Preview Semi Final: Changes vs. Hawthorn

[brucetiki]

All info about the match, including tickets, barcode/ticket requests can be found via our Finals Hub

Resource - Adelaide Board Finals Hub - PLEASE PUT ALL REQUESTS/OFFERS FOR BARCODES/TICKETS HERE

Welcome to the Adelaide Board's Finals Hub. All you need to know about our upcoming Finals matches can be found here! Semi Final: Adelaide v TBA, Friday 12 September, 7:10pm Adelaide Oval Ticketing Info: https://www.afc.com.au/club/finalshub2025 Ticket info will be updated via the above link...

www.bigfooty.com

A reminder that the sharing of barcodes is at your own risk and we won’t be responsible for any misuse of barcodes.

 

[SugarShane]

Rash confirmed as in.

I’m in the minority. He’s underdone and I think it will backfire. Hope I’m wrong.

Given a full game, I'd bet on an underdone Rachele getting more of it than a fit Taylor (for example).

 

[fossilllCrow]

Rash confirmed as in.

I’m in the minority. He’s underdone and I think it will backfire. Hope I’m wrong.

If we had a decent small fwd playing already I would agree

 

[fossilllCrow]

If we had a decent small fwd playing already I would agree

Plus if we win it gets him 10% more fit for the prelim and then the granny hehe

 

[Golumless]

Rash confirmed as in.

I’m in the minority. He’s underdone and I think it will backfire. Hope I’m wrong.

As long as he doesn't get an LTI, it backfiring doesn't change much from using a Cook/Murphy/Max as a forward. Maybe Pedlar too, if last week was just a false dawn and he reverts back to 2025 form (though, I hope not).

Adelaide had to gamble as Rach is an elite talent, and we really lack that spark without Rankine in a tight game. I'm glad we did.

Beyond that, it's replace Bond with Max and it's a perfect selection week. Hugh has a future, but that's for next year.

 

[SLOWNE]

I'd go:

OUT:
Smith - Not offering a lot
Bond - Max is better

IN:
Dowling - versatile, can find the goals
Rash - Worth the punt in a do or die

Sub: Dowling or Rash

Too many defenders last week, if the mids are getting smashed we need to change something. Dowling adds a lever.

We have so many advantages heading into this game, it will make me puke if we drop it. We need a lot more from Berry and Peatling, you're not winning many games where 2 of your starting mids combine for 21 touches.

Can someone actually be accountable for Impey or Amon? Can someone stop pension age Gunston?

 

[bigman]

If Borlase plays that's evidence they want early holidays.

Actually might’ve gotten that one wrong. Thought I saw him but may have been another player, hats and singlets can make it a little tricky at times.

Murphy trained too, so wouldn’t worry.

 

[Slim258]

Actually might’ve gotten that one wrong. Thought I saw him but may have been another player, hats and singlets can make it a little tricky at times.

Murphy trained too, so wouldn’t worry.

I imagine this 26/27 is our finals squad.

 

[Scorpus]

Things I don't want to see this week

• Going down the line every time instead of switching and opening up the ground
• Midfield not working hard to provide outlets
• Tall forwards leading to the same spot
• Senior players calling for the ball inside 50 in worse positions
• Senior players taking shots on goal from outside 50 when they can't make the distance
• Anyone in the team attempting a shot from inside the center square when there are free players inside 50
• Passing the ball to worse positions inside 50 instead of taking the shot
• Midfielders holding onto the ball and getting caught instead of taking the first outlet pass
• Midfielders not looking laterally to find our wings
• O'Brien trying to mark the ball inside 50 in the same spot as our other tall forwards
• Defenders leaving damaging midfielders free inside 50 to take shots on goal
• Fogarty running around the man on the mark to have a snap instead of taking the set shot drop punt
• Attempting long high inside 50s from the wing instead of lowering the eyes and finding better passes inside 50
• Nine defenders selected
• The sub being a player we are oversupplied with, limiting our flexibility to make changes during the game
• Murphy being selected or named as an emergency when we have a fully fit squad
• Not tagging any dominant player on the ground
• Berry and Peatling getting below 15 disposals again
• Michalanney playing forward
• Making no tactical change to stop the dominance of intercepting defenders
• Keane conceding a free kick or getting suspended from a stupid action
• Not providing finals level pressure from the opening bounce

 

[FR0GGY]

