Unofficial Preview Changes v Giants Round 14 @ Gabba

[Berrygood]

2 games till the bye. Lots to think about. I'm not one for many changes or changes for the sake of change but I think this game offers opportunities to do so.

I think Gallop went pretty well. I liked seeing him get dirty on himself a cpl of times when he got beat in a contest. I just hope he can move on from that quickly. I think he did enough to hold his spot. I liked his effort, he competed, laid some tackles. I think he'll be better 2nd up. He'll be up with the pace of the game, should be less nervous. His mobility n chase would be a plus v Giants. I'm happy to go with the same fwd set up. The more they play together the better. I'd tell him he has the Cats game the next week too. Give him some confidence. Evaluate at the bye, Day and Gardiner should be better set to go if warranted post bye. Fort or Big O, happy with either.

In the backs, I'm inclined to give Lester the next cpl of games off. Call it an extended bye, give the old boy a reward to freshen up. Been a big few years for the veteran. I do think he has been looking a bit tired. The footy smarts are there but the body looks a yard behind at the moment. Time to give Doedee a cpl of games. See where he's at, then use the bye week to evaluate how his body handled it. If he has a good game, run him v Cats the next week. If not Lester comes back.

If Starce is good he comes back in. Simple. We need 2 defensive backs, him and Answerth. We need Fletcher back on the wing. Get that GF mix back, it just seems more balanced. If not starce, a lock down hb if possible. Brain or Beeken if they can do it. As good as Fletcher has been he is of much greater value on the wing. We seem to be robbing Peter to pay Paul there a bit.

Sorry Dev, but the way you're being used as a sub is not to the strength of your game. And as such is not to the benefit of the team.

I think Levi could also do with a spell. Either the week off or a move to sub.

I'd go with this for the next 2 games

Doedee, Payne, Starce/Brain eg
Zorko, Andrews, Wilmot

Fletcher, Clugg, Berry
Fort/Big O, Dunkley, Neale

Charlie, Hippy, Ah Chee
Rayner, Morris, Lohmann

Answerth, Bailey, W Ashcroft, Gallop.

Sub- L Ashcroft/Shagga/Mckenna

 

[M Malice]

2 games till the bye. Lots to think about. I'm not one for many changes or changes for the sake of change but I think this game offers opportunities to do so.

I think Gallop went pretty well. I liked seeing him get dirty on himself a cpl of times when he got beat in a contest. I just hope he can move on from that quickly. I think he did enough to hold his spot. I liked his effort, he competed, laid some tackles. I think he'll be better 2nd up. He'll be up with the pace of the game, should be less nervous. His mobility n chase would be a plus v Giants. I'm happy to go with the same fwd set up. The more they play together the better. I'd tell him he has the Cats game the next week too. Give him some confidence. Evaluate at the bye, Day and Gardiner should be better set to go if warranted post bye. Fort or Big O, happy with either.

In the backs, I'm inclined to give Lester the next cpl of games off. Call it an extended bye, give the old boy a reward to freshen up. Been a big few years for the veteran. I do think he has been looking a bit tired. The footy smarts are there but the body looks a yard behind at the moment. Time to give Doedee a cpl of games. See where he's at, then use the bye week to evaluate how his body handled it. If he has a good game, run him v Cats the next week. If not Lester comes back.

If Starce is good he comes back in. Simple. We need 2 defensive backs, him and Answerth. We need Fletcher back on the wing. Get that GF mix back, it just seems more balanced. If not starce, a lock down hb if possible. Brain or Beeken if they can do it. As good as Fletcher has been he is of much greater value on the wing. We seem to be robbing Peter to pay Paul there a bit.

Sorry Dev, but the way you're being used as a sub is not to the strength of your game. And as such is not to the benefit of the team.

I think Levi could also do with a spell. Either the week off or a move to sub.

I'd go with this for the next 2 games

Doedee, Payne, Starce/Brain eg
Zorko, Andrews, Wilmot

Fletcher, Clugg, Berry
Fort/Big O, Dunkley, Neale

Charlie, Hippy, Ah Chee
Rayner, Morris, Lohmann

Answerth, Bailey, W Ashcroft, Gallop.

Sub- L Ashcroft/Shagga/Mckenna

Not sure if Doedee is ok, been "rested" last 2? reserves games.

I do agree, Froggy was fantastic in 2024 but he has been down on that form this year, also spot on re Levi needs a spell, he's been off the last few weeks IMO.

I'd go Beecken over Brain as an option down back, Shadeau been disappointing this year in the reserves, Beecken more consistent and damaging.

 

[Section 5]

If i was the Giants coach i would give him the next week off.

 

[SpecialBruce]

If he is fit, Gallop stays in until the bye at least.

 

[Viceregal]

I hope none of our players are followers of bigfooty.com

Good resilience training if you are! Robust constructive criticism, over the top character assassinations, possible sunshine blown up your rear orifice, potential conflicting advice to the coaching staff... what could be healthier?

