Unofficial Preview Changes - Lions v Pies (Easter Thursday)

[dlanod]

I think lohmann might come in for cockatoo.

I'd rather see Tom Berry come in and play a combo pressure forward/mid role, a bit like Cockatoo and Rayner, and move Rayner more across the half-forward line.

 

[briztoon]

I think lohmann might come in for cockatoo. Dev in for Berry (direct mid swap). I think wilmot for Zorko is a good option too. Rest up Zorko and Berry after a short turn around. They will have fresh legs in Adam’s and De Goey coming back in. We shouldnt be playing banged up players this time of year. Would like to see T Berry come in as well. Obviously big O comes in

Ah Chee goes back to replace Zorko.

Wilmot not ready for the first team yet.

 

[martinson]

Cal on the wing is where he belongs. A good replacement for Robbo.

I'd be keen to see Ah Chee playing Robbos wing role and Sharp playing Hugh's, with Hugh transitioning to a permanent on-baller.

Totally agree . Maybe Sharp is another year away but that structure gives us a lot more run. And Cal is just as tough as Robbo even if he doesn't look it.

 

[Nunez]

Totally agree . Maybe Sharp is another year away but that structure gives us a lot more run. And Cal is just as tough as Robbo even if he doesn't look it.

Cal is showing some great promise this year. I wouldn't even be surprised if we use him around the ball more as the season goes on. He showed an ability to break tackles against the biggest bodied team in the comp - that is impressive.

 

[BRAB]

Cal is showing some great promise this year. I wouldn't even be surprised if we use him around the ball more as the season goes on. He showed an ability to break tackles against the biggest bodied team in the comp - that is impressive.

The persistence in Cal is starting to pay off. He was always so good a plugging a hole in any position on the field but he’s starting to string some really good footy together. Promising signs he might end up taking some extra steps.

 

[briztoon]

If I were selecting the team.

Zorko out, Ah Chee to defence, Lohman in.
Mitch out, JBerry to wing, DevRob in.
Fullerton out, Oscar in.

 

[Gibbo_88]

I watched the reserves game and didn't think anyone was playing at a level that demanded to be in the 1sts. Kai is showing some good signs though. I would be surprised if Fagan does more changes than the big O for Fullarton.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Well, I see some of the takes have gotten worse this morning.

They can always be hotter.

 

[Nunez]

Zorko out

 

[BRAB]

If I were selecting the team.

Zorko out, Ah Chee to defence, Lohman in.
Mitch out, JBerry to wing, DevRob in.
Fullerton out, Oscar in.

Are you thinking Zorko is injured still?

 

[Elixuh]

O for full cream.

Then whatever change is necessary to facilitate Cal to a permanent wing role. He looks good and I didn’t realise he’s only 24.

 

[Clarkythelion]

I think at the selection table we are looking for players with 'weapons' we don't currently have or players with more consistent 'weapons' than currently in the team.

There is no doubt Lohman is showing really good potential in his last 2 games as a small forward. McArthy and Charles are locks he is not them. Cockatoo has a few credits yet, can play a little midfield and arguable just a bit better in the hard stuff with quicker hands, but agree he would be feeling the heat of Lohman with another couple of good games and Cockatoo remaining stale or not showing more in the mid field.

Dev Robbo, Prior and Sharp are the standouts that need games for development and right now Robbo only has his 'heater skelter' pressure over them and his 'white line fever' wasn't that apparent against the Cats but again I think he gets a chance to redeem himself Fagan has never been a knee-jerk coach.

I can't see Captain Zorko coming out unless his leg falls off, Kiddy will replace him when Kiddy is ready and has a reserves game back then I think Zorko might go forward and that is another one Cockatoo will have to worry about.

So it looks like I'm saying no changes other than Big O back but at some stage we have to invest in depth, bring them along, a coach has to develop the entire squad. Prior and/or Dev can do a 'run with' role and looks like Berry could do with a rest or re-calibration. I hate the term 'rotation policy' that reeks of a loss of flexibility but I like 'managed'.

So, I'd like to see the Pies play this weekend first, but for me on the shorter turn around with travel:

Berry managed for Dev
Robbo managed for Prior
Big O for Fullerton - omitted

Harry Sharp to medical sub.

and on a side note, I didn't mind our two young ruckman in the seconds, they are coming along ok, just size and time for those boys.

 

[FeastOrFamine]

For me, the only change we need is Big O in for Fullarton. Other than that this should be a good game. Both teams will be fired up after losses, especially Collingwood who let their game slip.

 

[RoyBoy17]

I watched the reserves game and didn't think anyone was playing at a level that demanded to be in the 1sts. Kai is showing some good signs though. I would be surprised if Fagan does more changes than the big O for Fullarton.

I think Kai looked every bit AFL ready. For the position he plays he did more than cockatoo would in the VFL. Only question mark I have is playing a debutant off a short turn around. If we had a 7 day break I wouldn’t hesitate playing Kai ahead of cockatoo. I will be disappointed if we don’t make a few changes.

