Round One

[dee-stroyers]

Is Rivers, Whelan and Bartram going to be fit for round one.

[Russel Sprout]

I just read this suggesting that they wont be unfortunately

Bailey keen to shine against Hawks

By Mark Stevens
March 13, 2008
HAWTHORN has four of its best 10 players out, but Melbourne coach Dean Bailey isn't expecting a lot of love from tipsters in Round 1.
"I doubt whether anyone would select us," Bailey said.
"I think people probably think we're going to struggle in Round 1 against a top four club -- a potential premiership club."
But despite a 0-4 pre-season record and his own injury and suspension issues, Bailey sees it as a chance to shine.
"The odds are going to be against us, but with those four players out it gives us a real chance," Bailey said.
"You never know in this game, mate. You just never know.
"If we can turn up, play as well as we should and play well enough for long enough, it gives us a real chance of winning the game."
Hawthorn has been hit hard by suspensions to Shane Crawford, Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis and Campbell Brown, making them ineligible for the Easter Sunday clash at the MCG.
The Demons will be without Colin Sylvia, suspended by his own peers, and injured players Matthew Bate, Jared Rivers, Matthew Whelan and Clint Bartram.
Bailey rated Cameron Bruce better than a 50-50 chance to play, but he must prove he has overcome a knee injury by having a significant hitout in the VFL on Sunday.
A Herald Sun website poll has Melbourne the favoured tip to win the wooden spoon and the bookies are of a similar opinion.
But Bailey is not losing any sleep over that -- even if he would have preferred a practice match win for the confidence of the group.
"I'm not too interested or worried about that sort of thing," Bailey said.
He said there was an obvious reason for the Demons' up-and-down pre-season form, pointing to the fact the club used 36 players in four games.
Players who aren't 100 per cent fit, won't be played under Bailey's watch. It meant every rookie enjoyed a run in the past month.
"Last year it was a cycle of injuries, injuries, injuries . . . brought players back a little bit too early and it made it incredibly hard for the club to break the cycle," Bailey said.
"We're disappointed we're zip and four.
"We're in the game to compete better. We've been competitive for periods of time, but just not for long enough.
"Residual injuries have given us a chance to play lots of kids.
"We've made a very conscious effort, considering what happened last year with the club, to ensure that our players, when they come back, are fit.
"Unfortunately at the weekend we lost Bate, which I'm really disappointed with because Matty had another really good pre-season.
"He'll miss three weeks, which is disappointing."

[Bring-Back-Powell]

I'm surprised Rivers has already been ruled out. I thought a solid hitout for Sandy on Sunday may give him a chance for round 1 :confused:

[festa1234]

I'm surprised Rivers has already been ruled out. I thought a solid hitout for Sandy on Sunday may give him a chance for round 1 :confused:

it may come down 2 fitness as bailey has always said that unless a player is 100% they wont play but its still over a week away so he may get up who is playing this week

[melbourne150]

The guy who wrote the article has ruled them out not Bailey.

We won't know whether Rivers, Whelan, Bruce and Bartram are ready to play round 1 until after this sunday when they play for Sandringham. And why would we risk playing them at Sandringham if they have been ruled out for round 1??

The only players that are ruled out are:

Bate(strained hamstring)

and

Sylvia(for being an idiot)

[Bring-Back-Powell]

We won't know whether Rivers, Whelan, Bruce and Bartram are ready to play round 1 until after this sunday when they play for Sandringham. And why would we risk playing them at Sandringham if they have been ruled out for round 1??


You can look at that 2 ways:

1) why would they risk playing them this weekend when they're ruled out for round 1 like you said; or

2) They're playing for Sandy this weekend as a natural progression to full fitness and are eying a round 2-4 AFL return.

[Number32]

2) They're playing for Sandy this weekend as a natural progression to full fitness and are eying a round 2-4 AFL return.[/quote]

yep, if they dont play round 1 thats the reason

[Leather Poisoning]

As a hawks supporter a little worried about the impact of not having Hodge Lewis Crawf and Brown I've kept an eye on this and have NFI if they're playing or not.

