Strategy Backups for Finals - on the outer but just as important!

[John Who]

Ok, so we're guaranteed of 2 home Finals, having already consolidated top 2 spot. Round 23 is crucial in that we must rest the players with the most "niggles", and by the same token, we must play the players who we think might still make it in our best 22 or players who are possible to play in Finals should any further injuries to occur to our team.
This thread isn't about who we should be resting, but merely to focus on who we should be playing in Round 23 as backups for the Finals. Who are your preferred "backups"? State your players and state your case!

Here are my preferred backups:
1. Paul Seedsman - good speed and generally a handy accumulator of the ball. I can see him play Atkins/Cameron's role.
2. Andy Otten - like him or not, he is our most versatile player outside the best 22. He's handy because he can fill in a number of spots, should an injury occur in-game situations.
3. Kyle Hartigan - didn't see him play in the SANFL so unsure of his current form, but might be important to give him a run, should an injury occur to any of our defenders in the Finals.
4. Milera - generally a good user of the ball. If he can attack hard, he might be an X factor in the Finals. Can play in the midfield flanks as well as forward flanks.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

My thinking for the finals is

B: Brown, Talia, Hartigan/Keath
HB: Smith, Lever, Laird
C: Sloane, Mrouch, #
HF: Lynch, Walker, Knight
F: Betts, Jenkins, McGovern
R: Jacobs, Brouch, Douglas
I: Kelly, Greenwood & 3 of Mackay/Atkins/Seedsman/Cameron/Menzel

Hampton has probably just run out of time unless puts in a big game next week.

 

[John Who]

My thinking for the finals is

B: Brown, Talia, Hartigan/Keath
HB: Smith, Lever, Laird
C: Sloane, Mrouch, #
HF: Lynch, Walker, Knight
F: Betts, Jenkins, McGovern
R: Jacobs, Brouch, Douglas
I: Kelly, Greenwood & 3 of Mackay/Atkins/Seedsman/Cameron/Menzel

Hampton has probably just run out of time unless puts in a big game next week.

I like your setup. I totally forgot about Menzel. I think him and Milera are around the mark and probably can play a similar role. Shame that Hampton has come back a bit too late for what was a long term injury. Unless he blitz it next SANFL round, I can't see him playing on the senior list this year.

 

[mattymac]

Atm, if we're only gonna get 12 disposals sprayed like an unmanned firehose from Cameron I would prefer 12 laser guided darts from Milera.

Seed must be eyeing Atkins' spot too. Terrible disposal under pressure

 

[chazwazza]

I've asked this on a couple of threads now without generating much debate or interest so apologies if I'm becoming repetitive but I think it's an interesting thing to ponder.

The reserves stuffed up a prime opportunity to take a step forward into finals but along with everyone else contending for fifth spot they're tripping themselves up.

So what does the club set in place should they not qualify for SANFL finals? Do the 5-10 players on the fringe of senior selection just rely on training sessions or is it worth organising a trial game at some point during the finals?

Are the club's needs better serviced with trial games as compared to the restrictions of SANFL finals where they're restricted with 17 AFL players IIRC.
In trial games they can have a 10 man bench and give some senior players a hit out for a quarter or two and hopefully not expose players to as much chance of injury in a cut throat SANFL final.

At this time of year it's important to keep your squad as primed as possible, what's the best way for the club to manage this?

 

[Murray2503]

Cheney, Hartigan, Seedsman and Hampton are the only players that may come into the team if needed imo. Milera no. Menzel no.

 

[1970crow]

I've asked this on a couple of threads now without generating much debate or interest so apologies if I'm becoming repetitive but I think it's an interesting thing to ponder.

The reserves stuffed up a prime opportunity to take a step forward into finals but along with everyone else contending for fifth spot they're tripping themselves up.

So what does the club set in place should they not qualify for SANFL finals? Do the 5-10 players on the fringe of senior selection just rely on training sessions or is it worth organising a trial game at some point during the finals?

Are the club's needs better serviced with trial games as compared to the restrictions of SANFL finals where they're restricted with 17 AFL players IIRC.
In trial games they can have a 10 man bench and give some senior players a hit out for a quarter or two and hopefully not expose players to as much chance of injury in a cut throat SANFL final.

At this time of year it's important to keep your squad as primed as possible, what's the best way for the club to manage this?

They banged on about match simulation training the year before last. But we learned last year that we'd rather take in players who are significantly hampered rather than upset our continuity credits.

 

[hellboy1975]

I'm of the opinion that you probably don't bring in players that have been out for a while into a finals side, unless their of the elite type. I think at this time of year, a side that is settled is more important than one where you swap one marginal player for another.

On this basis, I don't think we'd see Hartigan, Cheney or Hampton back in the side for 2017. Out of those three I'd say Hartigan has the most runs on the board.

I think you could make a case for Otten for Keath, it'd be a tougher call for Milera to get back in.
Seedsman is an interesting one. Personally I think he's a good addition, but not sure who I'd have him replace.

 

[crows dude]

I've asked this on a couple of threads now without generating much debate or interest so apologies if I'm becoming repetitive but I think it's an interesting thing to ponder.

The reserves stuffed up a prime opportunity to take a step forward into finals but along with everyone else contending for fifth spot they're tripping themselves up.

So what does the club set in place should they not qualify for SANFL finals? Do the 5-10 players on the fringe of senior selection just rely on training sessions or is it worth organising a trial game at some point during the finals?

