3 minutes ago, kev martin said:

Cannot think of anyone else who knows the backline system, and bringing in another green player alongside Howes could throw it out of kilter.

Agree totally about his kicking as a mid, and I really would want him to play on the ball. Who else at this stage can take on the small opposition forwards?

Unfortunately not many would know it. I didn’t realise how we don’t have many/if any replacements for opposition small forwards

1 hour ago, Demongirl35 said:

Mcadams or adams?

I heard mcadams did his hammy??

I believe McAdam had a hammy problem a few weeks ago, just after the calf came good, he had always been running short distances in his individual program at the trainings. For him to be absent, was unusual. 

AFL indicated McAdam has nerve issues effecting hamstring and will train away from main group as Mon Bon and titan_uranus mentioned.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1085531/hamstring-issue-to-further-delay-melbourne-demons-shane-mcadam-season-start

Jed Adams is ready to go if he gets a call up.

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by kev martin

6 minutes ago, Demongirl35 said:

Unfortunately not many would know it. I didn’t realise how we don’t have many/if any replacements for opposition small forwards

Could they get Moniz-Wakefield skilled up as a backman?

May Could take him under his wing, jets 2.0.

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by kev martin

2 minutes ago, kev martin said:

Could they get Moniz-Wakefield to get skilled up as a backman?

Honestly if no one else can do it then no harm in trying haha 

11 minutes ago, kev martin said:

I think they will keep Laurie in as they continually used him as a linking player in the sims, though would love to see Tholstrup in, but could be Woey.

Chandler was quiet but Goody seems to favour him. Billings in for him wouldn't be far fetched.

Spargo out, Salem back, kossie mid/forward.

Fullaton has to be a chance to replace Schache. 

Unpopular opinion on here it seems but I hope they persist with Laurie, at least for a few more games. Kid has skill, is one of our best by hands and when he gets his confidence up he should sharpen up those kicking skills and help our delivery inside forward 50.

In my view he appears to be a confidence player and doesn't believe he belongs yet. Doesn't help when langdon runs across his kicking line, smothering the kick and then scolds him for it, nor would it help when he was clearly ignored by Salem while he was 20 metres in the clear inside 50. Out of the 6 games he's played he's been sub or subbed out 5 times.

He will want to start showing some serious improvement however and I don't think a forward line can include all of Him, Chandler, Anb, Pickett and Spargo with McAdam to come. Up to him to start taking these chances otherwise he'll be in strife come the end of the year. 

 

14 minutes ago, Demongirl35 said:

Honestly if no one else can do it then no harm in trying haha 

Set Salem free campaign, so he can to do what he is best at (a mid).

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by kev martin

51 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Yep TOTALLY PAAARKED selection, FWIW he is slow, small, and cant kick over a jam tin ,,but still has played 97 odd games.. Totally mystyfying!😵‍💫yeah I know the smarties out there will say.. yeah but he uses the ball well, well in our club that aint hard!

Harsh but fair...

41 minutes ago, kev martin said:

Could they get Moniz-Wakefield skilled up as a backman?

May Could take him under his wing, jets 2.0.

I think we need him as a forward.

55 minutes ago, Demongirl35 said:

Mcadams or adams?

I heard mcadams did his hammy??

Big Mac...

9 minutes ago, Redleg said:

I think we need him as a forward.

We have so many competing as small forwards. 

K.Brown, Tholstrup, McAdam, Spargo, Billings,  Laurie, Melksham, Sestan, ANB, Kossie, Chandler, Woewodin. I know some will work as mids, but who will replace the backs.

I reckon Moniz-Wakefield has a better chance of making the side if he works in the defence. 

51 minutes ago, kev martin said:

Cannot think of anyone else who knows the backline system, and bringing in another green player alongside Howes could throw it out of kilter.

Agree totally about his kicking as a mid, and I really would want him to play on the ball. Who else at this stage can take on the small opposition forwards?

I'd bring in Hore.

We play 7 defenders in the 22.  May, Lever, Tomlinson, Rivers, McVee, Howes and Hore is a strong unit.

McVee can take Weightman.

I mentioned Woewodin earlier, but I acknowledge that's unlikely.

The Dogs are naturally taller in the front half than many other sides, so Hore makes sense as an intercepter at 191cm, who's still agile enough to be a flanker.

And it allow Salem to stay midfield.

Imagine abandoning Salem as a midfielder after one game after it's been earmarked for two years ?  It doesn't make sense to me.

5 minutes ago, Gator said:

We play 7 defenders in the 22.  May, Lever, Tomlinson, Rivers, McVee, Howes and Hore is a strong unit.

McVee can take Weightman.

That leaves McVee and Rivers to cover their smalls, who will rotate with them?

Western also have West and I believe a few other smalls.

