Prediction Changes v GWS

[The Dodger]

Genuine interstate ladder, excludes home teams who have sold home games interstate eg Hawthorn in Tassie, GWS in Canberra, North in Tassie. Funny thing is we sit mid table, Freo are 2/3 but have only played 3 interstate games.

I am sick of saying we cant play interstate but funny thing some teams have only played 1 genuine interstate game which is infuriating.

Unfortunately for us its not so much about a genuine interstate ladder as much as just plain winning in Melbourne and more importantly the MCG against quality opposition. Thats why its so important for us and mentioned more than the fact that some Melbourne teams have only left Victoria once etc.
If they cant win in Melbourne they wont get near the finals simple equation for them. Eagles can still make the finals easily but cant win in Melbourne where the game always goes when we reach the pointy end.

 

[wraglesweb]

Would like to see Nelson in the Midfield !!

 

[Spoon_Man]

Calls for Barass out are premature i reckon. He's a good match up for Patton, who rarely leaves the 50m arc.

Barass' problem at the moment is that he's a deer in headlights when he has the ball in hand and opposition teams are picking up on this. They'll zone off and leave him as an option for exiting the defensive 50. Then they'll push hard to get in his face when he has the ball. He's also noticeably bulked up this year and seemingly has the turning circle of a Mack truck. He needs to drop a little mass and incorporate more agility training.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

I think Bennell's biggest problem was that as a small defender he wasn't very accountable for his opponent. The fact that guys like him and Morton were even on our rookie list to begin with is the bigger issue, it's lazy recruiting and speaks to the general mindset of our club.

IIRC, Bennell was initially a small forward at Melbourne, then we turned him into a small defender with mixed results. We then decide to put him back to a small forward role where he trains all pre-season with some decent returns, then in a game where we get no forward supply coz our mids get smashed, he kicks one goal and then gets dropped as the scapegoat. It was one of the shittiest things ive seen our club do in a long time.

 

[Godfather32]

IIRC, Bennell was initially a small forward at Melbourne, then we turned him into a small defender with mixed results. We then decide to put him back to a small forward role where he trains all pre-season with some decent returns, then in a game where we get no forward supply coz our mids get smashed, he kicks one goal and then gets dropped as the scapegoat. It was one of the shittiest things ive seen our club do in a long time.

Yeh you're probably right, it didn't make a lot of sense at the time considering he'd played pretty well all preseason and played alright in the first game last year.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

I meant over his whole tenure but how about Mackenzie earlier in the year?

That's probably the closest. Still not sure how MacKenzie got himself up the pecking order but it was pretty obvious during the JLT series that he was considered to be in the best 22.

 

[KO_KO]

Nelson for Buttman
Partington for Redden
Hill for Lecras
Mutimer to midfield
Priddis for Karps at hff

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Wellingham was on crutches this morning according to Lachy Reid, so expect him to be a straight swap for Nelson.

 

[Godfather32]

That's probably the closest. Still not sure how MacKenzie got himself up the pecking order but it was pretty obvious during the JLT series that he was considered to be in the best 22.

It was obvious but no clue why, he didn't show anything above average in any of those preseason games and Barrass was coming off an excellent second half to last season.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

It was obvious but no clue why, he didn't show anything above average in any of those preseason games and Barrass was coming off an excellent second half to last season.

I went to a few pre-season training sessions and eMac was a stand out on the track. He was strong, clean with hands and pivotal in the drills I witnessed.

So the reason was valid - he delivered on the track and was good in the scratch matches. I was really disappointed with his immediate drop off in the GWS JLT match.
Keys - you saw more than me but would you agree on the strong summer eMac had?

 

[sey666]

I haven't agreed with a few of the changes this season - dropping Hill this week and picking McInnes last week being the most recent examples - but I can't think of any that haven't been able to be explained.

What about the non-selection of Nelson against Essendon fivey? Cripps and Nelson both got injured against Hawks; Cripps had a leg injury but Nelson had a hand injury so his fitness levels would presumably be higher (Nelson played WAFL a day early on Saturday so he was fit); We badly needed young quick defenders to counter Essendon's small forwards who were great against Geelong whereas Cripps was n't really needed. However, Cripps played against Essendon while Nelson played a full game (?) of WAFL. I guess my question is that if you are selecting Cripps why not the more required Nelson? As for me, I would have included both along with Hill and dropped Butler and one of Redden/Mutimer.
One could also make a case against the selection of Redden for 9 consecutive games despite continuously (except for 1-2 games) playing well below average.

