Prediction Round 2, 2026: Changes vs North Melbourne

[Obeanie1]

Minimal changes.

Edwards > Allan
Baker > Cole

This is how I think we would have lined up Rd 1 if Edwards wasn't concussed and Baker wasn't suspended.

Would prefer we persist with Allan and drop Maric but fear they will opt for Maric.

Seems to be no surity of what Allan's best position is. Played a mix of back, inside and wing on weekend. I prefer him back and think that is where he plays his best. Unpopular opinion but don't he will be an inside mid for a while if ever at AFL level. If that is the plan for him though he needs to spend time at WAFL playing inside.

Lindsay ahead of Bo?

With Baker coming back in playing small where?

Feel Murdock and Baker are the smalls we should be playing against North.

 

[Obeanie1]

Hough plays on Paul Curtis.
Edwards on Larkey.
Ginbey on Zuurhar
Young on Darling
Allan on Trembath

Those are the match ups I would go for. Baker marshalling defense and Duggan up the ground on a wing.

Edwards is too slow for Larkey.

IMO put Young on Larkey and Edwards plays the intercept defender.

 

[kokedoodledoo]

I actually think it should be along these lines

In: T Kelly, H Edwards, L Baker
Out: J Lindsay, A Reid, J Cripps

Finally we are in a situation where some poor player misses out without good reason. Let’s see how it goes though

 

[Shazzman]

In TK Hedwards Baker Jake Miles-Wrency (for a baptism of fire)
Out Cripps Maric Cole Flynn

 

[Shazzman]

Intercept defender isn't a position if he's too slow for Larkey he's too slow for Trembath/darling and too slow for AFL too

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I'm sorry why are we hating on Maric again?

He was one of our best on the weekend.

 

[Doashuey]

In TK Hedwards Baker Jake Miles-Wrency (for a baptism of fire)
Out Cripps Maric Cole Flynn

Baptism of fire? That's not a baptism, that is sending him directly to hell.
The dude last played footy 5 years ago for the Cooparoo U14s and you are saying lets throw him an AFL game?

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

I’m really torn on the second change.

Edwards and Baker have to come in. Cole is an easy omission. I can’t decide on the other one. Tossing up Newton, Davis, Allan, Lindsay, Cripps (they won’t drop Cripps), Reid to make us smaller and give us more run but potentially leave us exposed if Flynn goes down and CDT has to ruck fulltime…

It’s a good position to be in I guess. And a surprising one, after a 10 goal loss.

 

[Obeanie1]

I actually think it should be along these lines

In: T Kelly, H Edwards, L Baker
Out: J Lindsay, A Reid, J Cripps

Finally we are in a situation where some poor player misses out without good reason. Let’s see how it goes though

Cripps won't be dropped.

Nor should he be.

 

[Obeanie1]

Intercept defender isn't a position if he's too slow for Larkey he's too slow for Trembath/darling and too slow for AFL too

Yes it is.

And Edwards best games were him playing that exact role.

If a slower player can read the play well and position themselves well they can play as the intercept marking defender.

Lock down defenders need pace to stay with an opponent on the lead. Everyone acknowledges Edwards is too slow to lock down any tall forwards unless they are the slower gorilla KP forwards.

 

[RookiePick]

Cripps won't be dropped.

Nor should he be.

I agree but Cripps would want to do his normal routine of taking a few consecutive games to get going in record time.

I definitely felt like he looked like the pace of the game had gone past him a little bit on Sunday. Beyond his normal concrete hands type of stuff. He might just need a couple of runs to blow out the cobwebs but father time waits for no man and eventually, the cobwebs don't blow away.

We need Crippa firing, so hopefully he gets it together.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I’m really torn on the second change.

Edwards and Baker have to come in. Cole is an easy omission. I can’t decide on the other one. Tossing up Newton, Davis, Allan, Lindsay, Cripps (they won’t drop Cripps), Reid to make us smaller and give us more run but potentially leave us exposed if Flynn goes down and CDT has to ruck fulltime…

It’s a good position to be in I guess. And a surprising one, after a 10 goal loss.

I'm ok with dropping Archer Reid.

I think if he and CDT played ~10-15 games at AFL level this season that would be fine.

 

[Obeanie1]

I agree but Cripps would want to do his normal routine of taking a few consecutive games to get going in record time.

