Preview Bye week after 2 weeks... this is stupid......

[iameviljez]

Certainly not this year anyway. Whether we are able to find someone in the next off season who knows?

If Rowan Marshall is still at the Saints this time next year...

 

[Tony Barber]

I just hate the shotgun start and rolling byes piss them off AFL one in all in.

The byes are stupid.
There should be just one complete week off for everyone mid year.

And while they're at it. Fix the Bloody VFL so it aligns.

 

[cats_09]

If Rowan Marshall is still at the Saints this time next year...

I reckon he'll still be there

 

[allrighty]

Some wanting Stevens in the seniors, but I think he's even more limited positional wise than Bruhn or Clark - can't recall him playing anywhere other than the guts in the VFL

While Knevitt has the opposite issue where they'll plug & play him anywhere, rather than him being given a chance to settle into a role

Put Stevens at HFF one time to see how he goes. Is strong, can get the pill and can kick.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

We've has 8 quarters to review, so some initial thoughts on the preseason concerns versus what we see:

1) Percieved ruck deficiency: once again it looks like it probably doesn't matter

2) How do we play with so many single position on-ballers? Bruhn at half back is a tick, Jhye Clark in F50 has mixed reviews with some 5 star ratings and some goving a 2.

Any others?

Ruck will matter when it gets to finals and games are more contested-not as much now while teams are working out their gamestyle.

On the rest Lawson is a tick. Bruhn has come back on a mission. Mannagh has picked up where he left off.
Neale is showing signs.

Negatives is the key defender issue-sdk looking up and down and we are not sure when kolo will be ready to play 1s.
Close is very down on form and OH not great. Need stengle back.
Also the aforementioned ruck issue and ground balls in d50.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Some wanting Stevens in the seniors, but I think he's even more limited positional wise than Bruhn or Clark - can't recall him playing anywhere other than the guts in the VFL

While Knevitt has the opposite issue where they'll plug & play him anywhere, rather than him being given a chance to settle into a role

I agree. Clark i can see why they will persist and will make it.
Knevitt im not sure think he could make in the right role but he never has a consistent role.
The speeding up of the game by rule changes has killed any chance for stevens-he cant spread.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Certainly not this year anyway. Whether we are able to find someone in the next off season who knows?

Marshall we might try again but he would be too old for us to offer a r1 this time.

 

[allrighty]

Even the seppos dont do this shit and in a league where thats all we copy, this is the best unique idea we can come up with?

Seriously?!?!

Anyway, guess it gives me more time to count the newcomers on the Scratcher bandowagon.. Toot Toot..

My boy is building..... as he needs to.. but its coming along.

We have issues and need to fix them - consciousness in the first quarter high on the list of things to cross off.

Anyway... have a wander around all things Geelong bye week here until we get a better option ... like Rd 4.

The AFL is out seppo'ing the seppos, if that is possible. It is absolutely nonsensical the way the draw is now.

Lots of talk about all the coaches supporting Longmuir privately. How about a team playing in the last game of last year then fronting up this year for a game before most other teams, playing away and in a sauna? And of course the money pullers get to play at home at the MCG for a change.

Then there is the fact of two of the team's best players not able to play in the big game last year - one concussed, the other "suspended". Nothing to see here, move on. However the "suspended" player would do well to consider legal action at the appropriate time. And I am sure the concussed rule will be accommodated at some stage when the $ is on the line.

It's just total BS.

The game is overcomplicating itself off the field with the compromised draw and scheduling, the ever changing rules and their ever changing interpretation. Plus the political plays which IMO have no place in sport. But you know - $ ...

 

[catsfootyfan89]

A 6 goal comeback against a side expected to fight for top-4 - who beat GWS, Collingwood and Bulldogs on the road late last year - that is absolutely top tier.

Probably. There's definitely something damning about that Freo performance, though.

I know many have expectations about them, but they still can't quite bring themselves to play like a really serious team.

When was the last time we kicked 8+ in a first quarter then turned to butter and lost? Miracle on grass, maybe?

Personally I'd like to see them take the next step but I still think we are a better side.

 

[fpm84]

We may not be playing this week, but our new favourite boy band just dropped

 

[Mr Meow]

Probably. There's definitely something damning about that Freo performance, though.

I know many have expectations about them, but they still can't quite bring themselves to play like a really serious team.

When was the last time we kicked 8+ in a first quarter then turned to butter and lost? Miracle on grass, maybe?

Personally I'd like to see them take the next step but I still think we are a better side.

Yeah I'm definitely not saying it was a good look for Freo. Just that they did close out some tough, clutch games on the road against quality opposition in late 2025. Then of course they lost the plot in the tight final against Gold Coast.

We tried to make that comeback at GMHBA a few times after conceding a big run of goals early. Against Port (2024) and GWS we wasted chances to win the game late. Against Brisbane we just had a shocking conversion rate all night (6 15 or something?).

With Freo we happened to be fairly clinical right until we secured the lead, then held on. I personally think we were due actually nailing one of those GMHBA comebacks.

