Land of the Giants
Premiership Player
Initially, I was going to say that Richmond look like the team to beat for this year's flag. They played their Qualifying Final with the sort of frantic pressure that took the Bulldogs to September glory last year. Geelong were just blown off the park after half-time; 10.6 to 3.6, a shocking rout.
But then came yesterday’s Elimination Final at the SCG. The Swans were simply awesome in their demolition of Essendon. It’s incredible to think they struggled to beat the Bombers by a single point in back in Round 14. Geelong look like a formality for them next week. The Crows must have watched on with some trepidation.
Now to our semi-final. After incredible circumstances at Adelaide Oval, we’re playing the Eagles. And our mission is not only to win. We need to play ourselves back into form, very quickly.
I don’t think any of us were surprised at the result of the Qualifying Final on Thursday. Pretty much a continuation of Round 23. It certainly felt that way. At least we were able to fight back and win the second half after a pathetic second quarter. We didn’t fade out the way Geelong did.
But we didn’t lose because of a lack of effort. In the presser, Leon noted we laid 108 tackles, 32 of them in our forward 50, and “we hadn’t done that all year”. Surprisingly, we spent more time inside 50 than the Crows. But it was hard work getting there, and we weren’t able to make it count on the scoreboard. That suggests some sort of structural problem.
Leon was challenged about playing all the tall timber. His explanation was that he regarded Cameron as not falling into that category because of his elite speed. Well, we won’t have to worry about that next week.
As for reported quick fixes, Leon has his work cut out for him. This is not going to be an easy game. After unconvincing wins in rounds 10 and 22, we need to beat the Eagles for a third time in the one season. That doesn’t happen too often. But our problem is much bigger than that.
We’re not playing like a team. We aren’t cohesive. There are too many players not running into space. We're not quick enough. There are too many handballs. Has everyone forgotten the best way to get the ball moving quickly is precision by foot? Perhaps the players are struggling under the weight of their own expectations.
As for who lines up this week, Leon thought the improvised match against the Crows on Friday (which they won 14.9.93 to 6.8.44) would unearth a replacement for Cameron. Surely that can’t be Steve Johnson. He’s just too old and slow, and he didn't make much of an impact anyway. We need someone young and hungry. Tim Taranto or Harry Perryman, who played well, fit the bill. Ryan Griffen also managed to play about 70% of the game across half-back and emerged unscathed, and is apparently being considered. But he’s probably too rusty and we can’t carry anyone. We just need someone fit – and preferably fast.
If Mumford is out injured, Dawson Simpson, who also played well on Friday, will get another chance. He did his job against the Dockers and the Bulldogs, but how will he cope if the Eagles roll the dice and play Nic Naitanui? They have him listed as returning “late 2017 season”. If that’s the case, there’s not much point waiting any longer.
There's no use making too many changes, so all things considered, I think the team will look something like this:
FB: Adam Tomlinson, Phil Davis, Heath Shaw
HB: Nathan Wilson, Aidan Corr, Brett Deledio
C: Lachie Whitfield, Callan Ward, Tom Scully
HF: Josh Kelly, Tim Taranto, Rory Lobb
FF: Toby Greene, Jon Patton, Matt de Boer
RR: Dawson Simpson, Stephen Coniglio, Jacob Hopper
Interchange: Nick Haynes, Harry Himmelberg, Zac Williams, Dylan Shiel
In: Dawson Simpson, Tim Taranto
Out: Jeremy Cameron (hamstring), Shane Mumford (ankle)
Emergencies: Ryan Griffen, Matthew Kennedy, Harry Perryman
Tickets go on sales for competing club members on Monday September 12th from 9am– 1pm. It’s our last visit to Spotless for the year, so we all need to bring along at least one guest, and put an orange scarf on them.
Come on Giants, play a four quarter game. Make a statement and bury the Eagles.
But then came yesterday’s Elimination Final at the SCG. The Swans were simply awesome in their demolition of Essendon. It’s incredible to think they struggled to beat the Bombers by a single point in back in Round 14. Geelong look like a formality for them next week. The Crows must have watched on with some trepidation.
Now to our semi-final. After incredible circumstances at Adelaide Oval, we’re playing the Eagles. And our mission is not only to win. We need to play ourselves back into form, very quickly.
I don’t think any of us were surprised at the result of the Qualifying Final on Thursday. Pretty much a continuation of Round 23. It certainly felt that way. At least we were able to fight back and win the second half after a pathetic second quarter. We didn’t fade out the way Geelong did.
But we didn’t lose because of a lack of effort. In the presser, Leon noted we laid 108 tackles, 32 of them in our forward 50, and “we hadn’t done that all year”. Surprisingly, we spent more time inside 50 than the Crows. But it was hard work getting there, and we weren’t able to make it count on the scoreboard. That suggests some sort of structural problem.
Leon was challenged about playing all the tall timber. His explanation was that he regarded Cameron as not falling into that category because of his elite speed. Well, we won’t have to worry about that next week.
As for reported quick fixes, Leon has his work cut out for him. This is not going to be an easy game. After unconvincing wins in rounds 10 and 22, we need to beat the Eagles for a third time in the one season. That doesn’t happen too often. But our problem is much bigger than that.
We’re not playing like a team. We aren’t cohesive. There are too many players not running into space. We're not quick enough. There are too many handballs. Has everyone forgotten the best way to get the ball moving quickly is precision by foot? Perhaps the players are struggling under the weight of their own expectations.
As for who lines up this week, Leon thought the improvised match against the Crows on Friday (which they won 14.9.93 to 6.8.44) would unearth a replacement for Cameron. Surely that can’t be Steve Johnson. He’s just too old and slow, and he didn't make much of an impact anyway. We need someone young and hungry. Tim Taranto or Harry Perryman, who played well, fit the bill. Ryan Griffen also managed to play about 70% of the game across half-back and emerged unscathed, and is apparently being considered. But he’s probably too rusty and we can’t carry anyone. We just need someone fit – and preferably fast.
If Mumford is out injured, Dawson Simpson, who also played well on Friday, will get another chance. He did his job against the Dockers and the Bulldogs, but how will he cope if the Eagles roll the dice and play Nic Naitanui? They have him listed as returning “late 2017 season”. If that’s the case, there’s not much point waiting any longer.
There's no use making too many changes, so all things considered, I think the team will look something like this:
FB: Adam Tomlinson, Phil Davis, Heath Shaw
HB: Nathan Wilson, Aidan Corr, Brett Deledio
C: Lachie Whitfield, Callan Ward, Tom Scully
HF: Josh Kelly, Tim Taranto, Rory Lobb
FF: Toby Greene, Jon Patton, Matt de Boer
RR: Dawson Simpson, Stephen Coniglio, Jacob Hopper
Interchange: Nick Haynes, Harry Himmelberg, Zac Williams, Dylan Shiel
In: Dawson Simpson, Tim Taranto
Out: Jeremy Cameron (hamstring), Shane Mumford (ankle)
Emergencies: Ryan Griffen, Matthew Kennedy, Harry Perryman
Tickets go on sales for competing club members on Monday September 12th from 9am– 1pm. It’s our last visit to Spotless for the year, so we all need to bring along at least one guest, and put an orange scarf on them.
Come on Giants, play a four quarter game. Make a statement and bury the Eagles.
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