View Full Version : The Rock man
shawthing09
21 May 2008, 11:39
I know threads about Rocca have been done to death, and I am more of a Rocca defender then Rocca hater but I think this game will have a big impact on his future this year and beyond. At the start of the year I was a firm believer that Rocca had this year and one more left, but with his injuries and subsequent form drop I am not as confident.
I think this game will be a big one for him. I have never been really critical on Rocca in regards to Scarlett running of him and him not chasing as well as a faster fitter bloke would. I do however think that he must do one of two things in this game. Get dangerous work up the ground and try and get kicks on the rebound when Scarlett runs off, even if that means coming up to a CHF to get a kick uncontested and getting Trav to drop deep to kick too. Alternatively he needs to go the other way and run and chase. If he can't do either we have to question if we are a good enough side to carry a purely offensive goal square player next year.
Still has alot to offer and we look alot better when he is in the team
robertg22
21 May 2008, 11:55
If this game is big for him then he's screwed long term imo. Scarlett always has and always will smash him.
brspdt201013
21 May 2008, 11:59
I think Malthouse should change around the forward line this week. He sould put Didak and Medhurst in the goal square and give them the forward 50 to work in. Every time they get the footy you can almost gaurantee there will be a shot at goal This will finally make Milburn and Harley accountable for once. We then should have Cloke and Rocca at CHF. This will take Scarlett away from the goalsquare where he is more comfortable. I can remember Tarrant always used to beat Scarlett when he played up the ground more. We will then have a really open forward line by pushing Leon, Lockyer and Thomas up the ground playing more as midfielders.
IMO we'd be stupid to get rid of him at the end of the season. When his time seems up he should stay on in a wakelin type role. apart from cloke we havent got much in KPP stock that is ready to come in next year and play a big part.
we can't rely on rusling being able to stay on the park, reid and dawes dont seem ready yet. Rocca retires and we can potentially be in trouble .
Scarlett is definately Rocca's bogey man. If Rocca finally has a good game against him on Friday then it will do a lot for his confidence however unfortunately that is unlikely to happen. I do agree though that he has seemed to have aged this year and isn't the force of last season. Although he has been kicking straight, last year he was topping the contested marks stats and crashing packs a lot more. He has had injuries this year so I won't be too critical just yet. Let's just hope he can break even this week and force Scarlett to play somewhat accountable
As Pebbles is still not match fit, expect a towelling from Scarlett on Friday night. If Rocca can kick 3 goals, not matter what other impact he has on the game, I'd see that as a win.
The Dawes
21 May 2008, 12:09
I think Malthouse should change around the forward line this week. He sould put Didak and Medhurst in the goal square and give them the forward 50 to work in. Every time they get the footy you can almost gaurantee there will be a shot at goal This will finally make Milburn and Harley accountable for once. We then should have Cloke and Rocca at CHF. This will take Scarlett away from the goalsquare where he is more comfortable. I can remember Tarrant always used to beat Scarlett when he played up the ground more. We will then have a really open forward line by pushing Leon, Lockyer and Thomas up the ground playing more as midfielders.
Agree.
The Scarlett/Rocca match up works brilliantly for them and lousy for us - therefore we need to change it up.
Only problem is moving Scarlett out of his comfort zone also moves Anthony out of his.
Wouldn't mind seeing Rocca rotated off the bench to hopefully allow him to keep him fresher and be more of an impact player.
I wouldn't actually do this myself however what do others think about the thought to leave Rocca out of the game altogether and have Cloke play on Scarlett up the ground?
Snag Breac
21 May 2008, 12:21
I wouldn't actually do this myself however what do others think about the thought to leave Rocca out of the game altogether and have Cloke play on Scarlett up the ground?
It may be a valid option, particularly of Rocca isn't fully fit; but Cloke hasn't been playing his best either. This is where we're really missing having Sean Rusling as another possibility. Someone is going to have to generate some real aggression for Friday night. :eek: Hope it's not just us posters.
Ickirus
21 May 2008, 13:04
Rocca is needed in the team, but he has and will get smashed again by Scarlett.
We should use him as a decoy and drag Scarlett out of the forward 50 to free up space for our other forwards and so Scarlett can't launch any attacks from deep within our forward 50, as he has done so many times in the past.
Angelus512
21 May 2008, 14:22
Call me bitter (and I am) but I would absolutely cream my pants if Rocca just manhandled Scarlett and drilled his nappy-haired arrogant ass into the ground on Friday night and Scarlett had to leave the game for the rest of the match.
I absolutely hate Scarlett, arrogant faced little b*tch who's got to be one of the ugliest dudes in AFL at the moment. Has nobody told him that hair is ridiculous?
Snag Breac
21 May 2008, 14:36
Call me bitter (and I am) but I would absolutely cream my pants if Rocca just manhandled Scarlett and drilled his nappy-haired arrogant ass into the ground on Friday night and Scarlett had to leave the game for the rest of the match.
I absolutely hate Scarlett, arrogant faced little b*tch who's got to be one of the ugliest dudes in AFL at the moment. Has nobody told him that hair is ridiculous?
