Preview Round 2, 2024: Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG 4.35pm 23rd March

[Strapping Young Lad]

He would be the most aggressive player we have by a mile.

Wants to fight his own shadow.

 

[StillAtLarge]

If I was Mitchell, I’d be making sure everyone in the team knows who Stephen May is. Posters of him in the dressing room prior to the game- that sort of thing. I’d then be making the players aware they are duty bound not kick the ball anywhere in his approximate vicinity when mounting an attack. Forget about Lever and whoever else they have lurking down there, May is the linchpin of their defence, as Sicily is the linchpin of ours. And he dines out on the blind high ball into the forward 50.

We could always borrow one of his 'Not to be admitted under any circumstances' posters they have put up behind the bar at every Richmond drinking establishment...

 

[Yardie]

If I was Mitchell, I’d be making sure everyone in the team knows who Stephen May is. Posters of him in the dressing room prior to the game- that sort of thing. I’d then be making the players aware they are duty bound not kick the ball anywhere in his approximate vicinity when mounting an attack. Forget about Lever and whoever else they have lurking down there, May is the linchpin of their defence, as Sicily is the linchpin of ours. And he dines out on the blind high ball into the forward 50.

Was it Port Adelaide that played a game once, maybe in the wet, when they kicked the ball nearly along the ground to stop the intercept marks?

 

[thehardway]

Was it Port Adelaide that played a game once, maybe in the wet, when they kicked the ball nearly along the ground to stop the intercept marks?

Yes, much better to kick a chaos scrubber than a long bomb to a pack with May there. Let Breust, Ginnivan, Moore and Watson go to work.

 

[parsons nose]

Was it Port Adelaide that played a game once, maybe in the wet, when they kicked the ball nearly along the ground to stop the intercept marks?

I have a vague recollection. Not as stupid as what it sounds, playing to your strengths.

 

[barbster]

In - Mitchell, Hustwaite
Out - Watson, Mackenzie

 

[peetoo]

Unless niggles, keep the team. Huss is the obvious in if needed. Watson starts sub

 

[mknaven]

Sanity prevails and Sicily is free to play. Seems like the appeal was for low impact rather than insufficient force, so he still gets fined, but good enough.

HH played well against the Dees last year, so there's merit in bringing him in imo.
I consider the Dees to be a physical team, so if that means dropping a player who was fumbly etc. under the bombers pressure, then I am all for it. Else if the same 23 are given another chance, I'm ok with that too - just not Finn as sub.

Breust was a super sub in his debut year, wouldn't mind Watson taking on that role against the Dees.

 

[Bugs1977]

So even with Sicily now cleared I'd be brining Phillips straight in to allow him to play off his man. Once again Finn ONLY plays if he's in the starting team to do a shut down role with Oliver the likely target. If Finn stays in then who comes out for Phillips is the big question. Was anyone carrying a niggle or not 100% after the game on the weekend?

 

[Tony3163]

How did Philllips go on the weekend VFL practice game.

 

[TheFourPillars]

I think Finn coming in this week is a monty. So there will be at least one change.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Sanity prevails and Sicily is free to play. Seems like the appeal was for low impact rather than insufficient force, so he still gets fined, but good enough.

HH played well against the Dees last year, so there's merit in bringing him in imo.
I consider the Dees to be a physical team, so if that means dropping a player who was fumbly etc. under the bombers pressure, then I am all for it. Else if the same 23 are given another chance, I'm ok with that too - just not Finn as sub.

Breust was a super sub in his debut year, wouldn't mind Watson taking on that role against the Dees.

Watson as a sub sounds good

High energy player coming on like him could cause havok.

 

[Hawkspot]

I think Finn coming in this week is a monty. So there will be at least one change.

Could it just be one of the starters is sub instead?

Watson, or Breust even. Easy way to manage the Breust/Gunston/Chad is to use them as sub at times.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

I think having a forward as a sub is a good idea. That backline of theirs is a big obstacle. We'll need options

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I think having a forward as a sub is a good idea. That backline of theirs is a big obstacle. We'll need options

If our half forwards don’t get busy we’ll be in strife.
Might be a good ploy to play Gunston higher this week.

