Jump to content

Featured Replies

On 24/02/2025 at 09:06, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I haven't been following the pre-season train threads or really watched the match sim Vs North, but is Billings form good enough for a starting spot on the wing?

No he's not good enough.  He was poor last year and I actually think his career is close to being done.

I don't read replies or reactions 

 

 

Edited by ManDee
See below

18 minutes ago, greenwaves said:

No he's not good enough.  He was poor last year and I actually think his career is close to being done.

I don't read replies or reactions 

 

W

 
22 hours ago, M_9 said:

Agree. No way will Goody leave TMac out.

He runs all day, offers ruck relief and can move forward if the need arises.

Want a bet? None of those traits matter if we’ve got 3 better tall defenders to pick 

Assuming everyone gets through this weekend unscathed I'm going with:

B:       Bowey               May                Lever

HB:     Salem                Petty              Windsor

C:       Langdon            Viney              Sharp

HF:     Petracca           Turner             Sparrow

F:        Chandler           van Rooyen     Fritsch

R:        Gawn                 Oliver               Rivers

Int:       Langford          Woewodin        Billings          Johnson

Sub:     Lindsay

Woewodin to play half back until McVee is back and Billings to drop to sub once Koz is back.

I'm going Johnson as our R/F to allow JVR to focus solely on being a forward.


1 hour ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Assuming everyone gets through this weekend unscathed I'm going with:

B:       Bowey               May                Lever

HB:     Salem                Petty              Windsor

C:       Langdon            Viney              Sharp

HF:     Petracca           Turner             Sparrow

F:        Chandler           van Rooyen     Fritsch

R:        Gawn                 Oliver               Rivers

Int:       Langford          Woewodin        Billings          Johnson

Sub:     Lindsay

Woewodin to play half back until McVee is back and Billings to drop to sub once Koz is back.

I'm going Johnson as our R/F to allow JVR to focus solely on being a forward.

I like it, very solid team

Still light on fwd pressure/small fwds so I would replace Billings with Brown/Laurie/Henderson whoever puts the best pressure on and is quickest

Can't believe T Mac doesn't make the 22 but hard to find a spot

Just now, DubDee said:

I like it, very solid team

Still light on fwd pressure/small fwds so I would replace Billings with Brown/Laurie/Henderson whoever puts the best pressure on and is quickest

Can't believe T Mac doesn't make the 22 but hard to find a spot

I don't mind swapping out Billings for a high pressure forward, though my thoughts were that Sparrow & Sharp would both run through there to provide some of that forward pressure along with Chandler.

Yeah unlucky for TMac, I just don't want Petty or JVR rucking anymore so Petty plays 2nd tall defender and Johnson is the one who can come in and throw his body around in the ruck and then spend time up forward.

Club, and most Importantly Goody wrapped in Jeffo, and  accordingly, will play round 1. 

Edited by picket fence

 
3 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Club, and most Importantly Goody wrapped in Jeffo, and  accordingly, will play round 1. 

Where was this listed PF? I really like Jeffo and think he will be a serious player, just not sure if it is 2025....

1 hour ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

Woewodin to play half back until McVee is back and Billings to drop to sub once Koz is back.

Howes will be the 7th defender, I get why he’s unpopular but he has a lot of scope. Every team wants guys with key tall height with flanker movement.

Woey was ordinary down back last year, he’s been training wing all summer and is right in the competition with Lindsay and Billings. 2 of those guys play round 1 on the wings. The other is a genuine chance of sub.

Langdon is playing midfield. We’ll see it against Freo. Sharp - as we saw against North is playing forward. Both of those guys probably cover some wing rotations but that’s about it.


Wing ball was fun. Long live 2021. But we’re putting our talent in the corridor now.


1 hour ago, greenwaves said:

No he's not good enough.  He was poor last year and I actually think his career is close to being done.

