CHF

I agree with the posters that thought OMac should be retained. The defence was looking ok and building. I would not have retained Jones for this game As I have not seen very much over his last couple of games. Short turn around for the North game so I would expect a few to be 'rested'.

I really do not get the calls for TMac to move back into defence. I equate it to the call for Smith to move into the forward 50. IMO both ideas are rubbish. TMac does not look fit enough to run out a game and his reaction time and agility are non existent. As for Smith forward, well, he has not shown anything as a footballer where ever he has been played. Before Smith gets a run forward, I would get Brown in there. I do not rate TMac in any shape or form. Jones is not a shadow of his former self. I just hope that they go back to the basic structures that are needed in ant team. Oliver, Viney, Petracca and Brayshaw rotating as the inside mids with Harmes as a hard tagger on the opposition problem child. Langdon on one wing And I would look at ANB on the other and tell him to run, run, run and then run some more. I may even get Hunt back in as a wing after he has watched replays of Langdon's games a few dozen times. Defence I would leave as is and give them a chance to settle and work together. last week's performance was not the fault of the backs. In attack I would leave to combination of Wiedeman and Jackson for the moment. Pickett to be dropped..... not 'rested'... dropped. Tell him he ha to work harder in defending the forward 50 and has to look to use support. Yeah, yeah, I know, there was a very good passage of play where he was involved but that lasted all of 5 seconds duration. Fritsch or Hannan? I am beginning to think we cannot afford to have both in the team. Maybe Brown replaces on of them and Bennell replaces Pickett. If Max does not get up I would have Pruess in the side to do the job that Max presently does. Not sure what sort of team that ends up looking like and could not be bothered to work it out afterall, the team cannot be bothered looking like they are interested in playing so why should I waste too much effort? I am on my last legs with this coach and list of players.

"Tactically Melbourne have become a side that backs in their system and does not make many adjustments during a game." This is all very well and good if the system has enough flexibility to adjust to the circumstances that evolve during a game and that the coaches box have developed responses that can be put in place to react. I have not seen any match day responses that are reactive let alone proactive.

I have no idea how you even begin to put together a team to play Adelaide next week after a completely disgusting performance like that. There are so many players whose performance was sub-standard who would not be considered for next week but for the fact that there were so many that were rubbish. Start with the midfield. You can juggle it any way you like but if we do not look for replacements for the out of form players we will go now where fast. Give Harmes a rest. put him in a dark room for 24 hours to give him a chance to clear his head. He looks like he has too much going on up there. Brayshaw has more than stalled. he has gone backwards. out of form or not being used properly? Whichever, give him a week off. Jones is not the answer to any sensible question regarding selection in this team as we have an almost full list to select from. Sparrow's performance highlights this. TMac is in the same boat as Jones. He is supposed to be a 'spearhead' but he is not sharp, in any sense of the word when it comes to footy. The only thing he has in common with a spear is that he likes straight....... running in a straight line that is. He remind me of the American Muscle cars of the 70's and 80's. A blast and all that when going in a straight line but ask them to turn at speed and you crash and burn. Rest him for the remainder of this crazy season and get him lighter and a bit more nimble.... I can live in hope. I would keep the defence a it is. they had no hope with the way the ball was coming in because of lack of pressure from our 'Midfield'' players. ( use the team 'players' loosely) So? 4 or 5 changes? W(ho)TF knows? Out: Harmes, Brayshaw, Jones and TMac, Pickett in: VdB, Bennell, Tomlinson, Rivers and Jordan to debut. Bennell into the forwards. VdB forward and mid rotation. Tomlinson wing, ruck and forward rotation. Rivers as defensive cover and allow Salem to be released to a wing at times. Jordan would be good to get a run so we can see how he is developing. He could not be worse than the spuds that were sent out against Port. A bit of thought and match day coaching would not go astray...... I am not sure but I think I saw Goody writing out his shopping list there at some point during the 2nd quarter.

