Team v Hawthorn

[Ess_don]

Dont worry guys.. Lonergan will be dropped once Gus comes back.. hopefully. Changes arent that bad I guess, still have faith on us to win!

Wonder if were favourites..?

 

[BomberTime]

Out: Dempsey, Dyson, Myers
In: Atkinson, Prismall, Hooker

Backs: Fletch Hooker Slattery
HB: Hocking Pears McVeigh
C: Atkinson Watson Stanton
HF: Davey Gumbleton Jetta
F: Zaka Hurley Lonergan

Followers: Ryder Winderlich Melksham
Bench: Welsh, Belly, NLM, Prismall

Emg: Houli Dempsey Myers

So he drops myers when we finally get hooker back so myers no longer has to play on tall forwards or even in defence at all and in a game when we need big bodys around the clearances..wow thats dumb in my opinion but thats just me, what did myers do wrong?, and dempsey who didnt have a great game last week but we need his speed in the back half and to make hawthorns forwards accountable. That backline looks so slow even when atkinson goes down there.
Last thing, lonergan..great guy works hard..but doesnt offer much, come on get him out of that side and slattery....
Lovett-Murray needs a huge game if we are to win..

 

[rhysman]

This must be a mistake!!!. How do we drop 3 blokes yet Lonergan is not one of them? FFS! Myers being dropped is just a farce. We are all over the place on selection.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Myers being out defies logic, the only reason I can see is injury related. Just does not make sense to move of of our most important players over the past month. The more dumb decisions Knights makes, the more I want to miss the finals just so he gets punted!

 

[tastypears]

Not a very quick back 6...

If we're going to beat Hawthorn surely we'd be doing it with run and counter attacks. Knights even said we'd keep on running but instead he takes out two of our quickest defenders...

Just because Slattery beat Cyril last time, I think a fully fit and in form Cyril is going to embarass Henry...

Well we can hope!! At least our forward line is becoming settled.

 

[stay true]

Apart from dropping Myers I don't think the changes are that bad. The changes don't screw up our structure really, because I'm pretty sure when you drop someone (Dempsey) the bloke who you replace him with (Atkinson) doesn't have to play the exact same role.

McVeigh or Hocking will play the Dempsey loose zoning half back role and Atkinson mainly on a wing. I know teams don't line up 100% as named but I'd be surprised if this wasn't the tactic on match day. Although I am a bit confused as to why Lonergan still hasn't been dropped.

 

[vast]

Not dissapointed with prismall and atkinson coming in, thought Myers has been getting better everyweek, so he is unlucky.

As for lonergan I cant see who would come in for him up forward given that williams and reimers are injured, I doubt he would hold his spot once these guys are fit.

Winderlich has to consider himself very lucky as I feel he has done nothing all season with the exception of the last hawthorn game, but he wont get dropped as we have no one with his pace through the middle, unfortunately he hasnt been using it to run and carry or even lay a tackle once in a while.

Somehow prismall seems to the only one criticised for his defensive efforts, but I think our entire midfield has been lacking in this area this season. I guess partly due to the fact lovett is no longer there.

 

[blitzer]

I don't mind the changes overly much to be honest.

Dempsey out Atkinson in - It's very much a like for like. Dempsey would still be very much a part of the teams plan for the rest of the year, but i hope he plays at Bendigo and instructed to pick up the best small/medium forward and to play tight, accountable footy on him first and rebound second. Atkinson in, i'm happy with i didn't think he should have been dropped in the first place. My best team would have both of them in for the record.

Dyson out Prismall In - Dyson looked underdone last week and played terribly and had no impact whatsoever. Prismall was a bit stiff when he got dropped to begin with and at least we know if nothing else he will find the ball which after last week would be a blessing with only 1 player over 20 possessions was it? It's only his ball use that has been letting him down but i think we honestly aren't seeing the best he's got to offer, i think he's just low on confidence and if he keeps working it will turn around for him. Still a positive change overall.

Myers out Hooker in - From a purely 3rd tall defender standpoint this is a fair enough change as Hooker offers a lot more down back than Myers does and someone needs to play/be sacrificed to Franklin. Myers really stiff though, his games in the middle were really promising a few weeks back and he hasn't had many goals kicked on him the last few weeks either (hasn't got much of the ball though). Really pleased to have Hooker back i gotta say. It's felt like we've been too short in the backline for about 6+ weeks ever since Pears got injured, then Hooker, then Fletch missed a game as well. The other side benefit is we might actually get Hocking playing back in the middle and not stuck covering their 3rd tall forward which he has manfully been doing a few of the weeks.

