Port have 3 talls at each end.

I don't think Hore is big enough to hold any of their tall forwards so would bring in Tomlinson and leave Petty back with TMac.

I would also bring in Fullarton as forward/ruck if he goes ok today.

So 2 talls out 2 talls in.

Would also think about making Windsor sub. Only a 5 day break til the Adelaide game and I don't think you can ask a kid to do a 5 day break and perform like he has been. Billings plays the wing and Windsor (hopefully) only plays a quarter as sub so keeps him fresh.

 

Out - May and Lever (if knee is no good)

In - Fullerton Hore 

Backline  - rivers tmac Howes

                   Hore Petty Mcvee

I’d have Fullerton rucking around the ground and have Gawn down back IF our backs are struggling with contested marks.  

  
Brown and JVR need to stay forward now if petty is down back. Really need Fullerton to have a good vfl game for some confidence. 

Our mids need to really work both ways (aka like Trac against Lewis) which won’t help with a 5 day break. I’d have Windsor play a full game this Week but give woey a chance against Adelaide (if he plays well in vfl) and give him a break then. 

with a 5 day break between port and crows this is a great chance for our vfl players to get into best 22 against Adelaide I reckon as some may not pull up as well as usual.

 

 

3 hours ago, dee-tox said:

Ever had a busted rib? Four weeks minimum.

Dermot kicked four goals with a busted rib in the grand final of 89

17 hours ago, Big Col said:

Petty went well down back and will have to play there the next 2 games despite training as a forward all summer.

 

Hmmm nah. Or for me, if Thomo comes in, Petty stays fwd IMHO. Matchup wise it works & fwd line looked much more dangerous with Petty there (as did backline too of course).

 

Interesting to see if we play Schache back in VFL today, just as a means to test out the depth for worst-case scenarios down-the-line, Adams still 12-18mths away from being AFL ready (demon afl ready that is, he’s AFL ready for many other sides) so curious to see if he JS does play back or if Jeffo experiment (not experimenting to make a def, just to round his game) means JS will stay fwd — I’m hoping they go with MJ fwd JS back. 

Edited March 24, 20241 yr by Tolstoys Nudge

TMAC to the rescue re Petty being bake to be fwd though, that’s for sure. 
 

Lever I don’t think will necessarily even miss, will entirely depend on scan!

17 minutes ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Dermot kicked four goals with a busted rib in the grand final of 89

Haha nice!
 

Once that tenderness sets in and adrenaline dissipates = it’s a MIN 2-3Wkr likely 4-6.

 

The other important factor with the next two weeks games is Ben Brown and if he needs managing. I would have thought the Club would have planned one of the games being one of his "managed" games. If so we may need Petty up front.

4 minutes ago, Longsufferingnomore said:

The other important factor with the next two weeks games is Ben Brown and if he needs managing. I would have thought the Club would have planned one of the games being one of his "managed" games. If so we may need Petty up front.

A consequence of the injuries being to talls and the lack of a rotation was that TMac played 100% TOG and Brown 96%. I'm fairly confident that wouldn't have been our plan going into the game and so it may result in either/both of them pulling up sorer than we'd have wanted.

They may get up for the Port game but may not be able to do that and then do a 5-day break into the Adelaide game.

1 hour ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Dermot kicked four goals with a busted rib in the grand final of 89

But he didn’t have to play for the next 20 weeks in a row afterwards

Petty back for May and Fullerton forward to maintain the 3 tall structure. Hore in for Lever and include a runner as sub (granted Casey cupboard feels a bit bare).  

Changed my mind on this. Tomlinson in for May. Petty stays forward. 

Edited March 24, 20241 yr by Lil_red_fire_engine

Most folks on here were baffled when Tommo was dropped but now we lose 2 keys backs people aren’t thinking he comes in?

He should definitely come in imo 

They just mentioned on the Casey match broadcast that Lever is still awaiting the results from scans but potentially could still play this week. That was the official word from the club officials.

32 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Most folks on here were baffled when Tommo was dropped but now we lose 2 keys backs people aren’t thinking he comes in?

He should definitely come in imo 

i don't think he's in our best 22, even with may and lever out

I quite like this proposition:

OUT: may, lever
IN: Fullarton, Woewodin

petty and salem stay down back, hore comes in to starting 22, fullarton becomes forward / ruck relief, and woey 2.0 is the sub

tholstrup to debut in place of windsor on the 5 day break for gil's round vs the crom

34 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Most folks on here were baffled when Tommo was dropped but now we lose 2 keys backs people aren’t thinking he comes in?

