AJ to stay in for the next two game for me. Give him a few games to settle in and I think he will make less mistakes. His energy and crash and bash against the pies will be useful.

Viney to come in for Spargo, I think JV normally plays very well after a freshen up and I’d expect a massive game from him.

The Duke has quietly been finding a bit of form in his new role and I think he’ll have a cracker of a game against the saints too.

I don’t think we make finals this year but if we can continue our current trajectory against the saints and beat the Pies I’ll be very satisfied with how we are tracking.

19 minutes ago, Vipercrunch said:

Some serious short memories here regarding Viney.

He is currently sitting 9th on the Demonland Player of the Year board, despite missing the last 3 games. I suspect he would have been top 5 before he was concussed. He was having a very solid and consistent year.

There should not be a doubt in the world that if fully fit, he comes back in and will play a mixture of midfield and high half-forward minutes, just like he was before he was concussed.

And we will be a better team because of it.

It's all well and good to say he's polling well internally, but up until 5 weeks ago how many of our players were anywhere near their best, save for Chin and Bowey?

Whose place in the current mid-fleld would Jack take?

Kosi, Trac, Clarry, Rivers, Langford?

Viney is the tackle king, but we need midfielders who can deliver the ball precisely.

Play him forward (in place of Spargo) and his tackling could give us even better i50 efficiency.

4 minutes ago, Colm said:

I don’t think we make finals this year but if we can continue our current trajectory against the saints and beat the Pies I’ll be very satisfied with how we are tracking.

If both those games are wins, I think we've still got a good chance of making finals.

5 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

If both those games are wins, I think we've still got a good chance of making finals.

It certainly enters the realm of possibility. If we don't... hmm.. yeah.. nahh 😞

I'm reminding myself to take St Kilda seriously, despite their wonky season, by comparing their set of 'young guns who aren't putting it together consistently yet' with outs.

Just imagine if our list was that little bit thinner, with all of Windsor, Lindsay, Langford, Tholstrup, McVee, Van Rooyen, Howes, Woedowin and Brown playing each week.

Some weeks it would look terrible, but then some weeks the momentum would come and all of them will have a good day, and all of them CAN play a respectable game of AFL level football in their moment.

When opponents let the Saints get their hopes up, they can really dominate - the games against Richmond and Freo being the obvious ones.

But the range of results are incredible. Defensively they've given away scores as high as 135 & 127 or as low as 33 and 53. That is decided by whether the team as a whole is confident and engaged with the system.

8 minutes ago, mauriesy said:

If both those games are wins, I think we've still got a good chance of making finals.

We would still have a chance for sure, I think we would need to have a very lucky run with injuries from now until the end of season to make the 8 though.

58 minutes ago, dondemon said:

I think the joke went over your head mate haha

47 minutes ago, Vipercrunch said:

Some serious short memories here regarding Viney.

He is currently sitting 9th on the Demonland Player of the Year board, despite missing the last 3 games. I suspect he would have been top 5 before he was concussed. He was having a very solid and consistent year.

There should not be a doubt in the world that if fully fit, he comes back in and will play a mixture of midfield and high half-forward minutes, just like he was before he was concussed.

And we will be a better team because of it.

Sorry the battery in my detector was flat.

Not exactly hot in the Red Centre this Sunday

Cloudy with a minimum of 6 and maximum of 20 (No rain)

2 hours ago, beelzebub said:

He has to show why. He needs to be banging down the doors with b.o.g. type games in the magoos. Not one, a string of them. Let him be the better choice because atm he isn't.

As ive said, I'm happy for AJ to get a block of games in the ones, and like everyone i love his energy and competitiveness. But let's not carried away - it's a big stretch, even with his energy, to say he is playing better than JVR has this season.

Take the game just gone. Let's accept AJ played his role, but it's hard to argue he had anywhere near a good game. These were his numbers:

• Six pressure acts and 13 pressure points (against his average of 30) - only Sharp (who was sub) and May applied less pressure on a day our pressure was through the roof

• He had 15 ruck contests and had the grand total of 1 hit out (not to advantage)

• 6 disposals - 5 handballs and 1 kick

• I tackle

• 0 marks

• 5 contested possessions (Fritter had more!)

• 2 score involvements

• 2 goal assists (his best comparative number as 2 assists was an equal game high)

• The lowest player rating of any player on the ground with -2.7 (i know that doesn't tell the whole story)

6 minutes ago, binman said:

Take the game just gone. Let's accept AJ played his role, but it's hard to argue he had anywhere near a good game. These were his numbers:

• Six pressure acts and 13 pressure points (against his average of 30) - only Sharp (who was sub) and May applied less pressure on a day our pressure was through the roof

• He had 15 ruck contests and had the grand total of 1 hit out (not to advantage)

• 6 disposals - 5 handballs and 1 kick

• I tackle

• 0 marks

• 5 contested possessions (Fritter had more!)

• 2 score involvements

• 2 goal assists (his best comparative number as 2 assists was an equal game high)

• The lowest player rating of any player on the ground with -2.7 (i know that doesn't tell the whole story)

It's a funny one when you look at it, on one hand he helped create several goals, but on the other hand - 6 disposals at 50% efficiency, his one kick ineffective, 1 hit out etc.

Either way he is living his dream and the spot is his until JvR gets his groove back.

Membrey always kills us.......oh wait.

Spargo confirmed out for 4-6 with a scapula injury. Viney likely but not confirmed.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1792732/injury-report-strong-session-strengthens-viney-case

3 hours ago, Little Goffy said:

I'm reminding myself to take St Kilda seriously, despite their wonky season, by comparing their set of 'young guns who aren't putting it together consistently yet' with outs.

