Preview Round 6 - Bloods v GWS - Saturday 27 Apr 2019

[Grand Uncle Horace]

One of the things the side really has not got enough of are genuine competitors..McCartin is a genuine competitor and not without skills. I think he brings more in that department than others which is why I like him in the team.

Agree. Likely to be dropped if Menzell gets fit or when Blakey returns. This would be wrong.

 

[Punts]

This imo will be the first look at a crowd drop off

 

[SwansProudly]

As I had in my preview Out: Jack, Ronke In:Justin McInerney, Daniel Menzel

Jack was so disappointing.

I think Ronke has lost confidence - let him regain some with 2 weeks in the NEAFL. Why not bring McInerney back? if he has travelled twice (?) as an emergency so he has no NEAFL time under his belt anyway. Tell Justin he is playing the next 2 weeks.

If Menzel is fit to play NEAFL he should play in senior team - time manage him - just tell him not to roam more than 25-30 m from the goals (remember Lockett?). We need someone to stay in the forward line. We need someone to kick it to when running out of defence. Hard to say from TV coverage but perhaps we do chip it around back half as there are no forwards leading to the ball carrier.

I had thought of O'Riordan replacing Thurlow, but Colin running out of defence in NEAFL kicked straight to opponent. Ryley Stoddard played well in NEAFL, but at times got bullied by Redland.

Clarke played his best game, I'd give him another week.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

This imo will be the first look at a crowd drop off

I get that.
Nothing personal but I'm also a bit over us matching up all the time. Seems to be too often. Not sure if you guys feel the same. Pretty sure it will be close anyway.

Davis is a query with Leon sounding confident after the game but less so on AFL360 last night. Todays rehab report will be interesting. If he doesn't get up Corr played his first full game last weekend but Adam Schneider's NEAFL report didn't seem to indicate he's ready just yet. Sam Taylor might get his biggest challenge on Buddy.

 

[legend166]

If it was entirely up to me:

Outs: Ronke, Jack, McCartin, Sinclair
Ins: Rose, O'Riordan, Melican, Cameron

Here are my ranting thoughts:

- I liked Dawson off the half back line and we're crying out for someone who can kick it more than 30m. He's got the height so shouldn't be exposed one on one like Lloyd. If my options are Dawson getting 25 touches back there VS Lloyd getting 35 touches I'm taking Dawson every single day of the week.

- Move Lloyd to the wing. I'm sorry but this whole "Let's use Jake Lloyd as our major ball winner in defence to launch our attacks" strategy is an absolute disaster. Him getting 30 touches every game triggers me in a way I can't explain. Put him back on the wing where he belongs, where he can use his running ability and when 20m kicks going into the forward 50m might actually have some value instead of 20m kicks into the back pocket. Also he won't get completely exposed one on one like he does now.

I'm serious, if I have to watch Jake Lloyd continue to rack up 35+ useless possessions in the backline while we finish bottom four I'm going to go nuts.

- Move Mills into the midfield. At this point it's not only because we need something different in the midfield, but because Mills has become completely average in the backline and is giving us nothing. So I'd either play him in the midfield rotation or not play him at all. O'Riordan to come in and take his spot in defence.

- I'm not sure what we're getting playing both McCartin & Reid in the same side. Probably tough on McCartin and it's certainly not because Reid is great, but he still offers more at this stage.

- I know Melican had a couple of poor games early but I think we really need him in defence. I think people are forgetting how good he was in 2017. He didn't get the meme for nothing. I'm still not sold on Aliir as a lock down key defender, and even so I think he's wasted in that spot. I think playing Melican will allow us some more flexibility on how to use both Aliir and Rampe. I saw Melican was named in the bests in the reserves game so I'm hoping he's shaken off the rust.

- Ronke, sadly, has been invisible so I can't see how we can continue to play him. I know by bringing in Rose we lose some speed but Ronke hasn't been using his speed in any way so we're not losing anything really.

- Sinclair looks cooked. Which is great since we just signed him up for three years. But it would be great if we could get a ruckman who could catch the ball at some stage in his life. I don't know if Cameron can do it, but doesn't hurt to try.

