Pates

Ok lots of changes I can think of but I think we shouldn’t be changing things up too much. I’ll give my reasons below In: OMac, Kozzie, Weids, Hibberd (possible idea) Out: Smith, ANB, LJ, Brayshaw (hear me out) So the first three, Smith is not a backman. If that is what they are deciding on for him as a player than what I saw has him behind Oscar is so many ways. OMac has his issues but at the very least he’ll do the basics expected of him as a defender. Smith cost us goals going for spectacular marks. If he wants to do that send him forward. Kozzie for ANB, harsh but ANB faded like many of him teammates after half time. He has his shot, didn’t do enough. Weids for LJ. I know there will be a lot of opposition for this but simply LJ isn’t ready, he’s got a very bright future ahead of him but now isn’t the time to be throwing in a young body to the forward line when that forward line isn’t producing results. My controversial one, Brayshaw out for Hibberd. Two things on this: Harmes is WASTED in defence. Leave it to Melbourne to take a weapon and turn it into a flower (sadly not of the Robbie variety). His best spot is in the guts, which means someone needs to make way. That someone is Brayshaw who has been poor two weeks in a row. In a match where we needed someone to step up it could’ve been him with Trac getting tagged. Time to drop him. That results in a spot down back opening back up for Hibberd, he got lots of the ball and got himself into good positions. If he can lower the eyes and look for targets rather than bombing aimlessly then maybe just maybe he could become something again. Other change I thought about were Jones for AvB, could well happen as Jones was way off. But I think Jones will be given a bit of grace given his standing at the club, but he’s on thin ice. The other bold one would be TMac for Weids in a shock, but I think Tom’s role needs to change, and we should be pushing Weids to become our main target.

Something I wanted to add, Harmes in defence is failing. He was an attacking, valuable midfielder and now he’s been turned into a useless Half back who has little influence on the game. If it’s because Brayshaw is already there, then drop Brayshaw and bring in Hibberd. Brayshaw has been poor two weeks in a row, his free ride is over. Drop him to regain some form in the scratch match, Harmes takes his place and they compete for that last midfield spot.

Both still had good games, probably harsh for me to say Clarry didn’t have a good game, I only meant I didn’t feel his possessions were effective or damaging. But he did have a good game. Trac also would be in the votes, might even go so far to say BOG in that his first quarter was so good it set us up and what he did the rest of the game was good. But it was still very much like his previous seasons in that he wasn’t able to maintain a high level the whole time (few can). EDIT I am also holding them to a higher standard because they are ultimately two that the club will be depending on becoming more than just good players. They need to be in the conversation for top 10 in the league for us to be anything.

It’s not a bad point about the footy department, they have selected a forward line that they hope will just click. I said it in the post match thread that I feel like we have the weapons but don’t know how to use them (though Fritch, like Cripps, should’ve had more goals to his name). I was thinking that we play TMac as a high CHF, he is aerobically quite mobile for a tall so he should be using it to run his opponent for his feet. I like the idea of sending Smith to the forward line, he doesn’t look like a defender. I would also like to see them try Weids again, as a FF. Not the back up ruckman, a stay at home key forward. Jackson gets dropped to make this happen, I like the kid but he’s got some development needed on his body. The quarters are shorter so Max can have more game time, TMac and Weids share rucking duties. I’d like to Max rested forward.

Ok 24hrs later here are some of my reflections: For once when we got out of the blocks well we put it on the scoreboard, the first quarter won us the game. I wonder how we would feel if the worm was reversed, first 3 quarters awful and run them down. Ultimately we were in front at the final siren. Seeing Bennell get through the game was a massive positive, the little things he did were good and he was silky. He’ll get better and hopefully lift the team around him. He didn’t have a great game but Clarry is one of the few that could claim to have remained in the contest when we dropped, we needed more like him. It was still a typical Petracca game of one blistering quarter, one good quarter, and 2 quarters that had good little bursts. He’s still yet to put together a complete game, but in this instance it was because he got tagged and that goal in the third quarter was massive. What is troubling was how the players responded when Carlton inevitable rise in intensity came. We went into our shells and played conservatively, we looked like we were trying to hold onto a lead in the last quarter rather than win it. Where’s the killer instinct? I’m not going to be too critical of him in his second game as captain but it seemed to follow him, when they started breaking even in the ruck contest the Carlton on ballers lifted. Biggest worry is our forward line, I feel like we have the weapons but we don’t know how to use them. Tommy Mac though....yeesh I just don’t know what to think anymore. I’m starting to think to get him into games he has to be changed in his role to a mobile athletic forward that is leading his player all over the ground because as a target inside 50 he’s doing very little. But that leaves us short deeper. I know some people had good feels about Jackson in the forward line, it just didn’t seem to work for me. I want them to give Weids another shot. I have more musings such as how awful we were from kick ins, but I’ll leave it to that for now. We got the win, that’s what ultimately matters.

