Preview Changes/Preview Vs Geelong

[LT Smash]

Maybe we just need to aggressively reset the selection committee.

 

[LETSGOKANGAS]

I see Swallow still in the side.

We are not serious.

 

[Mordecai]

Yeaaaahhhh....
Their success with debutants really makes you wonder about how different the programs must be between the clubs.

Not sure of his contract status, but if longmire can't clinch a good ending, and Scott flails, I would be super interested in making a play to get longmire.

We have a coach from that system.

 

[Roosurgence]

I see Swallow still in the side.

We are not serious.

Just watched the first half of last week and Swallow is such a momentum killer.

He either turns the ball over by foot or slows the play down because he couldn't run out of sight on a dark night.

I agree we can't be serious about getting better with him in the side. Cunnington, Ziebell and Dumont are enough inside mids.

 

[Works atErrol St]

Don't mind the changes. Perhaps a bit harsh on one of the new players. Like OP said about Mountford. He'd get another chance, as we have woeful depth.
All the inclusions are good. With our defence we can play Mullet on the wing, where he's probably suited. Daw could go well in the forward line on Sunday, as at least he won't crash into Waite or run under the ball whilst Waite is competing in the air.

On a positive note I have a snaaky feeling we could beat the Cats again.

 

[StiffArm]

It's a long season and there will be plenty of opportunity to play the kids.

Unfortunately Hibbard and Mounteford had rubbish games last week and were most deserving of being the ones to make way for the ins. Pruest maybe a little stiff but you can't play everyone and Maj needed to come in.

Sometimes I get the feeling that a sizeable portion of the population make themselves angry because they're addicted to the feeling.

 

[Tas]

Garner and Cunners and Daw make sense to me. Dropping 3 first gamers is the wrong call though - confidence will be shot.

There are some far more underperforming experienced players who have had enough chances that should be on notice.

Notice? Time for notice has come and gone imo. I think anyone who is 24+ who isn't entrenched in the side should be expected to go into the VFL and star to get a chance to get back into the side.

I can only think of one reason why we aren't playing more kids and that is because the club is concerned where the club finishes and it's ability to land players like Martin and Kelly if we end up bottom four playing kids. The problem is, you have to play them at some stage or else we shouldn't even bother going into the draft, just trade the picks out for established players if you are not going to develop them properly.

 

[amaz199]

The challenge is there, we are the underdogs and everyone probably expects us to get beaten by at least 10 goals. But since Geelong had to travel from Perth, we might see a battle of fitness. Something we could take advantage of. A rather different forward-line where there could be surprises. No Waite and no Petrie means Geelong defenders will need to adjust to Daw's abilities. If Daw can get separation 1v1 and play his game well, we have a pretty good chance. It starts in the middle though, obviously.

Should Daw trial the middle as a 'second-ruck' or just rotate? I think it could work as it sorta did against the Hawks last year. If we are re-building, we may as well experiment. Force Chris Scott to make changes to structures he didn't want to change initially.

We need to mix it up in the middle to make things interesting. We were so good at rotating players in the middle in 2014 and it allowed our mids to rest and kick a few. If JZ can take Daw's position and Daw takes JZ's, Geelong won't expect it tbh.

 

[amaz199]

Just try something different! Do anything that seems reasonable and could work. We have an excuse for it now.

 

[king of the road]

Come on Pykie, you know and so do we, you'll be checking the games out on the AFL website. You wont be able to resist.

I too will be on the road for 7 weeks this year between late May & July.

I know I won't be able to resist.

 

[Tas]

The challenge is there, we are the underdogs and everyone probably expects us to get beaten by at least 10 goals. But since Geelong had to travel from Perth, we might see a battle of fitness. Something we could take advantage of. A rather different forward-line where there could be surprises. No Waite and no Petrie means Geelong defenders will need to adjust to Daw's abilities. If Daw can get separation 1v1 and play his game well, we have a pretty good chance. It starts in the middle though, obviously.

Should Daw trial the middle as a 'second-ruck' or just rotate? I think it could work as it sorta did against the Hawks last year. If we are re-building, we may as well experiment. Force Chris Scott to make changes to structures he didn't want to change initially.

We need to mix it up in the middle to make things interesting. We were so good at rotating players in the middle in 2014 and it allowed our mids to rest and kick a few. If JZ can take Daw's position and Daw takes JZ's, Geelong won't expect it tbh.

