48 minutes ago, Dee-tonator said:

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

He's not being rested, he was dropped.

2 hours ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

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

Interesting debate on that one.

TMac hasn't rucked for a few years but as the season goes on I think that could be TMac's niche unless AJ flourishes

Peak Demonland playing out here. So many posters lament that the selection committee don't make big calls, yet when they make a big call we get half the site throwing their toys out of the pram.

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.

turner will be put forward, cant have lever may and turner down back and then leaving petty all to himself in the forward line goodwin really loves putting him out to dry.

33 minutes ago, Nasher said:

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.

May's inability to move the ball on quickly in comparison to TMac and even Lever is stark IMV.

I think these will be tough decisions.

4 minutes ago, MrFreeze said:

Unfortunately for TMAC, Turner has nailed down that 3rd tall spot. Lever is a must include, just like McVee he will build form in the 1s.

TMAC is definitely stiff but you probably can't play 4 tall defenders at once. No other team has the such high quality key back depth, absolute luxury.

Competiton for spots is really heating up, great work from the fitness team and the playing group.

Yep, all excellent points.

As you say Lever is always going to come back you, so a tall probably has to come out given they don't have much height up forward

I suspect if Goody is asked why Tmac was dropped, which surely he will be, he'll mention management of older players (which he flagged preseason) being a factor, but also match up being a factor.

And good shout out to the fitness team.

We were better in the last against the tigers and Eagles, and not as bad as the blowout against the hawks looked. And then great ladt week. And we've had dmfee soft injuries once again.

10 minutes ago, jaydenh10 said:

leaving petty all to himself in the forward line

??

AJ, Fritsch, Melksham etc say high.

3 minutes ago, bing181 said:

??

AJ, Fritsch, Melksham etc say high.

tall forwards

he is the only one

aj is there to relieve max in the ruck, injure people around the ground, provide great pressure and attack the contest

take notes jvr and mj please this blokes knows what to do and does it well

Is it a match up thing ? I'm sure Simon spoke to Tom about the reason why.

I can't see what Tom has done wrong. Yes I know turner has done well & mays there but I'm still surprised.

But can I say may isn't exactly setting the world on fire.

Hope fritsch is sub again. It seems to get him going. Don't reward him for doing his job in the final term & play him from the start. Make him realise he needs to do more.

I see May as nearing the end but our backline is at its best with a fit May and Lever and I suspect that is the thinking behind it. Lever selected means the club is fully satisfied he is ready to go otherwise TMac would be playing. Plus Swans aren’t tall forward of centre so 4 talls would have been cumbersome. On Culley as emergency ahead of others he’s the Oliver replacement when and if Oliver or Petracca need a rest or get injured. He’s a big strong body with suspect disposal, now that sounds familiar. I’m happy with the selections. The concern is Viney, we really don’t need another player to pay who’s retired.

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by Roost it far

27 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Peak Demonland playing out here. So many posters lament that the selection committee don't make big calls, yet when they make a big call we get half the site throwing their toys out of the pram.

Making a big call only counts if it’s dropping Fritsch.

39 minutes ago, bing181 said:

He's not being rested, he was dropped.

Wasn't named for Casey this weekend so clearly being rested/managed.

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by dazzledavey36

35 minutes ago, bing181 said:

He's not being rested, he was dropped.

Suggested club statement: "With all defenders fit, this was an ideal opportunity to give a veteran a break".

Half true, like most PR statements, and a far better way to treat a man who has confounded the critics who claimed he was past it.

4 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

@binman thoughts on selection ? I’m so confused

I know we are not within the clubs four walls but …

Why is Spargo still in? Underperforming for 7 weeks. Last week he was a liability.

Tmac has been good all year. I get team balance but bringing Lever back was supposed to allow us to potentially put Turner forward. Very harsh on Tmac.

Culley an emergency? He was average for Casey last week Howes or Kynan Brown must be closer to selection

I’m confused ! But again we must trust the brain power of the club insiders

It's actually one of the least confusing team selections in the last few weeks.

Lever has to come in, and there's no universe goody doesn’t seleect May if fit.

The other factor is Lever and May playing together is more than the sum of the parts.

They've only played together five times this season, and obviously not at all whilst Lever has been out. It will be great to see them wax on Sunday.

Turner stays in, and they probably want to settle him down back meaning not playing as a forward.

And With Amartey and Francis out they are lacking height.

All of which means a tall defender has to come out and Tmac got the short straw.

Spargo is the new Nibbla.

The KPIs for his role would prioritise defensive running, pressure and tackles inside 50, assists and score involvements. Yes he's a forward but goals are a bonus.

