Prediction Round 8: Changes Vs Hawks + prematch discussion

[Snuffaluphagus]

 

[trentjac]

Feel for willo. He is so clearly above WAFL level but can't even get a look in somehow.

JL didn’t like this photo and wanted to teach him a lesson

 

[rgauci]

I don’t really care for Sturt being dropped. He makes way for Treacy and we finally get to see my preferred set up of Treacy, Jackson and Amiss.

I can’t understand how Brodie and Wilson will sit in the WAFL while Banfield, Hughes, Aish can dish up the shit they delivered last week and get away with it.

Aish has been particularly atrocious. He got absolutely dominated the last few weeks and he’s a senior player out there offering no resistance. He had 3 goals kicked on him by the no name winger in the Bulldogs game and last week he was a wonderful step ladder for [PLAYERCARD]Josh Dunkley[/PLAYERCARD]. Beyond that he was non-existent.

 

[Joao]

View attachment 1678192
JL didn’t like this photo and wanted to teach him a lesson

Now we know why Banners never gets dropped. His portrait is leagues ahead.

 

[StingBitten]

As a club we are just forever behind the 8-ball, conservative and bland.

If it was a regular business people would take more exciting opportunities at the big Victorian clubs.

 

[Lach72]

Feel for willo. He is so clearly above WAFL level but can't even get a look in somehow.

he was actually playing well too…I’d be pissed

 

[kuhni]

Isn't dropping a forward into the mids the Collingwood game plan we all love?

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

My question to all the Sturt backers is why they can afford to use this excuse for him but dismiss it for any others they don't support.

Yes, the delivery into forward line has been atrocious this year and that the ball spends so much time in the defensive half that by the time it comes out all the forwards are out of position

In the first few games all blame was on the forwards. It's only lately the spotlight was in mids and defense

Most of us have been all after the forwards and mids since round 1, not sure what board you have been following.

Banfield and Hughes have both been abysmal all season.

 

[freo_leo29]

This is going to be such an embarrassing loss if it pans out that way

 

[freo_leo29]

My question to all the Sturt backers is why they can afford to use this excuse for him but dismiss it for any others they don't support.

Yes, the delivery into forward line has been atrocious this year and that the ball spends so much time in the defensive half that by the time it comes out all the forwards are out of position

In the first few games all blame was on the forwards. It's only lately the spotlight was in mids and defense

You're missing the point that Sturt was in a 3 game stretch in a 5 game career from 5 injury marred years

He needs to be given opportunity while he is fit so we can know whether to persist

The reason people are coming at Banfield is not only that he has had a longer stretch this year with middling performance, he also has done it for multiple years now.

Go back 3 years ago and people were calling for Banfield into the team, the problem is he is a known quantity now, Sturt isn't

 

[Purple Jesus]

This is going to be such an embarrassing loss if it pans out that way

Lol this attitude though.

 

[wakojako]

It it at all possible Banfield has kept his spot because it's the Starlight game and he does so much for the charity. That is all I can think off?

Actually good spot, the bloke does more for charity than any of us so deserves to pull on the starlight jumper.

 

[CapitalA]

I’m preparing to lose any remaining interest in this season tomorrow when Sturt is dropped while Banfield & Hughes keep their places & we don’t reward Treacy & Wilson for excellence WAFL form.

3/4 of the way there, Treacy will play as a consolation.

 

[Footskill]

You're missing the point that Sturt was in a 3 game stretch in a 5 game career from 5 injury marred years

He needs to be given opportunity while he is fit so we can know whether to persist

The reason people are coming at Banfield is not only that he has had a longer stretch this year with middling performance, he also has done it for multiple years now.

Go back 3 years ago and people were calling for Banfield into the team, the problem is he is a known quantity now, Sturt isn't

I didn't miss the point. They said how do you expect the forward line to perform when the ball spends so much time in the back line. Citing this reason as to why Sturt hasn't been able to deliver or perform

 

[Purple Jesus]

Actually good spot, the bloke does more for charity than any of us so deserves to pull on the starlight jumper.

What a shit selection criteria though.

 

[wakojako]

No Fyfe?

 

[CapitalA]

We were thrashed in every meaningful stat last week and we do nothing to address it but token changes, backline will remain unchanged but now gives up over 100 points every week, wingers will stay the same and midfield largely the same. Also if Fyfe is fit start him on field in the middle and then sub him off at half time, not just bring him on at the start of the 4th which they are likely to do and then probably put him at full forward.