Things I don't want to see this week

• Going down the line every time instead of switching and opening up the ground
• Midfield not working hard to provide outlets
• Tall forwards leading to the same spot
• Senior players calling for the ball inside 50 in worse positions
• Senior players taking shots on goal from outside 50 when they can't make the distance
• Anyone in the team attempting a shot from inside the center square when there are free players inside 50
• Passing the ball to worse positions inside 50 instead of taking the shot
• Midfielders holding onto the ball and getting caught instead of taking the first outlet pass
• Midfielders not looking laterally to find our wings
• O'Brien trying to mark the ball inside 50 in the same spot as our other tall forwards
• Defenders leaving damaging midfielders free inside 50 to take shots on goal
• Fogarty running around the man on the mark to have a snap instead of taking the set shot drop punt
• Attempting long high inside 50s from the wing instead of lowering the eyes and finding better passes inside 50
• Nine defenders selected
• The sub being a player we are oversupplied with, limiting our flexibility to make changes during the game
• Murphy being selected or named as an emergency when we have a fully fit squad
• Not tagging any dominant player on the ground
• Berry and Peatling getting below 15 disposals again
• Michalanney playing forward
• Making no tactical change to stop the dominance of intercepting defenders
• Keane conceding a free kick or getting suspended from a stupid action
• Not providing finals level pressure from the opening bounce

No 1 thing that I don't want to see for me, is a loss

 

[skam85]

Of course it is.

I'm well aware. Just shocked Jenny would make that insinuation.

 

[Slim258]

Things I don't want to see this week

• Going down the line every time instead of switching and opening up the ground
• Midfield not working hard to provide outlets
• Tall forwards leading to the same spot
• Senior players calling for the ball inside 50 in worse positions
• Senior players taking shots on goal from outside 50 when they can't make the distance
• Anyone in the team attempting a shot from inside the center square when there are free players inside 50
• Passing the ball to worse positions inside 50 instead of taking the shot
• Midfielders holding onto the ball and getting caught instead of taking the first outlet pass
• Midfielders not looking laterally to find our wings
• O'Brien trying to mark the ball inside 50 in the same spot as our other tall forwards
• Defenders leaving damaging midfielders free inside 50 to take shots on goal
• Fogarty running around the man on the mark to have a snap instead of taking the set shot drop punt
• Attempting long high inside 50s from the wing instead of lowering the eyes and finding better passes inside 50
• Nine defenders selected
• The sub being a player we are oversupplied with, limiting our flexibility to make changes during the game
• Murphy being selected or named as an emergency when we have a fully fit squad
• Not tagging any dominant player on the ground
• Berry and Peatling getting below 15 disposals again
• Michalanney playing forward
• Making no tactical change to stop the dominance of intercepting defenders
• Keane conceding a free kick or getting suspended from a stupid action
• Not providing finals level pressure from the opening bounce

Add in:

• Forward pushing so high up at the ground that on turnover and transition we have no inside our forward half to kick to
• Letting Sicily sit one back and behind play to intercept every forward entry

 

[skam85]

Hawthorn are not a standard 8th ranked side, they could have finished 3rd heading into the final game (which they lost by 10 points) and finished with 15 wins. They weren't scraping into the top 8 like most other 8th ranked sides are and beat the majority of teams in the top 8. Brisbane would have finished 8th if they lost that final game.

Quite clearly every team in the 8 can beat each other on their day and that's been shown with results all season.

Saying this over and over doesn't change it.

They finished 8th. They didn't win enough, by enough to finish higher. They're the 8th placed team

 

[skam85]

Newcombe was out of form or carrying something, he’s firing now

Weddle back is massive. He's the kind of player that can be very damaging against us

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

I can only see one change to the 23.

In - Rachele

Out - Smith? Bond? Taylor? Hinge?

It will depend on our preferred match ups. Do we use Max and Bondy on Ginnivan and Watson? If yes than Smith out and Hinge sub. I would retain Taylor but I am a Taylor fan.

Dowling a long shot for the Sub but didn’t demand selection last Sunday.

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

I can only see one change to the 23.

In - Rachele

Out - Smith? Bond? Taylor? Hinge?

It will depend on our preferred match ups. Do we use Max and Bondy on Ginnivan and Watson? If yes than Smith out and Hinge sub. I would retain Taylor but I am a Taylor fan.

Dowling a long shot for the Sub but didn’t demand selection last Sunday.

