dazzledavey36

No one legit wanted him. I too want him to have a great game tonight, but 6 years in the system for very little return doesn't stack up well. The biggest weakness for him is confidence. He's so down on confidence and has been for 2 years now. The biggest worry I have of him coming in tonight is that he's not coming in on good form and his confidence low from having a poor game last week. Dropped easy marks against lesser opponents, poor body language, poor 2nd efforts and defensive work. It wasn't a good look last week Talent the there, mental strength isn't unfortunately. Going off this logic then Van Rooyen should be playing because he was far superior then Weideman last week. Coaching staff wouldn't throw him into the wolves so early which is good, but watching the whole VFL game last week he's imo behind a VFL ordinary player in Mitch Brown as you say, and an 18 year old forward who hasn't even played AFL level. Weids confidence was shot last week and it was very evident watching him play.

Lol... On last week's VFL form I'm seriously perplexed how Weideman gets a game. He was so poor last week and his body language was woeful. Went from being quite confident for tonight to now being not confident at all especially with this selection. Reward form, not by name.

2000 and 2013.. Enough said.

No surprises which is a good thing. But, Jake Melksham getting named emergency is genuinely taking the [censored] right? His VFL performance last week was woeful. Absolutely cooked.

Well you'd think if there was a Blake Howes debut we would have heard by now..

Yes

It was his left knee

Good riddance

Jeff Farmer??

Goody confirmed that Lever and Hibberd will miss again this week.

Why?

Doubt he plays but this shot was from today's training. You aren't wearing footy boots kicking a footy around if you are not close to playing. Hopefully hes back playing competitive footy in the next week or 2 at either VFL level or AFL.

Meh he goes alright.

Nice! To be honest on yesterday's performance alone you couldn't split Van Rooyen, Woewodin and Howes on the day All 3 showed they are ready for AFL action if needed. Van Rooyen for me would be my first pick personally because how physically ready he is and just thought his performance was a stand out from a position point of view. The club is in bloody good hands with these kids coming through!

In the Casey game I did not sight him at all in the last quarter. I am hoping this was more so a carry over due to 5 day break and not an injury. Have you heard anything specific?

Why? Smith is playing his role down back perfectly fine. He has ability to play on medium to small forwards. Our coaches don't make drastic positional changes unless it's a break glass emergency type.

Jacko's manager...

McVee certainly has the tools to play senior footy at AFL level this year if he continues on with good form. With Hibberd on his last legs and Hunt not exactly in good form there is certainly a chance for McVee and Deakyn Smith to press for senior selection. He defended well first and then attacked when he needed too. I didn't really notice much of that dash that we saw with his draft highlights, but that doesn't mean he didn't play his role. The coaches would have been really happy with his performance. On Rosman there has been a few comments on how ordinary he was etc. We need to temper expectations on the likes of Rosman and Laurie who really have barely played any footy in the past 18 months. I too didn't notice him until later on the game but I also didn't see anything that said he was ordinary throughout the game. Rosman played a new role yesterday in the backline and I put that down to our recent injuries to our talls. I think with his athleticism and marking ability they probably see him as that Joel Smith type who can play on talls and smalls. He's been training with the midfield group all summer so it's only been late that they have decided to move him down back in a role he's not use too at all. I personally like to see him settle down back in that role or even as a high half forward role due to his high endurance level. Took an absolute ripper of a mark in defence at one stage.

Watched the while game and gave an assessment on some of the players. Mitch Brown: That was some performance. He could have easily kicked 9 but missed a few gettable shots as well. He seriously clunked everything that came his way and was a clear BOG. Right now he's putting enormous pressure on Tom McDonald who let's be realistic, hasn't fired a shot since before last year's finals. Brown should be rewarded for that performance alone but we know our coaching staff don't operate like that. Sam Weideman: Yeah look it wasn't a good performance at all. He played like a bloke that accepted defeat pretty early. His body language was pretty poor and he had no impact on the game. Truly amazed that he's in his 6th year in the system and yet still struggles to take a contested mark with his frame. It's only round 1 but the signs don't look good for him this year. Jacob Van Rooyen: I know we need to temper expectations on first year players but bloody hell he was impressive. Can take a serious clunk and works really hard. Could have kicked 5 but missed a few. On today's performance he's way ahead of Weideman and no doubt will make his debut this year. He's a big lump of a lad and his forward caft is impressive for a first year player. Another who'll keep the pressure on Tom McDonald and could impact at AFL level instantly especially with his big frame. 8 marks 13 disposals to go with his 3.2 is a great debut at AFL level. Get excited. Taj Woewodin: He's so classy and clean with ball in hand. Has great poise and provides overlap run. At times there was a few sloppy passages until he came in and cleaned it up with his calmness with the ball. He'll play AFL this year if he keeps that performance up. Blake Howes: I really like his game today. He like Woewodin was clean and has good awareness. He had 16 disposals to 3 quarter time and was on his way to a 20 plus game plus but I think he was rested in the last because I did not spot him at all. Could be a carry over for next Friday night? Bailey Laurie: it was a solid game for Laurie. It's his first real competitive game since last year after a pretty lengy injury lay-off. Full pre season now and played well i thought and was classy with his ball use. Still getting use to the tempo of senior footy but I think he'll develop into a fine half forward who is a great ball user. 20 disposals, 5 tackles and kicked 2 goals playing midfield and half forward. Deakyn Smith: Pumped him up pre game and said he'll put pressure on Jayden Hunt if he plays well and he didn't disappoint. One touch player who was clean out of defence and took some really good strong intercept marks. 21 disposals and was named in the best for Casey. Andy Moniz Wakefield: Never seen him play until today and thought he was good at times. He definitely hunts the ball in the front half and likes to put body pressure on as well. It'll be a a development year for AMW, but I thought he too showed good touch and adjusted pretty well to his first senior footy at VFL level. Hard nut also. Jake Melksham: He should not, and no way near senior selection based on today's performance. He is cooked and I could name 7 other players who are ahead of him based on today. He should only player if we are affected by Covid this year. Oscar Baker: sloppy and butchers the footy too often for my liking. Put him in the Melksham/Covid category as an emergency need.

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1088505/vfl-demons-dominate-the-zebras-to-open-account

On form Mitch Brown is way ahead of Weideman and deserves a game at least. Watching the VFL today Weideman has zero confidence and struggled to take a mark. He was very poor today.

Was Howes rested in the last quarter? He was pretty impressive up to 3 quarter time and I did not sight him at all in the last.

Mitch Brown a CLEAR best on ground so far. Weideman struggling.