CHF

With the way that this season have been chopped up for us I am not surprised at any of the selections. I like the team and think it will be very difficult to coach against if we get a few goals early. Reasonable defence, a good deep midfield and a forward structure that will at least be interesting to watch. Oliver to run against Dangerfield and Harmes to spend all day with Ablett, No matter where he is. I would back them both to win their day against those two. TMac to play deep and run and launch at every pack with 3 or 4 at his feet.

Interchange to be Brayshaw, Pickett and Jetta plus one out of the rest for me.

OK. In the forward 50 do we go with Tom/Petty or Jackson/Brown?

Will this mean that Essendon will not be able to play for 14 days while they self isolate to ensure that no one else in the team has contracted the virus.

Let me see.... About to turn 23 in few days time, 195cms, 97kgs and has played 31 games to date. I have seen him play very well in finals and he looks to have good engine and I think he knows how to play. I would not worry about his future just yet. I think he will come good and play good consistent footy for us in the near future. A few years time and I see he and Jackson in our forward line.

I like the team that will run out on Sunday. It has flexibility, speed and an unorthodox structure that may well be difficult to coach against. In defence it will be interesting to see Rivers back up his game from last week and with Salem and Harmes we have a coiple of players that can fill midfield roles when/if required. For cover in defence e have Smith off the bench and Fristch has served back there a well. Tomlinson is our ultimate Inspector Gadget. He runs well on the wing, can play second ruck as well as go forward or back. Midfield has a lot of grunt in the middle with Viney, Oliver, Petracca and Brayshaw. Melksham, Harmes and AvB in support at some center bounces. Hunt, Bennell and Hannan can run the wings a well when required. In the forwards I hope that there is a clear plan A and a clear plan B. We have a lot of options that can run through there but I want to see clear structures good delivery. (If only). TMac to run and launch at every thing that remotely comes his way and coaches to ensure that there is a fleet at his feet to feed off the crumbs. We need to feed off a dominance in the middle and to look at linking well into the forward 50. Dees by 3 goals

Another interesting selected squad for this week. I find it hard to gain some sense of how they are going to play. If it is wet then we have a good mix of smalls to run and push the ball forward. But to me it looks as if we are lacking talls at both ends of the ground. The 18 named in the team I assume are locks for the game with 4 of the IC to make the 22. Pickett we know will be there and that leaves 3 places. If it is definitely going to be wet then I would take 3 of Jones, ANB, AvB and Hannan on to the bench. Otherwise, Pickett plus Jackson to rotate through Forward/ruck, one of Smith/Hibberd and one of the others, probably Jones.

I have re-watched the blues game a few times and it is notable that at stoppages, Cripps sought out Oliver to stand him a many times a Oliver went to Cripps. It is also notable that when Cripps got the ball, Oliver was right there with him tackling him or applying pressure. When Olive had the ball, Cripps was rarely in shot.

I believe that we needs to get rid of Smith from the back 6 and replace him with OMac. I just see more structure and confidence when he is there. Reads the play well, positions himself well and has good disposal. People that are not sold on him will always find and highlight the mistakes but all players make mistakes. May, Lever and OMac are three critical elements of our back six. Up forward I would bring Pickett into the team in place of ANB and I would also look to get Wiedeman in. Weideman, TMac and Jackson rotating through the forward line with Hunt, Kossie, Petracca, Melksham and Fritsch rotating there as well and I think we have the makings of a good structure. My Team: B: Jetta, May, Lever HB: Salem, OMac, Rivers Center: Langdon, Viney, Tomlinson HF: Melksham, Weideman, Fritsch F: Pickett, TMac, Hunt FOL: Gawn, Petracca, Oliver IC: Harmes, Jackson, Brayshaw, Bennell

I do not underrate his performance against the Blues at all. However, he is now the Captain of the team and his on field leadership needs to be evaluated on a game by game basis. While he may have been leading by example, he will need to do more in the future to try and change things on the ground as the situation requires. I did not see that on Saturday.

DL has got a banner with lot of our favorite players featured. My review of the banner performances Round 2 below. Petracca - An excellent game with power, balance and vision. BOG. Banner place justified May - Just a game. nothing to do for a quarter and a half and when the pressure came on was part of a disorganised defence. Oliver - A good game from him he does what he does and does it well. Banner place justified Jetta - Not a good game. Has it passed him by or is it just a form slump? Gawn - A very good game from him but do I sense a bit too much arrogance in his game. Want to see how his leadership progresses. Banner place justified Viney - Loved his tackling. when he gets hold of someone they do not get away. Banner place justified vdB - Would like to see him fit and in the team. he need his hardness. TMac - Turning circle of the Queen Mary and out of form. Or maybe it is a lack of fitness standards he had in 2018. Goodwin - Calm in the box but he seems reluctant to make changes during the game.

I have to say that I would have liked to have Omac in defence today. when we were winning the middle we had no problems but when that turned around we were in troble.

Loving Petraccas game. he looks dangerous every time he goes near the ball. With viney, if he gets hold of you you are gone.

Rivers is looking the goods and the run will do Jackson a lot of good. Bennell is doing a job and will be pleased so far.

I have a similar concern with regard to our lack of height in defence compared to the Blues forwards unless we can dominate the center and get the clearances. Depending on how things work out there may be some saying " If only we had had OMac down back...."

