changes against melbourne

[pazza]

Hocking stays...only bad game for the season to date. Done enough the previous 11 weeks to stay in.

Out: Zaharakis (needs a spell), McPhee (needs an example to be made of him - senior players need to show the way, he didn't and hasn't all year apart from Anzac Day), Houli

In: Slattery, Winderlich, Fletcher

B: Slattery, Pears, Fletcher
HB: Dempsey, Hooker, Dyson
C: Lovett, Watson, Winderlich
HF: Monfries, Lucas, Davey
F: McVeigh, Lloyd, Prismall
R: Ryder, Stanton, Hocking
Int: Neagle, Reimers, Lonergan, Skipworth
Emerg: Welsh, Daniher, Zaharakis

 

[AndyLesPaul]

OUT: Lonergan, Zaharakis, Reimers (he has to be matchfit.)
IN: Slatts, Winderlich, Fletcher

 

[Kaan]

OUT: Lonergan, Zaharakis, Reimers (he has to be matchfit.)
IN: Slatts, Winderlich, Fletcher

You cant expect Reimers to be AFL ready by playing him in the VFL. Players like McVeigh, Prismall, Reimers and Welsh will get better with every AFL game they play.

 

[azza_24]

I find it funny when people say Skipworth and Houli should be dropped. They have both been very solid the last couple of rounds, if someone is going to be dropped it will be either Lonergan, or a slight chance in Gus.

 

[wazzabp]

Heres a question for you, who will line up on Watts this weekend?

Pears if he plays full forward.

 

[AndyLesPaul]

You cant expect Reimers to be AFL ready by playing him in the VFL. Players like McVeigh, Prismall, Reimers and Welsh will get better with every AFL game they play.

Agreed, but I'd prefer
Slatts Winderlich and Fletcher over the three?
So really, i couldn't think of anyone else

 

[daffo]

It will be hard to squeeze all those players back in. From what Welsh has come back from, do we really expect him to be straight in?
I would want Fletch to come in, along with Winderlich. Slatt's would get a go too, but the outs personally are hard for me. Skippy hasn't done enough, Zaka and maybe Neagle.

 

[Super Gusto]

H Slattery and Winderlich will definetly come in (Slattery is a favourite of the selectors) and a good chance Fletcher also.

Welsh is a slight chance as reports are he played a ripper at Bendigo.
If this is the case Hocking is in Danger as Mcveigh will likely move back into the midfield. However Welsh should be given more of a run at Bendigo to get his fitness levels up.

If Fletcher and/or Hurley come back then Hooker will play as a backup ruckman.

Reimars will retain his spot otherwise he wouldn;t have played against Adelaide.

Houli is likely to be dropped as although very good against the Cats he was pretty sloppy against the Crows and he is a player that needs to be consistent if he is to retain his spot.
Zaharakis will most likely also be dropped.

IN: Slattery, Winderlich, Fletcher
Out: Hocking, Zaharakis and one of Longergan/Skipworth/Neagle (Depending on match ups and game plan).

 

[TheDon35]

I had a fairly lengthy post typed out and my internet decided to crash, and I'm really not in the mood to type it out again.

In summary,

OUT: Jay Neagle, Kyle Reimers, David Zaharakis, Sam Lonergan
IN: Dustin Fletcher, Leroy Jetta, Jason Winderlich, Henry Slattery.

I made a 22 from scratch, rather than coming up with those four names, and they were the unluck four. My rationale is:

• Three tall forwards just doesn't work, and Scotty well and truly earnt his spot
• We lacked a lot of forward pressure
• Winders and Slats are essential to our structure
• McVeigh goes back into the midfield, meaning Reimers gets squeezed out
• Fletch to ruck, because Scotty and Hooker just weren't enough.
• Zaka needs a break

We probably should bring back Jason Johnson as well just to totally go against what we need to be doing in rebuilding the side, not pretending that we are contenders this year.

 

[Kong]

We probably should bring back Jason Johnson as well just to totally go against what we need to be doing in rebuilding the side, not pretending that we are contenders this year.

Don't talk shit all of your life.

 

[Houli2Gumbleton]

What I want to see is Hurley and Fletcher brought in and Hooker played as a second ruckman. Lucas is NOT a ruckman ffs. Let him stay up forward with Lloyd. Neagle maybe dropped because he doesn't do well when both Lloyd and Lucas are playing with him.

