Changes for the Grand Final

[OldStyle2007]

loving the Djerkerra option, Rosso

However, I can't see it happening because Thompson is not known for adventurous selections. I was recommending Hawkins in for the Kangaroos match, but that didn't happen...

Byrnes and Blake have to go out

Reasons for Byrnes exclusion has been well documented

As for Blake, read this from The Australian today:
"The most damaging statistic against Blake is that in the 74 minutes he spent on the bench on Friday night, Geelong outscored Collingwood by 74 points to 40 points. In the 47 minutes he spent on the field, Geelong fell 29 points in arrears."

That means 34 points plus while he's on pine, and minus 29 points while he's bumbling around the ground = total impact of 63 points!

Therefore, King has to come in and we hope we break even while Kingy is in ruck.

I would put almost anybody in for Byrnes. Varcoe, Prismall, Djerkerra, Hawkins or even Tenace

 

[dadonis]

LOL - BRILLIANT!

 

[year of the cat]

loving the Djerkerra option, Rosso

However, I can't see it happening because Thompson is not known for adventurous selections. I was recommending Hawkins in for the Kangaroos match, but that didn't happen...

Byrnes and Blake have to go out

Reasons for Byrnes exclusion has been well documented

As for Blake, read this from The Australian today:
"The most damaging statistic against Blake is that in the 74 minutes he spent on the bench on Friday night, Geelong outscored Collingwood by 74 points to 40 points. In the 47 minutes he spent on the field, Geelong fell 29 points in arrears."

That means 34 points plus while he's on pine, and minus 29 points while he's bumbling around the ground = total impact of 63 points!

Therefore, King has to come in and we hope we break even while Kingy is in ruck.

I would put almost anybody in for Byrnes. Varcoe, Prismall, Djerkerra, Hawkins or even Tenace

I think the winds of change are now blowing at hurricane levels unfortunately for young Blakey. He has however achieved a hell of a lot this year and gained respect from many who thought he was never going to be up to it (including myself). But he appears to be running out of puff as the year goes on whereas King will be fresh and fired up. He also has an excellent finals record which I don't know has been brought up as yet.

As for Byrnes, I couldn't help but noticing that Prismall was training today in an extra session with King. Milburn was having a fitness test at the same time. You get the feeling that Prismall will come in after outstanding form in the VFL.

 

[Rosso]

Derm the Germ?

He made his debut in the first week of finals but had a pretty big impact.

I know Djerrkura missed a sitter but I believe he stiff offers more than Byrnes & Varcoe. Shannon seems fine around the ground but when he gets it near the big sticks he doesn't finish and his decision making isn't fantastic. Varcoe doesn't get enough of it and, to put it nicely, seems to be reluctant in contested situations. Even on Sunday he opted out of contests yet 5 seconds later Djerrkura came crashing in with reckless abandonment.

As I've said, it's a brave call but against a pacy Port side it could play into our hands. Imagine the excitement he'd create chasing blokes down, dumping them into the ground with his compact wreaking ball like frame, it'd be huge. But the crowning moment, if the boy gets a gig and slots a sausage roll could you imagine the roar!!! Players would come from everywhere and we'd ride the wave of momentum all the way to glory.

 

[sarah.13]

He made his debut in the first week of finals but had a pretty big impact.

I know Djerrkura missed a sitter but I believe he stiff offers more than Byrnes & Varcoe. Shannon seems fine around the ground but when he gets it near the big sticks he doesn't finish and his decision making isn't fantastic. Varcoe doesn't get enough of it and, to put it nicely, seems to be reluctant in contested situations. Even on Sunday he opted out of contests yet 5 seconds later Djerrkura came crashing in with reckless abandonment.

As I've said, it's a brave call but against a pacy Port side it could play into our hands. Imagine the excitement he'd create chasing blokes down, dumping them into the ground with his compact wreaking ball like frame, it'd be huge. But the crowning moment, if the boy gets a gig and slots a sausage roll could you imagine the roar!!! Players would come from everywhere and we'd ride the wave of momentum all the way to glory.

Wonderful scenario Rosso but might have to wait till next year. Wish we could somehow replace Byrnes's disposal could be replaced with Prismall and vica versa.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

The following are certainties (in no order)

G.Ablett
S.Johnson
Bartel
Milburn
Scarlett
Enright
Corey
Ottens
Ling
Mooney
Stokes
Wojcinski
Mackie
Josh Hunt
Rooke
Selwood
Harley
Chapman
Kelly

Should go but won't

N.Ablett - I don't see Hawkins or Gardiner as realistic options - particularly - there's about a 1% chance of of one of these two coming in for Nate

So he's in

The second ruckman

Blake and King are fighting for the Ruck spot - Bomber would actually be CRAZY NOT to select King. If King does not play he may as well be delisted at season's end. King was an AA ruckman - he is strong, he is experienced. I'd be very, very surprised if this change wasn't made.

The 22nd spot

Four are a realistic chance of taking this spot and I'll go through who'd I'd prefer in order

1. Prismall - Hasn't played since early in the year. Prismall doesn't have the supposed X factor that Varcoe does. He does have reliability and great disposal. That is so important in finals, Port will kill us on the turnover.

2. Byrnes - I have the feeling that he might stay in, purely because Bomber doesn't want to mess with the line-up (by that logic Blake would stay too but he was just too disappointing on Friday). But Pris is the superior player to Byrnes. The last time we played Port I remarked that Byrnes should never wear the GFC jumper again and here he still is on the verge of playing in a Grand Final! To be honest, I will not be overly upset if he did stay provided that his game time is limited, because the bloke produces more turnovers than the local bakery. His pressure is not questioned, he speed might save him against a very quick team in Port. But Pris is the superior player.

