Young Blood

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.

Yeah he's never been able to turn corners with much ease, I can't recall him even ever wheeling around to snap the ball. So his lateral movement has always sucked but he just looks so much more stiff and restricted with his movement this year. I think he looks heavy, more so top heavy, lumbering around and even his running looks strained because of it. You could be right and I actually hope the issue is that he's carrying an injury that with an off season can possibly reset him for next season. But he just looks so off the pace at the moment. Looks shot for confidence. When he turns the ball over because he is unable to get his arms free or break away from the tackle, he looks dejected and frustrated. Much the same when he is unable to take a contested mark.

Maybe start by losing a few kg's and improving his mobility. That's if that is even possible....

I agree. No structuring, change of tactic, position changes or inspirational speeches would have changed the way we absolutely butchered the football last week. That one wasn't down to coaching. We were completely overwhelmed by a better side early that set the tone and we seemed hampered by the short break in trying to respond. The poor execution early shot our confidence for the rest of the game. That and the physicality they had around the football to limit out midfielders. I am not saying Goodwin is exempt. I would love to see the coaching staff come up with some things they could change in game to shift a game's momentum. Its all or nothing with our contested ball/front half game plan. I think it was Jobe Watson last week when asked what can Melbourne do to start winning the ball in the middle from Max's ruck work. His suggestion although simple seemed at least progressive which was because Max was dominating so much he could actually afford to knock the ball further to the wings to the advantage of our wing players to create some run on. The unpredictability alone of that idea is interesting.

Sorry @Pates looks like Max is fit and ready to go.

Regardless of Max's availability you would think Tomlinson and Vanders are the definate ins. I would like to see TMac come out for one of those two as he is a bit of an embarrassment at the moment. If we're going to stick with this stupid 3 talls forward lineup I would like to see Mitch Brown come in. The guy has some genuine experience, the ability to get himself free and mark and hit the score board. Would like to see him come in and support Weid and Fritsch as the third option. There really should be some harsh calls made this week. Players that have a reputation or longer leash like Jones and TMac need to make way for guys who are actually knocking on the door. My ideal team for this week would be: B Lockhart May Omac HB Hibberd Lever Salem C Langdon Oliver AVB HF Hannan Weid Tomlinson F Kozzy Fritsch Bennell Gawn Viney Petracca I/C: Brayshaw, Sparrow. Rivers (one of: Brown, Jackson or ANB)

I can't believe those who are saying Viney is the issue. He has been so good this year and other then Petracca the only one who takes the game on and gives us genuine forward momentum from stoppages. I've been super impressed with his improvement with ball in hand whether it be patience, decision making and kicking. Obviously room for improvement but tracking along really well now that he seems he is finally fit and free from injury. For me its absolutely Clayton who has been more of a liability this year. He doesn't look confident with ball in hand like Trac and Viney. He is still getting his hands on the ball but his decision making is just awful. He is has fallen behind in his development due to the fact that he hasn't added to his game. He doesn't look to break the lines or improve his kicking. When he does somehow find himself in space he looks panicked and unsure. Rarely makes the right choice with disposal beyond the in tight handball. The good thing is he's 23. There's so much time for him to really build on his game if he wants to. I think he has the capacity. He has the body to be able to do more I just hope he has the IQ to keep improving in that area. Brayshaw is still the unknown. While he hasn't been performing I think he is almost the opposite to Clayton in some ways. I think he has the IQ and the sense of timing and space to be an effective midfielder. Its his intensity thats off at the moment. He always looks slow and lethargic but this year just seems to be making decisions late. I really wonder about his overall fitness. If someone had to go it would be Harmes without a doubt. As many have said on here with his breakout being in a specific role he was made to look better then he actually is. Tagging is out of vogue at the moment and I can't see Harmes playing that role again any time soon. With all that said I'm glad we have some up and comers in Sparrow and Jordan who look to be developing nicely.

It's really clear how the midfield has been beaten the last two weeks. The physicality of opposition mids of both Port and Brisbane overwhelmed out mids and I don't mean tackling necessarily. I've noticed their mids getting early contact with our playing before they even have the ball. So often even if Max does tap it down to Viney, they're knocking him off balance before or as he's getting possession. It's a pre meditated plan that means Viney is rushed into giving an errant handball where another one of our players is under duress. Teams might be sharking Max's taps but I think there's more to it. It's almost as if every mid of ours in the centre square is being tagged so the ball can be tracked and the opposition can win the clearance from pressuring us to turn it over. They're setting up so well when this happens that they're able to spread and move the ball quickly while our mids are left stratching their heads saying "wait didn't we win the ball from the tap?" thinking they had forward momentum.

Tom McDonald is done. Even if the player he was is still somewhere in there his body won't allow for it to come to fruition. He can't turn and is useless unless he clunks a mark of which he hasn't been able to do much at all this year. He's not even getting to contests to try and half them. This tank of his isn't doing anything anymore either. Playing him up the ground has done nothing for this team. That being said I hate to say he is one who is given a long leash and I hope it is once again shortened. We look so much better without him as a liability. It was really stupid to play three talls. It kills our forward line pressure which is what we have relied upon so much this season being a front half team. For that reason you won't see Hannan dropped as he is probably our best in that area. Doubt Brayshaw will be dropped as he is coaches pet and was talked up prior to the week by Goodwin stating his best isn't far away. It will not be popular but he won't be dropped unless its fitness (again Goodwin stated he's fit). Salem certainly won't be dropped either. Sorry. Realistically: IN: Tomlinson, AVB, Rivers/Jetta OUT: Harmes, Jones, Tmac We have a lot of good potential ins that could fill a variety of roles. I also like the idea of bringing any of Spargo, Brown or ANB. All of which can adequately perform a role needed. Anyone know how Smith is going? Haven't heard much of him in the scratch matches. I think the experiment of him as a defender should be put to bed and I would love him to play as a high forward. I would be so much happier experimenting with that and giving it a few weeks instead of continuing to struggle with TMac

Even though we lost on Sunday there was still a some signs of the confidence this group has in one another to compete and stay in games even when we've been outplayed. We were untidy with the football and clearly beaten around the ball but we still had a chance to win. I haven't watched any Port games this year but they seem the same inconsistent team of they have been for some time. I think we're a better road team then they are and have a better list on paper. I hope we really come out aggressive and set the tone early tonight.

