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.

5 hours ago, Dee-tonator said:

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.

If he’s been rested then it implies he would come back in next week, unless someone is injured what are you going to say then. Clearly the club has turner ahead of him atm. The club can always go back to tmac is turners form drops as he is a known quantity but if we want to improve we will need to move past him whether that’s going to be tuner or not isn’t settled.

6 hours ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

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

It was a massive swinging arm to Vineys head which should have earned him 4 weeks. But yes, it’s 100% a worry that concussion symptoms were delayed and now to miss so many weeks. At a certain point you have to wonder if it’s not better to not play fr the rest of the season.

One thing for sure though , given our history, he will not be rushed back.

Would there have been more gnashing of teeth in this thread if May had been dropped/managed instead of TMAC?

TMac has done nothing wrong but he's no spring chicken. A rest will not do him any harm at all. With a full list, some players will miss out through no fault of their own. it's a great position to be in.

And it means we can bash the FD for selection which we love doing on this forum.

good times

9 hours ago, Adam The God said:

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

Thankfully you have no involvement in selection

8 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

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

Tmac can’t just off the ground. There is no possible way he will be at centre bounces.

Disappointed to see TMac omitted

Almost career best form

Lever had better be fit and play a blinder or it will come back to bite the FD

I'm puzzeled why several postesrs think it is an insult to TMac to not be listed as 'rested'.

As I posted in the VFL thread - I doubt if TMac is weeping over his museli thinking that some supporters might think he is being dropped for lack of form.

He knows what's what and so does the club.

5 minutes ago, sue said:

I'm puzzeled why several postesrs think it is an insult to TMac to not be listed as 'rested'.

As I posted in the VFL thread - I doubt if TMac is weeping over his museli thinking that some supporters might think he is being dropped for lack of form.

He knows what's what and so does the club.

Couldn't agree more

When Melksham needed a rest he was managed, he was not omitted. TMAC was omitted, not rested. He is an emergency, he is available to play this week.

7 hours ago, Dee in a Kilt said:

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.

Which, Is a MASSIVE blunder IMO!

16 hours ago, MrFreeze said:

.

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.

Who'd a' thought 40 years ago we' be sitting here drinking chateau du chasseur?

Aye.

Them's days you'd be glad to have the prize of a cup o'tea.

Aye. A cuppa' cold tea.

Not milk or sugar!

Or tea...

in a cracked cup and all.

While I would have respected a premiership player's dignity and called it "managed", I don't mind TMac's non-selection.

TMac has been our most consistent key position player (forward or back) for the past two seasons. Select him and we know what we are getting.

Given where we are currently at, I'm more interested in getting some consistency into Petty (forward), Turner (back), the May/Lever combo and seeing what AJ can offer.

4 hours ago, Oxdee said:

Tmac can’t just off the ground. There is no possible way he will be at centre bounces.

And Petty would perform similarly at centre bounces. That's why, IMO, it's imperative that AJ is in the team each week.

Probably against Ladhams tomorrow.

Although it’s disappointing that T Mac was dropped, it does speak volumes that we have some defensive depth and that 4 can’t go into 3. A few clubs would like to be in our position.

I’ll think we’ll all riot though if Lever hobbles off with his obligatory rolled ankle.

17 hours ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

Wow,

I'd argue that 32 year old Tom McDonald currently offers more to this team than 29 year old Jake Lever, the latter of whom has been very patchy since 2021. Very stiff. I understand we're top heavy down there but did not expect this.

And look, Sharp tries hard and could be an AFL player with a different skill set, but how many chances does he get? Spargo deadset lucky too.

LOST AT SELECTION! (getting in early)

Ha.

Goody has certainly set himself up as a Target if it all goes south.

I'm wondering if Lever will last a full game.

So as we all seem to agree, strange call.

1 minute ago, leave it to deever said:

Ha.

Goody has certainly set himself up as a Target if it all goes south.

I'm wondering if Lever will last a full game.

So as we all seem to agree, strange call.

Sorry, it's clear from the posts that many of us do not agree that it is a strange call. I won't repeat the justifications that have been made for such a call nor refute the nonsense about lack of respect to TMac.

