CHF

The above are only selection blunders if we lose.

Line up the cheese boards folks, selection is going to be a long discussion……. Or not, as the case may be. With the announcement of Mcvee and Laurie to debut and the certain outs of Viney, Fristch and Salem there is not lot of wriggle room for selection. I think May will be named in the side and given right through to the warmup to prove good. If he makes the game, it will be pretty much the side that played and comfortably beat the Tiges. B: Lever, May, McVee HB: Rivers, Petty, Bowey C: Langdon, Oliver, Hunter HF: ANB, TMac, Spargo F: Pickett: Brown: Grundy Fol: Gawn, Petracca, Brayshaw I: Sparrow, Laurie, Chandler, Harmes Sub: Schache/Hibberd I like the back 6 as named and if May does not get up for the game I would look at Tomlinson to replace him. I lean that way instead of Disco just on the basis of experience. I know he looks to be out of form but slotting him in in this game might just boost his confidence. If Turner gets the run then I will not have a problem with that either. Coaches and selectors would have a better idea than me. Brayshaw into the middle in place of Viney in the rotations. We know what he brings to the table in the middle, as a defender and on a wing. His flexibility and ability are an incredible asset to have in the team. Forwards are always going to be an interesting selection discussion at the moment. I would start them the way I have named them with Grundy up forward with Brown and TMac. Might just give the doggies something to think about. Midfield rotations are Petracca, Oliver, Brayshaw, Sparrow, Harmes, Pickett, ANB and Rivers with Landon and Hunter 100% on the wings. Sub is difficult but I think it will be between Schache and Hibberd to try and cover the possible tall doggie timber.

On a plane for the duration of the game and then some. Will watch a delayed viewing without knowing the result.

Am I correct that Casey are playing a practice match against Coburg tomorrow evening at home? If so has anyone got any information on the squad? I would like to see if Frisch and Viney are to get a run.

Been reading a bit about the doggies stacking their forward 50 with tall timber. I don’t think we would mind that at all. In a way it would be playing to our strengths. We have one of the best performing defences in the league and a midfield that more than shades the doggies midfield that also is well drilled in two way running and fast transistion. their mids will need to dominate and have excellent delivery all day. I believe that when it hits the ground in their forward 50 we will win it 7 out of 10 times and be able to work it out via the wings. Dees by 5 going away.

After what the team has shown in the two competitive hit outs they have had so far I am looking forward to the season and this first round match up in particular. The first round always is exciting for me. Footy is back for the next six months and there is always a touch of the unknown about how the Demons will perform and what the opposition will bring to the table. The Demons look fit, well drilled, stong and mature in the way they have delivered in the competitive games so far. The game against the Tigers without 3 of our starting 22 (or should that now read 23) in Viney, Frisch and Salem showed great depth and a strong playing structure. A strong defence even without Salem with a couple of very handy players ready to step up when required. Same in midfield without Viney. A number of rotation options inside with a couple of top class runners on the wings. As it was last season, the forwards could be a problem. Against Richmond we kicked a good score in the heat without Frisch, our best goal kicker over the last two seasons, there will be some head scratching in selection over how to set that area up and how to make sure we have match day flexibility in that area. as for the Dogs….. well I think they will struggle a bit this year. Lost a few over the off season and gained a few. There will need to be a bit of them having to work out how to play to the different strengths of the different players. Plus they have had one competitive hit out against North who, as we know, are like the Demons of the past, struggling and undermanned. I will be interested to see how they hold up when the pressure of 4 points is on. Looking at their team now against their 21 grand final team, I think they are a step or two weaker. Whereas I believe we are a bit better than what we where in the last match of 21. Plus the Doggies still have the porn star as coach and I just do not rate him. we have them covered in defence and the midfield and I think we will generate enough scoring opportunities to run out winners by 5 goals. go Dees!

Has the squad for Casey been announced?

