Preview Rd 5 - Brisbane Lions v Melbourne

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I got the impression from Leigh Harding's comments that he didn't think Ace was one of our five or six best.

Yeah I agree... was surprised that the NEAFL report had him in the bests.
 
Given the reserves game is on Anzac day I'd imagine that they have had too hold a few players back just in case they want to play them in the seniors. Thursday to Sunday is pretty long time and if someone did something at training on the sat and couldn't play then it would look pretty silly if we sent the majority or replacements up to Mackay on sunday. There will definitely be changes this week but I wouldn't say there are x held back from the reserves which means that there will be x changes. There very well could be but I wouldn't count on it. A few guys will get a week off footy this week purely because of the timing. I would have Clarke and Cornelius personally as the most likely to have that happen.

Clarke mainly because I just don't see the need vs melb to have that extra tall. Usually I'm all in favour of playing that extra tall but our rebound and spread was poor against North so I think we need some more run. Cornelius is the other I see as doubtful just because of history.

Given McGrath (probably) and Hanley will be out and it looks like Harwood and McKeever are definitely out I would say our ins will be Polkinghorne (just think we need a bit of experience), Karnezis (flexibility), Yeo (run on the wing and off halfback). Its the 4th one that I'm having issues working out. If Longer is in (you're not going to not play him 2 weeks in a row) then logic would point to Martin being out and both Longer and Cornelius then both play. Longer, Leue and Martin in the same side seems unlikely unless they use Martin down back or perhaps even as the sub? Doesn't seem right but could be an option.

Really tough to get a read on what that last change or two will be.

Either way real moment for us as a club in 2013. I'll take any type of win, but we need to see some real endeavour and attack on the football. Too often last week we stood off and as a result just kept giving away free kicks being second to the ball.
 

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Rich needs time in another role....forward or back! His current lack of desire, hungry, intensity for the ball in the middle is appalling!!!! I think a Paul Chapman type role at HF is in order...make him learn how to demand possessions! This softness for the contest and just waiting for the game to could to him is frankly embarrassing. He just doesn't have the hassle to play middle atm
 
Redden has earned the right to find form in the seniors IMO. Even if he hadn't, I don't think his form warrants dropping anyway. He is still averaging nearly 8 tackles a game and I would find it hard to drop a player who maintains a high defensive standard even when he is in bad form. He's also had over 20 touches in the last two games. There are signs there that he's getting back to what he is capable of.

As for Rich, he holds himself to a high standard and would be really frustrated at his start to the year. Don't think he is the sort of bloke who would benefit from being dropped. He needs to keep working through and learn how to beat the tag.

These is a really important period in the football education of two key players... putting them in the remedial class as punishment won't get them back up to speed.

Nice stat reeling mate...but unfortunately stats mean nothing with playing boosting numbers with junk time touches....our midfield has been deplorable with the games lost early on in our floggings.
 
Nice stat reeling mate...but unfortunately stats mean nothing with playing boosting numbers with junk time touches....our midfield has been deplorable with the games lost early on in our floggings.

Wow, bit condescending. I could do something similar and suggest that your desire to see Rich and Redden seems to be derived from angst rather than careful consideration, but I'll stick to my view that Rich is going to learn very little about shaking a tag at reserves level and that Redden should keep building in the seniors.

The only other reason for dropping them to the reserves is for punitive reasons, and I just don't think it is warranted.
 
Yeah I agree... was surprised that the NEAFL report had him in the bests.

I take it they don't just ask the coaches to nominate a handful of best players for the match report anymore?
 
...it looks like Harwood and McKeever are definitely out ...

I know how much everyone loves the weekly whinging about selections, so I’ll make an early start this week.

Why do we continually bring players in for one game and then drop them? Cornelius, Karnezis (game and a bit), Lester, and now Harwood. Longer too, but at least he had to make way for Leuenberger. McKeever got two games, that lucky so-and-so.

I think it’s something to be avoided whenever you can. It’s happened so often this season you’d think it must be part of some deliberate strategy.
 
Yeah I will be a bit confused if Harwood is out. Conditions just didn't seem right on Sunday for him to show what he's been showing in the reserves. Dropping him after one week seems harsh.
 
Mike Whitling reports that Polkinghorne, Karnezis, Cornelius, Clarke and Longer were all at the senior training today.

I wonder why Longer is missing out on the Mackay game though.

Hopefully he is playing on Sunday.
 

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Really hoping that Longer comes in for Martin.

A forward line of Green, Brown, Bewick, Papa, Longer & Mayes would seem like a decent balance - not to mention that it could be the nucleus for the next decade.

Other Changes:

Hanley - Karni (forced)
Niall - Clarke
McGrath- ???

I actually hope they don't bring in Black for McGrath, the next gen has to take responsibility for the fate of this season, bringing in a champion like Simon gives them an excuse to let someone else do the things required to lift this team.

I would personally like to see them bring in Bartlett. His speed would be nice, but after everything that he has been through there would be no chance of Callum getting off to a slow start or leaving anything out on the field.
 
Looks like we might be done and dusted this season. We just don't have that midfield depth to be able to compete especially with Polec and Bartlett both injured. Black back in will make amends but we're missing one of our best kicks now.
 
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