I have to reassure myself that this is a purely tactical or 'managed old bodies' change, because McDonald has been a proper stalwart this season even at the roughest times.

While they have very little else in common, I think Bowey and McDonald share the all-important defender's traits of general calmness and an awareness of what they realistically can or can't do in any given situation.

On the other hand, with Amartey and Francis out, a look at Sydney's marks inside 50 rankings has only resting rucks (McLean and Ladhams) as tall targets up there.

If there ever was a week to rest McDonald, this would be it.

The danger, of course, is that Sydney are forced to play smarter and pick out their smaller players and/or running and gun it across the 50m arc, which would suggest even having Lever come in is going too tall!

Best case is that he and May can get right back to the smart positioning combos and push up aggressively enough to be taking intercepts halfway up the ground, as in days of yore. If that happens, we will crunch Sydney horribly, though I suspect no matter how much of a squeeze we can put on, there will always be dangerous moments where their ultra-attacking mids find their space.

Surely the clubs use of omitted = rested

Edited 15 hours ago15 hr by david_neitz_is_my_dad

Bit surprised as most on here seem to be about TMac, thought they were resting him but he’s in the emergencies so suggests he’s dropped.

With them only having 3 tallish forwards it’s probably a horses for courses situation..

If it’s an actual dropping I’m surprised they didn’t swing him forward for AJ but AJ probably gives better service in the ruck

I'm on record saying that if we exponentially improve this year, May will be on the fringe of the 22. The same probably goes for Tom.

I'm sure he was told prior to this year that his opportunities would be limited if the squad was fully fit.

I'm fine with this decision and don't view it as mindboggling at all. I actually find it difficult to understand how some wouldn't see Lever's inclusion as making our backline too tall unless one of May or TMac was dropped.

May's last outing was good, but had we not seen that performance, I'd have had May out for Lever.

There is a changing of the guard happening in the next 12 months and we need to ensure we're not longer reliant on May or TMac from 2027 onwards, so I'd expect a few more surprises as the year goes on.

I think these KPD roles are up for grabs, because it's integral to how we move the ball in transition. Turner is nimble and a good user. We need to keep getting the footy into motion as quickly as possible. Ironically, TMac is a much quicker user of the footy in comparison to May and Lever. It's why I think ultimately May will be on the outer if we improve our ball movement to a high enough degree. But they may prioritise his defensive capability over what he adds to ball movement.

Meanwhile, TMac's form has been generally excellent, so it also enables us to rest him and May throughout the course of the year. Competition for spots is a good thing. We need a lot more of it!

I hope Adams gets a chance soon and even Kentfield if he keeps improving.

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by Adam The God

6 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

I'm on record saying that if we exponentially improve this year, May will be on the fringe of the 22. The same probably goes for Tom.

I'm sure he was told prior to this year that his opportunities would be limited if the squad was fully fit.

I'm fine with this decision and don't view it as mindboggling at all. I actually find it difficult to understand how some wouldn't see Lever's inclusion as making our backline too tall unless one of May or TMac was dropped.

May's last outing was good, but had we not seen that performance, I'd have had May out for Lever.

There is a changing of the guard happening in the next 12 months and we need to ensure we're not longer reliant on May or TMac from 2027 onwards, so I'd expect a few more surprises as the year goes on.

I think these KPD roles are up for grabs, because it's integral to how we move the ball in transition. Turner is nimble and a good user. We need to keep getting the footy into motion as quickly as possible. Ironically, TMac is a much quicker user of the footy in comparison to May and Lever. It's why I think ultimately May will be on the outer if we improve our ball movement to a high enough degree. But they may prioritise his defensive capability over what he adds to ball movement.

Meanwhile, TMac's form has been generally excellent, so it also enables us to rest him and May throughout the course of the year. Competition for spots is a good thing. We need a lot more of it!

I hope Adams gets a chance soon and even Kentfield if he keeps improving.

I'd like to see Adams get a few games throughout the year so he knows the level he needs to get to next season.

I've liked what I've seen at VFL level this year

Bloody hell a bit rough on Tmac. He has been in great form.

Hope there is a logical reason for it which I am Struggling to see.

18 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

I'm on record saying that if we exponentially improve this year, May will be on the fringe of the 22. The same probably goes for Tom.

I'm sure he was told prior to this year that his opportunities would be limited if the squad was fully fit.

I'm fine with this decision and don't view it as mindboggling at all. I actually find it difficult to understand how some wouldn't see Lever's inclusion as making our backline too tall unless one of May or TMac was dropped.

