7 hours ago, Turner said:

its absolutely shameless by simon

sparrow spargo petty in

sharp kolt may out

i dont get it, have any of them done enough to come back in, not really you have to say.i hope petty is down back and stays there and mcdonald goes out when mays back.

spargo and sparrow get gifted games like no one else and with no repurcussions anymore, sharp genuinely offers more than them both and hits the scoreboard more regularly

and honestly why did we recruit culley and henderson in preseason to play them for 0 and 5 games, if theyre so not at the level and youve had one of them training for preseason and has 4 years afl experience and the other is 25 with years of exposed vfl form, you just have to get those picks right who impact at afl level otherwise why are we not adding two more 18 year olds who we can actually develop to be better players in 12 months than they are now

I'm not convinced Petty comes in for May. I think Howes is more likely given St Kilda's relatively small forward line.

34 minutes ago, poita said:

If the coach has any considerations other than saving his job he would give Culley and Adams a go this week.

.....

Why do you and many others assume that not playing such players is proof that Goodwin is just trying to save his job? Surely given where we now are, playing them would be just what would be expected of a coach. And thus what a coach desperate to hang onto his job would do. Another win or 2 clearly won't do much to help him keep his job.

So you could equally assume the coach has good reasons not to play them rather than that he is just trying to save his job.

Of course, earlier in the season when there was some remote chance of finals it might be reasonable to say he is just saving his job by not playing them. But imagine if we lost what could have been season defining games and the new players had played badly. The pile on would then be 'why did we play them - they were not ready and now the season is down the toilet'. A coach can't win.

Petty wasn't even in the best for Casey last week in a 100 point win. Meanwhile, Kentfield and AJ dominate, and in the case of Kentfield have done so for weeks, and cannot get a look in when our season is completely dead. The selection comittee baffles me and has done for the best part of three years. We always stick to the status quo. Change it up!

5 minutes ago, sue said:

Why do you and many others assume that not playing such players is proof that Goodwin is just trying to save his job ?

..

Fair question.

It could also be he's just not doing it too well ???

Saints will flood our forward area preventing us from scoring and they will score on the rebound.

In other words in soccer parlance they will park the bus.

The usual counter is that we give them our forward 50 and play from the 75 metre line with low incisive entries. Bombing high balls is useless to say the least.

2 completely irrelevant sides going head to head. Beautiful 3:15 Sunday time slot.

Dees selection, should see the unusual suspects in, for the same ones out.

Game is tipped to be as bland as baby food..

Saints to beat the Dees with what we already know, Goodwin to give a masterclass in unimaginative football and our leaders to continue to lead from behind.

Saints by 19

I reckon we sort of missed Sparrow last week. The guy's not a world beater but he provides an outlet as a high half forward that can take a good contested mark on the wing to the 50m arc. He also bobs up for a 45-50 metre set shot goal on occasion.

You know we've fallen to pretty deep depths of despair when most supporters are confidently predicting a St Kilda win.

Go big. Hold off on Sparrow but bring the rest in

In: Spargo, Howes, Adams, Petty, Culley
Out: May, Tholstrup, Sharp, Langdon, McDonald

3 hours ago, beelzebub said:

He can still move clubs.

My gut feeling he won't be at Melbourne in 26. Chances are he'll ask for a trade. Not much more he can do in the 2s for no reward.

Sadly true, just needs to be given an opportunity to play in the centre if that is his best position. Not good playing players out of position when bring them up.

2 hours ago, sue said:

Why do you and many others assume that not playing such players is proof that Goodwin is just trying to save his job? Surely given where we now are, playing them would be just what would be expected of a coach. And thus what a coach desperate to hang onto his job would do. Another win or 2 clearly won't do much to help him keep his job.

So you could equally assume the coach has good reasons not to play them rather than that he is just trying to save his job.

Of course, earlier in the season when there was some remote chance of finals it might be reasonable to say he is just saving his job by not playing them. But imagine if we lost what could have been season defining games and the new players had played badly. The pile on would then be 'why did we play them - they were not ready and now the season is down the toilet'. A coach can't win.

Save his job/stay on-side with senior players. Too afraid to make calls because of the potential fall-out with particular players.

I think there is plenty of evidence to suggest both.

As supporters and experts in the media have questioned, why does he continue to run with the same midfield brigade so often if we're not getting desired results, AND if some of those players are simply not cutting it at the level?

Where is the accountability?

Isn't it interesting that we looked far better balanced and performed better as a side when Viney was out with concussion and Oliver was given a run with role?

He's back in. With Oliver. With Petracca. For what?

He's [censored] scared of rubbing Viney the wrong way if he drops him. And Viney simply cannot play forward.

This is the problem when you have a relationships coach first and foremost. The bias is unbelievable.

Why won't he throw one of McVee, Windsor or Bowey forward to help with our inside 50 ball use?

I don't think any Melbourne supporter would care if we blooded some untried players to see what they've got. I mean, we're getting the same results with the same players in the same positions right now. What could be worse? Well for Goody, clearly his job and clearly his relationship with certain senior players. That's how I see it.

And I disagree that another win or two won't help keep his job. Of course it will. That's how these things work and history suggests as much.

So it's all part of it.

He is too afraid.

Edited July 25Jul 25 by Howard_Grimes

39 minutes ago, Howard_Grimes said:

Save his job/stay on-side with senior players. Too afraid to make calls because of the potential fall-out with particular players.

I think there is plenty of evidence to suggest both.

As supporters and experts in the media have questioned, why does he continue to run with the same midfield brigade so often if we're not getting desired results, AND if some of those players are simply not cutting it at the level?

Where is the accountability?

Isn't it interesting that we looked far better balanced and performed better as a side when Viney was out with concussion and Oliver was given a run with role?