It seemed strange to me that they played for sandy the other day rather than for the demons. What is the aim? Ease them into match fitness without the intensity of AFL grade players? Very unusual approach.

All in all I hope they play - I NEVER wish for players to be injured - but will feel much more confident of winning if they don't.


Good luck guys :thumbsu:

[Bring-Back-Powell]

As a hawks supporter a little worried about the impact of not having Hodge Lewis Crawf and Brown I've kept an eye on this and have NFI if they're playing or not.

It seemed strange to me that they played for sandy the other day rather than for the demons. What is the aim? Ease them into match fitness without the intensity of AFL grade players? Very unusual approach.

All in all I hope they play - I NEVER wish for players to be injured - but will feel much more confident of winning if they don't.


Good luck guys :thumbsu:
Cheers LP :thumbsu:
I'll think you'll be right for a win, even with Hodge and Co out. We're just not match-ready or fit for a win yet.

Which Hawks player being suspended will hurt the most out of those 4 blokes. I suspect Lewis will hurt the least.

[Burns2008]

Is Rivers, Whelan and Bartram going to be fit for round one.
To be honest i don't think it will matter the hawks have 5 gun players out!

[melbournemartin]

Rivers kept Franklin to 1 goal last time we played so yes, it does matter.

[Leather Poisoning]

Cheers LP :thumbsu:
I'll think you'll be right for a win, even with Hodge and Co out. We're just not match-ready or fit for a win yet.

Which Hawks player being suspended will hurt the most out of those 4 blokes. I suspect Lewis will hurt the least.


It's hard to say BBP.

Lewis is highly rated by hawk fans and coaching staff. He's one of our midfielders that we rotate through the forward line on account of his strong (for his size) marking.

Personally (I might get shot down for this) I'd say crawf will be the least missed. He's the cherry on top, whereas Hodge, Brown and Lewis are all the guys that give the opposition players a really hard time physically, and in the case of hodge and lewis they do it with high possession counts as well.

[Bartram_Class]

Just thought I'd add the grammar in that first post is cringe-worthy.

[Burns2008]

Rivers kept Franklin to 1 goal last time we played so yes, it does matter.
thanks for that i will take the dees in my tips then by 25pts!

[davey_magik]

Not quite so confident considering we don't have a backline now.

[Deenamite]

Hawks have half their midfield out and we have the only 2 people that come close to backmen out. Seriously, Whelan and Rivers are by so far our 2 best backs it isn't funny.

[master bate]

It's hard to say BBP.

Lewis is highly rated by hawk fans and coaching staff. He's one of our midfielders that we rotate through the forward line on account of his strong (for his size) marking.

Personally (I might get shot down for this) I'd say crawf will be the least missed. He's the cherry on top, whereas Hodge, Brown and Lewis are all the guys that give the opposition players a really hard time physically, and in the case of hodge and lewis they do it with high possession counts as well.I'm with you, Crawford is easily replaced, Lewis is a very good player but you could usually cover for him, missing Hodge as well is where it could hurt you. Brown will be missed the most for you cause he can take Robbo right out of the game but with him gone your backline is a little under manned. You should still get the job done but if we break even in the middle (not impossible) and down back (impossible) our forward line should go okay.

[Bring-Back-Powell]

It's hard to say BBP.

Lewis is highly rated by hawk fans and coaching staff. He's one of our midfielders that we rotate through the forward line on account of his strong (for his size) marking.

Personally (I might get shot down for this) I'd say crawf will be the least missed. He's the cherry on top, whereas Hodge, Brown and Lewis are all the guys that give the opposition players a really hard time physically, and in the case of hodge and lewis they do it with high possession counts as well.
I'm personally stoked Crawf is out. He killed us last time.

[hawka4eva]

if rivers and whelan dont play, i think you guys could still win the midfield battle but we'd still win the game, i just dont think you have the man power to stop Franklin,Boyle,Roughead,Williams. I'd bank on outscoring you guys every time with your unfortunate undermanned lineup. Who'll go to Franklin if Rivers and Whelan dont play?