I don't read replies or reactions 

 

Yeah, fair enough.  Bet your school reports always come back with the same comments about attitude: "doesn't play well with others".

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Want a bet? None of those traits matter if we’ve got 3 better tall defenders to pick 

Petty given a touch up by Larkey (3 goals). I know May would have done a better job but it showed Petty doesn't have the strength to compete with a power forward.

Freo forwards levels above North - Treacy, Sturt, Voss, Amiss, Jackson plus a couple of newbies >197cm.

BTW in our two matches v Freo last season they kicked a total of 39 goals. Their big blokes (mentioned above) kicked 21 between them.

Unless we can contain their fwd 50 entries we'll get smashed 

17 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Howes will be the 7th defender, I get why he’s unpopular but he has a lot of scope. Every team wants guys with key tall height with flanker movement.

Woey was ordinary down back last year, he’s been training wing all summer and is right in the competition with Lindsay and Billings. 2 of those guys play round 1 on the wings. The other is a genuine chance of sub.

Langdon is playing midfield. We’ll see it against Freo. Sharp - as we saw against North is playing forward. Both of those guys probably cover some wing rotations but that’s about it.


Wing ball was fun. Long live 2021. But we’re putting our talent in the corridor now.

I thought Woewodin showed good signs on the weekend, so was thinking he could play a wing/HB role.

You may be right and Howes could be the one, I don't know what is is I'm still not sold on him though.

On 23/02/2025 at 18:38, jnrmac said:

Windsor is underdone. Don't want the situation we had last year with Bowey in Rd 1

It was Spargo wasn’t it ? 

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

Wing ball was fun. Long live 2021. But we’re putting our talent in the corridor now.

Agree

Boundary line and then into the right forward pocket has to end.

 


1 hour ago, M_9 said:

Petty given a touch up by Larkey (3 goals). I know May would have done a better job but it showed Petty doesn't have the strength to compete with a power forward.

Freo forwards levels above North - Treacy, Sturt, Voss, Amiss, Jackson plus a couple of newbies >197cm.

BTW in our two matches v Freo last season they kicked a total of 39 goals. Their big blokes (mentioned above) kicked 21 between them.

Unless we can contain their fwd 50 entries we'll get smashed 

Larkey isn’t really a power forward but he’s a great free kick machine. Wasn’t Petty’s best outing but with May behind him he’ll be back to his preferred spot.

It’s unfortunate for Tom and if Petty doesn’t produce we might be forced to make the swap. But we’ve spent all summer getting Petty settled back in. He’s the best contested mark aside from Max in the side and a great mover, he’s what we need at CHB to match with mobile CHF’s like Treacy.

Freo completely smashed us in the ruck and the midfield and more than anything ran all over us with superior work rate.

We need to reestablish a midfield with a good clearance game and proper 2 way running power. If Treacy is legit and Amiss goes up a level then yes their key forwards are a problem but I’m far more interested in our mids getting a good test this weekend.

I don't get Windsor and Rivers swapping places, makes little sense. Both should be in the mids bar injuries.

How's Melksham looking? If fit he should be best 22. 

Need Billings out of best 22. Hope he proves me/us wrong though. 

Agree with those that say we need Johnson/Campbell in side.

Backline looks a bit out of balance ATM. 3 talls. May and Lever next to each other. Bit of a concern when ball hits the deck.

Bowey and Salem both need to lift this year. 

Windsor I always imagined we drafted as a winger.

Rotation of players through the mids is critical due to lack of depth.

Forwards can't get any worse than last year.

Chandler not a pocket player, gotta be half forward. Keep Trac a mid only this year.

Get Lindsay in best 22 asap. 

Prefer max of 2 talls in fwrd line

Just my rambling thoughts...

3 hours ago, M_9 said:

Petty given a touch up by Larkey (3 goals). I know May would have done a better job but it showed Petty doesn't have the strength to compete with a power forward.

