 

[Olgreybeard49 242]

10 minutes ago, Left Foot Snap said:

Wow, I didn't get that.

And I have no idea how I did!! After my annual tussle with Ticketek and the Melbourne app it just appeared.

[leave it to deever 17,517]

29 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

If they replace Tomlinson with TMac surely people will start doubting Goodwin’s coaching. I mean Tomlinson played his role, he’s no champ but sheesh he was above plenty last week. TMac can only dream of being that useful.l . 

If we lose and Tmac has a poor one, then those questions will be up and about for sure.

Fortunately I think we will account for the dogs quite well.

[HBDee 369]

Imagine the squabbling on here if we get done..............

[Fromgotowoewodin 1,606]

10 minutes ago, Olgreybeard49 said:

And I have no idea how I did!! After my annual tussle with Ticketek and the Melbourne app it just appeared.

It’s just the worst system, I’ve never got any idea what tickets go with what

[At the break of Gawn 4,460]

27 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

Anyone else hear about the whisper Joey heard about Max being sick?

[sue 9,142]

Lots of posters are bewildered by Tommo being dropped after playing well.  But if we all noticed he played well, surely the selection panel did too.  There must be reasons other than the club is insane.  (I've no idea what they could be.)

[old55 23,687]

I think the FD must prefer TMac to Tomlinson because TMac is more versatile, he can go back, forward and do ruck minutes. He did have a good pre-season.

Good to see Hore for Bowey, if so that means Salem stays in the midfield.

Interesting to see whether it's BBB or Fullarton for Love Shack.

[JTR 2,855]

41 minutes ago, sue said:

Lots of posters are bewildered by Tommo being dropped after playing well.  But if we all noticed he played well, surely the selection panel did too.  There must be reasons other than the club is insane.  (I've no idea what they could be.)

It's happened often, most notably for me being after the KB last year, where he had a great game.

Following week we had the bye, then week after that he was omitted for Petty.

[Demonland 73,140]

Match of the Round according to SEN.

https://x.com/1116sen/status/1768437768924057698?s=20

 

 

[sydneydee 689]

2 hours ago, Mel Bourne said:

Not letting a player who’s keen to leave the club do so because they’re “required”, then dropping them for the second game of the season despite a solid performance in the first, is the epitome of poor player-management. 

Goodwin, though rich in “learnings”, seems to have learned nothing from the selection debacle of last year’s finals campaign. 
 

Time to drop Goodwin to the VFL to see if he can execute his learnings. 

[Axis of Bob 11,841]

I can't believe the hand wringing about dropping Tomlinson. Actually, that's not entirely true; I've been here long enough.

Tomlinson was outpointed positionally several times last week but was saved by the slippery conditions on several occasions. No basic level key defender should be beaten defensively on that postage stamp ground in slippery conditions, so being serviceable last week is no particular recommendation. There were 3 contested marks taken by forwards all game and they were all Sydney players - it was an easy day to be a defensive tall defender.

The point is that Tomlinson's game was fine enough but not exactly a defence for him being replaced by a better option. If TMac comes in it's because he's a better footballer than Tomlinson. TMac is slow but he's certainly no slower than Tomlinson, and TMac is much better at everything else. 

Did Tomlinson deserve to be dropped? It doesn't matter because we're selecting a team to win this week. Whether a fringe veteran 'deserves a game' isn't relevant because that isn't how you select a team, you select a team to win the match you're playing. 

[seventyfour 1,177]

13 minutes ago, Axis of Bob said:

Did Tomlinson deserve to be dropped? It doesn't matter because we're selecting a team to win this week. Whether a fringe veteran 'deserves a game' isn't relevant because that isn't how you select a team, you select a team to win the match you're playing. 

I don't disagree with this, but you also select teams to win all year and win in September. Confidence and chemistry are important for both of these, and both are impacted negatively when you drop blokes who played well.

[dazzledavey36 55,318]

Whilst I think Tommo is stiff and played his role well, there is obviously more to it then we know or ever will.

He did badly get touched  up by Harry McKay in the practice game and I thought after that he wasn't a certainty for round 1. 

Actually more excited for Marty Hore's return. His numbers at VFL level was through the roof and took the most marks in the competition for 2023.

