Unofficial Preview Changes/discussion v Bombers Round 12

[dlanod]

Just a heads up, we need a preview writer for next week against Adelaide!

Please PM me or hop on the preview writers thread to let me know if you're up for it!

 

[rye]

Still getting a game cause our flig of a coach loves playing slow plodders with no foot skills

unfortunately your list manager for 2 decades thought premiership sides were built around said slow plodders with no foot skills.

 

[Elixuh]

Four blokes with no clue about the Bombers' system picked to play seniors against us? Yes please! Actually, that could be an advantage for them.

It’d be a significant advantage to the Dons. Haven’t had a chance to be Essendon’d yet.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Have changed my account title in honour of the Wolfman Cup.

 

[Thedeftouch]

I expect us to be conservative and give Oscar and Coleman an extra week off. I also think they'll reward the current group coming off that performance and not want to drop anyone.

 

[Perrip]

Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

in doubt for the game according to Twomey. The good news keeps coming for us

 

[StevoJenkins]

Ben McKay in doubt for the game according to Twomey. The good news keeps coming for us

Don't know if that's good or not.
He hasn't been in the best form this season.

 

[Tom14]

Ben McKay in doubt for the game according to Twomey. The good news keeps coming for us

Ruled out:

 

[Bucking Beads]

This is the game i completely endorse resting a few if they have any niggles. A 5 day back up isn't good for most. We have solid depth and need to give a few guys a good run.

 

[Section 5]

On Ladder positions we should beat the Bombers just like we should have beaten North and Melbourne.
What's our record since the Lions became relevant in 2019.

We have met 7 times with the Lions leading 5-2.
In that time, 5 games were in Queensland (one at Carrara) for 4 wins. One at the MCG (loss) and 1 at Marvel (win).

The last time the Bombers won was at The Gabba R17 in 2022 by 10 points. Peter Wright kicked 5 goals.

We last played the Bombers R24 last year when we were in great form and won by 20 points.
Neale had 40 disposals and 3 Brownlow votes

 

[mpal6]

Ruled out:

crap, not a good week to plan.

Do not look over the fence at opposition at all during the week. Focus on ourselves and see how we can play close to what we did the previous week vs Hawks.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Don't know if that's good or not.
He hasn't been in the best form this season.

McKay has been much better than last year though

 

[boncer34]

Can we go the juniors approach of getting a few blokes to swap jumpers to make the 2nd half competitive?

You were gonna belt us by 15 goals anyway, but it could be that at half time.

 

[dlanod]

Can we go the juniors approach of getting a few blokes to swap jumpers to make the 2nd half competitive?

You were gonna belt us by 15 goals anyway, but it could be that at half time.

60 points up and we have to start giving you extra players...

 

[boncer34]

60 points up and we have to start giving you extra players...

Drop the wingman.

 

[On the quiet]

I expect us to be conservative and give Oscar and Coleman an extra week off. I also think they'll reward the current group coming off that performance and not want to drop anyone.

Agree, after such an impressive performance, and have Crows in Adelaide after this week.

All games are important, but a few games coming up against Crows, GWS and Cats ( all top 4 threats) are significant. Win minimum two of these, and almost lock in a top 4 spot. Win all three (a big ask) and top 2 is looking good.

 

[p4p1]

One tweak I think we should make is when Dunks is off the ground for CB's Bez needs to be thrown inside to fill that role. When a mixture of Clugg/Neale/Washcroft/Lashcroft/Rayner are in the bounce and we win, it looks great but if the other team gets the tap, none of those guys are really able to offer much on the defensive side so we can have the ball walked out of the square into our defensive 50 too easily. Bez is probably the only other guy in our best 22 outside of Dunks that can do the defensive inside mid stuff consistently.
Even if it means throwing Clugg onto a wing for a few mins while Bez is on the inside, so we don't lose the run Bez offers, it is still worth it.

 

[p4p1]

I don't think you rotate for the sake of rotating but with a 5 day break, a depleted Essendon and some tougher games coming up, it wouldn't be a bad idea to rotate anyone who is a bit sore and we have guys waiting in the wings on the cusp.
I don't think we will but it wouldn't be a bad move.

If Kiddy comes in, I wouldn't mind seeing Zorko moved to a wing for a bit. I think he has the engine and the intent if given the role to do the hard yards defensively plus the idea of a 50m pass straight to Zorks who free on the wing from Kiddy who then nails a forward with a bullet on the chest gives me 'special' feelings.

