Dees win by nearly 10 goals, and win 5 in 6 games

Demonland: play the backline in the forward line and drop all the pressure/effort players that don’t get 35 and 3.

Don’t mess with a winning formula.

Minimal changes needed.

Glad we're not playing the 'Aints at Marvel.

Let's go Dees

No change

1 minute ago, DemonWA said:

Minimal changes needed.

Glad we're not playing the 'Aints at Marvel.

Let's go Dees

Nah, we'd be good. See Hardwick's response to Lyon yesterday: we'd be playing almost to 2021 COVID opposition crowd numbers and look how that regularly turned out 😁

(Sorry, Sainters; I'm not normally this cruel...)

Don't touch Disco, he looks awesome and fast down back, we need him there. Makes the back line much better!

AJ not sure, as said in other thread, but obviously brings something and the team seem to do well with him in it...he can't actually kick, or mark, but he does some other things that make all the difference in some moments so I kinda like what he brings. Wouldn't get him out unless someone like JVR is really knocking down the door but I like him as second ruck.

Viney in for Spargo seems good, Sharp played well but I reckon sub is between him and Fritsch at this stage, loved what Fritsch was doing though so keep him in for sure.

Hope Viney is fit and firing, love to see the old guard back in the middle in top form doing their thing.

Then Lever...seems like he wasn't quite ready, and really I reckon Tmac is in way better form right now, both very important players so happy to rest Tmac because we will likely need him but his form is great. Happy for Lever to keep his spot and build if his ankle is actually ready for it. Time will tell.

8 hours ago, Demon Disciple said:

No MJ for mine, nor JVR. We just kicked our highest score in nearly 2 years, so potency is not an issue.

Make them both smash the door down before bringing them back in.

EXACTLY!!

Can't wait till their both ready, but no need to rush them back we did very well in that game without them, let them build.

3 minutes ago, Young Angus said:

Don't touch Disco, he looks awesome and fast down back, we need him there. Makes the back line much better!

AJ not sure, as said in other thread, but obviously brings something and the team seem to do well with him in it...he can't actually kick, or mark, but he does some other things that make all the difference in some moments so I kinda like what he brings. Wouldn't get him out unless someone like JVR is really knocking down the door but I like him as second ruck.

Viney in for Spargo seems good, Sharp played well but I reckon sub is between him and Fritsch at this stage, loved what Fritsch was doing though so keep him in for sure.

Hope Viney is fit and firing, love to see the old guard back in the middle in top form doing their thing.

Then Lever...seems like he wasn't quite ready, and really I reckon Tmac is in way better form right now, both very important players so happy to rest Tmac because we will likely need him but his form is great. Happy for Lever to keep his spot and build if his ankle is actually ready for it. Time will tell.

I thought the Fritz played his best game in the last twelve months.

12 hours ago, Garbo said:

No chance does aj go out, he’s clearly the best option to backup ruck we have atm. The team looks very balanced atm between defence and offence so I wouldn’t be messing with moving tuner fwd or anything like that.

I think the FD agrees with you Garbo.

10 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

My 2025 Tony Campbell.

I think Tony had a higher skill level.

8 minutes ago, old dee said:

I think Tony had a higher skill level.

'Twas the 'Are you not entertained' allusion I was referring to OD! 😉

Capability assessments, let alone comparisons, not generally my skill set...

13 hours ago, Nasher said:

Out: Spargo

In: Viney

I’m not dropping AJ. He offers 1%ers - the taps, smothers etc that our other talls don’t, and those created goals today. He doesn’t do the “tall things” very well (like contested marking) but I don’t yet trust that van Rooyen will do them either. If I have to choose between two talls who can’t clunk it, I choose the one who is already in the side, proving he does the little things.

Lever had cobwebs to be blown out but I’m not dropping him either. It’s normal for elite players to find form in the seniors and he fits that category. The higher intensity will accelerate his return to the top. Assuming he’s not injured, anyway.

Could not agree more Nasher. Go Dees.

It will be interesting how they bring back Viney. Petracca, Kossie and Rivers have been playing more midfield minutes the last three weeks and I think we may look a better side without Viney.

13 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

Viney in for Spargo, although it is not like-for-like so unsure what it does to rotations etc...

If Lever does not recover, TMac straight back in.

AJ remains a question mark for me but he continues to create havoc, impose himself physically, and have direct goal assists. His physicality in particular is glorious to watch, even if it is totally reckless and dangerous. He has to stay in.

I liked the look of our midfield yesterday, especially the extra dynamism Kozzie and Rivers bring.

