Rd 3 vs Melbourne Demons @ MCG, Sunday April 2 3:20PM - Pre-match Thread

[Maltopia]

Steven May in court this week for driving with a suspended licence. Demons premiership star faces court after latest off-field incident

[KSAS]

Selectors certainly have their headaches this week as dropping McLean for Buddy would expose us in the ruck if Ladhams gets injured. Taking a punt if they do that and same if we played all 4 Talls! Just would've like to see Logan/Armartey forward combination again for another week against a top liner like Melbourne. Maybe Buddy should've been suspended for 2 weeks! (Only kidding!).

I hope they repeat the Number 25 Jumper tribute this week, with Barry Round's career having overlapped between South Melbourne/Sydney. Also hope they're continuing with wearing the Red V for Victorian games.

[Markwebbos]

McLean isn’t a backup ruck. Partey boy is a much better option, even if he’s a bit short of match fitness

[KSAS]

McLean isn’t a backup ruck. Partey boy is a much better option, even if he’s a bit short of match fitness

If that's what the selectors do decide, they may start with Buddy on the bench (not as sub) to give the Logan/Armartey combo another crack to begin with. Buddy could come on to play high half forward role if that combo starts well. It might also throw off Melbourne plans with May who is usually matched on Buddy.

Noticed Logan did play some minutes in the Ruck during the practice matches, so he & Amartey could also possibly share the relief ruck duties for Ladhams.

[ugg]

Now that Gawn is out, I'm not so worried about how our 2nd ruck goes against their 2nd ruck. The Demons have already named Jacob Van Rooyen to make his debut, so their 2nd ruck will either be him or Ben Brown.

AFL 2023: Melbourne’s Jacob van Rooyen to debut v Sydney Swans | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site

[Ludwig]

I hope we play the Wombat this week. I wanted us to take JVR (Jacob van Rooyen) with the pick we used on Sheldrick and am looking forward to see how they go. I quite like Sheldrick and think he will be a midfield regular in the next couple of years. But JVR would better fill a role we need.

Too much importance is being placed on the relief ruckman role. It doesn't really matter that much, especially when the opposition team only have one regular ruckman as well. I would be more concerned if one of our trainers got injured and couldn't provide massages on the sidelines.

More important than the participants in the ruck contest is how we play the contest to prevent the opposition from gaining advantage with a quick break out of the centre. I know this is something we are cognizant of and continually try to improve. It's much more than just about the ruckman.

It would seem hard to drop Amartey after he got so many coaches votes last week. But you never know.

[chalbilto]

I hope we play the Wombat this week. I wanted us to take JVR (Jacob van Rooyen) with the pick we used on Sheldrick and am looking forward to see how they go. I quite like Sheldrick and think he will be a midfield regular in the next couple of years. But JVR would better fill a role we need.

Too much importance is being placed on the relief ruckman role. It doesn't really matter that much, especially when the opposition team only have one regular ruckman as well. I would be more concerned if one of our trainers got injured and couldn't provide massages on the sidelines.

More important than the participants in the ruck contest is how we play the contest to prevent the opposition from gaining advantage with a quick break out of the centre. I know this is something we are cognizant of and continually try to improve. It's much more than just about the ruckman.

It would seem hard to drop Amartey after he got so many coaches votes last week. But you never know.

It would be ridiculous to drop him after his performance last Sunday.
For mine (baring injuries)-
In Buddy - Out McLean

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Now that Gawn is out, I'm not so worried about how our 2nd ruck goes against their 2nd ruck. The Demons have already named Jacob Van Rooyen to make his debut, so their 2nd ruck will either be him or Ben Brown.[/url]

+1
If they're going with a makeshift ruck, so I'd be OKish with a semi-fit Amarty.

Which means the selectors can go conservative (their default state) and bring Buddy if for McLean. Of more interest is Roberts - hopefully not 23rd man again.

[ugg]

Ins are Sheldrick Franklin and Hall-Kahan

[stevoswan]

Squad of 26 announced for this weekend.

Extended interchange:

Harry Cunningham Chad Warner Braeden Campbell
Justin McInerney Hayden McLean Matt Roberts
Hugo Hall-Kahan Angus Sheldrick

My guess is the first four named on that bench will play and the rest miss out, incl. McLean. Roberts sub again?

[Ludwig]

The RWO selection consensus looks on target, but it really wasn't that hard this week.

Happy to see HHK make the extended bench. He was very good last year and one of our best in the first VFL match this year. Definitely looks someone who will be looking to make our best 22 soon. The only problem is that there aren't any spots up for grabs. Expecting that Robbie Fox will jump the queue once he's ready to go.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I know a few more regular ressie watchers on here have been enthusiastic on HHK, including Ludwig, so nice to see him at least become an emergency. For those who have seen more of him than me - and the snippets I’ve seen I like - what’s the view on his eventual position or player comparison?

As for sub, the only change I could see is Sheldrick for Roberts - not because Roberts has done anything wrong, just to give him a full game for match fitness.

[dejavoodoo44]

I know a few more regular ressie watchers on here have been enthusiastic on HHK, including Ludwig, so nice to see him at least become an emergency. For those who have seen more of him than me - and the snippets I’ve seen I like - what’s the view on his eventual position or player comparison?

As for sub, the only change I could see is Sheldrick for Roberts - not because Roberts has done anything wrong, just to give him a full game for match fitness.

On Hall-Kahan; if one of our outside runners went down, like McInerney, Gulden, Stephens or Campbell, then he'd probably fit seamlessly as a replacement in that rotation. He's fast, not afraid to take the game on and a classy ball user. Same for Corey Warner, who I also think might be close to a debut.

[RogueSwan]

"... Expecting that Robbie Fox will jump the queue once he's ready to go.

Meaning he will be first in for an injury or someone out of form? Or will he push out someone from the current side?

[Ludwig]

Meaning he will be first in for an injury or someone out of form? Or will he push out someone from the current side?

I don't see anyone he would push out of the side, so I think he will have to wait for an injury or poor form to make the side. I suspect he will get a couple of warmup games in the VFL in any case, as there's no need to rush him in. There's going to be pressure to get some games into the likes of Sheldrick, Roberts, HHK and Gould. I don't know how they fit into the side, but it's not good to let the queue of AFL ready players get too long, else they will start to look elsewhere for opportunities.