1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

Dunno... we know what Jeffo can ( or can't do )

Try Kentfield. See if he's competitive at AFL level.

Got to start evaluating the list in real conditions... just mo

To be fair, Jeffo did do a couple of nice things in the game and did put in a bit of an effort - he was generally out bodied and out positioned by a (more experienced) defender.

Giving him more time at the top flight will help him learn and develop. There is possibly a correlation between his presence and JVRs best game in ages too.

Honestly, I wouldnt mind Jeffo, JVR and Kentfield all in the team.

1 minute ago, D Rev said:

To be fair, Jeffo did do a couple of nice things in the game and did put in a bit of an effort - he was generally out bodied and out positioned by a (more experienced) defender.

Giving him more time at the top flight will help him learn and develop. There is possibly a correlation between his presence and JVRs best game in ages too.

Honestly, I wouldnt mind Jeffo, JVR and Kentfield all in the team.

Let's try that.

I mean, why not.

25 is dead. We're practicing for 26 now

17 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Also think Jeffo is getting judged a little harshly. He hit 2 targets inside 50 today (JVR and Kolt for the unpaid free kick) which alone puts him ahead of most of the side. Give him one more against a lesser opposition.

This absolutely. Also with a Kossie goal assist out of a contest.

Time to drop another premiership hero to send the senior players a message. We can't just coast through the season like it doesn't matter.

Salem would be my choice.

Jefferson must be dropped on complete lack of effort.

Bring in some pace. Brown and Windsor.

1 hour ago, D Rev said:

Honestly, I wouldnt mind Jeffo, JVR and Kentfield all in the team.

Or even Petty Jeffo and Roo together.

Jeffo is more of a third tall than he is a key position forward. He’s a good user of the ball and quite agile. I can see him playing more of the Fritsch role.

I am dropping Fritsch this week, for his distinct lack of effort for the past god knows how many games, and bringing another tall and playing Jeffo as a third tall.

I am not sure he gives us less effort than Fritsch at the moment anyway.

1 hour ago, The Taciturn Demon said:

I agree on Jefferson.

When JVR was in the ruck, Jefferson esentially became the bailout target. That's a very difficult role for any 21 year old and basically impossible for a bloke who, if he makes it, will surely be a second or third tall forward. I'd give him games, too, and I'd do anything I could to make sure he's the third banana.

Laurie is built like a forward pocket, but without much speed I wonder if he's a small-midfielder-or-bust type. I'd love to see him get three or for full games (not the sub), but play at least some time in the middle. I just don't see that happening in a system that constantly goes back to Oliver, Viney, Petracca and (rightly) Pickett.

Agree. Remember too that, with almost everyone available, our Round 1 side had JVR, Jeffo and AJ in it. AJ took the relief ruck, so we never were down to just Jeffo.

Laurie has to be a midfielder given the time he spends there at Casey. I don’t think his speed, size or spread will ever allow him to compete at AFL level but we all deserve to see him played before we confirm that.

I’d bring Laurie in with a view to giving him midfield time for 3 or 4 games

I don’t think he’s got the pace to be a half forward but maybe he has something to offer as a smaller midfielder who is good by foot

It won’t happen though

Edited July 7, 2025Jul 7 by demoncat

13 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Or even Petty Jeffo and Roo together.

Jeffo is more of a third tall than he is a key position forward. He’s a good user of the ball and quite agile. I can see him playing more of the Fritsch role.

I am dropping Fritsch this week, for his distinct lack of effort for the past god knows how many games, and bringing another tall and playing Jeffo as a third tall.

I am not sure he gives us less effort than Fritsch at the moment anyway.

Fritsch efforts ...or lack of cannot be accepted. Must be dropped....and not just for 1 game

Need to find out about a few and give opportunities, lets see what some of them are made of.....

1. Jeffo and JVR - leave in team for rest of season. Petty in also so Jeffo can be played as 3rd tall and take pressure off.

2. Adams must be given an opportunity - in for Lever (if injured)

3. Windsor - In for rest of season off half bank flank (retain Salem but play him as a distributor off bench either HF or HB)

4. Fritsch - Out - as long as necessary

5. Petracca - play mainly as half forward 65/35 - mid field split

6. Roll the following through midfield - Langford, Laurie, Windsor, Rivers, Sparrow, Salem, Lindsay, McVee (on top of tracs, Clarry, Koz and Viney)

Tholstrup, Sharp, Howes - spend rest of season in 2's and only call up in case of injury, along with Spargo, Billings, Johnson,

Edited July 7, 2025Jul 7 by BScotti

32 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Or even Petty Jeffo and Roo together.

Jeffo is more of a third tall than he is a key position forward. He’s a good user of the ball and quite agile. I can see him playing more of the Fritsch role.

I am dropping Fritsch this week, for his distinct lack of effort for the past god knows how many games, and bringing another tall and playing Jeffo as a third tall.

I am not sure he gives us less effort than Fritsch at the moment anyway.

On light of what Red spoke of elsewhere possibly the trio of Petty , Roo and Jeffo has the greatest possibility of getting up. I don't know that any combo will make much of a difference though unless we change how we play in the front arc.