I do like the fact that we have a lot of flexibility in the team. In defence we have the usual names of Jetta, May and Lever that will be in the back half the whole time. Rivers I can see would also only play there. Salem Will have a defensive role but is a more re-bound attacking player. Hunt, Jones and Smith can all rotate through there as well as into other roles. Tomlinson, TMac and Fritsch all have experience in defence if required. That gives us a lot of options in the back 50. With the midfield I always like it when I see any three of Brayshaw, Viney, Oliver, Petracca and Harmes at Gawn's feet at the center bounce. There is also Melksham and Jones that are in attendance at times. Jones less so these days. On the outside with Langdon and Tomlinson on the wings we have a couple there that may spend upwards of 90% TOG. In Fritsch, Bennell, Hunt and possibly even smith we have a few quick players that could fill in out there. Forwards are the biggest problem but with this team we have plenty of structures we could try. I just hope that the coaches are prepared to ring the changes to look for scoring avenues. We need to be proactive in this way.

My opinions on the matchups you have above are a little different. Bennell v Bedford (Bennell more skillful but will he be able to run out the match?) Rivers v Hibberd (No idea re River's skill level at AFL level in a match.) Jackson v Brown (See Rivers above) Salem v Lockhart (I would take Salem every day of the week) Omac v Smith (OMac better skill - agree with this ) Jones V Spargo (Jones better - Agree with this) Hunt v ANB (I have Hunt as a better set shot at goal but not a lot between them otherwise.)

A very interesting side. I just hope that we have the skills across the team to exploit our strengths. Speed is all very well but if we cannot cut down the turnovers we will be in trouble.

A post on here showed a tweet or whatever from Jackson that alluded to Smith playing against the Blues.

Interesting confirmation that Jackson, Rivers and Bennell will play and that it also looks like Smith will be there also. With those players in the team there is a huge amount of conjecture on the structure of the rest of the team. Will Jones and Salem both get back after being unavailable for R1? Will either of Omac or Hibberd get selected? What sort of structure will our forward line have? I can imagine that these and other questions will need to be addressed by the Blues Selectors. It will be interesting to see how they line up.

It is going to be a tough selection to get right for this match. Almost a complete injury free list to select from, no match from to give guidance and limited match sim at training. For the defenders I think that May, Lever, Omac, Jetta and Salem are definitely to be named With Harmes to rotate through there and to possibly take up a tagging role on one of the Blues mids. Smith or Lockhart may be on the bench as cover defenders. Midfield is pretty straight forward. Gawn leading the ruck with Viney, Oliver, Petracca and Brayshaw in some combination at his feet for center bounces. Harmes and Melksham to also be there at times or as required. Langdon and Tomlinson to spend almost all the game on the ground with Fritsch and Salem to roam through there at times. Definates for me in the forwards are Tmac, Fritsch, Melksham, Pickett and Wiedeman, I would look to rest an inside mid in the forward line. Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw or Viney. All can kick goals there and rotating there may help to change up a tag. Bench: As I said, either Smith or Lockhart to cover defenders. Whichever one misses will be very unlucky. Jones on the bench along with Neal-Bullen and Bennell. With Bennell I would want to be confident that he could spend 60%+ TOG and contribute either in the midfield or as a forward. So, My team is: B: Jetta, May, Lever HB: Salem, OMac, Harmes B: Langdon, Brayshaw, Tomlinson HF: Melksham, Fritsch, Petracca F: Wiedeman, T.McDonald, Pickett FOL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney IC: Jones, Neal-Bullen, Smith, Bennell

Old Dee, I live over in Europe and miss going to the live matches. I am always watching the games live each and every time the Dees play. I would take a win in any match. this season is compromised but I am sure that none of the players will be holding back. If we get to a finals series and a resolved season, I hope that the Dees are at the top, playing in the final and win the bloody thing.

From the AFL website. https://www.afl.com.au/news/441279/curtain-raisers-back-afl-gives-clubs-the-green-light-to-organise-scratch-matches QUOTE: "Teams will have the option to hold these games as curtain-raisers or curtain-closers to senior fixtures, and they must be played at AFL-approved venues."

Serious Answer: Yes. I will be watching when we play Saturday week. Really looking forward to the game. I would also be interested in watching the curtain raiser if it was on in the same way I would watch the Casey games. Like to see how they are developing.

AFL has given the go ahead for possible curtain raiser scratch matches involving the players not engaged in the first team. A good move in my opinion as it will give all the players a hit out and give them a chance to impress for selection This team looks to be close to the one that could be selected. B: JETTA. MAY. LEVER. HB: HARMES. O MCDONALD. SALEM. ? LANGDON. OLIVER. TOMLINSON. HF: JONES. T MCDONALD. MELKSHAM. FF: FRITSCH. WEIDEMAN. PICKETT. Fol: GAWN. VINEY. PETRACCA. Bench: NEAL-BULLEN, BRAYSHAW, VANDENBERG, HIBBERD RESERVES? B: Lockhart Petty Smith HB: J. Wagner. Hore Rivers ? Hunt Sparrow Baker. HF: Bennell Brown Spargo FF: Bedford Jackson Hannan Fol: Preuss Jordan C. Wagner Bench: Chandler, Dunkley, Bradtke, ******** I think that covers all the fit players we have at the moment. If it happens I would like to think it would be televised on some platform.