Prediction Changes - Round 14 vs Saints

[Mojorisin]

At what point is Poulter not just another Gardner? Tear it up in the VFL, fail to reproduce that form in the AFL.

I'd like to see him given a string of 3 or 4 AFL games in his new role before we write him off.

 

[dogwatch]

I'd like to see him given a string of 3 or 4 AFL games in his new role before we write him off.

I didn’t watch the game but I did see Poulter kicked four against Coburg.

Was he any good? Or just brief involvements?

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

I'd like to see him given a string of 3 or 4 AFL games in his new role before we write him off.

His new role is more or less clashing with Harmes and Kennedy though isn't it? Both are in outstanding form and won't be pushed out - unless we think he's enough of an aerial threat to be a pseudo-KPF in Marra's usual spot?

I like him on paper, I'm just skeptical about whether we ever get good use out of him. Seems like another Lukas Webb in that way

 

[Mojorisin]

I didn’t watch the game but I did see Poulter kicked four against Coburg.

Was he any good? Or just brief involvements?

He got atleast two maybe three of them from high work rate gut running through the oppos defensive structure.
He had hot and cold patches where he'd be unseen for 10 minutes before have multiple touches in one play however I think that's par for the course with his role in VFL.

His new role is more or less clashing with Harmes and Kennedy though isn't it? Both are in outstanding form and won't be pushed out - unless we think he's enough of an aerial threat to be a pseudo-KPF in Marra's usual spot?

I like him on paper, I'm just skeptical about whether we ever get good use out of him. Seems like another Lukas Webb in that way

I'd say Harmes plays a more ground based game. He would be filling a similar role to Kennedy however Kennedy has been getting alot more mid minutes then I think any of us would've predicted.
Poulter would need to count as a KPF just because of his lack of defensive pressure and less then ideal ground game, at 194cm he is technically KPP. He certainly isn't a marking key forward instead getting goals by sheer work rate much like he did against Coburg. although he is capable of a lead up mark and even the odd contested mark I wouldn't bank on it.
I think the best player comparison would be Alex Sexton. He can certainly play a role but it'd rely on playing to his strengths whilst others mask his short comings, something we don't typically do well however could learn alot from the Pies.

 

[Mucat]

I find the last three words of this post rather disturbing.

What is so disturbing about Mate I'm being honest , from what i've seen from Gards and i'm not being disrespecfull here he couldn't run he couldn't tackle why are you saying so disturbing mate

 

[Munnez]

I'd like to see him given a string of 3 or 4 AFL games in his new role before we write him off.

HHF with licence to roam get down back then work back towards goal

 

[Mojorisin]

HHF with licence to roam get down back then work back towards goal

Essentially another wingman, would be fantastic if we can make it work.
I'd love croft to develop in a similar role.

 

[JohnnySteel]

Essentially another wingman, would be fantastic if we can make it work.
I'd love croft to develop in a similar role.

Sounds as though that’s the role we were looking to develop Croft in. Has the running capabilities. Would be an absolute menace at that height as well.

 

[Mojorisin]

Sounds as though that’s the role we were looking to develop Croft in. Has the running capabilities. Would be an absolute menace at that height as well.

Also better at ground level then Poulter and much more combative.

 

[TheScriptorWL]

Bring in Sam "DeadEye" Darcy and the Buss.

Take a seat Gardiner and McNeil. Keep it simple, only the decisions that smack you in the face. Dogs By 10.

Can almost guarantee the Saints will start fast and if we don't match them early we could be in a similar position to last week, chasing tail.

 

[Mojorisin]

Bring in Sam "DeadEye" Darcy and the Buss.

Take a seat Gardiner and McNeil. Keep it simple, only the decisions that smack you in the face. Dogs By 10.

Can almost guarantee the Saints will start fast and if we don't match them early we could be in a similar position to last week, chasing tail.

Not worried It will be too tall against a relatively small Saints line up?

 

[Zeno The Great]

At what point is Poulter not just another Gardner? Tear it up in the VFL, fail to reproduce that form in the AFL.

