Why Are we Underestimating Melbourne?

[NMWBloods]

I wonder if Melbourne might rotate players onto Goodes - I could see Bizzell, Wheatley or even Bruce doing that.

[Rizzo]

I wouldn't be surprised if we see Goodes in the forward line again with Doyle/Ball playing rotating between ruck and loose man in defence.

If Davis is back I'd suspect him and O'keefe to rotate from the bench. Davis is unlikely to have legs to play the full game.

Any stats on centre clearances for both teams?

[Jack Daniels]

I think O'keefe will run riot in our forward line, I can't see Melbourne having a match up for him, hes fast, and he's also very strong for his size, A whelan or walsh would not be strong enough.

Goodes to collect 3 Brownlow votes in an evenly contested game we win by 7 points.

[CHF]

Originally posted by Jack Daniels
I think O'keefe will run riot in our forward line, I can't see Melbourne having a match up for him, hes fast, and he's also very strong for his size, A whelan or walsh would not be strong enough.

Goodes to collect 3 Brownlow votes in an evenly contested game we win by 7 points.

I can see Brown having a go at him with whelan on Schneider

[stellation]

who wants to take a guess at what our HF and FF lineups will start like (and who will change in and out of where?). working off Nicky D playing and Micky O not. I just can't make heads nor tails of it anymore...

[liz]

How about sticking Doyle or Ball down in the goal square for part of the game? The Dees probably lack tall defensive options and that might stretch them a bit. Give Goodsey some time on the ball because Melbourne's main ruckman relies on his leap rather than his bulk. Davis, O'Keefe and Saddo to roam around on the HF flanks.

Hopefully Davis' fitness won't be an issue. I think he's been running for a couple of weeks now and it is only because his injury was on his goal kicking side that they have played it safe. At training last week he was kicking fine on his left foot around the ground but for goal kicking he gets the power with his right.

[penga]

i dont think we are underestimating melbourne - we are underestimating sydney

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Rizzo
Any stats on centre clearances for both teams?

In their 3 wins, Melbourne are 43-42 in CB clearances (they were smashed by Hawthorn).

In our 4 games, we are 47-43.

[sharpie]

It wont be us playing our forwards in defense, such as Goodesy. It will be the opposite.

I suspect we will line up at the first bounce up forward something like this:

FF: Schneider Saddo Goodes
HF: O'Keefe Hall Williams

With Ball in the ruck and Doyle & Davis on the bench. Both these guys will play forward at some stage (obviously Davis). When Davis comes on, Willo will be able to play in the midfield more. Doyle comes into the ruck, Ball goes forward at FF or has a rest on the bench. If Ball plays FF, Saddo moves to a flank/wing, freeing up Goodes to rove wherever he likes.

3 possible Match-winning tall forwards up front at any one time, possibly 4, and we would still not be considered too tall, since Schneider & O'Keefe can crumb, and even Saddo, Goodes & Hall are more than sufficient below their knees.

Nicholson takes Hall. Doesn't leave much else once you get to either Goodes or Saddo & then O'Keefe.

[CHF]

[QUOTEFF: Schneider Saddo Goodes
HF: O'Keefe Hall Williams

3 possible Match-winning tall forwards up front at any one time, possibly 4, and we would still not be considered too tall, since Schneider & O'Keefe can crumb, and even Saddo, Goodes & Hall are more than sufficient below their knees.

Nicholson takes Hall. Doesn't leave much else once you get to either Goodes or Saddo & then O'Keefe. [/B][/QUOTE]

I think we would have the players to cover this setup.

Nicholson on Hall
Rivers/Wheatley on Saddington/Goodes
Whelan/Schneider
Brown/O'Keefe
Wheatley/Williams

And we will have the likes of Yze (he played in the backs last week when taken back there) Bruce and Broadbridge as well to rotate there if any matchups are proving unequal.

Tell me, how will your defence matchup on

FF Davey Neitz Holland
HF Bruce Miller Johnstone

I personally would like to see Broadbridge start on the HFF ( he is around 194, 93kgs and a good mover) But I do not see that happening.

[CHF]

Originally posted by CHF
[QUOTEFF: Schneider Saddo Goodes
HF: O'Keefe Hall Williams

3 possible Match-winning tall forwards up front at any one time, possibly 4, and we would still not be considered too tall, since Schneider & O'Keefe can crumb, and even Saddo, Goodes & Hall are more than sufficient below their knees.

Nicholson takes Hall. Doesn't leave much else once you get to either Goodes or Saddo & then O'Keefe.

I think we would have the players to cover this setup.

Nicholson on Hall
Rivers/Wheatley on Saddington/Goodes
Whelan/Schneider
Brown/O'Keefe
Wheatley/Williams

And we will have the likes of Yze (he played in the backs last week when taken back there) Bruce and Broadbridge as well to rotate there if any matchups are proving unequal.

Tell me, how will your defence matchup on

FF Davey Neitz Holland
HF Bruce Miller Johnstone

I personally would like to see Broadbridge start on the HFF ( he is around 194, 93kgs and a good mover) But I do not see that happening. [/B][/QUOTE]

Sorry addition to this post.

We also have Bizzell to shuffle into that mix as well. I would expect him to maybe have a run with O'Keefe as well.... He may well be a lose man back there for the first quarter at least

[sharpie]

Much the same way our defense lines up every week.
James, C.Bolts, LRT, or even Saddo on Neitz Holland & Miller
Crouch/Bevan on Davey
Bruce & Johnstone on Kennelly & Barry <- and not the other way around.

Sure our tall defenders look like they may struggle on paper. But its no different to every other week for the last year. Melbourne's biggest worry will be how to stop our run out of defense, again, no different to every other week for the last year.

[TheHood]

I hate to say this, but leaving Brad Green too loose will mean trouble.

31 possessions and 2 goals last week.

He has had an erratic career to date but did some chronic damage to Port last week.

[CHF]

Hey Sharpie,

A small inconsistency here. I responde to the post of yours which you start this way


It wont be us playing our forwards in defense, such as Goodesy. It will be the opposite.

And yet when you give matchups for our forwards you have Saddington down the back after naming him up forward.

To my mind you have just shot yourself in the foot.

[CHF]

Originally posted by TheHood
I hate to say this, but leaving Brad Green too loose will mean trouble.

31 possessions and 2 goals last week.

He has had an erratic career to date but did some chronic damage to Port last week.

True Hood. He has had only a handfull of games in the midfield for us this season and has looked good in all of them. Last week was by far his best to date.

The last 4 seasons he has played in our forward setup.