Like others here I too was surprised to see he was actually shoved down as my initial memory was that he did the old 'I'll put my head between your legs and try to get up with forward momentum so it looks like you are keeping me down'. Such a common tactic. The different example with the Petracca one is where both players are lying on the ground after holding the ball is called. The umpire is blindsided and can't see that Bailey (Bris) is actually holding Petracca so Trac can't get up immediately to get the free. Another effective tactic. They're all little games within the game which we sometimes love but often its pretty ugly watching and even when our players do it I cringe. The difference with Fritsch's one is yes he was shoved down but what got him was instead of throwing or handballing as he got up he chose to hold onto it for that split second more to get up properly and thats when the whistle went. Now I don't necessarily agree with it as a players should be able to regain his feet to man the mark and then throw the ball back. But all of us, including the umpire knew what Fritsch was doing and as whoever was commentating said it right "He just needed to make it a little less obvious". I think thats true. The kid will learn. Side note. How funny/annoying is it when a player who has clearly given away a free kick in a one on one to a direct opponent picks up the ball and holds onto it asking the umpire repeatedly "Who do I give it to????". What a weird game indeed.

He's probably out best field kick after Salem. Such a natural footballer and at only 23 yrs he is set for a nice career. You always look at his body and wonder how the hell he's able to compete but he manages ok. The conditions didn't suit his game on the weekend. He was a tad slow and off in general. Still managed 2 goals and was always competing in the air. The 50m penalty would have been a more major talking point had there not been many multiple reasons we lost the game. Again so frustrating when there were many other occasions where Brisbane players sat on the footy after giving away free kicks throughout the night. Bailey just took it a tad too far. He'll learn.

I thought he was solid enough. He appeared to be playing HF/wing. I think ball in hand his experience was useful at times. It's his off ball work that I'm unsure if he can still compete at the highest level sustaining the pressure in our forward half.

Yep. Super obvious. Would have been so frustrating for our players. I thought Berry in particular played a really sloppy ugly game of football in that regard the way he was laying into players on the ground. Although it may have been effective at times wearing us down its not a great look

Will be unpopular to many here but unless its a fitness thing Brayshaw won't be dropped. It's a case of how much the coaching staff believe in him which I guess can be seen two different ways. Out: Harmes In: Tomlinson I could see one of the forwards like Bennel or Kozzy getting a spell for ANB too

I actually genuinely think the Kozzy hit was called simply because of how it looked aggressive. Which is absolute rubbish. Its so frustrating when a young player shows such ferocity defensively which we should be praising instead now the talk will be around him taking more care with his tackling (the sling one). Overall it was a really ugly game umpiring wise. Would have been hard to umpire but I thought there were a few where the umpire was too quick with the whistle. Brisbane were doing some pretty ugly things off ball and even in contest: dropping full weight on players on the ground, using arms a lot in contests shoving and I don't feel the umpires picked up a lot of it.

It was a pretty clear cut game. + Viney was outstanding. He has been terrific all, has gone up another level like Trac. His ball use and composure now added to his game Backline performed well again considering the conditions. Despite how untidy we were most of the night we stayed in the game and even took control for patches by playing it in our front half Forward line structure good again just didn't capitalize - As mentioned above, at stoppages we were able to win the ball first but so often lost possession and they feasted on the loose ball They were so much cleaner with their ball use all over the ground especially in tight After such an even team effort last week I thought a lot of players didn't contribute enough especially late. The gap between our best and worst was noticable. Viney, Trac, Clayton, Gawn, Langdon all felt like the only players really contributing to gutting out a win. Harmes had an absolute shocker. Very keen to see him have a spell and give someone else a go at the role

Not a great one to watch and I wasn't that impressed with Brisbane's physicality in terms of the unnecessary things like sitting or falling on players in vulnerable positions as well as some other off ball acts. You could see our guys getting frustrated at times but overall I thought we handled it pretty well.

I thought Gus had a decent impact on the game on the weekend. Yep he butchered a few kicks. Also kicked quite a few to advantage that ended up in goals. There's less being asked of Gus since his breakout season. He is playing off ball much more with Viney, Trac and Clayton playing more in close. I've noticed he's usually a longer handball away from where we win at the contest and is more a release player now. I think he's still getting used to it not having to win the ground ball so much or be as much of a stoppage option like he has been previously. As Gawn said he's playing his role well. Might take a bit of time until it reaches fruition to the point where we appreciate it as supporters.

With Tmac I can't help but noticed he looks a lot more sluggish and heavy. More so he doesn't look confident in how he is moving. I know he had the torn meniscus last year and before that an ongoing foot/toe problem? He just seems to be lumbering around a lot more then he used to. He was never an agile player, struggling with turning and kicking on the run from angles but he at least had a decent burst of speed and power. Is it just me or does he look heavy this year? His confidence in his ability is definitely lacking. I wonder if niggling injuries and body are letting him down further.