Great call, his first win as captain should’ve been celebrated. Poor form from the others, and honestly after giving up such a lead they should’ve have been that excited to sing it.

The first quarter was as good as it could get, the rest of the game was a disgrace. I know people don’t like OMac, well suck it up. Choosing Smith over him almost cost us the game, Smith doesn’t look like a key defender. A floating interception defender perhaps but zero sense of how/when to go for contests and spoil. Before I say this let me be clear, I like the look for Jackson and I think he has a big future with us. But having him over Weiderman just gave us nothing, he didn’t do enough at the ruck contests and didn’t have any forward sense. Give him time but Weids should be in there. But what really concerned me was the middle of the ground, they murdered us after half time and I’d say we broke even in the second quarter. Viney and Brayshaw were MIA at times and all of a sudden our ruck domination with Max went to zip. The other big problem is Tom McDonald, he wasn’t even in the contest today again not great delivery but neither did he create a break even. He should be put on notice that one more game like that and he’s dropped. We got the win, we didn’t deserve it. 1-1 gives us a chance but right now we look right off it.

All those people calling for Smith over OMac, how are you feeling now? He’s been awful.

1st = quarter 2018 So far everything after that = 2019 They are killing us in the centre and this should be closer.

We need a goal to settle

Tomlinson should be dragged for that kick.

Quiet with good little bits, hasn’t really been in many contested marking situations. I’d like to see a bit more from him in the 2nd half.

That last 5-7min was 2019 like, zero poise and they started getting lazy. Need to smash them early in the 3rd quarter to kill the game and kill their confidence. Not a whole lot to like about that 2nd quarter aside from a couple of little bursts.

Well, that was good to watch. Best thing is that it could’ve been better, still wasted a few golden chances going forward. When ANB was picked after Kozzie’s suspension I said he should be given a rev up to make it hard to not pick him. He’s done more in that one quarter than four quarters last week. Hunt 2 goals in a minute was great to watch. Petracca if he can keep this game going is on track for 3 votes. Rivers (apart from his first kick) has been silky. Jackson has been nervy and needs to do more. I really think we should’ve pick Weids. 3 more quarters Dees, keep it going!

It's frustrating we're going to have to wait to see Kozzi and Bennell in the same team. Just so silly.

I actually want this to be revisited after 2020, they can share it around but at least one of the "big clubs" should be going down there every year. And the cats should be forced to increase allocation to opposition fans/members by 3000-4000, perhaps make it their trade off as they seem keen on having more games there. I wouldn't be against them hosting finals against Vic sides either but there should be a minimum allocation of 8000-10000 seats to away fans if it's a Victorian team.

The way he worked in 2018, running hard to get to contests and contributing usually 1-2 goals a game was important. He is one that should feel like he has a point to prove, if this doesn't give him the kick up the bum he needs than nothing will.

Not dismissing you and the Melbourne footy department have done stupider things in the past but that makes zero sense. Jackson hasn't played with the defense AT ALL, he has been touted as a forward option with midfield stints so not once has him being played as a defender being mentioned, and where does this leave Smith then? Playing in the forward line when he's been training (promisingly apparently) with the defense. I can see Gawn going back there at times but if Jackson plays in defense then I will be shocked. I personally don't agree with OMac being given the chop when he actually played alright against WC.

Can't believe we're actually here, feels like forever. This match is huge, if ever I'd like to see us come out and smash a team hard early it's tomorrow. I wonder if there'll be any info about how players went in the scratch match.

I hope Goody takes ANB aside and makes it clear to him that this is a lucky occurrence, he should not be in the team based on the WC game he's been given this lucky shot to prove himself. I'd be telling him there are a bunch of players chomping at the bit to get out there, so make it hard on the selection committee to not pick him.

He’d had a good pre-season before the broken foot as well. Personally I’d be happy but would we be taking too big a risk with two newbs and two returning from long term injuries?

I thought the team lists were relatively flexible until about 24hrs out from the match. Given the unusual year we’re having maybe we could ask for flexibility to make change particularly as it’s 2 players from the squad.

Good shout, haven’t heard anything about Hannan but if he’s fit I’d be keen to see him back in the line up.

I’m massively disappointed in Kozzie for breaking the COVID rules, given the length of tie between matches you’d think players would be extra careful. I’m hoping that Bedford is the one the bring in for him but I could see ANB being preferred with some more runs on the board. Both had pretty poor games vs WC. Can’t see it happening but maybe as another option AvB, sounded like he and Bennell were at similar stages but it’d be a risk to have two debutants and two players who’ve barely played footy in the last 18-24 months.

I agree that Hibberd is likely to be the one carried over, although the difficulty is that I'd like to see everyone get a run to push for selection. Weiderman needs to have a big crack in this scratch match, demand a spot back in the team. In round one we had an Essendon delisted player come in in front of him and now a 1st year player, if that doesn't motivate him then nothing will.