Preview Semi Final: Changes vs. Hawthorn

[brucetiki]

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[dogs105]

What did you think of Nicks selection and coaching last week?

I didn't like it

 

[thebirdman 24]

God the Adelaide media is embarrassing.

So lame.

On a serious note has anyone checked if we are allowed to boo him tomorrow?

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

Defenders:
Worrell
Murray
Keane
Milera
Laird
Hinge
Max M

Bond
Smith

I imagine that the 7 listed above are the 7 we will go with, as it's what we have used most of the season (personally I'd play Bond ahead of Hinge who is terrible).

It means we need to drop 2 defenders - Bond and Smith.

If we do play Laird midfield (terrible decision) then we could keep Bond. BUT it leaves us too defender heavy yet again.
Keeping Smith as a sub (which looks likely given we didn't hold any of the mids out of the SANFL game) compounds the problem.

Personally I'd go:
OUT: Hinge, Smith
IN: Rachele, Dowling

I'm putting Max M on Gunston. Bond on Moore. Dowling sub. Makes us much more flexible. IF we need laird in midfield, then we can push Cumming into defence (his best position).

If Nicks isn't completely cooked he should go:
OUT: Bond, Smith
IN: Rachele, Dowling

If he is completely cooked, he will do something stupid like:
OUT: Bond
IN: Rachele

Wait, you're raging off who the sub is (Smith or Dowling)?

 

[DJ75]

Wait, you're raging off who the sub is (Smith or Dowling)?

I'm questioning whether Nicks has learnt that he went into last weeks game with far too many defenders, or if he is going to double down on it. We had two more defenders in the squad last week than we needed.

 

[Ciao Giacomo]

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

We and every other team play 7 defenders each week. Last week Max was chosen as a forward, not my preference, yes a bold move.

The second question is whether we play a defender as the Sub.
Sadly we have hardly uncovered a super-sub this year. My preference would be to use a midfielder but Draper, Jones, Schoenberg and Nankervis have had little impact as sub (or as a member of the 22). Imho, we need a sub that has speed and I suspect that Brodie is as close as it gets.

 

[Thrillthorpe7]

I'm questioning whether Nicks has learnt that he went into last weeks game with far too many defenders, or if he is going to double down on it. We had two more defenders in the squad last week than we needed.

Bond is going out for Rachele, why do you care so much about the sub? Smith was the sub against the Hawks last time and has done it a few times this year, it's not really any different to how we've operated most of the season.

 

[BRL121]

- Hitting the ball with your head in a ruck contest when you are a ruckman

I know you are exaggerating for effect, but he did have his arms pinned: no free?

 

[Redline]

Problem? We have one injury and suspension. This is close to the best team we've fielded all season bar Rankine.

Yep, our depth isn't very good and I don't think you could pick any of the potential ins without a similar risk to Rachele. A lot of the issue has been development with guys like Draper and Dowling.

A player like Cook didn't touch the ball in a whole half of football not that long ago. I'd rather take a risk on Rachele.

 

[Crow till I die]

So I am wanting to see the following from the 1st bounce tomorrow night

1. Keays goes straight to Impey and has a remit to not just shadow him but work him really hard going the other way - make his night a misery
2. One of our key forwards to line up right next to Sicily and not let him snaffle 15 intercept marks like Moore did last week.
3. Michalanney to start in defence

 

[MrBarry]

Cups aren't given out in the minor round. Beating up on shit teams, what an achievement.

I mean we did beat Hawthorn, Collingwood, Brisbane, GWS and Gold Coast this year.

 

[jamesclean]

So I am wanting to see the following from the 1st bounce tomorrow night

1. Keays goes straight to Impey and has a remit to not just shadow him but work him really hard going the other way - make his night a misery
2. One of our key forwards to line up right next to Sicily and not let him snaffle 15 intercept marks like Moore did last week.
3. Michalanney to start in defence

can I just say you have probably unlocked the most hectic avatar/signature setup I've ever seen

 

[George CantStandYa]

Bond is going out for Rachele, why do you care so much about the sub? Smith was the sub against the Hawks last time and has done it a few times this year, it's not really any different to how we've operated most of the season.

So you don’t care about the sub? The bloke with an early injury might play a full final or if we chose well, provide us flexibility and a spark? Strange post BACCS.

By the way, what did you think of Nick’s selection and coaching last week?

 

[TheLeftFist8]

what confirms it is that Nicks said one change. So Smith stays in, as sub, and Laird is moved into the middle when the sub is activated. Pretty simple I would have thought

Or Smith comes onto wing and we can move Curtin into the middle.

 

[GreyCrow]

Or Smith comes onto wing and we can move Curtin into the middle.

If Laird is the spoken option there is no way Curtin is going in

 

[LoBu]

Rash confirmed as in.

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

We need to put time in so he can play the prelim, it doesn't work if we don't play him.

Also I think it was Bartel who said you can throw the dice on one underdone player but not two, in a finals. His example was either GWS player Stringer or Hogan, but they shouldn't have played both Stringer and Hogan last week vs Hawks.

 

[Cromulant]

What on earth confirmed that? MM will just go back and replace Bond, Smith is sub. It's back to the same structure we had most of the season.

8 defenders in the squad, if we got with Smith as the sub...... again.

 

[Cromulant]

Rash confirmed as in.

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

How could it possibly backfire ??

Theres no one else we could bring in outside of Murphy. Even if Rash lasts a half he'll be better than that.

 

[Redline]

If Sicily lines up on Tex, I hope we've got a way to try send someone to him when Hawks are looking to attack. I back Tex to be damaging offensively but am worried about the damage Sicily can have - similar to Moore last week on Tex.

Our panic dumping was the killer but if we do that, hoping we can find a way to be more accountable for it.

It's a good point. Sicily had a huge game against us and set up a heap of play and was all over Tex.

While people lauded Tex's goals in the last quarter, it was only once the Hawks rolled the dice to win the game and left him unattended.

Big test for Nick's

 

[GreyCrow]

How could it possibly backfire ??

Theres no one else we could bring in outside of Murphy. Even if Rash lasts a half he'll be better than that.

Could he have played SANFL?

 

[brucetiki]

Could he have played SANFL?

For whom?

 

[GreyCrow]

For whom?

Adelaide played Norwood on Sunday 7th September

 

[dogs105]

Adelaide played Norwood on Sunday 7th September

5 day break probably not good either. Could have played a half perhaps?

 

[GreyCrow]

5 day break probably not good either. Could have played a half perhaps?

Thats my thinking

Nicks mentioned how Max said he struggled a bit - just figure a run in the ressies might have helped Max and might help Rachele

 

[WeeBlake]

Season is delicately poised. Before Rankine it was lots of wind and pretty good vibes all round, but our form has gone to shit for the last month and the vibes are now pretty somber and sour.

If we beat the Hawks, I think we will come into the off-season ok, with some positivity, even if we lose the prelim.

If we don’t, the ‘straight sets exit’ and ‘failed in finals as minor premiers’ will be added to all the other sour vibes and I would genuinely worry about a 2018 season next year.

 

[Banrock]

What did you think of Nicks selection and coaching last week?

Our midfield was getting badly beaten.

People complain that Nicks is to ridged and doesn't make in game changes. He makes 'said' changes and complaints are made.

He is damned if he does and damned if he doesnt. No pleasing some.

I think Nicks definitely has his flaws but he also has some good traits.