2 hours ago, wheaters31 said:

Jed Adams to debut this week

Fact or opinion??

Is Dan Butler available to kick another 4 or 5 against us? Or will it be a Higgins, Owens or Wood to kick a handful?

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

This is where I suppose an element of spectator assessments comes into play. It's everything in context. To me much of footy falls into the "no man is an island" focus. By this It's often more meaningful to appraise any act if taken as part of a group of actions and ultimately the result/no-result of that passage.

Salem's talent, imho, used to be that he could make a pretty good fist of seeing what was, or could, unfold upfield dependent upon his disposal. He often found a player or a space that put the ball to advantage and the opposition caught out of position or off guard. That subsequent disposal was often a scoring assist or a mark/free with shot on goal. He was very good at that.

I don't see this hardly any more. Salem's kicks ( invariably a kick, and not often a turnover as he can kick... one of the few ) now are more often to a VERY safe option. But that option seldom has much momentum potential.

Salem often start passages that were quick and fluid. Now the conundrum, is it this manner of play now that is of Christian's own doing or is it an absolute dearth of talent available to utilise his passes ? I really don't

When watching I used to get excited/intrigued when Salem had ball on half back going forward as I'd be thinking... something will happen here.

Now...I just wait for the 'safe' pass and stall in play.

Maybe just me.

I tend to look ahead and see what else is available for him. Generally it's SFA. Our midfield running patterns are deplorable, in both offence and on defensive transition

OUT: May (susp), Jefferson (omit), Tholstrup (omit), Sharp (omit)

IN: Adams, Johnson, Sparrow, Petty

Petty as sub and can replace either a fwd or back depending on how they’re performing. Johnson on the back of 5 goals in the VFL to provide the ruck chop-out with JVR used solely as a forward.

19 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

I’m curious as to what fans think about TC. Do people wonder why we got him as a backup for Max only to never use him?

I think a lot of people in decision-making positions at the start of the year thought we had the list and gameplan to comfortably return to finals. One obvious stumbling block would be if Gawn got injured. Having a very large, experienced ruck to break even was considered a sensible continency plan.

52 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Is Dan Butler available to kick another 4 or 5 against us? Or will it be a Higgins, Owens or Wood to kick a handful?

Thankfully Dan Butler (aka Cyril vs us) and Issac Keeler (aka Wayne Carey vs us) both aren't playing.

It'll be an interesting Judd McVee watch on Higgins though.

54 minutes ago, Go the Biff said:

I tend to look ahead and see what else is available for him. Generally it's SFA. Our midfield running patterns are deplorable, in both offence and on defensive transition

Sadly i have to agree. So much of our movement is actually to someone stationary . They may be an intended pass-off player but quite often becomes either a turnover or a dead end... game halts... opposition fall back and clog options ; not that we ever seem overly keen nor adept at such anyway.

There's now a hurry to move the ball but I'm damned often if I can perceive intelligence in what's happening. I think the savvy opposition coaching feasts upon this. Just pressure us and we'll cough it up at some point or just as bad bomb it. Maybe Salem just settles in his mind to do what he can. We certainly lack link men of skill.

I wonder if Petty comes in

I really want to see Disco play as a forward.

Jake is definitely on the way out given his age and next year will be his last.

I do hope he says on a coach. Especially with our fwds.

And I definitely want to see young Jeffo play every game . He is getting better and needs all the confidence he can get. Goody should sit him down and simply tell him no matter what...he is playing every week.

So if Turner goes fwd and Petty back in defence where he belongs who makes way?

Not sure. Roo probably needs to play to help Max but it's not enough to warrant selection every week. And while Roo has been better than Jefferson...he's had 50 more chances.

So Roo out or Petty out. I guess if May is suspended than problem solved.

2 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Thankfully Dan Butler (aka Cyril vs us) and Issac Keeler (aka Wayne Carey vs us) both aren't playing.

I definitely saw a a hybrid of Wayne Carey, Johnathan Brown and Gary Ablett Senior when we saw the brilliance of Isaac Keeler in the Alice. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to proven star forwards that get you on the day, as Keeler did to us.

