Changes for round 14

[OuterWing Parrot]

after a disappointing team performance, it's a bit short-sighted to lay all/most of the blame on the least experienced players.

Bucovaz was playing his first game. Made some bad blues, but looked better as the game wore on........not unlike most first gamers!

Crichton isn't nearly as bad as some of the haters on here assert. Playing down back in a team getting smashed....I'd be looking at some of the guys in the midfield before i laid too much blame on the little guy in the back pocket.

JVB hasn't done so much this year apart from the nice goals in the bulldogs game. Of all our young guys he's the one that least impresses me, but hey he's got time to improve.

Can't see much point in just shuffling the kids. Might be time to make a few calls on some guys who have been regulars for a while.

 

[Righteo]

I was encouraged by Buca's performance, I really hope he stays but as is nomal with these types of performances the debutantes are usually the scapegoat.

 

[brewman]

Out -
Grover
Crichton
Van Berlo
Pearce
Clarke

In-
Anthony
Palmer
Hayden
Bradley
Mellington/Walters

Is anthony still injured? I would love to see how we went for a full game with anthony at ff and pav at chf. Would be good to have some targets up forward.

 

[Deep_Purple]

Also, I know it's a radical change, but how about we bring in an actual setup in our forward line? Even if it is just having a resting ruckman and a medium/small hanging back there. In that last quarter, Hinkley was seemingly our only forward at times. I know I talk Hinkley up a fair bit, but what the hell is he supposed to do up there by himself?

Mayne seemed to be our only consistently hard working forward today. Our forwards are just way too stagnant, its soooooo easy for opposition backmen to negate delivery into the forward line, that is when our midfielders know where to deliver it to. Try Mellington there with Pav and lets get some organisation in there. Sorry I don't agree with Harvey having makeshift forwards and rotating so many through the forward line

 

[Leslie_Chow]

after a disappointing team performance, it's a bit short-sighted to lay all/most of the blame on the least experienced players.

Bucovaz was playing his first game. Made some bad blues, but looked better as the game wore on........not unlike most first gamers!

Crichton isn't nearly as bad as some of the haters on here assert. Playing down back in a team getting smashed....I'd be looking at some of the guys in the midfield before i laid too much blame on the little guy in the back pocket.

JVB hasn't done so much this year apart from the nice goals in the bulldogs game. Of all our young guys he's the one that least impresses me, but hey he's got time to improve.

Can't see much point in just shuffling the kids. Might be time to make a few calls on some guys who have been regulars for a while.

Did you actually watch the game?

His positioning was terrible, but every time he had the ball in his hands something went wrong. One of the worst games you could possibly play. No way you could ever defend his performance.

Van Berlo is 23 now, not exactly much room to improve and has had more than enough time.

 

[Deep_Purple]

I have been a Crighton supporter for quite a while, but today he was shocking, unless there is a better place to play him I find it hard to see him becoming any better than a depth player

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Did you actually watch the game?

His positioning was terrible, but every time he had the ball in his hands something went wrong. One of the worst games you could possibly play. No way you could ever defend his performance.

Van Berlo is 23 now, not exactly much room to improve and has had more than enough time.

how many games has crichton played? 15?.... and most of those as a backman, when he was recruited as a midfielder. he is in his second year and was the youngest player in his draft.... so why exactly shouldnt he be given more chances?

JVB is our new stephen dodd, he needs to be chopped, we agree there

 

[johnnomac]

Interesting to see Anthony's name pop up in this thread. I came across this in a Sportal article from 12/6/11;

"But while Barlow appears to be flying in his return from a broken leg, another Docker in Jack Anthony is seriously struggling.
Anthony has played just one game for Fremantle since crossing from Collingwood at the end of last season, but the forward didn't even play for Subiaco on Saturday amidst controversial circumstances.
The official line from both Fremantle and Subiaco is that Anthony has a calf injury, but The West Australian website believes he was removed from Subiaco's side as a result of seeking clarity with the Dockers over his future."
​

I'm not a close follower of the WAFL, so I'd be happy to hear if anyone knows more about what's going on with him.

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

Crowley and Grover are outs, I assume, due to injury, and from being at the game I was fairly sure Pav copped some kind of a heavy knock or injury in the late part of the last quarter? He certainly had to be assisted off the ground. Anyone else see that or have any news on an injury to SuperPav?

Even with those injuries, I'd drop Crichton, and if we have a fit replacement I think JVB goes also.

So the ins would be something like Mellington, Rhys and (hopefully) Bradley. If Pav is out I dunno who is next cab off the rank as an in - maybe we are even at the level of giving Scham a go?? If only 'cause we seem to have so few fit guys left, and I'm not sure Sibo or Shep are ready yet, and I think JA is injured according to the WAFL report (not sure how bad)...

Bucoo did enough to get another run (especially with Grover out) and I'd suggest Hinkley and Clarke were solid enough to retain their spots, if only because of the lack of obvious replacements. For the same reason, MJ keeps his spot, despite another ordinary performance. Pearce was made to look very average by a couple of key turnovers too - if only we had some in form fit players on the fringe.

Hurry back Ballas, Haydos and Silver.

 

[malpaso]

Schammer >>>> Chrichton

 

[malpaso]

For the same reason, MJ keeps his spot, despite another ordinary performance.

Yeah, ordinary. Had 5-6 shots on goal, kicked 3. He worked to get into position all day.

Just an all-round pathetic performance, i'm not sure it's worth trying to single out anyone in particular..

 

[Deep_Purple]

As I have said before MJ is good at doing the easy things.

