Preview Round 18 - Essendoomguys VS Melbourne Demons, MCG, Saturday 13/7/24, 7.40pm AEST

[jdstorm]

If Heppell is happy to mostly play VFL and be injury cover I’d love for him to be back.

If he’s wanting more then that then someone has to tell him he’s not that player anymore and it’s time to hang it up

 

[DERO]

Sometimes I read the comments in here and feel like I have been watching a different team.

 

[ghostdog]

Not cranky. Shiel will play again.
Looking forward to a four quarter performance.

 

[BomberFan355]

Atleast we know what the autopsy thread will be about if we lose.

 

[TheGrizz]

Good change.

Turner and Van Rooyen are really their only tall forwards, Laverde isnt really a natural matchup for either of them.

I presume this means that Redman/Kelly will have to take Fritch.

 

[Godzke]

Only advantage with Heppell over Laverde is that he's a better user of the ball under pressure. Which ain't saying much.

Curious about Petty for Gawn and if they actually play him in the ruck or go with McDonald.

 

[hurlygurdy]

Some players can keep going longer than anticipated. That might not count if we are in full rebuild mode but realistically we’re now looking at winning finals this year. Heppell is showing us that he is that guy, so it’s time to adjust I guess

 

[Beerfish]

I can get around it.

 

[FlyingV]

Sparrow, Salem, Tholstrup and Rivers are all > 6'0" with Rivers being 6'2"!

Rivers is taller than; Perkins, Tsatas, Durham, Caldwell, Hobbs, Shiel, Parish and Merrett.

If they're 'smalls' what are our guys!

Small?

 

[Keystone agony]

I think it was a likely option along with a Hind or Cox being omitted

The only issue i have is i wouldve liked Kelly to play on Kozzie. This now means Kelly gets Fritsch and Mcgrath goes to Kozzie. Not diabolical by any means

If things go poorly but we have no injuries and we lose then i expect a Heppell will be the sub or Kelly omitted with Lav back in the following week

 

[jmoo wan]

isnt there a financial difference in terms of match payments if you are omitted Vs managed?

surely a mod knows this stuff and can instantly respond?

 

[Kyptastic]

Don The Stat Preview for Round 18 is out now

 

[Keystone agony]

I think Scott is trying to avoid having to make any big calls as long as he needs to and if that time comes then were in a great position

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Both lav and dys have exceeded expectations this year and both looked like they needed a spell in the cats game.
Think its a good way to keep them fresh but I do think when it comes to pointy end of season we need to make tough call of which one out of those 2 and kelly is dropped as can't have all three in the 23 as its one defender too many.

Really happy shiel and Caddy stay in and we go with one ruck.

 

[Beerfish]

isnt there a financial difference in terms of match payments if you are omitted Vs managed?

surely a mod knows this stuff and can instantly respond?

No and yes

 

[Keystone agony]

Both lav and dys have exceeded expectations this year and both looked like they needed a spell in the cats game.
Think its a good way to keep them fresh but I do think when it comes to pointy end of season we need to make tough call of which one out of those 2 and kelly is dropped as can't have all three in the 23 as its one defender too many.

Really happy shiel and Caddy stay in and we go with one ruck.

Not sure why people thought after last week a Caddy or Shiel would be dropped

Heppell has also played good footy on the wing this year

 

[cAsEy_18]

Heppell was really ordinary against West Coast, I recall mentioning it to a couple of people.
It got overlooked because we won, and then obviously the build up to his 250th.

I thought we looked better without him in the side last week.

Having said that - we don't win or lose this game based on whether we have Heppell or Laverde out there.

I'm a little nervous as Melbourne's forward line these last 2 weeks looks the best I've seen it in a long time. At the very least, it's more versatile/mobile.
I also probably would have done what they did too in regards to the ruck. No point bringing in a ruck that you think will get beaten anyway. Go smaller, read the taps of the opposition ruckman, and you can be no worse off.

But I give us a good chance. Play the style we played last week, we'll be okay. We match up well against Melbourne.

 

[jmoo wan]

No and yes

i believe you are wrong on both of those counts my friend

 

[joey_jo_jo]

Not sure why people thought after last week a Caddy or Shiel would be dropped

Heppell has also played good footy on the wing this year

Yeah didn't think they would be but had a nagging worry in my head that heppell and goldy come straight back in for them

 

[Bjchan13]

Id hope Hind is sub again, can pinch hit in multiple positions and has natural pace. Probably hates it but i think he's the best candidate for the job week to week. Heppell and Cox the other options if they want to rotate.

 

[Blind Turn]

Good change.

Turner and Van Rooyen are really their only tall forwards, Laverde isnt really a natural matchup for either of them.

I presume this means that Redman/Kelly will have to take Fritch.

Cue Fullarton late in and Petty moved forward.

 

[JayJ20]

Well it definitely wasn’t omitted because I thought he was great last week. I guess we aren’t used to having enough available to “manage” anyone.

It's a brilliant team change. Head scratcher at first then you look at the Melb forward line and its all short people

We've been so bad for so long that managing players at this time of the year confuses us.

We're usually playing "elimination finals" or "8-point games" by now to scrape in the top 8 with a lengthy injury list. Nice to have the luxury of managing players.

 

[MiguelM]

Not sure why people thought after last week a Caddy or Shiel would be dropped

Heppell has also played good footy on the wing this year

Yeah, there was zero chance of Caddy or Shiel not getting a full game. Shiel really gave the midfield a boost that has been crying out for.

Heppell been in the best form of the last 4 years or so. Lav has been good too. Still has heart in mouth moments 1 on 1 near goal, but on the whole has been important.

Hayes isn't quite ready for a team like Dees. Maybe a chance against Crows but only if he performs in VFL.

Just glad they didn't rush Goldy back. Draper played one of his best games for the club last week and Cox did ok as a backup.

Hind probably needs a full game after only 5 minutes last week. Maybe Perk sub?

 

[Kong]

Out: Kelly

 

[JayJ20]

What's going on with Melbourne's selection? Petty for Gawn? Is Van Rooyen supposed to ruck? Isn't he their most dangerous forward? Or is Petty rucking?

Bit surprised by that. Maybe there's something I'm missing but I really can't understand the logic behind it.