I'd bring back Viney to play Spargo's role. Viney similarly fit, disciplined and tackles hard and his disposal is better when he has more time and space.

In Viney

Out Spargo

I see AJ as a stop gap until JVR finds form. In no world do I drop him and play TMac forward. Turner is a defender and he’s becoming a very good one. Petty had a solid negating game on a seriously good defender.

All well atm, Saints won’t be easy and if we don’t bring the effort…..

There is a world where our form is so strong we steamroll through our next 6-7 games.

@Ghostwriter what has Fritsch done to his hair? He looks like he has dipped it into the famous northern rivers red soil!!

14 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

Viney in for Spargo, although it is not like-for-like so unsure what it does to rotations etc...

If Lever does not recover, TMac straight back in.

AJ remains a question mark for me but he continues to create havoc, impose himself physically, and have direct goal assists. His physicality in particular is glorious to watch, even if it is totally reckless and dangerous. He has to stay in.

I'm not convinced there's a role for Viney in the midfield anymore unless he's being played as a tagger. The gameplan doesn't suit his "dump kick" style. However, I could see him being a damaging small forward and certainly better than Spargo at that role.

I think AJ provided just enough to stay in a winning team. I could also see McDonald coming in for May, but only if May needs to be "managed".

So, assuming Viney is good to go, just the one change for mine: Viney for Spargo.

I think having McDonald there able to rotate the older backs is a great option when necessary, will be great with the option to rest/manage the older very important players there.

I agree, don't mess with the midfield, I like Spargo but I think Viney brings something else that would not be a bad thing.

15 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Think Viney comes in for Spargo, AJ creates a lot of havoc in the forward line

Does Tmac come back in Lever should be better with a game behind him but competition for places now

Yes... leave pretty much alone other than where dictated.

Viney for Spargypants ( if Jack's good to go )

Is there a question on Rick's ankle ?? Just wondering.

Sharp to remain sub..

41 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

In Viney

Out Spargo

I see AJ as a stop gap until JVR finds form. In no world do I drop him and play TMac forward. Turner is a defender and he’s becoming a very good one. Petty had a solid negating game on a seriously good defender.

All well atm, Saints won’t be easy and if we don’t bring the effort…..

There is a world where our form is so strong we steamroll through our next 6-7 games.

Agree, Ross Lyon is too good a coach to just let us walk all over them, and the Saints have had some excellent performances this season as well as average ones. We should win but it wont be a walk in the park.

Even if spargo is fit to play, Viney is too good to be left out.

I also don’t think you should be dropping any of the kids like Langford or Lindsey as they are progressing so fast and don’t look in need of a rest either.

35 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Yes... leave pretty much alone other than where dictated.

Viney for Spargypants ( if Jack's good to go )

Is there a question on Rick's ankle ?? Just wondering.

Sharp to remain sub..

Nope.

See Goodwin's post-game 😄

1 hour ago, Roost it far said:

In Viney

Out Spargo

I see AJ as a stop gap until JVR finds form. In no world do I drop him and play TMac forward. Turner is a defender and he’s becoming a very good one. Petty had a solid negating game on a seriously good defender.

All well atm, Saints won’t be easy and if we don’t bring the effort…..

There is a world where our form is so strong we steamroll through our next 6-7 games.

AJ must stay in has shown more dash in his few games than JVR has in 2 seasons

OUT: Spargo

IN: Viney

Sharp to remain as the sub. He is such a good sub but doesn’t have enough of an impact when playing a full game.

AJ doesn’t get much of it but it’s what he does without the ball that has an impact. Think we persist with him for now.

Feel sorry for T Mac. Did nothing wrong to get dropped but there just isn’t a spot for him right now with all of May, Lever, Disco and Petty fit.

2 hours ago, speed demon said:

I liked the look of our midfield yesterday, especially the extra dynamism Kozzie and Rivers bring.

I'd bring back Viney to play Spargo's role. Viney similarly fit, disciplined and tackles hard and his disposal is better when he has more time and space.

Like this a lot.

Our midfield is working well and don't want to disrupt it. Viney in for the Spargypants role gets Viney in with his pressure, while allowing the midfield to continue accumulating minutes and confidence together.

Sharp to sub again.

TMac stiff. Don't think Lever was good, and his ankle is suspect. I reckon he was brought back early. Maybe Lever improves with another run, but what I do know is that TMac has been great all year and would trouble the Saints. This one is a tough call.

No other changes.

On selection, as a starting point i think it is reasonable to assume that assuming there is no fitness issues (eg returning after rehabbing) May, Lever and Viney will always be selected in the staring 22.