 

[Tex]

If Stengle and Bowes are both best 23, who comes out of the team from the weekend?
My thinking is Mullin and Close.

Also, love him, and he's been an absolute champ, but is Blitz now depth, same as Kolo and Stanley?

 

[Seeds]

We've has 8 quarters to review, so some initial thoughts on the preseason concerns versus what we see:

1) Percieved ruck deficiency: once again it looks like it probably doesn't matter

2) How do we play with so many single position on-ballers? Bruhn at half back is a tick, Jhye Clark in F50 has mixed reviews with some 5 star ratings and some goving a 2.

Any others?

It looks like ruck deficiency very much does matter. Big chance blicavs and stanley end up like hawkins last year and wont be up to afl standard by second half of the season. I struggle to see how this does not happen to be honest.

 

[Seeds]

If Stengle and Bowes are both best 23, who comes out of the team from the weekend?
My thinking is Mullin and Close.

Also, love him, and he's been an absolute champ, but is Blitz now depth, same as Kolo and Stanley?

Close and oconnor.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

It looks like ruck deficiency very much does matter. Big chance blicavs and stanley end up like hawkins last year and wont be up to afl standard by second half of the season. I struggle to see how this does not happen to be honest.

I think you're right and they do end up cooked. As early as basically now too. I'm still yet to see evidence this matters given we came up against Witts, and Jackson/Darcy and won the clearances in both. Ruck Mitch Knevitt for all I care.

 

[cats_09]

If Stengle and Bowes are both best 23, who comes out of the team from the weekend?
My thinking is Mullin and Close.

Also, love him, and he's been an absolute champ, but is Blitz now depth, same as Kolo and Stanley?

Copy and paste from other thread:

Close
Martin
Clark

Edwards & Dangerfield to be managed throughout the season

We've also shown a willingness to rotate players throughout the season to keep them fresh, so that's another thing to factor in to players coming in & out the side

 

[year of the cat]

If Stengle and Bowes are both best 23, who comes out of the team from the weekend?
My thinking is Mullin and Close.

Also, love him, and he's been an absolute champ, but is Blitz now depth, same as Kolo and Stanley?

Stengle for Close. Bowes will be fighting with a few such as Clark, Mullin, O’Connor and Martin for that last spot.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Ruck will matter when it gets to finals and games are more contested-not as much now while teams are working out their gamestyle.

On the rest Lawson is a tick. Bruhn has come back on a mission. Mannagh has picked up where he left off.
Neale is showing signs.

Negatives is the key defender issue-sdk looking up and down and we are not sure when kolo will be ready to play 1s.
Close is very down on form and OH not great. Need stengle back.
Also the aforementioned ruck issue and ground balls in d50.

If he stays fit, the West Coast game in gather round feels like the perfect opportunity to ease Kolo back in.

He's got two games under his belt now, and there's three VFL games between now and West Coast.

Perfect happy medium IMO. We're not rushing him back after one or two, and we're not plonking him in the seconds for months on end.

 

[dazbroncos]

We may not be playing this week, but our new favourite boy band just dropped

View attachment 2554228

I’m sure Caro have words about this too

Go Catters

 

[iameviljez]

Some wanting Stevens in the seniors, but I think he's even more limited positional wise than Bruhn or Clark - can't recall him playing anywhere other than the guts in the VFL

Pretty sure he's played a reasonable amount of football off half-back, both in the VFL and at junior level.

 

[iameviljez]

It looks like ruck deficiency very much does matter. Big chance blicavs and stanley end up like hawkins last year and wont be up to afl standard by second half of the season. I struggle to see how this does not happen to be honest.

The bigger issue IMO is that neither Stanley nor Blicavs are good 1st-line ruckmen even at their best at the moment. Blicavs never has been, due solely to his size. Stanley was serviceable at his best, but that was four years ago now.

Stanley should have retired at the end of 2023 IMO. Blitz will hold his spot to the end of the year, but only as that swingman who can play back, middle, and 2nd ruck.

 

[iameviljez]

1) Percieved ruck deficiency: once again it looks like it probably doesn't matter

Let's not kid ourselves, if we keep losing the clearances 28-42, we are going to lose more than we win. Sides with a more explosive midfield setup (hello, Gold Coast) will rip us to bits.

 

[Commando]

The bigger issue IMO is that neither Stanley nor Blicavs are good 1st-line ruckmen even at their best at the moment. Blicavs never has been, due solely to his size. Stanley was serviceable at his best, but that was four years ago now.

Stanley should have retired at the end of 2023 IMO. Blitz will hold his spot to the end of the year, but only as that swingman who can play back, middle, and 2nd ruck.

Haven't we talked Stanley out of retirement... twice!

 

[cats_09]

Haven't we talked Stanley out of retirement... twice!

We have maybe once a few years ago

But all recent re-signings are based on Rhys wanting to continue his career

 

[Turkey Tom]

Will be interesting to see if anyone from the Freo game, plays in the VFL game this weekend (Friday evening at home vs Essendon).

Any candidates?