 

[WereFlyingHigh4]

Mutimer had one more disposal in the second half when he got more midfield time than Redden did for the entirety of the game so if he goes and Redden stays......
That being said both could end up being omitted. Partington HAS to get a run at it now as he is easily the most prolific player we have in the reserves and deserving of a debut. He also gives us some extra pace around the ball and it will be interesting to see how he goes with more quality around him. The only two JLT matches he has played have been with our kids and no quality around him.

 

[flyinghi64]

Being tough and following through with making a statement
Out;
Wellingham, Butler, Redden, Cripps and Barrass

In;
Hutch, Jetta, Schoey + 2 off Lamb, Hill, Nelson, Emac

Doing the normal and playing it safe
Out;
Redden, Mutimer, Fraser
In;
Hutch, Petrie, Nelson/Jetta/Hill

 

[Agent93]

Being tough and following through with making a statement
Out;
Wellingham, Butler, Redden, Cripps and Barrass

Wellers is on crutches atm. Might be tougher to force him to play.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

What about the non-selection of Nelson against Essendon fivey? Cripps and Nelson both got injured against Hawks; Cripps had a leg injury but Nelson had a hand injury so his fitness levels would presumably be higher (Nelson played WAFL a day early on Saturday so he was fit); We badly needed young quick defenders to counter Essendon's small forwards who were great against Geelong whereas Cripps was n't really needed. However, Cripps played against Essendon while Nelson played a full game (?) of WAFL. I guess my question is that if you are selecting Cripps why not the more required Nelson? As for me, I would have included both along with Hill and dropped Butler and one of Redden/Mutimer.
One could also make a case against the selection of Redden for 9 consecutive games despite continuously (except for 1-2 games) playing well below average.

I'm a fan of Nelson and I would've liked to have seen him come in too, but is he really "more required" than Cripps?

Cripps has established himself over the past three or four seasons as best 22, and we missed his forward pressure and ability to hit the scoreboard, so if he's fit he comes straight back in.

Nelson has only established himself as best 22 in the first five weeks of this season and Butler hasn't been terrible in his spot, so if you don't want to risk two players coming back from injury in the same game then it's pretty clear why Cripps gets in and Nelson comes back through the WAFL.

 

[RookiePick]

If Wellers is out that will likely force Nelson to play back in defenc for the bulk of the time.

Priddis to get a reprieve in that case and not much to change around the ball. It's deflating just thinking about it

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

Being tough and following through with making a statement
Out;
Wellingham, Butler, Redden, Cripps and Barrass

In;
Hutch, Jetta, Schoey + 2 off Lamb, Hill, Nelson, Emac

Doing the normal and playing it safe
Out;
Redden, Mutimer, Fraser
In;
Hutch, Petrie, Nelson/Jetta/Hill

Making a statement to which group? Drop 2 defender, 2 forwards and 1 midfielder!

Guess your statement is that the midfield was our strongest line on Sunday! Masten, Gaff, Shuey, Priddis, Mitchell, Duggan - you guys were all fine - keep up the effort.

I would like to introduce a new concept to the MC and the line coaches. It is called root cause analysis.

 

[Woobla Stainz]

Wellingham was on crutches this morning according to Lachy Reid, so expect him to be a straight swap for Nelson.

That will send a message lol .....

 

[lewigie]

Was Redden tagging Heppell?

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

That will send a message lol .....

I wasn't suggesting that will be the only change.

 

[Woobla Stainz]

I wasn't suggesting that will be the only change.

Nah i know not having a dig at you just don't have any faith in the MC

 

[Biggie]

Was Redden tagging Heppell?

Zerrett

 

[Eaglemaniac]

I'm a fan of Nelson and I would've liked to have seen him come in too, but is he really "more required" than Cripps?

Cripps has established himself over the past three or four seasons as best 22, and we missed his forward pressure and ability to hit the scoreboard, so if he's fit he comes straight back in.

Nelson has only established himself as best 22 in the first five weeks of this season and Butler hasn't been terrible in his spot, so if you don't want to risk two players coming back from injury in the same game then it's pretty clear why Cripps gets in and Nelson comes back through the WAFL.

Yes but Cripps hadnt run for three weeks coz he had a foot injury and Nelson had because he only had a hand injury, so thats why its a bizarre decision imo.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Yes but Cripps hadnt run for three weeks coz he had a foot injury and Nelson had because he only had a hand injury, so thats why its a bizarre decision imo.

He'd been doing Alter-G running (whatever that is) and was passed fit to play.

He was picking up possessions in the backline in the final term so I don't think his fitness was an issue in his poor personal performance (one of about 20 in that boat).

 

[flyinghi64]

Cripps looked underdone and not ready by a long shot.
Who is to blame for that?
Him for putting his hand up to say I'm 100% and ready to go.
The fitness staff for clearing him and saying he is a 100% ready to go.
The match committee for believing he is 100% and ready to go.
We all know you don't play players who are not 100% right??