Strategy Changes: Round 9 Fremantle vs. Collingwood

[Farrand]

Both ain’t in the team Bro

You guys are nuts. Fyfe has been keeping Brodie out. We don't need two clearances winners playing.

Next you'll be telling me that Josh Carr isn't out stoppage coach anymore, and that Darcy isn't worth the money we've signed him to

 

[Superkoops]

The only one I'm adamant has to come out is Draper. The backline is too tall and some of the efforts he gave were horrendous and can't be tolerated.

Freddy can be a statement dropping as well but hard to think of a replacement with the current injury / replacement list. Only Simpson and Brodie did enough for Peel to warrant a call up though maybe you could throw Ras a bone and actually let him play a few games

I’ve been saying that since round 1. It makes zero sense. Draper has consistently struggled with the smaller forwards.

He needs to bide his time as back-up to Cox and Pearce. Played his best football as a second KPD.

Jordan Clark has done the job on smalls before and quite well. Clark can take more of the kick ins as well please.

The other one I’d move to Peel to find some form is Switta. Just miles off it and lacking his usual efforts. Pushed off the ball too easily and just not providing his usual repeated pressure and tackling efforts.

I’m not really sure who we bring in but could be an opportunity to give Cooper Simpson a game.

Banfield has had his obligatory 2 weeks out. He can come in as the Sub and do some special stuff that cements his spot again for the next month.

In: Simpson, Narkle, Erasmus
Out: Draper, Switta, Young (inj)
Sub: Banfield

Erasmus coming in off an average game isn’t ideal but he will be at least more prepared and has been playing well at Peel before the close tag on Sat.

 

[Farrand]

Definitely how I feel when people don't understand sarcasm, or can see when someone is being facetious. But it's all about commitment...

 

[Hazelsnuts]

Narkle forward for Freddy? Narkle has been underwhelming but at least he's a natural footballer.

Agree with you on Draper.

How has Narkle been underwhelming- sub in 2 games.
4th quarter against the Crows we were mud and the whole game against the Saints we were absolutely snot.
I’d give him a whole game, no else is really banging down the door

 

[Farrand]

I think that with Brodie, the most apt criticism effort-wise at stoppage is that it's unidirectional, not that it's not there at all. The first direction of effort will usually be pretty decent. Usually that's an attempted clearance, but yesterday it had to be more tackles. But to stop on a dime, change direction, and give that 2nd and 3rd effort...nah.

Clearance is the key word here. Without Fyfe and Mundy (and I feel like this was obvious after Mundy retired) clearances have seemed like a chore.

If Brodie is good at one thing, bring him in for that one thing that is our biggest weakness right now. That will free up others for his defensive running (which has always been a Fyfe weakness).

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I think that with Brodie, the most apt criticism effort-wise at stoppage is that it's unidirectional, not that it's not there at all. The first direction of effort will usually be pretty decent. Usually that's an attempted clearance, but yesterday it had to be more tackles. But to stop on a dime, change direction, and give that 2nd and 3rd effort...nah.

That's what I mean, I actually saw some of that yesterday. 3rd efforts are asking a bit but there was noted effort to defend if we didn't win first possession. Even the odd tackle...

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Narkle forward for Freddy? Narkle has been underwhelming but at least he's a natural footballer.

Agree with you on Draper.

For this game sure, but ive never seen gut busting run from Narkle and from what Port posters have had to say, it's not something they knew him for. Freddy has him covered for the most part IMO but could be a sacrificial lamb for a week or two.

 

[CaseySibosadoHOF]

Clearance is the key word here. Without Fyfe and Mundy (and I feel like this was obvious after Mundy retired) clearances have seemed like a chore.

If Brodie is good at one thing, bring him in for that one thing that is our biggest weakness right now. That will free up others for his defensive running (which has always been a Fyfe weakness).

I mostly agree with your premise. Right now we need other players who hurt the other team at stoppage. We just don't have that defensive presence guy at all, so you'd rather go all-in on hurt factor. Besides, need to be able to overcome the tag.