Freo forwards levels above North - Treacy, Sturt, Voss, Amiss, Jackson plus a couple of newbies >197cm.

BTW in our two matches v Freo last season they kicked a total of 39 goals. Their big blokes (mentioned above) kicked 21 between them.

Unless we can contain their fwd 50 entries we'll get smashed 

Not sure it says a great deal for the quality of their forwardline. Freo smashed us in the midfield both times. No defence can deal with that sort of assault and most forwards are just going to feast on that service. Even our forwardline looked amazing when we bullied West Coast in round 17.

Edited by KozzyCan


1 hour ago, kurtneverdied said:

I don't get Windsor and Rivers swapping places, makes little sense. Both should be in the mids bar injuries.

How's Melksham looking? If fit he should be best 22. 

Need Billings out of best 22. Hope he proves me/us wrong though. 

Agree with those that say we need Johnson/Campbell in side.

Backline looks a bit out of balance ATM. 3 talls. May and Lever next to each other. Bit of a concern when ball hits the deck.

Bowey and Salem both need to lift this year. 

Windsor I always imagined we drafted as a winger.

Rotation of players through the mids is critical due to lack of depth.

Forwards can't get any worse than last year.

Chandler not a pocket player, gotta be half forward. Keep Trac a mid only this year.

Get Lindsay in best 22 asap. 

Prefer max of 2 talls in fwrd line

Just my rambling thoughts...

Windsor - pure speed, backline lets him attack and break lines.
Rivers - strong body, built his tank, ready to play midfield

Melk - injured. Sub or finals is really Melk's go this year
Billings - he's fitter, stronger and set for a permanent wing spot. I'm not sold but there's reasons for optimism

Ruck - we don't need a 2nd every week, AJ will be handy when the weather starts to cool down
Backline - Petty as a competent ground ball player is a key component to balance out May and Lever. Agree it's a big year for Salem and Bowey

Plenty of midfield rotations available this years, especially if the kids and new SPP guys are up for it.

Tracc's going to play a lot forward, got to nurse him along.

Lindsay's a good prospect but didn't have the perfect summer, could be ready, could take a while, we'll know more this weekend.

We have really dangerous medium forwards in Fritsch, Tracc and even Langford. (Unfortunately McAdam isn't on the list too). If we can move the ball at pace and in to space more people will convert to the 2 tall set up!

36 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

Bowey did his shoulder that game

Short preperperation for Rd 0 after final, playing away in Sydney in stifling humidity, poor umpiring - lets face it, it was a rubbish set of circumstances to start our season.  AFL probably had a predetermined agenda for a Sydney win as well (Northern states code promotion etc.)

At least this year, we are on out home turf at the G and will be at least well acclimatised to the conditions in front of our home crowd.  Let's hope we get a better rub of the green on all fronts.

Edited by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

6 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Want a bet? None of those traits matter if we’ve got 3 better tall defenders to pick 

Not on form you haven't 

 
8 hours ago, greenwaves said:

No he's not good enough.  He was poor last year and I actually think his career is close to being done.

I don't read replies or reactions 

 

I bet you do

 

🤣

9 hours ago, greenwaves said:

No he's not good enough.  He was poor last year and I actually think his career is close to being done.

I don't read replies or reactions 

 

Groan

I don’t read posts or books, and I feel things upside down but never back to front.


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • FEATURE: 1925

    A hundred years ago today, on 2 May 1925, Melbourne kicked off the new season with a 47 point victory over St Kilda to take top place on the VFL ladder after the opening round of the new season.  Top place was a relatively unknown position for the team then known as the “Fuchsias.” They had finished last in 1923 and rose by only one place in the following year although the final home and away round heralded a promise of things to come when they surprised the eventual premiers Essendon. That victory set the stage for more improvement and it came rapidly. In this series, I will tell the story of how the 1925 season unfolded for the Melbourne Football Club and how it made the VFL finals for the first time in a decade on the way to the ultimate triumph a year later.

