Preview Changes & pre-match discussion vs Adelaide Crows, Sat 1.20pm at Marvel

[Possession]

I feel we are going to get arse ****ed.

But, I am hoping we play well and I am wrong.

I'm hoping so too, and while it's impressive that we kicked 20 goals without Larkey or Zurhaar (effectively) I do find it ominous that we let a shocking Richmond team kick 87 on us. Crows might feast with their fire-power.

Just throw everything at them, nothing to lose boys.

 

[Only Forwards]

Rankine should’ve just threatened to kill Quaynor. Would’ve only got a week tops for that. :stern look

Only if via text message.

If it was verbal no case to answer.

 

[zoomba23]

We should be a sneaky chance. The matchup doesn't scare me on paper like Braves, Hawf, or Shlongs.

BUT

Their midfield works hard. Ours doesn't.

Their backline is switched on all the time. Ours isn't. And our forwards are lazy (I'll be fascinated to see if this is still the case without Larkey and Zurhaar)

Their forward line is lethal. Even without Rankine.

The difference between best and worst case scenarios is enormous. We know roughly how they'll go, we have no ****ing clue how our lads will go. Hard working, disciplined sides are our kryptonite.

Go out with a bang, campaigners. Greece is just around the corner

 

[Makeshift Park]

We should be a sneaky chance. The matchup doesn't scare me on paper like Braves, Hawf, or Shlongs.

BUT

Their midfield works hard. Ours doesn't.

Their backline is switched on all the time. Ours isn't. And our forwards are lazy (I'll be fascinated to see if this is still the case without Larkey and Zurhaar)

Their forward line is lethal. Even without Rankine.

The difference between best and worst case scenarios is enormous. We know roughly how they'll go, we have no ****ing clue how our lads will go. Hard working, disciplined sides are our kryptonite.

Go out with a bang, campaigners. Greece is just around the corner

I can see how LDU, Sheezel, Parker, Wardlaw could come out on top against Dawson, Soligo, Berry and Peatling.

I can see how Curtis, Sheezel and our smalls could notch up a half respectable score, thus mitigating the influence of Worrell and Keane.

I just can't see an answer to the Thilthorpe, Walker + Fogarty quandary. Logue would have to turn into Harris Andrews.

 

[Chadwiko]

The thing that concerns me about this week, other than the obvious "the crows are good and we're not" angle, is this;

In the last three years, almost every game immediately after one of our "good" games was ugly.

Examples:

2025
Round 2 we smash the Demons 125-66. Next week we get trounced by the Crows 114-78.
Round 10 we beat Richmond 78-74. Next week we get demolished by the Pies 108-63.
Round 15 we beat Carlton 84-73. Next week we get absolutely smashed 150-65 by the Hawks.

2024
Round 17 we beat the Suns 87-83. Next week we get demolished by the Swans 138-59.
Round 21 we beat Richmond 90-77. Next week we embarrassingly lose to the lowly Eagles (in Hobart no less) 102-97 in what was arguably the worst loss of the year.

My fear is that we get high off the smell of our own farts after a win and then coast the following week. I really want us to be competitive this week so we can try and put that to bed.

 

[Only Forwards]

The thing that concerns me about this week, other than the obvious "the crows are good and we're not" angle, is this;

In the last three years, almost every game immediately after one of our "good" games was ugly.

Examples:

2025
Round 2 we smash the Demons 125-66. Next week we get trounced by the Crows 114-78.
Round 10 we beat Richmond 78-74. Next week we get demolished by the Pies 108-63.
Round 15 we beat Carlton 84-73. Next week we get absolutely smashed 150-65 by the Hawks.

2024
Round 17 we beat the Suns 87-83. Next week we get demolished by the Swans 138-59.
Round 21 we beat Richmond 90-77. Next week we embarrassingly lose to the lowly Eagles (in Hobart no less) 102-97 in what was arguably the worst loss of the year.

My fear is that we get high off the smell of our own farts after a win and then coast the following week. I really want us to be competitive this week so we can try and put that to bed.

I want to believe that we will be closer to our round 3 outing.

While the margin was what it was it was more reflective of being opened up in the last quarter with X having been injured IIRC.

Not all losses are equal and a loss like round 3 would be much more palatable than a loss like vs Hawthorn. Where we played like we were never in it at all, we may as well have forfeit given the absolute lack of endeavour shown.

I want them to show me that they view every game as meaning something. Last year we were completely broken after the West Coast loss.

This year we are not in the same head space and they need to show that.

 

[Caracas]

The thing that concerns me about this week, other than the obvious "the crows are good and we're not" angle, is this;

In the last three years, almost every game immediately after one of our "good" games was ugly.

Examples:

2025
Round 2 we smash the Demons 125-66. Next week we get trounced by the Crows 114-78.
Round 10 we beat Richmond 78-74. Next week we get demolished by the Pies 108-63.
Round 15 we beat Carlton 84-73. Next week we get absolutely smashed 150-65 by the Hawks.