3. D.Johnson - very outside chance, in fact no chance really but an old favourite of mine and I would be confident in him doing a shut down job on a Motlop etc. Lacks pace, and unfortunately that is likely to see the less talented Byrnes get the nod ahead of him

4. Varcoe - being touted by some in the media and even a few clueless on here as chance. He is at the bottom of my list by a fair margin because he output most of the year has been zero and he DOES NOT A SENSE OF WHERE THE BALL IS GOING. This will be no different. If Bomber picks him he's crazy.

 

[Copernicus]

Wouldn't surprise to see Prismall in for Byrnes - and maybe King for Blake, though they have stuck by Blake most of the time. I remember he had a great game against the Roos' pretty decent ruck division in the Qualifying final. Will be a tough choice either way.

Those are the only changes I can see, provided Egan has been definitely ruled out.

 

[catman2006]

I would say King in for Blake and Varcoe in for Byrnes.
Kingy would be a better fit against Brogan.
Varcoe while he doesn't add much scoring options, his defensive pressure is very good and may cause Port to panic in the backline.

 

[Team Extreme]

The Sun has an article about King and Blake

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22483981-11088,00.html

 

[roostersgal4eva]

Cant Blake play in the foward line??

I dont think its a bad idea to have 3 ruckman if it isnt rainy as Ottens/King can play both in the foward line if needed?

thats just my two cents worth - you would know the team structure better than me

 

[roostersgal4eva]

The Sun has an article about King and Blake

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22483981-11088,00.html

hope the poor kid dosnet read the paper

 

[Budda 230]

I'm very 50/50 about the Blake/King selection.

I would go -

IN: Prismall
OUT: Byrnes

Better disposal and poise could be crucial.

 

[OldStyle2007]

I'm not sure about King or Blake, but I know Blake should have done better against collingwood. I am happy to see King come in

As for Byrnes, I know I am repeating myself but he has to go. I don't care if Prismal, Varcoe, or Djerkerra come in for him, but we need somebody else in that attacking small mid/forward position because Byrnes cannot kick or set up goals and he is too small to be good defensively

Out: Byrnes, Blake
In: Prismal, King

 

[Hoffy95]

I'm leaning more and more towards King as the week goes on.

Doubt there will be any more changes, although Bomber would've been seething at a couple of mistakes Byrnes made against the Pies and may opt for Prismall instead.

No-one else is in the mix as far as I'm concerned.

What I think will happen:

IN: King
OUT: Blake

Byrnes/Prismall obviously a bit of a smoky.

 

[Solstice Raver]

I think you will find that the club is significantly increasing King's market value. Nothing more. Blake will play.

 

[BigBadCam]

Confirmed on SEN. Blake is out, King is in.

 

[Gavin Excell]

just hope that Blake being out doesn't have somrt of deterimental effect on the side as a whole. The poor poor ba$****.

Any word on Prismall. Reckon against any other side he'd be in but they may think thy need pace and Byrnes provides that (if not much else)

 

[cat in sydney]

Teams for Saturday

This was posted on the main board. Is this a joke, or is it confirmed?
Hunt out, Djerkkura in?

Probably just our own version of mind games?? Or is Hunt injured?


GEELONG v PORT ADELAIDE
Saturday, 2.30pm AEST, MCG

GEELONG

B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Max Rooke
HB: Andrew Mackie, Darren Milburn, David Wojcinski
C: Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Joel Selwood
F: Paul Chapman, Nathan Ablett, Mathew Stokes
FOLL: Brad Ottens, Cameron Ling, Gary Ablett
I/C: Steven King, Shannon Byrnes, James Kelly, Nathan Djerrkura
EMG: Mark Blake, Brent Prismall, Josh Hunt

In: King, Djerrkura
Out: Blake, Hunt (omitted)
New: Nathan Djerrkura

PORT ADELAIDE

B: Michael Pettigrew, Toby Thurstans, Jacob Surjan
HB: Nick Lower, Troy Chaplin, Peter Burgoyne
C: Steven Salopek, Kane Cornes, David Rodan
HF: Daniel Motlop, Warren Tredrea, Danyle Pearce
F: Brendon Lade, Justin Westhoff, Brett Ebert
FOLL: Dean Brogan, Chad Cornes, Shaun Burgoyne
I/C: Travis Boak, Domenic Cassisi, Josh Mahoney, Darryl Wakelin
EMG: Tom Logan, Alipate Carlile, Robert Gray

In: Nick Lower, Josh Mahoney
Out: Michael Wilson (inj), Tom Logan (omitted)

 

[FTW_]

Re: Teams for Saturday

Teams aren't annouced until 4:30 tonight.

 

[cat in sydney]

Re: Teams for Saturday

That's what I thought.
This Southbank guy is full of it.

 

[OldStyle2007]

Re: Teams for Saturday

I could see Djerrkura for Byrnes, not for Hunt??

I mean, Djerrkura plays in forward line, and Hunt in defense. Are they suggesting they bring in Djerrkura in his first match to play in defence?

Or are they saying we are covered with Rooke in defense?

wow....

 

[Ling Sting]

Re: Teams for Saturday

Djerrkura won't play.

 

[The Hobo]

Re: Teams for Saturday

WTF Logan was almost best on ground last week, no way they'd drop him for Mahoney!

 

[FTW_]

Re: Teams for Saturday

Don't worry, these aren't the teams...

 

[Harambasch]

Re: Teams for Saturday

hahahaha Djerrkura for Hunt. now that would be a laugh.

besides king, the only other vfl player likely to make it is prissa but i dont think so. as much as i hate to admit it, byrnes (or the flying midget) wasn't THAT bad on friday.