I just don't think Brodie's that guy. Yesterday in the WAFL Ras was tagged, which you'd think would be the perfect scenario for Brodie to impress as a ball winner, and play a role in a situation that would be close to what he'd experience at AFL. He didn't. The most praiseworthy part of his game is he put in a shift as East Perth dominated Peel through the middle. Don't mind bringing him in just as a "send the message" selection call, but I'm not counting on it solving a problem.

I'd honestly start with playing Voss, putting Jackson in midfield a lot and probably increasing Bolton's midfield minutes too. Others can come in to be the honest grafters. But teams need to know there's a price for tagging Serong (and now Brayshaw). There just isn't right now, especially with Young building, and now out for a while.

 

[The Feeder Club]

In times of crisis good coaches reach for their go to guys.
Banfield is going to come back in, isn't he?

 

[Footskill]

In times of crisis good coaches reach for their go to guys.
Banfield is going to come back in, isn't he?

Well he did kick that important goal from 50 that got us in striking distance and set up sharp with the hball over the top, who should of won us the game against the pies last year... Just saying lol

 

[Farrand]

I mostly agree with your premise. Right now we need other players who hurt the other team at stoppage. We just don't have that defensive presence guy at all, so you'd rather go all-in on hurt factor. Besides, need to be able to overcome the tag.

I just don't think Brodie's that guy. Yesterday in the WAFL Ras was tagged, which you'd think would be the perfect scenario for Brodie to impress as a ball winner, and play a role in a situation that would be close to what he'd experience at AFL. He didn't. The most praiseworthy part of his game is he put in a shift as East Perth dominated Peel through the middle. Don't mind bringing him in just as a "send the message" selection call, but I'm not counting on it solving a problem.

I'd honestly start with playing Voss, putting Jackson in midfield a lot and probably increasing Bolton's midfield minutes too. Others can come in to be the honest grafters. But teams need to know there's a price for tagging Serong (and now Brayshaw). There just isn't right now, especially with Young building, and now out for a while.

Think we've got to go hurt factor based on the fact we do generally have a semi good defense that can rebound. Brodie might not have the defensive pressure but he is a good link in the chain player. Either way, we have to try something different as it's obviously not working and we're running out of options.

Agree with you on the rest, especially Voss.

Bolton, however, strikes me as being an ingrate (his facial expressions and mannerisms were appalling against the saints), if we hadn't over paid for him I would have preferred him to spend minutes in the WAFL rather then the middle. He'll be back to Richmond or maybe GC in the next couple of years. Don't think he gives a shit above Fremantle.

 

[Mogumber]

Anyone care to speculate on crowd for Thursday?
Over 50k you reckon?
I reckon coz of the Pies Army, and our blokes looking for redemption.

 

[sumavich]

You guys are nuts. Fyfe has been keeping Brodie out. We don't need two clearances winners playing.

Next you'll be telling me that Josh Carr isn't out stoppage coach anymore, and that Darcy isn't worth the money we've signed him to

Yes and a strong Yes!!

 

[kp junior]

They’re shoe horning the extra tall defender in because Draper is good. Pretending he can play on smalls etc instead of having some balls and dropping someone.
Desperately need a hard veteran or 2 in the midfield as well. Maybe that’s what they thought they’d get with JOM but he is no hard edge. Missing Fyfe there sadly.
Sack everyone!

 

[poshman]

Have not banged on about my pet peeve for a while, but we have gone back to a critical mass of too many small players. Serong, Bolton, Brayshaw, Wagner, Switta, Narkle, Reid, Dudley, Freddy. That's 9 players at under 6 foot (I include Brayshaw cause he is clearly much shorter than his listed height). It's one thing if they are all guns, but when you are carrying average players who are small, you are better off replacing them with equally average players with more size (e.g. Erasmus).

Sometimes it can work when the opposition also has a bunch of smalls ... Adelaide played 8 in this category. Or maybe you just have a good day. But it is not sustainable. It's no wonder we can fall to pieces when such a large percentage of the side can be physically dominated. Hearing JL bang on and on about "the contest" for years is such mind numbing stuff when he often has selected a side that is not actually built to win the contest.

