Changes v Bombers

[Elite Crow]

In: Crouch, Cameron
Out: Reilly, Martin

Hendo to come in the week after. Did anyone actually watch Reilly's game last night? North kicked about 2 or 3 goals directly from Reilly trailing his opponent by about 5 metres. Not to mention the 2 or 3 mis-kicks from the backline that are par for the course for him and lead to turnovers. He's simply too slow and not good enough for AFL football.

I didn't go and watched the replay hungover and didn't pay too much attention. I saw one horrible kick in in the third. Who was his opponent?

 

[Mike Smyth]

B. Crouch isn't coming in, whether he survives the SANFL tribunal or not

he will if he survives the tribunal.

 

[SydCrow]

Reilly was fine. Can't see him being dropped.

 

[NTRabbit]

he will if he survives the tribunal.

They've already said he won't. He had no preseason, no season and a long injury, he's a long way short of match fit for AFL.

 

[NTRabbit]

I didn't go and watched the replay hungover and didn't pay too much attention. I saw one horrible kick in in the third. Who was his opponent?

He didn't have a set opponent that I saw, seemed to rotate on whichever small North put forward that wasn't Harvey or Thomas

 

[beartoo]

They've already said he won't. He had no preseason, no season and a long injury, he's a long way short of match fit for AFL.

Who? Where did you read that?

 

[little graham]

Anyone think Otten has made a big difference to our side? He has looked good the last couple of home games.

His experience and reading of the play goes along way in a young side.

 

[NTRabbit]

Who? Where did you read that?

There was a quote from Noble I think? In any event, observers said Crouch faded in the second half. Telltale sign he's not fit and needs more SANFL games before returning - he's played 4 games all year off the back of no preseason, this stuff is obvious guys.

I seem to recall lots of teeth gnashing when other players were rushed into the side lacking fitness, to our detriment - or does that not apply to favourites?

 

[FR0GGY]

What'd crouch do to go to the tribunal?

 

[mcday]

Out of interest, how many games do people think that Cameron should play for the rest of the year? Should we try and ease into about 5 more, and set him up for a big run at it next year? Or should we just play him as much as we can? Obviously he's still very slightly built, and the groin issue makes me a tad uneasy about making him play the rest of the year, I'd hate to overwork him.

 

[Sir Vlado]

I'd give him the rest of the year, with stints as the sub depending on the opponent, is there significant worth in sending him back into the reserves?

 

[Paladin]

B. Crouch isn't coming in, whether he survives the SANFL tribunal or not

Yes he is I can assure you.

Tribunal unfortunately could have a say.

 

[BunjiMac]

The next few weeks is going to be very tricky IMO - I agree they will want to get all of Crouch, Hendo, Lynch and Cameron back into the side. They are also walking a tight rope in terms of running into the finals. It always takes a few senior games for any player to get back up to speed. So managing these players back without upsetting the balance of the side will be tough.

The other complicating factor is the only expendable players are not necessarily like for like.

B Crouch for M Crouch is easy.
Cameron for Martin - ok
Lynch for ?????
Hendo for ????

From last night you would say Martin was 22, M Crouch 21 and Wright 20.

You can't replace Wright with either Lynch or Hendo.

Easy to say Hendo for Reilly but I don't think selectors will go that way. Maybe Hendo to half back, Smith to mids then Wright out?

Leaves Lynch???? No idea how to solve that one

Not sure why you couldn't do that considering Wright plays alot in the forward line and Hendo beiong back means smith can take wrights midfield minutes.

My gut feel tells me our best side can't afford the luxury of the three smalls (laird, jaensch and brown) in defence.

