No injuries against Port a positive and we will likely have a few more players available including;-
Tsatas, Parish, Lav, Perkins, Setters, Davey
For me at this early stage I’d go with these changes
OUT: McKay (mng) Menzie (omit) Edwards (omit)
IN: Lav Parish Perkins
Team:
Lav Reid McGrath
Redman Ridley Roberts
Duursma Caldwell SEH
Martin Caddy Gresham
Jones Draper Kako
Bryan Durham Merrett
Bench: Hobbs Shiel Perkins Prior
SUB: Parish
McKay put in 14km last night so it’s clearly not a fitness/injury issue, but I’d manage him if there’s something not right personally like his brother.
Lav must not play under any circumstances, we have fit young players like Hayes to come in and in an ideal world he is off our list end of year. I wouldn’t play Parish until he’s gut busted in the VFL.
In: Hayes, Perkins
Out: McKay (mgd), Prior
Yeah I’m not sure whats up with McKay - maybe a mental/personal thing…
The Dees have a small forward line so perfect time to rest him
Not sure why your so harsh on Lav - hes a seasoned medium sized defender and the perfect replacement for an out of form McKay - also why would you drop Prior he was good in the 2nd half against Port…
Perkins for Edwards
Tsatas for Menzie
I think we may need an extra tall for Melbourne still, they play Van R, Johnson (mature) and McDonald through there at the moment.
Lav’s rep as a defender, imo, is overblown. He was praised for fighting admirably but ultimately losing contests as an undersized defender in the BZT days. We then moved him onto the appropriate sized forwards and found them too quick and agile for him and he still lost. He may be a warrior/good clubman but he is neither here nor there as a defender and I thought quite obviously and seriously done last year. Giving games to the likes of himself over Hayes or others would be a step backwards but also counter intuitive to any positive outcome.
2 weeks off before this game, there’s no reason to rest Mckay…
Exactly, and apart from the first quarter McKay was fine.
Not suggesting rest McKay - ‘manage’ him as his poor form may not be about his body needing rest but more his mind from mental stress/fatigue…
Not sure who to bring in at this stage, but Prior and Menzie out please.
LAV
Our saviour
I would not bring Perkins straight back in. He needs a game or two in the Ressies. Make him work hard to get back in. He is not exactly in scintillating form. I would rather keep Edwards atm.
Draper, Caddy, Jones and Edwards was too tall. Definitely need to drop one of them (or play the on a wing ….)
Tough selection coming up.
Edwards and Prior are the only two I’d consider dropping but there’s some good players out of the team at the moment.
Tsatas efficiency is still a huge issue for mine, similar with Sheil so only one of them plays.
Very keen to get Hayes in but does that make us too tall? He’s next in line and I’d play him over Prior if he can play the medium defender role.
Having said all that, I’d go unchanged after that win.
At the moment…
I’d go with Perkins and Tsatas in. They both have to play midfield. That’s where they are best at.
Edwards and Hobbs out.
I’d shift Shiel to a sub role. He’ll probably be pushed back into the forward line somewhere though.
Assuming no injuries, after this next game is where things get difficult without shifting players all over the place.
Parish in means he splits his time between forward and midfield. Maybe similar to what he did in 2023 between he and Caldwell, but the other way around. Prioritise Caldwell ahead of Parish. That means one less resting midfielder or small forward in the forward line. So you’d assume Menzie out.
Langford in pushes someone out of the forward line. That’ll likely be Jones which pushes SEH or Archie down back. That may mean Prior comes out by then, but it’s more likely to be resting certain younger players across a month for it to occur.
2MP comes back through VFL, but if form warrants it, getting him into the team is going to be a nightmare. Hopefully, we use that time to rest Draper and Bryan.
Tsatas comes straight back in.
STRAIGHT. BACK. IN.
You guys are off your head.
Brad will bring Parish STRAIGHT IN
I think Parish has to play a half or so tmrow in the VFL if all goes well then yes - he may well come in against the Demons
parish pulled up sore yesterday and has been withdrawn from vfl - unless i’m completely wrong.
Do we also have a VFL match next week?
Nope, you’re correct. He won’t be playing VFL and I think they also have a bye next week?