Lil_red_fire_engine

I have had a rethink on this and we should not throw out the preferred key forward combo after one game when we were so poor coming inside 50. Nor should we suddenly decide TMac is a backman again. I still think though we want increased speed inside with Tmac and Brown forward. We also need some defensive mid cover and I would like to see Brayshaw back to the wingers club. No disrespect to Jones and Baker who were ok but I just think this gives better balance. Whatever occurs I would prefer to play Tomlinson on crutches than see Melksham again next week. Out Tomlinson, Melksham, Baker, Jones In Petty, Sparrow, Chandler. Harmes

Out Tomlinson Melksham Jones In Weid Sparrow Chandler I saw enough of TMac and Brown to think it won’t work and the Weid with Brown i my preferred combo. Tmac down back was good so try it and see before get to Petty. Jones was ok but we need the extra speed and that splits it with him out over Baker. I would be very surprised if Fritta gets more than a fine being the kid played out the game.

First half our midfield lacked the 2021 effort we expect and we seriously missed having Viney as the defensive stoppage mid. The forwardline was out of kilter which was not unexpected as they rejigger with Big Benny Brown. The backline was off focus and out of kilter seeing one their 7 go down and distraught. We then won the game with 15 minutes of 2021 Demons footy mainly thanks to LJ, Pickett and Langdon. Then Oliver, Lever and May made sure they didn’t open the door back up. Got it done. That’s what good teams do. Interested to see the changes next week to rebalance us and rid ourselves of Melksham who was putrid all game.

6. Fritsch 5. Langdon 4. Jackson 3. Pickett 2. Oliver 1. Lever

Some half time moves and an increase in work rate and we look a lot better. Great to see the kids in Koz and LJ lead the way. Now surely they dont come back out on their heels thinking its done? Surely...

No work ethic or intensity or leadership or structure, Expected to just show up and win just like most on this site expected as well. I will never trust this club.

Injuries you cant control. Work rate and intensity you can. Not much else to be said.

Whilst late outs are disappointing any sign of any level of soreness related or near his foot we need to back Viney off. Hopefully that is all it is. Interesting to select Baker over Jones even with the late out. Hopefully we don’t mess with Brayshaw on the wing just as he is getting it. I would prefer to see Pickett rotated through the pivot more with Melksham and have Baker play half forward and relieve as third winger. This is the challenge with Casey playing Thursday and us Sunday that I suspect if both were today Sparrow would have bee named emergency and been played. Instead he had to play Thursday to avoid missing a week without a full game of conditioning.

Some of their trades mirrors some of our 2009 draft misses. Everything is easier upon reflection. Worth noting Neale wanted out they did not push him.

The MFCSS in me says the cruellest of jokes would be to lose this week with low effort showboating and validate that this team will never be trusted ever. This week will show how well we reset and how ruthless we truly have become. Sometimes its harder to play at high intensity and stick to a plan when the resistance is lower and you drawn down in quality. I have seen us do it to teams many times over the years now the shoe is on the other foot. Hawks game a good example for 3 quarters of what that can look like. Suspect our quality and work rate will get us there in the end but expect some moments of MFCSS to occur at points. Best of luck to Benny Brown on his first of many games for the MFC. I suspect it will take a good month for him and team to connect well but just expect him to work hard and compete until it all clicks. The new rules and our improved ability to hit targets are made for a hard leading 200+cm player.

Assuming he is not named as sub does that not just raise the question of why he does not come straight back in the following week.

Last 2 rounds combined. It’s pretty clear cut. Jones 24 possessions 6 score involvements 13 pressure acts Melksham 22 possessions 11 score involvements 24 pressure acts He was rightly carried to 300 and I doubt he will get back in unless as sub.

I am impatient and find it frustrating having to wait but this was requested by clubst to let them name teams closer to when they play. It would be interesting to see how many less on the day changes have occurred since this was introduced last season vs prior years or whether limited impact.

Sparrow and Chandler excellent. Rosman and Bowey will both be quality players. Weid works hard between contests but needs to do similar for defensive efforts, should have kicked 6-7. No Baker, M Brown, Petty. I would not be surprised if we took all as travelling emergencies.

How about just dropping less impacting players for in form players that might impact in the right role? It is not like we dont have experience across the lines anymore. This is about getting a firing Brown in and I suggest the other player who will best complement. I dont think Harmes is a walk up inclusion off injury but could be wrong.

If C7 rumour is true and Jones and Melksham out then I would suggest its for Brown and a small likely Chandler or Bedford and now is the right time not wait until form wains or wedge it in when injury hits. Melksham has given little other than a few goals and involvements against the Hawks. Jones has been deservedly hanging on for 300 and whilst played his best of the season last week even that was at the low end of impact to others. We need to look to get Brown in and settled and counter balance this with more run and pressure (something Jones and Melksham add little to).

Spargo has low possessions but they are more likely to have strong impact he is a medium pressure act, medium to high ground coverage player. He is also the third banana in our pressure forward line which is a critical factor in our 6-0 start.There is no any we mess with our 3 pressure forward set up to bring in Brown or Weid. In fact I would argue they are likely to add a fourth banana in Chandler or Bedford to counter balance playing the extra tall.

We will not mess with our 3 pressure forwards. Brown is the only player outside our current side that must be brought in as we need to get him settled and once in will make us a better side. I also think if we want to get Brown in the team (which we should) then you need to remove one of Melksham/Fritsch and Jones/Jordon and also bring in another faster ground level player to counter balance. Jordon is playing more mid/forward than forward mid therefore whilst impacting stays. Jones played a satisfactory role this week and was probably his best game of the season thus far. However Jones body does not make him a 22 game player this year and if he is smart he will want to be there with a chance when the whips are cracking. Therefore I can see him being managed at times to get him through the year and playing in team or as sub when opportunity arises (which it will). Weid will need to bang the door down and show form that puts him passed TMac or Jackson. His VFL effort whilst ok this week was not even on par with the AFL impact of Jackson or TMac. In Brown, Chandler Out Melksham (sub), Jones (managed)

6. Salem 5. Petracca 4. TMac 3. ANB 2. Oliver 1. Hibberd

I reckon Sparrow did not play second half. Hope that does not mean a late change?

Yep, has made some poor execution errors and not been as involved as last week.

Tonight is a great test of how engrained is our team first role based style that has us sitting 5-0. Massive crowd, against the best team in a long time that rush at you defensively and offensively the natural instinct will be to try too hard and do too much. I will not be surprised to see our boys revert somewhat to bees at the honey pot, too many up etc.... Control that, bring the heat, take our chances and the champs may be ready to learn who might be coming for their mantle.

Great to get May and Fritta back. Fritsch being available was the unexpected that meant we did the right thing and did not bring in either of BBB or Weid. Why would you change the team structure when 5-0? Honour the players doing their job and playing their that got us here. Form lapse and injuries will occur and create chances at some point. Jackson whilst a key forward/ruck may not be kicking goals but he rarely lose an aerial contest and usually brings the ball down to a dangerous spot for our mids and smalls. The flexibility his role and athleticism gives us is one of the key reasons for our form and in particular our ability to MAXimise Gawn in varying ways.

Great ins and no need to rush back Weid or Brown and push out an undeserving player or messing with the team balance. Chandler for sub I would expect.