Changes Round 8 vs Freo

[House_of_Dahl]

I knew as soon as this stupid wildcard crap was announced that we would be playing in it. What a joke.

When the wildcard round was announced Sportsbet made a market for it, and we were favourites to play in it right up until round 1 . So wasn't just you!

 

[_Cerberus_]

Unless we make top 6, I'm personally not interested in finals. 5 straight finals wins is a step to far...money gauging fans as well. Going to be tough to make top 6 though.

My biggest gripe with the finals system. Wildcard teams in the USA have to win one extra game or series, to win the whole thing, compared to the teams with an early bye. For some reason, the D heads here thought, lets make it so the best teams have to win 3, and the worst teams, 5 games to become premiers. A extra game difference on what the yanks do. S**t system where you have to play two extra games.

 

[bresker]

32 teams in American football , plus tradition, allows for a wildcard team.
It's another artificial nonsense driving greybeards like me away.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

The whole idea of wildcard is that American sports have sub-leagues - (driven by mergers of two different leagues with NFL/AFL in NFL and NL/AL in MLB). Each division within its league plays identical schedules, so winning the mini-league that is a division, is an achievement in itself, where the division winners then play each other where winning the league is an achievement in itself. Then the final game of the season determines the overall champion, among those who won the various mini-league playoffs. Over time, they wanted teams that were good but finished 2nd in their mini-league to have an opportunity, so they gave them the "wildcard".

The AFL calling it a wildcard is just stupid, because it's just an expanded, 10-team finals series. It has nothing to do with "rewarding" a team that has a better record than someone else that qualifies. 9th and 10th by definition have worse records than 7th and 8th.

 

[glenashley]

We're already effectively minus 4 points from those around us due to our awful%.

Every game needs to be hit hard now. We can't afford more 10 goal hidings.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

if Arty, Tim, Libba and Astro play and The Bont and Ed are 95% fit, a win probably goes from highly unlikely to possible.

 

[BigFloppa]

I'm never going to watch a wildcard game, regardless of whether or not we play in it, as a protest against the stupidity of it. Hopefully it gets horrible attendance and viewership. No team that ever plays in one will win a flag. We'll be the only team in history to win from outside the top 6.

 

[CarnTheScray]

not if our players upfield are manic defensively like they should be and stop the ball transitioning.

Have faith

Last time i saw that kind of pressure was v Sydney 2024...when players like Garcia played out of their skin.

 

[Oliver G]

We're already effectively minus 4 points from those around us due to our awful%.

Every game needs to be hit hard now. We can't afford more 10 goal hidings.

It's so rare for us to lose by 60+ as well, we've only had 8 in the Bevo era (only Sydney and Geelong have had fewer since 2015). The last 2 weeks have accounted for our 3rd and 6th biggest losses, respectively, in the Bevo era as well.

60+ Point Losses (R1 2015 - R7 2026)


This is also the first time since 2011 (R20-R21) that we've lost 2 games in a row by 60+ points, and the first time losing 3 games in row by 40+ points since 2018 (R16-R19).

Our ladder profile before and after the Essendon games looks like completely different eras...

R0 2026 - R4 2026


R5 2026 - R7 2026

 

[BEaston]

In: Croft VDM Libba
Out: Emmett Gardner Hynes

I'm hoping Naughts is right in a week. Sometimes neck strains can recover quickly.

Gardner is done. I'd play shorter in defence as our ball use is killing us there more than anything IMO. Williams to shift back to play as the 3rd tall.

Croft showed a bit last year as the 3nd banana forward, should have had first crack at that role before Emmett IMO.

Freijah to a wing, VDM to HFF.

Backs: Buss, Buku, Williams, Sellwood, Dale, Jacques, Bramble
Mids: Smith, Bont, Libba, Richards, Treloar, Kennedy, Baker, Freijah, Davidson
Fowards: Naughton, Lewis, Croft, West, VDM, Sanders, Dolan

With the news that Arty and English are Tests, I'm going to assume they're in.

In: English, Libba, Arty
Out: Emmett, Gardner, Hynes

Backing in Smith as 2nd ruck, resting forward which means another week in the 2s for Croft.