I'd like to see Petty take the biggest defender. I don't care who the opposition put their gorilla on but I'd like to see Petty take him irrespectively causing the cascade effect. Neither Roo , nor especially Jeffo are geared for it. Fritsch isn't a tall anyway. You could leave him in or not. I prefer Milky to Fritta .. You know #18 will put in all day.

Reality is we're just mucking around and seeing what/ who might click. Thats about it .

Very important they keep separation when ball brought down. We make it far too easy for opposition to defend currently.

End of the day we're doing not much more than playing out the year.

Every game's a dead rubber here on in really.

46 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Or even Petty Jeffo and Roo together.

Jeffo is more of a third tall than he is a key position forward. He’s a good user of the ball and quite agile. I can see him playing more of the Fritsch role.

I am dropping Fritsch this week, for his distinct lack of effort for the past god knows how many games, and bringing another tall and playing Jeffo as a third tall.

I am not sure he gives us less effort than Fritsch at the moment anyway.

Good point, I wasn't sure if Petty was fit too play. He's definitely in front of Luker.

Given his age, you'd like to think that Jeffo has more upside and potential than Fritta. Fritta as sub seems to be his best role and he is a better player than Sharp.

Sorry, seen enough of Jefferson to know he ain’t it. Slow, soft and just not up to AFL standard. It’s Weideman all over again unfortunately.

If the FD thinks Kentfield is up to it then happy to see how he goes at AFL level, otherwise Petty to come in for Jeffo.

Spargo in for Tholstrup and surely Windsor is a better option than Sharp.

20 hours ago, Deesprate said:

Nth could start favourites let that sink in.

Can’t believe they are paying over $4. 🤣🤣🤣

We saw it halfway through the second. As soon as Adelaide woke up and ramped up the contested pressure in and around the ball, we went to water.

North won’t be fearing us and know this is a game they can win. If they ramp up the pressure from the first bounce, we better be ready to counter.

Should we play Petty and van Rooyen in the same forward line, I'd rather see Petty undertake the relief ruck role. I don't think he'll be any better than van Rooyen - he may even be worse - but I'd just like to see van Rooyen playing all his game time permanently as a forward.

4 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Or even Petty Jeffo and Roo together.

Jeffo is more of a third tall than he is a key position forward. He’s a good user of the ball and quite agile. I can see him playing more of the Fritsch role.

I am dropping Fritsch this week, for his distinct lack of effort for the past god knows how many games, and bringing another tall and playing Jeffo as a third tall.

I am not sure he gives us less effort than Fritsch at the moment anyway.

I agree with this in that I think Jeffo plays the same role as Fritsch, despite being taller.

I think he needs two other talls (including relief ruck) so that he can drift around and do his thing, not battle their no. 1 forward.

I do wonder if he could play the defensive aerial forward role on opposition interceptors; he does seem to do a good job of bringing the ball to ground to crumb.

33 minutes ago, Demonland said:

At least we have May this time around. He missed that round 2 debacle against them, as did Melksham.

Lord help my mental health if we lose to this rabble again!

I'd like to think we win this.

North will be missing LDU, Wardlaw, Corr, Darling and Archer whom are all best 22.

However, if Larkey and/or Xerri both miss (which you probably plan for them to play), then that's absolutely gifting us a win considering North are the third worst side in the league.

I don't know where we go from here if we lose to a depleted North potentially headlined by Xerri, Larkey, LDU and Wardlaw.

*edit* - Darling probably gets up

Edited July 7, 2025Jul 7 by Bring-Back-Powell

It's a sad indictment on where we're at right now that there is some relief in some of NORTH MELBOURNE'S most important players not playing this weekend. Typically an exercise reserved for playing a top four team, when you're a rabble of course.

That said, if we lose to them again I may need to commit myself at the Rancho Relaxo or something like that.

RELEASE THE BIG KAHOUNA KENTFIELD

Gee a possible win against North takes me back to the mid/ late sixties

would be the most Melbourne thing ever to lose to one of the worse teams in the comp with out their 3 all aus players

3 hours ago, VNightCityLegend said:

Can’t believe they are paying over $4. 🤣🤣🤣

We saw it halfway through the second. As soon as Adelaide woke up and ramped up the contested pressure in and around the ball, we went to water.

North won’t be fearing us and know this is a game they can win. If they ramp up the pressure from the first bounce, we better be ready to counter.

I have been burnt backing the Roos recently. I want to believe in Norf —they’ve got some blokes who can seriously play. But their Achilles’ heel? They [censored] the bed for no reason. Like, no heat, no pressure, and they still find a way to implode. Their odds are like a gift—only they come with skid marks and regrets.

For me, ins are Petty and Howes if they both get up. Howes was good for a couple of games before GCS. Time to play Petty, JVR and Jeffo as the tall forwards for a few weeks. Give Jeffo a chance with the 3rd/4th defender.

Outs would be Sharp and Fritsch, if not Tholstrup. Whoever out of those two stays would be sub. Other option would be to drop all three and bring back Windsor, pleasing that he had seven tackles for Casey (just stats, didn’t see the game).