Rnd 12 Pre-Match Thread, vs Melbourne at MCG, 7:25 PM Saturday 4 June

[KSAS]

Hickey (if available) for Reid
Amartey for Buddy
Blakey for COR
Ronke/Taylor for Wicks.

4 changes is a lot for winning team. Suspect at least 2 (Amartey & Blakey).
COR as Sub.

[Roadrunner]

Hickey (if available) for Reid
Amartey for Buddy
Blakey for COR
Ronke/Taylor for Wicks.

4 changes is a lot for winning team. Suspect at least 2 (Amartey & Blakey).
COR as Sub.

Fair point KSAS but would you leave Wicks in? I don’t think he deserves a spot based on his last 2 games. I wouldn’t have picked him after his Carlton game, but Horse and Co must see something that I don’t. Would much rather have either of the two you named or Clarke. Sure, he may spray it a bit but we all agree that he can get the pill and can tag.

We have Petracca and Oliver to think about at the very least. So I’m not fussed with 4 changes, but if Hickey is not available it should be only 3.

[longmile]

What about Blakey?

No Blakey? Assuming his illness is short-lived, I imagine he'll be straight back in (and we did miss him).

Ooops. No you're both correct. I forgot about Blakey! Definitely an auto in

[KSAS]

Appreciate your feedback Roadrunner. Those 4 changes is what I personally like to see as a observant fan. I suspect maybe only 2 changes as you had pointed out that MC may see things differently and have their own trigger points, particularly with Wicks. I like to see Wicks do well as it's a particularly specialist role playing small forward these days. But when I read VFL reports of how well Taylor and Clarke have been consistently playing, then effort should also be rewarded when the opportunity arises, as it sets example for entire playing group.

I don't like debutants being dropped just after one game, as they should be given at least 2 games to adjust to the levels of senior footy, hence Roberts gets another chance in my books.

I thought COR was solid with no glaring errors and only loses his spot due to Blakey's return, hence he makes a good sub.

Not sure how bad Hickey's toe is but it appears he was playing with it sore previous few weeks going by Horse's presser last week and I'm keeping finger's crossed a week's rest is sufficient for his return this week.

[KTigers]

Agree with KSAS re Roberts. Dropping him after one week is a show of no confidence, the one thing debutants need most.
Give him another game or two at least.

[Roadrunner]

Agree with KSAS re Roberts. Dropping him after one week is a show of no confidence, the one thing debutants need most.
Give him another game or two at least.

Yes, keep Roberts but they did the same with Gus IIRC. One game is not enough but team balance can come into play.

[Faunac8]

Agree with KSAS re Roberts. Dropping him after one week is a show of no confidence, the one thing debutants need most.
Give him another game or two at least.

I am not sure it’s viewed as a show of no confidence but more, as others have posited , a small reality check for the player to ascertain just how big the gap is between AFL and every other level or league.
I suspect no matter how much those players are made aware of the difference it is only the actual playing experience that delivers the reality .
Don’t get me wrong it’s no knock on Robert’s and if we were playing say West Coast or North then we probably could persevere for a second week but this is a real challenge this week and we need to pick our best possible team.
At this stage he is not best 22 so unfortunately he will probably be sent back to the VFL with a check list of things to work on.
Two years from now he probably won’t even be mentioned as a possible out but at this stage of his career it is what it is.

[stevoswan]

Buddy chose to get involved with a pip-squeak nipping at him and he clumsily got it wrong. I've got no problem with anyone engaging in a bit of argy-bargy but if you get it wrong, there's no point trying to justify it as if you're innocent. I said it was dumb because of the timing and the resulting reverse free kick. Buddy knows better, he got sucked in, even though, ultimately it seemed to spark his game into action.

.....and I'll say it again, Buddy had no idea he had been awarded a free. Do you actually think he knew? Do you think he would have done what he did, had he realised? He's not THAT dumb, so stop calling him 'dumb'. Had he known it was our/his free kick....and then did what he did, I would agree he was/is dumb. He's not.

[Steve]

Taylor and Clarke running around getting 30-40 cheap uncontested possessions each week in the VFL is probably the most futile thing I’ve ever seen.

Clearly they’re not in our plans, but it’s still odd we wouldn’t give them a role or instructions to play another way - even if we have 20 injuries we’re not going to ask them to play that way in the seniors.

[stevoswan]

Oh dear.....

Dees set for huge boost with FOUR flag heroes - Salem, McDonald, Harmes and Langdon - to return

[Goal Sneak]

I am not sure it’s viewed as a show of no confidence but more, as others have posited , a small reality check for the player to ascertain just how big the gap is between AFL and every other level or league.
I suspect no matter how much those players are made aware of the difference it is only the actual playing experience that delivers the reality .
Don’t get me wrong it’s no knock on Robert’s and if we were playing say West Coast or North then we probably could persevere for a second week but this is a real challenge this week and we need to pick our best possible team.
At this stage he is not best 22 so unfortunately he will probably be sent back to the VFL with a check list of things to work on.
Two years from now he probably won’t even be mentioned as a possible out but at this stage of his career it is what it is.

Absolutely. Roberts was handed a very hot game for his debut. He didn't set the game on fire but he didn't let anyone down either. He'll learn a lot about the jump from reserves to first grade but picking him to face the premiers is another level up from that. There's no shame for Roberts to go back to reserves this week, I feel he'll be pressing for the best 22 sooner rather than later.

[TheBloods]

Play Roberts in the mids this week