Changes v Ade Rd 3

[docker_champ29]

Yep.

Can't kick.
Makes Nick Notacluey look like a brain surgeon.

Firstly - he can kick. And secondly - even if he couldn't. The amount of chasing he does and the amount of pressure he puts on would still put him up somewhere around our top 10 most valuable players.

 

[Sman-21]

Mayne was also 1 of the few players who looked like taking marks up forward,even in packs.

Mayne can kick, it was the pressure of the moment that was getting to him and others

 

[dugrene]

'Looking' like taking marks is not taking marks.Running around in circles with your arms in the air means someone else has the ball.

He is in the forward line to kick goals. Missed three sitters.

 

[Rhino1966]

Are you on drugs, Chopper had a bad game , he should be well down the list of "at risk" players from Sat

The tail's in the Stands are trying to wag the dog again.
I was at the game and and have watched most on the replay.
We were one kick away from breaking the Cats' back and the whipping boys get it the neck again. You only need look at the venom comming from the BF Vatician.

No changes this week unless injuries force it.

If I had a say I'd drop Chopper and include JA.

 

[Alfonz]

Mayne is a pretty ordinary set shot on goal, always has been. I have little confidence when he is lining up. But dropping him is ludicrous.

 

[rgauci]

OUT: Johnson, Walters
IN: Crichton, Pitt

We still have a heap of marking options up forward, Keplar, Mayne, Pav, Sandi, Fyfe, McPhee etc.

Give Palmer a fulltime onball role. He is back to his accumulating ways. His disposal counts in a full game look to be approaching 30. He'll fluff a kick or 2. But his ball finding abilities are exceptional.

Adelaide have lost Porplyzia, McKay and Sloane. Grover and McPharlin to handle Walker and Tippett. We should be good enough to expose a slow forwardline if they choose to play 3 talls. If it's really destabilising us we always have the option of throwing McPhee back there.

McPhee was instrumental in our win against Brisbane when shifted forward. I like him far more as our Mr. Fix It than Michael Johnson.

 

[McCavity]

hf: Knights, Walker, Dangerfield
f: Petrenko, Tippett, McKernan

Don't think Adelaide would be vulnerable to run and pace, throw in Douglas and Henderson as the quick small types too. McKernan also plays as their second ruckman, so it's not like it would be three talls all the time. But if we were clearly outsized (which I think we would be with just Grover and McPharlin) then I'm sure Adelaide would keep a third tall up there all game.

By the way, I think Johnson should be dropped. But, given the team we are playing and the options we have available, I don't see it happening.

I wouldn't argue that Henderson isn't quick, he does have good pace. But small...he is actually 190cm. A small forward to me is anyone six foot, or maybe six foot one (185cm and under).

 

[prattsta]

But in regards to Johnson, what happens if Adelaide bring in Tippett next week? After his performance in Round 1, I would expect the Crows to keep McKernan and go in with three genuine tall forwards. Obviously Silvagni would be ideal in that situation, but he is really going to be ready? Bringing in Anthony for Johnson could end up leaving Roberton or van Berlo playing on Walker or McKernan. And we all know how well that worked in the preseason.

I know people will say that Johnson isn't a key defender anyway, but he would be better than someone giving up 10cm. Maybe if we actually gave him a role (follow McKernan all day) then he could actually get involved, as opposed to him just doing a nothing role.

It's kind of left field, but if it's a defender we're after, wouldn't we just be better off going with Faulks? If the role is simply 'you're the 3rd tall defender - just stop your opponent' for one game, then couldn't Faulks do that? I've got no idea how he's been going in the WAFL but if it's a tall defender we're after - considering Silvagni is injured - surely Faulks is the obvious choice.

Structurally we'd be no no worse off than we are now - MJ isn't playing in a key position at the moment - and at least we'd be using an actual KP defender. MJ has never succeeded in a defensive role when he's been given an opponent and given how he's played so far this season I'm not sure that's about to change.

