Lil_red_fire_engine

I have a feeling that Jones may have been playing a defensive forward role on Crisp. I would like him to do similar on Daniel. JJ may get the run but Daniel is their architect. The more I think about this the more I would go with Gawn/Pruess combo over Tmac, particularly with Ryder/Marshall the following week. I would prefer to see us balance the load on Max for the season as well as continue to have a true ruck inside 50 stoppages. It would be different if TMac was moving better and clunking them but I think we will get a similar output in those spaces with the big Preusster or Max resting forward. 6 day break should not need to see anyone managed other than maybe Sparrow if he is feeling it. Gawn for Tmac or no change for mine.

Disagree. I will back our mids in over theirs. Play accountable but take them head on.,

If Max is ready I reckon they may seriously consider dropping TMac and maintaining the big Preusster as the second ruck forward. He is definitely getting around the ground better for longer and would offer a true chopout and less game time reliance on Gawn. As the second forward (which TMac is only doing the bare minimum of) he just needs to get the ball to ground in 50 and would offer a true ruck for inside 50 stoppages for us to control. I reckon it will be well discussed during the week.

We appeared to maximise Brayshaw and Oliver in the middle and rotate Viney, Trac and Sparrow through half forward as the third.

It doesn’t matter who we beat the last 3 weeks it is how we have beaten them and the momentum of belief this is creating in the players. As Trac said post game, these are wins built on defence and out working the opposition. That is then translating into big scores as the game breaks and the opposition tires. We seem to have the balance right in structure in defence, attack and midfield. Trac and Oliver have realised their talent on the inside is not to get the ball to someone 3 metres away but to power out themselves. This is allowing others to back them in and spread earlier knowing they will at worst halve the contest. Weideman is realising and relishing his role as the number one forward target. Steven May is showing confidence in his body and those around him and smashing anything in his path. Langdon’s selfless running is starting to get rewarded as we use the width of the ground more and look too take best option. I have worries about the inefficiency of Harmes, Jones (better suited at half forward) and AVB but they are all playing their roles in different parts of the ground and as role players that role first vs occasional mishap will occur. Lots to like and lots to build on if the players keep believing that this is what hard work and team defence brings you.

Preuss showed enough tonight for us to wait until Gawn is truly ready, there is no need to rush him back. Harmes and Jones are the two that worry me the most, Sparrow is doing a good job but had lesser impact and may be worth a rotation to blood Jordon or shift Harmes into the midfield and Rivers to the back half. Will ee who gets called out in the scratch that we also won well before I decide but would not surprised if we go unchanged.

6. Oliver 5. Langdon 4. Petracca 3. May 2. Hibberd 1. Spargo

The contest is closer than the half time score suggests. The Melbourne way would be to come out and think the result will look after itself. Need to get the first couple and push on, best way to to blunt their clearances a touch and control the ball a bit more. Great first halves by Oliver.Langdon and Spargo in particular. Reset. Go again

Right decision to unleash Preuss, this is exactly why we have him as insurance. At worst he will make a banged up Grundy even more battered and soften him for periods TMac needs to go in against he or Cameron. I would have played Rivers ahead of Jones or AVB as surely a fumbly Harmes comes out of the backline and locks in on Sidebottom. Keen to see how we use Viney to allow Brayshaw’s continued momentum and hope to see Weid continue his promising form. Amazed that they dropped Stephenson who we generally struggle for a match up on.

Preuss for Jackson and Lockhart for Rivers like for like replacement. Viney for Hannan hopefully means Viney will rotate more through forward 50 and Brayshaw can continue to maximise his centre square time. Ecstatic no Stephenson has a habit of killing us.

Surely Preuss plays. I understand he played his first scratch last week but by all reports was good. He is a brute, had a great preseason and they are shortened quarters. Assuming no Gawn and with LJ out we are surely not going in without any actual ruckman. Worst case he bangs up Grundy to make it easier for TMac when he relieves.

Jack should play as high half forward to in the right games pushes to the stoppage as an additional midfielder. That aside he would be one of the best pressure specialists in the game and would maximise our inside 50 containment. It also minimises impact on his body for second half of year and shorter turnarounds. This to me is a fab 2020 idea as all 4 horseman will be needed once we get back to standard quarter lengths in 2021.

I will not be able to appreciate him until I watch him from my wing spot at the G. The TV coverage gives you little clue at the ground coverage.

We still lack outside polish and another pressure forward. They can be found later in the draft or hopefully with astute trades for players lacking opportunity/go home factor. I cant see us going big at a name even if we had the picks to offer.