 

[Smokin]

Unless there are unforseen problems or injuries which have been unreported we can gather:

Ins: Winderlich, Fletcher (article from Campo) and Slattery just about definites, with Welsh/Jetta/Hurley outside chances although unlikely.

Outs: Knights has all but said Neagle is safe, which suggests Lucas is a chance to get dropped. Reimers, Prismall, McVeigh will be given AFL gametime to get match fit, safe as houses unless sore.

Possible outs are then Lucas, Lonergan, Houli (didnt keep his eye on ball on more than one occasion unfortunately), Hocking, Skippy (not sure where he stands though, seems loved), and Zaharakis/Monfries havnt been getting a whole heap, but probably will be safe.

On paper at least, this will probably be the strongest side we have fielded this year. If Reimers, McVeigh and Prismall can improve again from that game plus 2 further weeks on the track, this may be our best team by far this year.

Hurley, Welsh and Nat Rat will be in contention the following week - things will be looking good gotta day. Just the bloody ruck situation!

 

[ant555]

Can someone tell me who Hocking tried to play on this week?

and the week before that?

and the week before that please, because in a winning game he is doing ok, but in losing weeks he is doing pathetic. As soon as Welsh is fit and ready, then bring him in, we cannot afford to play both Hocking and Welsh in the same team, unless one goes to a backline position.

He had about 6 opponents on Sunday becasue there where no set tags. He was spending about 5 minutes in the midfield and then going back into defence. He had Chris Knights for most of the first quarter and he had only one disposal. In the second quarter he was on Taylor Walker or the loose man in defence when Dempsey had a man. The third quarter he was on several players in defence after spending the first 7 minutes on the bench.
In the last he was Edwrards direct opponet for about 8 minutes but it was not a tag. After that he was in dence again and on the wing for a while.
He did a good job on Knights and walker when he was on them but he had a poor game possession wise becasue his job when he was in the middle for 6 or 7 minutes in the last half was to go head to head with whoever was there and he did not have much impact.

Against Geelong he had Steve Johnson in the fisrt quarter and Johnson had 4 possesions and a goal. The second quarter he has Djerrkura for about 15 minutes and was then switched to the wing where he did not have a taging job and had 15 or so possesions and kicked 2 goals.

He was hardly pathetic in the Geelong game.
Against Adelaide he was good in defence but he needed to win more of the footy when he was in the mid field.

I dont care what you say as you can play both in the same side. Hockings best role is as an inside mid. He has only been thrown the tagging role becasue he is the only one in the side other than Stanton that has the endurance to go for the whole game. He has not done a bad job considering he came into this year with 4 games under his belt , has been thrown into a new position (tagging) that he had not played before and has had to play on top class players most every week.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

We probably should bring back Jason Johnson as well just to totally go against what we need to be doing in rebuilding the side, not pretending that we are contenders this year.

Here,

Buy a ****ing clue.

 

[Yoda_]

He had about 6 opponents on Sunday becasue there where no set tags. He was spending about 5 minutes in the midfield and then going back into defence. He had Chris Knights for most of the first quarter and he had only one disposal. In the second quarter he was on Taylor Walker or the loose man in defence when Dempsey had a man. The third quarter he was on several players in defence after spending the first 7 minutes on the bench.
In the last he was Edwrards direct opponet for about 8 minutes but it was not a tag. After that he was in dence again and on the wing for a while.
He did a good job on Knights and walker when he was on them but he had a poor game possession wise becasue his job when he was in the middle for 6 or 7 minutes in the last half was to go head to head with whoever was there and he did not have much impact.

Against Geelong he had Steve Johnson in the fisrt quarter and Johnson had 4 possesions and a goal. The second quarter he has Djerrkura for about 15 minutes and was then switched to the wing where he did not have a taging job and had 15 or so possesions and kicked 2 goals.

He was hardly pathetic in the Geelong game.
Against Adelaide he was good in defence but he needed to win more of the footy when he was in the mid field.

I dont care what you say as you can play both in the same side. Hockings best role is as an inside mid. He has only been thrown the tagging role becasue he is the only one in the side other than Stanton that has the endurance to go for the whole game. He has not done a bad job considering he came into this year with 4 games under his belt , has been thrown into a new position (tagging) that he had not played before and has had to play on top class players most every week.

who would you play as the tagger then... or would you play them both as taggers... considering we are an attacking side. a team that consists of Welsh, Hocking, Monfries possibly, slows us down a little bit.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

considering we are an attacking side.