Kai needs continuity and the VFL isn't up to standard to give him that. You could rest a back so Doedee has a game, give Lester a rest/push Fletch back to a wing/push Motty to a wing etc.
Dizzy kicked 4 just over a week ago and was serviceable against the Hawks it would be rough dropping him but I would like to see Gallop get debut. Hippy could be given a rest I guess and he has been doing some ruck work lately so it wouldn't be the worst thing.

Happy for Fort to stay in but won't be shocked if he makes way for O. Fort is a bit unlucky because he is a better all round footballer than O but O's other strengths are why the team normally picks him.

Happy to see Levi given a rest for Dev or someone similar, not because of form but because it is a young body coming off an interrupted pre-season and 2 rests in a 4-5 week period wouldn't be the worst thing for him.

Having said all of that we do have a bye in a month so there might be little benefit to rotating some players. That why we employ sports scientists, Drs and Physios who know what is and isn't beneficial in terms for breaks.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

We must protect the Big O. If he would benefit with another week off play Fort again.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Hope this doesn't end up being similar to the WC/North/Richmond games where we go in thinking it's a done deal.

 

[dlanod]

Drop the wingman.

Based off recent experience in the kids' comp, we'll give you the shortest worst player who'll probably handball to the opposition half the time and kick behinds the rest of the time.

So Charlie Cameron, come on down!

 

[redblueandgold]

Only obvious change Kiddy in for Dev. If Kiddy is up to it. I could also see Mckenna coming back in for Dev if Kiddy not ready.

As much as I prefer Gardiner down back, I think he is improving in the fwds each game. I would like to see him do more in the ruck instead of Hippy.

Is there a chance Andrews gets suspended for his late spoil that collected the head? I think maybe. Joyce I think I read copped a head knock, so he'd be out. So it would be Gardiner going back I'd reckon, opening up a spot fwd. The tall fwd stocks are bare, so we could probably play Big O and Fort or it maybe the opportunity to give Gallop a run. Kicked 3 again in the Vfl and has had a few weeks getting ruck experience. Not saying he shoulders the whole 2nd ruck duties but he would certainly be capable of taking a few more than Dizzy or Morris did. And as we saw on the weekend when the midfield is firing it didn't really matter who took the second ruck.

So Dev finally gets less than 10 minutes of junk game time at the end and now people think he should be dropped? Yeah that seems fair..

 

[mpal6]

One tweak I think we should make is when Dunks is off the ground for CB's Bez needs to be thrown inside to fill that role. When a mixture of Clugg/Neale/Washcroft/Lashcroft/Rayner are in the bounce and we win, it looks great but if the other team gets the tap, none of those guys are really able to offer much on the defensive side so we can have the ball walked out of the square into our defensive 50 too easily. Bez is probably the only other guy in our best 22 outside of Dunks that can do the defensive inside mid stuff consistently.
Even if it means throwing Clugg onto a wing for a few mins while Bez is on the inside, so we don't lose the run Bez offers, it is still worth it.

Bez going to the middle this round might be quite useful when we come up against Adelaide. Dawson plays all over the ground including forward line and Bez is likely to be the one with the size and tank to go with him. This way we can free up Dunkley to be more attacking and minding the other mids in the rotation.

 

[knaf]

So Dev finally gets less than 10 minutes of junk game time at the end and now people think he should be dropped? Yeah that seems fair..

Yes tough on Dev. Would be good to see him get a full game. Very hard side to break into. If he leaves at the end of the year would like to see him go on and have Ben Keays like career.

 

[martinson]

I don't see rotating players for this game is disrespecting the opposition because the players we bring in are AFL standard and would be getting a game nearly anywhere else ,and they deserve a game. One thing we would know is that they'll be flat out for the 4 quarters. Doubt that it's Fagan's style though.

One thing I'm dead set against is moving Zorko out of the backline. Be grateful for the gift it's given us and don't mess things up by trying to perfect our line up. On paper.

 

[Berrygood]

This is the game i completely endorse resting a few if they have any niggles. A 5 day back up isn't good for most. We have solid depth and need to give a few guys a good run.

This is a game, just like every game, where we should play our strongest team possible. We should be looking, not only for the win, but to improve our % as much as possible. I'd hate to see us miss out on the top 2, top 4, top 8 even, because of %.

I'm not a fan of resting players unless there are persistent niggles that need attention or unless the player is showing definite signs of fatigue. I'm not sure anyone needs a rest, or would even want a rest at the moment.

Sure the bombers are suffering a very large injury list and should be well below their best. We should be aiming to absolutely annihilate them.