Game Day Round 3 vs Melbourne @ THE Melbourne Cricket Ground - Sat. 29 March @ 12:20pm

[Morrell96]

I saw Lever was OUT. What happened to him? I couldn't watch the game. Will he play next week?

 

[SandyToes]

I think Graham could defend and spoil ok.
But he doesn't intercept mark like Collins, Ballard, Andrew or even Uwland or Powell
His skills are extremely basic.
Wouldn't have any faith he can move the ball quickly and effectively like Chucky can

I think he's a good back up for Collins and depending on how long Collins plays for - may well be his replacement.
But I don't see him fitting the philosophy of the side playing alongside Collins unless we really need 3 true tall defenders.

He doesn't read the play well.Spoils when he should mark.Tries to mark when he should spoil.Disposal is at best C grade.But there are much better footy brains than mine at the Club who obviously rate him so we'll wait and see.

 

[thurls64]

He doesn't read the play well.Spoils when he should mark.Tries to mark when he should spoil.Disposal is at best C grade.But there are much better footy brains than mine at the Club who obviously rate him so we'll wait and see.

and gets beaten badly on one on ones

 

[thurls64]

I get what people are saying with Graham. But he was never, ever a good footballer. He’s like D-Mac level for talls, and we are just so far past that stage. To be effective, we’re talking about him making an astronomical jump in a year we need to improve to make finals.

To me, this looks fine:
Powell, Collins, Uwland
Rioli, Andrew, Noble
Budarick

And I prefer it to something like:
Collins, Graham, Uwland
Rioli, Andrew, Powell
Noble
Budarick sub.

But if coaches think we need three talls for structure, he is the logical choice. Personally, I don’t see it, but as always happy to be proven wrong.

I watched him closely when they brought him back for a pre season game thinking geez Dimma must have improved him or see something in him. But no same old stuff caught out of position when the ball arrives, doesn't preempt or read the ball coming in, doesn't use his size or weight to contest..... definition of a list clogger would be on good coin too still

 

[RowellAnderson12]

I saw Lever was OUT. What happened to him? I couldn't watch the game. Will he play next week?

rolled ankle should be ok

 

[DTLSchulzy16]

I couldn’t be more worried about Melbourne now, they got smashed. Expecting Petracca to go full beast mode next week

Hope the boys are fit enough to play against a team playing their third game also

 

[Jirik13]

I think Graham could defend and spoil ok.
But he doesn't intercept mark like Collins, Ballard, Andrew or even Uwland or Powell
His skills are extremely basic.
Wouldn't have any faith he can move the ball quickly and effectively like Chucky can

I think he's a good back up for Collins and depending on how long Collins plays for - may well be his replacement.
But I don't see him fitting the philosophy of the side playing alongside Collins unless we really need 3 true tall defenders.

Agree except "move the ball quickly and effectively like Chucky can". IMO, Chucky is a bit liability with ball in hands. A bit like Collins. Basically, please don't try anything crazy, just pass the ball to a good ball user.

 

[Jirik13]

I couldn’t be more worried about Melbourne now, they got smashed. Expecting Petracca to go full beast mode next week

Hope the boys are fit enough to play against a team playing their third game also

We could not ask for better test. Away game against desperate Demons trying to avoid going 0:3. One of the best midfields; at least in the past, North destroyed them, Oliver back to his best, May will probably play. They still struggle with deliveries, scoring.


Let's see what we are made off. Minus Ballard we should be in full strength.

 

[GC2015]

Tell you what. Demons fans turning full Carlton on their players wasn't on my 2025 bingo card, but here we are...



They're clearly vulnerable and not dealing well with the pressure. The only issue is we essentially have a 100% failure rate in our history when it comes to making a huge statement in a game like this. For that reason, I'm not confident. However, the sports betting agencies have swung the odds massively in our favour today to the point that it's virtually a 50/50 in their eyes at the moment:

 

[robo_1]

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I couldn’t be more worried about Melbourne now, they got smashed. Expecting Petracca to go full beast mode next week

Hope the boys are fit enough to play against a team playing their third game also

Whilst I agree with what you say Melbourne are a different team at the mcg than at marvel

Whilst it’s hard to get a read on them from the game against the giants due to the weather conditions but they probably should’ve won that game

 

[robo_1]

Tell you what. Demons fans turning full Carlton on their players wasn't on my 2025 bingo card, but here we are...