Just like there's only one Tony Lockett, there's only one Ryan Gardner!

No doubt poulter's form at AFL level has been mixed, but I thought he has shown really good signs at times and shown he has the ability to play at the kevel, problem is he is very inconsistent. With harmes out, I think we could use his run this week, but I certainly wouldn't be disappointed if someone like Hynes came in instead.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

What is so disturbing about Mate I'm being honest , from what i've seen from Gards and i'm not being disrespecfull here he couldn't run he couldn't tackle why are you saying so disturbing mate

He’s being rude

 

[DognBones]

In:

What is so disturbing about Mate I'm being honest , from what i've seen from Gards and i'm not being disrespecfull here he couldn't run he couldn't tackle why are you saying so disturbing mate

My other half never laughs at my jokes either.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

Not worried It will be too tall against a relatively small Saints line up?

It wouldn't be real tall would it?

Lobb/JOD back
English ruck
Darcy/Naughton/Khamis forward

I think Khamis needs to stay in when Darcy gets back. We can have the plan to sub him in the third quarter if we want. Just don't think we can get away with having just Naughton alone as key forward for any length of time, just hasn't been a presence at all this year

Maybe could get away with it with Weightman because he and West can do alright as pseudo talls but the other forwards don't really offer that (not counting midfielders in Bont and Kennedy)

 

[Fossie 32]

Just on the matter weather or not if we want Gardner or not with all honesty no i don't i dont think Gardner is no longer an AFL player stantards in my opinion i think busslinger is my kind of player that can really feel his gap

It should be 'Fill the gap'

 

[weltschmerz]

It wouldn't be real tall would it?

Lobb/JOD back
English ruck
Darcy/Naughton/Khamis forward

I think Khamis needs to stay in when Darcy gets back. We can have the plan to sub him in the third quarter if we want. Just don't think we can get away with having just Naughton alone as key forward for any length of time, just hasn't been a presence at all this year

Maybe could get away with it with Weightman because he and West can do alright as pseudo talls but the other forwards don't really offer that (not counting midfielders in Bont and Kennedy)

They were also including Buss

 

[Mojorisin]

It wouldn't be real tall would it?

Lobb/JOD back
English ruck
Darcy/Naughton/Khamis forward

I think Khamis needs to stay in when Darcy gets back. We can have the plan to sub him in the third quarter if we want. Just don't think we can get away with having just Naughton alone as key forward for any length of time, just hasn't been a presence at all this year

Maybe could get away with it with Weightman because he and West can do alright as pseudo talls but the other forwards don't really offer that (not counting midfielders in Bont and Kennedy)

They had Buss in aswell.
I think we've looked best this year with a smaller backline. I'm all for 3 key forwards as long as we have pressure around them. Pace out of the backline is a huge concern though.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

They had Buss in aswell.
I think we've looked best this year with a smaller backline. I'm all for 3 key forwards as long as we have pressure around them. Pace out of the backline is a huge concern though.

Lol I am clearly blind. My mistake

Even though Busslinger 100% deserves a spot in this team, I don't think we can play three key defenders while employing this high press, we get caught out of position whenever we turn it over or lose a 50/50 ball, so don't think we'd survive with a slower backline

So apologies, I agree with you and will work on my reading skills haha

 

[Doggies7]

I think most like for like with Harmes out is probably Poulter, and i'm ok with him getting a couple AFL games in a row, especially at Marvel. His VFL form has been consistently good this season and is having a damaging output forward of the ball, marking it more and kicking goals from HFF. His one game of the year was a tough one in Darwin and he still found a bit of it, but just used it terribly.

I would rather Hynes stay in the VFL for now and put together a good patch of games and build confidence at that level. He is still pretty lightly built (is no pushover though and will be a strong player with another pre-season or two), but the role he will be asked to come in and play in the seniors is really tough and I don't think will do him any favours at this stage of his development. It's crunch time now in 2025 and Poulter will probably give us a bit more at AFL level currently IMO and has earned another crack.

I feel like Coffield will be an in too after being an emergency last week and a decent run of VFL form. He was a favourite of Bevo's last year playing early and then again when fit, so he's likely an in too I think.