Play Pavlich forward for 90% of the game, let Bradley play as the 2nd tall forward/back-up ruckman and just see what happens. If Mundy, Palmer, Lower, McPhee, Hill and Co. can't handle the heavy lifting in the midfield without Pavlich so be it. I just hate the idea that we're treading water by using Pavlich (exactly like we did in '09) until Barlow comes back when (a) we have no idea how that is going to play out and (b) we have no idea when that is even going to be.

Out: Johnson
In: Faulks

B Broughton - Grover - Faulks
HB Roberton - McPharlin - Duffield
C Hill - Mundy - Fyfe
HF de Boer - Pavlich - Mayne
F Walters - Bradley - Ballantyne
R Sandilands - Palmer - McPhee

I JVB - Lower - Suban
S Crowley

Crowley is borderline ATM. Zero tackles from 2 games is atrocious for a defensive midfielder.

I'd like to bring in another midfielder with Pavlich moving into the forward line. I'm going to run with the idea that Faulks will allow Roberton, Duffield and Broughton enough freedom to help out with that though.

 

[Plugga]

It's kind of left field, but if it's a defender we're after, wouldn't we just be better off going with Faulks? If the role is simply 'you're the 3rd tall defender - just stop your opponent' for one game, then couldn't Faulks do that? I've got no idea how he's been going in the WAFL but if it's a tall defender we're after - considering Silvagni is injured - surely Faulks is the obvious choice.

Structurally we'd be no no worse off than we are now - MJ isn't playing in a key position at the moment - and at least we'd be using an actual KP defender. MJ has never succeeded in a defensive role when he's been given an opponent and given how he's played so far this season I'm not sure that's about to change.

Play Pavlich forward for 90% of the game, let Bradley play as the 2nd tall forward/back-up ruckman and just see what happens. If Mundy, Palmer, Lower, McPhee, Hill and Co. can't handle the heavy lifting in the midfield without Pavlich so be it. I just hate the idea that we're treading water by using Pavlich (exactly like we did in '09) until Barlow comes back when (a) we have no idea how that is going to play out and (b) we have no idea when that is even going to be.

Out: Johnson
In: Faulks

B Broughton - Grover - Faulks
HB Roberton - McPharlin - Duffield
C Hill - Mundy - Fyfe
HF de Boer - Pavlich - Mayne
F Walters - Bradley - Ballantyne
R Sandilands - Palmer - McPhee

I JVB - Lower - Suban
S Crowley

Crowley is borderline ATM. Zero tackles from 2 games is atrocious for a defensive midfielder.

I'd like to bring in another midfielder with Pavlich moving into the forward line. I'm going to run with the idea that Faulks will allow Roberton, Duffield and Broughton enough freedom to help out with that though.

From all reports, Faulks had a poor game in Wafl & longs a long shot...Sibosado would be in front of him at present.

I'd be willing to give Johnson one last chance - maybe as a sub....still think we need someone in forward 50 other than Kep - enter Anthony or Griff/Sandi.

 

[TheLastCall]

Out: Johnson
In: Faulks

B Broughton - Grover - Faulks
HB Roberton - McPharlin - Duffield
C Hill - Mundy - Fyfe
HF de Boer - Pavlich - Mayne
F Walters - Bradley - Ballantyne
R Sandilands - Palmer - McPhee

I JVB - Lower - Suban
S Crowley

Crowley is borderline ATM. Zero tackles from 2 games is atrocious for a defensive midfielder.

I'd like to bring in another midfielder with Pavlich moving into the forward line. I'm going to run with the idea that Faulks will allow Roberton, Duffield and Broughton enough freedom to help out with that though.

I'd like to bring in Faulks, but I'd also like the Anthony given a crack.

B Broughton - Grover - Faulks
HB Roberton - McPharlin - Duffield
C Hill - Mundy - Fyfe
HF de Boer - Pavlich - Mayne
F Walters - Anthony - Ballantyne
R Sandilands - Palmer - McPhee

I JVB - Lower - Suban -
S Bradley

I'd love to leave Bradley on the ground, I though he was great this week.

