stinga

If he doesn't get a home, I hope we rookie him He's the sort that could develop later than most if we can afford the time.

I watched the kid from FREO who has only played two games kick multiple goals, and has a similar game to JVR. Why JVR wasn't given a couple of games prior to finals amazes me.

We lost last week because of 5 free kicks in front of goal, but we are not going to drop culprits Viney, Petty or May We also lost because of missing easy shots at goal, but we are not going to drop culprits Gawn, Salem or Kossie No point making whoelsale changes just because we lost.

Defenders very rarely let a forward have room to run at a ball and leap. You need the forward craft of fritsch or reiwoldt to do that. The other type has to have the build to use their bulk. He is certainly a lot stronger than 2018 when he last played forward. Maybe he can learn to use his speed to get space to jump. Worth a try. He'll certainly give forward pressure.

If JVR comes in it has to be for Melksham. JVR is too small to play as the only tall forward. If Weid goes out it has to be for BBB. We have to have one TALL key forward at least If NB goes out then it is a fight between Harmes, Dunstan and Chandler. My choice is Harmes.

We were in front for 95% of the time and only in the last quarter we were found wanting for run (not necessarily pace) Lever for Thomlinson would help there and also BBB for Weiderman. Melksham was good for 3/4 but again couldn't run in last, but maybe you could live with that, using the bench. I'd prefer JVR, but it looks like they will wait til next year. I think Turner back in for Salem who is sadly out of form would add a lot.

I think it's because we concentrate on coming out the front of the clearance. A lot of teams are happy to go out the back and wide, but when we come out the front it invariably leads to a score.

Couldn't agree more. Fritsch needs to play his usual game where we often get 4 goals from him - I think its time for JVR as his mobility is similar to TMac and he hits packs hard so at least the ball comes to ground. Dunstan for Oliver Rivers for Salem wouldn't upset the system and give it more energy. Wish either Turner or Smith weren't injured.

Agree with all that but Rosman has the most upside if he does get better. He's tall, solid build, can jump over a pack to mark, is an elite runner, and kicks the ball further and faster than most. The trouble is he doesn't do anywhere near enough of that in a game. I saw him pre season and thought how good is this guy going to be. Don't know what the answer is.

with a 8 day break I think Petty will play but definately need Hibberd as Petty is liable to go off for long periods. That's what happened in the 2nd quarter when we were a tall/bulky player short.

what happened to Rosman, he's not on injury list.

In Hibberd Out Bowie (young guy needs a rest) Salem Bedford (one small too many) TMac Weideman (Not the flexibility to go back half) Langdon Jordan (Brayshaw comes up to wing) Harmes Melksham (congrats on 200) Thomlinson May (concussion) Jordon becomes sub.

Not looking good. Injuries are taking a toll across the club - Only 11 melbourne players available for Casey today. Only D.Smith and Thomlinson had stats that would in any way suggest a promotion. Tough next 3 weeks with lots playing sore and until some come back from injuries. Great the bye is coming up.

I doubt they would do it with one of those three, but I'd like to see it. Turner might be the best but Rosman will be the future and Smith in the middle. Brayshaw should definately go to one wing. What worries me more is that we are obviously playing Tmac, Gawne and Petty sore and if we don't rotate and rest then they could all fall off the cliff at once

It won't happen but it would be interesting to see one of Turner, D. Smith or Rosman get a go at Brayshaw's role and Brayshaw take Harmes role

Tmac is most likely to do the relief rucking. Neither Weid nor Daw have the aerobic ability to get around the ground but Tmac does. He often wins the time trial pre season. He might not win a centre bounce but neither would the other 2 consistently. At least Tmac would be more an extra on baller when the ball hits the ground.

Can't believe Smith's bad luck. Another 3 months out. Has to hope he gets a game or two before finals.

Thanks.

Is there a rule that says the players listed in the published positions on the field must be part of the final squad? In other words can say Oliver be left out of the final squad and 5 of the so called interchange are then included instead of 4.

I can't see Spargo getting back in form getting a couple of touches each week. I'd like to see him go back to Casey and rack up 20+ touches then bring him back in 3 weeks. No other changes needed in winning side until Salem and Lever are fit.

Most of the comments are about the backline but I'd like to see more adjustment in the forward half. I just think we are too small up there. Brown did really well when competing against 3 at times but the bulldogs do not have a great defense. For a lot of the time we have Gawn Dogga or TMac on the bench resting which creates difficulties. In the forward line we have small/medium at those times with 5 of Fritta, Spargo, Pickett, Jordan, NB, Bedford and at least one other on baller going through. I'd rather have Weideman instead of one of the smalls. Not sure who it is. It was exacerbated when TMac had to go into defense.

Yeah we missed the bulk of May, Hibberd and Salem. We didn't have one left footer in the back half and were so predictable coming out. Brayshaw was the only one prepared to go on his left

It's not the travel, casey or the snakes. Its the bloody fence. You are so far from the action without any elevation and looking through a cyclone mesh fence, it's so difficult to make out players and especially those half way up the ground. Half have tabbards on so you can't rely on numbers either.

I went on Monday with another supporter and saw pretty much the same things. But hard to do any full report as we both thought it was all designed to be a bit scrappy. Most time the ball was just hit out in someone's direction and as soon as a kick or handball it was stopped. Deakin Smith and Turner were the pick of the defenders. Van Rooyen looks the goods. Where Jackson would go up and try and reach over to get the ball because of his leap, Van Rooyen hits the pack. At one stage he hit a pack of four and side turned his body so his hip hit and knocked them all out of it. It meant he had to go one handed and didn't get it but noone else did. Another different drill we saw was 12 small defenders and and forwards having the ball thrown to 2 on 2 (3 groups one after the other). The idea was to hit or handball to the other forward who snapped at goal The only other thing was a coach was timing Dunstan doing continuous runs along the boundary to the goals of about 120M - 150M The coach would call out the start and as he approach the end would call out the countdown 16,17,18,19 so he knew what he had to do to get there in time.

With training due to start 7th December, has anyone seen any informal runs.