Strategy Changes: Elimination Final v Gold Coast

[AAACockburn]

We're still 6-1 when he's played, and the only game we lost was when he came on when we were already 6 goals down.

Really apart from yesterday he's come on in the last, had his 8/9 touches, couple clearances, does what we need to help get us on top. Against Port he had 8 touches, 3 clearances, 3 score involvements in a quarter and we probably don't win without him.

Is it the best use of our sub? Probably not. But we seem to be very conservative with it anyway and never use it until the last quarter and a bit.

It is the pointy end of the season there is no room for passengers if someone gets taken out in the first 2 quarters he becomes a liability.
We need a sub that is going to come on with the fitness to last a few quarters or to explode in the last.

I loved Fyfe when he was in his prime and feel for him that he never got the PM.
But Freo have not won a premiership either.

No room for passengers
We need to throw 100 percent at any chances that come our way!

 

[s_wd6]

It is the pointy end of the season there is no room for passengers if someone gets taken out in the first 2 quarters he becomes a liability.
We need a sub that is going to come on with the fitness to last a few quarters or to explode in the last.

I loved Fyfe when he was in his prime and feel for him that he never got the PM.
But Freo have not won a premiership either.

No room for passengers
We need to throw 100 percent at any chances that come our way!

I just can’t see a world where Fyfe is healthy and they leave him out of the side.

 

[AAACockburn]

I just can’t see a world where Fyfe is healthy and they leave him out of the side.

Freo fans have got to let go being happy with mediocrity!

 

[s_wd6]

Freo fans have got to let go being happy with mediocrity!

Or you just run with it end hope for the best otherwise you’ll always be miserable

 

[mightymouse75]

Fyfe will be playing every game left to play as a sub barring suspension or a broken leg.
Get over it.
I have

 

[oldgoat]

Yep, we’d probably need the GF to be against another interstate side.

I could see us beating Geelong or Pies at the MCG but to beat both in back to back weeks would be much harder.

Do not doubt for a minute, other teams are fearing facing US in the finals!
After all we've beaten 6 of them.
Yokai!

 

[AAACockburn]

Or you just run with it end hope for the best otherwise you’ll always be miserable

Surely this is the definition of accepting mediocrity

 

[s_wd6]

Surely this is the definition of accepting mediocrity

sorry to break it to you but if you’re still following Freo after 30+ years of nothing then you have accepted mediocrity

 

[Flour bag punter]

I’d go nod.
I know he’s been avg to say the least but he turned it on at peel and he is the type of player who could just come out and have 20 and 2 .

Yeah mentioned in the autopsy thread but watching that the backline is in desperate need of some pace.
We cant can’t carry both banners and worner back there

Personally I’d be dropping worner, made some crucial errors in the contest tonight

Walker or Simpson

Walker would have to show us that he is not going to stink it up in a final again. I’d go with Nod , he should have the run to get back and support the defence while being quick to spread when we win the ball.

 

[Spirit Level]

Yeah we're losing run with Wagner, so we need to replace him with run.

NOD for me, play him in Wagners position and let him run at the ball

 

[JammoMonty]

Freo fans have got to let go being happy with mediocrity!

So why is Banfield still in the side? JL been carrying him for years. Logue before him.

 

[StingBitten]

I don't doubt that the Fyfe question is on the selection panels mind. A fresh Johnson, Sharp, Walker, Simpsons etc would surely impact a game more?

Scott Watters was a little more complimentary to Fyfe - said he came in at a time when the team were in full defensive mode. Also, we were multiple goals ahead and mentally he may have wanted to preserve himself. That still doesn't explain his 1 disposal.

Being sub is a tough role. Fyfe was extremely important in the Port win, probably involved in 4-5 plays in the last quarter. I think in the end his finals experience will hold up massively when it counts.

 

[BStaff17]

It is the pointy end of the season there is no room for passengers if someone gets taken out in the first 2 quarters he becomes a liability.
We need a sub that is going to come on with the fitness to last a few quarters or to explode in the last.

