Team vs Melbourne

[hellfire]

You're right Zhaki, but high intensity and fast ball movement can trouble any side. Melbourne are capable of both if they're "on". We still need to play pretty well to win. I'm confident we will play better this time around.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

You're right Zhaki, but high intensity and fast ball movement can trouble any side. Melbourne are capable of both if they're "on". We still need to play pretty well to win. I'm confident we will play better this time around.

Don't count on it if these 'injuries' are any indication.

 

[Swooop]

Resting Ball and Johnson?

So basically, we're not taking Melbourne seriously AGAIN.They never learn


On the plus side, Goldsack may come in. I SO hope he comes in.

I agree with you Shpeshal, insofar as if we were playing a critical game, I bet Luke Ball and likely BJ also, would be playing.

However, they did both appear to have niggles, esp Ball, so whilst I get what you're saying, you'd probably prefer they rest this game than some others?

But I expect a very tough fight for sure and hope they replace BJ's run.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

I agree with you Shpeshal, insofar as if we were playing a critical game, I bet Luke Ball and likely BJ also, would be playing.

However, they did both appear to have niggles, esp Ball, so whilst I get what you're saying, you'd probably prefer they rest this game than some others?

But I expect a very tough fight for sure and hope they replace BJ's run.

Dude. We have the mid week break STRAIGHT after this game. No need to rest players.

 

[daics_35]

I agree with Ed, just a cocky act from the selection panel i think we could lose this game. We just defeated Melbourne by 1 point the last time we played and we didnt deserve to win at all we were totally outplayed. Ball and Johnson are in our best 22 and if Melbourne come up to play which they always to against we might be in trouble. If we lose to Melbourne i would be so filthy on the selection team but having said that we are a better side then Melbourne on paper and we really need to be switched on. Pies by 3 points.

 

[The Panther]

My information is the club believed Ball could no longer pull up from games at Docklands.

 

[SaddaZ]

Pies should win this. Melbourne being on or not should not have have a bearing on whether we win or not. The key is if the pies are on or not. The form line should read that the pies are in 2nd, dees out of the 8. Pies stronger on all lines. Pies should win. Melbourne have a lot of potential but i have a feeling the mid season break can not come quick enough for their young blokes.

Problem is, underestimating Melbourne for the Queens Birthday game seems to be a little habit of ours so i'm looking forward to seeing which two guys replace Ball and Johnson. I'm hoping Dawes can get another run to stretch their defence (this seems ok especially if Frawley comes in) and Goldy.

In a way, i'm hoping that the outs are more of a rotational thing as both guys are part of our best 22. Dont really want injuries to our front liners.

 

[Zahki]

Isn't 'calf' the standard "He's resting but we don't want to admit it" injury? What reason is there to believe Ball is being rested considering his history of groin problems. I don't think it's entirely out there that he actually if having trouble with it and they decided to give him a 2 week break to get entirely over it.

The amount of tin hat rantings about players being rested when there is absolutely no evidence to suggest they're actually being rested is appauling. Pull your head in Shpeshal Ed.

 

[cobbly]

I agree with Ed, just a cocky act from the selection panel i think we could lose this game. We just defeated Melbourne by 1 point the last time we played and we didnt deserve to win at all we were totally outplayed. Ball and Johnson are in our best 22 and if Melbourne come up to play which they always to against we might be in trouble. If we lose to Melbourne i would be so filthy on the selection team but having said that we are a better side then Melbourne on paper and we really need to be switched on. Pies by 3 points.

I think them resting players is a good thing, in fact I think we have been managing our players particularly well this year. Probably because our good start to the year has enabled us to.

Unlike last year when we had to work incredibly hard to get back in contention and make top four, only to then fade out badly in the finals.

Better we rest players, perhaps lose a game or 2, in may/june and have our best players fit and firing in september.




Having said all that I think we will still beat melbourne reasonably comfortably. A bit of cockyness isnt so bad. Geelong were cocky as hell last year, resting players for most of the 2nd half of the season. Worked out pretty well for them.

 

[Invigoration]

We've just come off a couple of consecutive weeks of travel and easily our most challenging run of games for the year, I've got no problem with the management of someone like Luke Ball.
Maybe one weeks rest isn't enough for him? If giving him two weeks now means he'll be fresher come finals, then I'm all for it.

Johnson has been poor anyway, I'd say his injury is more likely a reason to sit him out for a week to get some bite back rather than resting him because we think we'll have it easy as Melbourne. Wouldn't be surprised to see him playing VFL over the break week.

It wasn't the selection panel that was the problem last time against Melbourne, it was the players. We played poorly against a decent side, we can't afford that this time. It wouldn't matter what 22 ran out last time if they ran out with that complacent attitude.

Anyway, it's clearly an intentional plan we have for the season. Veterans have been rotated through this side all year, very few players have played the whole 11 games. I like that we are keeping O'bree, Lockyer, Brown etc all fresh and up to pace, it'll leave us in better stead as the year progresses.

 

[the mighty T]

Isn't 'calf' the standard "He's resting but we don't want to admit it" injury? What reason is there to believe Ball is being rested considering his history of groin problems. I don't think it's entirely out there that he actually if having trouble with it and they decided to give him a 2 week break to get entirely over it.

