Player Watch #32: Mason Wood -

czero

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He really must come in for Garner. Its not grunt we need, its speed and run. We just cant keep him out of the side - he can play medium/small forward like garner without any issues, his speed and agility were all tested as elite during draft.

Plus, again, we just cannot keep sacrificing these kits spots all the time when they are showing some form. Now is the time, its early in the season and we are travelling ok.

On top of that, it likely that the dockers will bring an extra couple of talls in to work through the ruck, so his flexibility with being able to play tall and small is attractive for game day tactics.

LT wont go out of the side after his pressure act saved the game for us. But he would be on notice. Nahas will be gunning for that spot if LT fails to hit his targets again, turner is a chance but I'm not sure his form is there yet.
 

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If we're fair dinkum about maintaining standards by rewarding lower form than carrying underperforming senior players as per second half last year....

........then Wood plays.

I suspect Brad will replace Garner with Wood. But i'd also like to see one or two more changes, to ensure senior players who have struggled over a period of games (we have more than a few) realise through action not talk that a win alone doesn't mean your place is guaranteed to create a ruthless selection environment.

Our selection should always be designed about getting better.
 
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Its a dilemma that the MC face. We lose a high half forward with an excellent defensive side and we have two high half forwards in the ressies tearing it up.

Nahas:

Quick, very good defensively, kicks goals.

Wood:
Quick, average defensively, kicks goals and is an aerial threat.

Freo's defence is a mixed bag but i think their small defenders are average and is where we will expose them. For this game i would bring in Nahas as i could see him kicking 5.
 

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chaelsonnen

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It took him a while to adapt today. With more games into him I think he'll be a goodin.

Question. In the short term can we play both Wood and Garner (when fit) in the same side?
I think so. One of them can play on a wing. I can actually see both (or either one) of them developing into a midfielder later on. Guess its up to Brad to choose who it will be.
 

koshari

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played like he wanted to stay in the team, quite a few disposal errors but whats not to like with those mits, prolly should have slotted the one from 38 out but hell even drewey misses them. i think iam with GR & RS here, hard to demote him for my liking.
 

Thewlis Dish

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Looked nervous, but you can see the class. Needs to recognise he is a beautiful long kick and not look for the short option though.

I get that the defensive efforts and intensity aren't always there, but I think with some guys you give a bit more leeway than others purely because they have that natural ability, and by putting games into them the potential reward is far greater. Wood is a guy that we need to be getting as much senior footy into as possible, as he has everything to be a really dangerous floating third tall.
 
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