 

[samseenee]

Definitely MJ out. I don't agree with people saying he's a cancer though, that borders on outrageous, but was utterly woeful tonight. And Crowley as well, ridiculous, he is great on his day. Sure, poor tonight but he wasn't alone. Don't change the team apart from MJ out/Anthony in. I was shocked Anthony wasn't in from round 1 to be perfectly honest, since Pav is in the midfield now, surely Anthony is the most suitable replacement for the forward line??

I have wondered the same thing now for the last 2 weeks.
I would have thought JA was a better option than JOHNNO!

I dont care where he plays but my Buddy needs a spell... somewhere than in the purple for the time being!

 

[Avid_Avenger]

Fact is that despite it seeming bleedingly obvious that we should try playing Pav 90% forward to see if the mids can handle it, this is unlikely to happen.

It seems rather obvious to me then that we need an actual forward to take his place in the forward 50 to straighten us up. Jack is the only proper KPF that we have on our list who is ready to go. Jack also busted his gut all preseason to get the fittest he has ever been which shows the application is there. It doesn't bode well that someone showing no application in Johnson is getting free games ahead of him.

Johnson and Kep are flankers (although Kep played very well on the weekend) and the sooner the coaches realise this makeshift setup is ruining our forward structure, the better off we'll be. It also doesn't help that Johnson is playing like a pathetic sop.

It also seems ridiculous that a team who relies on its best KPF to provide a stop gap in the middle also fails to play ball-winning midfielders in favour of negating players. We currently have four 'taggers' in our team. De Boer, Crowley, McPhee and JVB. This is at least one too many.

My wishlist:
OUT: Johnno, Crowley/JVB (prob won't happen )
IN: Anthony, Michie or whichever midfielder earnt the game with wafl form. Palmer and Lower to play full game. Possibly Walters as sub.

 

[Selggad]

I'd be very surprised if Ibbo or SNOS play anything other than WAFL this weekend.

In: JA, Crichton
Out; Johnson, Crowley

I sitll the like the idea of a mid on the subs bench to give the drive asnd energy when others are flagging, so maybe Crichton as the sub

 

[salim malik]

Ibbo ran laps this morning so probably wont be ready this weekend
Wafl boys trained on there own and were pushed hard with a long session of repeat sprints.Griffen finished most of them well in front ,he trained well
Barlowe joined in for a few of the sprints and finished up with the leaders
Continued to run sprints on his own and then had a kick to kick with Bucavaz
Mick looks very close to resuming with the main squad,he looks terrific with no sign of a limp
Main squad trained later and had a very light session,a few missing but those on the track looked fit and healthy

 

[prattsta]

Nice post A_A. The comment about having one too many negating players is particularly true.

[rant]

The thing I don't understand is, everything last season was built around the idea that we needed to improve as a team. Everything needed to be done better than how it'd been done before. Paul Hasleby was dropped from a finals team, based on this concept. Sorry Paul, you've been great, your individual numbers are way better than your replacements, but this is about continual team improvement. Where is that drive to be better coming from this season? It's the same players, making the same mistakes they've always made. It's the same tactics, having the same results they've always had.

When has Pavlich in the midfield actually gotten us anywhere? When has having a centre square set-up with a bunch of defensive minded midfielders ever gotten us anywhere? When has all but conceding 20% of the ruck contests whilst Sandilands is having a breather ever got us anywhere.

How did our last season with Pavlich as a full-time midfielder work out?

We finished 5th last season and we don't look like doing any better than that this season. We certainly don't look like setting ourselves up for a massive 2012. Are we actually trying to get better, or are we just trying not to lose ground?

Would Pitt have been dropped after 1 game last season?

Look, I know the season is only 2 weeks old and if it wasn't for a few errant kicks we'd have scraped home in two games to be lucky winners, but bugger me, I expected us to be working a hell of a lot harder to continue our improvement.

