Prediction Round 5, 2026: Changes vs Geelong

[Cuzz09]

In: Dev BBW
Out: Duggan Flynn

 

[wafooty2]

In: Hewett, Robertson, B.Williams
Out: Owies, Champion, Flynn

Schoenberg pretty limited so he could also be an out. Champion is unfortunately just not up to it yet and enough has been said about Owies.

I regrettably attended the WAFL game on the weekend. Whilst Hewett is very obviously underdone I think he offers more underdone than Owies or Champion or Schoenberg do at full fitness.

Hall is a worry. I don't care how many possessions you get. His ball use and extreme lack of any kind of speed will make it very hard for him to compete at the pace AFL is being played now. He clearly isn't a winger so inside mid would be his only opportunity and he is a fair way down the pecking order as an inside mid I would think. He doesn't have the discipline to be any kind of tagger.

Dewar found a bit of the ball but they were cheap easy handball receive possessions with very limited impact. Doesn't have the workrate or apply enough defensive pressure to compete on the wing at AFL level. Poor ball user. Unless they try to play him forward (which isn't the worst idea due to our extreme lack of small forwards) I don't see a spot for him.

 

[TY24]

Nah the cats take on the dogs next week

Mitch has had that fixture circled for a while.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Maric in for Duggan.....

I said what i said.

 

[PepperTom32]

This game will be a key indicator of how we'll go against top sides for the remainder of the year.
Another belting and we're basically back to square one despite some emerging talent.

It seems like a reversal of form when playing top teams compared to bottom teams, compared to last year. Played well and should've beaten some of the top teams (Adelaide, Geelong, Brisbane) but kooked it against the shite teams.

 

[Farmer Lister]

In: DevRob, Gross, Billiams, Hewitt

Out: Owies, Flynn, Champion, Brock.

If Yeo is fit replaces Schoenberg.

 

[Cuzz09]

Wouldnt mind seeing Gross in. More mids.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Wouldnt mind seeing Gross in. More mids.

Me either. His time is coming but I think they’ll give him an extra run in the WAFL with increased minutes before being recalled.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

The next person to suggest dropping Champion should get spat on by a donkey of some sort

 

[illegaleagle]

Out: Flynn, A Reid, Owies, Champion,
In: B. Williams, Yeo, Dev, Hewett

Play Hewett and Yeo forward and baker forward as well. Go a bit smaller with archer out. Would prefer champion stay in than Cripps, but they will never drop Cripps.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

In: DevRob, Gross, Billiams, Hewitt

Out: Owies, Flynn, Champion, Brock.

If Yeo is fit replaces Schoenberg.

I really don’t think we can bring in two underdone mids in Hewett and Gross, at the same time

 

[Scotland]

Hewett has played one game in the WAFL and got 14 touches. I don't know how he played but he wasn't named in the bests. Would ideally like to see a bit more than that before rushing him back in.

So disappointing to have Newton and Murdock N/A, they were really adding something to the forward half.

 

[bzparkes]

The next person to suggest dropping Champion should get spat on by a donkey of some sort

 

[bzparkes]

Hewett has played one game in the WAFL and got 14 touches. I don't know how he played but he wasn't named in the bests. Would ideally like to see a bit more than that before rushing him back in.

So disappointing to have Newton and Murdock N/A, they were really adding something to the forward half.

he played the 2 previous practice games also.

Looked to be on managed minutes in the weekend's game. Mostly unsighted in the first half then did most of his work in the 2nd.

Was blowing up a bit though. Not sure if he's ready.

 

[Scotland]

he played the 2 previous practice games also.

Looked to be on managed minutes in the weekend's game. Mostly unsighted in the first half then did most of his work in the 2nd.

Was blowing up a bit though. Not sure if he's ready.

Yeah this is what worries me. If he can't play a full WAFL game yet he really shouldn't be in the AFL side.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

he played the 2 previous practice games also.

Only the final practice game vs Peel, McQualter said afterwards that he played about 80 mins.

 

[juice568]

Yeah this is what worries me. If he can't play a full WAFL game yet he really shouldn't be in the AFL side.

Cant be any worse than owies and champion though

 

[Cuzz09]

Champion cant be judged on Saturdays game surely. Had no hope.

 

[bzparkes]

Only the final practice game vs Peel, McQualter said afterwards that he played about 80 mins.

Ah ok. He did play in that non-existent game after the freo preseason game, having come on for a quarter. no news about that though.

Did his quad(?) after that I think.

 

[KBLT]

Out: Flynn, Owies, Schoenberg
In: BWilliams, Dev, Dewar

Hough, Brock, Ginbey
Lindsay, Young, McCarthy

Duursma, Robertson, Davis

BWilliams, H.Reid, Allan

Baker, Shanahan, Cripps
Dewar, Waterman, Duff-Tytler

Kelly, Duggan, Graham, A.Reid, Champion

 

[Nebular]

Geelong free kick counts vs opposition this year....

Round 0 29 to 17
Round 1 24 to 15
Round 3 25 to 13
Round 4 24 to 13

Frees for 102
Frees against 58

Good luck people.

 

[RookiePick]

From the WAFL fixture;

Hewett is not ready for AFL duty. He's well short of a gallop. Grossy looks much the same.

Hall played like he was stoned and McRae is either not getting the system or doesn't know how to football.

PS Bwilliams got toweled up in the ruck too. He looked very ordinary against the Perth ruck.

 

[Mudguts12]

What attributes does clay hall have that are afl standard??
Hes slow with terrible skills. He couldnt make the side with yeo and robertson out. Has to be delisted at the end of the year.

Strong work rate, big body, clean ball use around stoppages, good inside work, good tackler, rising star nomination in 2025, only 20 years old with 16 AFL games under his belt. Give him a bit more time.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

Out: Flynn, Owies, Cripps
In: Dev, J Will, Maric,

Flynn has to go as he’s not any good in the ruck. If you have to try Bailey then go ahead but he’s not much better. I’d use Jack Williams, Archer and CDT as three way rotating rucks, but I’d play J Will or Archer back at times when needed. J Will can at least kick goals when he takes a mark up forward so if we are struggling I’d rotate him through there when needed.

If Devs available then bring him back in, drop Owies and play Maric up forward instead of ruining him by trying to turn him into something he’s not, just like we did with Brander and Ainsworth.

Schoenberg may not have gotten a lot of footy on the weekend but when he got it he at least hit targets. That’s rare in our team, so I’d keep him in and look to give him some midfield time to help protect Harley. Cripps needs a rest. Hewett can get a call up when he actually performs at WAFL level coz I watched that game and he phoned it in.

 

[Farmer Lister]

I really don’t think we can bring in two underdone mids in Hewett and Gross, at the same time

True but we need more mids even if they play limited minutes. Gross did some decent things in the WAFL match