Preview Ess v Demons Sat 7.40pm MCG

[Eleven 38]

Is it a good idea to rest a player for 1week then bring them back in for 1 game (sydney) then have another week off?? Could that be more risky for players with niggles than letting them play this week and next??

 

[Goon_Squad]

Why would Reimers come in for Slattery? If Reimers was ahead he'd have played on Saturday night.

Good point, strange that they put Howlett back in and went with Slattery for sub. They do seem to prefer the sub to have flexibility to play midfield or defense. I just don't think he played well at all for the short time he was out there, looked all at sea.

The swaps therefore are Fletcher for Slattery, Heppell for Dyson, Jetta for McVeigh, Reimers for Crameri.


B: Dustin Fletcher, Cale Hooker, Jake Carlisle
HB: Dyson Heppell, Tayte Pears, Courtenay Dempsey
C: Jake Melksham, Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton
HF: Kyle Reimers, Michael Hurley, Angus Monfries
F: Leroy Jetta, Patrick Ryder, David Zaharakis
Foll: Tom Bellchambers, Sam Lonergan, Heath Hocking
I/C: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Alwyn Davey, Travis Colyer, Ben Howlett


Sub to be Howlett as per the original plan. Team would be a bit shorter up forward but I don't think that would be a big problem against Melbourne.

 

[Doss]

^^^

Lack of height in the forward would definitely not be a huge problem against the Dees if Frawley doesn't come up.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Good point, strange that they put Howlett back in and went with Slattery for sub. They do seem to prefer the sub to have flexibility to play midfield or defense. I just don't think he played well at all for the short time he was out there, looked all at sea.

The swaps therefore are Fletcher for Slattery, Heppell for Dyson, Jetta for McVeigh, Reimers for Crameri.


B: Dustin Fletcher, Cale Hooker, Jake Carlisle
HB: Dyson Heppell, Tayte Pears, Courtenay Dempsey
C: Jake Melksham, Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton
HF: Kyle Reimers, Michael Hurley, Angus Monfries
F: Leroy Jetta, Patrick Ryder, David Zaharakis
Foll: Tom Bellchambers, Sam Lonergan, Heath Hocking
I/C: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Alwyn Davey, Travis Colyer, Ben Howlett


Sub to be Howlett as per the original plan. Team would be a bit shorter up forward but I don't think that would be a big problem against Melbourne.

- Dyson and Crameri looked absolutely fine tonight. Not even a hint of a limp. Both will play I suspect.
- Howlett won't be sub this week, out of his own mouth.

 

[fishardansin]

Merv Keane's son often comments on Trout's (from Woodend) facebook page. He was saying in the off season that Pears was doing a fair bit of training up forward. Not sure if the son of a recruiter has the "good oil". Personally I don't like it. Pears has been in pretty bad form this year but given time I'm certain that he will be an out and out gun. Seems to have lost a bit of confidence in marking contests and backing himself to leave his opponent.

You also have to make allowances that he missed a lot of footy, so obviously that will take a while. Making it doubly worse is that over second half of 2010 Collingwood altered the way AFL footy is played, with their press. The success of this has seen most team employ something fairly similar.

So to now go and contradict myself perhaps half forward would be a good spot for him as he could play at the back of the press, no hang on I'm confusing myself. Leave him down back and let him have time to find his feet with the new backline (Hibberd, Heppell and Hardingham) and the new style of footy.

I've mentioned in a few threads today that we'll be scary good if Hocking either starts to find the ball or doesn't get pantsed as a tagger (I think his opponents are averaging close to 30 disposals this year) and Hurley starts clunking marks, well add Pears finding touch to that list!

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Sir Jim and Mojo, I quoted you over in the Tayte Pears thread. I was liking the idea of Pears going forward. Hope this is ok.

No probs at all. I think he has a lot of attributes that would make him a damaging forward.

EDIT - Not that I see him there long term, but couldn't hurt to see how well he went as a pinch hit if not needed down back.