Hoping Howes can take on a speedy one, but if no Salem then we go in tall against a flexible forward line up. Beveridge will try and take advantage.

24 minutes ago, kev martin said:

We have so many competing as small forwards. 

K.Brown, Tholstrup, McAdam, Spargo, Billings,  Laurie, Melksham, Sestan, ANB, Kossie, Chandler, Woewodin. I know some will work as mids, but who will replace the backs.

I reckon Moniz-Wakefield has a better chance of making the side if he works in the defence. 

Billings and Woey can play in defence. Then with Rivers, Howes, McVee, Bowey, Hore, Salem and Windsor ( possibly doing a Sheezel ) and the fact that AMW has never played in defence at Casey, I see him as a forward, the position he was recruited for.

AMW is more of an opportunistic goal kicker.

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by Redleg

4 minutes ago, Redleg said:

AMW is more of an opportunistic goal kicker

I reckon AMW should train up as a back.

Hore, who is more of a Lever back up.

Would love Salem to stay in the mids, but just don't see another replacement for Bowser.

Hope you are right, love Salem in the middle.

Windsor not ready as a back.

 

10 minutes ago, Redleg said:

Billings and Woey can play in defence. Then with Rivers, Howes, McVee, Bowey, Hore, Salem and Windsor ( possibly doing a Sheezel ) and the fact that AMW has never played in defence at Casey, I see him as a forward, the position he was recruited for.

AMW is more of an opportunistic goal kicker.

Surely Salem goes back given Bowey is out. They are the most like for like. We need him to be our composed/skilled high half back. Kossie will come into the midfield at times, to go with Petracca, Oliver, Viney and Sparrow. Billings might also get a full game and can go through the midfield.

Don't think we'll see Billings in the backline. Thankfully 

6 hours ago, DeeZone said:

Remember Rif, it’s he who laughs last……..,,!!

Yep... seasons are as much about how you start...banking games, as it is about wet sails.

Prettt fair to say most thought hed be playing now...and here we are.....

1 hour ago, Demongirl35 said:

Salem needs to be kicking it i50

such a waste down back for me!

If Tholstrup is ready I reckon we take the chance. Probably safer option with someone like Woey but I’m just so keen to see how Tholstrup goes

McVee comes into the middle/CBs (not huge moments) for mine with Salom off HB to cover the Bowsa role.

They can share the role a little but i'd be slowly moving McVee into the bulk of the mid/CB minutes of this shared role.

They're both good by foot but McVee has the leg speed and agility to break the lines and find more space/time to finish off his work coming inside 50 and be slightly more damaging imv.

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by Demon Dynasty

Agree Salem will return to the backline. Unfortunate, but sensible. Knows the role and solves a problem. 

Pickett will take some midfield minutes & Laurie will have to step up. 

Pickett for Bowey

Fullarton for Schache 

Billings for Spargo  

Maybe a tall as sub? Cupboard feeling a bit bare though 

9 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

 

Surely Salem goes back given Bowey is out. They are the most like for like. We need him to be our composed/skilled high half back. Kossie will come into the midfield at times, to go with Petracca, Oliver, Viney and Sparrow. Billings might also get a full game and can go through the midfield.

I would say this is the most likely outcome. I'm sure Salem will get his run again with the midfield as the season rolls on but that half-back, damaging ball user is so important. No one comes close to Salem and Bowey playing that role.

I think the midfield will be ok with the big three and Sparrow, Kozz and maybe even some Rivers rolling through there against the dogs.

40 minutes ago, kev martin said:

I reckon Moniz-Wakefield has a better chance of making the side if he works in the defence. 

Agree

We should be rotating the fringe players through various positions at VFL level.

Midfield is amazingly bare and same with smaller backmen.

We seem to have a surplus of NQR HFF's

We had 4 A grade mids until Angus' retirement so our depth looked pretty good.  His loss exposes Sparrow & Laurie, and Hunters injury exposes Windsor. Salem was a good solution until Bowey's selflessness but us on the backside. 

Windsor will make it, but IMV not ideal he's having to own a wing after 3 months of training. I'd wonder if Woey is not a better option?  Knows the system, KMs in the legs and a man's body. Caleb's speed and kicking is tantalising but is he ready? 

 

Lot of love for Fullarton

Beauty is by comparison but I do wonder how he will fare at AFL level

19 games in five years for Brisbane (12 were in 2021)

Good luck to the guy.

How was he at Brisbane VFL level?

Good point DJ. Hopefully he was just behind some good talls at the Lions and like other talls needed a little while to mature 🤞

Edited March 11, 20241 yr by Dee*ceiving

Salem stays in the middle, he needs games to find his mojo and we need a new look in there. We can plug the gap for 8 weeks