In - Poulter, Coffield, Darcy
Out - Gardner, McNeil, Harmes

 

[TheScriptorWL]

Not worried It will be too tall against a relatively small Saints line up?

Not too worried - Saints might be smaller, but they rank bottom six for contested grabs and 1v1 contests inside D50. That's pretty damn huge for us. Dotn think the ball will hit the ground as much as you think. Moving on from their evident weakness there.

Height only becomes a factor when dealing with limited mobility players. Darcy is not only aerially efficient but can surprisingly crumb really well.

Naughton with the inclusion of Darc, can float up to Half-Forward, a position that nowadays he looks more comfortable in anyway.

And Buss is still unproven. We haven't given him enough to time to assess whether he can swing forward if necessary. But in an ideal world that's three aerial threats to worry about. I don't think we'll have too much trouble dropping the ball in the square and scoring this week.

Plus - We have West and VDM who on their day can move in and fill that SF role to perfection. If it turns out you are correct in your analysis

 

[Ash1337]

In Darcy, Poulter,
Out Gardner, Harmes.
Sub McNeil

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

Just like there's only one Tony Lockett, there's only one Ryan Gardner!

No doubt poulter's form at AFL level has been mixed, but I thought he has shown really good signs at times and shown he has the ability to play at the kevel, problem is he is very inconsistent. With harmes out, I think we could use his run this week, but I certainly wouldn't be disappointed if someone like Hynes came in instead.

Gardner has a 7th place B&F finish. Late 2020 and early 2021 he was genuinely a good KPD (read: not elite, just a solid performer). Not just managing, but actually good. So he has shown signs too, and demonstrated the ability to perform at senior level. His consistency (or lack thereof), and injury trouble in recent years have made it tough to string together games and build any form.

I think if we’re willing to give Poulter the benefit of the doubt, we should really be affording the same to Gardner. When he makes mistakes, it’s far more noticeable because he’s the last in a chain of mistakes that start further up field.

If Poulter lets his opponent run free, or break his tackle, or a sloppy kick turns into a lost contest, and it results in Gardner’s direct opponent getting a mark on the lead, realistically it’s Gardner who cops 95% of the heat from fans. It’s quite sad really, he doesn’t deserve the treatment he gets.

I’m fine to see us test Poulter up forward given it’s still months until finals. But I’m skeptical that this is any different from us having given Gardner a run last week. Guess we’ll see if he gets named

 

[Proffessor]

Gardner has a 7th place B&F finish. Late 2020 and early 2021 he was genuinely a good KPD (read: not elite, just a solid performer). Not just managing, but actually good. So he has shown signs too, and demonstrated the ability to perform at senior level. His consistency (or lack thereof), and injury trouble in recent years have made it tough to string together games and build any form.

I think if we’re willing to give Poulter the benefit of the doubt, we should really be affording the same to Gardner. When he makes mistakes, it’s far more noticeable because he’s the last in a chain of mistakes that start further up field.

If Poulter lets his opponent run free, or break his tackle, or a sloppy kick turns into a lost contest, and it results in Gardner’s direct opponent getting a mark on the lead, realistically it’s Gardner who cops 95% of the heat from fans. It’s quite sad really, he doesn’t deserve the treatment he gets.

I’m fine to see us test Poulter up forward given it’s still months until finals. But I’m skeptical that this is any different from us having given Gardner a run last week. Guess we’ll see if he gets named

The 7th place B&F finish for Gardner was clearly a contrived result (we have a history of such things), presumably aimed to try to build his confidence. Unfortunately, it didn't have the desired effect, as Ryan never developed sufficient self-confidence to capitalise on his physical gifts.

I wish people would stop bringing it up, because anyone who watched him and the team during that period should be under no illusions that his year was anywhere near being worthy of such a high B&F ranking.

 

[Munnez]

Sounds as though that’s the role we were looking to develop Croft in. Has the running capabilities. Would be an absolute menace at that height as well.

Also has the athletic traits to make it work. Probably needs to tidy up the skills a bit though