 

[RoyBoy17]

I honestly can’t see us winning the flag or getting to a Gf unless we heavily improve our mid mix this year. We need guys like the berry’s, Dev, Rayner and Bailey to produce consistent 4 qtr games. So many flakey mids that drift in and out of games. So frustrating last night watching a dads army out work us all game. I know age profile wise we are young but our key position players are in their prime. We need to cash in now. Will be very disappointed if we don’t be proactive and make a few tough calls this week. Tired of 8-10 possession players getting gifted games. Need to be tougher now and brutal at selection table.

 

[LIONS08]

Can’t see wholesale changes coming unless they are forced, nor should they be. Give everyone a chance to prove their worth. No response then make some changes.
Fullerton for Oscar.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Fages doesn't do wholesale changes.

O in and you know who out.

 

[wantok]

Oscar for Fullaz. His game was a liability last night. Lacked vigour and lacked pace. His efforts in most marking contests were unacceptable. I would rather play Payne if the need for a back up Ruckman occurs again. I also think we would get much better value from Dev Robertson or Tom Berry than Cockatoo. He has his moments but they are not regular enough. We need aggressive tackling and forward pressure. We have Charlie and Linc to be the scoring smalls. Maybe the report knocked him for six but it's time he delivered more than a mini highlights package.

On SM-A525F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Timetoroarlike44]

We are a good side so it makes sense we don’t regularly drop 3-4 players for a game. And i don’t mind aiming for consistency and players getting a game if they are playing their role.

The ongoing issue i have with the MC is that we seem to have about 21 locks for our best 22. I think we need more players realising if they have a really poor game they could be dropped, even if it’s only 1, if someone has played well in the 2s in their position. This also gives some more hope for those in the 2s. We should also be more willing to say this mix didn’t work that well, player X you were not awful but we’re giving this player a go.

Players who i would not have as a lock would include Cockatoo (still hopeful but if he has a nothing night let him play in the 2s), Answerth, Berry, Robinson, Fort (beaten my expectations but if it’s very wet for example do we play 2 rucks?).

Nothing earth-shattering about those players. But just a willingness to be more ruthless is needed.

It means we’d get more of a look at T Berry, dev rob, prior, lohman, sharp, madden. It’s also good to actually give these players hope. If you are one of these players you are not thinking you play well
In the 2s you could play. You think only if there is an injury.

Fagan talks about squads winning premierships. But only ever seems to use ours when we have injuries.

It’s not something drastic i am after. I actually think we can win the flag. I just think our rigid approach reduces the chance of that.

 

[luthor]

In: Oscar, Dev

Out: Fullerton, Cockatoo.

I'm not impressed with Cockatoo's output. When he's good he's very good but there seems to be an awful lot of down time. His highlights reel would look great but you don't win crucial games with highlight reels

 

[luthor]

If I were selecting the team.

Zorko out, Ah Chee to defence, Lohman in.
Mitch out, JBerry to wing, DevRob in.
Fullerton out, Oscar in.

Wondering if you think the Captain should be "managed" for a game or just plain dropped for lack of input and form.

If the former, yeah I get that.

If the latter, you are crazy

 

[briztoon]

Wondering if you think the Captain should be "managed" for a game or just plain dropped for lack of input and form.

If the former, yeah I get that.

If the latter, you are crazy

Injury management

 

[cotter101]

In: Oscar, Lohmann.
Out: Fullarton, Zorko(inj)

otherwise just the one change.

Ah Chee has had a great year. Don’t really think any of us had him pegged in for a break out type of year.

But he has had injuries disrupt his progress in his early years, just like Cockatoo and Rayner. They realistically could be another 2 seasons away before having any real impact. Cal a real asset so far this year.

 

[jfn]

Time to stop talking about best 22 each week, and acknowledging the best 30. I think the team can get stagnant if we rely on the same 22.
Add to the 22 that played against Geelong, Dev, Matho (remember him), T. Berry, Prior, Eli Smith, Lester, McFadyen, and at No.30 take your pick of Wilmot, Lohmann, or Tunstill (all three have shown a bit). Not to mention Hipwood and Kiddy coming back soon. These blokes need to be rotated through the team to get some exposure to the game plan need to take the next step in September.
Next week, Big O for Fullerton, Matho in (to tag Crisp) for Mitch, Ah Chee to Mitch's wing, Rayner off half back to run some confidence into him, and so he doesn't have to keep thinking he has to be that X factor player each week. Zorko to play deep forward with brief moments in the middle, just being the Captain and doing his magician stuff. Dev in to play a negating role from half forward on either Pendlebury or Maynard, at the expense of J. Berry who seems a bit banged up again. Let Charlie free to roam up the ground more, like in previous rounds. T. Berry in (to add a bit of mongrel to the midfield) for Cockatoo, with Cocky being the Medical Sub.

So....
Big O in for Fullerton (omitted)
Matho in for Mitch (omitted)
Dev in for J. Berry (medically managed)
T. Berry in for Cockatoo (who retains a spot on the bench as Medical Sub.)

Collingwood on the rebound after a loss to West Coast will be a danger game.

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Dev Robertson in.