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PREGAME: Rd 21 vs Western Bulldogs

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1 hour ago, Dee*ceiving said:

Is that considering all the players on the list or the players actually playing for Melbourne? 

We have a few guys up in age not currently playing in the seniors that would lift our average (Ben Brown, Lachie Hunter, Shane McAdam, Adam Tomlinson come to mind). 

Agree fitness doesn't seem to have been as strong as previous seasons though.

I think it's the average age we've fielded for the year rather than the list in totality.

As @titan_uranus explained, we fielded an older side in the earlier rounds which is consistent to what you are saying.

Still think our side is adequately stocked with veterans to see us to the finish line - Melksham, May, Lever, Gawn, Oliver, Viney, ANB, Langdon, T Mac, Fritta etc... 

Edited by Bring-Back-Powell

 

Id just like to see the players enjoying themselves. Feels like its been hard work for 2 years.

    • Like 3
     
    1 minute ago, adonski said:

     

    [censored] news, syndesmosis is no joke. Surely you take no risks with him and give him the rest of the year off to start pre-season fresh.

    • Like 3
    Just now, Jaded No More said:

    [censored] news, syndesmosis is no joke. Surely you take no risks with him and give him the rest of the year off to start pre-season fresh.

    Yeah, no surgery is a win. Put him on ice he's done for the year.


    2 minutes ago, Dannyz said:

    Believe Windsor will miss with injury

    Hearing similar

    • Haha 1
     
    On 28/07/2024 at 19:41, binman said:

    Not a debate? What is it then?

    All i flippin said is that the club will still be doing everything they can to make finals.

    You asked if I'd prefer we did, and I said yes.

    I didn't ask for an explanation as to why you think why my desire for us to make the 8 is flawed.

    And to be clear that last para was rhetorical so, please, no need for a rebuttal.

    While tempting that finishing 11th likely gives you a top ten pick after typical argy bargy around draft picks and benefit of a longer pre season, finishing top 8 gives finals experience and getting used to winning vs losing for younger guys!

    I think MFC and Goodwin would take make the 8 every time!

    supposedly draft top 20 while pretty good not many standouts- so maybe top 10 pick not as advantageous as other years!!

    Anyway, I’d rather see the Demons win than lose!

    • Like 1

    Selection is very tricky this week.

    Tholstrup should come back into the side if fit and Sparrow should come back in after a strong VFL performance. The problem is that they both play similar roles and we are more deficient in other parts of the ground.

    I also want to see Howes come back in to the side at some point and think he has a brighter future than both Woewodin and AMW. Howes is just a bit more classy and has more length. Woewodin needs to go harder at the ball and use both hands. AMW is not there with his kicking and he lacks a left side (or he has no confidence using it). AMW also seems to run out of gas at the end of games.

    I don't like playing the same sub twice in a row, so Turner needs to start IMO. Turner needs to play AFL, as he is good enough. I would put Melksham as the sub this week, otherwise the forward line balance is out. It is a six-day break and Melksham is coming back from injury, so less minutes would also make sense for him this week. I am also not sure how he would go playing on Rory Lobb anyway.

    Windsor is out injured. So I would play Billings on the left wing in his place. (Hunter needs to play a full VFL game to be really considered.) I like having a left sided winger, particularly given we are playing a down the line game. I know Billings is far from perfect, but he is the best option for the wing this week.

    Bowey was poor against GWS but I think we need what he can offer (pace and kicking) and would like to see him retained. We are already carrying other below average small backs in defence (AMW and Woewodin).

    Laurie had a better statistical game that I thought watching live on Saturday night, with an AFL player rating of 11.7. Usually I am calling for Laurie to go out, but that was his most productive game by a mile on all metrics. I still think he panics too much when he gets the ball and has poor disposal with no penetration. It would be tough to drop him, as Sparrow has had only 2/18 better games than 11.7 this year and Tholstrup 1/6 games.

    If we retain Laurie and want to bring in Tholstrup and Sparrow, we could shift Rivers back into defence in order to fit Sparrow and Tholstup in. This also not ideal given Bontempelli is the best player in the competition and so we need some midfielders with size. We also need to consider Treloar, who is playing extremely well.

    As I said, selection is very tricky this week. But I definitely want to see Billings retained as the left winger and Melksham and Turner swap as sub.

    And this all assumes that Gawn gets up to play.

