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Preview R22: Changes vs. West Coast Eagles

Do you think Crouch returns to the first choice 22 this season?


  • Total voters
    5
  • Poll closed .

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There's a depressing thought in my mind where we're insane enough to be trying to preserve his Rising Star chances for next season noting he's currently on 9 games.

Surely not ...
Tbh the idea that we're forcing next year to be a rookie year is my worry.

We're knee deep in a premiership window. Draper up to speed by finals next year could be worth a flag.
 
Just when I think we have stopped the stupid selections, we revert to type.

Why do we keep going back to Pedlar? He's becoming Murphy at this point where he is getting selected despite little to no output.
Schoenberg is being delisted. Why bother?

How are we not getting Draper in? Or Nankervis? Or Dowling? - in that order.

We would benefit MUCH more by exposing them now in case we need them in a few weeks.

Just feels like another narrow minded selection.
 

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You'd be wrong.....
Disagree. Draper offers something we don't have and something we have been desperately searching for. He could provide what we keep hoping Pedlar will do (and has consistently shown he can't).
I suspect that Brisbane and Geelong are a level above us, but if we catch some luck on the way through, we might be close enough to steal a premiership.
Draper is the sort of guy that could catch fire and swing a game. He's the sort that could do something explosive and brilliant. You need those in finals.
 
Disagree. Draper offers something we don't have and something we have been desperately searching for. He could provide what we keep hoping Pedlar will do (and has consistently shown he can't).
I suspect that Brisbane and Geelong are a level above us, but if we catch some luck on the way through, we might be close enough to steal a premiership.
Draper is the sort of guy that could catch fire and swing a game. He's the sort that could do something explosive and brilliant. You need those in finals.
If we are relying on a first year player to provide us the difference in finals, we aren't as close as we think we are.
 
This is probably the only role I want for him at AFL level.

Traveling emergency in case someone pulls a hammy in warmups. He can then move to SUB.
And we don’t sub him on
 
If we are relying on a first year player to provide us the difference in finals, we aren't as close as we think we are.
He only has to be better than the player he replaces for it to be of immediate benefit?
Can he be better than pedlar, jones or Taylor, I’d say thats very achievable.
 
He only has to be better than the player he replaces for it to be of immediate benefit?
Can he be better than pedlar, jones or Taylor, I’d say thats very achievable.
Pedlar in current form yes, maybe the other 2. Though Taylor was very good in the last 10 minutes last week.

I'd love to see him picked, dont get me wrong. I just dont think he makes a huge different.
 
Pedlar in current form yes, maybe the other 2. Though Taylor was very good in the last 10 minutes last week.

I'd love to see him picked, dont get me wrong. I just dont think he makes a huge different.
Not suggesting a huge difference but I can’t see any downside.
 
If we are relying on a first year player to provide us the difference in finals, we aren't as close as we think we are.

Yeah its not like a first year player has had any impact on a final series in recent times - you know apart from Logan Morris in 2024, Nick Daicos in 2023, Jake Bowey in 2021, Marlion Picket 2019.
 
Good that Tex doesn't travel. Will mean he has essentially not been on a plane since the Bulldogs game on the 12th of July. Which means his first flight will be round 24 against the Roos on the 23rd of Aug (43 days).

And in the event of us getting 2 home finals, may not travel again, or best case scenario, will travel again for GF week.

Enjoy it Tex, this is the closest you'll ever get to knowing what the VIC bias schedule feels like.
 

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I wonder if Draper is just gasping for the line a bit. His last 2 years he had some fairly serious injuries that hampered his preparation, and he's played his first full season of senior football.

He wouldn't be the first player that is slowing towards the end of his first season.
Thats pretty much exactly what it would be.
 
As opposed to Draper who struggled early in this season ??

Yep thats apples v apples for sure.

What about Simon Goodwin?

Played round 1. Then played 5 games between rd 14 and round 18. Averaged 9 dispsosals a game.

Came in and played all 4 of our finals and had a very positive impact. Only 5 players had more touches than him in the Grand Final.

The point is - he absolutely could make a big impact in the finals. Guy is crazy talented. Would much rather have him in the side for the finals than Cook, Jones and Taylor.
 
What about Simon Goodwin?

Played round 1. Then played 5 games between rd 14 and round 18. Averaged 9 dispsosals a game.

Came in and played all 4 of our finals and had a very positive impact. Only 5 players had more touches than him in the Grand Final.

The point is - he absolutely could make a big impact in the finals. Guy is crazy talented. Would much rather have him in the side for the finals than Cook, Jones and Taylor.
Taylor has the composure under pressure the others, including Draper dont have. You only have to watch what he did last week to see it.

Given we should see Rachele (hopefully) and Max back in at the business end, there wont be much room if any, for those 3 guys.

Maybe..... just maybe, a sub role.
 

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I wonder if Draper is just gasping for the line a bit. His last 2 years he had some fairly serious injuries that hampered his preparation, and he's played his first full season of senior football.

He wouldn't be the first player that is slowing towards the end of his first season.
His SANFL stats don't look like it
 
His SANFL stats don't look like it
Yeah, I mean they are fine. Relatively consistent as well which is a tick. Its probably more how he looks getting them as the season grinds along.

The question is how's his burst and run/carry look at this stage of the season? Can he still explode out of stoppages/contests? And has he improved in getting through arm tackles yet? Those physical observations are probably going to be more of an indication of how he's holding up then raw stats for a young fulltime SANFL mid for me.

And i'm genuinely asking, I haven't seen enough SANFL to comment definitively. Its just a theory
 
Does anyone hold out hope for shoey to still work out? Would be an amazing story. Feels like he might have finally matured and realised the hard work it takes to make it. Has been really good at sanfl . Maybe not a popular view but I’d love to see him work out. What a bonus they would be. Don’t lump him with Murphy. Never had the chances he’s had
 
Taylor has the composure under pressure the others, including Draper dont have. You only have to watch what he did last week to see it.

He did a couple of nice things, but let's not act like he was in our top 18 players. He was better than Peatling, Jones and Cook against the Hawks.

You think Sid lacks composure? I haven't seen that in his limited AFL gametime.

Taylor doesn't kick goals, doesn't tackle. Sid has played 2 full(ish) games and 7 as the sub and has 3 goals and 22 takcles. Taylor has played 12 games for 2 goals and 27 tackles.


Given we should see Rachele (hopefully) and Max back in at the business end, there wont be much room if any, for those 3 guys.

Maybe..... just maybe, a sub role.

Our Finals Team should look like this if we are 100% healthy:

B: Woz Murray Max
B Laird Keane Milera
C Curtin Dawson Cumming
HF Walker FOG Keays
F Rachele TT Rankine
FOLL: ROB Peatling Soligo

IC - Hinge, Berry, ANB, Draper

S - Pick on the day from Jones, Taylor, Pedlar.
 

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Preview R22: Changes vs. West Coast Eagles

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