Unofficial Preview 2nd Elimination Final 2023 - St Kilda v GWS Giants, 3.20 pm 9 September, MCG

[Giant Strides]

Looking through finals I’m feeling a gws vs collingwood grand final. One game at a time though. Butler and higgins are a threat this game. Maybe Ash and whitfield on them?

Depends on the make-up of the side. If Taylor is in, then Idun will likely to go to one; he's the better 1 v 1 defender with speed and can rebound. Taylor-Buckley-Himmelberg will pick up the taller players. If not, then Idun will be needed on one of the taller forwards. It's likely that Perryman will be used as well, he's our defensive defender. We'll rotate all of those players, so it's unlikely to be 100% of the time whoever does pick them up.

 

[ragzztoriches]

Just to really hammer home how much of a defensive gun Taylor really is and how much better he is than every other kpd in the comp.

 

[Giant Strides]

View attachment 1792979

Just to really hammer home how much of a defensive gun Taylor really is and how much better he is than every other kpd in the comp.

Yep, then add in his defensive 1-on-1 loss rate & win rate as well.

 

[PaythePerryman]

Taylor would be a huge inclusion. Just a massive difference having Buckley playing that second tall role. Makes us reeeallly hard to score on. Perfect match up for King.
I think our Mids could get hold of the Saints. Really want Bedford back. To play a final in his first year with us would be huge.

 

[Giant Strides]

Here's a graph with the Defensive 1-on-1 loss rate (Y-axis) versus number of defensive contests (X-axis) for Key Defenders:

(They don't have the option for the actual win rate, but previous stories this year had identified Taylor was leading in that regard.)

Jack Buckley gets to the most contests, and still has a very good loss rate; having 2 such defensive guns in our team (if we can keep them both on the park together) sets up an amazing defence.

 

[Danny88]

Jeez he'd be handy but playing with fire with an achilles.
I'd love them both in of course.
If we are able to get over the Saints (big IF). I'd rather have Taylor for the next games

As someone who has suffered chronic Achilles tendonitis, I can vouch from several physios that the pain didn’t put me at significantly further risk of an Achilles tear etc. it is painful and debilitating (can only run at 80%)

But it might not be a ‘risk’ as much as it is a performance thing if that makes sense

Ps a lot of guessing in my post here about what his problem might be

 

[Danny88]

Depends on the make-up of the side. If Taylor is in, then Idun will likely to go to one; he's the better 1 v 1 defender with speed and can rebound. Taylor-Buckley-Himmelberg will pick up the taller players. If not, then Idun will be needed on one of the taller forwards. It's likely that Perryman will be used as well, he's our defensive defender. We'll rotate all of those players, so it's unlikely to be 100% of the time whoever does pick them up.

I’d like to see idun to Higgins

I rate that matchup

 

[Giant Pete]

I’d like to see idun to Higgins

I rate that matchup

Whoever it is, just don’t let him out the back…. Loves a goal out the back as any good small forward does.

 

[Danny88]

Do we use ward in a defensive role like we did against the dogs?

Locking up Sinclair could go a long way to hurting their rebound and ball movement

 

[Giant Strides]

Official preview is up, so let's continue the discussion there: Preview - 2nd Elimination Final 2023 - St Kilda Saints v GWS Giants, 3.20 pm 9 September, MCG