Preview Changes & Preview Thread for Round 8, 2025 vs Western Bulldogs @ Ballarat

[Chachi]

Sweet won’t be dropped and shouldn’t be. Was beaten but will lift against his old side.

I agree Berry needs SANFL time but we buggered up by bringing him back in too quickly. Given they have, he’ll probably stay in.

Evans is an AFL player.
Lai is a gun and can play multiple positions.

In: Evans, Lai.
Out: Sinn, Moreas.

 

[stewie griffen]

Sinn and moraes the obvious 2. I wasn't sold on mead either

 

[TeeKray]

No point hoping for Lai, we all know it'll be Ratkins or Burton.

Would also like to see Visentini given a chance as Sweet has been average at best but that's not going to happen either.

In summary, Sack Hinkley.

 

[TeeKray]

Also:

IN - Microwave, Ford Fairlane complaining about the cold, Chad Wingard

20

Chad Wingard

Age

32

Ht

183cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

7.3

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.9

4star

G

1.5

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.2

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.6

2star

T

2.0

4star

G

0.2

3star

in long sleeves

 

[It Just Is]

Sinn being out sucks. Just as it looked like he was finally getting some continuity.

In - Evans, Boak, Lai/Lorenz (Sub)
Out - Sinn, Moraes, Finlayson

 

[PJ Power]

Berry is not ready, has not been ready and I am not sure why he keeps getting played. However with Sinn going out and Moraes dropping off he stays for now.

Agree. The thing is that neither Berry or Moraes are playing in a way that contributes more than Lorenz, Lai or Jackson would produce. Their possessions - except for 10 minutes of Berry’s in the third quarter yesterday - are uncontested and kicks that most AFL players should execute. Neither is chasing or tackling particularly well - in fact their tackling is not AFL standard at the moment - and neither is faring well in one-on-one marking contests. I’m glad we’ve given them a good taste each and still think both will be longterm AFL quality players even if not A-graders. But right now, they should make way for 2 of Lorenz, Lai or Jackson at least for 4-6 weeks to see what those guys can bring. Just don’t swap them for McEntee, Atkins or Williams.

With Sinn out, I’d replace Sinn with Lai as a simple positional swap and Moraes for Lorenz or Jackson. Not fussed which one as neither has been clearly better than the other. Boak will probably get the nod though.

Logan Evans needs to bide his time until his form at SANFL level is undeniable and he gets some of his recent bad habits out of his game.

 

[Schulzenfest]

No point hoping for Lai, we all know it'll be Ratkins or Burton.

Would also like to see Visentini given a chance as Sweet has been average at best but that's not going to happen either.

In summary, Sack Hinkley.

Sweet would've had this game circled in his calendar since October. He smashed Tim English last time out, he deserves a crack at doing it again.

 

[Waspy79]

The umpires will cheat in this one. Again

 

[MrChow]

Sweets only played 34 AFL games - sometimes we forget - he is going to get schooled by Xerri, Gawn, Witts and a few others from time to time.

Last year Dixon actually did a lot for Sweet by coming in, and changing the game up. It’s good learning for Sweet to have to push through and go head to head with the big boys.

the question is whether Sweet can improve his game as his fitness and conditioning improves, ie push forward and kick goals, take some more contested marks.

I like how agile he actually is, and has a pretty good kick, and can run and carry a little bit better than the titanic.

He stays in.

 

[all seeing eye]

Sweet won’t be dropped and shouldn’t be. Was beaten but will lift against his old side.

I agree Berry needs SANFL time but we buggered up by bringing him back in too quickly. Given they have, he’ll probably stay in.

Evans is an AFL player.
Lai is a gun and can play multiple positions.

In: Evans, Lai.
Out: Sinn, Moreas.

Evans is horribly out of form, hes not coming back in yet. Classic 2nd year blues.

 

[Rash]

The Butters Cup,

Winner gets him

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Also:

IN - Microwave, Ford Fairlane complaining about the cold, Chad Wingard in long sleeves

It was the coldest I've ever been at the football!

 

[davesnothere]

Sweet is no longer our obvious first choice Ruck

He's the encumbent Ruck.

He's been average a few weeks now.

He doesn't demand the spot. We've only got one Ruck spot open. You demand it or we give Dante a run and see if he demands it.

 

[Portology]

It was the coldest I've ever been at the football!

For me, the infamous 2010 Richmond game, our 140th celebration debacle.

But yeah there is some messed up cold temperature bubble on top of Ballarat. Did many rides between ADL and MEL back in the day on a motorbike with an ambient temp display, the zone each side of Ballarat always dropped a few degrees. Any time of day or night. Nuts. I mean freezing nuts.

 

[klem22]

No point hoping for Lai, we all know it'll be Ratkins or Burton.

