56 minutes ago, Tolstoys Nudge said:

I think you’ll be VERY surprised with our fwd line strategy in 25’ — it’s going to be completely different and much more modern ergo built to suit Fritta with space, more blocking, maybe some Kansas-city-shuffle type antics and I for one am SUPER excited to see what TC does with our much deeper & higher ceiling fwd line than what most perceive. 

I hope you’re right, and look forward to seeing it play it, I posted something in the Gameplan & Tactics thread last night hoping for what you’ve mentioned.

It's not long before we play North in a practice this is the side that I want out there it's not our best side we should play our best side against Freo.

B: McDonald, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Petty, Windsor

C: Sharp, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Pickett, Johnson, Tholstrup

F: Jefferson, van Rooyen, Turner

FOLL: Campbell, Oliver, Viney

IC: Howes, Moniz-Wakefield, Bowey, Sparrow, Langford, Lindsay, Billings, Hore

On 23/01/2025 at 00:47, WERRIDEE said:

It's not long before we play North in a practice this is the side that I want out there it's not our best side we should play our best side against Freo.

B: McDonald, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Petty, Windsor

C: Sharp, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Pickett, Johnson, Tholstrup

F: Jefferson, van Rooyen, Turner

FOLL: Campbell, Oliver, Viney

IC: Howes, Moniz-Wakefield, Bowey, Sparrow, Langford, Lindsay, Billings, Hore

Surely a bit top heavy forward of the ball?  Can't see us playing with all 4 of them in the one side - though given the extended benches ususally used in pre-season matches they should all get some game time.

28 minutes ago, deelusions from afar said:

Surely a bit top heavy forward of the ball?  Can't see us playing with all 4 of them in the one side - though given the extended benches ususally used in pre-season matches they should all get some game time.

It's a bit top heavy I'll have to change the team.

 

B: McDonald, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Petty, Windsor

C: Sharp, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Pickett, Johnson, Tholstrup

F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, McAdam

FOLL: Campbell, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Howes, Turner, Jefferson, Melksham, Langford, Lindsay, Moniz-Wakefield

, 

I really look forward to your rolling squads Werridee. An emoji just isnt enough sometimes. Thanks.

But Id swap Tholstrup with Langford and Turner with McAdam.

Edited January 24Jan 24 by Damo

Gawn & Lever would be  fairly handy ins!

I can't see Salem being in our best 23 any longer - injury prone & with the addition of Langford & Lindsay I can't see him playing either half back or on the ball - good depth though!

No mention of Jefferson as a possible in or IC - would like to see how he goes at FF with JVR at CHF although I do like the option of Johnson playing as he can be 2nd ruck - don't want them to ruck JVR at all so only options are play Johnson or play Campbell so for me Johnson on IC makes sense depending on who the opposition is.

I wouldn't forget Spargo (seeing him missed almost all of 2024) - good link player. Also, surely Sparrow, Chandler & Brown are worth considering as possible interchanges?

6 hours ago, SAlves said:

Gawn & Lever would be  fairly handy ins!

I can't see Salem being in our best 23 any longer - injury prone & with the addition of Langford & Lindsay I can't see him playing either half back or on the ball - good depth though!

No mention of Jefferson as a possible in or IC - would like to see how he goes at FF with JVR at CHF although I do like the option of Johnson playing as he can be 2nd ruck - don't want them to ruck JVR at all so only options are play Johnson or play Campbell so for me Johnson on IC makes sense depending on who the opposition is.

I wouldn't forget Spargo (seeing him missed almost all of 2024) - good link player. Also, surely Sparrow, Chandler & Brown are worth considering as possible interchanges?

I tried to leave out who's been injured. Chandler is out for a few weeks and is Tholstrup injured? Play players like Chandler, Gawn, Lever and Petracca against Freo.

I've changed my round 1 team based on training reports

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Petty, Windsor

C: Sharp, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Petracca, Johnson, Chandler

F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, McAdam

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Howes, Langford, Lindsay, Turner

SUB: Melksham

EMERG: McDonald, Tholstrup, Jefferson

 

Casey

B: Hore, Adams, Bonner

HB: Bowey, McDonald, Moniz-Wakefield

C: Sparrow, Laurie, Billings

HF: Sestan, Fullerton, Spargo

F: Kentfield, Jefferson, Mentha

FOLL: Campbell, Tholstrup, Hardie

IC: Culley, Brown, Woewodin, Verrall, Yze

EMERG: Smith, George, Baldi

 

GWS

B: Buckley, Taylor, Idun

HB: Whitfield, Himmelberg, Ash

C: Callaghan, Green, Kelly

HF: Daniels, Cadman, Greene

F: Riccardi, Hogan, Stringer 

FOLL: Briggs, Coniglio, Bedford

IC: Jones, Ward, Brown, Thomas

SUB: O'Halloran

EMERG: McMullin, Wehr, Stone

 

GWS could have a tall forward line that's why I've picked Howes ahead of Bowey. Bowey is too small.