True...... Drop one of the Harmes and add Sparrow

I always find it hard to select a team for Round 1 from just training reports in January. I will not let this deter me from expressing an opinion. This January there looks to be a healthy list and more than a few players that look likely. I really like the way that players are being developed and I do recall talk of making sure there is flexibility in the positions players are capable of playing. The coaching staff look to have followed through on that. BACKS: The key players look to select themselves to a degree. May, Lever and Petty to my mind are certainties for R1 if fit. As a unit they are, if not the best three-man defensive unit in the league, so damn close to It, it does not matter. Salem is another that I would think is an automatic selection if fit and firing. After that it is horses for courses and who is in form. Bowey, Hibberd and Rivers all could be selected for R1. There is plenty of quality depth and coverage for defence in the key positions as well as the small/medium defenders. Tomlinson sounds like he is super fit and keen and will cover the keys while we know Brayshaw can slot in to the back six if required. MIDS: If we look strong and well covered in the backs I think we are in an even better position in the midfield with the established players, the younger experienced players and the newer players coming through. Let’s see….. at the center bounce we have Petracca, Oliver, Viney and Brayshaw that have all been outstanding there and all looking strong at training. Add Sparrow, Harmes and possibly Pickett getting a run in the center or at bounces around the ground and we have good matchday cover and flexibility. Langdon on one wing is a certainty and it looks like Hunter to get first crack at the other. Jordon, Brayshaw (again) and ANB as backup on the wings. If required, I believe ANB could back up a wing and use his running and endurance as a weapon. RUCKS: Gawn as starting ruck: no question about it. BUT, What is the plan and does it work? A couple of questions that will only be answered when we are eating the pudding. Given Grundy’s experience and quality I think they will pull the trigger on playing them both in R1. There are so many ways to play the two of them with them either resting forward or back or a bit of bench time with a forward taking throwins in the Forward 50 and one or two of the rucks a kick behind. A lot of options that will have the opposition guessing. FORWARDS: Not an understatement to say there were a few problems in this area last season and it is hard to see any locks for the forward 50 besides Fritsch. Pickett is the other one I would lock in if he is to play forward predominately. The rest? Brown, TMac, JVR, Schache, Resting ruck? Key forward selection will depend on training perceived form and match practice. The smaller forwards are just as hard to predict. ANB and Spargo do not seem to kick enough goals but do have other abilities that standout. Anb’s running ability and endurance allows him to track from contest to contest so easily. Where Spargo is a good user of the ball and compliments that with good vision. Both have good cases for inclusion. Chandler looks to have stepped up a bit this pre-season and could make a case for a run in the forwards at the feet of the key forwards. Melksham to step up there as required? LOCKS: Backs: May, Lever, Petty, Salem Mids: Oliver, Petracca, Viney, Brayshaw, Langdon Ruck: Gawn Forwards: Fritsch, Pickett (?) NEXT PICKED: Backs: Two of Bowey, Rivers and Hibberd Mids: Sparrow,Pickett(?) Harmes, Hunter, Jordon and Dunstan Ruck: Grundy – dependent upon game plan Forwards: two of Brown, TMac and JVR. Two of Spargo, ANB, Melksham and Chandler. R1 OUTSIDER PICKS: Backs: Tomlinson, Turner, J Smith, D Smith Mids: Woewodin, Howes(wing) Forward: Schache, Laurie. January Guess for R1 Backs: Lever, May, Rivers HB: Salem, Petty, Bowey Mid: Langdon, Petracca, Hunter HF: Pickett, JVR, Harmes F: Fritsch, TMac, Spargo FOL: Gawn, Oliver, Viney Inter: Brayshaw, Harmes, Jordon, ANB, Grundy

I also have a training question. For the first time in a few years I am coming back to Australia to visit family shortly. I will not, however be in Melbourne. I will be staying just north of Brisbane and wondered if the Mighty, recent premiership winning Dees are spending a week at Maroochydore. If they are I will get along to a training session and try my hand at a rreport. Any one got any idea?

The tall additions we have gained over this off season will make for some interesting selections going into the early rounds. In defence, I would look at maintaining Petty as a key defender working with May and Lever. he is just so very good at what he does back there and I can see him as the next generational link in the defence as the older players lose a yard or pick up age related injuries. I would not move him forward unless we had run out of alternatives. As for tall forwards, to my mind the election will depend on late per-season form that are in the mix. Brown, Tmac, JVR, Schache could all step up and make it hard for them not to be selected early on. Wit regard to rucks, how and where they are played will depend a bit on how our forward structure is working. If Tmac is in the forwards then he could shoulder the ruck work in the forward 50. They may even give JVR a bit of work there a la Jackson. Compete and then back it up with some mobile agile ground work. i think Jackson has opened the door for more young talls to try to emulate him in that way. I get the feeling that Goodwin will want to settle the team from R1 and will go with Brown, Tmac and Fritsch with JVR on the bench. the usual suspects running at their feet and applying pressure. Will be very interesting to watch the early part of the season unfold.

I opened this thread hoping to g read a meaty discussion on Tom’s fitness progress and all I get are weak puns. Disappointing.