I definitely felt like he looked like the pace of the game had gone past him a little bit on Sunday. Beyond his normal concrete hands type of stuff. He might just need a couple of runs to blow out the cobwebs but father time waits for no man and eventually, the cobwebs don't blow away.

We need Crippa firing, so hopefully he gets it together.

He isn't alone taking a few games to hit form.

HHF is a tough gig.

He normally comes good, plays 3 or 4 really good games.....then picks up a niggle and misses.

Comes back in, wash, rinse and repeat.

 

[wafooty2]

Lindsay ahead of Bo?

With Baker coming back in playing small where?

Feel Murdock and Baker are the smalls we should be playing against North.

I would prefer Bo but don't think they will drop Lindsay after 1 game.

I personally would like them to persist with Bo however although he had a solid second half his first half was an absolute howler. He panics and not sure I trust him enough yet. In his defence he is getting thrown around a lot. I still like him as a defender. Realistically he probably only played because Edwards wasn't available. Just seems the logical choice to me unless they go with a 3 way rotation on the wing. Nobody can match Davis's run and defensive pressure and cannot see them moving Duursma off the wing yet, so think they will both be the 2 first choice wingers again.

Baker will obviously replace Cole which will be a welcome addition

Murdock most definitely will stay in the forward line and I wonder if we will see him getting any midfield minutes.

The other 2 I think could be under a little pressure is Archer Reid and Newton. Will depend if they want to bring in Kelly.

Cant see anybody else pushing for a spot at this stage. Can you?

 

[twce13]

Young got a bath in both praccy matches and sounds like King tore him a new one in the first half, which meant 192cm Ginbey had to go to king. I don’t mind the young trade but he is so out of form he should be playing wafl.

Tell me you didn’t watch the game without telling me you didn’t watch the game.

 

[Cuzz09]

I thought Cripps played ok. Did a couple ofcourageous things despite not hitting the scoreboard

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Tell me you didn’t watch the game without telling me you didn’t watch the game.

Well to be fair he did say he didn't watch it.

Young got a bath in both praccy matches and sounds like King tore him a new one in the first half, which meant 192cm Ginbey had to go to king. I don’t mind the young trade but he is so out of form he should be playing wafl.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

I thought Cripps played ok. Did a couple ofcourageous things despite not hitting the scoreboard

He was ranked 21 out of 23 players for us on the weekend. Only Archer and Lindsay were ranked worse.

 

[amazingjoshy]

Edwards is too slow for Larkey.

IMO put Young on Larkey and Edwards plays the intercept defender.

Harry held him goalless in Busso last year

 

[Scotland]

Having watched both teams we arn't favourites. A rough chance but not favourites

Agreed.

While I obviously want us to win and think that would be good for the comp, if North win they will go 2-0 and have Essendon and Carlton before playing Brisbane in Gather Round. They could conceivably be 3-1 or 4-0 and that's also good for the comp. Seeing the same teams get absolutely pumped from the first round isn't a good look for the game.

 

[Seadog]

Agreed.

While I obviously want us to win and think that would be good for the comp, if North win they will go 2-0 and have Essendon and Carlton before playing Brisbane in Gather Round. They could conceivably be 3-1 or 4-0 and that's also good for the comp. Seeing the same teams get absolutely pumped from the first round isn't a good look for the game.

3-1 or 2-2 will be just fine for the Roos thanks, gives them a bit of hope and joy but doesn't let them get ideas above their station.

 

[Scotland]

3-1 or 2-2 will be just fine for the Roos thanks, gives them a bit of hope and joy but doesn't let them get ideas above their station.

They can crash and burn after that point for all I care. They were 2-0 in 2023 then didn't win another game until Rd 24 when they gave us Harley.

It's time for some new blood propping up the table. Carlton and Essendon look like prime(time) candidates.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

I'm sorry why are we hating on Maric again?

He was one of our best on the weekend.

He had a good second half. He wasn't flash in the first.

 

[bzparkes]

He had a good second half. He wasn't flash in the first.

That describes the entire team.

 

[southcoast]

Flynn wont be out so settle down

Id be fine with

IN: Bakes
OUT: Cole

Reckon Starcevich would've settled some heads down back tonight unfortunately.

I have seen this belief coming up from a few posters - in short 'Starc will save the world'

I see it a little differently - Starc will be exposed because of a lack of upfield pressure. We saw that in the second quarter against the GC when the ball came in too easily. Defence is a whole of team thing. One man (as good as he is) won't fix that.