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PREGAME: Practice Match vs Fremantle

Demonland
in Melbourne Demons

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5 hours ago, M_9 said:

I can't believe the DL'ers leaving out TMac. I'm really  hoping Howes can take his place, sooner rather than later, but the reality is that TMac was our 10th best  player last year. I'll bet he's just as fit as he was in Feb 2024, and given we're unlikely to select Campbell or AJ v GWS, TMac is a second ruck option. Howes isn't, and I'd prefer JvR wasn't (used in the ruck).

It's really difficult to imagine a fit TMac being left out of this game. 

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    Is there training tomorrow?

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    Freo are my dark horse tip for the flag. Good test for our midfield in particular. 

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    8 hours ago, Demonland said:

    He needs some form of match fitness before round 1. Even if they play him for a half v Freo 

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    Curious with what we do with Pickett.  If this a full dress rehersal for Rd 1, do we leave him out?

    For me, it really depends on how big the benches are (ie how many players the coaches can give a run to see how they fit), but given Pickett has already played 2 preseason games, I actually think he will be left out (which will surprise some).

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    12 minutes ago, Vipercrunch said:

    Curious with what we do with Pickett.  If this a full dress rehersal for Rd 1, do we leave him out?

    For me, it really depends on how big the benches are (ie how many players the coaches can give a run to see how they fit), but given Pickett has already played 2 preseason games, I actually think he will be left out (which will surprise some).

    Interesting point.

    As you say koz had had two sold hit outs already. And obviously he's not playing in the first 3 rounds.

    That could mean them running with the team they might go with round one.

    That said missing the first three rounds might mean they want to take the opportunity to get one more match load and fitness into koz.

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    If you’ve got a big interchange bench which I imagine they do then play him for a quarter. It’s a golden opportunity for him to meet his new teammates. 🤦‍♂️

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    32 minutes ago, Vipercrunch said:

    Curious with what we do with Pickett.  If this a full dress rehersal for Rd 1, do we leave him out?

    For me, it really depends on how big the benches are (ie how many players the coaches can give a run to see how they fit), but given Pickett has already played 2 preseason games, I actually think he will be left out (which will surprise some).

    Yeah that question has crossed my mind too.

    He's not playing until 4 April so they may think it's necessary for him to get some minutes this weekend.

    On the other hand, the team needs to get used to not having him there. We won't have the luxury of Kozzie kicking or setting up a goal when we badly need one, in the first three games.

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    15 minutes ago, binman said:

    Interesting point.

    As you say koz had had two sold hit outs already. And obviously he's not playing in the first 3 rounds.

    That could mean them running with the team they might go with round one.

    That said missing the first three rounds might mean they want to take the opportunity to get one more match load and fitness into koz.

    The round 4 game is on April 4th, which is almost 5 weeks after this Sunday's game.  There will be virtually zero residual fitness benefit for playing Pickett on Sunday.  All his match fitness and loads will have to be managed in training sessions in the couple of weeks prior to that game. 

    Still very hard to stomach that he got suspended for that incident.... stupid AFL 🤬🤬🤬 

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    I hope we play our best available team and see if we have learned any lessons about how to handle Freo’s midfield and transition. Maybe Freo won’t show their hand but they destroyed us twice last year in a way that showed they had an advantage not only in form but some deep tactic we couldn’t handle. 
    Our aims should be no injuries, have a good warm up and see what we can do about their midfield to start the season positively. Go Dees.

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    21 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

    Hoping both Jack Henderson and Jai Culley get a chance to play against Fremantle in this practice match.

    They won't.

    This will be our full dress rehearsal and I presume we will ve playing our best available team.

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    1 hour ago, Vipercrunch said:

    The round 4 game is on April 4th, which is almost 5 weeks after this Sunday's game.  There will be virtually zero residual fitness benefit for playing Pickett on Sunday.  All his match fitness and loads will have to be managed in training sessions in the couple of weeks prior to that game. 

    Still very hard to stomach that he got suspended for that incident.... stupid AFL 🤬🤬🤬 

    Yeah, you're prob right about the benefit of Koz playing from a fitness perspective.

    But if Koz doesn't play, come round four it will be seven weeks since he has played in a competitive inter team match. If he plays, its six weeks between proper hit outs.

    One less week doesn't sound much, but in terms of match 'touch' it might be a factor in their thinking about selecting him this week.    

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    6 minutes ago, binman said:

    Yeah, you're prob right about the benefit of Koz playing from a fitness perspective.

    But if Koz doesn't play, come round four it will be seven weeks since he has played in a competitive inter team match. If he plays, its six weeks between proper hit outs.

    One less week doesn't sound much, but in terms of match 'touch' it might be a factor in their thinking about selecting him this week.    

    When we wallop Freo it may cause him to rethink any ideas about going there.....

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    Hypothetically, If he plays this weekend and commits another reportable offence, can he be suspended again, on top of his existing suspension?

    Or does what happens in Community Series stay in Community Series?

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    How many players can we take into this week's game? 

    Normal season rules 23 players or same as last weekend 30? 

    Its a real tough one this week with Kozzie but unfortunately I think he will be on limited minutes.

    Can't take away to much game time away from someone lining up to play R1, R2 and R3.

    I have a feeling he will be going into a fitness block now to preparing for no footy for the next month.

     

    Edited by YesitwasaWin4theAges

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    8 minutes ago, JTR said:

    Hypothetically, If he plays this weekend and commits another reportable offence, can he be suspended again, on top of his existing suspension?

    Or does what happens in Community Series stay in Community Series?

    Yes

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    6 minutes ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

    How many players can we take into this week's game? 

    Normal season rules 23 players or same as last weekend 30? 

    Its a real tough one this week with Kozzie but unfortunately I think he will be on limited minutes.

    Can't take away to much game time away from someone lining up to play R1, R2 and R3.

    I have a feeling he will be going into a fitness block now to preparing for no footy for the next month.

     

    Last night was 30 and unlimited bench changes, so guessing the same.

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    15 minutes ago, JTR said:

    Hypothetically, If he plays this weekend and commits another reportable offence, can he be suspended again, on top of his existing suspension?

    Or does what happens in Community Series stay in Community Series?

    99.9% certain if he gets reported and suspended on Sunday, the suspension will take place from round 4 onwards.

    In fact I'm 100% sure.

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    1 hour ago, deejammin' said:

    I hope we play our best available team and see if we have learned any lessons about how to handle Freo’s midfield and transition. Maybe Freo won’t show their hand but they destroyed us twice last year in a way that showed they had an advantage not only in form but some deep tactic we couldn’t handle. 
    Our aims should be no injuries, have a good warm up and see what we can do about their midfield to start the season positively. Go Dees.

    Agree with all this.

    Feels as though Longmuir and McRae have Goodwin's measure in the coaches box.

    Even in 2022 (10-0) and 2023 (7-3) when we went in as outrageous favourites against Freo at the G, they took us apart in both games, particularly the 2022 game. We seem to structure up terribly against them and I'm not sure why.

    However, the most important objective is no injuries on Sunday. The club needs a break from people continually going down with medium or long term injuries.

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    27 minutes ago, DistrACTION Jackson said:

    Last night was 30 and unlimited bench changes, so guessing the same.

    But only 4 players could be interchanged at any one time.  So players in the 30 had to be subbed on or out of the game.

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    It’s the perfect opponent for us to face prior to the season. They flogged us last year and we’ve made some adjustments and added quality to our list. We don’t have to win but we don’t want to get blown away a week out from the season. I want us to beat them in the middle and give our forwards half a chance. 

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