      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • PREVIEW: West Coast

    Saturday’s election night game in Perth between the West Coast Eagles and Melbourne represents 18th vs 15th which makes it a tough decision as to which party to favour. The Eagles have yet to break the ice under their new coach in Andrew McQualter who is the second understudy in a row to confront Demon Coach Simon Goodwin who was also winless until a fortnight ago. On that basis, many punters might be considering to go with the donkey vote but I’ve been assigned with the task of helping readers to come to a considered opinion on this matter of vital importance across the nation. It was almost a year ago that I wrote a preview here of the Demons’ away game against the Eagles (under the name William from Waalitj because it was Indigenous Round).  I issued a warning that it was a danger game, based on my local knowledge that the home team were no longer easybeats and that they possessed a wunderkind generational player in Harley Reid who was capable of producing stellar performances playing among men a decade and more older than he.  At the time, the Eagles already had two wins off the back of a couple of the young man’s masterclasses and they had recently given the Bombers a scare straight after their Anzac Day blockbuster draw against the then reigning premiers.

      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 1 reply
    Demonland
  • NON-MFC: Round 08

    Round 08 of the 2025 AFL Season kicks off on Thursday with a must-win game for the Bombers to stay in touch with the top eight, while the struggling Roos seek a morale-boosting upset. Friday sees the Saints desperate for a win as well if they are to stay in finals contention and their opponents the Dockers will be eager to crack in to the Top 8 with a win on the road. Saturday kicks off with a pivotal clash for both sides asthe Bulldogs look to solidify their top-eight spot, while Port seeks to shake their pretender tag. Then the Crows will be looking to steady their topsy turvy season against a resurgent Blues looking to make it 4 wins on the trot. On Election Night a Blockbuster will see the ladder-leading Pies take on the Cats, who are keen to bounce back after a narrow loss. On Sunday the Sydney Derby promises fireworks as the Giants aim to cement their top-eight status, while the Swans fight to keep their season alive. The Hawks, celebrating their centenary, will be looking to easily account for the Tigers who are desperate to halt their slide. The Round concludes on Sunday Night with a top end of the table QClash with significant ladder implications; both Queensland teams are in scintillating form. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Demons?

    • 145 replies
    Demonland
  • PREGAME: West Coast

    The Demons hit the road in Round 8, heading to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. With momentum building, the Dees will be aiming for a third straight victory to keep their season revival on course. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Thanks
    • 563 replies
    Demonland
  • REPORT: Richmond

    The fans who turned up to the MCG for Melbourne’s Anzac Day Eve clash against Richmond would have been disappointed if they turned up to see a great spectacle. As much as this was a night for the 71,635 in attendance to commemorate heroes of the nation’s past wars, it was also a time for the Melbourne Football Club to consolidate upon its first win after a horrific start to the 2025 season. On this basis, despite the fact that it was an uninspiring and dour struggle for most of its 100 minutes, the night will be one for the fans to remember. They certainly got value out of the pre match activity honouring those who fought for their country. The MCG and the lights of the city as backdrop was made for nights such as these and, in my view, we received a more inspirational ceremony of Anzac culture than others both here and elsewhere around the country. 

      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland
  • CASEY: Richmond

    The match up of teams competing in our great Aussie game at its second highest level is a rarity for a work day Thursday morning but the blustery conditions that met the players at a windswept Casey Fields was something far more commonplace.They turned the opening stanza between the Casey Demons and a somewhat depleted Richmond VFL into a mess of fumbling unforced errors, spilt marks and wasted opportunities for both sides but they did set up a significant win for the home team which is exactly what transpired on this Anzac Day round opener. Casey opened up strong against the breeze with the first goal to Aidan Johnson, the Tigers quickly responded and the game degenerated into a defensive slog and the teams were level when the first siren sounded.

      • Clap
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 0 replies
    Demonland