Lil_red_fire_engine

6 Langford 5 Chandler 4 Turner 3 Langdon 2 K Pickett 1 Tholstrup

Onley may be the worst field kick on an AFL list. You can clearly see with his size and speed how he made it to rookie.

If Fritsch doesn't get up which I assume from Captains run is the potential out, we'll have more than 900 games experience out compared to last week.

Is Cross out there and with which group? If he is right to play (which seems earlier than the injury list suggest) I would bring him in rather than another tall kin Kentfield or Henderson (who needs more exposed form).

Glass half full. If you take the side that played the Suns and ignore last week’s mess, it’s basically 773 games out for 186 in (with 175 of those from Fritta). Truthfully, I don’t think we lose a heap of recent impact beyond experience. TMac is a step or two off it, Salem’s been getting it without hurting sides, and while Melksham had a day out against the Suns, I’d still take Fritsch for role and upside and I'm adamant you can't play both. Lindsay’s form has been patchy and Jefferson preseason and VFL form deserves a look. We get Petty back where he belongs, and an in-form Moose to support Gawn and potentially cameo forward. My concern is the shift in the balance of the side, particularly our small and half backs for bounce and to contain Cameron, Lohmann, Rayner, Bailey. Bring the same energy, intensity and execution from the Suns game against the champs and it’s a genuine free swing. Let's see if and where it lands.

opinion, fact or rumour?

6 goals back at the G gives you some cred but not for much longer. Not helped by the lack of consistency to build form or match fitness for Luker or AJ or lesser extent Heath with the bye riddled VFL start to the season.

Love a Dee debut and the kid just has a swagger about him that I love. Will be interested to see who else makes way and who else comes in. I won't be surprised if they line him up on Cameron first up and I dont think the kid would be overawed.

I like your changes but why say managed with TMac and Melksham unless you are saying they won't play Casey as well and you are bringing them back in the week after. They were both poor and now that they have deservingly made 250 need to move to being solid back ups if required and nothing more.

There is no point dropping players unless you have players to bring in in better form, application or strategic fit. Heath is the only one banging the door down in a role we dont need to change. Kentfield and Jefferson may be deserving but who knows with such limited VFL exposure so far. There is also no point making wholesale changes off one loss when we were so good the 6 quarters before. Things I do know. We need to move past TMac back and get Petty in a defensive post. We need an answer to the second ruck forward role. Can be Petty (back) or JVR (forward or Casey). We were too immobile forward you cant play Fritsch and Melksham. You can’t make wholesale midfield changes when you have no mids to bring in.

6 K Pickett 5 Howes 4 Disco 3 Steele 2 Gawn 1 Sharp

Very much so. We were too top heavy this week. Laurie was stiff to be dropped last week. Petty goes back for TMac and Kentfield plays forward/ruck. Laurie replaces Melksham as a high half forward. Rivers/AMW replaces Salem. Did not think it that complicated.

Out: TMac, Melksham, Salem, In: Kentfield, Laurie, Rivers (if not ready AMW)

How could they have such work rate both ways and attack with the ball and at the man and then put up that. Great to see TMac and Melksham to 250 but they both need to go (Salem not far behind). Lindsay, Windsor, Culley too reactive and just waited timidly for Essendon to win the ball. JVR has used most of the tickets he built up round 1. Our lack of shifting to a man on man to stop there short kicks and also the lack of manning up Robert’s both poor from a coaching viewpoint. How King and we respond next week will be interesting to watch.

Far from the problem today.