See above.... one week/word at a time

That could be next week.... one week/word at a time

My one word review of the game - DEE-PLORABLE Deeplorable decision making Deeplorable kicking, handballing, disposals in general Deeplorable tackling Deeplorable awareness Deeplorable coaching (before the game in making sure that the players heads are in the right space and during the game as there was no reaction from the coaches box as to what was happening) A couple of things we are consistently good at is turning the ball over and giving away stupid free kicks. DEEPLORABLE

I cannot recall a game of football where one team showed such woeful skills. There was no connection. the field kicking was dreadful. we could not string together 3 possessions and we did not run to spread. we also gave away stupid frees and did not stick tackles. Did I miss anything?

Dees by 21 going away in the last

I don’t agree with this “let it breathe “ rubbish. Knock the top off and give it mouth to mouth.

Agree about the management of Gawn. I will also be interested to see how proactive or aggressive we are in our tactical positioning at the beginning of the match and how the coaches react as the game unfolds.

I do not mind these changes. However, I hope the coaching panel has a few ideas of how they propose to use the three talls in the team structures. Wiedeman and Jackson have performed well in the last couple of games and the structure has allowed us to gain a reasonable percentage of conversions from our forward 50 entries. I would look at a few things. Wiedeman to play deep and use structured leads. TMac to give an option at kick ins and as a release marking option with Jackson in the middle on the defensive side of the square. Jackson at a few center bounces the way Hogan was used a bit. This may cause Port a few problems. I like the way that Jackson has delivered the ball inside 50 a few times while running through the corridor. Intelligent, measured kicks. Having both TMac and Jackson there allows us to use Max as a flexible positional player when he is not rucking. I am bullish about a win over Port tomorrow.

The remainder of the list flew out on the 14/07 to the hub in QLD. that would mean that from today or tomorrow they are out of quarantine and available to train and play with the full squad.

As I understand, all the club’s available players are now in the QLD hub and are available post quarantine and I assume that would include J Wagner

Have a look at the games he played in 2018. he was very good in a number of them I believe. At some stage during this season we need to get a look at him to see if he can provide depth. I would like to see what he brings when he has a well structured defence around him. Smith is not the answer. If he is then you are asking the wrong question.We know what Rivers can bring to the table and he will develop over time. With the short turn around to the Port game I would like to see some freshness in the team.

The selections for the Port game will really depend on how the players pull up after the game on Sunday. However, if selection was on form in the game, there would be a couple of changes. In defence, I saw Jetta as as weakness. He just does not seem to be able to track fast enough to a contest or his reading of the play is not what it used to be. After his head knocks, I could see him getting a rest and possibly brought back for the game after Port. I like the way the rest of the backline is playing. May, OMac, Lever, Salem and Hibberd are developing a good understanding and Lockhart, much to my surprise, is slotting in there well. Who gets a game in place of Jetta? well the obvious one would be Rivers but I would not be surprised to see Josh Wagner get run. Midfield did not perform up to standard at Max's feet. Not sure what the problem was? Caoching or players? If all have pulled up ok I would not change any in there. Petracca, Oliver and Viney on the inside with Brayshaw rotating there and Harmes used in a tagging role on an opposition key mid would be the way I would go. Langdon on one wing and a few, including Jones to rotate through the other. I do not see Jones getting dropped after one game. In the forwards o would definately retain Wiedeman, Jackson, Melksham combination at the heart of the attack. Fritsch is there sa well but I would be looking to use him up the ground a bit more on an HFF as I like his mobility and delivery. Hannan had just a game on Sunday but I would retain him. One of Bennell or Pickett I would replace. I would be tempted to give Pickett a rest. I would like to see Sparrow given a run in his place. With regard to TMac, well, I do not see any great reason to get him back in just yet. He was not in form in all the games he played prior to his eye injury and I don't think it is necessary to have a third tall against Port. So, for me... Out: Jetta, Pickett In: Wagner, Sparrow