Sidenote: As many others have said Lonnergan extremely fortunate. I don't dislike Lonnergan at all and i really hope he makes it but i just can't see how you can say he's part of the best 22 we can field right now based on his performances. As a forward he doesn't average enough possesions, goals, goal assists, marks or well anything to be honest. Reimers will take his spot when he's fit again. If it was up to me, i'd let Myers play Lonnergan's role this week though. Myers could rotate through the middle and be that big bodied midfielder that rotates in (probably better than Lonnergan too) and up forward his height would make him a handy target against a Hawks defence that well quite frankly is not all that good.

 

[banta]

Hawthorn
B: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Thomas Murphy
HB: Grant Birchall, Ben Stratton, Rick Ladson
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Chance Bateman
HF: Michael Osborne, Lance Franklin, Shaun Burgoyne
F: Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead, Ryan Schoenmakers
Foll: Brent Renouf, Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell
I/C: Xavier Ellis, Beau Muston, Wayde Skipper, Clinton Young
Emg: Carl Peterson, Liam Shiels, Brendan Whitecross

In: Bateman, Young
Out: Brendan Whitecross, Carl Peterson

No surprises there...

strongest side hawthorn has put out on the park this year i would say. its gonna be a tough game, nothing like our last meeting with them.

 

[Yoda_]

Pretty happy with that team, Thumbs up to the selection committee.

Deffensive back 6, Variety in the midfielders, potent forward 6, plenty of rotations this week for the midfield too.

OK, so Lonergan still in the team is not great, but at least he will do the team things and actually take note of his man too. He is hard at it, tackles well and is another strong body that can move through the midfield.

Hope he plays a decent game and everyone on here starts ringing his praises, circa Brent Prismall.

Any ways, that is my to cents worth

 

[BomberTime]

I don't mind the changes overly much to be honest.

Sidenote: As many others have said Lonnergan extremely fortunate. I don't dislike Lonnergan at all and i really hope he makes it but i just can't see how you can say he's part of the best 22 we can field right now based on his performances. As a forward he doesn't average enough possesions, goals, goal assists, marks or well anything to be honest. Reimers will take his spot when he's fit again. If it was up to me, i'd let Myers play Lonnergan's role this week though. Myers could rotate through the middle and be that big bodied midfielder that rotates in (probably better than Lonnergan too) and up forward his height would make him a handy target against a Hawks defence that well quite frankly is not all that good.

This, Excellent post.
If there is a late change, myers will come in, they have definitely dropped dempsey for not being accountable and dont think houli will come in.

 

[rickydysonforbl]

luxbet have gone crazy and are still offering 2.75 on hawks go to whoa. in light of the teams being announced, i say get on it massive.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Dempsey showed a bit up forward against Collingwood on ANZAC day. Lonergan should have been dropped to allow Dempsey to go forward and float into the middle.

Myers out, I'm hoping, is just to allow him a couple of weeks rest with a view to having him in the side for the rest of the year. Remember he is still young.

Slattery, Lonergan and Welsh must have some very compromising pictures of one or more of the selection committee or I really cannot fathom why they get so much latitude for poor performance.

 

[carmi99]

Pretty happy with that team, Thumbs up to the selection committee.

Deffensive back 6, Variety in the midfielders, potent forward 6, plenty of rotations this week for the midfield too.

OK, so Lonergan still in the team is not great, but at least he will do the team things and actually take note of his man too. He is hard at it, tackles well and is another strong body that can move through the midfield.

Hope he plays a decent game and everyone on here starts ringing his praises, circa Brent Prismall.

Any ways, that is my to cents worth

Yeah good post. I'm very surprised at all the anger regarding selection.

All in all they look alright. Myers should have kept his place over Prismall but Dempsey had to be dropped. He has beenwoeful for a very long time now. Atkinson plays an attacking type role also but he is far better defensively when compared to Dempsey.

The otherchange i would have made was Slatter out for Riemers(unless he is injured). I don't mind Slattery but i personally don't think there is space in defence for both Slattsand Spike and i consider Spike the better option. This would give us another attacking option and a bit of extra pace and dare.