 

[cAsEy_18]

I stand by that Hooker would be a more natural forward than Pears if it came to that. But obviously I'm not moving Hooker the way he's playing. Happy to keep it how it is.

 

[Essendonia]

I would say

In: Fletcher, Heppell and Jetta

Out: Mcveigh, Crameri and Dyson

At the start of the season, there were 2 games I looked at that is a must win for us and this is one of them. The other being Richmond (which didn't come easy in the end). I honestly wouldn't mind if we beat GWS by just 35, but this is the team we need to completely smash for me to be satisfied. I am uneasy this week as I think we will be in for another bottom team playing their best game for the season again. If we are caught off-guard, then this could be a loss. No doubt their senior players will suddenly find form. It is funny how I am the most nervous against the bottom teams.

Anyways I am definitely hoping for a big win, but not expecting it. None of that 'playing in second gear' type of stuff that we were doing for a large part of the game against GWS.

Did Carlton do anything to stir them up like they did last year?[/quote]

As far as I can recall, there were no antics this time around. Carlton's form has been so poor recently that they really needed the win against Melbourne and had to take it seriously. I think the bruise-free comment came after they played them last year, rather than before, anyway. Carlton could barely make such comments, as Melbourne went harder and if not for basic skill errors and poor decision-making could have been right in the match in the last quarter before junk time. I was really rooting for Melbourne on Sunday.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

You can still bet your bottom dollar on Melbourne producing their best performance for the year against us.

The trick is being better than that. Which we can be, by a significant margin. Hopefully what happened last year still stings - one of the three most apalling efforts from the team, along with the Hawthorn and EF.

 

[Doss]

I thought Melbourne really had a crack against Carlton- cheap goals at the end made the game seem far more lopsided than what it was in general play. It was just the last quarter that they really dropped off.

Hopefully, having played well for three quarters, they're due another shocker against us! Then, stung into action, they push Collingwood on Queen's Birthday.

 

[Essendonia]

Fletcher forward? He was okay there in the late 90's for periods...

Which other defenders can go forward?

The fact that our improved defence has been the difference between 2011 and 2012 means that we should probably leave it alone. Average points conceded this year is way down on 2011 figures.

79 points conceded each match this year v 100.77 points per match in 2011.

Not all based on performance of back 6, but we can't move Hooker, Carlisle and Pears forward. I reckon you need at least two permanent KPD (excl. Fletch)

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Which other defenders can go forward?

According to Ross Lyon, Dawson and McPharlin. Reality doesn't agree with him, but whatever.

Carlisle would be the first-choice option for us, but I think he's a genuine defender.

The other two I couldn't see doing it.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Fletcher forward? He was okay there in the late 90's for periods...

Which other defenders can go forward?

The fact that our improved defence has been the difference between 2011 and 2012 means that we should probably leave it alone. Average points conceded this year is way down on 2011 figures.

79 points conceded each match this year v 100.77 points per match in 2011.

Not all based on performance of back 6, but we can't move Hooker, Carlisle and Pears forward. I reckon you need at least two permanent KPD (excl. Fletch)

Pretty much this. We don't want to mess with a formula that is working so well for us. Hooker is one of the best defenders in the league at the moment, there's no need for him to be pushed forward.

 

[Goon_Squad]

According to Ross Lyon, Dawson and McPharlin. Reality doesn't agree with him, but whatever.

Carlisle would be the first-choice option for us, but I think he's a genuine defender.

The other two I couldn't see doing it.

Carlisle is a great swing-man, just like Hurley. Great hands to take a contested grab, if we needed a tall up forward it is definitely Carlisle. All depends on the balance needed against the opposition but I don't see Pears, Hooker or fletch being anywhere near as good as Carlisle up forward.

 

[efcboy]

Yeah, except Slattery didn't play back to replace Hardingham, he replaced Dyson later. So it's "pretty obvious" that you're wrong.

And do you honestly believe that Reimers will do a job on a HBF? FFS, give Baguley or friggin Atkinson a game on the HBF before Reimers.