The amount of tin hat rantings about players being rested when there is absolutely no evidence to suggest they're actually being rested is appauling. Pull your head in Shpeshal Ed.

I thought "calf" was the medical term for, "you have shocking form and we cant carry you anymore until you pick up" however im free to be corrected.

I think barham inclusion is important in the absence of BJ and i dont have any doubt in my mind that Ball is being rested. 2 weeks off lets him be rejuvenated for the second half of the year. However i would feel more comfortable with him in the squat over any of the inclusions imo.

Unfortunately obree is the logical replacement for ball however i really dont want him in the team. An earlier poster said play Cook, and i dont see that as the worst choice in the world despite the fact that he hasnt been brilliant at any stage of his career at least he has a bit of VFL form to stand on. It wouldnt be that bad to see tarks back in the side as well.

Wouldnt mind Dawes coming in for Josh but i dont see it happening.

Overall i think the selected side still looks pretty slow, i still think we'll win but i'd feel more confident knowing lukey ball is shoveling the pill out for us

Pies by 25

 

[Heater39]

This week would've been a good week to debut a Rounds, Blight or Thomas imo.

I hope the Sack plays, I rate him.

 

[Dylz48]

Well as long as YOU believe they're injured, then that's all that matters.

I find it incredibly coincidental how our unimportant/less gifted players never get 'injured' before games against lowly sides.

They're not going to admit to resting ball and johnson. But that's what they're doing.

whatever helps YOU sleep at night

 

[Bay Pie]

INS: Lockyer, Barham
OUTS: Ball, Johnson

Barham plays same roll as BJ but wil probably play as a straight out tagger on Davey, who'll play on a half back flank. He did a great job on Power who was playing the exact same role last year against the Lions and picked up a Rising star nom.

Lockyer goes to a HFF, with Beams moving to a more permanent midfield role in place of Ball. He was our best in our last game against the Dees in round 2.

 

[brockbruiser]

Ins: Obree, Barham

Outs: Ball, Johnson



Obree to repalce ball as the in and under player.

Barham to replace Johnson as the run with tagger role.

 

[demonben]

Sorry for intruding your board. Just wanted to know what sponsoring alan didak 09 actually infers. How do you in fact sponsor him?

Just a question i have always wondered.

 

[Pie eyed]

Sorry for intruding your board. Just wanted to know what sponsoring alan didak 09 actually infers. How do you in fact sponsor him?

Just a question i have always wondered.

Didak 09 is a hangover form last year obviously.

A group for us chip in and sponsor the player.
In this case Didak and Buckley.
Many boards members do it for their teams players.

 

[Quicky]

Yep fair enough It's just everytime Pendles plays in the same team as O'Bree he gets pushed to the forward line. Just love him playing in the guts the whole match. He's a superstar when playing there

It's only happened twice this year that I remember. Both those times they were both in the same team as Ball. It'd be very strange to see O'Bree on the HFF in this game especially against a quick Dees side.

Dude. We have the mid week break STRAIGHT after this game. No need to rest players.

And wouldn't an extra week on top of that be better? Especially for a player like Ball who's had a history of chronic groin problems. I could buy the argument for Johnson maybe.

 

[jbuch9]

excited about the chance for barham, i feel if he has a good game and shows good precision with his disposals the whole attitude of the board will turn very positive for him.

 

[1eye]

If Ball's out I don't see how you can question O'Brees inclusion.

The only other option I think is Beams to midfield with Dick or Rounds to the forward line.

But they are not named in the team. What do you mean?

 

[Quicky]

But they are not named in the team. What do you mean?

Very true. I just meant it as a hypothetical - as in what would work for team structure.

 

[Pie eyed]

excited about the chance for barham, i feel if he has a good game and shows good precision with his disposals the whole attitude of the board will turn very positive for him.

I hear Beams is pretty shirty about the whole thing.

Honestly though who would not be right behind him if he plays well?

 

[PieLebo87]

Chillax people.

Luke Ball and Ben Johnson are being rested, and we've got their perfect ideal replacements in Shane O'Bree and Jacky Barham coming on to provide contested clearances and gut-running pace on the wing.

 

[Hu$tler]

Chillax people.

Luke Ball and Ben Johnson are being rested, and we've got their perfect ideal replacements in Shane O'Bree and Jacky Barham coming on to provide contested clearances and gut-running pace on the wing.

That's a very positive way of looking at things ...

Ball has had a bad history with groin injuries, it's the reason he can't kick!

O'Bree is a shadow of the player Ball is. Your right though, he's not a bad replacement.

I will be watching closely to see how much Barham's disposal has improved, because he would have given a couple of the mugs on our list a run at being the worst kick in the AFL last year

James McDonald out for the Demons is massively underrated imo.

 

[Bloben]

What are people's thoughts on keeping O'Bree out?

Sure he is the most obvious replacement for Ball but it is not as if Melbourne have a lot of big bodied midfielders. O'Bree was terrible in his last game, why not use Beams and Sidebottom more in the midfield and even look to use Leon in the rotations seeing how he has found a bit of his old dash.