Just imagine if our list was that little bit thinner, with all of Windsor, Lindsay, Langford, Tholstrup, McVee, Van Rooyen, Howes, Woedowin and Brown playing each week.

Some weeks it would look terrible, but then some weeks the momentum would come and all of them will have a good day, and all of them CAN play a respectable game of AFL level football in their moment.

When opponents let the Saints get their hopes up, they can really dominate - the games against Richmond and Freo being the obvious ones.

But the range of results are incredible. Defensively they've given away scores as high as 135 & 127 or as low as 33 and 53. That is decided by whether the team as a whole is confident and engaged with the system.

Fully agree that we can’t get too confident this week (or any week tbh).

But St Kilda have lost 6 of their last 7. Yes the win in the middle was a 10 goal win over Fremantle but Freo didn’t turn up that day.

They’ve also lost to West Coast and Carlton in the last 3 weeks, neither of whom are good/in form.

Again, don’t get me wrong, if we don’t bring our A game we lose, but I’ll say that every week. Just like Sydney, my view is we are a better side than St Kilda and should win this if we play anything like we have the last 6 weeks.

If Viney is just returning to full training on friday, there’s a fair chance he won’t get up. So who comes in for Spargo?

Laurie, Culley, Brown?

No way we bring in JVR off a good against a rabble. If we care about what’s best for him, we will let him regain some real form

2 minutes ago, DubDee said:

If Viney is just returning to full training on friday, there’s a fair chance he won’t get up. So who comes in for Spargo?

Laurie, Culley, Brown?

No way we bring in JVR off a good against a rabble. If we care about what’s best for him, we will let him regain some real formK

Koltyn?

Whoever comes in for Spargo needs to replace his 5 tackles and 3 inside 50 tackles

I would guess Spargo would be leading us for inside 50 tackles which is a critical stat

Just now, HazSharp30 said:

Koltyn?

He’ll come in eventually but he has been very poor at casey the last 2 weeks with apparently not a great attitude

has some growing up to do

5 minutes ago, DubDee said:

If Viney is just returning to full training on friday, there’s a fair chance he won’t get up. So who comes in for Spargo?

Laurie, Culley, Brown?

No way we bring in JVR off a good against a rabble. If we care about what’s best for him, we will let him regain some real form

A good question.

Surely Laurie gets a go.

4 hours ago, mauriesy said:

If both those games are wins, I think we've still got a good chance of making finals.

We win the next 2 we are 7-6 with 10 games to go.

Assuming a good injury list we are almost certainties for finals.

10 minutes ago, DubDee said:

If Viney is just returning to full training on friday, there’s a fair chance he won’t get up. So who comes in for Spargo?

Laurie, Culley, Brown?

No way we bring in JVR off a good against a rabble. If we care about what’s best for him, we will let him regain some real form

We’d probably start with Sharp in Spargo’s position if Jack doesn’t come up. The sub might be the player that gets the call up.

13 minutes ago, HazSharp30 said:

Koltyn?

Wasn't much against a very poor team in Preston last weekend.

I would start Sharp and use Viney as the sub (if fit). The midfield is humming without Viney.

I would like to see TMac replace Johnson. Daniel Hoyne from Champion Data just gave his analysis on SEN on the second ruck position and he said it’s not really important and that clubs would be better off just picking a better forward. Johnson lacks the skill required and his first step off the mark is too slow.

On 26/05/2025 at 16:32, doomsday dee said:

It does,play him in the forward 50 only,Spargo posi

I thought I saw Bowser playing in the middle for a few moments. Was I seeing things?

I think he'd be good there possibly anywhere but he's needed down back.

Reading most of the pondering of changes , there isn't much consideration or talk of Tmac.

Most of us were disappointed he was rested/ managed/ dropped and didn't hold back venting. But why now the silence?

Everyone here seems to be contemplating Jvr for AJ, a very tough call. After the replay I keep flip flopping . Viney of course always in and most likely as mentioned previously for Spargo. And probably the same role despite a waste of Viney's midfield prowess.

Lever was understandably rusty so do we continue hoping he gets to his best? Or swap for Tmac. I know Tommy has decided he can't play forward but we haven't really tested him on this.

Not that our forward line isn't going well but I always think of one goes down, despite Toms objections, we could always shift him there. So maybe he offers more versatility. It's as tough as the AJ / JVR conundrum.

And poor Jeffo with five goals at Casey maybe warrants consideration as an emergency. Not known for his ruck skill, I guess.

Who else in our twos is pushing for selection?

I'm keen to know our depth including injuries.

Who do we have currently not in the team fielded against Sydney that have a lot to offer. Only players that have already played in seniors prior, other than the four mentioned?

Thanks.

Edited May 27, 2025May 27 by leave it to deever

Anyone that disregards a Ross Lyon coach team and thinks its a walk in the park are kidding themselves.

They still have calibre in their team that we will need to play close attention too. Higgins, Sinclair, Steele, Wilkie, Marshall are still all high end talent.

Every game is crucial for us regardless of the opposition.

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

Whoever comes in for Spargo needs to replace his 5 tackles and 3 inside 50 tackles

I would guess Spargo would be leading us for inside 50 tackles which is a critical stat

Surprisingly and coincidentally enough, it is actually Viney who leads us for inside 50 tackles (per game), and by a fair margin.

Tholstrup second, then Melksham and Petracca, before Spargo comes in a close 5th.