Backs: Buss, Buku, Williams, Sellwood, Dale, Jacques, Bramble
Mids: English, Bont, Libba, Richards, Treloar, Kennedy, Baker, Freijah, Davidson
Fwds: Naughton, Lewis, Smith, West, VDM, Sanders, Dolan

 

[threenewpadlocks]

With the news that Arty and English are Tests, I'm going to assume they're in.

In: English, Libba, Arty
Out: Emmett, Gardner, Hynes

Backing in Smith as 2nd ruck, resting forward which means another week in the 2s for Croft.

Backs: Buss, Buku, Williams, Sellwood, Dale, Jacques, Bramble
Mids: English, Bont, Libba, Richards, Treloar, Kennedy, Baker, Freijah, Davidson
Fwds: Naughton, Lewis, Smith, West, VDM, Sanders, Dolan

We're not going to go one shorter against Cox, Treacy, Amiss, Voss.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

With the news that Arty and English are Tests, I'm going to assume they're in.

In: English, Libba, Arty
Out: Emmett, Gardner, Hynes

Backing in Smith as 2nd ruck, resting forward which means another week in the 2s for Croft.

Backs: Buss, Buku, Williams, Sellwood, Dale, Jacques, Bramble
Mids: English, Bont, Libba, Richards, Treloar, Kennedy, Baker, Freijah, Davidson
Fwds: Naughton, Lewis, Smith, West, VDM, Sanders, Dolan

They may have had a philosophical shift with no Darcy but the first few rounds Croft and Lewis really only came on when one of English/Darcy/Naughton were off and they played low TOG and there was very few moments we had three talls inside 50

I don't mind Smith rucking with English. The fifth interchange player allows for someone to only play 50% TOG. English is more than capable pinch hitting forward and can still play a large portion of the game in the ruck. Think English/Lobb should be the pairing when both are fit with Lobb playing the Darcy role. Think we've seen it's too big of a burden to carry for Naughton to be the only target with very inexperienced players next to him. Think Lobb needs to be there for team balance, and just hope that Buss can perform Lobbs role well enough down back

 

[Libba39]

With the news that Arty and English are Tests, I'm going to assume they're in.

In: English, Libba, Arty
Out: Emmett, Gardner, Hynes

Backing in Smith as 2nd ruck, resting forward which means another week in the 2s for Croft.

Backs: Buss, Buku, Williams, Sellwood, Dale, Jacques, Bramble
Mids: English, Bont, Libba, Richards, Treloar, Kennedy, Baker, Freijah, Davidson
Fwds: Naughton, Lewis, Smith, West, VDM, Sanders, Dolan

Reading between the lines on the medical report, I'd say that English will be given another week at least.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

Bramble is the best defensive HF we have. He's better than VDM/McNeill/Hynes/Dolan in the role.

I actually think he's great for us, plays a role anywhere we need him. For an SSP selection we should be doing cartwheels

I like Bramble, he has been a good pickup but just highlighting the reasons I prefer him half forward / wing and not half back

Think you want specialists in defense. Hawthorn is the best example but all teams that went deep into finals last year had the same sort of set up, and some of these do more than one discipline but listing their one wood

Barrass, Battle - lockdown tall defenders
Sicily, Scrimshaw - interceptors
Hardwick - lockdown small defender
Amon, Impey - run and carry/designated kickers

Johannisen and Bramble were two of our guys last year and they were fine (much better than our small forwards who were so far below standard) but don't think as jack of all trade types that they complimented the back line like other sides. Think the Budarick, Sellwood and Jaques inclusions (particularly the first two) have added so much to our side because they are genuinely specialist defenders. Think the jack of all trade types (and Id include Williams in this as well) are much better suited wing where workrate is really priority 1

 

[BEaston]

We're not going to go one shorter against Cox, Treacy, Amiss, Voss.

Wouldn't predict so, but it's what I'd do. Happy to give up the odd aerial contest to reduce the weight of numbers coming in from back half turnovers.

Gardner was ineffectual in the air anyway so I don't think we lose much.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

Wouldn't predict so, but it's what I'd do. Happy to give up the odd aerial contest to reduce the weight of numbers coming in from back half turnovers.