The Pies will roll out 5 players at 183cm and under, or 7 if you include Daicos and Sidebottom who are listed at 184cm. They balance this with more players in the 185-195cm range, and with great positional flexibility as well. Most of these types are good runners as well. This is where they beat up on most teams by always having a presence of big bodied mid/flankers around the ball and contest. They are going to physically destroy us around the ground unless there are big changes.

We've now lost Young, which makes us even weaker in this area. And our injury list doesn't help.

We really have no option but to keep Johnson in the side and bring in Erasmus. But we still haven't gone anywhere to rectifying the size issue. The likes of Banfield and Brodie need to be considered. Yuck.

Send Wagner back to defence and then we can rebalance and look at moving Chapman and/or Worner into more mid centric roles. Try something out of the box like Draper on a wing. Bring in Voss as a KPF and make Jackson play as a mid.

My changes:
Out: Young, Switta, Narkle
In: Erasmus, Banfield, Voss
Switch: Wagner to defence, Chapman to mid, Jackson predominantly midfield

I would drop Switta. He needs to find form. Simpson and Ras need to come into the team.

Draper has to be played at Peel or developed in another role. We are too tall and mobile down back.

 

[Farrand]

Yes and a strong Yes!!

You sound so crazy right now. Next you'll be telling me Mark Harvey isn't our coach and we've let Chris Scott and dean Solomon go as our assistants despite the fact they were the key to our success...

 

[CapitalA]

100%

I’ve been saying since round 1 - WE ARE TOO FRICKEN TALL IN THE BACKLINE.

Two KPD and build around that. It is Draper or Chapman and Chapman is more versatile and a better player.

Bloody sick of seeing Luke Ryan constantly roost the ball straight for nothing except a turnover when kicking out from a behind.

Ryan has gotten too fat to play small any more. I'm surprised he hasn't been clipped for getting more and more out of shape over the years.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Jeez, took one bad Bolton game to jump on him

 

[ubiquitous226]

Jeez, took one bad Bolton game to jump on him

Well they took out Banfield, who is our escaped goat now??

 

[FreoRicci]

They’re shoe horning the extra tall defender in because Draper is good. Pretending he can play on smalls etc instead of having some balls and dropping someone.
Desperately need a hard veteran or 2 in the midfield as well. Maybe that’s what they thought they’d get with JOM but he is no hard edge. Missing Fyfe there sadly.
Sack everyone!

Cox.
Drop him and play Draper.

Cox doesn’t give a shit these days.

 

[FreoRicci]

Jeez, took one bad Bolton game to jump on him

Strange. He’s played in 3 premierships, yet apparently he’s not up to it.

 

[Taylor]

Bolton's team was smashed in the clearances and fumbled/turned over the turnovers. He, like everyone outside of the middle, had no chance.

 

[s_wd6]

Cox.
Drop him and play Draper.

Cox doesn’t give a shit these days.

Draper has been significantly worse than Cox of late.

First few rounds it looks like he didn’t care. Now that his contested and intercept marking is back where it was at it’s best I think it’s more just that the hammy has ****ed his game up entirely.

Very unlikely that he ever returns to his best. Not very athletically gifted to start with and whether or not it’s lack of confidence or strength in the hammy but surgery on it twice I doubt he’s ever going to be good when the ball hits the ground. Not sure it’s due to lack of effort.

That’s why you can’t play so many talls down back. You need to maximize the strengths of the players you have.

 

[FreoRicci]

Bolton's team was smashed in the clearances and fumbled/turned over the turnovers. He, like everyone outside of the middle, had no chance.

Midfield need to play to their strengths.
Dustin Martin wasn’t good around clearances. Always breakthrough type player. He had other do the work for him

 

[Purple Jesus]

You sound so crazy right now. Next you'll be telling me Mark Harvey isn't our coach and we've let Chris Scott and dean Solomon go as our assistants despite the fact they were the key to our success...

This shit joke has more than run its course.