So I guess my side would line up like this:

B: O'Riordan Melican Rampe
HB: Dawson Aliir Cunningham
C: Lloyd Heeney Florent
HF: Rose Franklin Parker
F: Papley Reid Hewett
Fol: Cameron Mills Kennedy
Int: Thurlow Rowbottom Clarke Jones

What I'm really expecting:

Out: Ronke
In: Blakey
Structural Changes: None

 

[The King!]

I get that.
Nothing personal but I'm also a bit over us matching up all the time. Seems to be too often. Not sure if you guys feel the same. Pretty sure it will be close anyway.

Davis is a query with Leon sounding confident after the game but less so on AFL360 last night. Todays rehab report will be interesting. If he doesn't get up played his first full game last weekend but Adam Schneider's NEAFL report didn't seem to indicate he's ready just yet. Sam Taylor might get his biggest challenge on Buddy.

They dont really let the rivalry grow organically, always feels manufactured

 

[The King!]

if we lose this one i think we should put the cue in the rack officially and just play the kids and go for a good pick

 

[S120]

So I guess my side would line up like this:

B: O'Riordan Melican Rampe
HB: Dawson Aliir Cunningham
C: Lloyd Heeney Florent
HF: Rose Franklin Parker
F: Papley Reid Hewett
Fol: Cameron Mills Kennedy
Int: Thurlow Rowbottom Clarke Jones

What I'm really expecting:

Out: Ronke
In: Blakey
Structural Changes: None

I'd prefer the side to be settled down a little. There have been so many changes each week that we don't seem like we're giving the younger players a chance to grow in one spot with the same guys around them. I'd go with Blakey for Ronke, and either play McCartin in defence with Reid in attack or vice versa and let them stick there. Blakey can then be the third tall or play a bit up the ground on a wing in spurts.

They dont really let the rivalry grow organically, always feels manufactured

There's been real distaste at times between the teams. I believe the players have had real dislike for each other, but I think the fans don't really care that much.

 

[The King!]

I'd prefer the side to be settled down a little. There have been so many changes each week that we don't seem like we're giving the younger players a chance to grow in one spot with the same guys around them. I'd go with Blakey for Ronke, and either play McCartin in defence with Reid in attack or vice versa and let them stick there. Blakey can then be the third tall or play a bit up the ground on a wing in spurts.



There's been real distaste at times between the teams. I believe the players have had real dislike for each other, but I think the fans don't really care that much.

some of my NSW based friends seem more likely to hope GWS do well in other games,

 

[McRobie]

Blakey best on playing mostly midfield on the weekend.
Horse to bring him in and play him all forward... this is the problem.

 

[legend166]

I'd prefer the side to be settled down a little. There have been so many changes each week that we don't seem like we're giving the younger players a chance to grow in one spot with the same guys around them. I'd go with Blakey for Ronke, and either play McCartin in defence with Reid in attack or vice versa and let them stick there. Blakey can then be the third tall or play a bit up the ground on a wing in spurts.

I get that, but then there's no point for stability for the sake of stability if it isn't winning us games of football. Blakely for Ronke is just tinkering around the edges on a side that has not looked quality at any stage this season (beating Carlton doesn't count).

Anyway, the two changes I wanted to see were Melican and O'Riodan in because that gives us the ability to shift Mills and Lloyd up the ground. Of course that's not going to happen because literally the only time I've seen Longmire make any real changes to the structure of the side (Reid swinging back and forward doesn't count) was when he put Rampe in the midfield and that was in the fourth quarter of a lost Grand Final in 2014.

 

[S120]

I get that, but then there's no point for stability for the sake of stability if it isn't winning us games of football. Blakely for Ronke is just tinkering around the edges on a side that has not looked quality at any stage this season (beating Carlton doesn't count).

Anyway, the two changes I wanted to see were Melican and O'Riodan in because that gives us the ability to shift Mills and Lloyd up the ground. Of course that's not going to happen because literally the only time I've seen Longmire make any real changes to the structure of the side (Reid swinging back and forward doesn't count) was when he put Rampe in the midfield and that was in the fourth quarter of a lost Grand Final in 2014.

This is the rub. I've accepted in my mind that we're not doing anything thsi year. Winning isn't particularly top of my priority list atm. I want to see real growth in some younger/new players in the side (Thurlow, Aliir, Jones, Florent, Heeney, Dawson, McCartin) and down the line some more games for other young players (Blakey, Ling, Melican, O'Riordan) to see what we've got.

