Preview R4: Changes vs. Gold Coast Suns (Match of the Round!!!)

[WeeBlake]

Ross Lyon put the clamps on him quite successfully last year via Marcus Windhager, Swans/Longmire have employed James Jordan as a tagger ever since they recruited him from the Demons, there is always a role for a tagger if they're good at it IMO.

I think our stoppages are still a work in progress. We have both ends of the spectrum - some glorious fast clearances (often Soligo sprinting clear) but we have conceded plenty of the same thing against us (eg Merrett, LDU).

I wonder whether Peatling could play a more defensive role.

 

[Crow till I die]

If we break even at the stoppage, we will win this one and quite comfortably imo. Our outside game has been very good and we have the forward firepower to overpower them.

 

[davos44]

He doesn’t have to get a late flight back, he could do a full recovery there and return the next day. The week in a 5 day break is all about recovery with light skill sessions anyway. Players are on record as enjoying them. If these 2 games appeared a few weeks later then a rest would be much more likely, but its rounds 4 and 5.

I don't think we should play Tex more than 19 games before finals this year. GC, Fremantle, Hawks, West Coast away he should be rested, although the Hawks game is before our bye. Perhaps a home game later in the year.

This is the perfect game to rest him: 27, humid, 5 day break coming after a 6 day break and 5 hours of flying.

Yep, the timing of these longer flights is a pain, better if it was round 8-10 or something.

 

[Coopers]

Can we tag Rowell? Is it a thing that can be done?

 

[George CantStandYa]

If we break even at the stoppage, we will win this one and quite comfortably imo. Our outside game has been very good and we have the forward firepower to overpower them.

Thats a big if and even then quite comfortably is a stretch. They were very good at home last year, are now winning away, playing well and confidence is sky high. Plus there’s Hardwick v Nicks.

 

[jenny61_99]

Butts IS NOT glacial slow, that is just plain wrong, athletically he's far superior to Borlase both pace wise and endurance wise. There's NFI and then there's your post.

The only problem with Butts is in the past he's been expected to play carrying niggles. i.e. the heavily strapped calf he played with for a fair stretch last year.

Apologies if wrong, but that's my recollection of him. I will hold judgement until I see him play again.

 

[GreyCrow]

I think Butts at times can be slow in thinking

 

[Schulzycrow]

We will see whether the AFC have learnt anything. Murphy has had his chance. Need to continue with the next gen.

Nank and Dowling, Ryan or Peds in that order.
Rachelle and Milera out
Sholl sub

Draper to play a full game. We will need his speed.
Can cover Rachelle with a mixture of Rankine, ANB, Keays, Draper and Solly.

 

[MrBarry]

Can we tag Rowell? Is it a thing that can be done?

Nah, just go head to head this week imo. If they score 15 we score 20.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Ross Lyon put the clamps on him quite successfully last year via Marcus Windhager, Swans/Longmire have employed James Jordan as a tagger ever since they recruited him from the Demons, there is always a role for a tagger if they're good at it IMO.

The question is do we just go more a soft tag with Peatling & ANB... or bring in Bond for hard tag.

Bringing in Bond means we play the likes of Dawson more on wing, which we could do if Curtin plays up forward for Tex.

 

[GreyCrow]

Do we create havoc and do a Dangerfield v Cripps moment?

Let Izak and Matt run wild and see whos' coach yells loudest

 

[footy4ever]

Haven't had time to peruse the thread after the first couple of pages so apologies if this regurgitates previous posts.

Out
Tex - manage
Rachelle - injured

In (how good is our depth!)
Nank (before anyone)
Pedlar/Dowling/Draper/Bond/Berry/Shoey/Taylor (rock paper scissors to decide)

Apart from the danger of making too many changes there's a good argument to replace Borlase with Butts, and also to send Milera back to the 2s to pick up some form and consistency.

If Murphy comes in (highly likely), it'd be such a stagnation. Everyone I've mentioned as ins are better options as players and for the future.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

If we break even at the stoppage, we will win this one and quite comfortably imo. Our outside game has been very good and we have the forward firepower to overpower them.

That is a monumental if!

 

[Alwaysacrow]

I'd bring in Taylor for Josh but I reckon it'll be Pedlar.

