Strategy Changes: Round 16 Fremantle vs. St Kilda

[Paracleet]

I've said for a while that the running man numbers Sharp puts up is not actually something to use as a beacon that highlights his importance. It simply means other teams share the load, and we can also do the same thing with the right players. NOD comes into the side, and last week was the first I can remember that Sharp dropped off the tracker leaderboard.

Our leaders were Draper, Ryan, Clark. And all well below what Sharp had been running.

Sharp didn't played exclusively fatside last week for first time that I can recall. A number of players rotated through the position including NOD, Sharp himself and Ras started at least once centre bounce on the fatside wing. At the time I remember thinking this was bad news for Sharp unless he played really well. I forgot to post these thoughts so it would look prescient if and when he was dropped for this game.

Looks like we're going to try and rotate all but our main two mids through the position until Sharp lifts his game (or the alternative is working to their satisfaction).

 

[yakamoto]

Wingers kicking out on the full is part of the game plan for most teams. Makes it a bit more difficult for the opposition to counter attack through the central corridor.

 

[ubiquitous226]

Sharp didn't played exclusively fatside last week for first time that I can recall. A number of players rotated through the position including NOD, Sharp himself and Ras started at least once centre bounce on the fatside wing. At the time I remember thinking this was bad news for Sharp unless he played really well. I forgot to post these thoughts so it would look prescient if and when he was dropped for this game.

Looks like we're going to try and rotate all but our main two mids through the position until Sharp lifts his game (or the alternative is working to their satisfaction).

It was a big talking point for us at the game.
A) surprise someone else didn't fill that role because Sharp at HFF wasn't threatening, and
B) it was a big watch for how we'd structure this week

 

[yakamoto]

On reflection I don’t think Brad Hill kicks itOOTF too often. I wonder if his replacement will?

 

[Bender571]

OMac has played well when he’s been in. Draper hasn’t. Whatever speed Draper has has been non existent of late anyway

He's played well as a forward in his two games this year, but his half a game as a defender last year had two terrible turnovers.

 

[s_wd6]

He's played well as a forward in his two games this year, but his half a game as a defender last year had two terrible turnovers.

Yeah he was shit. But apparently played well in the WAFL as a defender last week which is more than you can say about Draper since he was dropped.

 

[eastfreo75]

Xerri averages 4.9 score involvements per game in 2025 with 4.3 score launches. Almost all of his involvement in scoring comes off a hitout or an intercept mark of which he averages 0.7 per game.

Against Fremantle he was:
-1.3 score launches (3)
-1.9 score involvements (3)

Same stat against WC. Back up to 4s again against Carlton. Zero involvement around the ground in moving the ball to goal outside of the ruck contest.

If your ruckman can average 5-7 score launches and 7-10 score involvements you're laughing.

Luke Jackson is 3.8 score launches, 6.8 score involvements.
Sean Darcy is 1.6 score launches, 2.1 score involvements.

Brilliant work.

 

[eastfreo75]

It isn't as if we haven't seen a fit Darcy in the best 3 on the ground. Some folk on this board have short memories. He might not be as dominant around the ground, but a fit and in form Darcy is a weapon. Our game plan revolves around stoppage dominance, I'm not sure why we'd want to give up one of the strongest tap ruckmen in the league. I wouldn't want Jackson rucking all game against the heavier units like Gawn, Xerri, Briggs and Meek. How would we feel if we traded away Darcy for a bag of magic beans and then Jacksons body starts to break down because it can't take being bashed into these brutes for a season.

I'd have a talk with Sean about how we'll have to manage his load going forward, given that his body has barely held up the last couple of seasons, we can extend, but it'll be at two thirds of your current wage, because we want to rest you one game in three.

I do agree that we shouldn't be playing Fyfe until he trusts his leg to kick 40m+.

Good load management for Rucks is so important.