Given Hardingham wasn't playing it was pretty hard for Slattery to replace him when he was subbed. Dyson was playing half-back/wing and Hank came on and played awfully (like usual).

As for Reimers - never suggested he be HBF? He's a good HFF who can lead out of the goal square well (as evidenced in GC match).

Baguley can't play as he is rookie and there are no spots available unless someone else is LTI placed. Dell'Olio replaced Prismall and Gumby is back playing.

Atkinson might struggle given he's not on the list!

 

[VelvetSledge]

Given Hardingham wasn't playing it was pretty hard for Slattery to replace him when he was subbed. Dyson was playing half-back/wing and Hank came on and played awfully (like usual).

As for Reimers - never suggested he be HBF? He's a good HFF who can lead out of the goal square well (as evidenced in GC match).

Baguley can't play as he is rookie and there are no spots available unless someone else is LTI placed. Dell'Olio replaced Prismall and Gumby is back playing.

Atkinson might struggle given he's not on the list!

That's the joke

 

[Essendonia]

Maybe we can enter each week with only the small forwards/backs locked in position.

Each week, depending on the opposition, we could have Hurley Fletch and Pears back, with Carlisle, Crameri and Hooker forward.

Or we could have Carlisle, Hooker and Hurley down back, with Fletch Pears and Cram up front. Such flexibility would be SOO hard to counter!

...

It would also be impossible for players to adjust to! Just one swingman, please!

 

[Macca18]

It might be stating the obvious, but these are the games Essendon needs to win to establish itself as a top premiership contender. The Demons have beaten the Bombers the last two times the teams have met, and the Dons are starting to look a little weary after a quick start to the season, but good teams overcome these types of challenges.

Essendon has lost just one game this season but it has not exactly dominated in recent weeks. Gold Coast pushed the Bombers in round three and GWS was competitive for a half last week. Melbourne should take heart from the efforts of those expansion teams and realise it can compete if it sticks to its structures.

AFL.com.au prediction: Essendon by 26 points

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/16931/Default.aspx#fixtureid=7746&tab=Preview

 

[Lord Nicholson]

I'd take 26 points. I'd take 1 point, to be honest. I'd be stroppy, but, y'know. Get the 4 points and walk away.

 

[The Prosecutor]

"Essendon has really dominated in recent weeks."

We've won three of our last four games by at least 11 goals.

The other game we were seven goals up at one stage.



I do know what the author is getting at though.

 

[The Dustbin]

We should demolish the dees, no ifs, no buts.

 

[vaughany]

In: Fletcher, Hardingham, Jetta

Out: Dyson (injury/rest), Crameri (injury/rest), Slattery (omit)

*McVeigh keeps his spot only because Heppell and Dyson out
*Slattery is not to play AFL ever again
*Hille and Myers to play VFL this week then possible return against Sydney

 

[Essendonia]

In: Fletcher, Hardingham, Jetta

Out: Dyson (injury/rest), Crameri (injury/rest), Slattery (omit)

*McVeigh keeps his spot only because Heppell and Dyson out
*Slattery is not to play AFL ever again
*Hille and Myers to play VFL this week then possible return against Sydney

Unleash Gumby. He's had a half of VFL and is ready to go. Who at Melbourne could stop him?

Seriously, though, I probably could not justify playing McVeigh or Slattery this week...unless there are no other viable options due to illness, injury or positions.

Should use this match as a stepping stone to Sydney, as they will bring it next weekend and we need to be ready. Plus we OWE Melbourne.

 

[pazza]

So McVeigh, a slow turnover merchant, who played in all 4 quarters on Saturday night just gone stays in, where Slattery, who only played a quarter gets the arse. Typical really. Both stay due to the injuries of Dyson and Crameri and the return of Fletcher and Jetta.

 

[vaughany]

True good point!

Imagine a Thursday night when the team says...
HF: Gumbleton, Hurley, Monfries
F: Davey, Crameri, Jetta

Paddy/Belly drifting down as well!