CHF

I believe that Grundy will be at MFC next season.

Very interesting selections in this team for Sydney. The 22 are pretty much what is to be expected but the 8 man IC that needs to be trimmed to 4 and a sub provide a lot of options that we can only guess at. The same goes for Sydney. They will be looking at what is the possible biggest threat. My IC would include Tomlinson as I think that the defence looks so much more settled and secure with either Tomlinson or Petty playing back there beside May and Lever. I would also have Fristch and TMac there as we need to see how they are with fitness. As long as they will qualify to play at Casey the following weekend if they need to run. 4th on the bench would be a choice between Sparrow, Woewodin and Laurie with Smith as sub. Yeah but..... wadda I know?

Good team selections. A bit to watch on replay with Laurie and Tomlinson. I tend to get lost in the emotion of the game when it is live and like to go back and watch the replay to see how players went. Any chance we might see May go forward if we have a good cushion in the last quarter?

Grey, overcast and wet here in NW Europe. This weather should hit Melbourne around October.

I good win last week. I know it was against the second bottom team that are in a world of hurt, but after a very soft and unaccountable first quarter we went to work and turned it around to the tune of 10 goals. Kudos to the coaches. They identified the problems sorted out what needed to be done, told the team and the team did as they were asked. Mutual trust between the team and the coaches means that the team trust in what the coaches are asking and the coaches trust the team to respond as asked. For Carlton we will need to make a couple of changes. In defence I would like to see Tomlinson come in. With May not in good form and making a few uncharacteristic errors I think it would be good to have the cover and flexibility of Tomlinson to call on. I may look at moving Smith back to sub to accommodate. Oliver, if fit, for Harmes or Jordon. I think the call will be based on what the selectors see as required. Harmes brings the pressure and I think he can still tag if required whereas Jordon is a bit better and cleaner with disposal. With Oliver coming back to the middle, they might see Jordon as a bit more value with a bit more outside run. I will be interested to see the Petracca/Oliver combination back in business. I expect Petracca to spend more time forward than he did before Olivers absence. it works well and with his movement between forward and on ball it makes him an even more difficult match up. Shame Petty is out at this stage of the season. he was shaping as the sprinkle of magic dust we needed in the forward 50. maybe three possibilities to replace him. Grundy, Schache, Brown. Pros and cons for each of them. Might leave that one to the coaches and selectors. I think they might play Grundy just to make a point and see what is what. I do not mind that but the ruck cutout with JVR has worked a treat in the last few weeks and I would like to see that continue. if Grundy is there he plays forward or is on the bench. I can see the Dees bringing their 'A' game for 4 quarters this week as a test run for the finals and winning well. Just a note on Smith. I would like to see him attend a couple of centre bounces. He might just surprise in there.

Who was he playing for?

Finally got a bit of time on my hands to see what is happening in the Demon world. Been a busy time for me playing in the sandpit with the grownups. Had a watch of the Crows game and a couple of things really caught my eye. In defence, Tomlinson looked very good and his game was pivotal with May looking a bit off colour. Also think that Rivers game was excellent. I would not be surprised to see him more time in the midfield next season than in defence. He may even pop up on a wing for a bit of time. He has the smarts and speed to burn. I like the way that the midfield is being managed in the game by the coaching staff. A lot of flexibility and a lot of variables to keep the opposition looking both ways wondering what might happen. I also noted the game of JVR when he was relieving ruck, he did not look out of place there and it might be that as much as anything that is keeping Grundy at Casey at the moment. Jackson Mark II? The forward area is its usual mystery box. Fristch goes down and we bring in Melksham and the change looks seamless. No Grundy on the ground and Gawn bobs up and kicks a couple. Chandler a couple and Kossie great in the middle and a couple of goals. If ever we get some consistent games out of a tall forward combination we will have found the magic dust. After a couple of close games this game against Richmond gives us a little pressure release which could be dangerous. I am aware that we are a well structured mature side but we still need to have our collective minds on the game and not let any complacency to slip in. Tough being a selector at Melbourne these days as we have a lot of good options in all areas of the ground and a lot of players putting their hands up. Defence is a solid unit and performing. Tomlinson deserves this game and to continue as long as he holds form. I would start McVee on Martin in the forward line initially and trust the mids to hinder delivery into the forward space. Martin is half a pace slower than he used to be and it would be good for the development of McVee to beat him. Petty for Brown is ok, I would have given Brown one more run there to see if he could get on the end of a few but understand the thinking. We need to get a bit of time for Petty there prior to the finals to see what we can see. it will be interesting to see what will happen when Fritsch gets back. While I would start Oliver every single game that he is fit for, I have feeling that his prolonged absence will be good for us in the longer term as it is giving our other mids a chance to move into some different possibilities. in a lot of ways it has forced the coaches hands to look at different setups. Who would have thought that in Oliver's absence we would move Petracca forward more and have Brayshaw, Pickett, Sparrow and Rivers spending more time there along with Jordon. Speaking of Jordon, with Sparrow out injured, I am looking forward to seeing his game this week. Smith as sub again this week and I would still love to see the coaches game enough to put the trigger when required rather than 5 mins into the final quarter. I feel a good win coming up. Dees by 5 ........ goals