Which does not mean we need 22 attacking players.

 

[Boucks09]

Haha this board is becoming a little like the Labor Party.

The Left - Go all out to win at whatever cost
The Right - Only play guys that are 22 or under

I don't think we can know for certainty who will come in our out until they guys train next week.

I'd think that if fit Winderlich, Slattery and Fletcher would be automatic ins.

Winderlich could be a straight swap for Zaharakis
Slattery could be in for McVeigh who is in for Lonergan
Fletcher could be in for Hooker who is in for Lucas who is in for ????

???? = Neagle, Monfries, Skipworth, Reimers, McPhee

I really can't see who we will drop if Fletcher comes in. Glad I've got a week to think

 

[ant555]

who would you play as the tagger then... or would you play them both as taggers... considering we are an attacking side. a team that consists of Welsh, Hocking, Monfries possibly, slows us down a little bit.

Hocking is not a natural tagger. He is more suited to playing an inside mid role or a role in defence.
The fact will remain that even when Welsh does get back to senior footy he is simply not going to slip into a major midfield role straight away. He is likely to be 6 to 8 weeks away from getting near his best footy.

I would sooner have Welsh forward in front of Monfries anyway. In 2007 he played the defensive forward role very well.

Anyway attacking sides are not all about being fast. They are about quick ball movement. If Lovett, Dempsey, Winderlich and Davey are all in the side then we still have enough pace to run through the lines.

 

[Knight Ryders]

Watson desperately needs some help as the inside mid, be that from Hocking (where I agree Ant that this is his best position) or from Welsh and an improving McVeigh when he returns. ATM, if you shut down Watson, you shut down the Bombers. Too easy for the opposition to work it out.

 

[Robo303]

Re: Changes vs Melbourne (Split Round, Long Discussion)

I spoke to Hurley, post match as I was sitting in front of the Essendon players and I asked him when hes likely to get back. He said " not too sure
but the wrist is still sore", I was going to ask about the split round giving him a chance to get in, But a bunch of girls started squealing and said "MICHAEL MICHAEL! can i have a photo".. so he moved along into the rooms

 

[efcboy]

Re: Changes vs Melbourne (Split Round, Long Discussion)

IMO hocking is neither quick enough or skilfull enough to be anything other than a tagger. as long as knights is intent on implementing a quick/skilfull gameplan then there is no room for either hocking or lonergan when essendon is at full strength. surely welsh (when fit) is a better alternative as a tagger. skipworth is not that quick either but has better skills and is a handy goal sneak - i'm not saying he's best 22 but he might be closer than hocking/lonergan.

however when essendon's midfield is fully fit and consists of watson, mcveigh and prismall then perhaps we'll be wondering which opponents will be tagging them?

 

[Kaan]

Re: Changes vs Melbourne (Split Round, Long Discussion)

Been refreshing AFL R12 Squads page for 2 hours waiting for our team.... then realised it was split round.

 

[HighettBomber]

I'm surprised there is not more love for Hocking, I think he has been a revalation this year, both down back and in the midfield. His skills have improved a lot, he is hard at it, can win his own ball, and he can run all day.

 

[WOTTAMACHINE]

Re: Changes vs Melbourne (Split Round, Long Discussion)

I spoke to Hurley, post match as I was sitting in front of the Essendon players and I asked him when hes likely to get back. He said " not too sure
but the wrist is still sore", I was going to ask about the split round giving him a chance to get in, But a bunch of girls started squealing and said "MICHAEL MICHAEL! can i have a photo".. so he moved along into the rooms

When he is right to go, do you believe he will spend a considerable amount of time at Bendigo or would he be the sort where he plays 1 game then comes back into the senior side?

 

[Yoda_]

Ant... Can you please justify why you like Hocking as a tagger, he is neither quick, nor skillful enough to stick with the best players in the leage, yes he may be an option down back, and right now, we dont really have any other options, but why would you prefer Hocking over Welsh?

And Welsh forward, what about him down back, and Mcveigh taking Monfries spot at HF?

just throwing some ideas out there