Im not saying he's been brilliant (though he's been better than many have suggested) but he has played his role, is presumably meeting his KPIs (hence his selection) and is clearly an important part of our forward line structure and system.

On Sculley, I reckon he's got something. Tough, reads the ball well, wins his own ball and is a lefty with a neat kick.

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by binman

I thought McDonald would have been a much better matchup for McLean who troubled us last time.

Syd have improved their defensive game by a fair bit. They're the hardest team to move the ball against between the arcs the last 6 weeks and the best ground ball team the last 6 weeks.

We need our small forwards to be absolutely on song to beat them. Thankfully the Swans can't score for [censored] so even if we get to 80pts we'll probably win.

good problem with so many to choose. Good to get May and Lever back in sync.

unless TMac wanted the rest and is managed I would put Petty into Sub.

He can play forward or back and could replace Fritta who would be in team if he didnt play with intensity

5 hours ago, MrFreeze said:

Unfortunately for TMAC, Turner has nailed down that 3rd tall spot. Lever is a must include, just like McVee he will build form in the 1s.

TMAC is definitely stiff but you probably can't play 4 tall defenders at once. No other team has the such high quality key back depth, absolute luxury.

Competiton for spots is really heating up, great work from the fitness team and the playing group.

Would’ve preferred we omit AJ and shuffle Turner forward.

5 minutes ago, Radar Detector said:

Would’ve preferred we omit AJ and shuffle Turner forward.

And ruck whom?

Just now, Radar Detector said:

Would’ve preferred we omit AJ and shuffle Turner forward.

Who second rucks?

I am all for flagellating the FD over selection. But dropping a 32 year old because two future MFC Hall of Famers are there and you want to reward a young man who seems to have found his stride in the backline - is not the imbecilic decision many seem to think it is. This isn’t keeping Oliver in the team last year…

Drop Spargo/insertnamehere instead? And shuffle the team? Why?

Can we just win?

Bit concerning Vines misses again, was a fairly innocuous stray hand that clocked him 3 weeks ago and still out

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by Graeme Yeats' Mullet

I think they may be persevering with Sharp simply because of his pace..which means he gets to contests and can be a target..if he'sat the contests that can slow the opposition down even without actually winning the contest. Sure he missed a couple last week but he had made position, and had he slotted them, he's a star, so, if he gets over the yips, he may yet prove to be an asset. Chandler had some lean days before he became a lock..I think they are giving Sharp time because we are not a fast running team..if he comes good that will be a win. Then we'll have three speedsters Kozzie, Windsor and Sharp...I am happy with him, he's flashed in a few times over the season, but hoping for a couple more flashes of brilliance to give him confidence.

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by DeeBlood

5 hours ago, burnthefushias said:

McDonald getting dropped is bizarre, he's arguably in All-Australian form. 2nd in the competition in one percenters, 2nd in spoils and has more contested defensive one on ones than any other player in the comp while winning 80% of them

Edit: 3rd for one percenters and 3rd for spoils.

Garbage just Garbage... play him in Spargo's spot.... Surely managed DROPPED??? WTF??

6 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Garbage just Garbage... play him in Spargo's spot.... Surely managed ???? SHeeit meanwhile a couple of spuds still get games!! DROPPED??? WTF?? HE HAS BEEN OUR BEST DEFENDER BY FAR! Goodwin No idea!!

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by picket fence

1 hour ago, binman said:

Yep, all excellent points.

As you say Lever is always going to come back you, so a tall probably has to come out given they don't have much height up forward

I suspect if Goody is asked why Tmac was dropped, which surely he will be, he'll mention management of older players (which he flagged preseason) being a factor, but also match up being a factor.

And good shout out to the fitness team.

We were better in the last against the tigers and Eagles, and not as bad as the blowout against the hawks looked. And then great ladt week. And we've had dmfee soft injuries once again.

Optimism is better than pessimism, and that certainly is a glass half full assessment, Binman.

Our last quarter last week has been our only good last quarter for the year. Lowly Richmond kicked the last 4 goals of the match againgst us, we kicked 1 goal. West Coast had their best quarter of the year, at that time, against us in the last. Only highly unusual accurate kicking (6.0) saved us being outscored by the bottom side. And the Hawks last quarter of 6.5 to our 1.1 WAS as bad as it looked.

Last week was definitely an exception on the year so far. As was Fritch's competiveness and tackling in his cameo as sub. Was it the result of 'loading' by Brisbane and just a one-off by Bailey? I'm hopeful last week was the unveiling of MFC25 v.2 and it becomes the norm rather than a mirage. A strong 4 quarter performance againgst the Swans will go a long way towards having belief, rather than hope.

With TMac's strong form, it's the first time this year we've had an emergency player who would make the starting 22 in most of the other 17 clubs.