Preview Changes / Pre-game Discussion for Rd 9 (Dons in Vic)

[freo1997]

Ins
Treacy
Blakely
Switta or Western

Outs
Freddy
Conca
Crowden or Shultz

Feel like we'll wait until our home game to bring back Ryan and Cerra.

Lobb was ok in the 2nd half, which narrowly keeps Meek out.

 

[Scham]

Aish and Schultz went at 52 and 50% DE today.
Crowden at 91%
I’d love us to work with Mitch to get him to 20 possessions a game.

Crowden went at 50% just last week. Credit to him for focusing on it and improving this week with his 5 kicks.

 

[wayToGo_]

I think your Switta memories are rose coloured. Didn't he only kick 6 goals in 20 games at one point?

Disclaimer: the player ratings are flawed.

But, Switta was the highest rated small forward in the AFL before he got injured. Which is doubly impressive because he did that over three games including our losses to Melbourne and Carlton. As Snuffaluphagus says, he gets involved even when we are down.

 

[MadMundy]

There's no reason we can't play Darcy, Meek, Lobb, Taberner and Treacy all in one team. Darcy and Meek can share the ruck load, Lobb never has to leave the forward line. 3 talls would seriously improve our structure.

 

[CapitalA]

Yeah tough to criticize Crowden. 7 Score involvements (only behind Fyfe/Lobb/Mundy), 3 Goal assists - the top for the game and as stated above went at 91% DE which was top 4 for Freo too. Pretty solid outing for a small forward, especially with the way the ball was coming in and how uncompetitive we were in the air at times. Outplayed all our other small forwards I thought.

The main changes will most likely be Frederick out for Cerra, if Ryan is fit he comes back in for Conca if injured (if not probably in for Duman or Acres). If Switta is fit it becomes a choice of Henry/Blakely out I would think although both would be a bit stiff. We need Switta’s tackling pressure though.

Lobb’s second half probably saves him along with Darcy’s ruck dominance which makes it harder to bring Meek in.

Think there’s quite a few on thin ice though and further poor performances should open the door for Western, Treacy, Bewley and hopefully in a few weeks time Valente.

I think Switta for Frederick and Cerra for Blakely, Ryan for Conca/Duman/Watson.

 

[Joao]

Disclaimer: the player ratings are flawed.

But, Switta was the highest rated small forward in the AFL before he got injured. Which is doubly impressive because he did that over three games including our losses to Melbourne and Carlton. As Snuffaluphagus says, he gets involved even when we are down.

So we have a 3 game sample? And before, all that mediocrity?

Not his fault because injuries, but Switta has a reputation he hasn't earned on here. He has some good traits, but he's done nothing to be a walkup start.

 

[cp3_jr]

I think Switta for Frederick and Cerra for Blakely, Ryan for Conca/Duman/Watson.

Yes if all available I’d agree with that but it wouldn’t surprise if Cerra is the only one who gets up after hearing JL. If that’s the case then he comes in for Freddy who is the definite out. Switta and Ryan definitely come back in if they are right to go. Think Watson has been ok though so would keep him in and go with one of the others.

 

[Docker82]

Yes if all available I’d agree with that but it wouldn’t surprise if Cerra is the only one who gets up after hearing JL. If that’s the case then he comes in for Freddy who is the definite out. Switta and Ryan definitely come back in if they are right to go. Think Watson has been ok though so would keep him in and go with one of the others.

Conca is only out if that hamstring is worth weeks on the sidelines... and he's an automatic inclusion when fit again.

FWIW I thought Duman played a better game than Watson and just generally a better footballer.

 

[rubydoomsday]

Crowden stays in. I think it's apparent we need our high forwards to get up and down to help our midfield defend, Crowden does this.

If we can add Switta (maybe Western too) our pressure goes up. Ryan and Cerra are a given if they are fit.

I like keeping Blakely as it 'should' allow Fyfe/Mundy to sneak forward more and put the opposition under pressure there.

We really need a player at CHF that can push up at the centre bounce and apply pressure when we are under the pump. I actually really like Walters giving this a go because he can read the play and if he gets hands on it can deliver inside 50 (possibly Crowden as well).

Sonny's been gash for us forward this season, and def looked better the time he's spent in the middle. If we're refusing to play 3 talls, FWD, the delivery to the smalls has to be better and he offers this.

 

[DragoDelph]

Conca is only out if that hamstring is worth weeks on the sidelines... and he's an automatic inclusion when fit again.

FWIW I thought Duman played a better game than Watson and just generally a better footballer.

Wouldn’t mind seeing Watson used a mid sized forward. Seems to position himself well in marking contests.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

So we have a 3 game sample? And before, all that mediocrity?

Not his fault because injuries, but Switta has a reputation he hasn't earned on here. He has some good traits, but he's done nothing to be a walkup start.

Probably fair, I'm leaning more to his most recent games, but his first 20 games he was getting a game (and love on the board) on his pressure, something he keeps up regardless of the state of the game. Looking at his tackle numbers, he has only ever had one game he recorded less than 2 tackles, that was against Carlton when he played the game with a broken finger.

Rose coloured glasses, yes, but I'm pretty confident the dude would rather die then put in performances Schultz did the last two weeks

 

[Joao]

Probably fair, I'm leaning more to his most recent games, but his first 20 games he was getting a game (and love on the board) on his pressure, something he keeps up regardless of the state of the game. Looking at his tackle numbers, he has only ever had one game he recorded less than 2 tackles, that was against Carlton when he played the game with a broken finger.

