Change the side, this week?

[Turbocat]

Tough gig at selection table this week.

I'm very happy with the 3 super talls King/Ottens/Blake. I really would like to carry Blake as long as possible . His reaction time is down, the longer he plays the real stuff the quicker he will up his contribution rate. We MUST NOT be in the situation of being without rucks come finals.Middfielders get roated all day long so why not have one tall sitting on the pine. As Ottens gets up to match fittness he will join in the roation , so that we have one in the ruck, one in the pocket and one on the pine.

To me we must get Ricco in the side somhow. We will not win like we did all year. Last year he showed his value as an impact player who can immediately add score board pressure.Not to mention, not just for Ricco, the value of having another 300 game player at Geelong sholud not be underestimated. Later in ther year when playing interstate he will probably be rested, so its this week id say but who gos out?

The obvious candicates, well really there are no obvious canidates, the obvious names would be Brynes and Slade. Im not a huge Byrnes fan but he impressed my yesterday.Our new empahsis on quickness of movement suits him because it allows for a less presice kick into the forwardline as long as it gets in there at pace. Cant see how he gets dropped.Slade might get the short straw but he also impressed me. I love players who seek contact, maybe not the most polished player but boy he has attitude. Take him on at your peril.
The thing is being on the Rookie list means his position at the club is always a temp job. He has already , bar any injury, shown enough to be re listed IMO, but who else can make way for Ricco? Mackie, Gardiner maybe but..

Everywhere just seemed so balanced, and in fact I dont think there was a player who didnt add to the team . Like I said, tough gig

 

[JUBJUB]

To me we must get Ricco in the side somhow. We will not win like we did all year. Last year he showed his value as an impact player who can immediately add score board pressure.Not to mention, not just for Ricco, the value of having another 300 game player at Geelong sholud not be underestimated. Later in ther year when playing interstate he will probably be rested, so its this week id say but who gos out?

Ricco didn't play in the VFL,but should be back this week.He had hamstring soreness.

One change
IN : Dog
OUT : Either Charlie or Mr Mackie [I know which I'd prefer gone ]

 

[nananana catman]

In: Ablett Johnson
Out: Gardiner Blake

 

[Seb]

Blake has to stay in the team, no doubt about it.

King and Ottens only played about 10 minutes each, each quarter yesterday. I do not want to subject Mooney to the ruck again, his body won't hold up.

I'd just bring in Dog for Charlie or Mackie.

 

[costanza23]

It sounds like Steve Johnson is ready to come back into the AFL side for Round 2 and I think Mackie might have to make way for him (I would have prefered Gardiner to go back to the VFL, but he got the two goals). Also if Ricco's ready to come back in, but does he need some practice in the VFL first?
I think the changes for this week will be:
IN: S. Johnson
OUT: Mackie

If maybe even Kingsley is ready to come into the side, Blake would have to make way - because King, Ottens and Mooney can do the rucking (I don't think we need Blake, but he needs to experience).

 

[catempire]

The only reason to make changes should be that it could better our side for the coming game (sounds obvious, doesn't it!).

The only way I can see our side being stronger next week is by having Steve Johnson and maybe Kingsley in. Riccardi will need more VFL time. Nathan needs to kick a few VFL bags to be considered again given his poor NAB form. Kelly and Harley won't be right yet.

The hardest part is picking who to drop. Not one player deserves it on yesterday's performance. Even my bogey player, Charlie, had a very good game and deserves to retain his spot.

Mackie probably had the least influence but still did a couple of nice things and laid 6 tackles (I think). He would be stiff to be dropped but if it meant bringing Dog in, it's a necessary evil.

Kingsley is harder. Firstly, his hammy must be 100% right. Secondly, the forward line functioned pretty well without him and no one stands out to be the obvious candidate for the axe. My first thought was Blake but I agree with other posts that it is important he stays. To be conservative, I'd give Kent another week off and see what happens with the form of Gardiner et al.

 

[GeeCat]

I hope we give guys like Kent a run in the two's before we bring him back in.

We're only one round into the season; we've got time on our side at the moment, we can afford to give these guys at least one run, be it a full game or a couple of quarters, in the VFL as a precaution of sorts.