 

[Wray27]

I like the changes. Omac deserves the recall, and Dudley was playing well before missing the last few weeks.
So much for Sharp and playing a role.....which everyone banged on about each week.

I think he was until NOD came back.
He was starting inside fwd 50 last week but not marking anyone. NOD was changing out to the fat side most stoppages. Sharps role last week was just weird

 

[Vintage]

reckon the best part of the changes is that we’ve won 5 in a row, yet all 3 changes were omissions - none due to injury! So MC thinks all 3 are upgrades.

 

[Spirit Level]

We're yet again in the abusive cycle of Banfield being seen as b22

 

[DragoDelph]

We're yet again in the abusive cycle of Banfield being seen as b22

Until walker or Simpson are available

 

[vidwhal]

Personally quite like the changes. I can imagine Banfield rotates through the wing too. Think he's been pretty good when winging it overall.
Think Dudley shouldn't have even been dropped unless I missed an injury or he was fatigued so I'm excited for his return and oMac, I'm also happy to see back in. Mature body with an underrated game imo.
Voss still in? Nice! Feel like he's got that third fwd spot locked in for now seeing as ruck choices aren't affecting him.
The team looks good

 

[E Shed]

Good changes. I would have played Aish over Banfield as he just seems a safer bet, always competent.
On form Fyfe should have been out too but I get that they want to try and nurse him back to form.
I wonder if he goes back to sub.

 

[Serongnthnks4allthefish]

The changes seem good, and if anything improve the team. Now just win and get revenge against Ross.

 

[DragoDelph]

Good changes. I would have played Aish over Banfield as he just seems a safer bet, always competent.
On form Fyfe should have been out too but I get that they want to try and nurse him back to form.
I wonder if he goes back to sub.

Fully expect he will go back to sub.

 

[332docker]

Fully expect he will go back to sub.

I hope we get no injuries and he can be subbed out

 

[Ghost Pig]

I fear the bench is too one paced?

 

[bruzaar62]

Personally quite like the changes. I can imagine Banfield rotates through the wing too. Think he's been pretty good when winging it overall.
Think Dudley shouldn't have even been dropped unless I missed an injury or he was fatigued so I'm excited for his return and oMac, I'm also happy to see back in. Mature body with an underrated game imo.
Voss still in? Nice! Feel like he's got that third fwd spot locked in for now seeing as ruck choices aren't affecting him.
The team looks good

Dudley wasn’t dropped he went back to SA for personal reasons (funeral) - think he was away for a couple of weeks

 

[anchor man]

Yeah he was shit. But apparently played well in the WAFL as a defender last week which is more than you can say about Draper since he was dropped.

Difference between WAFL and AFL.
W shall see how he goes at AFL level.

 

[freoextra]

We're yet again in the abusive cycle of Banfield being seen as b22

Ha, Come on, his best 22 position is a holding one until the return of Young, JOM, Walker.

But Banfield has done a good job and shown great versatility, just needs to lose that one shocking error in every last quarter that always costs a goal.

He was also never being dropped for a Starlight game either!

 

[mattis117]

Grundy is BOG right now, so we need Darcy at his best next week.

 

[freoextra]

Good changes. I would have played Aish over Banfield as he just seems a safer bet, always competent.
On form Fyfe should have been out too but I get that they want to try and nurse him back to form.
I wonder if he goes back to sub.

Think the plan is for another full game (at least) before going back to sub. Hopefully he can apply plenty of body on any pesky tagger.

 

[sdfc]

Fyfe had some good moments last week in among the terrible stuff like the ball going through his legs. Looks low on confidence.

 

[eastfreo75]

Ha, Come on, his best 22 position is a holding one until the return of Young, JOM, Walker.

But Banfield has done a good job and shown great versatility, just needs to lose that one shocking error in every last quarter that always costs a goal.

He was also never being dropped for a Starlight game either!

Banfield seems to have one or two unforced errors per goal that either in a goal against or stops us from scoring.

Needs to go