May's last outing was good, but had we not seen that performance, I'd have had May out for Lever.

There is a changing of the guard happening in the next 12 months and we need to ensure we're not longer reliant on May or TMac from 2027 onwards, so I'd expect a few more surprises as the year goes on.

I think these KPD roles are up for grabs, because it's integral to how we move the ball in transition. Turner is nimble and a good user. We need to keep getting the footy into motion as quickly as possible. Ironically, TMac is a much quicker user of the footy in comparison to May and Lever. It's why I think ultimately May will be on the outer if we improve our ball movement to a high enough degree. But they may prioritise his defensive capability over what he adds to ball movement.

Meanwhile, TMac's form has been generally excellent, so it also enables us to rest him and May throughout the course of the year. Competition for spots is a good thing. We need a lot more of it!

I hope Adams gets a chance soon and even Kentfield if he keeps improving.

No offence but this is insanity. May isn't having a great season by any means but he has the experience and composure to take each team's best key target. And without a proper tall key forward ourselves we risk hurting your spine too much by taking a body like May out of the line-up. Lever is a completely different player with different roles.

In a presser when asked about the young players Goody said the ream was transitioning, indicating a mini rebuild to complement our alreaqdy promising crop of under 24's or thereabouts.

I think TMc may be transitioning to 'depth' now waiting for Disco to have a couple of ordinary games or an injury to one of the other 2.

I watched the replay and in the last Q of the last game twice and AJ played well enough to keep his spot.

I guess we will sell the transitioning to Kalani white and Sinnema.

59 minutes ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

Surely the clubs use of omitted = rested

Would rather to see the club have Tmac “managed”.

43 minutes ago, praha said:

No offence but this is insanity. May isn't having a great season by any means but he has the experience and composure to take each team's best key target. And without a proper tall key forward ourselves we risk hurting your spine too much by taking a body like May out of the line-up. Lever is a completely different player with different roles.

No offence taken.

I'm sure in the not too distant future, we'll want Adams taking that "proper key forward".

If not him, we'll trade someone in to do the job.

I’m stunned that TMac has been dropped, but the arguments that he’s more important or should be selected ahead of May or Lever are a bit over the top. There’s no way that was ever going to happen. Come on people, be realistic.

I am surprised they’ve backed Turner in over him though. I thought Turner would go forward or out. It’s a huge endorsement of Disco as a defender.

Given we have done everything we possibly can this year to introduce more attack, run and dynamism into our defence, it shouldn’t come as a major shock that our best team includes Turner in preference to McDonald.

2 minutes ago, Nasher said:

I am surprised they’ve backed Turner in over him though. I thought Turner would go forward or out. It’s a huge endorsement of Disco as a defender.

I think they’ve been keen to have Turner’s marking in the team and have tried to shoehorn him into the forward line but he’s a really natural defender who reads the ball through the air incredibly well. I’m sure they prefer him in defence long term for his intercepting ability, which is made easier with Petty now moving forward more permanently.

Edited 13 hours ago13 hr by Axis of Bob

I don’t love the decision but it’s a long year and I think Turner has shown he’s probably a better defender than forward.

Presumably Sharp to sub again (given that he was subbed out), though could have been an opportunity to bring in Brown or someone else (??) as sub.

Interesting though that they're persisting with Sharp in some form or other.

Another that might have earned a call-up is Howes, though unless they move Windsor up the ground or there's an injury, hard to see how he gets back into the backline.

1 hour ago, Adam The God said:

I'm on record saying that if we exponentially improve this year, May will be on the fringe of the 22. The same probably goes for Tom.

I'm sure he was told prior to this year that his opportunities would be limited if the squad was fully fit.

I'm fine with this decision and don't view it as mindboggling at all. I actually find it difficult to understand how some wouldn't see Lever's inclusion as making our backline too tall unless one of May or TMac was dropped.

May's last outing was good, but had we not seen that performance, I'd have had May out for Lever.

There is a changing of the guard happening in the next 12 months and we need to ensure we're not longer reliant on May or TMac from 2027 onwards, so I'd expect a few more surprises as the year goes on.

I think these KPD roles are up for grabs, because it's integral to how we move the ball in transition. Turner is nimble and a good user. We need to keep getting the footy into motion as quickly as possible. Ironically, TMac is a much quicker user of the footy in comparison to May and Lever. It's why I think ultimately May will be on the outer if we improve our ball movement to a high enough degree. But they may prioritise his defensive capability over what he adds to ball movement.