We did drop Brodie, so there will be some midfield mix up. Will it be any good or just lead us deeper into the pit we're in...who knows.

 

[freo_leo29]

Lol this attitude though.

You won't be embarassed?

I can already feel the shit talking in the group chats

 

[freo1]

This is going to be such an embarrassing loss if it pans out that way

It's like both teams are tanking - but we're so stupid, we dont realise we've given away our first round picks. Classic Fremantle

 

[FreoRicci]

More people should be annoyed at keeping Willo out of the side. The man has not only been our best in the WAFL, he is loyal to the club and turned down offers from other clubs. I like the Treacy inclusion but it doesn't change the fact we have no selection integrity.

Actually agree. Thought he hasn’t been that bad. Only thing can think of is age. But Hughes is 27. Hardly much difference

 

[Taylor]

If you had a choice between [PLAYERCARD]Jordan Clark[/PLAYERCARD] or [PLAYERCARD]Nathan Wilson[/PLAYERCARD], wouldn't you pick Wilson to miss?

If someone has a role for running off half back and not really defending then putting that player in the mostly defensive role Walker is filling would be counter to goals.

I actually think Wilson should be playing small forward if he can't play running defender, that's where he started. He should be the smart mouth pest forward with blistering speed taking shots on the run from 60m out.

 

[Bradesmaen]

What a surprise on the changes.... Once again JL trying the same shit, different week, more failure.

 

[Taylor]

Treacy/Tabs, Amiss/Treacy, Jackson has only been tried once this year with Taberner being hobbled for it and Treacy bring dropped after.

 

[Dockerguy59]

I think there might be some merit to Emmett taking over Banfield shortly and they didn’t want to make wholesale changes to the forwardline. It at least a gives some reason to why he’s still in.

Hughes is not as confusing to me because with Chapman and Johnson out, there is little competition for his spot (Worner is not playing that role) at the moment. Banfield and Brodie both have a lot of competition for their “roles” (whatever Banfields role is)

I am with you on that Snuff, can anyone explain what Banfields actual role is, because I certainly can’t

 

[Alfonz]

Would have thought this week of all weeks you'd be ok with the height. Unless every side apart from us has some ultimate awesome marking and pressure forward, Treacy, Amiss, Jackson, Banfield, Fyfe (when he comes on) is enough height. Only Walters, Switta (who will be in the middle) are genuine basically non factors in the air. Freddy and Banfield have the height to bring to ground

The listed height of those players is OK, but Banfield does not use his height and JL refuses to actually play all the tall players together on the field. He will have 1 on the bench for most of the match. So we are down to only 2 proper marking options in the forward line (and it will probably stay at 2 when Fyfe comes on, which will be for either Treacy or Amiss if there are no injuries). Every good side tries to play with 3 or sometimes 4.

Plus it is not about those taller players. The balance is wrong with the non-tall players. Too many sub 185cm players outside defence. We have a critical mass of small forwards in the side that end up playing between the arcs alongside incumbent small mids like Aish, JOM, Serong, Brayshaw. Most of the time the forwards are pressed up the ground and not actually inside the 50. This week I would have tried Sturt and Emmett instead of Banfield and Schultz, and that makes us both quicker on the ground and more capable in the air.

You are talking about marking, but you have to consider other issues. If you looked closely at the Brisbane game, when we tried to play kamikaze football, many of our handball chains came unstuck from skill errors, but many were also from the smallness of our players. There were handballs blocked cause they could not go over or around the smotherer due to a small wingspan. Wingspan also allows for more margin for error in terms of gathering handballs that aren't right on the money. There were also many instances where they didn't have enough power to fight through a tackle and/or get enough oomph on the handball.

Conversely, our first goal came from a chain where Johnson and Jackson were able to get handballs away while in the grasp. The goal Johnson created for Brayshaw ... again an example of his long arms and leverage helping him to make something happen. The overload of short players in the team means these opportunities usually amount to nothing, because a small player invariably gets involved at the wrong time and is monstered.

 

[Righteo]

You won't be embarassed?

I can already feel the s**t talking in the group chats

Personally i have no embarrassment left in the tank after the North game. Getting done by the Hawks would be a plucky loss in comparison.