If we beat Geelong or lose by 1 point or lose by 100 points, it makes no difference. I seriously doubt that 2017 is the year we are going to be winning a flag. So my question is this simple, are the players we are picking to play taking us closer to winning a flag at some point or taking us further away?

There is an opportunity cost for whatever decision we make, sure I don't want to go watch my side get thumped, however, I'd rather cop some pain to put us on the right path. We are giving priority access to older players who haven't shown much form during the pre-season, I think given where we are there should be more emphasis on older players earning the sport and younger players with potential being given maximum opportunity to get much needed experience.

 

[nicko74]

Some of the players who keep getting games have shown that they come up short time and time again. The youngsters may well do the same, especially in the short term, but at least we will get, and more importantly the match committee will get an idea of the potential they possess in the heat of battle. Unless the club are aiming higher than what is the general consensus throughout the football community or they have some other agenda, the kids should be given ample opportunity to prove they have what it takes. But the balance of staying competitive and getting games into kids would be a tough one to manage IMO

 

[tommy_g]

I'm feeling good about this week. Zac Smith and Guthrie didn't come up. Cocaktoo's out. I think Geelong are highly overrated and were average last season and I see little improvement in them this season. From memory we were even to half time last year after losing 3 mids in the first quarter and Wright the week before which meant we played I think 3 games in a row with the accumulative effect of being a man down or even worse on the bench after two interstate trips. Goldstein was also never the same post the Sydney game. I think we will win.

 

[nicko74]

I'm feeling good about this week. Zac Smith and Guthrie didn't come up. Cocaktoo's out. I think Geelong are highly overrated and were average last season and I see little improvement in them this season. From memory we were even to half time last year after losing 3 mids in the first quarter and Wright the week before which meant we played I think 3 games in a row with the accumulative effect of being a man down or even worse on the bench after two interstate trips. Goldstein was also never the same post the Sydney game. I think we will win.

Hope you're right mate. We were ok for a half last week. Our mids need to extract the digit. Cunnington will help

 

[amaz199]

If we beat Geelong or lose by 1 point or lose by 100 points, it makes no difference. I seriously doubt that 2017 is the year we are going to be winning a flag. So my question is this simple, are the players we are picking to play taking us closer to winning a flag at some point or taking us further away?

There is an opportunity cost for whatever decision we make, sure I don't want to go watch my side get thumped, however, I'd rather cop some pain to put us on the right path. We are giving priority access to older players who haven't shown much form during the pre-season, I think given where we are there should be more emphasis on older players earning the sport and younger players with potential being given maximum opportunity to get much needed experience.

Whether we play senior players or not we still get thumped anyway Tas. You have emphasised the importance of experience for the younger blokes but it looks like the club will take the 'safer' option that probably translates to us finishing between 10-12th.

I can only tolerate getting thrashed if Brad Scott and the staff grew some balls and actually made calls during the week and on game day. We still persist with the three talls and we still have the problem of opposition exiting our forward line with ease. We are unable to sustain pressure consistently anywhere on the field because we can't. We just cannot sustain it!

However, I'm holding my opinions for a couple of rounds. If Brad Scott could rotate everyone in different positions and see where players have weaknesses and strengths, it would benefit greatly to the development of younger players and even senior players because it gives an idea of how we can adjust to changes in the side. Since it is still early days, I wouldn't mind trialling players in positions they will play in 5 years time. But we can't do that until players are rewarded on form. Which may or may not happen. We will see.

FFS I just want this side to be flexible. But that's like Richmond supporters asking for a premiership.

 

[Pykie]

I too will be on the road for 7 weeks this year between late May & July.

I know I won't be able to resist.

Ill check the results, not sure ill be getting up at 3am for it though.

 

[Ischenko]

I'm feeling good about this week. Zac Smith and Guthrie didn't come up. Cocaktoo's out. I think Geelong are highly overrated and were average last season and I see little improvement in them this season. From memory we were even to half time last year after losing 3 mids in the first quarter and Wright the week before which meant we played I think 3 games in a row with the accumulative effect of being a man down or even worse on the bench after two interstate trips. Goldstein was also never the same post the Sydney game. I think we will win.

Strongly agree. And we have matched up well against them for some years now. And at least two of our ins are handy, maybe more. Won't be surprised at all if we get up.

 

[Shinboner '07]

Where's wright? Didn't he play VFL last week ?

 

[QueenslandRoo]

Dropping 3 first gamers is the wrong call though - confidence will be shot.

I disagree.