[/rant]

 

[Seppo]

Ibbo ran laps this morning so probably wont be ready this weekend
Wafl boys trained on there own and were pushed hard with a long session of repeat sprints.Griffen finished most of them well in front ,he trained well
Barlowe joined in for a few of the sprints and finished up with the leaders
Continued to run sprints on his own and then had a kick to kick with Bucavaz
Mick looks very close to resuming with the main squad,he looks terrific with no sign of a limp
Main squad trained later and had a very light session,a few missing but those on the track looked fit and healthy

Salim, Any signs of Goal Kicking at the training session?

I know this is a rare thing to be seen as the fitness coaches/sports medicos don't like it, but i would hope this week something is done to address this.

Its frustating for us to see what we lacked on Saturday is a skill set that is not often worked on and ironically it is the KEY to winning games. There is only so much repeated sprints/weights/handball drills can bring to a game and i would hope at one point this week the forwards are reminded of what wins us games.
Hitouts, Clearances, Cont Possesions, Cont Marks, I50's dont win you games. Its the score board that counts!! I would think our list of best 22 have the skills across all facets of the game, but when it comes to a Freo 'Goal kicker'... Pav is not even making the cut at the mo

I know the Colingwood theory of sharing around the goals is the key, unlike the Tigers/Eagles method of bomb it to Riewoldt/LeCras. Just look at our Goal kickers for last year:
Pav 61
Ballas 33
Haze 22
Hill 19
MJ 17
Mayne 16
Barlow 15
Crowley 15
.
.
.

Bring in Anthony.

 

[peppy la pew]

Yep.

Can't kick.
Makes Nick Notacluey look like a brain surgeon.

I take it you missed his goal

 

[Avid_Avenger]

Nice post A_A. The comment about having one too many negating players is particularly true.

[rant]

The thing I don't understand is, everything last season was built around the idea that we needed to improve as a team. Everything needed to be done better than how it'd been done before. Paul Hasleby was dropped from a finals team, based on this concept. Sorry Paul, you've been great, your individual numbers are way better than your replacements, but this is about continual team improvement. Where is that drive to be better coming from this season? It's the same players, making the same mistakes they've always made. It's the same tactics, having the same results they've always had.

When has Pavlich in the midfield actually gotten us anywhere? When has having a centre square set-up with a bunch of defensive minded midfielders ever gotten us anywhere? When has all but conceding 20% of the ruck contests whilst Sandilands is having a breather ever got us anywhere.

How did our last season with Pavlich as a full-time midfielder work out?

We finished 5th last season and we don't look like doing any better than that this season. We certainly don't look like setting ourselves up for a massive 2012. Are we actually trying to get better, or are we just trying not to lose ground?

Would Pitt have been dropped after 1 game last season?

Look, I know the season is only 2 weeks old and if it wasn't for a few errant kicks we'd have scraped home in two games to be lucky winners, but bugger me, I expected us to be working a hell of a lot harder to continue our improvement.

[/rant]

You're right, the general lack of foresight or forward thinking is worrying me. Three things seem obvious to me:

1. Yes we are down Barlow and Morabito. But we are up Palmer and Lower, not to mention the general improvement of Chrichton, potential of De Boer etc. Although they might lack the dynamic ability of Barlow and Mora, Palmer and Lower aren't skinny teenagers. There comes a time when we need to back in the midfielders we have and actually develop a forward structure around our best forward - Pavlich.

The only way our midfielders will ever improve is if they're given the opportunity. De Boer used to be a ball magnet in U18. Stick him in the guts. Play Palmer and Lower through there, and give the kids a go. I fail to see how a midfield of Mundy, Lower, Palmer, McPhee, Suban, De Boer etc requires Pav's bigger body around to protect them. Pav can then lend support for 20% of games or more if we're getting particuarly pounded.

And at the very least, if this isn't going to happen, let's play a proper KPF in Pav's place: Give Jack a chance.

