The Demons return to the MCG to take on the High Flying Hawks on Saturday Afternoon. Hawthorn will be aiming to consolidate a position in the Top 4 whilst the Dees will be looking to take a scalp and make it four wins in a row. Who comes in and who goes out?

OUT: Petty concussion

IN: JVR

I know some will be gunning for Tholstrup, but he did add energy and will learn finesse quicker at AFL than VFL (when they actually play consecutive games). Also, who would replace him?

Continue playing the young fellas. I think we just have to continue getting games into Tholstrup. If Petty is out with concussion, keep Disco forward and bring in Howes.

Huge game next week, hope we get as many as we can to the G.

5 minutes ago, monoccular said:

OUT: Petty concussion

IN: JVR

I know some will be gunning for Tholstrup, but he did add energy and will learn finesse quicker at AFL than VFL (when they actually play consecutive games). Also, who would replace him?

Edited May 3, 2025May 3 by adonski

OUT: Petty (inj), Sparrow, Sharp
IN: JVR, AJ, Oliver*

We were too short against WCE

Edited May 3, 2025May 3 by adonski

5 minutes ago, adonski said:

OUT: Petty (inj), Sparrow, Sharp
IN: JVR, AJ, Oliver*

We were too short against WCE

Sharp was decent when he came on. I’d keep him as sub.

1 minute ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Sharp was decent when he came on. I’d keep him as sub.

He sure was. A coin toss between him and Spargo for mine

Out: Petty (concussion)

In: JVR

Oliver is obviously touch and go but I could imagine him coming in for Sharp.

Out: Petty (inj.), Sharp

In: van Rooyen, Oliver

Sub: Spargo

Nothing wrong with Sharp’s game once he came on, I just think he’s the 23rd best player in the current squad. He can stay in if Oliver is no good.

10 minutes ago, Nasher said:

Out: Petty (inj.), Sharp

In: van Rooyen, Oliver

Sub: Spargo

Nothing wrong with Sharp’s game once he came on, I just think he’s the 23rd best player in the current squad. He can stay in if Oliver is no good.

Ditto

27 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Sharp was decent when he came on. I’d keep him as sub.

I agree re Sharp’s contribution - has done nothing wrong - but maybe he needs a full game and that would be at Casey, assuming they don’t have consecutive byes. (Wouldn’t surprise me if this did happen in that joke of a competition 🙄)

Hawks have only beaten 1 top 8 team and that was in Tassie. They are on fraud watch for mine. This is absolutely a winnable game. They also haven't beaten us since 2018.

I know it’s very very early in the year but it would be funny if the early season media darlings lost to our absolute circus of a team next week and pushed them out of the current 8.

This is a little side note to this thread but the clubs really need to come together to create a proper second tier competition where they match each week to the calendar. These weeks where Casey has a bye while we play is awful for player development and management. The league has enough money in the coffers, they should be making it a high priority.

I think JVR will get the call up for Petty, if Fox Footy succeed in getting Melk suspended (and I just have this nagging feeling it'll happen) I say we bring in Howes to cover Disco who stays forward. If Oliver is available Sharp can play a full Casey game and give the sub vest to either Kolt or Spargo.

I just like to say sorry to T.Mac having a great year. I wanted to put a line through him when we were losing I was wrong. What are the odds for Gawn to win the brownlow? Last 4 weeks have been sublime. Langford, Rivers and Chandler in top form too. Melksham was great too should not be suspended he bumped him in the back not pushed him in the back. I think if Oliver is right to go he should play in the 2's just to take the pressure off him.

IN: van Rooyen

OUT: Petty

B: Bowey, May, McVee

HB: Salem, McDonald, Rivers

C: Langdon, Langford, Windsor

HF: Petracca, van Rooyen, Chandler

F: Fritsch, Turner, Melksham

FOLL: Gawn, Viney, Pickett

IC: Lindsay, Sparrow, Tholstrup, Spargo

SUB: Sharp

Edited May 3, 2025May 3 by WERRIDEE

In: JvR, Johnson

Out: Petty, Sharp

Oliver in if good to go.

Turner shouldn't be out of the team again unless injured. Would still have him as a defender though for his intercept ability.

Out: Petty, Fritsch, Sparrow

In: JVR, Johnson, Oliver

Our forwards line has never worked with both Fritsch and Melk in it, think one has to come out.

100% melk gets a week and Allan gets nothing.

Do I think that should happen, no but will it happen because AFL, yes.

Out: Petty melks

In: JVR Oliver

Will Oliver be available? Not so sure

Out Petty (concussion) Melksham if suspended otherwise Fritsch

In Johnson Oliver

Out Petty Fritsch

We need better ruck cover against Hawks and I want JVR brimming with confidence too play permanent forward when he comes back.

Fritsch may have kicked two but 7 touches and 0 tackles just doesn’t cut it. Whilst we kicked 100+ I still dont believe our best forward line can contain him and Melksham.

With Hawthorn playing smaller forward, Turner can be freed forward and Oliver back into the midfield mix. If Oliver is not ready to return I would love to see Sestan debut and Rivers back into the midfield mix.

Just a comment on Fritta’s game. On the plus side, he did kick 2 goals, and his goal kicking radar has improved - but he should of had a third.

On the minus side, there is hardly a “team-first” bone in his body. If he feels he cannot mark a ball, he showed again today, on a number of occasions, that he’s happy to let his opponent mark it, without even making any effort to spoil him. He gave away far too many silly free kicks. He didn’t lay one tackle.

We are basing our game around pressure, and he provides so little of this. I don’t care how out of form you are, you can still chase, tackle, shepherd and spoil - all the team first things that should be non-negotiable. IMO he needs to play at Casey until he shows that he is prepared to do these team first things.

8 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

I just like to say sorry to T.Mac having a great year. I wanted to put a line through him when we were losing I was wrong. What are the odds for Gawn to win the brownlow? Last 4 weeks have been sublime. Langford, Rivers and Chandler in top form too. Melksham was great too should not be suspended he bumped him in the back not pushed him in the back. I think if Oliver is right to go he should play in the 2's just to take the pressure off him.

IN: van Rooyen

OUT: Petty

B: Bowey, May, McVee

HB: Salem, McDonald, Rivers

C: Langdon, Langford, Windsor

HF: Petracca, van Rooyen, Chandler

F: Fritsch, Turner, Melksham

FOLL: Gawn, Viney, Pickett

IC: Lindsay, Sparrow, Tholstrup, Spargo

SUB: Sharp

You had me with “sorry TMac”.

Totally lost me with “Clarry playing in the 2’s”

like others i'm expecting milkshake will be suspended, so that's two forwards down with petty out under concussion protocols

fortunately, dingley aren't super tall down forward, so we can probably roll with just may and plugger mac as the key defenders; leave turner forward

OUT: melksham, petty
IN: van rooyen, oliver

you don't play someone like oliver in the vfl; he wasn't in bad form, just a bad headspace

out petty, melksham(suspension?) spargo

in JVR oliver(controversial but we need some maturity) kynan brown(love his attitude and commitment)