Preview R4: Changes vs. Fremantle

[1970crow]

I don't get all the Pedlar hate. The rare times he actually gets the ball he does some nice stuff with it. Let him run through the midfield and get his hands on the ball a bit more and then judge him. I reckon there's a real player there.

It’s not hate, we are unbalanced and either him or Taylor should miss out. And for whatever reason, neither of those guys are trusted with midfield minutes. They both have required attributes, but are still played only as forwards. We definitely need more midfield power and it’d be nice to see how Pedlar goes in there, but it doesn’t seem to be in our plans.

 

[1970crow]

The last time Rob came back from being dropped he returned with 28 touches 47 hit outs. Which is statistically his best game ever.

Tell me he doesn’t play better with his arse on the line.

(No I don’t want him back in)

But I think he’d had something like 30 in the SANFL and absolutely dominated, not beaten for 3 quarters before getting on top through fitness only.

 

[Cromulant]

A first rounder, can be the only answer.

Not particularly.

Generally Chayce us a decent defensive option, Nank is not.

Doesnt mean he should be in the 23, neither of them should IMO.

 

[Cromulant]

Was it late 2023 when he attended some CBAs and did all right?

He did ok, as did Zac Taylor at times last year.

That doesnt make him an AFL midfielder though. Given our current predicament of underdone and out of form mids it might be worth 1 or 2 for shock value because he certainly isnt a forward.

Similar to Taylor, I dont know what his long term spot on our list is but its clear they want both around for the foreseeable future.

 

[FR0GGY]

Not particularly.

Generally Chayce us a decent defensive option, Nank is not.

Doesnt mean he should be in the 23, neither of them should IMO.

The only time he’s looked ok for any period was on the wing.

 

[1970crow]

The only time he’s looked ok for any period was on the wing.

He was ok behind the ball prior to that too. It was doing well there that resulted in him moving up to the wing.

 

[Velvet George]

He did ok, as did Zac Taylor at times last year.

That doesnt make him an AFL midfielder though. Given our current predicament of underdone and out of form mids it might be worth 1 or 2 for shock value because he certainly isnt a forward.

Similar to Taylor, I dont know what his long term spot on our list is but its clear they want both around for the foreseeable future.

And that was 2023, he hasn’t become less fit, if anything he’s had his best preseason. So when we are struggling for clearances, it makes no sense not to have give him some CBA, it also gets him involved in the game.

He needs to be doing more but our inside 50s have been garbage and low, we had 4 forwards with 7 possessions, they can’t all suck.

 

[Cromulant]

And that was 2023, he hasn’t become less fit, if anything he’s had his best preseason. So when we are struggling for clearances, it makes no sense not to have give him some CBA, it also gets him involved in the game.

He needs to be doing more but our inside 50s have been garbage and low, we had 4 forwards with 7 possessions, they can’t all suck.

The issue for Pedlar has always been value for possessions. Unlike Taylor he doesnt seem to get value for every touch he gets, Zac tends to.

I don't know what the answer is for either of them. Part of me thinks Keays dropping out could be a part of that answer, but we both know we are unlikely to do that.

 

[maxlilly]

And that was 2023, he hasn’t become less fit, if anything he’s had his best preseason. So when we are struggling for clearances, it makes no sense not to have give him some CBA, it also gets him involved in the game.

He needs to be doing more but our inside 50s have been garbage and low, we had 4 forwards with 7 possessions, they can’t all suck.

With Peatling and Soligo being poor this year, It looks an easy decision to give Pedlar and Taylor a few CBA's.
I think those guys have a lot better craft in the middle than the other two.

I'm surprised Keays is coping more heat, he hasn't done much so far this season but as you said, most of our forwards have struggled and is it any wonder with this game plan

 

[cleanhands]

The issue for Pedlar has always been value for possessions. Unlike Taylor he doesnt seem to get value for every touch he gets, Zac tends to.

I don't know what the answer is for either of them. Part of me thinks Keays dropping out could be a part of that answer, but we both know we are unlikely to do that.

Get rid of Nicks and let our younger players flourish under a game plan that doesn’t stifle them

 

[Cromulant]

Get rid of Nicks and let our younger players flourish under a game plan that doesn’t stifle them

If only it were that simple hey.

 

[Pugsley]

O'Brien? We're not seriously looking at O'Brien?

Crazy Nicksy is back.

 

[cleanhands]

Crazy Nicksy is back.

Just want him to go and not come back

 

[Pugsley]

Just want him to go and not come back

That would be ideal.

 

[Mutineer]

But I think he’d had something like 30 in the SANFL and absolutely dominated, not beaten for 3 quarters before getting on top through fitness only.