Gardner was ineffectual in the air anyway so I don't think we lose much.

Yes there is no justification for Gardner to be playing games in 2026, nor 2025 for that matter, but we know he'll be selected again and there is no use me getting upset about it

 

[Foxman98]

Yes there is no justification for Gardner to be playing games in 2026, nor 2025 for that matter, but we know he'll be selected again and there is no use me getting upset about it

No justification is a laugh,

We have 4 of our KPP/Rucks injured and he is our literal only fit KPD left with Buss

 

[Foxman98]

Wouldn't predict so, but it's what I'd do. Happy to give up the odd aerial contest to reduce the weight of numbers coming in from back half turnovers.

Gardner was ineffectual in the air anyway so I don't think we lose much.

Game high 12 spoils yet was ineffectual?

We don't actually have quality mediums to play instead of him so not sure how you think the benefit of Voss/Amiss/Cox/Traecy taking 8 marks i50 each is outweigh by Lachie Bramble or Buku Khamis turning the ball over and offering nothing in the air against them

 

[House_of_Dahl]

No Libba. Fair enough we are being cautious with another concussion

 

[bresker]

I honestly think giving Gards a run of games might change people's minds. Sticking him in for one where it was an attack v defence drill for large parts of the night doesnt paint a clear picture . If anyone has watched the VFL knows he's a solid citizen , the sudden change in pace to AFL standard takes time to adapt to. Probably.

 

[BWFC]

How did we go into a season with not a single key defender. Forget A graders we don’t have a C grader genuine key defender.

And we entered the season with one genuine AFL ruckman.

I’m out. I’ll come back when they start being serious.

 

[Foxman98]

How did we go into a season with not a single key defender. Forget A graders we don’t have a C grader genuine key defender.

And we entered the season with one genuine AFL ruckman.

I’m out. I’ll come back when they start being serious.

Well that isn't true

Lobb/JOD/Buss are all KPD none are stars all are at a minimum "C" Graders

What do you call a "genuine" AFL ruckman? I'd put Smith ahead of most teams back ups unless you go the Hawks approach and have 2 as you call them "C" graders

 

[_Cerberus_]

How did we go into a season with not a single key defender. Forget A graders we don’t have a C grader genuine key defender.

And we entered the season with one genuine AFL ruckman.

I’m out. I’ll come back when they start being serious.

It's been an issue the whole Bevo era. We didn't back up 2016, because we didn't have enough talent in that mid 20's bracket to take over the old heads, and bridge the gap between them and the youngsters.

Our depth has always been subpar. Good teams have solid role playing and consistent bottom 6 players. Ours go in and out the team like a revolving door, there has been little stability and consistency from our bottom end.

Our solution to defenders, has been taking other teams old heads, and getting a couple of years out of them at best, then being stuck at square one. JOD has been a solid find, but he needs help when Lobb decides to call it time. More misses than hits with small forwards, wingers, and key backs with drafting and developing.

Don't have an experienced back up ruckman right now

And now I feel like our age profile looks a little off balance again. Some promising youngsters, old heads pushing 30 or over 30 carrying the team. Feels like Ed and Naughton are our only players in the mid 20s who are genuine A grade players. Thats the key age bracket to winning flags.

We just haven't been able to put a complete list together, address long standing weaknesses and transition for the future well. We are close in a way, but right now we have too many low experienced players, trying to compensate that middle age gap. Team is trying their best, but simply too many players with under 50 games right now. We need a near perfect injury run come finals to compete at all.

 

[go the dogs]

watching Bevo is in his presser i feel like Treloar might not get picked

 

[threenewpadlocks]

I think this discussion is a bit harsh on O'Donnell, who is still only 23, only reached 50 games experience this year, and got better over the course of last year and started this year well.

He might not become a top 5 key defender in the league or whatever, but the club were correct to take stock of the fact that he's a rapidly developing and improving key defender. And like the English discussion, it's just after-the-fact discussion that an injured player has to be covered by a weaker player (O'Donnell/Gardner). Every team's 5th best key defender would appear equally as bad. Do people honestly think that the expected performance out of someone like Oscar Adams at Gold Coast (similar key position depth) would be any better if called upon at AFL level?