Prediction Round 18, 2025: Changes vs Port Adelaide

[TY24]

Think it’s safe to rule out Cripps being dropped

 

[stallon]

Graham to half forward in place of either Cripps or Kelly.

We struggle defensively through as it is, moving out our most defensive player to bring in a kid who clearly is more attacking than defensive doesnt seem to make a lot of sense to me

 

[TheBudgies]

We struggle defensively through as it is, moving out our most defensive player to bring in a kid who clearly is more attacking than defensive doesnt seem to make a lot of sense to me

What about something like this:

Hall/Graham 30% each
Hough/Harley/Hewett 60-65% each
Ryan/Gross 25% each

Hough or Graham at pretty much every CBA if needed Graham takes some of Hewett's CBAs maybe 10-15%.

As much as we need to play defensively we could balance it like this to still have those high reward centre clearances with agressive dynamic players.

 

[Barrybran]

We struggle defensively through as it is, moving out our most defensive player to bring in a kid who clearly is more attacking than defensive doesnt seem to make a lot of sense to me

100%. The only person I reasonably see Gross coming in for this season is Hewett. Touch wood that is not required.

Let him build at WAFL level, give him a preseason in the gym, and try again next year.

 

[PremiershipNo4]

Kelly out, $750,000 a year to play WAFL
Tom Gross in.

 

[FKASC]

100%. The only person I reasonably see Gross coming in for this season is Hewett. Touch wood that is not required.

Let him build at WAFL level, give him a preseason in the gym, and try again next year.

IMO Hewett could do with a game or two in the reserves just to get some confidence racking up heaps of footy and having more time to make decisions.

 

[Barrybran]

IMO Hewett could do with a game or two in the reserves just to get some confidence racking up heaps of footy and having more time to make decisions.

I'd prefer him to play out the season at AFL level. Given how his career has started, being able to say he played nearly an entire season at the level will be huge for his confidence. Sure, he can be proud of his season to date but I don't think there's any reason to drop him.

 

[THE A5]

IMO Hewett could do with a game or two in the reserves just to get some confidence racking up heaps of footy and having more time to make decisions.

His last game was very poor and frustrating but imo he is doing better than expected after missing so much footy tbh. His tank is still a fair way off AFL midfield level but every week he still has strong periods where impacts the game.

His production last few weeks seem to be on the up a bit, where his quiter games seem to be +15 possession rather than +10 possession.

Don’t think WAFL really would be beneficial for him. Think playing as many games at this level will be much important than getting a bit more ball at wafl level.

 

[ghostbat12]

It would give me great pleasure if Harley could destroy port this week. We are surely due for one of those games.

Anyway, Hutchinson out for gross.

 

[Vargo hoat]

It looks like I'm an outlier but I think people are being harsh of Hutch.

I can recall at least two times against GWS that he put himself in harms way, back into a pack, without a flinch.
Yep - His disposal needs work but he's doing blue collar work and we still have bigger problems.

I agree, he has a large tank, a good athlete, plays at the intensity required, willing/disciplined to play any role asked, and is brave.

I’d imagine he would be one of the first picked every week based on that.

 

[Astro7]

It looks like I'm an outlier but I think people are being harsh of Hutch.

I can recall at least two times against GWS that he put himself in harms way, back into a pack, without a flinch.
Yep - His disposal needs work but he's doing blue collar work and we still have bigger problems.

Remember when Hutch arrived and played a couple of games and was the new best thing! Seems to be getting slowly squeezed out now, not unlike Hunt in that respect, that's footy I guess.
Not to say he can't improve and keep a spot, another preseason maybe. He's only 23, supposedly a midfielder with speed and good marking ability. We have some future depth in that area, with players like Chesser, Gross, Grego, Davis?

 

[ziad]

Remember when Hutch arrived and played a couple of games and was the new best thing! Seems to be getting slowly squeezed out now, not unlike Hunt in that respect, that's footy I guess.
Not to say he can't improve and keep a spot, another preseason maybe. He's only 23, supposedly a midfielder with speed and good marking ability. We have some future depth in that area, with players like Chesser, Gross, Grego, Davis?

What intrigues me, without specifying any player, is Waterman's recent comment that some of the young players don't yet understand the level of training required to play at the AFL level with success. Interesting to see the outcomes of this coming preseason.

 

[twce13]

IMO Hewett could do with a game or two in the reserves just to get some confidence racking up heaps of footy and having more time to make decisions.

we gotta persist with these kids sometimes, back them through the hard times.

 

[Grahame]

Given the clamour here for ‘youf’ and how every senior player is 'crap', I thought I’d look at our seniors and the ratings they get here.

Cripps (33) past it
Kelly (30) checked out
Hunt (30) past it
Yeo (31) MIA
Ryan (28) past it
Duggan (28) dud
Owies (28) dud
Cole (28) dud
Flynn (27) dud
Baker (27) too expensive
Graham (27) too expensive
OAllen (26) MIA
Petrucelle (26) dud
BWilliams (25) dud
*
Jamieson (24) dud

*McCarthy (24) is the only exception (although three bad games will change that)

Yep, all the Negative Nancys are right. We’re stuffed. Fold the club.

 

[Dark Sharks]

IMO Hewett could do with a game or two in the reserves just to get some confidence racking up heaps of footy and having more time to make decisions.