 

[momentbymoment]

Here’s a thought.
Put Reid in defence because he can mark but he can’t kick goals.

Put Dawson forward because he can mark and kick goals.

Then swing Reid forward for the last 5 min of each quarter because we want to grab the momentum leading into the break.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Looks like Greene will play. Just what we don't need.

As Jack is sure to be played have him tag the Toblerone. We have noone else. Cunningham will tag Whitfield, George will chase Coniglio's shadow.

I expect Blakey will replace Ronke.

I think Blakey was ok in the 2s but did not make a persuasive case.

I fear a real towelling up in front of 25K

 

[caesar88]

if we lose this one i think we should put the cue in the rack officially and just play the kids and go for a good pick

I wouldn't necessarily go with all kids, as I think that achieves nothing except making us Carlton (team of youngsters with no leadership). But if we do reach that low, I'd like to see Horse just loosen the shackles entirely and let this team play some freewheeling footy for once to just see what these youngsters can do. And if the oldies like JPK, McVeigh, Jack, Parker etc can't keep up cause it doesn't suit them, drop em.

The youth should be the priority since that's the direction the club have taken us in.

 

[sthmelb_dimmies]

Looks like Greene will play. Just what we don't need.

As Jack is sure to be played have him tag the Toblerone. We have noone else. Cunningham will tag Whitfield, George will chase Coniglio's shadow.

I expect Blakey will replace Ronke.

I think Blakey was ok in the 2s but did not make a persuasive case.

I fear a real towelling up in front of 25K

Agreed.

I'm going to watch. But only with a fresh bottle of some delicious reposado. I don't anticipate there'll be much left when the final siren blows.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Positive is Rampe found some form he is gonna need it against a red hot Cameron.

Cameron, Greene, Finlayson, Himmelberg with Kelly, Mumford, Whitfield, Williams, Taranto feeding the ball to them.

We are in trouble friends

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Agreed.

I'm going to watch. But only with a fresh bottle of some delicious reposado. I don't anticipate there'll be much left when the final siren blows.

Whoa! Take it easy. Suggest shots be reserved for our goals, not theirs. The AMA has put out a health warning, "Do not have Repesado shots each time the Bloods Chippety Chip and they give away possession".

 

[caesar88]

Looking at them... and looking at us... and looking at our form at the SCG... if we won this game it would be one of our greatest victories of the last decade at least.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Looking at them... and looking at us... and looking at our form at the SCG... if we won this game it would be one of our greatest victories of the last decade at least.

Yes. Realistically, anything under 30 points would be a decent result. Buddy would have to kick 6 to get us that close. The safest bet is we will have at least goal-less quarter.

 

[sataris]

Genuinely don't see where the goals are going to come from.

Lucky to get to 40 imo

 

[The King!]

this is sort of random bullshit game we might pinch

 

[Kirkswan]

I don’t get the enthusiasm for keeping McCartin in the firsts. Last year, when Reid was injured and there was no alternative, throwing an 18 yo off the end of the jetty to ‘break packs’ and ‘bring the ball to ground’ had to be. Okay, I spilt my beer with the best of them when Tom got his toe to the ball and stole the game from the Filth. But call me old fashioned, I like tall forwards who catch the ball and kick goals, so it would be good if McCartin got the hang of that in the reserves. Once he’s got the strut, then bring him in.


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I agree with this, the problem for me is who do we bring in for him? COR comes into defence for a few weeks, doesn't appear to do too much wrong without setting the world on fire, but then gets dropped. Says to me that he is not following instructions.

Where did McCartin play in the TAC or whatever it was he played in? Is there any evidence that he could kick a ball at any point? Cause it's certainly not his strong suit now.

 

[McRobie]

I’m a big rap for mccartin but he was selfish on the weekend. Had a number of shepherding opportunities to put a team mate in space but instead went the ball and a turnover ensued on most occasions.

 

[Kirkswan]

There's been real distaste at times between the teams. I believe the players have had real dislike for each other, but I think the fans don't really care that much.

And I don't think the Sydney-siders ever will. Most of us would like GWS to do well enough to beat the Victorian teams but not well enough to beat us! We kind of look at them the same way we look at all the other interstate teams... as part of the down-trodden minority.

EDIT - spelling