old55

Spargo guaranteed 100+ games player. Probable 200 game Premiership player.

I like the inclusion of VDB, he was in my pre-season best 22. I'm nervous with JKH, Garlett and Spargo all in the side going into finals - and they have weaker opposition this week to consolidate their positions. I'd like to see at least some bigger bodies - Melksham and maybe Kent to come in for one or two of them.

Definitely an Essendon win is better for us. They are not going to win all four with Richmond and Port away in there. If North win all 4 (more likely than Essendon winning all 4) and Hawthorn win 3 we can miss even with 13 wins.

Hawthorn v Essendon - what a horrible combination - can they both lose? Crows vs North at AO R22 is another challenge for North. If they win all 4 we can miss out with 13 wins.

I read elsewhere on the site that Viney can only play midfield - that is ridiculous. He plays midfield because he's very, very good there but he'd also be very good as a small forward or small defender. For example I don't think Eddie or Laird would have been too happy last week if Jack had lined up on one of them. If he is permanently on management for this then there are alternatives. I know these roles have running involved with small forward defensive efforts a la ANB and small defenders coming up and back in the press, but if necessary there's a productive role there with less running than as a pure mid.

You want to sack someone different every week.

Some here would then be advocating: Out: Tyson In: Viney's toe

We were tremendous again for the second week in a row - under-manned, away at a hostile environment against nearly full-strength decent opposition. Of course for the "wins are all that matter" crowd it must be: vs Geelong = bad while vs Adelaide = good. And the "mentally weak" crowd desperately searching for faults against Adelaide to maintain their slippery critical grip.

Spargo will be a very good player but he struggles to win 1-on-1 just because he lacks strength. He is a smart player and a hard worker so he stays in. I was alarmed at Jeff Garlett's inability to stick a tackle. I think we lack competitive strength with both Spargo and Garlett in the forward line. I'd have Kent for Garlett. JKH had his good moments, the pass to Jones and his follow up goal, but I'd definitely prefer VBD. Jay played reduced minutes anyway 69% - so Vanders limited preparation is not a factor there if he is also on limited minutes. I'm far from taking GC easy but vs them is just as good a hit-out for Vanders as another game at Casey. It's probably unlikely to happen though. Two of my whipping boys Frost and ANB have been very good in the last two weeks. Tyson has his critics but he was OK, won some critical around the ground clearances and had 2 goal assists. He's probably out when Viney comes in though. When Hibberd is fit he'll come in for Bernie or Joel Smith - it's a toss up but it's probably Bernie. I think Joel Smith will make it but I'm not sure he adds more than Hunt if Jayden can find some form.. There's no way I could see all of Frost, Hibberd, J.Smith and Hunt in the same backline. So for me this week: In: Kent, VDB. - Out: Garlett, JKH There'll probably be more injuries so this wont stack up, but in an ideal world in the run in to end of the season. In: Hibberd, Viney, Hunt - Out: Vince, Tyson, J.Smith If we have a good run with injuries that would ultimately give us something like: B: Jetta OMac Hibberd Salem Frost Lewis M: Gawn Oliver Viney Jones Brayshaw Harmes F: ANB Hogan Petracca Kent TMac Melksham I: Fritsch Hunt VDB Spargo That's a pretty scary combo that can go all the way.

From walking across it to get to Collingwood's training ground?

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2018-07-23/last-2-minutes-casey-win Nice mark by Weid and nice spoil by Hutchins.

Generally I think our strategy was reasonable in the last quarter, we tried to win the game and 3.5 to 8.0 is just a freak outcome. Stacking the backline and trying to hold on is not the way to win - we managed to level the momentum in the mid part of the quarter and keep scoring - if JKH kicks the goal we win. Yes we could have switched OMac and Frost a play or two earlier. The real problem was further up the ground - we were getting killed at the stoppages - Ablett 14 possession in the last. Specifically in the last two minutes, I think Petracca's torp was a reasonable play, he went deep down the line to an even contest and got the ball OOB inside our 50. I also don't think Jeffy did the wrong thing either, his kick went towards the top of the square again to an even contest, he didn't have a wild ping. Suggestions that he should have taken it OOB are ridiculous, he would've been pinged for sure. Bernie's spoil back into the 50 was a decent play as well - that's where we like to lock it in. I think there were three big factors, one out of our control and two in our control: Max having to go off - at the boundary stoppage after Trac's torp TMac is telling Max to go back deep and he'll take the ruck but Max has blood and has to go off. If Max is deep it's unlikely Geelong marks that last play. Lewis giving Menzel too much rope on the wing. I don't know the full team rules and Lewis was guarding the corridor but surely that's man-on-man time, he was miles off Menzel and knows he doesn't have the closing speed to make a contest. No-one running with Duncan from our forward 50 when he receives the handball from Hawkins - someone just had to go with him. I think there's great learning opportunity out of this loss, like the loss against St.Kilda - issues were exposed that cannot be ignored

Yeah that's generally pretty correct and I'm very comfortable with that.

I'm not an ANB fan but he was very good against Geelong. Generally clean ball winning and he used it well.

Saw on the Gameday thread that Stanley may be out, is Z.Smith playing in the 2s?

I'd be extremely confident of the win if they were playing. I think we can still win but things will need to go right.

Wonder who will be the carry over emergency - probably Josh Wagner.

Sacking Norm Smith is more likely the cause.

Selection will be fascinating. From Goodwin presser Bernie is a lock. Either Wagner or Joel Smith for Hibbo. Maybe Tyson for Hannan - narrow Kardinia Park making a contested game even more important (Goodwin said it should suit our style), no Viney so therefore Selwoods sniffing Clarrie and Angus blood. I think Tyson is feasible because of these factors - if it was at the MCG then no. It is going to be tough for us with 3 of our best out - will be a memorable victory if we can win.

Nathan Jones has had a very good year, is incredibly resilient and consistent, and has plenty more to offer. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pg-melbourne-demons--nathan-jones He's had 2 down weeks which is very uncharacteristic and any reasonable deduction is that he's injured or sick. He was misused in a tagging role against the Hawks and look at the result. Some people don't know what they got until it's gone. He'll be back with a vengeance

Hogan is a great player and I hope he stays. It was absolutely vital that we signed him to his current contract. But if he left at the end of this contract it wouldn't be fatal. TMac has signed long term and Weid is going to make it. We can't currently fit all three in and retain team balance. We have Tim Smith as depth and we could get away with one true tall forward - Richmond-style for a period anyway if necessary. Hogan to Freo for Andrew Brayshaw and their 1st rounder - say pick 6 would be a very reasonable deal for us. Weid is not Hogan but a deal like that means for our best 22 - Out: Hogan, In: Weid, Brayshaw, pick 6. I could live with that.

Because our next best would have probably delivered less. With Viney out it was important he played. Who would you have brought in for him?

Harmes onto McCrae was the decisive factor IMO. A handy discovery ahead of the Geelong game next week. If Ablett, Danger or Selwood create damage.

He was clearly either injured or sick. Get off his back!

The Luff hot plot is a simplified version of the Live Squiggle which rates Defence and Attack.