I loved Fyfe when he was in his prime and feel for him that he never got the PM.
But Freo have not won a premiership either.

No room for passengers
We need to throw 100 percent at any chances that come our way!

I still trust Fyfe's experience in the last quarter of a final around the contest.

It hasn't cost us all year him playing as the Sub.

And whose going to do a better job as the Sub in backend of crunch games.

Nothing worse as i reckon as a sub sitting there for 3 quarters nervously waiting to come on at any moment and feeling pressure to make an impact.

Fyfe won't be fazed.

Compared to a younger player especially one who hasn't played in finals.

And his leadership & presence on the bench when guys come off is valuable.

It takes a brave/selfless man to accept the role he now has.

He only got 1 disposal but off the ball work he did on a few occasions that led to a rebound or a clearance shouldn't be under estimated.

There was one moment there where he was wrestling with a dogs player off the ball and we scooped it up and rebounded from near the D50 into our D50.

 

[Docker82]

I don't doubt that the Fyfe question is on the selection panels mind. A fresh Johnson, Sharp, Walker, Simpsons etc would surely impact a game more?

Scott Watters was a little more complimentary to Fyfe - said he came in at a time when the team were in full defensive mode. Also, we were multiple goals ahead and mentally he may have wanted to preserve himself. That still doesn't explain his 1 disposal.

Being sub is a tough role. Fyfe was extremely important in the Port win, probably involved in 4-5 plays in the last quarter. I think in the end his finals experience will hold up massively when it counts.

Not necessarily disagreeing with you but he didn't play finals in 2022.

That means his last final was the preliminary final in 2015... ten years ago.

 

[BStaff17]

It would be a touch of irony if we made the GF and Fyfe is Sub.

That would mean our 2 GF appearance the 2 players who have played for Fremantle and won Brownlow Medals in there careers have been our Subs on GF day.

Neale & Fyfe

 

[fleur]

So why is Banfield still in the side? JL been carrying him for years. Logue before him.

Banners has been dropped numerous times over his career. He just gets on with it though.

 

[fleur]

Or you just run with it end hope for the best otherwise you’ll always be miserable

We might have to do what the Dees with Nathan Jones. Not everyone gets to have a fairytale ending.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I don't doubt that the Fyfe question is on the selection panels mind. A fresh Johnson, Sharp, Walker, Simpsons etc would surely impact a game more?

Scott Watters was a little more complimentary to Fyfe - said he came in at a time when the team were in full defensive mode. Also, we were multiple goals ahead and mentally he may have wanted to preserve himself. That still doesn't explain his 1 disposal.

Being sub is a tough role. Fyfe was extremely important in the Port win, probably involved in 4-5 plays in the last quarter. I think in the end his finals experience will hold up massively when it counts.

I think more concerning was what JL said in the press conference, regarding Fyfe spending a large percentage of time on the bench in last quarter. (TOG 16% - so roughly 66% of the last quarter). He plays 21% vs Brisbane, 26% vs Port. (I can't remember when he was subbed on in each game - I thought it was at 3 quarter time for Brisbane and Bulldogs)

JL said he spent a long time on the bench, because Bont was playing very well and we needed to tag him with Wagner.

If you read between the lines, then if Fyfe is not playing midfield, then he needs to go to the bench. And with the game on the line, and Bont playing very well he wanted Wagner to take him, when I though Fyfe with fresh legs would have been a good match up for him.

At least if you have NOD as the sub, he can play multiple positions.

I think Fyfe will stay as sub, but I am not sure that is the correct call.

 

[ubiquitous226]

The media are running with the fact that GC need to win by at least 5 goals to sow up 7th, but that cannot be right. Gold Coast are 0.8% behind the Hawks and as long as Essendon don't score like 85+ every goal should be work about 0.3%.

Someone posted a visual version somewhere that I liked better, and others have covered it but useful as a summary;



Credit: The Age

 

[gungho]

I reckon we would give Geelong a shake at the MCG. We checked out of the game n round 1 in the last quarter.
Would rather play them than Brisvegaa.