It’s Bond, that’s been confirmed from a few journos

 

[davos44]

I'd go:

OUT:
Smith - Not offering a lot
Bond - Max is better

IN:
Dowling - versatile, can find the goals
Rash - Worth the punt in a do or die

Sub: Dowling or Rash

Too many defenders last week, if the mids are getting smashed we need to change something. Dowling adds a lever.

We have so many advantages heading into this game, it will make me puke if we drop it. We need a lot more from Berry and Peatling, you're not winning many games where 2 of your starting mids combine for 21 touches.

Can someone actually be accountable for Impey or Amon? Can someone stop pension age Gunston?

I actually think Nankervis could offer something a bit different, perhaps at the expense of Hinge. He has been aggressive in the SANFL and didn't just bomb the ball.

 

[Rotayjay]

Can anyone here put their hand on heart and honestly say they're confident of us beating the Hawks? Odds for them are getting shorter and shorter, they will probably be faves by game time.

My heart told me the Pies were a 55% chance last week, and telling me we are a 55% chance this time. I'm not confident. I think it being at home, the likelihood of a response and it being a 1st-vs-8th clash just tips it in our favour.

 

[Betts are off]

TBH, I don't really care if Rachele is underdone. We looked so 1 paced and devoid of flare last week. I don't care if he plays exclusively in the goalsquare all game long, we need his spark in the forward line.

Like him or not, Rachele is a big game player. Loves the big moment, plays better in front of a loud crowd, wants to take the pressure kick.

He's 100% the kind of player you want in your side for a final.

 

[DJ75]

Rachele for Bond seems the only change. Maybe Dowling for Smith as sub.

So just doubling down on the too many defenders plan. Bold choice.

 

[Peter Doherty]

 

[DJ75]

I'd go:

OUT:
Smith - Not offering a lot
Bond - Max is better

IN:
Dowling - versatile, can find the goals
Rash - Worth the punt in a do or die

Sub: Dowling or Rash

Too many defenders last week, if the mids are getting smashed we need to change something. Dowling adds a lever.

We have so many advantages heading into this game, it will make me puke if we drop it. We need a lot more from Berry and Peatling, you're not winning many games where 2 of your starting mids combine for 21 touches.

Can someone actually be accountable for Impey or Amon? Can someone stop pension age Gunston?

Cannot put Worrell on Gunston. We will, but we absolutely should not.
Will be a bad match up for us.

 

[Peter Doherty]

Nicks confirmed 1 change.

 

[Cromulant]

So just doubling down on the too many defenders plan. Bold choice.

Laird will play midfield, that pretty much confirms it.

Or at least part of the rotation if he doesnt start in there

 

[dogs105]

Nicks confirmed 1 change

Rachele for a defender you'd think?

Need to match up on Ginnivan and the Wizard tosser, so Max and Bond? Maybe Smith or Hinge to drop out? Hinge has been in a dreadful hole recently.

 

[SugarShane]

Things I don't want to see this week

• Going down the line every time instead of switching and opening up the ground
• Midfield not working hard to provide outlets
• Tall forwards leading to the same spot
• Senior players calling for the ball inside 50 in worse positions
• Senior players taking shots on goal from outside 50 when they can't make the distance
• Anyone in the team attempting a shot from inside the center square when there are free players inside 50
• Passing the ball to worse positions inside 50 instead of taking the shot
• Midfielders holding onto the ball and getting caught instead of taking the first outlet pass
• Midfielders not looking laterally to find our wings
• O'Brien trying to mark the ball inside 50 in the same spot as our other tall forwards
• Defenders leaving damaging midfielders free inside 50 to take shots on goal
• Fogarty running around the man on the mark to have a snap instead of taking the set shot drop punt
• Attempting long high inside 50s from the wing instead of lowering the eyes and finding better passes inside 50
• Nine defenders selected
• The sub being a player we are oversupplied with, limiting our flexibility to make changes during the game
• Murphy being selected or named as an emergency when we have a fully fit squad
• Not tagging any dominant player on the ground
• Berry and Peatling getting below 15 disposals again
• Michalanney playing forward
• Making no tactical change to stop the dominance of intercepting defenders
• Keane conceding a free kick or getting suspended from a stupid action
• Not providing finals level pressure from the opening bounce

I'll add:

• Handballing backwards when there is not a single player between you and the goals.
• Receiving a 50m penalty and kicking it 10m after only taking 20 of those metres.