Would be happy with these changes, as well as Brown in for Mackay if Brown is fit to play.Be interesting to see how Port approach the matchups defensively. Himmelberg probably should be out, but given the Port defence, I reckon he should stay.
All the talk seems to be Aliir to Tex, which is interesting. He's who I fear the most - can singlehandedly destroy our F50 entries if allowed to roam. And Tex won't have the defensive game to prevent him from zoning off at all (nor I suspect the selflessness/discipline to take Aliir as far away from the setup as possible - as I imagine Todd Marshall will probably do to Doedee if we send him to Todd). But if isolated Tex could get on top of him. It's tough - it could be one of those matchups where Tex kicks three but Aliir has 20 & 10 marks.
If Aliir goes to Tex it's giving Riley and Elliott matchups on blokes 3-4 inches shorter than them. They've got to capitalise on that. If Himmelberg goes out, we lose that potential advantage.
Defensive pressure is going to be so important and Rowe/McAdam just aren't offering enough of that. Rowe strikes me as the kind of operator who'll get so up and about for a 'big game' - and probably deserves one last chance to do that. If he has another stinker it's gotta be a spell in the 2s.
Whoever gets the Hartlett matchup (assuming Ken remains the same little b*tch at selection he always has been, and picks the crab) needs to burn the hell out of him. Absolute liability.
In: Sloane, Hamill
Out: McAdam, McPherson