2024
Round 17 we beat the Suns 87-83. Next week we get demolished by the Swans 138-59.
Round 21 we beat Richmond 90-77. Next week we embarrassingly lose to the lowly Eagles (in Hobart no less) 102-97 in what was arguably the worst loss of the year.

My fear is that we get high off the smell of our own farts after a win and then coast the following week. I really want us to be competitive this week so we can try and put that to bed.

I don’t think we got “trounced” in Adelaide in R3. It was quite a respectable showing, relatively speaking. Marvel helps. No Larkey/Zurhaar doesn’t. However, Trembath shows no fear. Sheez is on his bike. Hopefully, Wardlaw gets up. He seems to be running games out better.

 

[amaz199]

Just got to hunt them at every opportunity. Perceived pressure and all.

 

[JUST NORTH]

I don’t think we got “trounced” in Adelaide in R3. It was quite a respectable showing, relatively speaking. Marvel helps. No Larkey/Zurhaar doesn’t. However, Trembath shows no fear. Sheez is on his bike. Hopefully, Wardlaw gets up. He seems to be running games out better.

might be unpopular opinion but to me Zurhaar has the lowest iq of anyone on our forward line,i did not like him getting injured obviously but i was very confident our forward line would function better,it did with a very inexperienced one to boot,Reasons..... he gets in the way of the right option,liability defensively and is selfish,he is a chaos styled operator but unfortunately the only chaos created is to our forward line from functioning properly.

 

[kangafan1993]

I feel like Harvey could go, but due to him being young, he will keep his spot for the last game.
Bailey Scott

8

Bailey Scott

Age

25

Ht

186cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

4.9

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

1.5

3star

CL

0.9

3star

D

8.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.8

3star

CL

1.3

4star

D

11.8

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.2

3star

CL

0.6

3star

is out for sure, and possibly a farewell.
In: Phillips (maybe in the mid and move Parker FWD if Phillips does the tagging we need it), Hardeman and Duursma.

 

[BlueanWhiteKanga]

I think this one's a write off

We conceded 87 against a poor Richmond team.
With Keane and Worrall down back, we could struggle to put points on em. Not a good game to be missing Larkey and Bull, regardless of how well Trmbath and Payne are going at the moment.

They'll be without Rankine, but I would doubt they'll be resting many - if any - players. They may even get Rachele back. With the promise of a minor premiership with a win, and retaining momentum, I'd be surprised if they treat this as a training run.

I'd also hope we don't select players, simply based on a 'farewell' factor. Yes, I understand the gesture but you should pick the best team available.

Hopefully the likes of Sheez, LDU, Xerri, PC can back up with a similar performance to last week. Give us a decent showing to end the season!

 

[ferball]

I want to believe that we will be closer to our round 3 outing.

While the margin was what it was it was more reflective of being opened up in the last quarter with X having been injured IIRC.

Not all losses are equal and a loss like round 3 would be much more palatable than a loss like vs Hawthorn. Where we played like we were never in it at all, we may as well have forfeit given the absolute lack of endeavour shown.

I want them to show me that they view every game as meaning something. Last year we were completely broken after the West Coast loss.

This year we are not in the same head space and they need to show that.

In that Adelaide game the team that currently on top of the ladder beat us by one or two goals across the quarter.

The period from late in the third till v early in the fourth they kicked four in a row and that was the only time they were really on top of us. Otherwise it was a hard fought contest.

Even the Pies game was even till the last quarter and its not surprising a young side (ie 6 or 8 kids under 21) runs out of legs against a side with two kids under 21 and everyone else is 22 or older. Hardly surprising they're struggling to run out the game the week before the bye as well.

I don't think either game compares to the Hawthorn one where we basically didn't show up.

(Altho i went to both those Hawthorn games in Launceston and watching the one this year was no where near as bad as watching last years game. This year we matched them for scoring shots in the last quarter, last year they scored 10.4 to 1.0 in the last quarter. They had 14 scoring shots to 1! After the last game last year I was really gutted (and pissed off) but this year they fought it out in the last quarter and weren't embarrassed, shamed or dishonoured.)

Of the four ugly games we had this year only one came after a win. It came after we almost shat the bed against Carlton and the ghosts of WC last year in Hobart were probably floating around.

That hasn't happened this week. Richmond got a run on late but we had kicked four goals in the last quarter at that point. They kicked four in a row and then we kicked a couple more all while we were ****ing about trying to get Sheeze to 50 touches.

Crom are on top of the ladder for a reason, primed for finals and we're missing our two highest scoring goal kickers for the year (tho Curtis has averaged more goals than Zurhaar per game.) So there's a chance its really ugly but it's more likely we play well till the middle of third quarter or 3QT and then they kick a bunch of goals as our younger players, who we really use alot, run out of legs.