Did you watch the game?

The one things that ROB was doing that had gone missing was clunking big overhead marks, a goodly percentage of them contested. That was the most impressive he's looked overhead for years.

Will he play, maybe though I would still go with Maley and hope he can at least not get dominated by the Freo twin towers Darcy and Jackson when he's giving McAndrew a rest. One things for sure Maley needs to spend more minutes in the ruck this time because McAndrew was pretty obviously less influential late in the game when we really needed him.

 

[Cromulant]

Did you watch the game?

The one things that ROB was doing that had gone missing was clunking big overhead marks, a goodly percentage of them contested. That was the most impressive he's looked overhead for years.

Its the SANFL, if a 10 year AFL veteran isnt looking good in the SANFL against lesser opponents you'd be worried.

 

[FR0GGY]

Its the SANFL, if a 10 year AFL veteran isnt looking good in the SANFL against lesser opponents you'd be worried.

What ruck rules are the sanfl running with?

 

[WeeBlake]

Did you watch the game?

The one things that ROB was doing that had gone missing was clunking big overhead marks, a goodly percentage of them contested. That was the most impressive he's looked overhead for years.

Will he play, maybe though I would still go with Maley and hope he can at least not get dominated by the Freo twin towers Darcy and Jackson when he's giving McAndrew a rest. One things for sure Maley needs to spend more minutes in the ruck this time because McAndrew was pretty obviously less influential late in the game when we really needed him.

This is the thing with ROB, he can be a good mark, but it’s only like 1 game in 5. Seems he performs best under pressure eg now with selection, and last year before he got his contract extension.

Question is what is more important to us in our relief ruck - relief rucking, or marking. For marking, Maley is the better bet?

 

[Mr MysteryGuest]

The issue for Pedlar has always been value for possessions. Unlike Taylor he doesnt seem to get value for every touch he gets, Zac tends to.

I don't know what the answer is for either of them. Part of me thinks Keays dropping out could be a part of that answer, but we both know we are unlikely to do that.

don't agree, especially this season so far. Almost very time Pedlar gets the ball, he makes something good happen

 

[Mutineer]

Its the SANFL, if a 10 year AFL veteran isnt looking good in the SANFL against lesser opponents you'd be worried.

I'll be very very surprised if Caleb May isn't the most dominant ruck in the SANFL this year outside of ROB himself. The blokes a man mountain 207cm 109kg out of the Swans academy/Allies in his draft year a couple of years ago, endurance was one of his better talents as well. God knows what May measures in at now height and weight wise.

 

[Mutineer]

This is the thing with ROB, he can be a good mark, but it’s only like 1 game in 5. Seems he performs best under pressure eg now with selection, and last year before he got his contract extension.

Question is what is more important to us in our relief ruck - relief rucking, or marking. For marking, Maley is the better bet?

That's as long as Maley doesn't get in the way of Thilthorpe and Tex up forward, pretty important that he's also at least competitive when in the ruck because we saw last week McAndrew struggled late in the game when most needed.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

This is the thing with ROB, he can be a good mark, but it’s only like 1 game in 5. Seems he performs best under pressure eg now with selection, and last year before he got his contract extension.

Question is what is more important to us in our relief ruck - relief rucking, or marking. For marking, Maley is the better bet?

ROB should have always stayed a kick behind play

He clunks the odd mark and is rarely outmarked

Means we can go with a smaller, mobile defence too because our defenders aren't left alone on an island. They have aerial help.

Instead ROB pushed up to every stoppage, even in the forward pocket. Plus he pushed forward to compete against the league's tallest forward line including our franchise KPF.

Has been complete idiocy

And that's before we even talk about his involvement in handball chains

 

[WeeBlake]

ROB should have always stayed a kick behind play

He clunks the odd mark and is rarely outmarked

Means we can go with a smaller, mobile defence too because our defenders aren't left alone on an island. They have aerial help.

Instead ROB pushed up to every stoppage, even in the forward pocket. Plus he pushed forward to compete against the league's tallest forward line including our franchise KPF.

Has been complete idiocy

And that's before we even talk about his involvement in handball chains

Agree. I have never understood it.

 

[Velvet George]

And no Maley. Well at least the club socials can back off the “we love Finbarr” bullshit. So much hype for a bloke who is going to have a limited career.

 

[Cromulant]

And no Maley. Well at least the club socials can back off the “we love Finbarr” bullshit. So much hype for a bloke who is going to have a limited career.

We could be in for the single dumbest selection decision in AFC history today.

Best get a slab.