My one word analysis of that game is 'FRUSTRATING'. Broke even in the first quarter, lost the plot a bit in the second and third and came home well in the last quarter. Frustrating when I can see what they are trying to do but fail on the skills and quality because of overuse. Frustrating when we have a tap ruck that is the best in the business and we still get killed on clearances. Frustrating when we have so many relatively easy shots on goal and cannot convert. Frustrating when there is no logic or consistency in the umpiring decisions. Frustrating to see us get so close to a win over the Lions when, for a majority of the game, we were just not playing well. Frustrating....Frustrating....Frustrating Our defence was good. it kept us in the game and gave us a sniff of victory. The structure of May, OMac, Lever and Hibberd at the heart of the zone is working well. Lockhart has surprised me as he is growing into the structure very well and I was not a fan. Jetta is a weak link at the moment and I think we will rest him next week after his couple of head knocks and only a 4 day break. Midfield is a puzzle to me. We have the talent there on the inside in particular with Petracca, Oliver and Viney with back up from Brayshaw and Harmes. It is the outside we lacked polish. It was also frustrating that I did not see us trying to adjust to what was happening with clearances. Gawn was dropping it to players in close and I do not recall him tapping it further out as a tactic. Forward play was ok with the structures that they had. I would have liked to see a swap between Weideman and Jackson a few times just to mix it up. have Jackson move to the goal square for a bit and have Wiedeman take his man further from goal. In all, as I said, I found it very frustrating...... Should I go on about the umps?

Just do not understand that 'dangerous tackle' decision????

Besides the HTB decisions/non decisions, The umps judgement of 15m leaves a hell of a lot to desired.

the way that they are umpiring/not umpiring the holding the ball is THE joke of the season!

Both teams last week had 10 goal scorers for a similar amount of points. Tells me that both have multiple avenues to goal with the form presently. For me there are two keys to containing the Lions, Neale and Rayner need to be contained and corralled when possible. Oliver to Neale or possibly Harmes are both possible and Viney to run with Zorko.

Pretty much as expected. I would have Jones, Jackson, Brayshaw and Jetta from that extended interchange. Just with Smith.... I just do not see him as a defender after the couple of goes he had earlier this season. He had a game or two as a forward but I am just not sold on him and do not get it with him. Is there a possibility he might be tried on the wing?

With AvB out and the game on Sunday we will be naming a squad with the extended IC. My squad: B: Jetta, OMac, Lever HB: Salem, May, Hibberd ? Langdon, Oliver, Harmes HF: Brayshaw, Jackson, Fritsch F: Pickett, Wiedeman, Bennell FOL: Gawn, Viney, Petracca IC: Melksham, Hannan, Lockhart, Jones, TMac, Tomlinson, Rivers, ANB/Hunt First 4 named on IC are the ones I would go with at this stage

I think that this fixture is ok for us. We now have clarity for the next 5 rounds and it will be interesting to see how we strategically program ourselves to get the best results. Between Round 8, Brisbane at Metricon and Round 9, Port at Gabba We have a 4 day turnaround and while Port have an extra day to recover, they have to travel in from Adelaide but have an extra day. Selection this week with a 4 day turnaround will be critical to giving us the best chance of success. We have only a few injuries and some good depth. My opinion is that we play a strong team this week (same as last week if posible with few changes) and look to freshen up the team with a couple of changes in all three areas of the team. Rivers, Josh Wagner and Smith to rotate in defence. There are a lot that could rotate through the midfield. Tomlinson, Sparrow, Jordan, Baker ANB, Hunt, Corey Wagner and Dunkley. In the forward we are suddenly looking stronger with the showing of Wiedeman and Jackson. TMac and Brown as talls to have a run when required with Chandler, Jones, Hunt, Bedford and possibly Sparrow. So, My strategy for the nest few weeks is to go in with a settled strong team in Round 8. 4 day break to Round 9 so assess who pulls up well and who needs a rest. For me look at at least 1 change in each area of the ground. Two if required. 6 Day break and travel to Adelaide for Round 10. Adelaide have two day less rest and will travel from Brisbane a well. Not too bad. Look to the future as we have travel to Tassie and a 4 day break before North. North have a ame rest as we do and will travel in to tassie from Brisbane.Manage players as required with bumps and bruises. we have a 6 day break so we should not be too bad. If we settle on a squad well before the Adelaide game I think we should look at getting the rest of the players into Tassie as soon as possible so they can rest and train in Tassie. It may not be possible but I would look at some going straight from Brisbane to Tassie after the Port game. 4 Days and travel between Round 10 in Adelaide and Round 11 in Tassie. Same strategy. Players not required in Tassie straight back to QLD to rest and prepare for Round 12. For Round 12 we have two days extra rest than Collingwood and we both travel between games. All in all, not too bad.

True. I understand that but what ha been published is what it is. I am sure the footy department will try to make the best of it.