Preview Changes and Preview v West Coast - PRELIM EDITION

[Jay1986]

Yep. Fritta and Tyson have both been valuable contributors, in the roles they’ve been playing - nothing wrong with them. The teams chemistry has been good, and they’re just functioning so well as a group. Smith is not a good inclusion for fritta; and to those who keep insisting on bringing Tyson into it - he wouldn’t be a good inclusion for Tyson either.

This is a rubbishy move and reeks of panic stations.

Anyway, go dees.

I'm sure any other team would have done horses for courses, (most teams these days is all about matchups!!)

 

[MAXIMUM GRUNDAGE]

Buddy is soft......
Next one please!!!

TBH that was only the official story.
I feel that the unofficial reason was another strike.

 

[harry000]

On Smith, was having a break out game when he hurt himself. I know it was against gc but still

 

[Jay1986]

TBH that was only the official story.
I feel that the unofficial reason was another strike.

Yep your probably right on that one
Good luck for both teams on Sat,
Whom ever wins hopefully will beat Richmond!!!

 

[Asada Mao]

Don't mind someone (anyone) being dropped but really should have been Bugg coming in.

I've never even heard of this Smith person.

Joel Smith had a pretty good career at the saints and hawks. i would be pretty worried bringing him in as his last game was in 2007

 

[Cold Sober]

Surely Fritta is injured, no other reason not to be playing. We'd give you Heppell, Baguley and throw in Bellchambers for Casey to have him. It's a s**t selection.

 

[BG32]

Reckon they told Fritsch early on. Looked more awkward than ever doing media, would be hard to talk about a game when you're uncertain to play it.

 

[BG32]

Surely Fritta is injured, no other reason not to be playing. We'd give you Heppell, Baguley and throw in Bellchambers for Casey to have him. It's a s**t selection.

Was moving fine at training, didn't look enthused though. Probably looked at his GPS numbers and they showed fatigue

 

[Daemon]

Don't agree with the selection but happy to break the coaches. But, if we make the GF, Fritsch should come straight back in - reward for effort

 

[demondavey]

Reckon they told Fritsch early on. Looked more awkward than ever doing media, would be hard to talk about a game when you're uncertain to play it.

Surely he didn’t do an interview after being told he was out?

 

[demondavey]

Don't agree with the selection but happy to break the coaches. But, if we make the GF, Fritsch should come straight back in - reward for effort

If smith plays a blinder do they drop him?

 

[Daemon]

If smith plays a blinder do they drop him?

Yes

 

[Topkent]

Fritsch has averaged 14 disposals, bit over 3 marks and 2 tackles the last 5 weeks.

Had 1 contested possession against Geelong. Whilst I think he is a beautifully skilled player and will play alot of footy for Melbourne he hasn't played well in defence and is wasted down there.

Smith is like Frost last year, good athlete not a great footballer. Guessing they want him because you need to defend each of their front 6.

Wouldn't have done it meself but it's not like Fritta was playing that well

 

[markm106]

Shattered for Fritsch. But can totally see why they brought Smith in. It’s defender for defender. And although Smith not really a genuine key defender size, he has a great leap and has genuine speed. Showed some good signs prior to injury.

 

[MarcMaverick]

I think we chose the wrong Smith.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

Theseventhhamster Back your boy!

Happy to. Feel like there's a lot of lazy analysis about him because of him being Cat B kid. He's not a 'dumb footballer' or 'just an athlete,' he's a bloke who had to make ridiculous leaps in footy standards from nowhere and is catching up to the speed of the game. Will play over 100 games for the club. He's hard as * and I reckon he can clean up his kicking giving there doesn't seem to be anything glaringly wrong in his technique. Pace should also be a plus in this game.

I do agree with the general sentiment though that Tyson should have gone and Fritsch should be forward of the ball where he's more comfortable. Don't see any argument that Tyson's got him covered anywhere but in the centre where we have a boatload of better options anyway but what do I/we know?

 

[Russian Demon]

I kind of get why we kept Tyson. If we're worried about covering their bigs, the more hard nosed mids we have the better.

No defence is better than stopping it getting in there in the first place.

 

[Tulip]

MarcMaverick do you actually support this club? You can drop the negativity for once, we are in a prelim.

 

[Deemanding]

In: J Smith
Out: Tyson

Joel was great for Casey today and if West Coast play their normal forward line of Kennedy, Darling and Vardy then I think we're too short going with OMac and Frost and having to rely on Hibberd to be our 3rd 'tall'. Would rather Hibberd match up on Cripps with Nev and Salem taking Rioli and Ryan respectively. Lewis can exploit someone like Venables.

Ok so I went with Tyson to be dropped but surely this is the sort of thinking the selectors were going with. It makes sense, even if not many have faith in Smith to perform on the big stage. If we win, Fritsch will be straight back in as Smith won't have a match up against Richmond (though he might against Collingwood).

Re our forward line, imagine West Coast will send McGovern to TMac and Barrass to Weid. Leaves Melksham to play defensive forward on Hurn. They'll probably look to have Schofield run with Hannan. Spargo to annoy the s**t out of Jetta. AVB to monster Cole like he did Murdoch.

 

[Bluelegs]

He went at 81% what game were you watching!

One where I didn't just look at the stat sheet but watched where the ball ended up. Handballing the ball to someone under pressure is not much better than turning it straight back over yourself.

 

[Bluelegs]

Curse is set to continue.

Mods You know which thread needs to be stickied after Saturday.

The over the top melt you'll be posting?

 

[Djcjdees]

Whatever wit the whole 'we need more height' argument. Smith is 3cm taller and Fritsch is better above his head anyway. Fritsch can also kick.

Our defensive unit has looked really settled of late and we've been the best defence of the finals series easily.

It's funny to read through the comments and see people convincing themselves though.

The coaches clearly rate Smith hugely. Hope they're right

 

[Djcjdees]

Unless you knock him out in first 5 mins like last time (it's ok, whom ever does it Christianson will allow it, so he will be free to play in 1st round next year)

Hahaha

 

[HANDSOLO]

 

[schmuttt]

View attachment 561266

Don’t be - yes I’m worried we randomly get smashed and it is a crap game to watch after knowing after a quarter we are done, but I’ve got faith the team will put up a much better fight than that.