Confidence of last week's 3 debutants, sent back to the VFL this weekend, will be sky high.

They've had a taste of it ... and much, much sooner than any of them would have dared to imagine.

The coach believes in them - he proved it by playing them Round 1.

That they've been sent back to the VFL is no insult; and they know it. They know that the likes of Daw, Mullet and Garner are ahead of them. What's more, they knew full well that Cunnington had to come back in.

They will return to the VFL having had a long review of last week with the coaching staff and with clear instructions about what they need to work on and improve in order to get a second crack at the big time.

They will return to the VFL knowing AFL is not a pipe dream. It's close. They are very happy boys!

 

[Skarrz]

You don't want to breed a culture of losing in a club, hence why we don't throw out all the experienced players and just play an under 25 side.

Melbourne case in point. We don't want to be stuck here in 5 years time celebrating winning two games for the first time in a long time. Need to be logical about how we go about it.

FWIW I think the club needs to readjust its tactics if we get to mid year looking like a bottom 4 team and consider the draft picks we gain finishing lower. Fortunately if that is the case we can just play the side everyone on here dreams about

If Daw doesn't deliver in the next 5-7 weeks I think McKay will come in and our forward line will look very different. Same with Swallow, Gibson, Thompson, Hansen who are our main offenders. Obviously the coaches see their errors and lack of flexibility but they do offer roles to the team. This is about figuring out the best way forward, coaching the kids, managing underdeveloped bodies and having leadership on field to teach

I think a strategic coach and a better defensive coach (no ****ing idea why we have Brad Green as our defence line coach) would make a world of difference

Add in Anderson, Wood, Durdin, EVW, Wright, Clarke, Hibberd, Mountford. Damn we're getting somewhere. But this takes time, not just shuffle them all in and set them up for failure

 

[Dirty_11]

I disagree.

Confidence of last week's 3 debutants, sent back to the VFL this weekend, will be sky high.

They've had a taste of it ... and much, much sooner than any of them would have dared to imagine.

The coach believes in them - he proved it by playing them Round 1.

That they've been sent back to the VFL is no insult; and they know it. They know that the likes of Daw, Mullet and Garner are ahead of them. What's more, they knew full well that Cunnington had to come back in.

They will return to the VFL having had a long review of last week with the coaching staff and with clear instructions about what they need to work on and improve in order to get a second crack at the big time.

They will return to the VFL knowing AFL is not a pipe dream. It's close. They are very happy boys!

Great post.

 

[Dirty_11]

You don't want to breed a culture of losing in a club, hence why we don't throw out all the experienced players and just play an under 25 side.

Melbourne case in point. We don't want to be stuck here in 5 years time celebrating winning two games for the first time in a long time. Need to be logical about how we go about it.

FWIW I think the club needs to readjust its tactics if we get to mid year looking like a bottom 4 team and consider the draft picks we gain finishing lower. Fortunately if that is the case we can just play the side everyone on here dreams about

If Daw doesn't deliver in the next 5-7 weeks I think McKay will come in and our forward line will look very different. Same with Swallow, Gibson, Thompson, Hansen who are our main offenders. Obviously the coaches see their errors and lack of flexibility but they do offer roles to the team. This is about figuring out the best way forward, coaching the kids, managing underdeveloped bodies and having leadership on field to teach

I think a strategic coach and a better defensive coach (no ******* idea why we have Brad Green as our defence line coach) would make a world of difference

Add in Anderson, Wood, Durdin, EVW, Wright, Clarke, Hibberd, Mountford. Damn we're getting somewhere. But this takes time, not just shuffle them all in and set them up for failure

From what I have seen of Mckay he still has a way to go before he is called up. Massive potential though.

 

[The Other Dean]

Ah well. I guess we sort the wheat from the chaff supporter wise this week.

Harsh on the chaff, BT.

I reckon when Brad hears that some people on Bigfooty are upset about this week's changes, and some of the more fair-weather types among them intend to display their dissatisfaction by staging a completely ineffectual boycott of our Away game this Sunday, the magnitude of what he has done will finally begin to sink in, and from here on out we'll see a much different selection policy to the one that hasn't been established yet.

 

[The Other Dean]

The club didn't say it was gonna be like Logan's Run (look it up kids).

I did as you said and found it in post #531 of this very thread.

Long story short, you'll be hearing from both my lawyers and the Sandmen.

 

[Dirty_11]

Here's hoping many of the peanut gallery on here get out to the game on Sunday. Our crowd last week for a season opener was pathetic.