I think we bounce back and win this one.

[Axis of Bob 11,841]

8 minutes ago, seventyfour said:

I don't disagree with this, but you also select teams to win all year and win in September.

Which is why it’s important to get the better player into the team early in the year so that he can build confidence and chemistry with the other defenders. It’s not like Tomlinson, who has played fewer than 10 games a season since he came to Melbourne 5 years ago, has suddenly been blindsided that he’s a fringe AFL player.

I think that’s the nub of it. We think one player is better than the other, so we’re picking who we think is the best player.

Edited March 15 by Axis of Bob

[HBDee 369]

I think it is possible that 2 of Tmac, Brown and Fullarton play. The Doggies backline is very undersized and probably their weakest line. Might it be that 2 of those 3 play and play forward, along with JVR to stretch them and stand under our "woeful forward entries"?

[640MD 3,429]

On winning games.  You need to get to September,  then it’s a short sharp season different to the other. 

[leave it to deever 17,517]

2 hours ago, sue said:

Lots of posters are bewildered by Tommo being dropped after playing well.  But if we all noticed he played well, surely the selection panel did too.  There must be reasons other than the club is insane.  (I've no idea what they could be.)

I'm sure they noticed as well. There must be strong reasons why Tommo was dropped after a very solid performance.

The problem for me is that it's happened to Tommo before.

Combined with other selections like Laurie getting the nod over Billings last week and selected again this round seems contrary to players performances.

This is all hot off the heals of the Laurie sub selection in the pie final and then Grundy being omitted in both finals.

There may be inside logic as you say to all these but taken collectively for the outsider looking in, it's very, very hard to fathom.

[leave it to deever 17,517]

35 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Actually more excited for Marty Hore's return. His numbers at VFL level was through the roof and took the most marks in the competition

Stoked he's back at the Mfc.

Always thought he's underrated.

[whatwhat say what 22,939]

marty hore's understanding of the backline set-up will, i think, hold him in good stead to come in and immediately play a role

my concern remains around his ball use

Edited March 15 by whatwhat say what

[SPC 3,551]

While Tommo is stiff, he still makes me nervous with the highball and ground ball. So does TMAC but probably a lesser extent. 
My thoughts on our back 6 is that we have too many interceptors and not enough defender's. Lever needs to be more like May and lock down first. Lever was so poor last week. Most backlines play taller, so maybe we bring in Hore for Tommo and Salem goes back for Bowzer. 
 

Picket to play 50/50 Mid as will Tracc and Clarry to find his touch. 

[DubDee 26,117]

15 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

marty hore's understanding of the backline set-up will, i think, hold him in good stead to come in and immediately play a role

my concern remains around his ball use

i recall Hore being a nice kick but could be wrong

[Deemania since 56 6,716]

2 hours ago, sue said:

Lots of posters are bewildered by Tommo being dropped after playing well.  But if we all noticed he played well, surely the selection panel did too.  There must be reasons other than the club is insane.  (I've no idea what they could be.)

Injury? Our medical queue is already quite busy - and thus, embarrassing to some extent. Here we go, again ... unexpected changes ... almost silent in their implementation ... why are they doing this?

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

50 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

marty hore's understanding of the backline set-up will, i think, hold him in good stead to come in and immediately play a role

my concern remains around his ball use

He also played a fair chunk of matches in 2019 with May & Lever.  Albeit 2019 wasn't a great year in general of course and there's been a big improvement from those two since.  May's first year as well and we know how that faired.

Marty had a marginally higher seasonal player rating than both May & Lever that year!

His overall DE% was below average @ 69% (AFL average approx 73%)

His kicking efficiency was also below AFL average @ 66% (i believe AFL average is somewhere around 69%).  Would be worth seeing that result against tall defender's averages though.

He averaged 4.1 turnovers a game, ranked 7th worst overall but behind two other defenders in Salo (4.2) & Hibbo (4.3)

Marty averaged 4.5 rebounds a game that year.  Only 2nd to Salo with 5.

Ranked 2nd in intercept averages (7.5) to Lever (7.9)

Alot of water under the bridge since.  Marty will be a very interesting watch this season.  Good luck son!

Edited March 15 by Demon Dynasty