 

[Rob]

Whatever happens, we just have to hope we can put a side out there good enough to win the next 2 before the bye. And then hope like hell Sandi + cavalry are back to start playing decent footy.

 

[Nickos66]

I only heard a bit of the game on the radio but it sounded like Bucoo got amongst it. Would he really be worthy of being dropped ahead of the likes of.. JVB, Hinkley, Crichton etc?

 

[malpaso]

As I have said before MJ is good at doing the easy things.

Yeah, because it's easy to kick 3 goals in the AFL and lead your team in shots on goal.

 

[OuterWing Parrot]

Did you actually watch the game?

His positioning was terrible, but every time he had the ball in his hands something went wrong. One of the worst games you could possibly play. No way you could ever defend his performance.

sure, i watched the game. Unlike you, I suspect, I was at the MCG. It's difficult to judge players based on TV footage. As a side issue, I think that has definitely become harder as full field presses become commonplace. Watching on TV there's a lot of "why didn't he kick it quicker? why is he running that way? why did he do this and that". At the game these things can become a lot clearer.

Anyhow, watching the game live from a nice balcony seat right on the wing it was clear that all the defenders were let down by their midfielders. Several of them did not work hard enough....and especially defensively. Crichtonwas exposed a few times with the speed of ball movement into the forward line, as were all our defenders at different times. Look, I'm not saying Jesse had a fantastic game, but he battled hard, he's very young and I reckon he's developing into a solid player. Crichton always looked to provide an option and get involved in the game.

It seems that some on this forum have a need to attribute most blame for losses to regular whipping boys whenever the dockers get beaten. Somehow Crichton is copping it now. The haters should get off his back and give him a go.

 

[Chris25]

Well Harvs is optimistic at least...

Harvey said he was hopeful that next week's game against the Brisbane Lions would see the inclusions of Ballantyne, Sandilands and Bradley, who was a last-minute withdrawal with patella tendonitis.

Also...

It suffered further woe when Antoni Grover (adductor) and Ryan Crowley (back spasms) came from the ground during the loss.

Maybe Crowley will be alright for Brisbane, not sure about Grover though.

 

[believe_it]

As I have said before MJ is good at doing the easy things.

Most of our team today couldn't even do the easy things

 

[wehavethepassion]

Is Pitt available? I know the whole Clarke / Griffin thing worked once, but it hasn't worked since and I just don't know Clarke is giving us anything teamwise. Assuming Bradley is available I'd do that switch.

.

Thoroughly agree. clarke is a ruckman and thankfully with bradley out harvey was forced to use him as such. he's a very poor midfielder.

 

[Deep_Purple]

sure, i watched the game. Unlike you, I suspect, I was at the MCG. It's difficult to judge players based on TV footage. As a side issue, I think that has definitely become harder as full field presses become commonplace. Watching on TV there's a lot of "why didn't he kick it quicker? why is he running that way? why did he do this and that". At the game these things can become a lot clearer.

Anyhow, watching the game live from a nice balcony seat right on the wing it was clear that all the defenders were let down by their midfielders. Several of them did not work hard enough....and especially defensively. Crichtonwas exposed a few times with the speed of ball movement into the forward line, as were all our defenders at different times. Look, I'm not saying Jesse had a fantastic game, but he battled hard, he's very young and I reckon he's developing into a solid player. Crichton always looked to provide an option and get involved in the game.

It seems that some on this forum have a need to attribute most blame for losses to regular whipping boys whenever the dockers get beaten. Somehow Crichton is copping it now. The haters should get off his back and give him a go.

This is a very valid point. On the tv you also do not see how much hard work sometimes goes into getting a mark, or kick, or a receive. I watched the game today on the tv, home games of course I see live. Like most freo supporters I hope that all our players do well and succeed, but we all become emotional when we loose like this, and everyone will look for reasons why. We all have favourite players and players we wish would play better.

Lets just hope that the boys can identify the reasons for such a weak effort today and put things in place to see us rebound, and also that the right personnel changes are made.

 

[Deep_Purple]

Thoroughly agree. clarke is a ruckman and thankfully with bradley out harvey was forced to use him as such. he's a very poor midfielder.

So what do people think, did Clarke play better today or Griffin? I personally think Clarke gives us more when Sandi comes back

 

[Split Personality]

JVB is not a footballers %$^&*(%$. Watched him last week in the WAFL as well and was useless there too.

Out: JVB, Mellington, Crichton
In: Palmer, Kep (let us pray he's fit), Mellington (Why not, nobody else)


OK.. scratch all that. Just saw that Sandi, Kep and Ballas are expected back.

 

[Deep_Purple]

JVB is not a footballers %$^&*(%$. Watched him last week in the WAFL as well and was useless there too.

Out: JVB, Mellington, Crichton
In: Palmer, Kep (let us pray he's fit), Mellington (Why not, nobody else)


OK.. scratch all that. Just saw that Sandi, Kep and Ballas are expected back.

Which one of you is picking Mellington to be out and which one is picking him to be in?

 

[Ysaye]

So what do people think, did Clarke play better today or Griffin? I personally think Clarke gives us more when Sandi comes back

Both of them get around the ground a bit as well but I can see Griffin being useful in the forward fifty, compared to Clarke.

 

[Seppo]

Out:
Grover inj.
Cricthon
Clarke
JVB

In:
Silvangi
Ballas
Sandi
Keplar

Geez it would be nice to include McPhee to crash'n'bash. We have been missing a hard tackler to shutdown the opposition. hardly any of our tackles stuck today...