Prediction Changes for Essendon (OP updated with player availability)

[Smoky]

We do have an all Australian tall defender to come back in the next week or two. I am unconcerned about Dunn. IMO he has been a liability for us on many occasions this year and was due to be dropped when Moore, or Reid were fit

I've been watching a different Collingwood backline to you this year.

Dunn has been our most important defender this year.

He is a massive loss.

 

[30yearpie]

Think the humidity and lack of rotations might mean a few changes
Think Dunn , daicos , Crocker out

2 big games today for us , vfl and north vs dons

Greenwood mihochek apples
Shaz Howe crisp

Phillips pendels Sidey
Grundy. Adams. Seir

Thomas. WHE. Murray
Stepho cox. De goey

Langdon varcoe mayne maynard

Murray defensive on saad
Greenwood. Fantasia
Apples tippa

Smas em around the packs

No way does Greenwood hold Fantasia IMO. This is our Achilles heel with the Dons. Neither Fantasia, nor Collyer were in last time we played and their speed will be the major risk to us. I agree with bringing Murray back for Saad - kicking not so important, just stop his runs. I'd give Stephenson a go at minding Fantasia, or Maynard to play off him and expose his defensive weaknesses. My fear is that they will try apples on one of them and he will be badly exposed for pace. Make no mistake this is a key game for us...I am more fearful of this week after 7 straight than I am about the following week against WC

 

[domus]

I'm ok with Mihocek going back and Reid going forward if Reid can come in. I'd love to blood McLarty but I'm not sure how much more inexperience we can bring in before we give out.

Reid is weeks away.

 

[30yearpie]

McLarty and Varcoe both apparently cod ordinary in the VFL today, Brown, Wills and Murray amongst the best in a beaten side.

Varcoe would have been told to ease in and no gut busting chases on his first game back. He often gets a bad rap on this board but I rate him higher than wells on football smarts and pace over past two years.

Out: Dunn, Appleby,
In: Varcoe, Moore (straight in - theory is they held him back for extra 3 weeks for HS soreness - get him in) -or Murray

 

[leahcar]

AFL Injury List has Elliot as "Test".
How far away does that really mean?

About 3 years

 

[TW Sherrin]

No way does Greenwood hold Fantasia IMO. This is our Achilles heel with the Dons. Neither Fantasia, nor Collyer were in last time we played and their speed will be the major risk to us. I agree with bringing Murray back for Saad - kicking not so important, just stop his runs. I'd give Stephenson a go at minding Fantasia, or Maynard to play off him and expose his defensive weaknesses. My fear is that they will try apples on one of them and he will be badly exposed for pace. Make no mistake this is a key game for us...I am more fearful of this week after 7 straight than I am about the following week against WC

Murray on Saad? you get they are both back flankers at opposite ends?

arguably our most important forward (Stephenson) and you want him to play defence on Fantasia?

dude this isn't an xbox game.

 

[TW Sherrin]

Reid is weeks away.

and its ridiculous to think he can come back straight back into the ones. those days for him are in the rear vision mirror.

 

[domus]

Dunn going in for scans on his knee, concern for his ACL>

Gone for the year. Put your money on it. Fifth player out for the season. We are rooted.

 

[MyManLynch]

Gone for the year. Put your money on it. Fifth player out for the season. We are rooted.

Yes...our players appear to be dropping like flies, our stocks are almost exhausted.
However, we do have Varcoe, Elliott, Moore, Aish & perhaps Reid to come back in over the next few weeks.
All is not lost...yet.

 

[ash84]

Sam Murrays pace will be nice against the Bombers
Luckily they are not a really tall forward line.
Can Scharenberg cover McKernan?
Does Mihocek have to go back

 

[Brad Goodman]

Gone for the year. Put your money on it. Fifth player out for the season. We are rooted.

I'm sure there are other examples but don't you get the feeling that we are the only club that would have a player do an ACL and not pick up on it until the next day.

 

[domus]

I'm sure there are other examples but don't you get the feeling that we are the only club that would have a player do an ACL and not pick up on it until the next day.

From Buck's demeanor at the press conference, he clearly knew. It just wasn't officially confirmed.

 

[Smoky]

I'm sure there are other examples but don't you get the feeling that we are the only club that would have a player do an ACL and not pick up on it until the next day.

We picked up on it... we just didn't leak it to the public.

 

[TW Sherrin]

I'm sure there are other examples but don't you get the feeling that we are the only club that would have a player do an ACL and not pick up on it until the next day.

They knew before the game ended.

 

[unplugged]

Sure Mihocek can play Dunn's role, that's fine as a temporary measure. I'm just concerned about who plays that high forward role with Mihocek back, Moore injured Reid also.

Crocker has the fitness to move further up but probably isn't good enough overhead to be that emergency get out kick.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

From Buck's demeanor at the press conference, he clearly knew. It just wasn't officially confirmed.

Bucks knew but he was being hopeful it was slightly less serious than they feared.

 

[Baltimore Jack]

I'm sure there are other examples but don't you get the feeling that we are the only club that would have a player do an ACL and not pick up on it until the next day.

There are degrees of ACL injuries I think.
Some maybe apparent early, others might need scans to determine the damage

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Sure Mihocek can play Dunn's role, that's fine as a temporary measure. I'm just concerned about who plays that high forward role with Mihocek back, Moore injured Reid also.

Crocker has the fitness to move further up but probably isn't good enough overhead to be that emergency get out kick.

We'll play five mediums and one tall in the forward line until Reid or Moore are ready. De Goey to replace Mihocek who goes back. WHE the nominal CHF.

Greenwood/Varcoe to replace DeGoey in the middle.

 

[unplugged]

We'll play five mediums and one tall in the forward line until Reid or Moore are ready. De Goey to replace Mihocek who goes back. WHE the nominal CHF.

Greenwood/Varcoe to replace DeGoey in the middle.

I wish we could bring in Kirby

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I wish we could bring in Kirby Elliott Goldsack Dunn Moore Reid Treloar Fasolo Wells Aish Broomhead Smith Madgen or Blair

efa. Not counting Varcoe or Greenwood who have also been out.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

AFL Injury List has Elliot as "Test".
How far away does that really mean?

2 - 3

Put in whatever word you prefer
Weeks
Months

 

[Vankri]

I've been watching a different Collingwood backline to you this year.

Dunn has been our most important defender this year.

He is a massive loss.

One thing not to underestimate is how important his kicking is for our ball movement. He’s a good kick, makes the decisions early but most crucially his kicks travel far. He’s often able to switch things quickly for us skipping one extra short kick, and kick long to a contest before the opposition gathers. He’s a big part of how we cut through opposition forward pressure and zones.

Ideally Moore would come in to replace him ASAP if he’s out for a long stint as he’s got some of that kicking ability too.

 

[barrackers]

For a week or 2 a make shift forward line might be ok, but structurally we need another tall. Ideally we should bring Reid and Moore back via the VFL, which leaves McLarty (possibly with Mihokec switching back) or Madgen.

 

[Leviathan Pie]

Out: Dunn, Daicos
In: Greenwood, Varcoe

Cant see how Sam Murray gets a game, ball use in the VFL has been embarrassing.

 

[The Plowking]

We'll play five mediums and one tall in the forward line until Reid or Moore are ready. De Goey to replace Mihocek who goes back. WHE the nominal CHF.

Greenwood/Varcoe to replace DeGoey in the middle.

DeGoey needs to play middle imo