Buckley will get McAdam.

Taylor will get van Rooyen.

Idun will get Fritsch.

Whitfield will get Chandler

Himmelberg will get Johnson

Ash will get Petracca.

Lever will take Riccardi.

May will take Hogan.

McVee will take Stringer.

Salem will take Greene.

Windsor will take Daniels.

 

7 hours ago, SAlves said:

I can't see Salem being in our best 23 any longer

i think he's one of our most important players

On 13/01/2025 at 13:59, WERRIDEE said:

I thought I might do a lifetime best 23. 88 to now.

B: Lever, May, Whelan

HB: S.Febey, Wight, B.Lovett

C: Tingay, Petracca, Langdon

HF: Lyon, Schwarz, Yze

F: Jakovich, Neitz, Farmer

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, J.Viney

IC: T.Viney, J.McDonald, Jones, Stynes

SUB: Davey

If I've forgotten anybody let me know.

Strong team!

Pickett ahead of Davey, Jones & J McDonald.

Brayshaw ahead of Febey.

 

1 hour ago, D4Life said:

Strong team!

Pickett ahead of Davey, Jones & J McDonald.

Brayshaw ahead of Febey.

 

Jay Viney gets a gig?? Say it aint so!🤯 also Id have Earl Spalding at CHB

Edited January 26Jan 26 by picket fence

7 hours ago, D4Life said:

Strong team!

Pickett ahead of Davey, Jones & J McDonald.

Brayshaw ahead of Febey.

 

Agree with Brayshaw ahead of Febes as he is a premiership player and played and succeeded in more big games perhaps. 

Fritta very unlucky and Kossie probably Sub ahead of Flash or Jmac. 

Due to Kolt being out for 10 to 12 weeks I've put in a new round 1 side. I'm not sure how long Kentfield is out for so I kept him in the side.

Melbourne

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Petty, C.Windsor

C: Sharp, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Petracca, Johnson, Chandler

F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, McAdam

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Howes, Langford, Lindsay, Turner

SUB: Melksham

EMERG: McDonald, Sparrow, Jefferson

Casey

B: Hore, Adams, Bonner

HB: Bowey, McDonald, Moniz-Wakefield

C: Sparrow, Laurie, Billings

HF: Sestan, Fullerton, Spargo

F: Kentfield, Jefferson, Brown

FOLL: Campbell, Culley, Hardie

IC: Woewodin, Verrall, Mentha, Smith, Yze

EMERG: George, Baldi, K.Windsor 

 

INJ: Tholstrup

SUS: Pickett

Edited February 1Feb 1 by WERRIDEE

5 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Due to Kolt being out for 10 to 12 weeks I've put in a new round 1 side. I'm not sure how long Kentfield is out for so I kept him in the side.

Melbourne

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Petty, C.Windsor

C: Sharp, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Petracca, Johnson, Chandler

F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, McAdam

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Howes, Langford, Lindsay, Turner

SUB: Melksham

EMERG: McDonald, Sparrow, Jefferson

Casey

B: Hore, Adams, Bonner

HB: Bowey, McDonald, Moniz-Wakefield

C: Sparrow, Laurie, Billings

HF: Sestan, Fullerton, Spargo

F: Kentfield, Jefferson, Brown

FOLL: Campbell, Culley, Hardie

IC: Woewodin, Verrall, Mentha, Smith, Yze

EMERG: George, Baldi, K.Windsor 

 

INJ: Tholstrup

SUS: Pickett

Werridee, Jeffo stared yesterday, and this has come from other reports as well, surely its time to bite the bullet show some faith and get early games into him?? Also Billings was sensational! Mc Adams did little that I could see and Bowser was also very good yesterday! Howes was almost invisible as well yesterday!

Edited February 1Feb 1 by picket fence

36 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Due to Kolt being out for 10 to 12 weeks I've put in a new round 1 side. I'm not sure how long Kentfield is out for so I kept him in the side.

Melbourne

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Petty, C.Windsor

C: Sharp, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Petracca, Johnson, Chandler

F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, McAdam

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Howes, Langford, Lindsay, Turner

SUB: Melksham

EMERG: McDonald, Sparrow, Jefferson

Casey

B: Hore, Adams, Bonner

HB: Bowey, McDonald, Moniz-Wakefield

C: Sparrow, Laurie, Billings

HF: Sestan, Fullerton, Spargo

F: Kentfield, Jefferson, Brown

FOLL: Campbell, Culley, Hardie

IC: Woewodin, Verrall, Mentha, Smith, Yze

EMERG: George, Baldi, K.Windsor 

 

INJ: Tholstrup

SUS: Pickett

I think Billings will get first crack on the wing based on training reports.