But it's true that many here will blame Goody if things go wrong - probably the same people who complain about Goody not doing anything new/bold/playing favourites.

45 minutes ago, Tarax Club said:

Who'd a' thought 40 years ago we' be sitting here drinking chateau du chasseur?

Aye.

Them's days you'd be glad to have the prize of a cup o'tea.

Aye. A cuppa' cold tea.

Not milk or sugar!

Or tea...

in a cracked cup and all.

A cracked cup!

LUXURY I say!

18 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

I'm wondering if Lever will last a full game.

..

This ^^^^^

Afaiaa.. he's played very limited and managed minutes. No one is doubting his ability or effectiveness, certainly not I. I just wonder if this is the cleverest thing to do.

Both Ricky L and May have some history and issues ( recent times ) with injury whilst erstwhile soldier Mac seems to be going along quite strongly.

We'll see tomorrow I s'pose. Hope this doesn't blow up as an uh-oh!!!

I'd still have managed-rested May. I think this of all games suits that. 🤔🤷‍♂️

Edited May 24May 24 by beelzebub

I care about the team and the club first and foremost. Would you rather Turner out at the expense of TMac?

If so, you're not looking at the bigger picture.

Lever straightens up our defence every time. As Jeff White's video showed, most fans don't understand the little things that most of iurplayers do to stay in the team. Spargo being one of them.

Lever marshalls our defence and is best 22.

Edited May 24May 24 by Adam The God

41 minutes ago, sue said:

Sorry, it's clear from the posts that many of us do not agree that it is a strange call. I won't repeat the justifications that have been made for such a call nor refute the nonsense about lack of respect to TMac.

But it's true that many here will blame Goody if things go wrong - probably the same people who complain about Goody not doing anything new/bold/playing favourites.

And the same people who won't give goody credit for his confusing selections last week (jvr dropped, AJ in, Fritter keeping his spot) proving to be good calls

Just saw a clip from Jordan Lewis from On The Couch saying he doesn't believe Clarry and Viney should be in the middle at the same time.

Whilst I agree to a large extent, I would add a caveat, unless Viney is playing a defensive role.

But it's about allowing Rivers to provide something different to our midfield mix and given his best ever rated game against Brisbane, it's hard to disagree at this stage.

I think Rivers is an excellent and dynamic half back, but if we're to continue to evolve our midfield, he probably needs to stay in the middle and then push out to half back when other mid rotations go through the middle.

Which means more bench time for Clarry and more forward half time for Viney.

You've also got Langford providing something different and hopefully in 2026, you've got Lindsay in there as well.

Watching us try to achieve this midfield balance for the remainder of 2025 though is one of the big watches for me.

Edited May 24May 24 by Adam The God

1 hour ago, Tarax Club said:

Who'd a' thought 40 years ago we' be sitting here drinking chateau du chasseur?

Aye.

Them's days you'd be glad to have the prize of a cup o'tea.

Aye. A cuppa' cold tea.

Not milk or sugar!

Or tea...

in a cracked cup and all.

In my day, it were Nathan Carroll and Brad Miller trying to keep margin below 15...

...goals!

Aye. Goals.

3 hours ago, sue said:

As I posted in the VFL thread - I doubt if TMac is weeping over his museli

Tmac doesn't eat carbs.

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

This ^^^^^

Afaiaa.. he's played very limited and managed minutes. No one is doubting his ability or effectiveness, certainly not I. I just wonder if this is the cleverest thing to do.

Both Ricky L and May have some history and issues ( recent times ) with injury whilst erstwhile soldier Mac seems to be going along quite strongly.

We'll see tomorrow I s'pose. Hope this doesn't blow up as an uh-oh!!!

I'd still have managed-rested May. I think this of all games suits that. 🤔🤷‍♂️

Wordsmith of the week. You give #Georgeontheouter a run for his hard earned.

11 minutes ago, danielE288 said:

Tmac doesn't eat carbs.

Just opponents alive for lunch quite frequently.

Still really concerned about his omission but better minds than me I guess.

I once thought a skinny tall ruckman by the name of Gawn, I think, would never make it.

Speaking of better minds does anyone think Tmac should be played forward again? Especially given the brains trust think he's not required down back at present.