Rnd.3 V Richmond.

[AB Swannie]

A couple of responses to issues raised over the last few pages:

1. The most effective way to tackle Dusty and his fend is to grab the arm he is using to fend and drag down.

2. Our defence has been a bit more shaky. I put this down to Rampe being a bit out of sorts. I think McCartin and Cunningham have been pretty good. I back Ramps to lift. Hewitt is also learning a new role that Mills played so effectively. They will come good.

3. I doubt we will go in unchanged this week mainly due to the 5 day break for Essendon. Anyone who is a bit sore like Dawson might be given the flight and game off and held back for Essendon. Buddy also plays only one of these two games and Stephens will play at least one.

[Thunder Shaker]

I think bits because a tackle in AFL around the hips is largely ineffective because the ball holder has free use of his arms to handpass off.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Thunder Shaker]

Buddy feeling fit, but will he take on Richmond?

[Bexl]

Blakey has had 6 and 9 pressure acts in the games so far. Not good enough for a bloke playing on the ball. Get rid of him until he learns what work rate is

Bring in Stephens. Need his run against Tigs

Or maybe bring in the toughness and consistency and skill of Rowbottom there's a thought the coaches might have

[waswan]

Round 2 why rest a deaftee ?

Rowy if fit will come in for Mcinerney IMO

Blakey will stay I believe, the upside is higher.

Bud plays 1 of the next 2 weeks.
Toss of coin which one he plays.

Warner to Dusty in the midfield, Hewitt when he goes forward.

[TheBloods]

Or maybe bring in the toughness and consistency and skill of Rowbottom there's a thought the coaches might have

What skill

Stephens will help more against Richmond. Big ground. Put him on a wing. He will star.

[The Runner]

What skill

Stephens will help more against Richmond. Big ground. Put him on a wing. He will star.

He's one of the most skilled in close midfielders we have

[Old S.M.Blood]

7 News Melb. Buddy may be "rested" against the Tigers .

[TheBloods]

He's one of the most skilled in close midfielders we have

Big deal all our inside mids are skilled its what you do with that skill that counts. Hes too unremarkable on the inside and not quick, skilful or fit enough for the outside. Wasted spot in the team. Stephens is an endurance beast will run all day hes a POD and better suited to our game plan. RB wouldve done well 5 years ago ill give him that

[Ludwig]

Agree with those who think Hewett is the best tagging option for Dusty.

The number 1 thing to try to remedy this week is our defence. Rampe has not been up to the job of playing a key defender in his 3 games (including preseson game) this year and should be given a less onerous task. He often plays on Jack Riewoldt, but I worry that it's not the right assignment for him this time.

I'm not sure who should come in, but whoever looks best out of Melican, Brand or Gould will do.

I'm not so concerned about the specific personnel from game to game. We have a lot a players that should get some quality game time this year, so rotations are in order if we don't have the necessity for change due to injuries. We can afford to be extra cautious now. It should pay dividends later in the season.

I would rest Franklin this week and allow him to play rounds 4 and 5, where the long break will help manage his workload.

I'm not as down on Blakey as some others, but don't mind if someone like Stephens or Ling comes in for him this week.

The 3 young draftees have done so well, it's hard to drop any of them. I think they can look after themselves against Richmond. They're tough kids.

Rowbottom would help, but I'd give him a few more days rest until the Essendon game. The marginal difference of Rowbottom v Stephens is minimal.

Mills is not the answer for our defence. We need a key defender to take on the tall forwards other sides are presenting. We're making it too easy for the opposition to isolate our shorter defenders with matches favourable to them.

[The Runner]

Big deal all our inside mids are skilled its what you do with that skill that counts. Hes too unremarkable on the inside and not quick, skilful or fit enough for the outside. Wasted spot in the team. Stephens is an endurance beast will run all day hes a POD and better suited to our game plan. RB wouldve done well 5 years ago ill give him that

His skill is in how he uses the ball when winning a contested possession - that is how he uses it. And no, not all of our inside mids are skilled at the coal face.
In fact, I'd say very few are. Probably Mills and the developing Warner are the only two that spring to mind.

Rowbottom would have been great 5 years ago. And he'll be great for the next 10.

I don't think you really understand the role of the modern midfielder to play both inside and out. But RB is exactly what we need, and playing seriously impressive footy.

[AB Swannie]

The number 1 thing to try to remedy this week is our defence. Rampe has not been up to the job of playing a key defender in his 3 games (including preseson game) this year and should be given a less onerous task. He often plays on Jack Riewoldt, but I worry that it's not the right assignment for him this time.

This is a very interesting issue. I agree that Ramps has been down in form but it is not really because he has been regularly out-marked by taller opponents. I think Tex only kicked one of his goals from a mark. Overall, Adelaide only took 12 marks inside 50. This followed from the Brisbane game where the ultra tall Daniher and Hipwood only managed 5 marks inside 50.

Overall, I think Rampe is the best equipped to go with Riewoldt and McCartin on Lynch. Dusty will definitely spend a lot of time as the deepest forward trying to expose whoever is on him because whoever it is will be a worse player than him.

[SwanSand]

Can we have 2 on Dusty, Hewett and Cunningham? Or Hewett and Campbell?
Somebody rolls back from the middle of the ground to help with defence. We negate the forward entries that way and try to sling shot and get our kicking game going.

But I must say that we have not been bombing the ball only because we have not had that much pressure on the ball carrier in the first 2 rounds. But the Richmond pressure will be high and the risk is that we will start bombing the ball in the forward 50. And our forwards will struggle.

[Bexl]

What skill

Stephens will help more against Richmond. Big ground. Put him on a wing. He will star.

I don't know why I bother responding to you so I will just placate you.
Yes yes Rowbottom has no skills, yes that's right he is no good at getting the ball as an in and under player and he does not have mental toughness to play on when injured and he certainly can not hit a target with his kicking. AS for kicking goals he has no hope. Yes yes your right. That's right like you said what skill.
Ho hum.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Rampe may be a little off this year - but he's not the only defender copping it.
Forward lines everywhere have been benefiting by the faster ball movement - some commentators are talking about the possibility of a player kicking the ton (and not ROFL)