Changes for Rd. 3 vs North Melbourne

[Mountain Man]

I watched a little of the North’s game and reckon our team can not afford any soft players this week.
No newbies and maybe Clarke inclusion would be a good one

[Ludwig]

We can't kick the ball long to a contest against experienced defenders, like we did against Hurley and Hooker on Sunday. We face the same problem against NM with Tarrant and Josh Walker, as well as a host of other experience down back. It's a different story with Franklin and Reid in the side. But with the forward line we have atm, we have to keep the ball at ground level.

There is an option of bringing Melican into the side for Sam Gray, moving Aliir forward, rotating him and Sinclair between forward and the ruck. It would at least give us a better chance on the high ball to a marking contest.

[barry]

You are right Ludwig, and you'd think Horse would say "Dont bomb it long because we dont have any talls in the forward line".

However, I think the opposition also say to their side... "They dont have any talls up forward, so apply heaps of midfield pressure, then they will have to bomb in long".

Suffice to say, you cant really get away with playing a midget forward line for long.

[AnnieH]

We have to catch a plane to Melbourne with GW$ on Friday...
They wait for us to finish on Saturday, then everyone flies back together.
I'd love to be on that plane, sitting right next to Grubby Green.
I have words I'd like to share with him.

[waswan]

Should
Gray for Clarke
Oriordon for Melican

Maybe Outs
McKinerney, Wilbur
Maybe Ins
Stephens, Gould, Ronke, Warner

If they are going to play Harry, sacrifice him as the lockdown

[Ludwig]

However, I think the opposition also say to their side... "They dont have any talls up forward, so apply heaps of midfield pressure, then they will have to bomb in long".

Suffice to say, you cant really get away with playing a midget forward line for long.

Before they got Lynch, Richmond did very well with just Riewoldt as a tall forward, and he's mostly a lead up forward anyway.

Without a strong contested marking forward line, we have to depend on skill and speed to beat the pressure. We're probably not going too far this year because we don't have the experience, polish and skill to beat that pressure. We usually break down somewhere in attack with a poor disposal, or let the opposition break tackles too easily.

The question is whether we have the players who can grow into a side that has the skill and teamwork to move the ball with more fluency down the field, while playing solid defence as well.

I've had a lot of faith in KB and his approach to the draft. I think we've done very well building a list of quality young players. But only time will tell if this is really the case.

[Swanny40519]

Out : Gray, Hayward - Both players had poor games and offered nothing to assist our forwards in kicking a winning score

In : Melican, Clarke - Melican CHB, Brand to full back, Rampe to centre, Clarke to cover Higgins or Zeibell

[Auntie.Gerald]

bit of respect there

taggers in and play makers out

hmmmm who would have thought North would have that luxury while trading and recruiting in equally hard conditions ?

[dimelb]

We aren't going to reach the GF so we might as well throw McCartin and Blakey in at the deep end. I think they are both capable of learning the hard way.

But we need some accurate kicking into the F50 if they are going to learn anything.

[Meg]

But we need some accurate kicking into the F50 ......

Wouldn’t it be luverly!

[ernie koala]

The meltdowns on this board have certainly hit top gear quickly after the break.

We lost by 6 points. People played poorly for their first game in months. I understand that everyone is passionate and has a right to their own opinion but I think some need to take a breath and be grateful that we aren’t doing an autopsy as Crows, Bulldogs, or Weagles fans.

I’m not one for wholesale changes after one week. People deserve a chance to redeem. If they continue to struggle then you make a change. Therefore, for me, no change.

I agree with this...Unless there needs to be a change, due to injury/soreness, let this squad have another crack.

Wholesale changes after a 1 goal loss, with little or no reserves form to warrant change......That sucks any confidence out..... That's unnecessary panic.

[neilfws]

I’m not one for wholesale changes after one week. People deserve a chance to redeem. If they continue to struggle then you make a change. Therefore, for me, no change.

Same. And I think history shows that the club are not prone to wholesale, reactive change. It's usually around round 6 when we get a sense of "where things are at" in general.

[bloodspirit]

I agree with AB Swannie and ernie koala.

I also agree with most of what Ludwig has said.

My feeling is we're overreacting to a narrow loss. Sure, Essendon aren't world beaters, but Horse reckoned they played pretty well. And the reality is we are a young and inexperienced side in the middle of a rebuild and we are going to have to take a few losses on the chin.

The Dons were an opponent I felt we had to beat to maintain hope of making finals. I didn't have much hope we would make finals before the match and I have less now that we lost to them. I will be happy if we can win two of our next three and get to 3/5 after this section of the draw. However, it's probably more realistic that we may only win one of our next three. This would not lead me to despair in either our playing group or our coaches. It's a hot competition and we're a developing side. The experience we gain this year will stand us good stead in future seasons. I think a finish in the middle 6 of the competition at season's end will be a decent result for our team this year, outstanding if we make finals. I will be disappointed if we finish bottom 4.

I don't think we take anyone out of, or bring anyone into, defence. I think the only changes to be made (if any) would have to be in the front half of the ground. But even then I struggle to identify who gets dropped. Possibly Gray, although I agree we may be putting a premium on his experience. In this case, I see the logic of whoever it was that posted we could bring Clarke in for Gray. Clarke is significantly less experienced than Gray but has shown his abiility to play a negating role in the midfield that might be more valuable for us than another small forward. Those who didn't perform especially well need to be given time. Most of the underwhelming performers are young and what they need is experience, at AFL level. Ideally in a winning team, but we don't have that luxury.

What do people think about how Justin McInerney is playing? It has been a pleasant surprise to see him selected for Round 1 and hold his place for Round 2. He's just a second year player and was a third round draft pick that nobody saw coming - IIRC he was playing second division for his school in the first half of his draft year! I'm not expecting him to hold his place all season (then again I didn't foresee his selection for Round 1 either) but great to see us getting games into him and to watch him show his dare at AFL level.

[111431]

What do people think about how Justin McInerney is playing? It has been a pleasant surprise to see him selected for Round 1 and hold his place for Round 2. He's just a second year player and was a third round draft pick that nobody saw coming - IIRC he was playing second division for his school in the first half of his draft year! I'm not expecting him to hold his place all season (then again I didn't foresee his selection for Round 1 either) but great to see us getting games into him and to watch him show his dare at AFL level.

I think he is doing a good job given his age and lack of experience. Let him build his confidence and use his pace to take the game on and all of a sudden we might be able to find a leading forward instead of kicking down the line to a big pack. He is a bargain pick up

[waswan]

We have 28-30 going into 22.
With Neafl on ice we need to rotate those last few, its not like we are changing up a settled team.

Melican has to play if fit, in the best 22 and allows others do so much more