JKH very likely to start as the sub

[shaker]

At least we get to see if Taylor is sub before JKH plays

[RaisyDaisy]

Can I ask (genuinely) why people think Merrett is worth the punt? RD you posted in another thread exactly what I was thinking, that Taylor getting named without playing a NAB game means that they surely must rate him highly, which gives me confidence in the pick. Merrett on the other hand wasn't exactly impressive in NAB and I don't think he's in any way safe - certainly other options of people to leave the team ahead of him (Gleeson/Ambrose) but I think they're all as likely as each other. Why do you(the plural you) think Merrett will last a while?

Gone with Taylor at M10 so need to fill D7 as I already have Impey at D8

TBH Kiwi I just don't know about these two, and I seriously figure that if Merrett isn't the sub tonight, it just makes sense to pick him as JKH might be the sub

I feel like they both have shaky JS so I will just pick who avoids the vest - unless there is any other reason to skip Merrett and pick and JKH?

[tor01doc]

There is merit in Merrett if not the sub.

[GCSkiwi]

Can I ask (genuinely) why people think Merrett is worth the punt? RD you posted in another thread exactly what I was thinking, that Taylor getting named without playing a NAB game means that they surely must rate him highly, which gives me confidence in the pick. Merrett on the other hand wasn't exactly impressive in NAB and I don't think he's in any way safe - certainly other options of people to leave the team ahead of him (Gleeson/Ambrose) but I think they're all as likely as each other. Why do you(the plural you) think Merrett will last a while?

Gone with Taylor at M10 so need to fill D7 as I already have Impey at D8

TBH Kiwi I just don't know about these two, and I seriously figure that if Merrett isn't the sub tonight, it just makes sense to pick him as JKH might be the sub

I feel like they both have shaky JS so I will just pick who avoids the vest - unless there is any other reason to skip Merrett and pick and JKH?

There is merit in Merrett if not the sub.

Fairs enough I guess. I don't have taylor and have a full mid pack, if the choice was Merrett or JKH then yeah I wuld probably pick Merrett if not the sub. Tough call though as JKH could do well if not the sub, Melb lacking forwards. So for me it's Merrett vs Taylor vs JKH, even if Merrett is named I will wait to see what Taylor is doing.

[TheMoops]

Can I ask (genuinely) why people think Merrett is worth the punt? RD you posted in another thread exactly what I was thinking, that Taylor getting named without playing a NAB game means that they surely must rate him highly, which gives me confidence in the pick. Merrett on the other hand wasn't exactly impressive in NAB and I don't think he's in any way safe - certainly other options of people to leave the team ahead of him (Gleeson/Ambrose) but I think they're all as likely as each other. Why do you(the plural you) think Merrett will last a while?

Gone with Taylor at M10 so need to fill D7 as I already have Impey at D8

TBH Kiwi I just don't know about these two, and I seriously figure that if Merrett isn't the sub tonight, it just makes sense to pick him as JKH might be the sub

I feel like they both have shaky JS so I will just pick who avoids the vest - unless there is any other reason to skip Merrett and pick and JKH?

Check out the Dons injury (& suspension) list before picking Merrett. Melksham back round 3 (should knock out Gleeson). Kommer listed as TBC but haven't heard that it's a really bad injury or anything so should be back soon. Winderlich listed as 3-4 weeks as well. Three best 22 players to come back seems to line up pretty well with the 3 debutants we're blooding tonight.

Add Jetta and Colyer, currently emergencies, who can fill similar roles to Merrett and it becomes pretty clear Merrett will have to play outstanding footy to hold his spot beyond probably round 3 or 4. And if he plays at that level he'll probably be worth the correctional trade anyway..

[RaisyDaisy]

Check out the Dons injury (& suspension) list before picking Merrett. Melksham back round 3 (should knock out Gleeson). Kommer listed as TBC but haven't heard that it's a really bad injury or anything so should be back soon. Winderlich listed as 3-4 weeks as well. Three best 22 players to come back seems to line up pretty well with the 3 debutants we're blooding tonight.

Add Jetta and Colyer, currently emergencies, who can fill similar roles to Merrett and it becomes pretty clear Merrett will have to play outstanding footy to hold his spot beyond probably round 3 or 4. And if he plays at that level he'll probably be worth the correctional trade anyway..

Thanks for the info Moops - really appreciate it - and yeah I guess I will just have to roll the dice and pick one, and there is every chance I end up needing to trade them out soon anyway

[TheMoops]

Check out the Dons injury (& suspension) list before picking Merrett. Melksham back round 3 (should knock out Gleeson). Kommer listed as TBC but haven't heard that it's a really bad injury or anything so should be back soon. Winderlich listed as 3-4 weeks as well. Three best 22 players to come back seems to line up pretty well with the 3 debutants we're blooding tonight.