1 hour ago, Previously known as LITD. said:

So Roo out or Petty out. I guess if May is suspended than problem solved.

May is out regardless with concussion.

Would prefer to keep JVR and Jeffo in the side but are they helping us beat these mediocre sides such as St Kilda, North (rd 2), Essendon and Carlton that is leaving our fan base disillusioned and angry after losses that we were expected to be wins?

Edited July 21Jul 21 by Bring-Back-Powell

3 hours ago, layzie said:

As much as confidence fluctuates in watching Jeffo at the moment I don't see any reason to drop him.

We have absolutely nothing left to lose this season and might as well get some games into him.

Agreed.

Petty should go back to replace May, and stay there as a permanent replacement for eventually Tmac who we know is retiring soon.

Play Jefferson and Roo together for the rest of the year and if you wanna go totally crazy being Kentfield in too.

The time to throw caution to the wind is now. Who here honestly cares if we win or lose the rest of the remaining games? (Of course we all want to beat the damn Pies)

I rather lose a different way than the same old way

It would be difficult not to play AJ this week. He was off the charts yesterday and looked a different level player post ankle clean up.

Listening to Max on triple M, I think Adams is a look this weekend

2 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

Listening to Max on triple M, I think Adams is a look this weekend

I agree - he said “there is a young defender who will probably play this week”. Around 6.24 in the clip:

1 minute ago, Heart Beats True said:

Good lord, then why on earth did we allow him to play when it was a clearly going to impact his performance?

Surely we could've brought in Howes and allowed Rivers to fill Petracca's role?

20 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

Good lord, then why on earth did we allow him to play when it was a clearly going to impact his performance?

Surely we could've brought in Howes and allowed Rivers to fill Petracca's role?

I 100% agree. If he was bedridden and very ill, why risk him? What did we benefit from by taking the risk?

31 minutes ago, Heart Beats True said:

Sorry....

Same bloke about whom fuss became 💩 central because he continued in a game when he oughtn't have ?? ( there's sill some contention it was his own doing going back out )

Now plays off a sick bed ??

Who is making all these dumb decisions??

My God we're a half baked club !!

50 minutes ago, Demon Jack said:

Good lord, then why on earth did we allow him to play when it was a clearly going to impact his performance?

Surely we could've brought in Howes and allowed Rivers to fill Petracca's role?

I see the inmates are still running the asylum. Why bother having fitness and medical staff when the players are going to do what they want anyway?

We've seen plenty of examples this year of players carrying injuries that have significantly impacted their performances - Lever, May and Viney are three obvious examples.

I get it to some extent if finals are on the line, but there is no benefit in playing unfit players in inconsequential games, particularly when we have fringe players desperate for an opportunity.

My super coach cares

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

Sorry....

Same bloke about whom fuss became 💩 central because he continued in a game when he oughtn't have ?? ( there's sill some contention it was his own doing going back out )

Now plays off a sick bed ??

Who is making all these dumb decisions??

My God we're a half baked club !!

This would have been 100% Petracca's decision. The Drs would have asked him if he was feeling well enough to play and he would have put his hand up and said yes.

I can think of at least two other occasions where Trac has played with the flu. Some players decide they can't pay and some push themselves through it. It's how Crisp and Stynes get to ridiculous consecutive match streaks.

5 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

This would have been 100% Petracca's decision. The Drs would have asked him if he was feeling well enough to play and he would have put his hand up and said yes.

I can think of at least two other occasions where Trac has played with the flu. Some players decide they can't pay and some push themselves through it. It's how Crisp and Stynes get to ridiculous consecutive match streaks.

Thats my point..

It should not be Tracs decision.

I'll actually be down in Melbourne for this game. Where will the majority of Dees fans be sitting at Marvel? Not been to a game down in Melbourne in an eternity!

We're going to get smashed.

29 minutes ago, BLWNBA said:

We're going to get smashed.

Can never say never, but if we get smashed by a bottom 4 side with 12 premiership players we are looking at a very, very long decade ahead. Saints arent much chop to be spanking teams.

Jefferson is going to have a break out game one of these weeks. He knows how to lead and find space. Much better option to kick to than petty or jvr imo.