 

[Footskill]

Fyfe can't start. There were those saying he should of started on the weekend. A fresh Bont would of tore him up, let alone what he did in the last quarter

He can provide impact coming on as sub, once and if most are tired and the games slowed down. Dogs in the last were still running hard and I think that partly attributed to them being able to move the ball quickly and that surge.

If we are in a situation where we need others to help cover Fyfe defensively, that will impact their own roles which will be problematic

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Freo fans have got to let go being happy with mediocrity!

Finals experience is worth its weight in gold. He'll be like a coach out there if it gets tight.

 

[Bigger]

An Eagles fan I work with literally told me today he's going to buy a guernsey for whichever oppo club we get, go to the game and troll Freo fans.

They literally are a brain dead, loser club with loser fans.

Does he at least have nice ****?

 

[BStaff17]

We can go all the way folks.

Why?

• We've shown we can win games in bulk this year - 11 out of 12 wins. What's another 5 in a row?
• We are the best team at taking it to the big shots - Adelaide, Collingwood, Geelong, Brisbane away. None of these teams strike the fear of God into me, and neither should it to the boys.
• Away form is better than we give credit for - massive away wins this year against Collingwood, GWS, Gold Coast and the Bulldogs

I think a critical factor is drawing Gold Coast instead of Hawks. I believe we can beat Hawks but it'll cost us massively, whereas Gold Coast we have a decent change of beating comfortably. That would mean 3 weeks where we need to be at our best, I reckon if it's Geelong/Brisbane we can roll them. Adelaide comfortably in the Prelim. Then the GF.

Quote this thread please once we've won! I accurately predicted Pav's retirement year on Bigfooty several years before he retired, so I'm a bit of a Nostradamus round here these parts.

Yep the best route to the GF is GC/Geelong/Adelaide.

I think we will have to do a 6 day turnaround somewhere though if we go deep if its week 2 or week 3.

Because of the way they have structured the finals unless Collingwood win and they give Geelong/Brisbane the Friday Night in Prelim week for being the higher ranked side.

Because i suspect our side of the draw the week 2 game will be a Saturday night then it flips to the Prelim in Adelaide will be Friday night.

If we got to the Prelim i suspect we wouldn't come back to Perth that week and just stay where ever we are based and fly in 2 days before the game then go home straight after for GF week in Perth.

 

[Bigger]

Forget the bullshit 'this one easier to beat than that one'. Any and all teams will be super tough including Gold Coast.

Three issues that bother me and where we could be better;

Still so predictable with the kick ins, smaller and mid sized players need to work harder to provide a longer option and cheap release from defence. Other teams are doing it.

Freddy kicks a goal or two but his piss weak stand offish play around the contest continues to show no improvement and is ignored. At times I am screaming at the TV 'Freddy get your piss weak arse in there and help', I cannot believe that has not been addressed with him.

The Fyfie issue - A minefield for poor JL, I'm not sure how anyone could justify a full game for Fyfie in view of the time he has missed, his current physical/injuryl fragility and his form last two years. Making him the sub is quite ridiculous actually, he is never going to provide run/zest to assist the teams tired legs and give us a lift. At this point in the season getting him to 250 and similar talk is crazy, should not come into the equation.
The elephant in the room.

I wasn't worried about managing Fyfe until Wagner tore a tit.

Better minds than mine are dealing with this issue and they will be factoring in all sorts of intangibles, like heart and passion and storm-calm and care, along with Nathan's physical capability.

I trust they get it right.

As for Freddy's contact aversion, I used to be able to ignore it until the Brisbane game when he very noticeably avoided dropping in the hole and I couldn't pretend his corrals and tentative hip-grab "tackles" were good enough. He's kicking 2 goals a game and he's a huge part of transition, with undeniable pace and marking ability, so he's doing his job but, **** me, learn to love turtling a bloke, Freddy, and I'll love you forever.