Changes for Port Adelaide (Official teams named)

[Hartijon]

I think I must have been watching a different game to you. I thought Melcho was good. He made a couple of defensive mistakes (that contest against Jetta and the turnover to Shaw (?) at half back), but he also cleaned up countless spillages on half back and repelled attack after attack when nobody else could pick the damn ball up. He was far from classy, but I thought he was very effective at repelling attacks.

I am reasonably sure we were watching the same game . The cost of Melcho's mistakes and the context were the issue. Defensive lapses like his in the context of the game are simply not acceptable. Way too soft when the whole team was hard at it! Sure he played ok or servicably apart from 3 or more costly mistakes which caused the coach to drag him. There are other posts in this thread that presumably watching the same game, have a similar judgement to me.He played a lousy game.

[Big Al]

Out: Playfair, Goodes
In: TDL, Barlow

You bloody idiot....

[DST]

TDL for Playfair as a straight swap, he plays a bit taller and therefore can be used as mid sized target

McGlynn for Jetta if he comes up, other Vez for Jetta.

Outside of the that, everybody else deserves to keep their place based on their efforts on the weekend.

DST

[ShockOfHair]

I'm not a Bevan fan but I know when to give credit where it's due. I usually note every Bevo error and give him stick for every single one but yesterday I did not yell at Bevan once.

.

It's the Al-O-Meter! Measuring degrees away from crapness.

I reckon Goodesy would have got a high Al-O-Meter score in the first half.

[Big Al]

It's the Al-O-Meter! Measuring degrees away from crapness.

I reckon Goodesy would have got a high Al-O-Meter score in the first half.

Were you sitting behind me??? The Al-O-Meter - I like it. May have to get a patent on that.

Yes, he wasn't in my good books that's for sure. Still, all was forgiven as he ran in sealed it.

[Chookbilly]

There are a few changes I'd like to see, whether this week or in the future, as we all know that Roos won't change too much if anything after a win.

Out - Pyke - I think he's doing brilliantly considering the circumstances, but he has had a few games now and can take what he has learned back to the reserves and improve on them.
In - Currie - I think he can do just as well as Pyke, and will contribute more around the ground and up forward. Been in the system a few years and derves a chance while Seaby is injured.

Out - Bevan. Everyone knows what he offers, and it's not going to get any better from here on in. I see him as nothing more than cover for injuries, not a best 22 player.
In - Vespa/TDL - Depending on the position replacement ie. forward or back, I would like to see either TDL given a chance as a forward, or Vespa in a half forward/half back position.
In my opinion, like Bevan neither are best 22 players (yet), but have more upside and need to be given a chance on the big stage.

Out - Jetta - Will be a little champion, and has been handy if not great. Feel he needs a game or two in the seconds to regain some form and confidence.... and figure out where the goals are, will be a better for it.
In - Meredith/Vespa Both capable of playing on a wing both highly skilled users of the ball, not to mention creative

Out - Playfair - Offers nothing more than a big body, decent mark, but poor kick which is just unacceptable as a forward. Should be a last alternative.
In - Johnston/TDL - Johnston has strung a few together now and was in the bests on the weekend. May not quite be ready, but a taste of senior action may help him understand what is required. 1 goal out of him would be on par with Playfairs output anyway.
TDL is the classy small forward we've needed for years. Now we have him, he has his fitness back, and he's kicking goals in the reserves. Bringing him in would change the dimension of our forward structure, but if the end result is more goals it's a good thing.

McGlynn is the other player that will obviously come into the side once proven fit and firing.

[dimelb]

Were you sitting behind me??? The Al-O-Meter - I like it. May have to get a patent on that.

Yes, he wasn't in my good books that's for sure. Still, all was forgiven as he ran in sealed it.

Is that different from the Ale-O-meter? Just pondering on the sig.

[Big Al]

Changes for Port Adelaide

Is that different from the Ale-O-meter? Just pondering on the sig.

I have my nephew with me these days and I drive so none of the liquid gold for me.

He's not coming to the Pies game so the Ale-O- meter may get a run that night.

[bigswan]

In:McGlynn, Moore
Out:Bevan, Jetta

If Kennelly comes in I don't know what they will do. Pyke continues to do enough. The tap to McVeigh to bring up a goal was a gem. Playfair stays in the side until Bradshaw returns and even then still might hold his place, such is his competitiveness. I hope Veszpremi gets another chance but I don't know where. I would hate to see Smith dropped. Malceski would need to play much better this week. With players fighting for places in the side, the future looks good.

[bondy]

I would hate to see Smith dropped.

Smith won't be dropped all season.

[gumby_bolts]

Smith won't be dropped all season.

Agreed. Our best small defender and Probs up there with kirk as our best tagger.
On melcho, I didn't think he had an awful game, sure, he made some mistakes but I saw many contests when he was hard at it and got some clean ball out.

[Nico]

Malceski did have an awful game, but so did Goodes. Indeed, Goodes' game was more disturbing, because there was a very clear lack of effort at times, especially defensively.

Interesting comment by an Essendon supporter to me today. He said Goodes was always going to be the one who was going to win the game for us. He said he had Hocking on him and 2 coming back on him constantly that forced Goodes wide on leads. He said Goodes's last quarter was very good and his constant effort at the footy always had the Dons supporters uneasy. Last week 1 goal 5, this week 2 goals 4 (couple of terrible misses), but turn it round to 5/1 and 4/2 and we all call him a star.

On his defensive work; he certainly brought the ball to ground miles more than Playfair whether it was by design or not, but the real problem was we had no one at the fall of the ball whereas Essendon had 2 or 3 dropping back all the time. It was nausiating to see them take it away with ease.
Goodes had 16 possessions which any key forward will take any day. He needs to convert more of the opportunities, but the final goal was a signature goal and right when we needed at the end of a tough day.

[Nico]

I am reasonably sure we were watching the same game . The cost of Melcho's mistakes and the context were the issue. Defensive lapses like his in the context of the game are simply not acceptable. Way too soft when the whole team was hard at it! Sure he played ok or servicably apart from 3 or more costly mistakes which caused the coach to drag him. There are other posts in this thread that presumably watching the same game, have a similar judgement to me.He played a lousy game.

You're right, his 2 grubbers for turnovers and goals were rubbish. After that though he didn't do one short pass. His one handed effort 15 metres out that resulted in a goal was the same as he did against North. On TV they played it a few times and like the North game no doubt heard footsteps. The probelem with those 2 grubbers was they were both les than 15 metres so if they did happen to land on the chest it was play on and both times the recipient had a bomber right on his ginger.

[Nico]

I think there is a good chance Lewis Johnston will debut this week in his home town. Someone mentioned Playfair being sore after the game so I would reckon a key position player for a key position player looks likely.

[royboy42]

Smith won't be dropped all season.

Easily in our best 22, and will be for some years!