Backs
May and Lever aren't a massive problem if we deliver like we did against Geelong. We'll get smashed if forced to bomb it in though.
I wonder who will play on Steven May. Wouldn't mind putting Treacy on him. Rough him up a little
Mids
I look forward to seeing how we go against Melbourne’s midfield.
Hunter's 90% game time is going to be a challenge to fill without costing something elsewhere. That's before Oliver potentially out. I'd like all the help we can get against Melbourne.
Hunter plays 90% of the game on the field allowing their rotations elsewhere, it's a supreme effort and a real strength of the Melbourne side that such hard running roles (both wings) spend almost the whole game on the grass. To have to replace that player with another is not going to be as simple as the next one up, they will need to change their entire rotations plan.
Highly disruptive to lose either Hunter or Langdon.
Hunter has a real habit of playing his best games against us so I am taking it as a pretty significant out.
They're very lucky Viney didn't also get a week.
Aish to Trac?
Looks like Oliver's out. Out of 46 players on the park is he the one you'd least want to be without?
Back Ras to give Trac are hard time all game, would also be a good learning experience for the young bloke as Petraca is probably the best comparison to Ras as a player.
In our dreams Ras turns out to be like Petracca. That is a very high bar.
We don't need to bring in a kid to stop Trac.
Give Ras a run with role on Petracca. Could move Aish to the sub role or put him back in defense.
Jackson
Key match ups are: Gawn and Grundy vs Darcy and Jackson, and May and Lever vs Treacy and Amiss. We give up 200 games vs Gawn and Grundy and over 300 games vs Lever and May. We will have to play out of our skins to win this one.
In a perfect world Jackson will make the difference on the weekend.
In a perfect world (for us) we win by 200+ so Jackson's got his work cut out kicking 34 goals this week to be the difference.
Amiss needs those goals. Jackson can have the goal assists. Only way he'll get noticed by the rising star committee.
Got a feeling Jackson is either BOG or has an absolute shocker tbh.
If the crowd treats him like we treated Lobb, I'm not sure if he could handle it?
Should be a great game. Would be absolutely epic if LJ tears them apart and Freo fans drown out the home fans like last year, legit sounded like a Freo home game.
Whenever players that have left us first come up against us at home they have a mare. Kinda expect Jackson to be a bit down with so much interest in how he plays, and extra attention from his old team mates.
Jackson is a premiership player at Melbourne and is a player their fans generally quite liked. Doubt it’s anywhere near the same level.
Maybe, however Jackson when down in the forward line causes them real headaches as they have been playing Rivers in the midfield. Their third tall in defense is missing and I expect that they may bring in Tomlinson because of this.
Darcy and Jackson will hold their own easily, Darcy has done it before. If Lycett can do the job he did then our rucks can do it.
Grasping at straws award
8 wins from 17 games at MCG against the Demons with a % of 100.55. So we have decent record against them there. Admitting we beat up on them during the Ross Lyon era when they were beyond putrid.
QD's personal favorite
We have never lost to Naarm.