     

    • Like 3

    16 hours ago, D4Life said:

    While tempting that finishing 11th likely gives you a top ten pick after typical argy bargy around draft picks and benefit of a longer pre season, finishing top 8 gives finals experience and getting used to winning vs losing for younger guys!

    I think MFC and Goodwin would take make the 8 every time!

    supposedly draft top 20 while pretty good not many standouts- so maybe top 10 pick not as advantageous as other years!!

    Anyway, I’d rather see the Demons win than lose!

    According to numerous phantom drafts top 10 picks 'midfield heavy'. What we need . Not so the next 11-20.

    In - Hore, Fullerton, Jefferson, Sparrow

    Out - Laurie, Windsor, McDonald, Billings

    B - McVee, May, Lever

    HB - AMW, Petty, Hore

    C - Langdon, Viney, ANB

    HF - Chandler, van Rooyen, Pickett

    F - Fritsch, Fullerton, Melksham

    RUCK - Gawn, Oliver, Rivers

    INT - Sparrow, Woewodin, Bowey, Jefferson

    23rd - Turner

    • Haha 1
    • Shocked 1
    21 hours ago, Dannyz said:

    Believe Windsor will miss with injury

    The runner rushed out with a stretcher to Caleb at the end of the game. I thought at the time he had injured his knee.  Not surprised that he is doubtful.

    2 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

     

    Bowey was poor against GWS but I think we need what he can offer (pace and kicking) and would like to see him retained. We are already carrying other below average small backs in defence (AMW and Woewodin).

     

    Bowey has been poor all year. I don’t entirely blame him as I think he was rushed back into the side after his collar bone injury and should have come back via Casey. On current output alone  I would have AMW in the side ahead of him as he has elite speed which is something that we lack, even more so with Windsor out of the side. Bowey getting beaten far too often in the one on ones for mine and has been poor in his decision making and disposal which is why we recruited him.
     Bowey is no longer the lucky charm and needs a game or two at Casey to get back into some form. 

    • Like 2

     

    B: Lever, May, McVee

    HB: Moniz-Wakefield, McDonald, Hore

    C: Hunter, Rivers, Langdon

    HF: Tholstrup, Petty, Neal-Bullen

    F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, Melksham

    FOLL: Gawn, Viney, Pickett

    IC: Oliver, Sparrow, Chandler, Turner

    SUB: Laurie 


    14 wins should guarantee finals still, so all we gotta do is *checks notes* beat maybe the current best team this week, port, gold coast away and collingwood..

    • Haha 1

    Dogs have just opened their new home base. Looks world class. When will we open ours? 2040?

    58 minutes ago, Young Angus said:

    Bring in Howes for wing.  Get Jeffo in too...probably not though

    Every other club roles the Dice but not us,, JEFFO should be playing this week but probably wont, club too conservative and misplaces loyalty somewhat  over form!  Anyway .. end of rant!

    Edited by picket fence

    • Like 2
    • Haha 2

    Does anyone have any information on ticketing for this week?

    I assume Level 4 will be open, but there's often a chance to get tickets on Level 1 too. Hoping that's the case as I hate level 4.

    Any deets, much appreciated. 🙏


    35 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

    Dogs have just opened their new home base. Looks world class. When will we open ours? 2040?

    A bit optimistic I think. 

    • Haha 2
    55 minutes ago, picket fence said:

    Every other club roles the Dice but not us,, JEFFO should be playing this week but probably wont, club too conservative and misplaces loyalty somewhat  over form!  Anyway .. end of rant!

    Promise ? 

    • Haha 1
    • Clap 1
     
    On 29/07/2024 at 22:15, WalkingCivilWar said:

    This coming weekend it’s our Retro Round match.

    5C80F9C7-7A96-4576-9F04-4966E5FB4662.thumb.jpeg.04f1aff6fe8a2d84e18e5f606695efe5.jpeg
     

    Will be cool to see the odd duffel coat or two! ❤️💙

    That 94 team fwd line of Lyon, Schwartz, Charles, jackovich injured, pike, Then Stynes, Tingay, Lovell , Lovetts, Neitz, etc etc the most talented team not to win a flag 

    • Like 3
    11 hours ago, Binmans PA said:

    Does anyone have any information on ticketing for this week?

    I assume Level 4 will be open, but there's often a chance to get tickets on Level 1 too. Hoping that's the case as I hate level 4.

    Any deets, much appreciated. 🙏

    Try contacting the demon army, they may be able to advise if there are ickets available amongst their group. My daughter did earlier in the week.

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