 

[SHAKESPEARE]

All you have to do is break even in the clearances, put it on Hurley's head and watch him kick 8 on Gilham. Cannot compete body to body and will again be made to look sub par.

 

[Longy413]

I actually don't mind it.
Probably would have kept Dempsey instead of Melksham.

Probably would have played Myers instead of Welsh. If Welsh isn't playing as a tagger then Myers offers more.


Interesting Hawthorn dropped Peterson, would have been one of the first I picked against us, his type kills us.

 

[mick7]

No Myers?
No Dempsey?

When does 2011 start again? Bloody Hell.

 

[Yoda_]

I don't mind the changes overly much to be honest.

Dempsey out Atkinson in - It's very much a like for like. Dempsey would still be very much a part of the teams plan for the rest of the year, but i hope he plays at Bendigo and instructed to pick up the best small/medium forward and to play tight, accountable footy on him first and rebound second. Atkinson in, i'm happy with i didn't think he should have been dropped in the first place. My best team would have both of them in for the record.

I wouldnt be so sure about that, Atkinson named on a wing? BtG will tell you he (Atkinson) has been playing on a wing when he has been in. Don't see why we drop Dempsey then bring someone then play them in position that Dempsey 'should' be playing.

As for Dempsey at Bendigo, he is a 'best 22' player and will dominate at Bendigo this week. Watch him, Shannon Grant will play him out of position on the ball or on a wing and he will pick up a mountain of the ball because he is closer to the action at a lower level.

As sad as it is though, it is true IMO.

Dyson out Prismall In - Dyson looked underdone last week and played terribly and had no impact whatsoever. Prismall was a bit stiff when he got dropped to begin with and at least we know if nothing else he will find the ball which after last week would be a blessing with only 1 player over 20 possessions was it? It's only his ball use that has been letting him down but i think we honestly aren't seeing the best he's got to offer, i think he's just low on confidence and if he keeps working it will turn around for him. Still a positive change overall.

I thought he (Dyson) looked underdone also and was pretty cumbersome last week. I still think he could be apart of our best 2, but in a player #15 - 25, so still has to fight his way back into the starting 22, which he did after only a week? he should have had 2 or 3 weeks of consistent football at the lower level, especially for a runner to then be brought back to the highest level.

As for Prismall, I think he is undersold enourmously. He is playing a role that him and Winderlich should both be doing; gut running, ball acumulating line breaking midfielders, but neither are really doing there job are they?

I agree with the last piece of this post about being low on confidence. When he first started out at Essendon, he was playing really good football, consistently in our best players and was doing all the right things. Now he is "low on confidence" as you, he has lost all of those traits that made him stand out when he first came to Essendon.

Myers out Hooker in - From a purely 3rd tall defender standpoint this is a fair enough change as Hooker offers a lot more down back than Myers does and someone needs to play/be sacrificed to Franklin. Myers really stiff though, his games in the middle were really promising a few weeks back and he hasn't had many goals kicked on him the last few weeks either (hasn't got much of the ball though). Really pleased to have Hooker back i gotta say. It's felt like we've been too short in the backline for about 6+ weeks ever since Pears got injured, then Hooker, then Fletch missed a game as well. The other side benefit is we might actually get Hocking playing back in the middle and not stuck covering their 3rd tall forward which he has manfully been doing a few of the weeks.

I agree wholeheartedly here. At one stage we had Myers and Hocking as 2 of our 3 'tall' defenders. Both hardly KP types by any stretch of the imagination. I though this would be the case as Myers seemed to struggle a little bit playing on the taller types, so once Hooker was fit, he was always going to be made the scapegoat. As hard as it is, it is a fair trade and one I would take every day of the week (even after my dislike for Myers).

I think we still have not seen the best of 'the Mooroolbark kid'. He is still every week and has shown how far he has really come. I like him being tried in a number of positions, as I still don't think he has one set position like a Fletcher or Davey.

Sidenote: As many others have said Lonnergan extremely fortunate. I don't dislike Lonnergan at all and i really hope he makes it but i just can't see how you can say he's part of the best 22 we can field right now based on his performances. As a forward he doesn't average enough possesions, goals, goal assists, marks or well anything to be honest. Reimers will take his spot when he's fit again. If it was up to me, i'd let Myers play Lonnergan's role this week though. Myers could rotate through the middle and be that big bodied midfielder that rotates in (probably better than Lonnergan too) and up forward his height would make him a handy target against a Hawks defence that well quite frankly is not all that good.