[Pjkimber]

if rivers and whelan dont play, i think you guys could still win the midfield battle but we'd still win the game, i just dont think you have the man power to stop Franklin,Boyle,Roughead,Williams. I'd bank on outscoring you guys every time with your unfortunate undermanned lineup. Who'll go to Franklin if Rivers and Whelan dont play?

I would really like Bailey to throw Stef Martin the task of Buddy come Round 1!!! It would be a great oppurtunity for him to play one of the leagues premier forwards.

[Supermercado]

And to get 14 kicked on him.

[Pjkimber]

And to get 14 kicked on him.


I think he would be a good match up and I will even be optimistic enough to suggest he will keep Buddy without a goal next to his name in the stats column!!

[master bate]

I think he would be a good match up and I will even be optimistic enough to suggest he will keep Buddy without a goal next to his name in the stats column!!Thats not optimistic that stupid, Martin looks good but he needs at least half a season (and thats optimistic, 2 years is probably closer to the truth) playing in the backline for Sandy before he'll be any where near ready for AFL, yet along playing on Buddy. Remember the guy played forward and ruck for Sandy last year, it was just clever to notice his potential as a backman. Carroll can be the sacrificial lamb to Buddy if Rivers can't play, god help us if Ben Holland gets anywhere near him.

On that note Holland averaged 1 supercoach point throughout the preseason and in the list of all players his worth based on nab cup performances is $7,600. Valenti's nab cup worth is something ridiculous like 300k more than his true worth.

[RandB]

I think he would be a good match up and I will even be optimistic enough to suggest he will keep Buddy without a goal next to his name in the stats column!!
Maybe if he smuggles a knife on to the ground.:)

In all seriousness your suggestion is not without it's merrits other than that it is Buddy we are talking about. May be give him a stint here or there later in the season but setting him up like that in round 1 on a total freak of the game can only have dire consequences I think.

[blue_boys]

will meesen play??

[Jonesy2]

will meesen play??

yep, his playing on buddy!

[davey_magik]

yep, his playing on buddy!

Do you know something we don't?
:confused:

I personally think he'll play Bruce and Rivers, Bailey would have realized when Brown was the 4th Hawk suspended this match that we have a massive shot at knocking them off, and Bruce dominated for Sandy plus we need Rivers to put on Buddy.

If Rivers doesn't play it does present some big match-up problems as with Rivers in Bell could easily play on Williams (He's definitely got the pace to keep with him, and he'd be a lot stronger) but with Rivers out I'd be tempted to have Bell on Buddy.

[MickRicho]

will simon buckley play?

[Bartram_Class]

Do you know something we don't?
:confused:

I personally think he'll play Bruce and Rivers, Bailey would have realized when Brown was the 4th Hawk suspended this match that we have a massive shot at knocking them off, and Bruce dominated for Sandy plus we need Rivers to put on Buddy.

If Rivers doesn't play it does present some big match-up problems as with Rivers in Bell could easily play on Williams (He's definitely got the pace to keep with him, and he'd be a lot stronger) but with Rivers out I'd be tempted to have Bell on Buddy.
Yep, if Bailey's been watching tapes of last year, he'll throw Bell the task of Buddy if Rivers doesn't come up.

I'd play Rivers if hes anything above 50% fit though, hes that important to our back half.

[Pjkimber]

My comments about stef martin where meant to be tounge in cheek, I am just wondering how without rivers (if he doesent get selected), how we are going to stop Buddy, Boyle, Roughead etc.

[melbourne150]

The team that was named on the footy show had Rivers, Bruce, Whelan and i think Bartram in it. Wich is very good news.:thumbsu:

It also had Buckley and Maric named but no Morton. But i think there was around 24 named in the team so atleast 2 will have to be dropped.

[The Great Gabsby]

Yep, if Bailey's been watching tapes of last year, he'll throw Bell the task of Buddy if Rivers doesn't come up.

I'd play Rivers if hes anything above 50% fit though, hes that important to our back half.

I'm personally not a big fan of the Bell-Buddy match up. Whilst Bell should be able to match him on speed and strength, he's giving away about 10cm, and given that Bell's overhead marking has never really been one of his forte's, he may well get slaughtered in the air.