Meanwhile, TMac's form has been generally excellent, so it also enables us to rest him and May throughout the course of the year. Competition for spots is a good thing. We need a lot more of it!

I hope Adams gets a chance soon and even Kentfield if he keeps improving.

I agree with some of what you said and disagree with some of it. I think all three in Lever, May and McDonald are on the fringe of selection in certain circumstances. And on current circumstances I would have left Lever out. McDonald has been one of our best this year, May is battling but wasn’t too bad last week in a team that beat one of the best on their own deck. Lever has missed a lot of footy and is generally slower to move the footy on than the other two and is not as good in one on one situations as the other two. But that’s just my opinion.

I agree about the changing of the guard and I think managing that transition is one of our biggest concerns. I hope both Adam’s and Kentfield smash the door down and get a go this year.

Awful PR from the club, given that TMac has been among our best this season.

Surely it is not too late to issue a statement confirming that he is being rested this week.

Unless of course there is an idiotic plan to risk him in the VFL.

Someone deserves a rap over the knuckles.

That said, it was a tough call for the selectors with everyone fit.

2 hours ago, Adam The God said:

I'm on record saying that if we exponentially improve this year, May will be on the fringe of the 22. The same probably goes for Tom.

I'm sure he was told prior to this year that his opportunities would be limited if the squad was fully fit.

I'm fine with this decision and don't view it as mindboggling at all. I actually find it difficult to understand how some wouldn't see Lever's inclusion as making our backline too tall unless one of May or TMac was dropped.

May's last outing was good, but had we not seen that performance, I'd have had May out for Lever.

There is a changing of the guard happening in the next 12 months and we need to ensure we're not longer reliant on May or TMac from 2027 onwards, so I'd expect a few more surprises as the year goes on.

I think these KPD roles are up for grabs, because it's integral to how we move the ball in transition. Turner is nimble and a good user. We need to keep getting the footy into motion as quickly as possible. Ironically, TMac is a much quicker user of the footy in comparison to May and Lever. It's why I think ultimately May will be on the outer if we improve our ball movement to a high enough degree. But they may prioritise his defensive capability over what he adds to ball movement.

Meanwhile, TMac's form has been generally excellent, so it also enables us to rest him and May throughout the course of the year. Competition for spots is a good thing. We need a lot more of it!

I hope Adams gets a chance soon and even Kentfield if he keeps improving.

So if may is omitted, who would our 3 tall backs be?

8 minutes ago, Oxdee said:

So if may is omitted, who would our 3 tall backs be?

TMac, Turner and Lever. Or Adams, Turner and Lever. Or TMac, Adams and Turner.

Not sure if it was sarcasm or genuine, but on one of the social media platforms, someone stated that TMac did a hand injury at home and is therefore not playing. If it is not this or something like it, it is a strange decision considering May's form. TMac has been playing his role really well and the team is weaker with him out.

As for handing it over to the next generation of KPDs, only Turner is standing out. Adams looks likely but Howes struggles at AFL level.

13 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

TMac, Turner and Lever. Or Adams, Turner and Lever. Or TMac, Adams and Turner.

I don’t see any universe where TMac gets picked ahead of May. There is literally no facet of the game where TMac is better than May. May is bigger, faster, tougher, has cleaner disposal and reads the play better than TMac. I say that as a TMac fan and I was legitimately shocked to see him out, but it’s just reality.

I reckon because May hasn’t been at peak this year, you’ve lost sight of how good a player he is, even at 85%. He’ll never play a game at Casey.

3 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

If anything May is the one who looks like he could use a rest. Been battling injuries all season.

Tmac better not be lining up at Casey this weekend.

And Petty can think himself lucky, would've thought he'd be more likely to be dropped and Turner moved forward. TMac very stiff.

Edited 12 hours ago12 hr by Dr. Gonzo

3 hours ago, Supermercado said:

At this stage of his career it would have been polite to call McDonald 'managed'.

True but then what's the excuse if he's not recalled next week?

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

I’m stunned that TMac has been dropped, but the arguments that he’s more important or should be selected ahead of May or Lever are a bit over the top. There’s no way that was ever going to happen. Come on people, be realistic.

I am surprised they’ve backed Turner in over him though. I thought Turner would go forward or out. It’s a huge endorsement of Disco as a defender.

It's more to me about fitness and form .

And I still don't see how currently Tmac is the one out of Lever, May and himself to be dropped... managed...whatever.

Still.... it's a very Melbourne thing to do.