Young Blood

The least excited I've been about a Joel Smith inclusion since he joined the club. I feel as though he's purely in the side based on need and short turn arounds and less on his form in the practice matches/training. Either way I hope that means he has a good game. Unfortunately for Joel the backline is pretty deep this season at the medium-tall back positions. This along with poor run of injuries has really stunted his development at AFL level. Looking for him to really show something with the opportunity tonight.

A lot of faith in what people are deeming out (taller) forward combination for the next few years. Weid - obviously finally finding some continuity but still largely unproven. On the right path to being our key forward. Jackson - 19 year old who has looked great around the ground with huge upside but very raw and forward craft questionable and possibly needs a lot of work. Too early to tell. Petty - Injury interrupted career, played all of his junior footy down back (?) and most of his time at Melbourne as a key back. Was swung forward in some desperation and performed well but very small sample size. If he can get his body right would love to see him push for the spot but definitely no sure thing. Fritsch - Our most consistent forward. Plays well is space and a great 3rd marking option. Finds space, superb kicking etc. etc. tick Melksham - Obviously an important player and key for the next two seasons but at 29 he might be limited in coming years. Brown - I think this was a really smart signing for our forward depth. Provides a great contest. Mobile and proven goal kicker. But probably only another season in him. Tmac - Combination of limited movement and ability with his confidence down also. Can't see him finding his previous best and is just a depth forward currently. So I guess what I'm saying is relying on such a predominantly unproven group concerns me especially when our main problem is finding avenues to score as a group. I actually think our small forward depth is looking healthy (Kozzy, Spargo, Hannan, ANB, Bedford, Hunt, Bennel). I do love the upside of our young talls but I also don't see the harm in adding to our depth if we can afford it. It's an area we need some continuity.

I hope Rivers retains his spot. I feel like he's an upgrade playing what seems a similar role to Harmes as a high half back. I would even have Wagner ahead of Harmes. He was fumbly at times in his first game back but I prefer his ball use and decision making to Harmes this year. Happy for James to build some form in the practice games but he has been consistantly poor this year. Also please to Tmac. I prefer Brown as a mobile high forward and with Bayley coming back I think its a good balance. For me: Out: Hannan, Hibberd (or Omac) In: Fritsch, Lockhart

T Mac is a real worry especially with the contract you mentioned. Needs to drop kg's and find some sort of mobility because he just looks so sapped of confidence and ability at the moment. Would much rather a 24 yr old on the same trajectory. He's had a down year Jeremy but he's also only kicked three goals less then Weid (15-18) for the season and is clearly not the number one option. I agree I don't think its realistic but would love to have him if the opportunity arose. Where have you heard about Saad being available or wanting to leave? I thought he would be in Essendons top 5 most important players...

Langdon has a huge tank. Not sure about Hunts. When we played him off half back/wing a few seasons ago yes he would provide great run but I would watch that followed by him absolutely stuffed with hands on knees often after a couple of repeat sprints. Also Langdon's disposal is OK and tracking along well. Hunts is just awful. I imagine we will only see Hunt come in for a small forward like Kozzy or Hannan. I think the balance we have at the moment is good further up the ground.

I feel like we saw his most well rounded game on the weekend. I think he did exactly what you suggested above. His kicking has been great lately. I love it when he he takes the first open option then sprints ahead to receive the next kick or handball. Starting to become one of our most important players with our ball movement. Has anyone else noticed every game we have several passages of play where we hug the boundary line with short kicks? I've been impressed with this added part of our game. Taking the open options down the line until we can bring it back into the corridor or inside 50.

Looked over to me but who knows. Doesn't matter now. It's a goal. They're going to put goal line cameras at every game. Convo over. But also... He marked that ball. Even if the St. Kilda defender got some of that first touch this is mark every day of the week, I've seen one of these called everygame even when the other player gets first touch. Trac gets the majority of the first touch with his hand in front and you can see by the way the ball goes straight up that he had control of it using more palm as opposed to the other players swiping fingers (of which he if go most of it the ball would travel sideways). If this wasn't deemed a goal or simply rolled through for a behind we would be having a different more frustrating conversation as demons supporters because that was a mark. Quite a brilliant Petracca pure strength and skills mark.