2. The aspects of our game plan that worked so well for us last year seem diluted and less prevalent this year. This includes tackling and hunting the opposition as a team. This lack of pressure seems to have come through a lack of application rather than a greater focus on attack.

3. And finally, if we are going to rob one area of the ground to prop up the midfield I'd prefer we stole Broughton from the backline, put him in the centre square and shifted Pav forward. That would have less of an impact structurally and basically achieve the same thing with a better result - Broughton will actually run and spread from congestion!

End of rant!

 

[Nickos66]

Sibbo looks to be regaining his form from last year, I wouldn't mind seeing him get a callup in place of Johnson this weekend. Could play pretty much the same role.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

Griffin should come in against his old side, surely that puts him up the second ruck pecking order.

 

[Avid_Avenger]

Sibbo looks to be regaining his form from last year, I wouldn't mind seeing him get a callup in place of Johnson this weekend. Could play pretty much the same role.

Stupid not to test him out on the big stage when he's in form at some stage and would be a perfect opportunity with SNOS still recovering and Faulks apparently struggling.

And geez, I'd rather play a kid with a heap of potential then play a senior player who has never reached his potential from a consistency/application point of view.

Just not sure if Sibo is match fit - didn't he have an issue during preseason?

 

[prattsta]

Sibbo looks to be regaining his form from last year, I wouldn't mind seeing him get a callup in place of Johnson this weekend. Could play pretty much the same role.

Harsh on Sibbo .

 

[Nickos66]

Not sure what his deal was over the pre-season, some people suggested OP but I think that was bullshit. He's apparently looked very good the last 2 weeks. I'd love to see him get a chance while we're cripped with injuries to our back/halfbackline. Let's face it, it's only gonna get harder for him to push through later in the season once the likes of Mz, Hayden, Ibbo, SNOS etc come back into the fold.

Heheh, touche' Pratty!

 

[Avid_Avenger]

Not sure what his deal was over the pre-season, some people suggested OP but I think that was bullshit. He's apparently looked very good the last 2 weeks. I'd love to see him get a chance while we're cripped with injuries to our back/halfbackline. Let's face it, it's only gonna get harder for him to push through later in the season once the likes of Mz, Hayden, Ibbo, SNOS etc come back into the fold.

Heheh, touche' Pratty!

Yeh totally agree. If he's good to go then give him a shot. Our KPP stocks are thin on the ground if Sibo doesn't come good so we need to give him a chance to develop and this is his last year on the rookie list. He needs a minimum of 5 games over the season you'd think to force a spot on the main list.

 

[Clay Davis]

Nice post A_A. The comment about having one too many negating players is particularly true.

[rant]

The thing I don't understand is, everything last season was built around the idea that we needed to improve as a team. Everything needed to be done better than how it'd been done before. Paul Hasleby was dropped from a finals team, based on this concept. Sorry Paul, you've been great, your individual numbers are way better than your replacements, but this is about continual team improvement. Where is that drive to be better coming from this season? It's the same players, making the same mistakes they've always made. It's the same tactics, having the same results they've always had.

When has Pavlich in the midfield actually gotten us anywhere? When has having a centre square set-up with a bunch of defensive minded midfielders ever gotten us anywhere? When has all but conceding 20% of the ruck contests whilst Sandilands is having a breather ever got us anywhere.

How did our last season with Pavlich as a full-time midfielder work out?

We finished 5th last season and we don't look like doing any better than that this season. We certainly don't look like setting ourselves up for a massive 2012. Are we actually trying to get better, or are we just trying not to lose ground?

Would Pitt have been dropped after 1 game last season?

Look, I know the season is only 2 weeks old and if it wasn't for a few errant kicks we'd have scraped home in two games to be lucky winners, but bugger me, I expected us to be working a hell of a lot harder to continue our improvement.

[/rant]

Agree with this completely, and Avid_Avenger's reply afterwards.

There seems to be no game plan at the moment that is centred around Freo winning, it simply seems to be based around Freo not losing.