Strategy Changes: Round 11 Walyalup vs. Yartapuulti

[go_the_dockers]

Who would have thought we wouldn’t even bother to list Fyfe & Walters when talking about outs.

I wonder if either or both have a last squeeze left in the bottle if we make September? Not many you would rather have in a final at even close to their best.

I think everyone on the injury list needs 2 or 3 weeks in the WAFL before they play, and then you can let the form decide if they play. For Walters, Darcy and Fyfe that is probably closer to 4 to 5 weeks, before I would look at them. Probably Sturt as well.

Fyfe could only really come in for Erasmus or maybe Johnson, I think that is it.

Not sure about Walters, but we are already on the slow side of things, but he could maybe replace Switta or maybe Dudley.

I almost forgot how good he looked in the practice games, when fully fit. If he is fully fit, and kicking goals in the WAFL then I am not against bringing him in.

 

[freoextra]

Even though the romantic in us all would love the thought of both of them going out in a blaze of glory in September, the chances of that happening are almost nil.

Even coming into this season fit and firing I thought their best was a long way behind them. Having now missed most of the season and expecting them to just perform like they did years ago is unrealistic.

Footy is a brutal sport and takes no prisoners, even champions.

I am still hoping for some great moments between Shai and Sonny, I have to believe it will happen.

 

[Superkoops]

I think everyone on the injury list needs 2 or 3 weeks in the WAFL before they play, and then you can let the form decide if they play. For Walters, Darcy and Fyfe that is probably closer to 4 to 5 weeks, before I would look at them. Probably Sturt as well.

Fyfe could only really come in for Erasmus or maybe Johnson, I think that is it.

Not sure about Walters, but we are already on the slow side of things, but he could maybe replace Switta or maybe Dudley.

The form Son Son showed pre-season he would definitely add to forward mix. Likely a replacement for Dudley but he will need a good few weeks in WAFL building up beforehand.

Fyfe - not sure. If he is fit and firing which I have my doubts then yes he would replace Ras or MJ.

 

[ignoramus]

Lol. The up and down on Fyfe and Walters is hilarious.

*Preseason best 22 discussions: Fyfe and Walters are done, no longer best 22; former champions, but can’t beat Father time; Fyfe as sub, maybe, but Walters is too slow.
*Post-Indigneous All Stars and preseason game: How good is Walters? Talent always wins out. Switta and Freddy will just have bde their time at Peel to earn their place in the firsts. Sonny and Shai will work so well together.
*News that Walters is injured: Sonny who?
*Freo lose Geelong and Sydney, and later get comprehensively smashed at the bounces and in contested possessions by the winless Melbourne: we have no midfield depth; we’re in desperate need for experience and leadership; O’Meara and Johnson are no good in the middle. Can’t get Fyfe back in the side soon enough.
*Freo beat GWS to sit at 5-5: would love to see Fyfe and Walters get a lost shot at finals, but let’s face it; they’re not best 22, way past it, what do you even mean, “finals experience”?

 

[FreoMatt]

Can't disagree. Being more experienced could be just a proxy for measuring overall talent, longevity, salary cap management that allows retention of players, and maybe even club culture to some degree. Regardless, overall, older teams perform better than younger teams. Our day is coming.

But when you put age and experience together (we regularly are the youngest team in the round), that I think points more to we just have to be patient. A young inexperienced team says something different to an older inexperienced team

 

[2big2strom]

But when you put age and experience together (we regularly are the youngest team in the round), that I think points more to we just have to be patient. A young inexperienced team says something different to an older inexperienced team

Okay but have freo considered that I want it this year? Food for thought

 

[Quazar2]

I wouldn't make any changes unless they're enforced, I certainly don't want Darcy in the team until he can build up fitness and some form through the WAFL, may sound harsh but the balance of the team looked WAYYYYY better without him.

Bloody Cornes, the know-it-all!

 

[332docker]

If darcy is fit he comes in

NOD same

They are both first choice and they should be trying to get as many first choice players into team as possible. We can’t keep fielding the youngest most inexperienced team and expect to play finals.

Id drop banners and make Voss Sub to ensure we aren’t top heavy early and we can afford to sub out any of the talls that need managing

 

[The Feeder Club]

I wouldn't mind a demoralised version of Port turning up this week and a low stress game from start to end. We always seem to have close scraps against them. Time for a change.
I am hoping with the Ken sideshow and JHF out and the boys coming off a good win, we're due.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I wouldn't mind a demoralised version of Port turning up this week and a low stress game from start to end. We always seem to have close scraps against them. Time for a change.
I am hoping with the Ken sideshow and JHF out and the boys coming off a good win, we're due.

They are playing for their season this week. A win this week will get their season back on track, if they lose they are 4-7, and pretty much season over. They are under so much pressure over hear, they will be looking to respond.

I am still not sure our midfield will hold up of Butters, Rozee, Wines, Bergman all play at their best.

 

[The Feeder Club]

They are playing for their season this week. A win this week will get their season back on track, if they lose they are 4-7, and pretty much season over. They are under so much pressure over hear, they will be looking to respond.

I am still not sure our midfield will hold up of Butters, Rozee, Wines, Bergman all play at their best.

Weren't they under pressure last week? 4-5, coming off a showdown loss, and playing at home to a team that had kicked them about like an unloved dog in the finals last year?
I just hope you are wrong and they respond to pressure the same way this week

 

[Footskill]

Sounds like from the press JL has done, it's more than likely Darcy will be in..