 

[Scorpus]

INJURY LIST​

(As of Tuesday, April 1)

Josh Rachele (ribs) 4-6 weeks
Nick Murray (knee) 2-3 weeks
Karl Gallagher (shoulder) 1 week

Murray was scanned and came up clear, so the rumors about a partially torn ACL appear false

Injury Update: Round Four

The latest on the Crows' injured players

www.afc.com.au

 

[GreyCrow]

Defender Nick Murray has returned to the gym and will resume running next week as he recovers from a jarred knee at training.

Murray landed awkwardly in a marking drill last Thursday and has been ruled out for 2-3 weeks.

Injury Update: Round Four

The latest on the Crows' injured players

www.afc.com.au

 

[OzSparrow]

Murphy in for Rash.
Go on deep down you all know its coming don't you.
As sure as night follows day our Great Leader will make the call.
Accept it and move on.
We are doomed!

 

[Afcprophet]

Murphy was one of our best on the weekend right? He will come in for Rach, unfortunately. I'd much rather see Taylor or Pedlar in the firsts. Not sure we will see many other changes.

Sholl and Milera should be dropped for their games on the weekend. It would be good to rest Tex too. But 4 changes is probably too many for the coaches to stomach.

Murphy in for Rash.
Go on deep down you all know its coming don't you.
As sure as night follows day our Great Leader will make the call.
Accept it and move on.
We are doomed!

 

[CrowBloke]

milera for nank. obvious and has to happen now there's sanfl form there.

Milera has been tepid and was found out on Sunday under NM pressure. Milera's gotta go.

taylor for rachele if he's injured would be ideal, but it will be murphy.

... Jeez, I hope not.
Murphy's a try-hard-but-ineffective player. Taylor would be more creative and impactful in our improved 2025 side, I reckon.

 

[Burtonsgottago]

Butts is not the answer.

Love is the answer - John Lennon

 

[CrowBloke]

Is Butts fit? Borlase too slow. He matched well on Darling, but surely Butts has a higher ceiling.

Yes, but only by 3cms.

 

[ams4crows]

INJURY LIST​

(As of Tuesday, April 1)

Josh Rachele (ribs) 4-6 weeks
Nick Murray (knee) 2-3 weeks
Karl Gallagher (shoulder) 1 week

Murray was scanned and came up clear, so the rumors about a partially torn ACL appear false

Injury Update: Round Four

The latest on the Crows' injured players

www.afc.com.au

Thank god I would have genuinely been so upset if it was his ACL again, as long as he's back to play on Jesse Hogan we'll be ok and find a way.

 

[CrowBloke]

Cannot be slightly off if we're to win.

That's true for most of the top 8 to 10 sides in the Comp.
We must start well is the key I think.

Gold Coast are flying and strong at home

All of the better sides play better at home.
Gold Coast have beaten West Coast by 87 points, away (which several sides will do this year)
and
Melbourne by 58 points at the G <== Melbourne are shadows of their recent years.
The Suns are scoring freely, like us, and keeping oppos to lower scores than us BUT will find us an entirely different proposition. Harder to contain.

Against us, it'll be their third game in 3 weeks but our fourth and I'm hoping the Kms. difference in our legs (+ 3 strong wins) will make us more durable/sharper, especially if Burgess manages the boys well after Sunday's warm day and a 6-day break.
Clarko could not find a way to beat us with an improved side; we can bet his disciple Hardnose will be advised by him during the week but the 2025 Crows are a better-manned, better-performing side than any Crows side they've played since 2017.
Nicks needs to show some mettle; drop underperforming Milera, bring in Nankervis, and Pedlar for Rachele.
There are good reasons to drop Keane and Sholl, too, but putting Keane/Sholl on notice that they're one more sub-par game from the SANFL might lift them. We can hope.
If Nicks makes only one change (for Rachele), he's learned nothing.

 

[whitey_1975]

I think Butts at times can be slow in thinking

Butts is athletically fine, but he is glacier slow when he has to dispose of the ball or make a decision with ball in hand. Thankfully he doesn't have to do it to often. I prefer Borlase, slower but higher IQ when he gets the ball.

 

[whitey_1975]

Rash and Sholl out
Dowling and Nank in.