Team List Team selection: R8 vs Melbourne at SCG, Sunday 3 May

[Thunder Shaker]

I have chosen to start a team selection thread a bit early because the team selection has interesting decisions that will need a detailed discussion.

Considerations:
* Melbourne has one of the best rucks in the competition playing for them (Gawn).
* Sydney also has one of the best rucks (Grundy).
* Gawn and Grundy are likely to be selected as All-Australian rucks this year.
* Melbourne's second ruck option is Heath. He had 26 hitouts vs Richmond while Gawn had 21. His usual ruck numbers are a bit lower with a low possession count.
* Ladhams had a very good day out in the VFL where he dominated an injury-depleted Bulldogs.
* Ladhams needs a run in the seniors at some point even with Grundy playing. Now seems like a good time.
* Grundy will need a bit of a rest lest he be worn out and less effective by season's end.

My views:
* To manage one good opposition ruck, play two rucks.
* Is Ladhams a better ruck than Heath?
* Ladhams would win more possessions than Heath.
* With the team not needing to be named until Friday, team selection on Thursday has to include Ladhams on the extended bench.

[UUaswan]

Heath 50% ToG
Melb 3 Tall Fwds PLUS Fritsch

[Nico]

I think Edwards will keep his spot. I would like to see Billy Cootee also get a second game. As for who comes in for Heeney. It may be Cunningham.
I know others will call for Lloyd to go out But I can't agree with that. That goal at the end of the 3rd quarter showed his value.
He positions himself about 60 metres from goal in the perfect position to run onto a quick kick into the forward line. Many times he is in the right position to mark/intercept the hurried kick from defence by the opposition. He had 8 marks last week and also presents up as a link up player. He was our 4th highest rated player last week. Super fit.

On 2nd thoughts Cunningham is very good on small forwards and may be needed to claim Pickett.

[SwanSand]

We are in for a challenge this week. We played against three teams in last three weeks with some of their best players out. I know we had our own outs but that’s not the comparison i am making. But the challenge of playing a team that’s buzzing like the Demons with Gawn and Pickett playing well, I reckon we would be troubled at times.
Looking at last weeks game and the game against the giants, we ourselves try too many cute things at times especially against Giants we were at times too arrogant. Last week our kicking was very good and we did the balance of kicking vs handball a lot better.
it will be interesting to see how we go.

Cootee out
Heeney in
others unchanged.

Logan needs to do more. He is playing a hybrid role which is very hard to do and is probably not a strength of Ladhams. I don’t think Ladhams is as good a kick as Logan is but maybe better than Logan in Hitouts. But Logan is playing the defensive aspect well where he drifts in defense and lets Brodie play a bit forward. And it’s working well as Blakey then gets free in offense. Logan however needs to do a bit more with his Contested Marking and kick goals (at least 1 a game) when he gets it.