1 hour ago, picket fence said:

Werridee, Jeffo stared yesterday, and this has come from other reports as well, surely its time to bite the bullet show some faith and get early games into him?? Also Billings was sensational! Mc Adams did little that I could see and Bowser was also very good yesterday! Howes was almost invisible as well yesterday!

I'm counting the McAdams's posts.

4 hours ago, picket fence said:

Werridee, Jeffo stared yesterday, and this has come from other reports as well, surely its time to bite the bullet show some faith and get early games into him?? Also Billings was sensational! Mc Adams did little that I could see and Bowser was also very good yesterday! Howes was almost invisible as well yesterday!

I'm not gonna change the team based on 1 match simulation but if Jefferson keeps on improving it will be hard to keep him out of the side.

Billings was useless last year, what has changed? I'd be wary of playing Billings he lets you down.

McAdam gives us a point of difference he can play tall and small you can say the same thing about him as you could about Billings but at least McAdam was injured most of the year Billings had no excuses.

I'm picking Howes on his defensive ability he can play tall and small. Bowey can't play tall. He's good offensively but I'm not sure defensively.

7 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

I'm not gonna change the team based on 1 match simulation but if Jefferson keeps on improving it will be hard to keep him out of the side.

Billings was useless last year, what has changed? I'd be wary of playing Billings he lets you down.

McAdam gives us a point of difference he can play tall and small you can say the same thing about him as you could about Billings but at least McAdam was injured most of the year Billings had no excuses.

I'm picking Howes on his defensive ability he can play tall and small. Bowey can't play tall. He's good offensively but I'm not sure defensively.

Fair enough, lets see how this pans out eh??😇😎

9 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

I'm not gonna change the team based on 1 match simulation but if Jefferson keeps on improving it will be hard to keep him out of the side.

Billings was useless last year, what has changed? I'd be wary of playing Billings he lets you down.

McAdam gives us a point of difference he can play tall and small you can say the same thing about him as you could about Billings but at least McAdam was injured most of the year Billings had no excuses.

I'm picking Howes on his defensive ability he can play tall and small. Bowey can't play tall. He's good offensively but I'm not sure defensively.

Don’t forget Billings was coming back from two injury riddled seasons, so was probably lacking confidence in his body.  His last three games playing off a wing were actually fairly solid.

He looks super fit now and has done a full preseason, which I’m guessing he hasn’t done for a while.

3 hours ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Don’t forget Billings was coming back from two injury riddled seasons, so was probably lacking confidence in his body.  His last three games playing off a wing were actually fairly solid.

He looks super fit now and has done a full preseason, which I’m guessing he hasn’t done for a while.

He looks like he's bulked up in the upper body too.

I've listened to Picket and Jacko and have changed my side again.

 

Melbourne

B: Lever, May, McVee

HB: Salem, Petty, Windsor

C: Billings, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Petracca, van Rooyen, Chandler

F: Fritsch, Jefferson, McAdam

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Langford, Lindsay, Turner

SUB: Melksham

 

Casey

B: Hore, Adams, Bonner

HB: Howes, McDonald, Moniz-Wakefield

C: Sparrow, Laurie, Sharp

HF: Sestan, Fullerton, Spargo

F: Mentha, Johnson, Brown

FOLL: Campbell, Culley, Hardie

IC: Woewodin, Verrall, Smith, George, Yze

ILL: Kentfield

INJ: Tholstrup

SUS: Pickett

Changed my round 1 side yet again after another match sim.

B: McVee, May, Lever

HB: Salem, Petty, Windsor

C: Sharp, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Petracca, Turner, Billings

F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, Jefferson

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Howes, Langford, Lindsay

SUB: Sparrow

 

11 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Changed my round 1 side yet again after another match sim.

B: McVee, May, Lever

HB: Salem, Petty, Windsor

C: Sharp, Rivers, Langdon

HF: Petracca, Turner, Billings

F: Fritsch, van Rooyen, Jefferson

FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney

IC: Bowey, Howes, Langford, Lindsay

SUB: Sparrow

 

Missing a small forward?

18 minutes ago, demosaw said:

Missing a small forward?

If Chandler is fit he comes in and replaces Sparrow and Howes becomes the sub, but ATM Langdon and Billings have to play the small forward role.

Casey

B: Bonner, Adams, Smith

HB: Hore, McDonald, Moniz-Wakefield

C: Woewodin, Laurie, Brown

HF: Sestan, Johnson, Chandler

F: Melksham, Fullerton, McAdam

FOLL: Campbell, Culley, Hardie

IC: Mentha, Verrall, George, Baldi, Yze