They're clearly vulnerable and not dealing well with the pressure. The only issue is we essentially have a 100% failure rate in our history when it comes to making a huge statement in a game like this. For that reason, I'm not confident. However, the sports betting agencies have swung the odds massively in our favour today to the point that it's virtually a 50/50 in their eyes at the moment:

The only embarrassing one in the video is the peanut hurling abuse

 

[robo_1]

Games played at the MCG

Daniel Rioli 102
John Noble 59
Gold Coast suns 18

 

[The Kings Ransom]

Agree except "move the ball quickly and effectively like Chucky can". IMO, Chucky is a bit liability with ball in hands. A bit like Collins. Basically, please don't try anything crazy, just pass the ball to a good ball user.

Remember in the wce game where Ballard took a mark defensive side of centre square, did a little ‘drop step’ and hit up a short target near the f50 without having to go back over his mark. He can do those little things.

 

[KaySwizzle]

Two things allowed north to win.

1. Gawn was pretty much beaten by Xerri and North capitalised off of that, dominating the stoppages. Gonna need big Wittsy to do the same. I think our mids are better than North’s. Anderson, Rowell, Miller, Flanders, Humphrey, Graham should compete with Dees mids at least.

2. Demons can’t hit an inside 50 target, and when they did they butchered their shot at goal. They had 56 inside entries for 9 goals. Only 11 marks from that. North were only fractionally better, but much more accurate.

It has been pretty much the same gameplan for Demons for a few years, and their forward-mid connection lets them down. Sound familiar?

We’re two teams with historically similar strengths (midfield and intercepting defenders) and weaknesses (inside 50s turning to goals).

 

[TheSunGod]

Agree except "move the ball quickly and effectively like Chucky can". IMO, Chucky is a bit liability with ball in hands. A bit like Collins. Basically, please don't try anything crazy, just pass the ball to a good ball user.

Yeah Chucky has improved a lot since his early years but he’s still very average. We need to get the ball into the hands of Rioli, Powell, Buddhas and Noble when exiting the backline.

 

[sunsofanarchy]

Could we play 2 rucks? Let witts play behind the ball and Moyle attacking forward, run gawn off his legs help out collins and andrew?

 

[Ralph_Wiggum]

Two things allowed north to win.

1. Gawn was pretty much beaten by Xerri and North capitalised off of that, dominating the stoppages. Gonna need big Wittsy to do the same. I think our mids are better than North’s. Anderson, Rowell, Miller, Flanders, Humphrey, Graham should compete with Dees mids at least.

2. Demons can’t hit an inside 50 target, and when they did they butchered their shot at goal. They had 56 inside entries for 9 goals. Only 11 marks from that. North were only fractionally better, but much more accurate.

It has been pretty much the same gameplan for Demons for a few years, and their forward-mid connection lets them down. Sound familiar?

We’re two teams with historically similar strengths (midfield and intercepting defenders) and weaknesses (inside 50s turning to goals).

I agree with all of this. If I were a betting man, I think no pun intended, a roll of the dice who wins this one. If we start out strong, we can get it done and sure their fans are thinking the same. Key will be to have the same aggressiveness and tenacity on display as we showed against the Eagles.

 

[robo_1]

Could we play 2 rucks? Let witts play behind the ball and Moyle attacking forward, run gawn off his legs help out collins and andrew?