I wouldn't be so sure on Myers playing forward. He is not a real good set shot on goal, and he still looks cumbersome when not in possession of the ball. Therefore Lonergan (as bad as it is) get's the nod over Myers.

Overall though Blitzer, a well thought out and well rationaled post. Thank you for looking at what the team needed (Hooker for Myers, Prismal for Dyson) and not at what people wanted to see (Dempsey on a wing, Slattery out).

Well posted

 

[james_omahoney]

Out: Dempsey, Dyson, Myers
In: Atkinson, Prismall, Hooker

Backs: Fletch Hooker Slattery
HB: Hocking Pears McVeigh
C: Atkinson Watson Stanton
HF: Davey Gumbleton Jetta
F: Zaka Hurley Lonergan

Followers: Ryder Winderlich Melksham
Bench: Welsh, Belly, NLM, Prismall

Emg: Houli Dempsey Myers

Myers out? Oh FFS. I hope they tell us why.

Welsh and Lonergan still in? Ridiculous.

Happy that Hooker's back and that Dempsey gets dropped for a bit.

 

[Yoda_]

Yeah good post. I'm very surprised at all the anger regarding selection.

All in all they look alright. Myers should have kept his place over Prismall but Dempsey had to be dropped. He has beenwoeful for a very long time now. Atkinson plays an attacking type role also but he is far better defensively when compared to Dempsey.

The otherchange i would have made was Slatter out for Riemers(unless he is injured). I don't mind Slattery but i personally don't think there is space in defence for both Slattsand Spike and i consider Spike the better option. This would give us another attacking option and a bit of extra pace and dare.

Myers V Prismall? I dont think it is a contest at all. They both play different roles. One is a runner who uses his nous and knowledge of reading the play to win his own ball, whilst the other is supposedly this is in and under type with a booming kick. All in all, you know you are going to get 15 - 20 touches out of Prismal, what are we going to get out of Myers the next time he is in the seniors?

Slattery does all the team things, that is why he is in the team, a player who does it week in week out. I am not sure there is room for both Slatts and Mcveigh, but for unknown purposes, there is.

As for Riemers, he is injured. You would not replace a small defender with an attacking midfielder/forward now... unless you were going to play him in defence?

 

[dirtywhitepacker]

I'm just so angry about those changes, so I'll keep it brief.

-Hawks backline looks piss-poor.

-I agree with Dyson out, and to SOME extent Dempsey. Dropping Myers is ridiculous.

-I've been a moderate fan of Sam Lonergan over the years, but this year he has dropped RIGHT off. He doesn't offer much at all. Shocking kick for goal, no penetration in his kick, VERY average mark, small tank. I would much rather see Winderlich go into the forward line and play another midfielder like Howlett or MYERS!

 

[carmi99]

No Myers?
No Dempsey?

When does 2011 start again? Bloody Hell.

Dempsey should have been deumped ages ago. He has been terrible all season.

 

[Macca18]

Pretty good selections really. Dempsey has been on thin ice for a few weeks now, Myers has looked a little stale in the last couple of games, and Ricky was poor last week and may still be under an injury cloud... who knows really?

We missed some dash from Atkinson last week, we've missed Hooker for the last few weeks (and he played pretty well last time around against the Hawks) and Prismall adds a bit of polish.

Despite the usual banter between the two sets of supporters this week, I am reasonably confident heading into this one... which unfortunately never usually is a good sign.

 

[TheGodDelusion]

Funnily enough, it'll come down to who wins the midfield. If we can do that, I can't see their backline holding up. If we can't, I can't see ours doing it either.

Prismal in I think is good given we lack (IMO) strong bodies in the midfield and certainly got shown up in that regard.

Hooker was a given, and I think Atkinson is ok given the space available for him to run in, which incidently, is the only reason I think Winders survived. If he doesn't pull the finger out tomorrow night I think he'll be spelled.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

wow, Lonergan is the new whipping boy isn't he?

I actually don't mind it.
Probably would have kept Dempsey instead of Melksham.

Probably would have played Myers instead of Welsh. If Welsh isn't playing as a tagger then Myers offers more.


Interesting Hawthorn dropped Peterson, would have been one of the first I picked against us, his type kills us.

I agree with this. As a Myers aficionado I'm disappointed he's out, but I'm going to deal with it by assuming the MC have a better idea than I do about running a team