We won the game because we shut down areas where St.Kilda move/run the ball. We gutted out the last quarter winning crucial contests.

A lot of praise for May and Trac and rightly so as our clear best two on the ground. But I thought there were a few that really contributed to gutting out that win. Langdon was again terrific. Covers ground with pace and along that far non broadcasting side wing he was busy all night creating opportunities with run and ball use. We've been screaming for this type of player and he's slotted in perfectly. His attack on the ball has been a nice surprise as well as his improved kicking. I thought he was pretty clean all night especially when others weren't. Clayton really stepped up in the second half and like we saw in the Adelaide game he used short bursts of run when he gained possession in the contest to break open. You can see it throws off the opposition who are so used to him giving the quick first handball option. Loving the added element to his game. I hope and think he's taking advantage of Trac taking the extra attention to advantage and quietly adding strings to his bow. Viney although not effective with possession was in every contest all night. They gave him no space or time but he still put his body on the line and was able to get repeat stoppages constantly across the ground. He will be very sore today being crunched a lot last night. His diving handball late to Clayton in the dying seconds to give us out last rebound out of defence was outstanding. The improvement in his fitness is obvious and he's been a key catalyst in us grinding out games late with his ability to just keep going and going and going. Salem is definitely in our top 5 most important players and I thought he was key again last night with his class, composure and ball use. Didn't get a whole lot of it but thought it was maybe the best or most important performance from Tomlinson. Seemed to have a clear role playing on Membry but taking advantage of Membry dropping back from contests to push up as an option. Maybe a risky move but I liked his attack and confidence with the ball last night. Seems to be getting more comfortable back there playing off his man at times ie. the mark late. Used it well too with some damaging kicks. PS. much prefer Browns mobility across the ground to robot Tmac. Gave us a different look. Not sure how well he'll fit with Bayley back with both having similar game styles. Both being second/third options who like to lead into space and push up HF. Will be interesting.

Don't entirely hate the selections. I think for the most part its about putting the fittest team on the park especially with a 5 day turnaround. Lockhart stiff but can't help but think it might be a fitness thing perhaps as he's looked sore since the corky against the crows. Rivers gives you a different look, better ball used and more dash off half back. I imagine Jay will be back for Thursday. We've been carrying Harmes and Tmac all year. I like the call to cut them finally. Tom has looked off the pace and Brown gives you more versatility. Will be interesting to see who pinch hits in the ruck between Brown/Tomlinson/Weid. As others have noted Omac in to look after their resting ruckman up forward. I imagine we'll see more Tomlinson up the ground. Jones for experience I guess.... Wagner been playing consistently in the practice games. Will be very interesting to see where he will play as he's being spending more time up the ground on practice games. Fritsch really hurts. Been arguably our most consistent forward. Apart from his wayward kicking he's been our best target all year and works well with Weid. Sigh....

Have we seen a hard tag at all this year? I feel like its out of vogue currently with so many teams having an even spread of midfielder. Prime example being ours.

We're 4 wins 2 losses with Jackson in the side and those loses were top 4 sides (one of which we totally fell apart as a team). Not for a second saying he's the difference but he has brought that extra energy to the side you mention above. As Goody has noted post games he gives us great structure in being a good forward target and adequate ruckman already. His height and athletisism make him a real problem for opposition across the ground. I've loved his repeat efforts and the way he covers ground with pace. He impacts contests whether in the air or on on ground level. Adelaide was obviously his best game but I thought he was great against North even though he didn't impact statistically. Most of his possessions were clean and provided a great contest across the ground. It really sucks that its a hamstring tendon. I was hoping for a light strain. As Burgo mentioned he will be lucky to be back with 6 weeks. They will be extra cautious with a young guy with this much potential suffering a soft tissue injury so early. We will miss that energy.