 

[go_the_dockers]

Sounds like from the press JL has done, it's more than likely Darcy will be in..

Relax, surely JL is not this stupid.

 

[Taylor]

Maybe Fremantle wants to win the clearances against Port so he will pick our best ruckman for the job?

 

[go_the_dockers]

Maybe Fremantle wants to win the clearances against Port so he will pick our best ruckman for the job?

I would argue that a unfit Darcy is not that person.

 

[Taylor]

I would argue that a unfit Darcy is not that person.

Well, Port die in the 4th quarter. So perhaps the plan would be to take Darcy off after letting Port smash against the rocks for three quarters and then inject Jackson to look like a superstar in the 4th against a ruck combination who can't move anymore?

Port have the weapons to blow us away out of the middle if they get hold of us. I think Darcy is our best stoppage controlling ruck, I think Jackson is the one who runs through the line of the loose ball and either takes off with it or will watch his opponent become the loose handball receive for an easy clearance against.

I don't want Port to be able to run the ball out. I hope Darcy can keep that under control.

 

[Quay Club]

Esava Ratugolea

27

Esava Ratugolea

Age

27

Ht

197cm

Wt

108kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.6

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

2.2

4star

MG

131.6

2star

D

8.1

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.5

3star

MG

109.0

2star

D

9.2

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

MG

133.8

3star

is an out for Port as well now.

 

[Mogumber]

Maybe Fremantle wants to win the clearances against Port so he will pick our best ruckman for the job?

Jackson follows ups and wins clearances. Darcy is a tap ruckman, overpaid at that.
Jackson is the clearance machine out of those two

 

[Alfonz]

If Port stick with Visentini, he's a Reidy standard ruckman. Their backup is Finlayson. Jackson and Voss can handle them easily. There's no need to bring Darcy in this week.

 

[Stinky Lomax]

Jackson follows ups and wins clearances. Darcy is a tap ruckman, overpaid at that.
Jackson is the clearance machine out of those two

From memory Darcy has very good basic clearance numbers, you’d suspect that Jackson’s would be cleaner out of stoppage though.

 

[GingerDocker]

From memory Darcy has very good basic clearance numbers, you’d suspect that Jackson’s would cleaner out of stoppage though.

Jackson has the capacity to get out the front of stoppages and that's deadly.

 

[Stinky Lomax]

Jackson has the capacity to get out the front of stoppages and that's deadly.

Yes I did mention that, but the op suggests that Darcy does nothing at ground level which isn’t true.

 

[Taylor]

If the coach thinks Darcy creates scores out of stoppage then he's doing well enough

 

[stax on the mull]

Last week Port lost 2 players in the first half of the first quarter and another that played less than a half, so that contributes to the blow out margin, but in the showdown the week before the margin was less than a kick. They have beaten Hawthorn at home and Sydney at the SCG, but the big losses of 76pts (to Geelong), 90pts (WB) & 91 pts (Coll) says they're more down than up and down - but we haven't been travelling that much better with our own blowout losses.

Horne-Francis, Farrell, Ratugolea and Jones are the main players that are going to be missing from their team that beat us in the final round of last year. Powell-Pepper didn't play that game but will be in this week's line up. Otherwise they'll have pretty much the same line up as Round 25, 2024. Horne-Francis and Farrell the major ones out I reckon. Ratugolea is OK if we're bombing it up in the air inside forward 50m and he has to kill it - I figure they can find someone else to do that if that's how we are forced to play.

We're going to have at least 8 different players. Young, Fyfe, Walters, Walker, Draper, O'Meara, Sturt, Reidy, O'Driscoll all played the last time we met Port. Pearce, Bolton, Treacy would be our biggest ins from that game, as well as having a fit and in form Jackson.

Stating the obvious, but to beat Port we still have to rely on a bunch of players that have only come into the team this year, or have had just mediocre form so far this season, to come up to the mark like the majority of them did last week against GWS.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Last week Port lost 2 players in the first half of the first quarter and another that played less than a half, so that contributes to the blow out margin, but in the showdown the week before the margin was less than a kick. They have beaten Hawthorn at home and Sydney at the SCG, but the big losses of 76pts (to Geelong), 90pts (WB) & 91 pts (Coll) says they're more down than up and down - but we haven't been travelling that much better with our own blowout losses.

Horne-Francis, Farrell, Ratugolea and Jones are the main players that are going to be missing from their team that beat us in the final round of last year. Powell-Pepper didn't play that game but will be in this week's line up. Otherwise they'll have pretty much the same line up as Round 25, 2024. Horne-Francis and Farrell the major ones out I reckon. Ratugolea is OK if we're bombing it up in the air inside forward 50m and he has to kill it - I figure they can find someone else to do that if that's how we are forced to play.

We're going to have at least 8 different players. Young, Fyfe, Walters, Walker, Draper, O'Meara, Sturt, Reidy, O'Driscoll all played the last time we met Port. Pearce, Bolton, Treacy would be our biggest ins from that game, as well as having a fit and in form Jackson.

Stating the obvious, but to beat Port we still have to rely on a bunch of players that have only come into the team this year, or have had just mediocre form so far this season, to come up to the mark like the majority of them did last week against GWS.

Too complicated, boys turn up, boys win. Home against a team that has been terrible more often than not.