I rather read or Walter forward over moyle

 

[Jen2310]

Not sure graham would get dropped on one quiet game

B: Wil Powell, Sam Collins, Bodhi Uwland
HB: John Noble, Mac Andrew, Daniel Rioli
C: Lachie Weller, Matt Rowell, Sam Clohesy
HF: Touk Miller, Jed Walter, Ben Ainsworth
F: Ben Long, Ben King, Bailey Humphrey
FOL: Jarrod Witts, Sam Flanders, Noah Anderson
INT: Ethan Read, Jake Rogers, Connor Budarick, Joel Jeffrey, Sam Flanders
IN: Jed Walter, Mac Andrew, Sam Flanders
OUT: Charlie Ballard, Nick Holman, Will Graham
Unavailable: Charlie Ballard (knee), David Swallow (knee), Leo Lombard (shoulder)


Mac Andrew comes back at the perfect time with Charlie Ballard out for the season. Walter was suspended for the round one demolition of the Eagles but should return, likely in place of Holman, for the trip to Melbourne. If Flanders’ back is ready to go he is a major inclusion. Graham was quiet with just nine touches against the Eagles and could be the unlucky man to miss out in midfield.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/best-23s-predicted-teams-for-how-each-club-line-up-in-round-2/news-story/3169be4ce6720945f16f1f22f7fd8c12

 

[Young_Guns]

Not sure graham would get dropped on one quiet game

B: Wil Powell, Sam Collins, Bodhi Uwland
HB: John Noble, Mac Andrew, Daniel Rioli
C: Lachie Weller, Matt Rowell, Sam Clohesy
HF: Touk Miller, Jed Walter, Ben Ainsworth
F: Ben Long, Ben King, Bailey Humphrey
FOL: Jarrod Witts, Sam Flanders, Noah Anderson
INT: Ethan Read, Jake Rogers, Connor Budarick, Joel Jeffrey, Sam Flanders
IN: Jed Walter, Mac Andrew, Sam Flanders
OUT: Charlie Ballard, Nick Holman, Will Graham
Unavailable: Charlie Ballard (knee), David Swallow (knee), Leo Lombard (shoulder)


Mac Andrew comes back at the perfect time with Charlie Ballard out for the season. Walter was suspended for the round one demolition of the Eagles but should return, likely in place of Holman, for the trip to Melbourne. If Flanders’ back is ready to go he is a major inclusion. Graham was quiet with just nine touches against the Eagles and could be the unlucky man to miss out in midfield.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/best-23s-predicted-teams-for-how-each-club-line-up-in-round-2/news-story/3169be4ce6720945f16f1f22f7fd8c12

I assume Graham would replace the second Sam Flanders on the bench, with Sexton the unlucky third out.



I thought the midfield rotations were pretty perfect against the Eagles with Touk and Humphrey really damaging rotating through half-forward. Will be interesting to see what happens with Flanders back in that role? Maybe Graham to the wing rotation with Budarick to sub?

 

[The Kings Ransom]

Graham kicked 8 goals in last 9 full games (excluding 2 where he was subbed on late)
Not just about possessions for him.

 

[Southern Sun]

They have Flanders listed twice on that team so there is room for Graham as sub. Personally I'd have Graham in though and Budarick sub.

 

[Jen2310]

They have Flanders listed twice on that team so there is room for Graham as sub. Personally I'd have Graham in though and Budarick sub.

Didn't Dimma say that it would be nice to have two of flanders? Clearly found a way to clone him.

 

[sunsofanarchy]

Loved Rowell's willingness to get to the outside against west coast, he looked much more dynamic, much less human battering ram. Can't wait to see Flanders add his experience to this team. Going to be fun to watch.

 

[Jirik13]

May and Lever test. Pretty important players for Demons.

“Steven saw the specialist on Saturday, and they were really happy with how he has recovered,” Griffith said.

“The advice was that they'd be comfortable with him integrating into some training this week.

“He'll look to main train on Thursday and then we'll determine his return to play from that session.”

“Jake rolled his ankle just before three quarter time. He was able to get back out on the field and continue to play but then rolled it again close to the end of the game,” Griffith said.

“With a short turnaround, it's just about managing that ankle from a swelling and function perspective, and we’ll look to progress him each day, with the hope for him to be available this week.”