I definitely see merit in this, but I agree with Barry's response. Important thing is that he's actually playing and staying fit.

Besides, if you've got Hewett underperforming and 31yr old Kelly underperforming for an even longer period, which one should be turfed first?



Trick question. The answer is: J.Williams, for A.Reid.

 

[Chris_6678]

Only ocurred to me Mini actually played with Cripps at the Saints.

 

[FKASC]

we gotta persist with these kids sometimes, back them through the hard times.

Agree but doesn’t hurt to give them a chance to flex their muscle and demonstrate their development in the 2s occasionally. Not suggesting it’s a punishment or anything

 

[twce13]

Agree but doesn’t hurt to give them a chance to flex their muscle and demonstrate their development in the 2s occasionally. Not suggesting it’s a punishment or anything

Yeah fair, just feel like hewey is one of those guys that needs as much afl time as he can get.

 

[Marlin01]

Agreed. Keep Hough, Reid and Hewett playing together to develop the elusive synergy we’ve been searching for.

 

[stallon]

What about something like this:

Hall/Graham 30% each
Hough/Harley/Hewett 60-65% each
Ryan/Gross 25% each

Hough or Graham at pretty much every CBA if needed Graham takes some of Hewett's CBAs maybe 10-15%.

As much as we need to play defensively we could balance it like this to still have those high reward centre clearances with agressive dynamic players.

Youre essentially just scraping a bit off Harley, Hough, and Graham just to fit in Gross.

Theyre our 3 mids doing the most work in the middle, with Hewett still working up to doing full time mid.
There are times where we want Hough and Graham at CBAs.

Is exposure for Gross worth more than continuing to develop Hough or Reid in the middle full time? Or Hall to get 50%+ CBAs in the only role hes actually decent at?
I dont think it is tbh, not yet. When Gross is ready for 50%+ CBAs himself and puts together more than 1-2 good games at WAFL level in a row then yeah sure.
If Gross played like that in the seconds for any other club he wouldnt be getting a call up where the afl side is forcing him in whatever means necessary.

Its not that I dont want Gross in there, the midfield mix also needs to be right and we just cant fit him in where he'd get a good go at playing midfield.

 

[stallon]

Agreed. Keep Hough, Reid and Hewett playing together to develop the elusive synergy we’ve been searching for.

Add a guy like Sharp to those 3 and we genuinely have a very well balanced midfield for a long time, as our main 4 to build around.

 

[Astro7]

What intrigues me, without specifying any player, is Waterman's recent comment that some of the young players don't yet understand the level of training required to play at the AFL level with success. Interesting to see the outcomes of this coming preseason.

Yep, promises to be a big preseason, with new trade/draftees (to fill required positions) another sweep out, and the coach having a much better idea of his players and how/where to play them. Importantly another big block of time embedding and tweaking the game plan.

 

[TheBudgies]

Youre essentially just scraping a bit off Harley, Hough, and Graham just to fit in Gross.

Theyre our 3 mids doing the most work in the middle, with Hewett still working up to doing full time mid.
There are times where we want Hough and Graham at CBAs.

Is exposure for Gross worth more than continuing to develop Hough or Reid in the middle full time? Or Hall to get 50%+ CBAs in the only role hes actually decent at?
I dont think it is tbh, not yet. When Gross is ready for 50%+ CBAs himself and puts together more than 1-2 good games at WAFL level in a row then yeah sure.
If Gross played like that in the seconds for any other club he wouldnt be getting a call up where the afl side is forcing him in whatever means necessary.

Its not that I dont want Gross in there, the midfield mix also needs to be right and we just cant fit him in where he'd get a good go at playing midfield.

That's pretty reasonable. Do you think Hewett would benefit from a slight reduction in CBAs to have higher impact? Plays well as a high half forward so not opposed to playing a bit more of that to get space and a bit more time (might also help him nudge Kelly out of the team).

I feel like having some exposure for Gross would help, even if it is 25%. Hall clearly needs more time in the middle. It's hard squeezing them all in for the exposure.

 

[twce13]

That's pretty reasonable. Do you think Hewett would benefit from a slight reduction in CBAs to have higher impact? Plays well as a high half forward so not opposed to playing a bit more of that to get space and a bit more time (might also help him nudge Kelly out of the team).

I feel like having some exposure for Gross would help, even if it is 25%. Hall clearly needs more time in the middle. It's hard squeezing them all in for the exposure.

This is why I’m less keen on sheldrick, dev etc. I rather pump valuable midfield mins into the kids we already have, the kids were gonna draft and hopefully with a bit of luck yeo can be in there too.

I get they lift the bottom of the list and would have benefits but there is a cost to everything

 

[Altum Volantes]

Given the clamour here for ‘youf’ and how every senior player is 'crap', I thought I’d look at our seniors and the ratings they get here.

Cripps (33) past it
Kelly (30) checked out
Hunt (30) past it
Yeo (31) MIA
Ryan (28) past it
Duggan (28) dud
Owies (28) dud
Cole (28) dud
Flynn (27) dud
Baker (27) too expensive
Graham (27) too expensive
OAllen (26) MIA
Petrucelle (26) dud
BWilliams (25) dud
*
Jamieson (24) dud

*McCarthy (24) is the only exception (although three bad games will change that)

Yep, all the Negative Nancys are right. We’re stuffed. Fold the club.

To be fair...

Graham was a freebie and has performed well.

No other notes.