Preview Round 3: Melbourne vs Essendon, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Friday 01/04/2022 @ 7:40 PM

[bombreys]

Why can't Wright be our long term forward option? Certainly looked like a dominant forward at times on the weekend (against good opposition too). He has run 14km for the game so his aerobic capacity is good, he kicks the ball straight and there is no reason he can't be a 40-50 goal forward for the next 5 years (when we should be contending). This view of Peter Wright as a stop-gap until we develop someone better is certainly not my view. Add Jones, and Wright will get more one-on-one opportunities. To my eye he looks to be just getting better. I think he is a real asset.

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I like him, but 7 seasons in, he doesn't look like a 50 goal forward. Which is fine. 20-30 goal/ruck pinch-hitter is ideal for mine.

 

[Halftimehero]

Yeah, Walla won’t be getting an AFL match until at least Round 9. And that’s being generous!

Reckon it might be sooner than that, he’s playing in the 2s this weekend. I reckon he’ll be unleashed on ANZAC day.

 

[faible]

Reckon it might be sooner than that, round 6 or 7.

Round 8 IMO.

 

[citizen-erased]

Why can't Wright be our long term forward option? Certainly looked like a dominant forward at times on the weekend (against good opposition too). He has run 14km for the game so his aerobic capacity is good, he kicks the ball straight and there is no reason he can't be a 40-50 goal forward for the next 5 years (when we should be contending). This view of Peter Wright as a stop-gap until we develop someone better is certainly not my view. Add Jones, and Wright will get more one-on-one opportunities. To my eye he looks to be just getting better. I think he is a real asset.

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IF, and it's a big if, he can start using that frame of his to hit and compete every pack he could well be our best forward.

Big enough, strong hands, great kick.
I also think he becomes good at taking defenders and letting Jones, Baldwin and Stringer off the hook with defenders.

Just hasn't happened to date with him.

 

[The Prosecutor]

 

[The Prosecutor]

I'm dirty about Francis being dropped for Phillips - just shit development.

 

[citizen-erased]

I'm dirty about Francis being dropped for Phillips - just shit development.

honestly don't get it.

 

[BratPack]

Stop trying to make Ham an AFL footballer. He will never be an AFL footballer.

 

[YoboD]

I like the ins, very happy that they’re finally trialling the two proper rucks and allowing Wright to stay in the forward line.

Francis seems pretty stiff though, I think we could honestly use three proper talls in our forward line and would have just dropped Ham.

 

[TheGrizz]

honestly don't get it.

Draper and Phillips rotating in the ruck keeps Wright forward I imagine is their thinking.

They may have also thought they needed two genuine rucks to compete with Gawn and Jackson.
My only query is why Phillips over Bryan? I am not sure what forward craft Bryan has but it can't be less then Phillips. I would have kept Francis anyway as well.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Thought Phillips was required this week, wasn’t sure how we were going to do it.

Tex

 

[Megabattimus]

Oh hey, Martin's back!

 

[andleanback]

Francis dropped is I’m sorry idiotic, no wonder why he’ll never make it.
On the other hand congrats to tex. But correct me if I’m wrong he’s played 1 qtr of footy in the past 5 weeks? And we expect him to run out a full afl game.

 

[windyhill]

Arise Sir Hobbs.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

I thought Francis was quite good last week.

 

[Lore]

I am not expecting a win here but if we did I’d be pretty impressed. End of last year we couldn’t crack any of the top sides except the dogs in round 21 (and they then thumped us in the final).

 

[Zach Package]

I'm dirty about Francis being dropped for Phillips - just shit development.

That pooch was screwed long ago.

This is a common sense horses for courses selection to combat the Gawn/Jackson 1,2 punch.

Something had to give and unfortunately it was Francis. I don’t think he would have been dropped we were playing a shorter side.

 

[Petrify]

People thought Francis was good last week?

 

[Halftimehero]

I thought Francis was quite good last week.

He wasn’t

 

[The Prosecutor]

People thought Francis was good last week?

He was two straight kicks away from a really good game.

As it is, we're playing him in a new role and he did pretty well all things consider and there was plenty to build on.

For such a confidence player, this was a crap decision to omit him (albeit it was from a match up perspective).

 

[crackers65]

I'm dirty about Francis being dropped for Phillips - just shit development.

Francis has played 51 games in 6 years. Coulda, shoulda, woulda. I am sick of
people bitching about him getting dropped or played out of position. This bloke
has had more than enough chances and hasn’t grabbed one. He drops more marks than he holds and misses more shots on goal than he makes. Another list clogger
who has to be moved on.

 

[scythe]

Good changes, although I'm really keen to see Hobbs do his thing.

 

[blitzer]

I like the changes. Phillips made sense for this week. We needed a stronger 2nd ruck but unfortunately Bryan just hasn't shown much as a forward yet and we'll need both rucks to be effective up there. I actually didn't mind Phillips when he spent time up forward last year (for a ruck)

I support the dropping of Francis. He spends all game nearly taking marks and nearly kicking goals. Well now he's nearly keeping his spot in the best 22.

Smith was an obvious drop. His performance was well below what could be considered acceptable.

The ins are good ones too. Great to have Shiel back and lets hope Martin can pick up where he left off.

 

[Ati Tude]

I am fine with the changes. Makes sense to play Phillips so we have two proper rucks to take on Gawn and Jackson. And allows 2MP more time in the forward line. Flipper usually finds a way to get a goal as well. Will be interesting to see who the sub is. May as well make it Hobbs. Given the 2s play on Sat, if he doesnt get a run in the seniors, he can play in the VFL.

And good to see Smith dropped. You cant play a 4 possession, zero tackle game.

 

[Shane Heard]

Common sense prevails

The beginning of the end for smith