Qualifying Final. Magpies v. Demons. All comments.

[piffdog]

Feel for Noble. Says something about the strength of the team if he and Ginni can’t make the starting side. They do talk about the strength/skill of your bottom 6 when it comes to finals and while our bottom six might not be in excellent form, they either have a role to play, or have experience on their side (people on this forum can’t seriously believe they would omit Adams of Sidey do they?)

This bottom six in my view would be:
McStay, Cox, Markov, Lipinski, WHE and maybe McReery (?)

All of these guys have had a good season and/or play a specific role.

Still have to make way for Nick too at some point (hopefully not for a fortnight)

[Haff]

Markvov > Nobel is an interesting one. Happy for Markov, Nobel didn’t deserve to be dropped but there you go.
Thought Ginni had done enough but he’s still in the mix.

Worried about going in to top heaving if it belts down. Oh well. Guess I’ll find out around midnight (have to watch delayed, damn Thursday night rubbish).

[melliot]

Maybe it's considering Melbourne's contested game and a leaning towards bigger bodies .

Just a thought.

Noble is very very stiff

[melliot]

Whether it be Ginni, Oleg, Nobel, Mccreey, or Hill. They were going to be stiff to miss.

[uncanny]

Johnny Noble extremely stiff to be dropped. Does he breaķ the record for the most consecutive games in the side(80 plus) before being dropped in a final? However you can see why they did it. Last year's finals performances have come back to haunt him. The prelim in particular. You couldn't choose between him and Lipinski to drop though. Different roles. Runnng half back compared to midfielder. It had to be a choice between Johnny and Oleg Markov. Others have pointed out Leggys edge in height and probably speed as well as recent form so you can see why. But gee that goes down as one of the hardest calls i can recall. Howey playing half forward is smart thinking. They can't ignore his marking threat and he along with Checkers Cox Cameron and McStay offer high targets with Jeremy's dual focus the disruptor role for May and Lever's marking strength down there. The likes of McReery and co can then be more effective.
The inclusion of Markov Mitchell Hill and McStay to the team from last year will go a long way to determine the result. If they can at least break even or do bettwr in their roles it goes a long way towards getting a win. Go woods.

[inxs88]

Johnny Noble extremely stiff to be dropped. Does he breaķ the record for the most consecutive games in the side(80 plus) before being dropped in a final? However you can see why they did it. Last year's finals performances have come back to haunt him. The prelim in particular. You couldn't choose between him and Lipinski to drop though. Different roles. Runnng half back compared to midfielder. It had to be a choice between Johnny and Oleg Markov. Others have pointed out Leggys edge in height and probably speed as well as recent form so you can see why. But gee that goes down as one of the hardest calls i can recall. Howey playing half forward is smart thinking. They can't ignore his marking threat and he along with Checkers Cox Cameron and McStay offer high targets with Jeremy's dual focus the disruptor role for May and Lever's marking strength down there. The likes of McReery and co can then be more effective.
The inclusion of Markov Mitchell Hill and McStay to the team from last year will go a long way to determine the result. If they can at least break even or do bettwr in their roles it goes a long way towards getting a win. Go woods.

120%. Noble lost 6 one on one contests against the Swans in the Preliminary Final last year. However, he is a tad stiff to be omitted given his fine 2023 form.

[VicParkTragic]

We win Fly is a Genius, we lose Fly is what?

Undone.

[ANNODAM]

Stevic fk me sideways!

[Take_a_Screamer]

[Mr Miyagi]

Would Melbourne prefer Noble playing? Might explain why he was dropped if it throws a spanner in Melbourne’s plans and makes us less predictable. John is stiff, but so would McCreery, Hill, Markov, WHE. I feel for him but we have our reasons and we’re not giving the opposition any hint as to why.

[Take_a_Screamer]

I would rather have dropped Lipinski instead of Noble.I really don’t see what he(Lipinski)adds to the team.

I have a feeling that Lipinski will let go of his inhibitions of having been injured and play a blinder,
maybe close to BOG

[Piesnchess]

Noble is a mismatch when he has a taller forward on him, the ball often goes through his man. I love what he brings but I feel the last month Markov has offered more, pound for pound is stronger, taller and can hold his ground.

I guess you are right Cam, look, the Coaches must have given this a lot of thought, Noble has been terrific, but this is a huge Final, massive match, and we have to go with the best we have. Markov has been a marvel, deserves his spot, its Lipinski who has to really step up now, Noble will be breathing right down his neck for, hopefully, the Preliminary Final.

IN FLY WE TRUST.

[Magpietothemax]

Would Melbourne prefer Noble playing? Might explain why he was dropped if it throws a spanner in Melbourne’s plans and makes us less predictable. John is stiff, but so would McCreery, Hill, Markov, WHE. I feel for him but we have our reasons and we’re not giving the opposition any hint as to why.

That is a good point. The omission of Noble is relatively inexplicable, so Melbourne will be worried.

[Ronnie McKeowns boots]

I would rather have dropped Lipinski instead of Noble.I really don’t see what he(Lipinski)adds to the team.

I think that's harsh; Lipinski's skill set is far above Noble's.

The question is the File and his shoulder ready for finals intensity? Time will tell

[choppa]

I'm not really surprised Lippa wasn't dropped.

I remember hearing a comment from Fly whilst Lippa was injured saying Lippa was our best kick going inside 50 (or best kick in transition...I can't recall exactly). I remember that comment giving me the impression that Fly highly rated Lippa.