3 Changes we need come finals time

[didaka]

Every week the footy is in Melbourne I make the trip to the G or Dome (usually the G) and watch the boys run it out. It's been a great year to watch footy so far this year. Exciting times as we all know.

Over the last 4-5 weeks I have been quite impressed with what I have seen, win or loose and even parts of the Geelong game (which I also thought was our worst) had me thinking we were a deffinate contender this season. With or without a solid tap ruckman.

Anyway a couple of things have stood out over the recent weeks if we're going to contend, and they are all very fixable with what we have in 07 with what we have to come back.

Firstly while the midfield have used the footy and carried it well, and even though Heater and Goldsack have done well in this department, we have lacked an extra player out of defence to carry the footy. Ben Johnson is a little out of form, but worth persisting in, but Rhyce Shaw is our guy for this caper. While sometimes his finishing skills lack a little polish he breaks up play and carries the footy as good as anyone. He is a deffinate if we are to continue on.

While our defence has been workman like with some young enthusiasm helping us along, we need that bit of extra polish, as well as someone to take that important role if needed. Jimmy does it better than anyone else going around. James Clement would have helped us to victory in both the Hawthorn and Melbourne game. This is an area that would be found out if he doesn't return come finals time. It also releases Goldsack which we have yet to see what he can achieve with out the added pressure. Although he thrives on it a little.

And finally, as Malthouse said, Sean Rusling adds another dimension to the side. Unsure if it is confirmed, but Rusling makes his comeback this week. His base level of fitness would be flying, but he needs match-practise. Moving into round 17 if everything went accordingly you would think if he was able to be at the stage where he could have an impact by round 22 he would be worth going with. If not however we could use Ben Reid. A third option would come in very handy. But at this stage, I would like to have Rusling lining up. Buckley would be perfect, but it's obviously increasingly doubtful that will happen.

Our Ruck department is weak due to a lack of solid back-up (lets not forget that what Fraser lacks in the centre bounce, he still makes up for with a contest, and really is starting to hurt his opponenet around the ground) and although I will put up my hand and state I have knocked Guy Richards a hell of a lot early on this year, we need to stick with him at the minute, because Bryan is looking like a lost cause more so each time he takes the field. Plus we need to pick a back-up ruckman and stick with him instead of chopping and changing week in week out so that he can maybe get used to the flow of the alete level.

Of course you have to look at who goes out of the round 16 side to make way for Shaw, Clement and Rusling.

Lonie is an easy target at the minute. He has been known to been carried by teammates and has been a passenger on more than 1 occassion over his years at the club. I honestly don't have him in my best 22, and would be quite happy to see him make way for a bloke less talented by foot, but ready to put his body on the line for our side. Lonie is out for mine.

Next it would break my heart if we went all the way and left him out, but Licca, while he has been ok once or twice since returning, I would ommitt him before other players in the side. He is gritty and works hard, but so does O'Bree, Swan, Lockyer and Burns. Licuria would be another that would have to be looked at to fit in these 3 blokes.

And unfortunately you have Shane Wakelin. He has been a fabulous player for us over the last 6 or 7 years since we drafted him, and he is in great form, but would you have him infront of Presti, Clement, O'Brien or Maxwell. Each of those 4 bring a lot to our side. At least if Wakelin goes out we all know we have someone to bring in. But it will be hard to watch if he gets ommitted.

And there it is. I think fielding that side gives us our best crack at winning a hard earned 15th flag. It's been done before, but this is the side that will give us our best chance.

B: Clement, Prestigiacomo, H Shaw
HB: Goldsack, O'Brien, R Shaw
C: Lockyer, Burns, Pendlebury
HF: Thomas, Cloke, Davis
F: Didak, Rocca, Rusling
Foll: Fraser, O'Bree, Swan
Inter: Richards, Clarke, Maxwell, Johnson

Emerg: Wakelin, Lonie, Licuria

 

[AsianWithAFro]

Rusling not worthy of his final spot hasn't proved enough to show he can step up when it counts.

 

[hellfire]

I agree with your ins and outs except for Rusling. I think he will be part of 2008, not 2007. Although I hope he proves me wrong, and rips it up at Willi, demanding a spot. Would love to see him firing along side Cloke and Ant.