I'm ok with this trade and the outcome. Hard to imagine us doing much better when there is such a limited market to sell into.... just one buyer. There was haggling to be sure and I believe that we did as well a we could. The picks we got this year nd next will bring in some young talent and the selections we have will also allow us to trade into a few deals next season. With Jackson's performances over the season I think it was obvious that he was not 100% committed and I did not see his performances improving if, by some chance he was forced to stay. I like the way that the club has handled the situations of player moving on. Jackson OOC and wanting to move home. We thank him for his service, we wish him well and do what we can to get a proper return on the sale. Bedford, similar. We let him and the footy world know we would have liked to keep him but understand his point of view wanting more senior game time and do what we can to et him to his preferred destination. Doing things like that will help us in our future dealings with players and their agents. Dees in 23!!!

You may be right but Petty has formed part of such a good defensive unit we mat be robbing peter to pay paul. Any chance Turner might get a run in the forwards during pre-season?

Heard a whisper that we are talking to him. I would find it hard to imagine the Dogs trading him in the present circumstances. never know what might happen if they land Lobb.

While this season ended with a whimper rather than a bang I saw some positive signs for next season and ones immediately following.

The match committee has been right more times than it has been wrong over the last couple of seasons and I have to trust this week's selection. I know that this team and these players have the ability, talent and a team structure to win this game. They have performed well over the last couple of seasons and defeated Brisbane by nearly 10 goals two games ago. I am sure that the coaching team will have them primed for a good performance and have them ready for whatever Zorko's Zeros will throw at us. The game against Sydney illustrated exactly what can happen if we lose our discipline. I doubt that will be allowed to happen this week. I want to us out-pressure them and out-work them across the ground. Confident of a win - Dees by 7 goals

More chance of me getting pregnant.

I am not sure this observation is relevant but I have noticed that the players all wear short socks these days.

Hmmmm 60 years ago today my inlaws got married and I am committed to a large family lunch. Yeah, I know that they are not Australian..... not interested in footy and all that but why the hell get married in September???? I will get to watch the first half live and then have to wait until after the family lunch to watch the second half..... no matter how good the food and drink it will not be appreciated. Go Dees! 4 goals margin.

That is the best team we have available at the moment. Only two different to the starting 2 in the '21GF. I think we have the Swannies shaded in the midfield and our defence will need to be at their best and have the usual pressure of all team defence up the ground to hold the forwards of Sydney. Our forwards team performed well last week and had great service into the forward 50. Silver service and accurate kicking was a highlight against the Lions. I still look at our forwards a a week to week proposition. Tough Sydney defence will test them out. Dees by 4 goals going away.

I could see Salem in for Bowey but he would be stiff. He is a very calm player that has time with the ball and is very measured in his delivery. The same could be said re Salem. Bowey sticks his tackles and, without looking up the stats, I would say he has more defensive tackles than Salem per game.. Medi sub? How about Tmac? Can cover attack and defense and if he does not get a run on Friday night he can get a run with Casey. I think we have enough variety and flexibility in the rest of the team to cover most situations.

Yeah Red, that could well be the case. However, I am sure we are talking to a number of players to ensure we have a few options in place depending on what plays out. It is just that the Grundy meeting became public knowledge.

Earlier on this season I posted on this thread information that came to me from a usually reliable contact that the deal was all but settled and that Luke would sign within two weeks an extension of two years. That, of course, did not happen. Since then I have not bothered to post on this thread the whispers that I have heard. So many of them were conflicting and sounded more like wishes than a reflection of the true situation. My reading of all that I have heard is that, while there is a very, very good offer on the table from Freo for Luke, it is not a done deal. The main problem is Freo will have trouble meeting our requested asking price and that Luke is reluctant to consider a WC offer. This may end up in the Dees getting a deal across the line for a 2 year deal while Freo get their ducks in line for a reasonable deal. This is purely my conjecture. I do not think anyone outside the MFC have any real idea of what is going on as lips are sealed on this and there are no real leaks. Good to see and good that it is not really a distraction with the new Finals season coming up.

As far as I am concerned, it will be the midfield battle that determines the outcome. Our mids are well schooled in the transition from attack to defence and vis versa. Agains Brisbane we did not look to tag their most effective mids in Neale, McCluggage etc we opted to make them accountable by making sure they had attacking players on them. I like that we did that. With a tag some players have the freedom to attack as they wish without precaution, and not be accountable for an opponent. So part off the discussion I want to hear is do we do as we did against Brisbane and trust in our attacking midfield or do we tag players from the start? I think we attack from the outset proactively and, if required look to tag players that are hurting us as a plan B.