Are the club's needs better serviced with trial games as compared to the restrictions of SANFL finals where they're restricted with 17 AFL players IIRC.
In trial games they can have a 10 man bench and give some senior players a hit out for a quarter or two and hopefully not expose players to as much chance of injury in a cut throat SANFL final.

At this time of year it's important to keep your squad as primed as possible, what's the best way for the club to manage this?

Reserves can still make it. Eagles should beat Centrals hopefully, we beaat South and then hopefully West play out of their skin for pride to beat Glenelg

 

[chazwazza]

Reserves can still make it. Eagles should beat Centrals hopefully, we beaat South and then hopefully West play out of their skin for pride to beat Glenelg

I know they can but they fluffed a prime opportunity to emerge from the pack this weekend and failed.
The question that I'm posing is if they don't what should the club set in place to keep these players ready. The other thing that I'm posing is which scenario suits the club more, SANFL finals restricted by AFL player numbers and a 3 man bench or trial games with an unlimited bench?

 

[adelaidecrows]

I've asked this on a couple of threads now without generating much debate or interest so apologies if I'm becoming repetitive but I think it's an interesting thing to ponder.

The reserves stuffed up a prime opportunity to take a step forward into finals but along with everyone else contending for fifth spot they're tripping themselves up.

So what does the club set in place should they not qualify for SANFL finals? Do the 5-10 players on the fringe of senior selection just rely on training sessions or is it worth organising a trial game at some point during the finals?

Are the club's needs better serviced with trial games as compared to the restrictions of SANFL finals where they're restricted with 17 AFL players IIRC.
In trial games they can have a 10 man bench and give some senior players a hit out for a quarter or two and hopefully not expose players to as much chance of injury in a cut throat SANFL final.

At this time of year it's important to keep your squad as primed as possible, what's the best way for the club to manage this?

The extra players will likely just do extra intense match simulation training on Saturdays. Can't imagine it will be much fun for those involved but all they can do is be prepared as best they can in case of a call up.

 

[Coopers]

Menzel has been building a bit in the SANFL. Seedsman too.

But both were s**t last time they got a go in the seniors.

 

[dogs105]

Thommo might be handy to have tucked away

 

[Alwaysacrow]

Interesting thread. The choice of the fringe players will obviously come down to injuries 1st and recent form plus team balance running a close 2nd and 3rd. Hopefully we'll have no injuries to our current best 22 so we don't have to make that decision but if we do it will be interesting to see which of the fringe players are used.

 

[Alwaysacrow]

Thommo might be handy to have tucked away

Yeah......tucked away permanently.

 

[John Who]

They banged on about match simulation training the year before last. But we learned last year that we'd rather take in players who are significantly hampered rather than upset our continuity credits.

I feel that this season is much different, but for the better. Last year the team had very few injuries, and were playing consistently well (maybe except that last round game). So they didn't get a chance to trial many new players. For example, no one was playing bad enough for us to trial someone like Greenwood or Keath.
This year, with the spate of injuries and/or poor form, we have no choice but to try several players throughout the season. And I feel we're in a much more confident position to try someone who is 100% fit when a player is suffering from niggles. We have several players who are ready and firing to go eg. Otten, Seedsman, Milera, Menzel. Last year, we just couldn't be that confident in picking a fringe player to play in the Finals as there was too much unknown about them.

 

[VictorianCrow85]

Thommo might be handy to have tucked away

More useful retired and off our list.

 

[DD#23]

Menzel has been building a bit in the SANFL. Seedsman too.

But both were s**t last time they got a go in the seniors.

Seed hadn't played in the AFL for over a bloody year and was hardly "s**t"

 

[skoobydoo]

More useful retired and off our list.

I just cannot understand the Thommo scenario for this year at all. In fact fail to see any forthright management of his demise over the past couple of seasons. Bewildering!

 

[VictorianCrow85]

I just cannot understand the Thommo scenario for this year at all. In fact fail to see any forthright management of his demise over the past couple of seasons. Bewildering!

Totally agree, if we signed him purely on the understanding he'd be in the SANFL teaching our young kids fine but the fact it wasn't done on that basis is bewildering.

 

[Crowhorse]

Milera NOT ready.

For back ups in finals you need experienced guys ready to go that can hold their nerve. Otten and Hartigan are first if fit, then Cheney, Hampton if fit for mid, then Seedsman. Menzel for specialist forward backup (if Otten already used / unavailable).

Quite frankly though if a mid in the current line up goes down, we're toast.

 

[Apsaalooke]

Thommo might be handy to have tucked away

Lets give him a farewell game in the GF for sentimental reasons. Along with Otto, and maybe VB and Radar on the bench - great servants of the club

 

[dogs105]

Lets give him a farewell game in the GF for sentimental reasons. Along with Otto, and maybe VB and Radar on the bench - great servants of the club

Why would we do that?

 

[Apsaalooke]

Why would we do that?

 

[John Who]

I just cannot understand the Thommo scenario for this year at all. In fact fail to see any forthright management of his demise over the past couple of seasons. Bewildering!

It's a dual role Thommo has this year:
1. leadership for our young SANFL team
2. backup for injuries to our inside mids
I can argue his 3rd role is to act as a barometer for any of our SANFL players to gauge whether they can make it in the AFL. Get past Thommo in the performance stakes, and you deserve to have a shot in the big league.