At this stage, IN: R.Shaw, Clement OUT: Lonie, Wakelin.

Then if Buckley is ready, or if Rusling or Reid or Cook tear the house down at Willi, they come in for Licca.

 

[jimmy_clement#8]

B: Clement, Prestigiacomo, H Shaw
HB: Goldsack, O'Brien, R Shaw
C: Lockyer, Burns, Pendlebury
HF: Thomas, Cloke, Davis
F: Didak, Rocca, Rusling
Foll: Fraser, O'Bree, Swan
Inter: Richards, Clarke, Maxwell, Johnson

Emerg: Wakelin, Lonie, Licuria

That side would win finals this year, emphasis on the plural form of the word 'final' there. The only thing, and its a major one, is that Rusling would need to be fit and healthy and have had a few decent hitouts before donning black and white in September. That said, if he could do that, no doubt he'd be worthy of a spot, as I reckon someone like him, or a healthy Bucks, is all that's missing from our forward line; another leading forward out of the goalsquare. But I think we finally have a crop of small to medium blokes to really make a proper assault in Spring. The only worrying variable is how the big blokes go, especially the form of our tall forwards and ruckmen. So much depends on how Stretch and Pebbles go. Without them two being at least effective, let alone good, we go nowhere. And how long can Trav keep going, he is only 20. Still, its looking a lot better than I envisiged before round 1.

 

[brookers#5]

So no one rates Holland as a chance to get back in, he did look slow when he played us but he would be close wouldn't he.

 

[didaka]

So no one rates Holland as a chance to get back in, he did look slow when he played us but he would be close wouldn't he.

I'm more worried about the achilles problem than his form or talent. Achilles are a pain in the rectum and do not seem to get better.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Achilles are a pain in the rectum .

You shouldnt put your ankle up there.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

So no one rates Holland as a chance to get back in, he did look slow when he played us but he would be close wouldn't he.

Its a choice between Holland and Licuria for the last "old blokes" spot in the 22. We can no longer afford to have them all in the side, as we are too slow in the midfield. You cant leave out O'Bree and Burns, so Holland really has to force Licuria out, and Licuria is a dual best and fairest and a proven finals performer.

 

[3066]

You shouldnt put your ankle up there.

LOL!

 

[mdc]

B: Clement, Prestigiacomo, H Shaw
HB: Goldsack, O'Brien, R Shaw
C: Lockyer, Burns, Pendlebury
HF: Thomas, Cloke, Davis
F: Didak, Rocca, Rusling
Foll: Fraser, O'Bree, Swan
Inter: Richards, Clarke, Maxwell, Johnson

Emerg: Wakelin, Lonie, Licuria

He won't be back, he shouldn't come back, and honestly I don't think he's in our best 22 when fit unless he's playing out of the goalsquare. Needs to go to willi and prove he can chase and tackle and do anything at ground-level. Would much rather see Cox in there - and depending on opponent we could leave Richards out and have Fraser go it alone.

Our backline will be probably up there with the Cats once the great number 8 comes back, so I wouldn't worry about that too much.

 

[Lockyer24]

Clement - yes
Shaw - probably
Rusling - no, still has a bit to work on not the least his fitness/match touch

Shannon Cox could be our finals X Factor, either forward or down back.

 

[4#Didak#4]

So no one rates Holland as a chance to get back in, he did look slow when he played us but he would be close wouldn't he.

The only way Holland can get back is that he can show he can become an effective tagger again. This is really the only reason he has stayed at Collingwood because he was an excellent tagger. However he needs fitness to be able to do this & he is a long way from being able to run with the elite in the competition.

 

[MarkT]

I can’t see Rusling being a serious consideration. His form pre injury (ie his career) doesn’t warrant it and he hasn’t played all year. He has potential, albeit severely limited by his injury prone shoulders, but he hasn’t actually done enough at AFL or VFL level to suggest he should be slotted in at the expense of a winning forward set up. If things fall in a hole from here on then maybe but I suspect if that happens there won’t be a final for him to play in.

Rusling has to bide his time for now and really show a lot of improvement next year unless we get a serious injury toll. As it stands he’s behind Reid as a call up option for September. I am actually thankful Reid has had a taste and we can have some confidence he can contribute if needed. That is the position we should have put ourselves in in 2003.