I love his hair, Angelus. Always wanted hair like that. But wouldn't mind at all if Rocca scalped him.:thumbsu::eek:
I would really hate to see Anthony turn into Fraser Gehrig of late.
I'm not sure how much longer he can go and I won't write him off, but I don't want to see him in the VFL, having the media rip the shit out of him and retiring mid season.
no guy wants that hair surely lol
lingy has cool hair though :P
Snag Breac
21 May 2008, 14:47
I would really hate to see Anthony turn into Fraser Gehrig of late.
I'm not sure how much longer he can go and I won't write him off, but I don't want to see him in the VFL, having the media rip the shit out of him and retiring mid season.
Agreed. But I don't think it's come to that. Rocca still has a lot to offer.
Call me bitter (and I am) but I would absolutely cream my pants if Rocca just manhandled Scarlett and drilled his nappy-haired arrogant ass into the ground on Friday night and Scarlett had to leave the game for the rest of the match.
I absolutely hate Scarlett, arrogant faced little b*tch who's got to be one of the ugliest dudes in AFL at the moment. Has nobody told him that hair is ridiculous?
think he's got some pretty fierce competition from a team mate for that title.
Rocca is needed in the team, but he has and will get smashed again by Scarlett.
We should use him as a decoy and drag Scarlett out of the forward 50 to free up space for our other forwards and so Scarlett can't launch any attacks from deep within our forward 50, as he has done so many times in the past.
Yes, if he plays he must play as a decoy and drag scarlett up the opposite flank to where the ball is coming in. If Scarlett leaves him alone then he can create a dangerous option running back.
Angelus512
21 May 2008, 15:21
Garry Ablett with the beard and bald head look? Damn that was freightening......or is there somebody i'm forgetting?
Chase the Ace
21 May 2008, 15:24
As Pebbles is still not match fit, expect a towelling from Scarlett on Friday night. If Rocca can kick 3 goals, not matter what other impact he has on the game, I'd see that as a win.
He is fitter now than at any other time he has been at Collingwood
Garry Ablett with the beard and bald head look? Damn that was freightening......or is there somebody i'm forgetting?
how bout cameron ling, with the cameron ling look.
PieLebo87
21 May 2008, 23:26
Its a whole lot more simple then people are making it out to be.
He started off in great form, dropped of a little, injuried his ankle, and is slowly regaining some form.
So lets not start getting on his back again and just be patient as he overcomes his slump/injury.
Come back to this thread in 2-3 weeks time and we'll see how hes going then. If he is struggling then, then we can start rioting.
Pie eyed
22 May 2008, 00:37
If Scarlett is such a huge problem for Rocca I would double team Scarlett.
Get Maxwell or even Harry to tag him in Geelongs backline.
Don't play one short in our backline though...lose a wing. There are that many players in and around the wings now days you would not miss a winger in general play.
Ah! But they will kick a zillion goals I hear you say....well they run the entire side from one end to the other in waves anyway and if we can't manage to score they only have to kick one more than us to win it.
Maxwell or Harry can both run hard and are quick. Both are good defenders.
They could either screen Rocca so he gets more ball or shut down Scarlett or both. Anyway you look at it, it's a plus for the Pies.
Hell!, Maxwell or Harry could even kick a few themselves.
At the very least it would give Bomber something to think about. If he moves Scarlett we simply go back to our normal setup.
I don't know, we have to persist with him this week and hopefully throw it down to him and he can come away with 3-4 goals. If he does this it will definitely shadow Scarlett's effect on the game a little.
C'mon Big Ant fire up.
Angelus512
22 May 2008, 13:13
Ling is nowhere near as ugly as Scarlett.
He's just a red-headed step-child :-P
Snag Breac
22 May 2008, 13:17
Ling is nowhere near as ugly as Scarlett.
He's just a red-headed step-child :-P
I'd express my view on this, Angelus, but I don't want to upset anyone's mum.:p But those Geelong players..........!!!!
Mental Magpie
22 May 2008, 13:38
If we move it quickly into the forward line (BOMB IT IN THERE) Rocca will make a contest! He'll either mark it or create a spillage for Dids, Leon and or Medhurst to mop up and kick a goal.
We are always kicking it either too high (way over his head) or too low (around his ankles) which allows the defence to mop and and run off with it.
Get it to him lace out and he'll destroy teams. Look at the delivery Fevola is getting. I could even be marking those!
If we move it quickly into the forward line (BOMB IT IN THERE) Rocca will make a contest! He'll either mark it or create a spillage for Dids, Leon and or Medhurst to mop up and kick a goal.
We are always kicking it either too high (way over his head) or too low (around his ankles) which allows the defence to mop and and run off with it.
Get it to him lace out and he'll destroy teams. Look at the delivery Fevola is getting. I could even be marking those!
You mean run the footy through the corridor and deliver it in quickly to our forwards rather than play the wings. That's so insane it might just work :eek:
Pie eyed
23 May 2008, 15:54
Your both spot on.
Kick long and straight up the guts and aim for the forwards chest, not their toes, when passing.
Seems like a recipe for success.
I have a case of Johnny and Coke ready for tonight.
I hope I am still up at 3am celebrating rather than up till 3am commisserating.
Either way Johnny is in trouble.