Some people on this site only see the mistakes and the negatives in a game without appreciating the big picture. I watched the game and saw a willing close contest with the ebb and flow of momentum. All the players made mistakes, some under pressure and others without pressure. It happens in a game of footy. What I see is that we have a few rounds to go in the season and we are in forth place on the ladder a couple of games and percentage clear of 5th. We have been playing the last 8/9 weeks without one of the top 5 mids in the competition and without one of the leagues top goalkicking forwards. Add to that Petty injured and I think it is commendable that we are winning matches under those circumstances. We also have players like Grundy and Spargo playing for Casey ready to step up when required. Melksham has been great cover for Fristch and Tomlinson has been a seamless replacement for Petty. A great position to be in. We do not have to rush anyone back into the team. We have the time and space to allow them to be 100% when they come back into the team. Good wins over the last two weeks and a good position to be in. I will state for the record that the Demons team in the '21 Grand Final played the best footy I have every seem a team play. As close to perfect as you will see. EDIT: forgot Hibberd who is also worthy of a team spot.

Melksham, Jordan, Rivers and Laurie on the bench with Smith a Sub for me. I would like to see a more aggressive use of the sub. if a player is down then sub him out sooner rather than later. I know that you run the risk of an injury coming and then being one man down on the rotations but, if a player is clearly not performing then you are already handicapping yourself by not using the sub early.

Another interesting week for selections. Petty needs a rest. shame that they played him last week. Give him a week or two to rest and recover. Spargo not looking sparkly and might be in line to step back to Casey. Defence: Tomlinson replaces Petty in like for like. we know what is the best structure for our defence and having Petty/Tomlinson there with Lever and May is the way to go. besides, May looked a bit proppy last week and we may need cover for him with a tall. Smith as Sub to cover as many places a possible. Rest of the defence a is. I liked the way that Rivers got a bit of a run on the ball and I would look at rotating McVee on to a wing if the opportunity arose just to see what we might see. Mids: Lost their way a bit in the middle two quarters but overall I liked the performance without Oliver around. I think that this extended period without Oliver able to play might well be a good thing in the mid to longer term. Viney has really stepped up and knows what he is still capable of. Has taken a lot of responsibility as have a few of the mids the next step below. I like the way Sparrow has played as well as Jordon. Like Brayshaw playing more time in the middle a well. with the depth and experience we are developing in this area it might mean that Oliver and Petracca can spend a bit more time forward and/or resting. Forwards: A better balance this week without Grundy resting forward and with Brown and JVR as tall targets. I like the way they are using JVR now. A role very similar to the one Jackson played. I would give Spargo a run at Casey as he is not as effective a he has been in the past. in his place I would bring in Harmes. I like to have a good number of mids rotating through and I like the hard body he brings. I am sure the selectors will do what they believe is the correct thing and disregard what I think...... they probably think they know better than I do.

Smith to sub on for Pickett

At least there is some method to their madness.

Out: Fristch (injured), Chandler, Smith, Harmes (omitted) In: Jordon, Spargo, Woewodin and Melksham IMO this is a much better balanced side than we have had for the last 5 games. Much more run and rotations available for the mids and a good mix in the forward 50. Brown did a reasonable job last week given the conditions and I expect him to do well under the roof. I think we will see Gawn/Grundy resting mainly forward to pair with Brown a the tall. I could even see Petty moving forward if the defence is well on top. Good variation and flexibility available with these selection. We will win this one by 2 goals or 12 points.