He's back in. With Oliver. With Petracca. For what?

He's [censored] scared of rubbing Viney the wrong way if he drops him. And Viney simply cannot play forward.

This is the problem when you have a relationships coach first and foremost. The bias is unbelievable.

Why won't he throw one of McVee, Windsor or Bowey forward to help with our inside 50 ball use?

I don't think any Melbourne supporter would care if we blooded some untried players to see what they've got. I mean, we're getting the same results with the same players in the same positions right now. What could be worse? Well for Goody, clearly his job and clearly his relationship with certain senior players. That's how I see it.

And I disagree that another win or two won't help keep his job. Of course it will. That's how these things work and history suggests as much.

So it's all part of it.

He is too afraid.

There seems to be a contradiction in what you say unless I missed something. Is he saving his job or favouring certain players for no good team reason? Seems to me one contradicts the other.

1 hour ago, Howard_Grimes said:

Isn't it interesting that we looked far better balanced and performed better as a side when Viney was out with concussion and Oliver was given a run with role?

He's back in. With Oliver. With Petracca. For what?

He's [censored] scared of rubbing Viney the wrong way if he drops him. And Viney simply cannot play forward.

That's a good point you make about Viney.

Three of our four genuinely good performances of the year came against Brisbane, Sydney and Collingwood and Viney was absent in all of those games.

He's then brought back in for the Port game, and the club regresses (who could forgot the dumb [censored] 50 he gave away to ruin all our momentum)

Are we any chance of a training report today? I see Kalani White was there, so possibly gets a game for Casey again?

I see Tholstrup as playing the Viney role. He should train similar to Vines and rotate week about with him to provide a chop out when Viney needs a longer rehabilitation and introduce Tholstrup to the A game.

If we are in transition we should be playing the next generation against St Kilda with a core of experience to guide them.

Trac Clarrie Kozzie and Max are true big game specialists and I would be ensuring they are cherry ripe for the Pies game. WE should be managing all players so that the best squad from the list is on the ground that day. Wether that means playing them into form or resting them to peak thats what should be done.

1 hour ago, sue said:

There seems to be a contradiction in what you say unless I missed something. Is he saving his job or favouring certain players for no good team reason? Seems to me one contradicts the other.

They go hand in hand. I don't think there's any contradiction.

Goodwin favours playing certain senior players, (regardless of form) over blooding younger players both in key positions of the ground and/or in any other role/position.

Viney was a case in point. We were performing better without him. Oliver last year as well.

It took an eternity for him to drop Fritsch.

The inconsistency in who is dropped based on form is wild and all over the place.

When are final sides announced??

Tonight around 5:30pm on the Dees website or 6:30pm on AFL website.

59 minutes ago, Howard_Grimes said:

They go hand in hand. I don't think there's any contradiction.

Goodwin favours playing certain senior players, (regardless of form) over blooding younger players both in key positions of the ground and/or in any other role/position.

Viney was a case in point. We were performing better without him. Oliver last year as well.

It took an eternity for him to drop Fritsch.

The inconsistency in who is dropped based on form is wild and all over the place.

I think it is indeed contradictory to say he plays favourites (which you dislike because it leads to sub-optimum teams being selected and lost games) and at the same time say he's trying to win games to save his job. You don't win games and save your job by playing players who shouldn't be played.

I think the issue is timing - at what point do you throw in the towel for playing finals versus playing new players who may or may not be ready for it etc. That is a difficult decision. But simply accusing the coach (and playing committee) of playing favourites/job saving is a bit over the top, especially without insider knowledge.

2 hours ago, dpositive said:

I see Tholstrup as playing the Viney role. He should train similar to Vines and rotate week about with him to provide a chop out when Viney needs a longer rehabilitation and introduce Tholstrup to the A game.

If we are in transition we should be playing the next generation against St Kilda with a core of experience to guide them.

Trac Clarrie Kozzie and Max are true big game specialists and I would be ensuring they are cherry ripe for the Pies game. WE should be managing all players so that the best squad from the list is on the ground that day. Wether that means playing them into form or resting them to peak thats what should be done.

Thing is, we dont need another Viney type player..

Adams or Howes to come in for May. Given the Saints line up and VFL form, I'd bring in Howes, but a tough call

Sparrow for Kolt is an easy decision

Spargo or Culley in for Sharp. I'd personally go for Culley but both played well at Casey

I'd also bring in Petty for Jefferson as he looks well out of his depth at AFL level (6 clangers from 9 touches). I wouldn't want to damage his confidence any further

So IN - Howes Sparrow Culley Petty

OUT - May, Kolt, Sharp, Jeffo

2 hours ago, BigBadBustling said:

Are we any chance of a training report today? I see Kalani White was there, so possibly gets a game for Casey again?

When training’s at Casey it’s a closed session, therefore no training report ☹️

7 hours ago, Trident22 said:

Petty wasn't even in the best for Casey last week in a 100 point win. Meanwhile, Kentfield and AJ dominate, and in the case of Kentfield have done so for weeks, and cannot get a look in when our season is completely dead. The selection comittee baffles me and has done for the best part of three years. We always stick to the status quo. Change it up!

yeah we've only debuted 7 players and dropped senior players (T Mac, Fristch).

Moved many players into different positions (Windsor, Sparrow, Turner)

Change it up!?

In: Sparrow, Spargo, Howes, Petty

Out: May, Tholstrup, Sharp, Jefferson

Dropping Jefferson for Petty is just classic.

FFS leave Jefferson in and give some guys like Adams and Culley a shot. Our selection committee is a complete joke. The season is gone hence let’s see if some young guys are up to it. Petty for Jefferson is prime Goodwin.