As you mentioned in previous post it absolutely should be Harmes coming out of the side for Lockart. They've tried him as a rebounding half back and it just hasn't work. His form has been way off for weeks. He looks lost at time and hasn't been effective at all. I would love to see Rivers stay in to move up into Harmes' position with his attack and ball use across half back. Leave Lockart to play deeper back against their best small forward. I can see Rivers getting a rest also as you say but he only just came back in and it seems Goody is giving the rookies a couple of weeks at a time before resting ala Kozzy.

Not a bad call. I doubt we see Tomlinson unless Oscar comes back in. Seems to be finding a role down back. I think you have to bring Preuss in surely. This is why we recruited him.

Exactly what we didn't need. Kid was really starting to get a feel for AFL footy. I hope its not major and just some inflated journalism from TB. If it is serious that really sucks for us. We need everything to go right this season if we want to play finals and have been pretty good with limited injuries. Really hoping its not serious. We know how early injuries can really derail or prolong a young guns development.

I would say this is the main reason we haven't seen this trialed more. Similar two why we haven't seen Oliver or Brayshaw tried up forward. Unlike Petracca they don't have a great forward craft and creativity. All of their goals come from pretty straight forward opportunity. That being said I've always liked the idea of Viney forward as he has some of the attributes being smaller, lower centre of gravity, leg and hip strength/power to break some forward line pressure to free himself up for goal. Definitely something I would like to see us try. Only thing is Viney is having a career best year in the middle and I doubt the coaching staff would be reducing his midfield minutes anytime soon.

He's been terrific. Filled the need we had for sure. His ability to cover ground with speed and gut running is elite. It's his repeat efforts and running when we're linking up on a wing that have been a standout to me. Sure his disposal is still a work in progress as he's not the cleanest of players but I think he can improve there still with confidence and more experience with a new team.

Had another nasty head knock which resulted in 15 stitches above the eye. Same side as the fractured cheek. He'll be fine

Anyones guess this week with changes. There will be a fair few sore players. I noticed a lot more aggression with our attack and tackling especially this week. Luckily we have a bit of depth this year in these situations. Backs: Rivers, Jetta, Omac Mids: JJ and Preuss. Although would most likely be just changing the rotations. If no Viney say then more Brayshaw/Sparrow/Harmes in the middle. Forwards: Kozzy, Brown, Spargo, Hunt PLEASE don't persist with bringing Tmac in this week ?

Noticed Daw was on the injury list with an 'ankle'. Anyone know how serious? If he's out I would feel better about Jackson and Tomlinson taking on Goldy. If both Goldy and Daw are fit then yes probably best to put Preuss in. It does make us a fair bit less mobile which has been a strength for our bigs of late. Either way both teams midfield will be sore after both playing physical games with a four day break

Agree with most of the above re Gus getting more midfield minutes and confidence up etc. I have to say though, he had more space and time then he's had all season due to the opposition. He was successful in the midfield because its his best position yes but also because every midfielder was successful last night. Was probably overall the least physical/pressure driven midfield we've played this season. Not trying to discount his better game, his run and carry/ball use was terrific i thought at times last night and showed he is actually a quite a damaging player with his decision making and ball use. Of course you would like to see him back it up on Sunday.

I'm curious as to what is being defined as 'selfish' here. Not saying Bernie or other posters on here are wrong but as a midfielder its often hard to tell these things perhaps. Taking on the opposition to try and break through tackles and getting caught instead of handballing could be seen as selfish. But the best midfielders are also asked to break the lines and try to get free to gain forward momentum. Or is it even a Clarry example of selfishness when he simply handballs to a man under pressure or blindly kicks to gain a possession?

Yeah if you read the last few posts in this thread you will see the emphasis on how Tom's body seems to be failing him and particularly at ground level where he has been extremely ineffective. Looks slow, heavy and unable to make the right plays. Sure a fit and more mobile Tmac will get the nod every time over an 18 year old developing player. But right now because of Jacksons athleticism and ability to play ruck he's more valuable then Tmac at the moment. I don't think comparing the twos average stats in our worst game of the season really counts for much I'm afraid.

Worth a try!

Meh, considering last week I will take a win by a couple of goals tomorrow night. Just get the job done. Of course a healthy lead throughout will obviously help with all of our anxiety.