Good one. Well done Taj. It is good to see a bit of new blood come through.

Drop Gawn or Grundy. Bring in JVR to play a Jackson role to whoever is first ruck. Brown and Petty and JVR (rotating from the ruck) as talls in the forward 50. Kossie on last chance to to turn around his form ANB and one of Spargo or Chandler in there as well. If Oliver comes back in then Rotate Jordon, Petracca and Sparrow through the forward 50 at times to help cover the loss of Fristch. Ahhh Hell! it is all like moving the deck chairs. The forward line has been rubbish for the last 4 or 5 seasons and the club ha done nothing to remedy the situation. Love to see some of the younger guys from Casey given a run. It must be disheartening for them to see the rubbish being dished up by the senior team and see that not opportunities are opening up for them. The team at the moment really do look like a bunch of plodders.

Lost that game at selection and with inaccurate kicking for goal. I will get kicked for this but I would drop either Gawn or Grundy and bring in JVR to play a Jackson like role. drop Chandler and Pickett and look to get more running rotations into the midfield/forwards. Give Brown another run at it as I thought hi was not bad given the conditions. we need to do something different to what we have been doing for the last six weeks. It should not take our coaching team his long to react.

Of the 8 named for the interchange two are key forwards in JVR and Brown, Two are small forwards in Spargo and Pickett with Pickett able to rotate into the mids if required ( he does not seem to have been required there much recently). The other four are Bowey, small defender, Tomlinson, tall defender, Petty swing either key forward or back and Melksham who has only been used recently as a HF. So no runners for midfield rotation. I think this is a mistake.

Either Laurie or Jordon as I believe that we have to few rotations for the midfield. This is the team I would put out against GWS. B: Bowey May Lever HB: Salem Petty/Tomlinson McVee C: Langdon Viney Hunter HF: ANB Petty/Brown Pickett F: Fritsch Van Rooyen Grundy R: Gawn Petracca Sparrow Int: Rivers Laurie Jordon Brayshaw Sub: Melksham

Yep. you are right.... 8 tackles inside 50 in the last four and a total of 17 tackles in the same period. I like Chandler and think he has done well this season but I see him as out of form and I would prefer to see him gain form at Casey.

Last word on this AF. I have done a bit more digging into the stats. I know that they can really tell you whatever you want them to but in the last 4 games we have laid 57 tackles in our forward 50. Of those 57 Chandler has laid 5 and Spargo 3. For reference, in the same 4 games JVR laid 6 tackles, ANB 8 and Fristch 4.

At least we agree on Spargo... on Chandler we can agree to disagree. I just do not think he has done enough over the last 4 weeks to justify selection this week.

OK. As far as tackles go, Chandler has done ok in the last 4 games with 17 tackles overall but Spargo has only 7 tackles in the last 4 games. The combined output with goals and tackles with these two does not, to my mind, justify their inclusion in the team until they improve their form. Also note that between them they have had a total of 2 goal assists in the same period. Both to Spargo. In those last 4 games, 2 losses and 2 wins, we have kicked a total of 34 goals and 58 behinds. Chandler and Spargo have been responsible for 1 goal 10 behinds of that total. Yeah. Sure...lets go into the next game with exactly the same setup in the forward line and hope that we get a different result. These guys are out of form and we need to try something else.

In the last four games we have got exactly one goal out of Spargo and zero goals,out of Chandler. Not an acceptable return for a couple of small forwards. Jordon can at least give us some time in the middle.

Brown in for Smith Bowey in for Hibberd Laurie in for Chandler Jordon in for Spargo and Melksham in as sub

I do hope that we get back to basics at the selection table this week. My team for the Alice match below. B: Bowey May Lever HB: Salem Petty/Tomlinson McVee C: Langdon Viney Hunter HF: ANB Petty/Brown Pickett F: Fritsch Van Rooyen Grundy R: Gawn Petracca Sparrow Int: Rivers Laurie Jordon Brayshaw Sub: Melksham