I'd go:

B: Otten, Hartigan, Brown
HBF: Hendo, Talia, Smith
C: Mackay, Danger, Sloane
HF: Kerridge, Tex, Lynch
F: Cameron, JJ, Betts
Foll: Sauce, Douglas, Thommo

Int: Laird, Lyons, B Crouch, Rutten/Pods (depending on who we were playing)

 

[TheRoo32]

Changes will be highly dependant on the judgement made by the fitness staff on whether B Crouch is ready. I'd suggest one more in the SANFL and bring him back in the showdown. Will Camerons injury come up? If they're both good the Out: Martin, M Crouch In: Cameron, B Crouch

then next week in: Henderson, Lynch and that's basically full strength IMO.

We have a genuine chance to go into the 8 this week and the previous two times that's happened this year we've crumbled against ordinary outifts. If we show up we should flog Essendon. They are very ordinary. Come on AFC! We belong in the 8.

 

[Brenton Davy]

And these are the games where we stumble, when there is the chance to get ahead. A MUST WIN game, time for some hard nosed decisions for the game.

Look purely at the match ups. We need more pace in the backline in our talls to match up on the mobile Paddy Ryder and Joe Daniher. Can Truck take Daniher?
While the Kedge is going to have to go to Goddard and do we let Laird a chance for redemption on Zaharakis?
Ideally would like to see B Crouch and Cameron come back in, but both are questions for differing reasons. Hendo unfortunately is at least another week away probably 2 as his inclusion would free up Smithers to a wing where he could do some real damage.
Going over for the game and it should be a cracker.
Some are saying M Crouch out, he did have 7 tackles second only behind Thommo who lifted for the game and needs to keep going now for the rest of the season. While I am a Laird fan, his job on Harvey shows he has a way to go yet, does he get another go if B Crouch is not suspended?
Such a massive chance for us to get to 8th possibly 7th.

Truck has earned first go at Daniher, however if that doesn't come off, I reckon Pods could be a useful swingman to take that job if Truck is getting towelled up. You would sub Truck and bring on some pace in the subs vest

 

[FR0GGY]

Yes he is I can assure you.

Tribunal unfortunately could have a say.

What'd crouch do?

 

[maxlilly]

What'd crouch do?

A bloke from Centrals punched him so he hit him back and got caught by the ump & reported

 

[The Radar]

Yes we drop a wright type for lynch but if atrocious conditions pods makes way.

No way you drop Pods in atrocious conditions. He is our best KPF at bringing the ball to the ground, marking or killing the ball over the boundary line. All assets you need in atrocious conditions

 

[Jack is Back]

No way you drop Pods in atrocious conditions. He is our best KPF at bringing the ball to the ground, marking or killing the ball over the boundary line. All assets you need in atrocious conditions

Are we expecting the condensation to rain down from the inside of the roof at Docklands on Saturday night?

 

[beartoo]

There was a quote from Noble I think? In any event, observers said Crouch faded in the second half. Telltale sign he's not fit and needs more SANFL games before returning - he's played 4 games all year off the back of no preseason, this stuff is obvious guys.

I seem to recall lots of teeth gnashing when other players were rushed into the side lacking fitness, to our detriment - or does that not apply to favourites?

No, there wasn't. You made that up. No one at the club other than the coach would comment on selection issues a week or more out. My mail is that Crouch snr was told he would be back against the Dons provided he pulled up okay after the Centrals game. Sando is justified at being seriously pissed off with B Crouch. We needed him to have a run at top level before taking on Port in the Showdown.

 

[King Elvis]

I thought I read someone from the Club saying that wanted him to have another week in the SANFL as well... But I was really hungover yesterday, so I might've imagined it.

Re Cameron, if he's fit, he plays.

I'm sick of us shielding players and trying to 'ease' them into the AFL. If they're good enough, play them.

Same as this crap about 'We don't want to bring Crouch back in for a big game like the Showdown,' - why the hell not? Let's put some demands and pressure and expectation on our players; the big games are exactly the ones we should be bringing them back for, they're the ones we need to start winning, and we need players who can perform under pressure (Kerridge will be one of these).