He should definitely come in imo 

No...not unless Tommy is played forward.

39 minutes ago, Demonland said:

They just mentioned on the Casey match broadcast that Lever is still awaiting the results from scans but potentially could still play this week. That was the official word from the club officials.

If he only misses one game at most that is a very very good result, considering half of Demonland was melting down that he’s done his ACL 🙄

38 minutes ago, rjay said:

No...not unless Tommy is played forward.

We've lost 2 key defenders. We need to bring in at least 1 to compensate. If Lever is OK then I'd still bring in Tomlinson so Petty can play forward.

I think Tomlinson’s fate depends on TMac and Brown - if one of them needs a rest Tomlinson comes in. Given the short break I’d imagine we’ll see him in at least one of the next 2 games. 

Having said that Port look rubbish so maybe we don’t need to play anyone on Dixon. 

Tomlinson auto in for may, then just a question of who for lever if he misses. Going to be 31 and dry in Adelaide on Saturday so another tall would probably be the way to go. Fullarton would be my pick then JVR can stay fwd. all assuming petty would stay back in that case

Edited March 24, 20241 yr by Garbo

22 hours ago, DubDee said:

Whatever the selections many on here will be angry and think the FD have no idea what try are doing

meanwhile we keep winning by 40+

You have to cut people some slack. We've only just come back from our longest spell outside the top 4 since 2020. It's been a tough ride and the faith of many is understandably wavering. 🤪

Hard to know exactly how anxious we should be about this game given that so far Port have only knocked over winless West Coast and Richmond. My key concerns for this coming game are;

Will the much less talented or fit Soldo follow the tactic of just roughing up Gawn, and will Gawn be worn down or will he add another 3-voter to his early Brownlow form.

Will the Wines, Butters, Rozee, Horne-Francis midfield core be one too many for our own gun midfield to match? In particular, can we limit their goal-scoring contribution?

And the obvious question of coming up against a fully stocked 3-tall structure (Dixon, Marshall, Finlayson, all 197cm+) with a defence missing it's first choices.

 

 

7 hours ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

Haha nice!
 

Once that tenderness sets in and adrenaline dissipates = it’s a MIN 2-3Wkr likely 4-6.

Not to mention the drugs they give you!

Melbourne star defender Steven May has multiple broken ribs and minor vertebrae damage after the brutal hit that has kept him in hospital overnight on Saturday.

The Demons said on Sunday only that May had suspected broken ribs after Hawthorn forward Mabior Chol flew high to mark and instead put his knee into the All Australian defender’s back.

It is understood May has as many as three broken ribs and also a small crack in his vertebrae that will see him sidelined in coming weeks given the extent of the damage.

While players have on rare occasions played on with bruised or cracked ribs, May will need to heal his ribs in coming weeks.

Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron cracked his ribs in a friendly fire collision with teammate Gary Rohan last year and missed the next two matches.

May could be joined by fellow defensive star Jake Lever after scans on Sunday on his injured knee.

He said post-match he had soreness behind his knee cap, with coach Simon Goodwin hopeful the injury is only minor.

Melbourne believes it has the depth to cover for its star defensive duo if both miss the road trip to take on both South Australian sides in the next fortnight.

The Demons take on Port Adelaide on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, then Adelaide at the game venue on the Thursday of Gather Round five days later.

They will take an expanded squad to Adelaide and remain in the city between those games.

Harry Petty was switched into defence in their absence and second-chance hero Marty Hore stood up as a defensive all.

Adam Tomlinson, desperately unlucky to be dropped for Tom McDonald last week, played VFL on Sunday and is another option.

Demons defender Trent Rivers told SEN on Sunday the club had enough depth.

“Maysey was still in hospital this morning getting scans and Jake is having scans today,” he said.

“But I am hoping for the best for both of them. We have a next man in mentality and whoever will come in if they do miss weeks is going to do the job.”

7 hours ago, Ugottobekidding said:

Dermot kicked four goals with a busted rib in the grand final of 89

That was the game that he got my respect.  He was very good at dishing it out all his career. That game he copped one in return and took it well….and what a GF that was. One of the best ever.

I suspect (with no medical knowledge) May misses the next three games pre-bye at a minimum. 

Tough slate of opponents to have in that stretch - Port, Adelaide and Brisbane are all pretty well stocked with tall forwards.

I would be worried about both Petty and Brown playing both Adelaide games. I would probably play them in one game only. Similarly Windsor.