There is no disputing Trac, Oliver and Brayshaw is the best midfield combo, particularly now all of them realise they have legs and can accelerate away. This is no knock on Viney its about how the three complement each other. Viney is perfectly suited to a high half forward who plays as another midfielder at the contest and can offer more to retain the ball in the forward half. For the best of the team which he is clearly worth a starting 18 spot this should be his role. We did what we had to do but I hope we dont sit back and think that 22 can match it with the top 4 this year or next. We cant carry all of Jones, AVB and Harmes lack of skill, we need some more dash or polish halfback/wing. We cant carry the inconsistent brilliance of all three of Fritsch, Hannan and Melksham. We need to decide who is the third tall defender, still up for grabs between OMac, Tomlinson and Smith (Shame Petty is not about as an option). We’ve given ourselves a shot at finals in the back half of the year but I hope we dont rest on our laurels.

Harmes was poor and has been for weeks. He cant play half back and we refuse to tag him. If we send him to Sidebottom next week he gets a reprieve but otherwise needs to go. Hannan was non impactful bar other than a period where he took 2 nice grabs.

In typical Hannan fashion was engaged in the game for a quarter and then hardly seen otherwise. I think even if Gawn plays they won’t want to run him in ruck as hard as normal. If we we play with two true smalls , with LJ playing 65% game time and Gawn more like 80% than normal I would play TMac as well as was serviceable. I would like to see us have 2 tall forwards at all times.

In Gawn, Viney, Lockhart Out Hannan, Jones, Harmes Would say Melksham over Hannan but wont happen. I am willing to have a good look at the three talls when LJ moves like he does IF we play two true smalls in Pickett and Spargo.

Spargo was quality effort and connection all game.

6. Petracca 5. Lever 4. Oliver 3,Weideman 2. Brayshaw 1. Pickett

Our work rate is good we need to settle more with the ball and show better composure with the first option. Just need to start taking our chances and break the game open. Weid, Lever, Trac are really leading the way in playing aggressive.Team who tires the most on a 4 day break will lose.

Whilst I personally would have played Preuss against Goldy they are clearly backing in LJ and TMac from a mobility POV over Preuss from a strength POV. LJ is smart enough as he showed against OBrien when rucking to not get in a body on body but I worry that North will target him physically at every opportunity. Viney out will allow us to get our best midfield dynamic together with Brayshaw more in the pivot to build on his second half. I also hope that Harmes goes to Higgins in a hard tag whether that be midfield or half forward. Hoping that Oliver (full game) and Brayshaw (second half) build back into their 2018 form, May and Lever continue their improvement together and that Kozzie, Spargo and Rivers bring the youthful energy we will need off a 4 day break. Bring strong effort and good connection and the result will look after itself.

The kid is in his third year after rightfully maintaining his place in our 2018 side for most of his first year. He allegedly is one of our hardest trainers and workers and whilst small is willing with high footy iQ. We desperately need to land a second pressure forward to partner with Kozzie. Whilst I personally prefer the attributes of Bedford I will assume that Spargo has put in the work and he is the one who has been mentioned as performing in a variety of the scratch matches. Outside of that we dont have many options. People will point to Hannan and Hunt but they are more mid size leading forwards and we have enough of those. He is the role we need for our forwardline to best function. Even on his viewed output in 2018 and potential to improve I would choose Spargo over ANB at any point pre suspension. I would pick him this week over the current lack of defensive ethic and confidence that Bennell has in his body. He may not set the world on fire today, he may miss a tackle or not kick a goal from 40 but he will give his all. All I am looking for is high pressure acts and connecting with the ball well when he gets his hands on it. He will do that and I suspect if others play with a similar frame of mind today the result will look after itself. The selection decision is made, how about we back the kid in.

My favourite part is he mentions Salem as one of 4 quality players we have. Then says we traded the pick Kelly went for for Dom Tyson but no mention of Salem. The article cant decide whether it wants to trash our lack of culture, historical recruiting and trading or the coach and game plan. So why not a little bit from all three columns

Assuming Gawn Viney and ANB are the only outs I would go with Preuss. Rivers and Pickett. I suspect one of AVB or Bennell may also miss (guess not based on info) so would suspect Spargo (who is there) and Hannan the next ones up if the case. I hope they dont get too carried away and go LJ first ruck. Preuss can play less time and bash n crash and soften Goldy to make it easier for LJ who will get more exposure in there than he normally would with Max.