Preview Round 2 v Gold Coast MCG Saturday March 21st 1.15pm - Sonsie In For McAuliffe

[prodigy]

I share the concerns of others when it comes to fielding all of Taranto, Hopper, Ross and Prestia in the same midfield.
It doesn't work. They are going to light us up out of the middle as Witts will put it on a platter for their mids.

 

[The Vaucluse]

You’d be shanking your head if you’re Sonsie. We had the second worst midfield in 2025 against any metric, and we continue to play the same souls.

The argument that we need to protect and educate the young players is redundant, as we only have one player under 20 running through the middle.

There’s no integrity to our selection process.

 

[Coach_Required]

I share the concerns of others when it comes to fielding all of Taranto, Hopper, Ross and Prestia in the same midfield.
It doesn't work. They are going to light us up out of the middle as Witts will put it on a platter for their mids.

Frustrating thing is we all see it, so what exactly are our coaches seeing? We need a couple of our "100% pro-team decisions" posters here to explain why it's the best option.

 

[Groupie_]

You’d be shanking your head if you’re Sonsie. We had the second worst midfield in 2025 against any metric, and we continue to play the same souls.

The argument that we need to protect and educate the young players is redundant, as we only have one player under 20 running through the middle.

There’s no integrity to our selection process.

dafaq is spudsie gonna do

 

[Coach_Required]

You’d be shanking your head if you’re Sonsie. We had the second worst midfield in 2025 against any metric, and we continue to play the same souls.

The argument that we need to protect and educate the young players is redundant, as we only have one player under 20 running through the middle.

There’s no integrity to our selection process.

Things will only change once were 0-6 and by then we would have lost a months worth of development. This isn't just a Sonsie thing either for those that don't rate him, it's the whole list.

Ralphsmith - fails every week
McAuliffe - getting played on wing
Alger - not even close to getting a crack at it but Rioli gets picked every week
Fawcett - perfect replacement for Faull to get a crack

 

[Madtiger2006]

We’ll win this. Write it down

 

[Serenitylater]

I feel Mcaulife and Hopper really lucky to still be in side. I’d like to know the reasonings for dropping Gibcus.

 

[Coach_Required]

I feel Mcaulife and Hopper really lucky to still be in side. I’d like to know the reasonings for dropping Gibcus.

Would be better if we actually developed McAuliffe in the guts instead of trying to turn him into a winger just so we can keep Hopper in the side and the club still trying to save face 3 years after the disaster trade.

 

[59Stanley]

Feasible this is hoppers last game for a couple of months until the game slows down mid year.
Gibbo needs to find confidence because he is bereft of it at present.
Fawcett should be in and mark my words Mykelti will be out of the game by quarter time with a soft tissue injury.
Sonsie needs to dominate the vfl this week and will come in for Hugo the following week

 

[Truetiger]

We’ll win this. Write it down

If so confident, want to put a permanent ban on the result Didn’t think so. Just hope we are competitive.

 

[voorhees]

We’ll win this. Write it down

we wont come ever remotely close

 

[Truetiger]

we wont come ever remotely close

Incorrect. We start equal. That means we are at some stage in the game lol. As i said it’s not so much about the margin more the individual and small positives we can take from the game. See how we go

 

[Black Saab]

we wont come ever remotely close

Only supporting this club through the 1990s could stain this type of confidence into the bones.

Up the Tigers!

 

[The_Kraken]

no issues for me

Are you feeling ok, mate?

 

[Groupie_]

Are you feeling ok, mate?

apart from hugo and hopper, im fine

might be the vb mids

 

[cairo tiger]

bewlidering selection of prestia. Is it his farewell game or somethin? geez the slowest nidfield in the league got slower. why no tap? mcaulffie in middle and bring in retschenko or whatever he is called.

 

[richoplzbreed]

wouldn't be suprised if Petracca racks up another 3 brownlow votes.
pure fire the last 2 weeks, God knows who can cover him or slow him down.

Ross should get the job and rotate Mcauliffe on him too.. Need to shut him down and without Rowell their midfield depth isn't there yet. I'll spew if he's left to run free and has 20 and 2 goals at 1/2 time because "we don't tag". We're probably gonna get pumped regardless though cos their kiids have been getting plenty of games together for a few years now. Ours cant get on the paddock.

 

[TRUMAN#1]

Sucks the Hopper is named. should never play in the same side as Taranto.

he should play Only ever if we have a lot of others injured.

 

[Michaels]

I’m really surprised at how many people think Gibcus is unlucky.

Same as why I thought he shouldn’t have played last week, there isn’t an adequate match up for him vs Gold Coast.

King = Balta
Read = Miller

All their forwards are mediums or smalls who will be far too nimble for someone of his size.

Lombard, Humphrey, Miller, Long are not great match ups for Gibcus.

I’d say it has less to do with him as a player and more to do with team balance and no obvious matchup for him.

 

[docko911]

You’d be shanking your head if you’re Sonsie. We had the second worst midfield in 2025 against any metric, and we continue to play the same souls.

The argument that we need to protect and educate the young players is redundant, as we only have one player under 20 running through the middle.

There’s no integrity to our selection process.

Shaking his head because he’s missing out on the opportunities he could be getting at Coburg?

No other AFL club wanted Sonsie or he would have got offers. He can thank his lucky stars Dow got injured when he did and Rosas chose Sydney.

 

[docko911]

I’m really surprised at how many people think Gibcus is unlucky.

Same as why I thought he shouldn’t have played last week, there isn’t an adequate match up for him vs Gold Coast.

King = Balta
Read = Miller

All their forwards are mediums or smalls who will be far too nimble for someone of his size.

Lombard, Humphrey, Miller, Long are not great match ups for Gibcus.

I’d say it has less to do with him as a player and more to do with team balance and no obvious matchup for him.

Now we’ve got the selection decision I think they took the opportunity with Vlastuin out to give him a build up to AFL level across preseason and round 1.

He’s now got the reminder of what is required for AFL level and can work his backside off in the VFL to get back to that level.

 

[Tiger1974]

Haven't looked at the stats but feels like we aren't even a young side. Not wanting to b a Melb or Carlton in no man's land. Would rather play more teens.

 

[The Vaucluse]

Shaking his head because he’s missing out on the opportunities he could be getting at Coburg?

No other AFL club wanted Sonsie or he would have got offers. He can thank his lucky stars Dow got injured when he did and Rosas chose Sydney.

I’m no fan of Sonsie, but given the players who are unavailable, he’s still a better option in the middle than Hopper.

 

[Bojangles17]

Kelti needs to make a statement and smash some packs and I mean smash em. Certainly has the whiff of a danger game , go get em tigers

 

[Bojangles17]

Haven't looked at the stats but feels like we aren't even a young side. Not wanting to b a Melb or Carlton in no man's land. Would rather play more teens.

Can’t make a case for keeping gib and gray in the team