Preview Round 1: Hawthorne vs Essendon, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sunday 19th March @ 3.20pm

[HirdsTheWord]

What I expect:

B: Redman Laverde Ridley
FB: McGrath Zerk-Thatcher Kelly
C: Durham Merrett Langford
HF: Perkins Weideman McDonald-Tipungwuti
F: A.Davey Wright Jones
Ru: Draper Setterfield Shiel
Int: Parish, D'Ambrosio, Martin, Caldwell
Sub: Heppell

If Guelfi is fit then I think he takes a spot, maybe Caldwell or as the sub considering he is coming back from injury.
Voss might be a chance for Jones' spot but i imagine Harry will get first crack.

is tippa even match fit? impressive if he is.

was a complete meat ball 6 months ago.

 

[Beerfish]

is tippa even match fit? impressive if he is.

was a complete meat ball 6 months ago.

He's Essendon match fit.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

He's Essendon match fit.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

is tippa even match fit? impressive if he is.

was a complete meat ball 6 months ago.

The fact we have seen Menzie not named, makes me assume he is!

 

[jdstorm]

The fact we have seen Menzie not named, makes me assume he is!

Or Snelling, Guelfi and Davey are the chosen SFs maybe Caldwell as HF as well.

If a rookie FWD gets another slot I think Voss in place of stringer seems to make more sense as a like for like

 

[faible]

The fact we have seen Menzie not named, makes me assume he is!

Menzie has already debuted so won't get a puff video, will just be named or not named. Surely his form makes him hard to ignore, I'd say he's been ahead of AMT and Davey Jnr in the preseason games.

 

[bennyg12]

When's the team named?

 

[eth-dog]

When's the team named?

Squad at 6:20 ish, team tomorrow at 5

 

[EnolaGay]

Surprised the odds on this aren't closer, even taking the Hawkes thin forward line into account.

 

[boncer34]

Look forward to another year of people telling us we're shit and to be patient only to then melt how we're losing in gameday threads because of umpiring.

 

[Ati Tude]

Look forward to another year of people telling us we're s**t and to be patient only to then melt how we're losing in gameday threads because of umpiring.

An extra umpire this year. 33% more excuses!

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Look forward to another year of people telling us we're s**t and to be patient only to then melt how we're losing in gameday threads because of umpiring.

 

[eth-dog]

 

[BrunoV]

No Guelfi. That's a positive.

 

[naraku]

So Heppell joins Alwyn in the team.

 

[Zach Package]

Hind on the field and Kelly not in the 25 is the first noodlescratcher of the season.

You would expect Caldwell, Martin, AMT and Jones or Phillips would make the bench and Menzie to be the sub, going on that.

 

[eighties_bomber]

Heppell?

 

[Ati Tude]

Hind on the field and Kelly not in the 25 is the first noodlescratcher of the season.

You would expect Caldwell, Martin, AMT and Jones or Phillips would make the bench and Menzie to be the sub, going on that.

I can imagine D'Ambrosio being sub and Menzie in the 22, with Walla missing out.

 

[BrunoV]

Also. That centre line.

 

[carnthedons]

Also. That centre line.

3 AAs, what do you mean

 

[DeezNuts]

Hind on the field and Kelly not in the 25 is the first noodlescratcher of the season.

You would expect Caldwell, Martin, AMT and Jones or Phillips would make the bench and Menzie to be the sub, going on that.

Let me scratch that itch, the Hawks have barely any forwards and Kelly sucks

 

[andleanback]

Heppell smh. Can just tell Scott will keep him in the side for most of the year.

 

[Happyskeret]

Nice relief to see Setters is named on the ball.

 

[EnolaGay]

No Voss

 

[Lore]

Yep so Kelly has played in the 'firsts' for each of the intra club and practice games, now out of the team for Hind. Perhaps an unreported injury... D'Ambrosio is the only defender on the bench so probably playing, otherwise we only have 6 defenders.

Midfield actually looks like a midfield :O Caldwell and Martin fighting for a bench spot? Shiel on a wing and Durham, Langford and Perkins being named in the forward line says we already have a lot of available rotations in the midfield, so will be interesting if Martin gets in the team. Surely you can't leave him out though...

Ruck is Draper of course, no surprises there. Phillips is on the extended bench but you'd think he'd be the emergency unless he takes Jones' spot on the bench and they for some reason decide to play a two ruck set up (unlikely imo).

Forward line is the most flexible. We have two genuine tall forwards and one genuine small forward named on the field, with the rest of the named forward line being wing/fwd at best. Menzie, Snelling, Walla and Jones all looking for bench spots, of which there are probably two available. Martin may also be competing for one in the forward line if Caldwell has the midfield bench spot. Given Voss isn't on the bench, Jones has no competition. The only way he doesn't get on the bench is if we're going with two talls and no third/medium talls except for rotating wingers. Which leaves Menzie, Snelling, Walla and Martin in contention for the last bench spot and a sub-vest.