Would also like to see Visentini given a chance as Sweet has been average at best but that's not going to happen either.

In summary, Sack Hinkley.

Just the mention of Atkins drives me insane, yet the arrogant coach we have would still consider him is unbelievable.

 

[Buget]

Would they entertain BZT?

Only 1 game back after a significant lay-off, but given the Dogs played Lobb (207cm), Naughton (197cm) and O’Donnell (197cm) forward last night, extra height would be helpful.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

So y'all back on the Finlayson train or what

 

[Imhotep]

the question is whether Sweet can improve his game as his fitness and conditioning improves, ie push forward and kick goals, take some more contested marks.

Some more contested marks?? How about one! He can barely mark it when it's uncontested. He only took seven contested marks last year. At 206cm this is genuinely concerning and says something about his character.

 

[all seeing eye]

So y'all back on the Finlayson train or what

Read the article from his wife, about what they are going thru , ivf failures for an attempted kid , lung resections for metasised cancers, pallative care and chemos, amazing that the guy is actually playing at all. Not sure where my head would be if it was me.

 

[Port 2004]

The umpires will cheat in this one. Again

Yep. The AFL is as corrupt as can be. Disgusting the level of corruption yesterday.

 

[Teal Leviathan]

Could plausibly go 0-4 from this next brace of matches before the bye. If the Gods offered 2-2 including a win against the Crows, you'd probably take it.

 

[rignanv]

Out: Mead – Started well with some pressure acts, but struggles to impact over four quarters. Doesn’t make the most of his opportunities inside.
In: Jackson – Time to give him a shot and see what he can offer.


Out: Moraes – Looks tired and is missing tackles. Let him rack up some possessions in the SANFL and build form.
In: Lai – Has genuine pace and deserves a chance.


Out: Berry – Just not finding enough of the ball at the moment. Better to go back to the SANFL to rebuild confidence.
In: Lorenz.


Out: Sinn –
In: Atkins or Burton.


Wouldn’t be surprised to see Boak return too. Won’t be many changes, but three players really brought nothing this week.

I agree with these changes but I'd bring in Boak instead of Ratkins or Burton and play Lai in defence.

 

[x_les_x]

Agree. The thing is that neither Berry or Moraes are playing in a way that contributes more than Lorenz, Lai or Jackson would produce. Their possessions - except for 10 minutes of Berry’s in the third quarter yesterday - are uncontested and kicks that most AFL players should execute. Neither is chasing or tackling particularly well - in fact their tackling is not AFL standard at the moment - and neither is faring well in one-on-one marking contests. I’m glad we’ve given them a good taste each and still think both will be longterm AFL quality players even if not A-graders. But right now, they should make way for 2 of Lorenz, Lai or Jackson at least for 4-6 weeks to see what those guys can bring. Just don’t swap them for McEntee, Atkins or Williams.

With Sinn out, I’d replace Sinn with Lai as a simple positional swap and Moraes for Lorenz or Jackson. Not fussed which one as neither has been clearly better than the other. Boak will probably get the nod though.

Logan Evans needs to bide his time until his form at SANFL level is undeniable and he gets some of his recent bad habits out of his game.

lol do you realise both are outside type first year players, probably less than 70kgs each theyre never going to have harley reid crunching tackles off the rip nor outbody bigger more seasoned opponents. Thats not their go.

In saying that Moraes did still have 6 recored tackles though 0 in the second half which was still a half solid effort. Theres absolutely no point yo yoing around with berry making him play sanfl one week and afl next just to drop him back to the sanfl. The question is will we benefit more from Berry getting to 50 afl games and getting used to the pace and pressure first or is it more beneficial dumping him in a shit for all league with a bunch of “teammates” that dont give a shit and are probably fighting for themselves and a contract in Dyl Williams and Ivan Soldo.

Berry has already shown he is above SANFL level. Development wise i would rather the former. Its not like hes been massively shit costing us games give the kid a go for a whole season and youll see that purple patch in the third eventually translates to halves then full games. It is absolutely so backwards to throw him backwards into the sanfl and everyone is so quick to put a line through names, especially our young first rounders before they even have a chance to breathe at the level

For moraes he does need a rest and tbh i think a sub vest would be more beneficial than a sanfl game. There is absolutely no chance in the world jackson and Lai debut together and there is also no certainty they perform as well/equally to what Berry and Moraes are putting out there right now. In saying that Ratkins and Boak probably get the go ahead for Sinn and Moraes to sub

 

[chiwigi]

Out: Finlayson, Sinn both kicked out! Finlayson should be out for good.
In: anyone else

 

[Rash]

ken will bring in BZT for sinn, go 1 taller take out a small defender.

please dont bring boak back