 

[Allefgib]

There was a quote from Noble I think? In any event, observers said Crouch faded in the second half. Telltale sign he's not fit and needs more SANFL games before returning - he's played 4 games all year off the back of no preseason, this stuff is obvious guys.

I seem to recall lots of teeth gnashing when other players were rushed into the side lacking fitness, to our detriment - or does that not apply to favourites?

Give him another month at sanfl level for mine. Massively interrupted preseason and season.

 

[1970crow]

Truck has earned first go at Daniher, however if that doesn't come off, I reckon Pods could be a useful swingman to take that job if Truck is getting towelled up. You would sub Truck and bring on some pace in the subs vest

Pods is good at rolling back and being a marking loose man, he's not even close to be a proven defender responsible for a man. When Menzel did him by leading away from the kicker, pods had zoned off to where he thought the ball was going. Not a career defining error, but go and have a look at pods when menzel takes the mark. He's looking around for the player who should have been on Menzel. He's not the type of defender who you sub truck out for, we've already made that mistake, you'd like to think it won't happen again.

 

[Dandy_GO]

Brad Crouch has spent so long on the sidelines this year, both in the season proper and pre-season, that we seriously need to take our time with him. It would be a bad move to bring him in this week - he'd be way off pace still, which does us no favours as a team, and puts him at a higher risk of injury. I do not see it happening, regardless of his SANFL tribunal result.

Martin showed great energy/hustle coming off the bench. Missed a goal he should have kicked, but the other 3 were far from gimmes (took the best option by having a shot, but all were low-percentage). Otherwise, he was very good, and bounced back well from a horror game last week. 10 touches and 4 shots on goal from 30% gametime is good stuff. I don't mind him as a 'supersub' type player, as he plays with heart and tries to fire up the rest of the side. I just hated seeing him come in for a week, get the vest, and get dropped over and over. Poor use of the player, and the vest. I'd be happy for us to leave him in.

Jenkins flat out deserves to be dropped. Kicked an arsey goal, and another good one (seconds after completely fluffing an easy mark in a better position), but he just failed to use his body all day. If injury is to blame for this, he should not be playing. If your key forwards aren't jumping at the ball and attacking the contest, they are not doing their job. Allowing his opponent to take contested marks against him, and easily clear the ball, is very poor and shows a lack of brains or effort. Or both. It means that our small forwards are deprived of opportunities they might otherwise get. It means the opposition have an easier time setting up their attacking plays. It's unacceptable. His forward pressure is deplorable, too. He simply does not try to win his own ball. He even got a bronx cheer from the crowd after finally taking a grab in the 3rd (not that I agree with this conduct). It's great that he can kick goals on the run, but Charlie Cameron can do that too, while actually tackling and pressuring the opposition. Jenkins needs to bring other things to the side if he's going to play as a key forward. He doesn't need to take as many contested grabs as Pods, but he does need to jump at the bloody ball. Right now, he very much deserves to be dropped. He's very lucky we need him to help our Jacobs (and that McKernan is such an unattractive option).

I was surprised we brought Matt Crouch back in, despite his good SANFL game. I think he can still learn things in the SANFL. But I hate seeing inexperienced guys come in for a game, get the vest, and then get dropped so I'd leave him in the side. At the very least, he showed plenty of effort and grunt. North have a solid midfield, though, and he was definitely outbodied more often than not, and found himself second to the ball. 7 tackles shows good spirit in the face of this, however. Very good signs.

Lairdy struggled to go with Boomer, but I didn't actually think he did too badly, despite Harvey's stats. I don't think Laird has had a great season, but he always shows plenty of heart. Leave him in.

Unchanged, Cameron is unlucky this week. Give him a run in the SANFL to get him hungry. Kerridge to stay in the forwardlines, with no Watson to tag. Bring Charlie in for the showdown, and move Kerridge back into a tagging role, with Martin and/or Crouch (or someone else that gets injured/plays a stinker) to make way.

 

[mattymac]

Cameron in at the very least if fit. He's hungry as.