 

[HereIGoAgain]

Good resilience training if you are! Robust constructive criticism, over the top character assassinations, possible sunshine blown up your rear orifice, potential conflicting advice to the coaching staff... what could be healthier?

If Fagan started off every day catching up with the helpful and considered advise on this forum, we would already have this years Premiership in the bag. At breakfast over a cup of tea perhaps.

 

[SpecialBruce]

Players do read Bigfooty. I know of one or two

 

[M Malice]

Players do read Bigfooty. I know of one or two

Are you Bruce Reville SpecialBruce?

 

[Mr Ripper]

Are you Bruce Reville SpecialBruce?

He's merely his inspiration

 

[SpecialBruce]

Are you Bruce Reville SpecialBruce?

Nah but Bruce Reville remembers me from his first ever game, a ressies practice match

 

[Elixuh]

If i was the Giants coach i would give him the next week off.

God that would have hurt.

 

[SpecialBruce]

He's merely his inspiration

Damn straight

 

[Saucery]

I hope Dev is not a follower of BigFooty.com.

If Dev takes any notice of what goes on in here, he has bigger problems than disposals

 

[Elixuh]

If Dev takes any notice of what goes on in here, he has bigger problems than disposals

Agreed. Only fagan should be taking note of posts on here. And when I say posts on here, I mean my recommendations and tactical insights.

 

[Bucking Beads]

If he is fit, Gallop stays in until the bye at least.

Hopefully. You can see he has footy smarts and does the little things a lot of younger players don't. Competed well in the ruck against Thlithorpe too.

 

[On the quiet]

Not sure if Doedee is ok, been "rested" last 2? reserves games.

I do agree, Froggy was fantastic in 2024 but he has been down on that form this year, also spot on re Levi needs a spell, he's been off the last few weeks IMO.

I'd go Beecken over Brain as an option down back, Shadeau been disappointing this year in the reserves, Beecken more consistent and damaging.

I think you might be on to something regarding Tom. The four players that are recovering from ACL's appear to have suffered some setbacks.

 

[Nunez]

I think you might be on to something regarding Tom. The four players that are recovering from ACL's appear to have suffered some setbacks.

Every knee is unique and the club is not taking any risks with their full time return to football.

 

[briztoon]

Agreed. Only fagan should be taking note of posts on here. And when I say posts on here, I mean my recommendations and tactical insights.

3KZ is Football you forgot to change accounts before posting the above.

 

[Nunez]

3KZ is Football you forgot to change accounts before posting the above.

Wow how dare you insult BRAB like that!

 

[3KZ is Football]

3KZ is Football you forgot to change accounts before posting the above.

Elixuh is a GENIUS! If it’s OK with Elixuh, it’s OK with me.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Elixuh is a GENIUS! If it’s OK with Elixuh, it’s OK with me.

Sorry Elixuh - I meant 3KZ is Football is a genius and if it is ok with 3KZ is Football, it’s ok with me.

 

[3KZ is Football]

Sorry Elixuh - I meant 3KZ is Football is a genius and if it is ok with 3KZ is Football, it’s ok with me.

Would you believe #Dylan12 is a genius and if it’s ok with him and #BillyPuller it’s ok with me?

 

[3KZ is Football]

At this point I would like to simply offer Elixuh my sincerest apologies.

 

[On the quiet]

Every knee is unique and the club is not taking any risks with their full time return to football.

that is very true, but my post was replying to an earlier poster regarding Doedee missing the past couple of games in the VFL. Obviously need to be cautious after 3 ACL's, but it would appear that after missing a couple consecutive VFL games something is not right, hopefully it is relatively minor, as I think Doedee is likely in our best 22 IF fully fit.

The other three who returned this year from ACL's, Linc suffered another tear earlier in the year. Kiddy and Dizzy have both missed AFL games recently since returning to play at AFL level, so IMO, it would appear all four have suffered setbacks, and yes in light of that it would be prudent not to rush them back.

 

[mpal6]

that is very true, but my post was replying to an earlier poster regarding Doedee missing the past couple of games in the VFL. Obviously need to be cautious after 3 ACL's, but it would appear that after missing a couple consecutive VFL games something is not right, hopefully it is relatively minor, as I think Doedee is likely in our best 22 IF fully fit.

The other three who returned this year from ACL's, Linc suffered another tear earlier in the year. Kiddy and Dizzy have both missed AFL games recently since returning to play at AFL level, so IMO, it would appear all four have suffered setbacks, and yes in light of that it would be prudent not to rush them back.

Feels like we've moved from "90% recovered, can play, let's go" method and moved to a super conservative approach. We did it for Starce for obvious reasons. I feel with Big O especially, we've just drawn the line saying get him fully fit or else we don't want him to play. If it means he's unavailable for a couple of months then so be it.

Won't be surprised if Doedee started showing some signs and we've put him on ice as well, similar to Keidean. We need them for the business end of the season and once we make the finals cut off. Hope they are being put through another preason to full fitness for now, we have to try and manage without them.