 

[amaz199]

LOL

View attachment RDT_20250819_122950.mp4

 

[Caracas]

I fully expect a fighting effort this week. Wardlaw being available will be very important. When he’s up and about, our midfield wins. Last season catastrophe against WC led to the R23/24 calamities. This season we’re going in feeling better about ourselves. I wouldn’t complain if Corr came in to stand Thilthorpe. Pink to Fogarty. Logue to Tex. Comben floating. Finn & Hardeman/Colby to give us run. Daniel to play the same role he played on Sunday - pushing further up the ground. No room for Scott. Parker to play Zurhaar’s role (in a completely different manner ). Harvey - Sub. Whitlock to make way for Corr.

P.S. X, Sheez & LDU appear to be back at peak output at the same time.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Chance to end this season on an emphatic positive.

Nothing really to lose.

 

[Caracas]

In that Adelaide game the team that currently on top of the ladder beat us by one or two goals across the quarter.

The period from late in the third till v early in the fourth they kicked four in a row and that was the only time they were really on top of us. Otherwise it was a hard fought contest.

Even the Pies game was even till the last quarter and its not surprising a young side (ie 6 or 8 kids under 21) runs out of legs against a side with two kids under 21 and everyone else is 22 or older. Hardly surprising they're struggling to run out the game the week before the bye as well.

I don't think either game compares to the Hawthorn one where we basically didn't show up.

(Altho i went to both those Hawthorn games in Launceston and watching the one this year was no where near as bad as watching last years game. This year we matched them for scoring shots in the last quarter, last year they scored 10.4 to 1.0 in the last quarter. They had 14 scoring shots to 1! After the last game last year I was really gutted (and pissed off) but this year they fought it out in the last quarter and weren't embarrassed, shamed or dishonoured.)

Of the four ugly games we had this year only one came after a win. It came after we almost shat the bed against Carlton and the ghosts of WC last year in Hobart were probably floating around.

That hasn't happened this week. Richmond got a run on late but we had kicked four goals in the last quarter at that point. They kicked four in a row and then we kicked a couple more all while we were ****ing about trying to get Sheeze to 50 touches.

Crom are on top of the ladder for a reason, primed for finals and we're missing our two highest scoring goal kickers for the year (tho Curtis has averaged more goals than Zurhaar per game.) So there's a chance its really ugly but it's more likely we play well till the middle of third quarter or 3QT and then they kick a bunch of goals as our younger players, who we really use alot, run out of legs.

You’re reading my mind here, Ferbs. I was reviewing the year this week and, largely, came to the same conclusions.

 

[kangafan1993]

I think this one's a write off

We conceded 87 against a poor Richmond team.
With Keane and Worrall down back, we could struggle to put points on em. Not a good game to be missing Larkey and Bull, regardless of how well Trmbath and Payne are going at the moment.

They'll be without Rankine, but I would doubt they'll be resting many - if any - players. They may even get Rachele back. With the promise of a minor premiership with a win, and retaining momentum, I'd be surprised if they treat this as a training run.

I'd also hope we don't select players, simply based on a 'farewell' factor. Yes, I understand the gesture but you should pick the best team available.

Hopefully the likes of Sheez, LDU, Xerri, PC can back up with a similar performance to last week. Give us a decent showing to end the season!

Exactly what I was thinking, and it would be hard to stop Thilthorpe

 

[shintemaster]

Nothing really to lose.

Exactly how I see it. A win against the odds has us at 6.5 for the year which, while lower than I hoped - and was achievable - is probably a pass mark.

Nothing to lose is right though, any strong competitive performance gives us a good bookend to the year.

 

[kangafruity]

Tex Walker is supposed to play his 300th or is it 350th game this week but surely they will delay and play it in Adelaide? Although with Rankine sure to be out that plan may have to change

 

[muttley45]

O'Brien has been in pretty fair form as far as Ruckwork goes, #1 in the league for hitout's, but i don't reckon he would be looking to forward to crossing swords with X too much, (insert gif of him running away from X) neutralise him at centre bounces and let the best mid's get to work.

 

[andana]

Sneaky chance this wknd?

 

[archereleven]

If we can play well and get over the line or cop a respectable loss, it will go a big way to building belief over the preseason that we are on the right track.

If we get smashed, we are straight back to square 1.

 

[JGreezy]

O'Brien has been in pretty fair form as far as Ruckwork goes, #1 in the league for hitout's, but i don't reckon he would be looking to forward to crossing swords with X too much, (insert gif of him running away from X) neutralise him at centre bounces and let the best mid's get to work.

Their team selection will be interesting. Whether they risk injury or not.

 

[Gasometer]

Can we anticipate a Seat Firesale on Thursday for the last round of the year?

 

[Gasometer]

If we can play well and get over the line or cop a respectable loss, it will go a big way to building belief over the preseason that we are on the right track.

If we get smashed, we are straight back to square 1.

Makes no difference watsover considering the Outs