Preview 2024 Round 01 Thursday March 7 v Melbourne 7:20 @ SCG

[Jimbo OZ]

Fox just seems like the perfect sub.

He's the perfect sub to cover an injury. He's not the perfect sub if we don't have an injury and want some more offensive impact.

 

[tombomb]

He's the perfect sub to cover an injury. He's not the perfect sub if we don't have an injury and want some more offensive impact.

How often does the sub come on and change the game? Almost never.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I agree that we will play Hamling/Melican 90% of the time but this Melbourne game might be an exception rather than the rule. Maybe not. FWIW, my "best team" currently looks like this:

Back 7: McCartin, Rampe, Blakey, Lloyd, Florent, Cunningham, Hamling
Mid 8: Grundy, Gulden, Rowbottom, Warner, Adams, Campbell, McInerney, Parker
Forward 7: McDonald, McLean, Amartey, Hayward, Wicks, Papley, Heeney
Sub/Unlucky: Fox, Jordon, Sheldrick, Roberts

BTW, I didn't include Parker as an option to replace Wicks as he can't bring the pressure. Parker will spend plenty of time forward but I think he will swap more with Heeney and play an offensive role.

Very close to the mark, if not bang on.
Melican vs Hamling
Campbell vs Jordon vs McInerney (2 of 3)
They pick 23 now so I reckon all of those three will be picked and one will end up being sub.
The loser of Melican/Hamling, Ladhams, Sheldrick and Roberts will be the emergencies with CoWarner as a smokey instead of Roberts.

 

[Jimbo OZ]

How often does the sub come on and change the game? Almost never.

My memory is different to yours. I don't think a sub will "change a game" but I do remember subs having a positive impact. In tight games they can make an impact. I think it was Noah Cumberland for Richmond who is the one that sticks out the most. I also reckon Melbourne wished they picked their sub differently in their final defeat last year.

 

[tombomb]

My memory is different to yours. I don't think a sub will "change a game" but I do remember subs having a positive impact. In tight games they can make an impact. I think it was Noah Cumberland for Richmond who is the one that sticks out the most. I also reckon Melbourne wished they picked their sub differently in their final defeat last year.

The Jack Ross sub last year, I think you mean, impacted that game because they picked a smaller sub in the rain and we picked a key position player.

Then one of their key position players got injured, and they replaced with a smaller player. While we lost Lloyd and replaced with Francis. And then Sheldrick got injured as well.

The point with Fox is he is versatile enough to cover a variety of positions, which is why he is such a good sub option.

 

[Jimbo OZ]

The Jack Ross sub last year, I think you mean, impacted that game because they picked a smaller sub in the rain and we picked a key position player.

Then one of their key position players got injured, and they replaced with a smaller player. While we lost Lloyd and replaced with Francis. And then Sheldrick got injured as well.

The point with Fox is he is versatile enough to cover a variety of positions, which is why he is such a good sub option.

Thanks for telling me about my memory but I'm confident it was Noah Cumberland and it wasn't against the Swans.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Contain Fritsch

Pay no attention to the off-field stuff Melbourne will be steeled for this.

Expecting a tough contested slog.

 

[tombomb]

Thanks for telling me about my memory but I'm confident it was Noah Cumberland and it wasn't against the Swans.

I dunno what that means, but Jack Ross coming on as sub last year did have a big impact.

And the only time Cumberland has had decent impact as a sub was his second game, that Richmond lost.

 

[Donza]

Tight on Hair Fritsch.
Don't go long.
Marker on trac

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Dees will struggle to kick over 50, I’d put paps on Fritsch, only to mess his hair up every 2 minutes. I’d also get the camera to zoom on his hair so he can treat it like a giant mirror. Ball will waltz out their F50 every time.

Game over.

 

[McRobie]

Dees will struggle to kick over 50, I’d put paps on Fritsch, only to mess his hair up every 2 minutes. I’d also get the camera to zoom on his hair so he can treat it like a giant mirror. Ball will waltz out their F50 every time.

Game over.

I thought you were serious for the first part of your post re Papley playing on him. I was about to log out.

 

[Joycerama]

Tradition has to start somewhere

 

[the hypnotoad]

I 100% agree that they're the three main questions that I think lie ahead of round 1 selection, although I think we differ in terms of the answers haha

I think we went after Hamling (and also played Melican in last year's final) because we want another key defender. I don't think we want Blakey to be doing contested roles on tall forwards, and I don't really think we want Rampe to be doing it at this stage, either. It would have to be one of Melican or Hamling IMO.

I think that all of Campbell, McInerney and Jordon can play in the same side when we're at full strength but it would be reliant on someone else on a flank or something going out of the team. I think most likely Roberts misses out and McInerney rotates between half back and the wing while Campbell & Jordon are in the side.

I also think that Wicks (or Fox, whose been trialled in this role, though I didn't like what I saw of it in glimpses last year) will only be out of the team if any of those you mentioned - Adams, Sheldrick, Gulden or the other popular choice in Parker - can bring what Wicks/Fox brings in terms of pressure. Massive TBD on that one.

yes, i agree on hamling, and why we got him, and that it's likely he or melican plays
and i've said all off-season i think sheldrick will be in the round 1 side, although we should get a better idea when we see the team for thursday's game

 

[bedford]

yeah, i do. A veteran like Reid who is injury prone. He would've known if he was fit or not. He put his hand up and said "im good to go". Selfish.

Same as McVeigh in 16 totally selfish

 

[bedford]

Contain Fritsch

Pay no attention to the off-field stuff Melbourne will be steeled for this.

Expecting a tough contested slog.

He is one of the worst , like Smith

 

[bedford]

yes, i agree on hamling, and why we got him, and that it's likely he or melican plays
and i've said all off-season i think sheldrick will be in the round 1 side, although we should get a better idea when we see the team for thursday's game

I've said it before , Melican is Horses fav, he was offered a 3 year contract by the Saints but knocked it back , but they will keep trying

 

[caesar88]

I've said it before , Melican is Horses fav, he was offered a 3 year contract by the Saints but knocked it back , but they will keep trying

Because he's a good player who has been let down by his hamstrings.

Like me when I was a junior, but I was let down by my lack of football ability.

 

[bedford]

Parker out with a broken arm from Praccy

 

[Donza]

Parker out with a broken arm from Praccy

4-6 weeks you'd think

 

[DeathlyAccurate]

4-6 weeks you'd think

If that factors in the weeks leading up the round one it would only be 3 weeks of the season.

 

[Nuggetz]

Had a look at tickets & not many available. Hope we get close to a sell out!

 

[bedford]

If that factors in the weeks leading up the round one it would only be 3 weeks of the season.

Needs 17 games for 300 as well

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Spike gave no indication at the post praccy presser that Parker had hurt his arm. In fact singled him out for praise of his forward work.

Luke is as tough as they come but if it was a really bad break it would have been obvious. Hopefully it is an uncomplicated hairline fracture and the op was to pop a plate in.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Spike gave no indication at the post praccy presser that Parker had hurt his arm. In fact singled him out for praise of his forward work.

Luke is as tough as they come but if it was a really bad break it would have been obvious. Hopefully it is an uncomplicated hairline fracture and the op was to pop a plate in.

Mind you a hairline fracture is still as painful as hell.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Least this means Sheldrick should be playing