It's a shame that Rivers doesn't look like getting up, because he would have been the ideal match up for Buddy. I think that Bails will ultimately try to double team him, with Miller to stand him and maybe a Wheatley/White to float in front.

[Bartram_Class]

The team that was named on the footy show had Rivers, Bruce, Whelan and i think Bartram in it. Wich is very good news.:thumbsu:

It also had Buckley and Maric named but no Morton. But i think there was around 24 named in the team so atleast 2 will have to be dropped.
Maric might just find himself with a spot, when I was doing my 22 for Round 1, I found myself looking for someone to take a FP position, seeing as Davey is expected to play further up the ground.

[melbournemartin]

What was the lineup on the footy show exactly? Does anyone know?

[melbournemartin]

From Demonland:

Frawley Carroll Holland
Bartram Miller Whelan
Davey McLean Jones
Moloney Robbo Newton
Green Neitz Yze
White Bruce Junior

I/C Petterd Maric Dunn P Johnson Bell Rivers Buckley Jamar

That doesn't tell us too much. I wouldn't be surprised if Rivers, Whelan and Bartram didn't play.

Interesting to see that Meesen hasn't gotten a game and neither has Garland who impressed me in the pre-season.

The bench would make a better backline than the selected one. I'd much rather one with Rivers, Bell, Petterd and Dunn.

If that 18 all played, my bench would be:

Bell, Rivers, Petterd, P.Johnson.

Put Johnson in the ruck and if he sucks then bring in Jamar for later rounds. It kills me to have to select PJ over Buckley and Dunn but we need a ruckman. Buckley and Dunn were both fighting for Petterd's spot and I'd have been happy with any of the 3 chosen. Maric is a fair way off imo.

[Mailman]

id be staggered if Buckley doesnt get a game for you in Rnd1. Very good preseason and is apparently well liked by the coaching staff

[melbourne150]

I think the footy show gets given a list of the selected teams and then they set them up in there positions and stuff so i don't think we should look into who the starting 18 are and who is on the bench.

I think Jamar, Maric, Whelan and one of Holland or Frawley won't play. But that's just my opinion.

[old_clint]

I don't think that there is any AFL protocol which requires that a club nominate a squad 4 days out from the game just because it's Easter. I'd suggest that what we saw on the screen would amount to a not-very-creative flight of fantasy by someone who does not intimately know the list. The selected 18 is plain whacky and the squad as a whole has glaring inclusions and omissions. No need to panic just yet.

[ausde13]

I'm personally not a big fan of the Bell-Buddy match up. Whilst Bell should be able to match him on speed and strength, he's giving away about 10cm, and given that Bell's overhead marking has never really been one of his forte's, he may well get slaughtered in the air.

It's a shame that Rivers doesn't look like getting up, because he would have been the ideal match up for Buddy. I think that Bails will ultimately try to double team him, with Miller to stand him and maybe a Wheatley/White to float in front.


The height is a factor but not a huge one as Buddy does not take many body on body or contested marks. He is a flyer who uses his pace on the lead and his tank to out run/hussle oppenents. He dares them to stop him on a lead and then pushing back into the forward line.
We just match up very poorly with the Hawks large volume of quality forwards but so do most sides.

If Holland plays more than our games against the Pies it will be a long season. Great work ethic and sounds like a good fella to have around the club but 2 years past being an AFL player.

[demonfan9]

I reckon Bell could be a very good match up for Franklin.

[Theseventhhamster]

I'm personally not a big fan of the Bell-Buddy match up. Whilst Bell should be able to match him on speed and strength, he's giving away about 10cm, and given that Bell's overhead marking has never really been one of his forte's, he may well get slaughtered in the air.

It's a shame that Rivers doesn't look like getting up, because he would have been the ideal match up for Buddy. I think that Bails will ultimately try to double team him, with Miller to stand him and maybe a Wheatley/White to float in front.

Given that Franklin is yet to slaughter anyone in the AFL in the air I'm not that worried.