Add Jetta and Colyer, currently emergencies, who can fill similar roles to Merrett and it becomes pretty clear Merrett will have to play outstanding footy to hold his spot beyond probably round 3 or 4. And if he plays at that level he'll probably be worth the correctional trade anyway..

Thanks for the info Moops - really appreciate it - and yeah I guess I will just have to roll the dice and pick one, and there is every chance I end up needing to trade them out soon anyway

no dramas mate, way too tough keeping tabs on where all the lists are at hahah. Yeah just gotta go the percentage play and if you need to make a trade then so be it

[shorty3264]

Check out the Dons injury (& suspension) list before picking Merrett. Melksham back round 3 (should knock out Gleeson). Kommer listed as TBC but haven't heard that it's a really bad injury or anything so should be back soon. Winderlich listed as 3-4 weeks as well. Three best 22 players to come back seems to line up pretty well with the 3 debutants we're blooding tonight.

Add Jetta and Colyer, currently emergencies, who can fill similar roles to Merrett and it becomes pretty clear Merrett will have to play outstanding footy to hold his spot beyond probably round 3 or 4. And if he plays at that level he'll probably be worth the correctional trade anyway..

Hey Moops, how about Ambrose JS? Any better being a tall, 22 years old etc...

Thanks for the info Moops - really appreciate it - and yeah I guess I will just have to roll the dice and pick one, and there is every chance I end up needing to trade them out soon anyway

no dramas mate, way too tough keeping tabs on where all the lists are at hahah. Yeah just gotta go the percentage play and if you need to make a trade then so be it

[AaronKirk]

Check out the Dons injury (& suspension) list before picking Merrett. Melksham back round 3 (should knock out Gleeson). Kommer listed as TBC but haven't heard that it's a really bad injury or anything so should be back soon. Winderlich listed as 3-4 weeks as well. Three best 22 players to come back seems to line up pretty well with the 3 debutants we're blooding tonight.

Add Jetta and Colyer, currently emergencies, who can fill similar roles to Merrett and it becomes pretty clear Merrett will have to play outstanding footy to hold his spot beyond probably round 3 or 4. And if he plays at that level he'll probably be worth the correctional trade anyway..

Hey Moops, how about Ambrose JS? Any better being a tall, 22 years old etc...

Thanks for the info Moops - really appreciate it - and yeah I guess I will just have to roll the dice and pick one, and there is every chance I end up needing to trade them out soon anyway

no dramas mate, way too tough keeping tabs on where all the lists are at hahah. Yeah just gotta go the percentage play and if you need to make a trade then so be it

The basics are that Gleeson as a mid-defender who is playing in the place of Dempsey. Merrett is a mid-forward who is playing in the place of Melksham. Ambrose is a third tall who is playing in the place of Crameri.

If Ambrose plays well he has the best chance of keeping his spot. Merrett is a very talented kid and he Bombers want him to get a lot of senior game time. Gleeson is a little whippet. He is 69kg but has had an excellent pre-season and gets a gig tonight but has IMO the most pressure of the 3.

[TheMoops]

shorty - From all accounts it seems like Ambrose has been drafted due to having potential to replace Crameri. When he does play he will be third tall after Carlisle and Daniher. Off the top of my head he's about 196cm, so, and this is completely speculation, he COULD be a safe pick until Bellchambers comes back PROVIDED he plays well enough. We've lost Gumby and Crameri over the off-season, we need to blood a couple of depth-talls in case some other tall timber goes down.
Absolutely zero idea of his scoring potential though, I'd say an unvested Merrett would kill him in that area but as mentioned earlier, he's fighting for a different (and much more scarce) spot on the JS front. Guess he could be red-vest material too if we decide to go smaller down the stretch in the 3rd or 4th quarter.

edit: he ain't 196cm. Read in another forum a while ago he was up there but from more official sources looks like low 190s

[fever]

qualty contributions here moops, nice one

[TheMoops]

qualty contributions here moops, nice one

hahah cheers, beats doing accounting homework

and I feel like I'm talking myself into picking Ambrose now too

[Footyrulz]

There is merit in Merrett if not the sub.

Haha nice one.

I think Merret and Ambrose have very poor JS. Winderlich, Melksham and Kommer all to return in the next 4 weeks.

[TheMoops]

There is merit in Merrett if not the sub.

Haha nice one.

I think Merret and Ambrose have very poor JS. Winderlich, Melksham and Kommer all to return in the next 4 weeks.

Winders is probably the only one who could replace Ambrose due to height factors, if at all. Dons won't wanna play too small. And Winders is 5-6 away so Ambrose IMO has been JS of the 3 Essendon debutants but having said that I may stick with JKH, not sure at this stage.

[shorty3264]

Much appreciated Moops, as well as Kirky. Cheers.
Yeh I've done plenty of research. Just wanted to hear from some Essendon fans, ran 16.3 in the beep test did Ambrose!
Yeh I think if Merrett isn't the sub he will be in, otherwise it's Ambrose.