Lil_red_fire_engine

Those that say. Melksham wont get dropped should consider he has been once this season already. Goody’s comments on radio confirmed he is not in form and had a quiet game. There is also no way we dont bring Lingers in. I do wonder on the postage stamp ground that is Sydney whether we consider playing one less tall. I cant see anyway that Lingers does not play and the omission is not one of Melksham or Weid for the one change.

We were beaten in the first half by a very good team who we will likely meet when the whips are cracking. However these demons have a resilience and determination of a rare team that hates to lose rather than loves to win. Some of the best hard nose attacking footy you will see in the second half typified by the TMac snap in the last and the chain of running handballs that led to it. We are giving ourselves every chance at the pointy end. More importantly we have a list balanced with mature quality, elites coming into their prime and exciting youth across every line giving ourselves every chance over the next 3-5 years. Well played number 5, number 11 and number 9.

Melksham out for Lingers. I would persevere with Weid as whilst he is not having the expected direct impact our forwardline seems to function better. I also think the SCG is not the ground to bring BBB in as I suggest him and T will get in each other’s way.

TMac has returned to his best footy. The three mini maestro’s in Pickett, Spargo and ANB are it for mine being they were in the side but not playing at this level.

6.Trac 5. Gawn 4.Oliver 3. TMac 2. Spargo 1. Harmes

Except he plays 70% game time only and that’s not on a wing which requires a larger repeat sprint engine than the centre. Has the tools but not the endurance I suggest in saying that no one does so I suggest Baker in and Jordon spends some time there as well.

The other option is Harmes goes to McLuggage on the wing and Sparrow comes in to the midfield rotation.

I assume people realise we play a role based game its one in one out. Baker and Rosman play the wings at VFL. Baker was named MFC best player behind Caseys Munro in their last game with a 26 possession game on the wing. I would argue he got 70% of his possessions in the defensive half. It’s Langdon for Baker with Melksham on watch again for me.

No change

6. Harmes 5. Lever 4. Oliver 3. Brayshaw 2. May 1. Spargo

You stop the damage of Danger and Oliver as they move outside the contest. Libba rarely gets any ball that is not inside. I would be looking at how best to stop their connection outside the first possession and would sit someone on Smith or McRae. Hibberd gets Bont when he pushes forward.

How do you tag him? He plays completely inside the contest?

You dont tag Libba he is an extractor in the contest and would be close to untaggable. We play accountable midfield we don't usually tag and that should continue. If anyone should have the close check its Daniels and if so it should be the only reason Melksham stays in the side.

After watching the VFL (Thanks Swans YouTube) there is no way Weid should be omitted for 4 touch Benny Brown. In saying that whilst the delivery was not great I thought his game on the weekend was poor in application. I would actually go smaller this week regardless, similar to the set up we had early in the season. I know he can be sketchy with his kicking but I really like the speed and pressure that Bedford brings and this would be the week to try it if we go smaller. Sparrow was serviceable today (not as good as he has been) but gives us more depth this week through the middle. Out Jetta, Melksham, Weid In: Salem, Sparrow, Bedford.

And started tinkering with our forward set up when Brown and Weid became available. I am starting to believe a forward set up with TMac, Jackson and Fritsch with more smalls and runners will end up the preferred.

No. This is a team that I want to play to win not eek out a draw. If you think that would have been the best play to create a goal opportunity then I agree.

Out: Jetta, Weid, Melksham, Too early to call on ins lets see who puts a hand up at Casey today. Reading this weeks pressers Salem expected, Viney not this week. I am torn between do we replace/retain Weid with Brown or bring in another runner and go back to TMac, Jackson, Fritsch surrounded by smalls, particularly on the fast deck of Marvel.

Nothings ever as good or as bad as it seems. We were off but it was not through lack of effort. If anything it came through over trying at times. They played out of their skin and we lost by 1 point with two appalling umpiring decisions that should have gone our way that get 1 of them and we still win. No Salem, May having his worst game of the year and Jetta and Hunt not adding anything defensive or offensive really meant we struggled with the way they moved it forward at all costs and how we countered. Our forward line connection just did not work, too much bombing and limited leading yet we still kicked a strong score. Jordon and Harmes were down on recent weeks which left too much to Trac and Oliver granted Oliver nearly won it on his own. You cant play Melksham and Fritsch in the same forward line and two tall forwards with Jackson and play a forward half game. The season will ebb and flow its what you learn when it ebbs and how you react to it which will have the biggest say over our season in the end.

The lack of pressure from the mids and high half forwards is the problem more than those missing from the backline.

We are a touch off with our defensive effort and just bombing it forward of 50. Crows are up and about and outnumbering us at the ball. All that and its level pegging. Lets see if we come out a different team in the second half.

First game of the year truely at the oppositions interstate home ground. Important to get a strong start unlike most other games we have played and give them no crowd support or confidence. Feels like the type of game where you have one eye on next week already but hope not the case. Hoping we continue our full team defence focus, get some dominance back at the clearances and Weid takes his chance.

I just dont think he’s very good.

Jackson is a better ground ball and pressure player than Melksham who Chandler replaced, Chandler had limited score, ball or pressure impact. I think we get too caught up on height and should be more about what they do. It would be ballsy but I am not against look at Chandler for Jackson and playing LJ as a high half forward, back up ruck and roll him through midfield. He is great below his knees, mobile and adds pressure. We would need to have an approach that keeps him high and the key talls deep to derisk multiple going up in contest but I dont think its out of the question. The more likely assumption will be Weid but I reckon they will be keen to look at the TMac, Weid, Jackson, Fritsch dynamic at some point and would not discount a BBB omission. You would think Brown and Weid were on level par last week so hard to agree that Brown more deserving of the slot.

His execution needed to improve (that patch where he had 3-4 clangers was putrid) but you also noted how many attacks he cut off when he did and didn’t get the ball? Who on our list do you suggest has suddenly worked out how to play the defensive wing position? His role has become critical to why teams cant play quick against us or switch easily.

With our 3 tall forwards Gawn offers more one kick behind the ball and not getting in the way.