It's a luxury we've got on hand now, especially with the way their back-ups and the rest of the team have been performing. Use it.

 

[Ricketts]

For mine:

In: Kent, SJ
Out: Gardiner, Mackie.

 

[cats2rise]

Gardiner did play ok on saturday, and i didnt see to much of Mackie.
Shoudlnt make to many changes, the whole team played well this week. Would like to fit RIccardi in, but can't take out anyone for his spot.

 

[Rosso]

Can we ask the AFL for a supersub??????

 

[ablettallica]

For mine:

In: Kent, SJ
Out: Gardiner, Mackie.

Same for me.

I cant see Mackie and Dog in the side together - one or the other.

 

[rizzo]

OUT: Gardiner & Mackie
IN: Kingsley and Ablett

Im liking us using Blake and King in the ruck and Otto as a forward.

 

[catempire]

Same for me.

I cant see Mackie and Dog in the side together - one or the other.

There's no way Gardiner will be dropped. He played dozens of bad games in a row and didn't get dropped so he won't be after playing a good one.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

I would prefer that Kingsley missed altogether and had a rest rather than play him through the VFL.

 

[thehoff]

In: S.Johnson, P. Riccardi, N.Ablett

Out: Mackie, Gardiner, Slade

I know slade is a massive call and does not warrany being dropped but the above players in Nath, Johnno and Ricco would be ahead of all of them IMO.

Kingsley to wait another week to ensure the hammy is right.

As jack says, pick your best team even if form does not warrant.

 

[carn_the_cattas]

Ricco didn't play VFL so I don't think he'll return this week.

 

[Turbocat]

Ricco didn't play VFL so I don't think he'll return this week.

I dont think thats a huge issue. The question is "Is Ricco fit" , if so in he goes IMO. I know its hard on someone in the A's but the VFL side has guys hard done by too.
Prismall did enough to be still in the side. Not my favourite player but Spencer did enough to earn a real game. Nathan kicked 6 with some strong marks. Kingsley is one of Bombers favourites so he will probably be recalled.

A bit sort of related to this is "game time opportunity". We probably lost Thurley, for nothing, because of GTO. Our depth will be an attractive target at years end and Im sure some reps will be getting in some players ears.It may be, that we would be better grouping a bundle of guys for a early pick than lose more for zip. I know its not what some want to hear but thats the way I see it.

 

[ablettjnr]

Kingsley is one of Bombers favourites so he will probably be recalled.

Hey, you would be too if you were as sexy as him. Not to mention that he's our top goal scorer last few years.

 

[cats2rise]

Hey, you would be too if you were as sexy as him. Not to mention that he's our top goal scorer last few years.

woah hang on, i dont think any of us were ever questioning his looks

 

[scottydeewah]

Mackie us useless, drop him ASAP.

 

[Kurtis G]

Why didnt N. Ablett play and will he be back this week?

 

[Copernicus]

I wouldn't expect any changes except KK for Mackie and maybe Nablett for Gardiner, although I would be surprised. Let SJ and Ricco get a little more match fitness, as the midfield seemed to serve us extremely well over the weekend.

 

[jess_555]

Why didnt N. Ablett play and will he be back this week?

Don't forget that Nath only just made it into our team last season mainly because we had so many players out injured. I don't think he will get a game for awhile in the snr's unless we are in need of a tall forward. ALTHOUGH kicking 6 goals in the VFL will get the selection people thinking! ATM we don't have room for him, he hasn't had the best amount of posessions in the last couple of games he has played. Don't get me wrong I think his an AWESOME player and has so much natural talent... but at the moment we have some more consistant players to choose ahead of him (Otto, Kingsley[when not injured] and Kingy). Go Nath!

 

[rickster]

Early mail is Playfair out this week, just saw him walking around uni with his arm in a sling so he would have to make a miraculous recovery....

Straight swap for Kingsley?

 

[jess_555]

Yep a straight swap Kingsley-IN Playfair-OUT would be easy and a smooth swap. Poor Playfair, but someone would have to go out anyway if Kent was to play.

I feel so sorry for the selectors. It's probably almost as hard to choose players at the moment as it was when we had 50 million players injured at the end of last season.