Rose coloured glasses, yes, but I'm pretty confident the dude would rather die then put in performances Schultz did the last two weeks

I think he probably comes good if he stays fit, I just don't want him waltzing back in on the back of 3 good games. When he does it for a season he can be a selection monty. I am not sure if he could play as bad as Schultz, but small forwards everywhere are terrible in **** teams. I couldn't even name North's small forwards.

I could easily see both dominating if we were top 4 quality.

 

[cardamon]

Cerra, Bewley, Switta, Western in for

Acres, Frederick, Crowden, Mundy (rest)

Honestly I wouldn't be 100% against giving Mundy a rest, he looked a bit tired and while he was impactful around the contest, a few times he was a little slow to defend/close space and some of his kicking was awry. Get him ready for a big game against Sydney at home, avoid the 6 day break. Yes he's having an amazing season but he is at that age where he can't be expected to star every week, we need to manage him for the long season.

Let someone else stand up in the midfield against the bombers.

If Ryan is fit then he comes in for Watson or Duman or Conca if his hammy is no good.

 

[WilloTree]

Our forward connection lost us that game. **** i50 kicks that got rebounded too easily. So how about we don't drop any of the blokes who actually make good decisions in that regard.

Also, how many football games do some of you have to watch before you realise literally every small forward is a downhill skier? If you're getting smashed, they don't get a look in because it either doesn't get to the forwards or in our case today, gets their so poorly they are never in the game.

Doesn't help when you look up and 6 forwards are playing from behind all hoping for a cheap one out the back. Forces the ball carrier to either kick a low percentage kick long, or just blast away. To their credit, the Bris defenders took front spot all day and were really well organised getting numbers to the ball in their D50.

 

[WilloTree]

Interesting stat: Conor Blakely had 16 disposals yesterday and 100% DE.

Never thought I'd type that line in my life.

 

[wayToGo_]

Interesting stat: Conor Blakely had 16 disposals yesterday and 100% DE.

Never thought I'd type that line in my life.

He played within his limitations. That kick inside 50 he did in the 4th was sweet as well. Now just needs to back it up with a similar performance.

 

[GingerDocker]

Interesting stat: Conor Blakely had 16 disposals yesterday and 100% DE.

Never thought I'd type that line in my life.

I actually thought there was a bit to work with here.

He seemed really up and about in the contest, and considering his lack of top line footy, wasn't abysmal with ball in hand.

If he can just stay mentally focused the whole game, ensuring his body positioning is decent and his direct opponent is accounted for, there's possibly a place for him in our inside mid rotations.

 

[clivenator26]

Freddy - Cerra
Tobe - Ryan
Crowden - Switta

Blakely sub again.

 

[wayToGo_]

Watching the replay it seemed like a number of our players weren't 100% (eg Mundy, Aish, Tabs). I think Essendon away at Marvel is a great opportunity to give some others waiting below an opportunity whilst resting a few others. There is no Peel game so they are either playing for Freo or not at all.

B Watson ~ Logue ~ Ryan
HB Wilson ~ Cox ~ Duman
C Acres ~ Fyfe ~ Bewley
HF Henry ~ Taberner ~ Western
F Switta ~ Treacy ~ Lobb
R Darcy ~ Brayshaw ~ Walters
I/C Serong ~ Crowden ~ Colyer ~ Tucker
Sub Blakely

In: Ryan, Western, Treacy, Bewley, Switta
Out: Conca (inj), Frederick (inj), Mundy (rested), Aish (rested), Schultz (omitted)

 

[wakojako]

My three ins: Cerra if fit must come in as our midfield is getting beat too easy.
Western is such an easy pick to come in for Freddy.
Our forward line is clearly a mess so Treacy is another obvious in?

I really want to trial Lobb down at back but idk if this is the game to do it. If he could reinvent himself at back that would make room to blood Meek in the centre and to play Darcy forward more which he is lethal at...

 

[GingerDocker]

My three ins: Cerra if fit must come in as our midfield is getting beat too easy.
Western is such an easy pick to come in for Freddy.
Our forward line is clearly a mess so Treacy is another obvious in?

I really want to trial Lobb down at back but idk if this is the game to do it. If he could reinvent himself at back that would make room to blood Meek in the centre and to play Darcy forward more which he is lethal at...

Sorry, but Darcy is not a forward, he's a number one ruck. As part of that role he should be occasionally pushing forward to try and impact the scoreboard, but he should rarely be a starting forward.

 

[freo1997]

Essendon are an all out attack team, which we're clearly not.

We need to turn this into a scrap. I feel like if we dont, this will be our biggest loss of the season so far.

 

[stax on the mull]

Interesting stat: Conor Blakely had 16 disposals yesterday and 100% DE.

N ever thought I'd type that line in my life.

There were only 2 kicks. A couple of his early handballs were picked up off the shins and maybe delayed momentum for half a second - but once he got into the game his combination play was effective.

He is one player that could give us some more hardness. I'm not saying our midfield is soft...maybe around the edges it is, he adds a bit of size and can bullock through and sometimes he can break lines. Its just hard to see him play anywhere else. Ross gave him a half back role where he racked up numbers, but the games he has played in '20/'21 he's spending a lot of time on the bench.

 

[freo_leo29]

I want Treacy in too but I think he needs the rest this week, he was cooked half way through the third at Peel.

People who watched can confirm this

 

[freo1997]

I want Treacy in too but I think he needs the rest this week, he was cooked half way through the third at Peel.

People who watched can confirm this

So Henry continues to play as our 3rd tall? Nah not for mine.

How many minutes was he rucking for Peel?