 

[Blackhawk42]

The biggest difference between this season and last season is that the expectation for effort and subsequent hopefulness of a positive result are now far greater.

Round 2 last season I just wanted a response but never expected us to trouble Sydney.

Now I'm daring to believe we can knock the Demons off.

A lot of that comes from suddenly having a threatening forward set up. But everybody is a year older and I feel like the group aren't far away from realising that the form of the Collingwood game last year CAN be replicated every week.

 

[parsons nose]

I’d be playing Mitchell as sub if ready. Run is pretty important late in games when things start opening up. And it would provide a good segue into the season for him considering he missed the preseason hit outs.

 

[Fluro Boots]

Watson as a sub sounds good

High energy player coming on like him could cause havok.

Dont like it, for me a sub should be more a utility type, Watson’s height and lack of experience make that difficult. This may be unpopular but I wouldn’t mind Nash as the sub this week. Played poorly last week and you even sub him in to ruck for a qtr, would also give Hustwaite a run in his usual role and I have high hopes for Hust. Not sure who makes way out of last weeks side, I think Finn starts so maybe Watson or Gunston depending on forward structure

 

[Threadkilla]

I’d be playing Mitchell as sub if ready. Run is pretty important late in games when things start opening up. And it would provide a good segue into the season for him considering he missed the preseason hit outs.

Don’t mind that. Could even mean we have the option of swinging Hardwick forward if necessary too.

 

[parsons nose]

Don’t mind that. Could even mean we have the option of swinging Hardwick forward if necessary too.

And the broken jaw he sustained wouldn’t have excluded him from most of the running drills. So it wouldn’t haven’t impacted his aerobic fitness.

 

[onthemoney]

Dont like it, for me a sub should be more a utility type, Watson’s height and lack of experience make that difficult. This may be unpopular but I wouldn’t mind Nash as the sub this week. Played poorly last week and you even sub him in to ruck for a qtr, would also give Hustwaite a run in his usual role and I have high hopes for Hust. Not sure who makes way out of last weeks side, I think Finn starts so maybe Watson or Gunston depending on forward structure

I think Nash would make a decent sub for the reasons you have mentioned, but I reckon our mids need him in there from the opening bounce this week or our youth are going to get bullied by Oliver, Petracca, Viney etc.

Really need him to bring his crunching tackling best and I think he will.

 

[SSSSSS]

Dont like it, for me a sub should be more a utility type, Watson’s height and lack of experience make that difficult. This may be unpopular but I wouldn’t mind Nash as the sub this week. Played poorly last week and you even sub him in to ruck for a qtr, would also give Hustwaite a run in his usual role and I have high hopes for Hust. Not sure who makes way out of last weeks side, I think Finn starts so maybe Watson or Gunston depending on forward structure

Nah. Nash was sub against Essendon in round 1 last year when we got smashed. He's the only midfielder that has a proper defensive side to his game.

He had a poor game on Saturday but he should be starting every week.

 

[burner1]

Seamus into the side would help us down back. Felt with both Amon and Massimo (and arguably Weddle) back there we had one too many guys who struggled defensively. Hardwick, scrim and frost were solid (and Sicily was tagged) but felt we leaked goals from other matchups.

 

[Hawkinspired]

Assuming no changes I think we need a forward as a sub. Breust and Watson had the weaker games so coin toss for mine. Forward line looks super stacked atm which is great but I just don’t feel we can weaken our back line and midfield against Melbourne.

 

[TylerDurden]

Seamus into the side would help us down back. Felt with both Amon and Massimo (and arguably Weddle) back there we had one too many guys who struggled defensively. Hardwick, scrim and frost were solid (and Sicily was tagged) but felt we leaked goals from other matchups.

I'm happy for D'Ambrosio to play permanent wing. We need his kicking I50. A must.