Prediction Changes v Hawks

[Fyfster]

Media reports saying Sandi is ready to go , But MC decided to Give Jones another go looking to the future i suppose . Looking at the ins Mcarthy will play No logical replacement amongst them . If he spuds it up again my first post will be on the melt thread , And will have a lot of missing letters in it .

 

[mike91]

Media reports saying Sandi is ready to go , But MC decided to Give Jones another go looking to the future i suppose . Looking at the ins Mcarthy will play No logical replacement amongst them . If he spuds it up again my first post will be on the melt thread , And will have a lot of missing letters in it .

I hate the theory of 'there is no one else, so he plays'. I'd literally rather play with 21 players just to teach him a lesson. Doesn't have to be a like-for-like, hes spudding it up and needs to be dropped.

 

[Freomaniac]

Ballantyne over Bennell.

Yep I’m out.

Oh yay. Ballantyne in. Gifting games are we?

But hopefully next week:
In- Sandi, Tabs, Bennell

I can live with that

I’d relax on Ballantyne. I think he deserves the opportunity to try and receive a contract. That’s how I’m viewing his inclusion. Clearly he has stunk it up for sometime so everyone should rest easy in knowing he isn’t going to miraculously start piling on the goals.

He has 1 foot out the door. Here’s his chance to get a new contract. I think he deserves that opportunity, but if he fails I hope he gets the boot.

If he’s included purely on merits? Well I’ll have one foot out the door too!!

Ballas? BALLAS? **** me... Would rather literally anyone else on the list. D.Pearce even. Grey, North... **** me...

Why the hatred being vented towards Ballantyne?

Not exactly the best choice, I know but not the worst either. 246 goals from 164 games at exactly 1.5 goals a game he has scored in his career.

Yeah I know it would be a preferable option to play a 31 year old Ballantyne over a 19 or 20 year old right now. We have already given 7 players an AFL debut this season. Dixon and North should be 8 and 9. People said on here at the end of 2016 Johnson was cooked and only stayed on due to having a contract for 2017. He played all 22 games in 2017.

I wouldn't be against Ballantyne playing on next season either as freo only have 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th rounder in this draft. Freo have got rid of a couple of old guys in Johnson and pearce.

 

[mike91]

Why the hatred being vented towards Ballantyne?

Not exactly the best choice, I know but not the worst either. 246 goals from 164 games at exactly 1.5 goals a game he has scored in his career.

Yeah I know it would be a preferable option to play a 31 year old Ballantyne over a 19 or 20 year old right now. We have already given 7 players an AFL debut this season. Dixon and North should be 8 and 9. People said on here at the end of 2016 Johnson was cooked and only stayed on due to having a contract for 2017. He played all 22 games in 2017.

I wouldn't be against Ballantyne playing on next season either as freo only have 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th rounder in this draft. Freo have got rid of a couple of old guys in Johnson and pearce.

We've done a lot of stupid things as a club, but giving Ballantyne anothet contract would be very close to the top.

 

[Freomaniac]

So much hate for Balla. Can’t understand it. The guy was an excellent small forward for this club for a long time. So what if it’s a send off game. Will he make a difference? Probably not. Will it make a difference if he does? No. Ease up on our past guns, crew. Not their fault the MC is selecting them.

Agreed. The guy has been a good servant at our club. Guys Like Tendai Mzungu didn't get a proper farewell game. Guys like Matt Deboer and Clancee Pearce we not the greatest players in our squad either when they were at freo but gave us a few god years of loyal service. I was happy to see Troy Cooks final game in round 22 of 2007. It was against Port At footy park in Adelaide. That was his final game for the club. His 150th game for freo and 193rd in the AFL after 43 at Sydney.

I'd probably prefer he didn't play but then again I don't think it hurts having some experience out there either with such a young side.

Hardly worth foaming over, Bennell obviously isn't quite 100% ready and maybe the club doesn't want to to take any chances.

Its strange isn't it? 2 weeks ago before the Port game, we were down to the bare bones. 8-10 guys out injured with 4-5 that are easily in our 22. All of a sudden, Stevie Hill, Ballas, Darcy, tabs and Sandi had to go through a fitness test.

Bennell I am hoping will get a freo game or 2. I will be pissed off if he ends up Like tanner smith in playing a couple of good games then gets injured then gets delisted. I was happy he played a docker game last year.

We all know Bennell has the talent and the footy brain to play. Its his injury prone body we worry about.

 

[Freomaniac]

We've done a lot of stupid things as a club, but giving Ballantyne another contract would be very close to the top.

Nope not even close. I don't think its bad giving him one more year on a cheap deal as a depth player playing 10 games for peel and 10 games for freo in 2019.

I say giving Colin "Whore monger" Sylvia a 3 year deal as a free agent is much worse than giving Ballantyne a 1 year deal. Hell giving Jack Anthony a cheap 3 year deal to join freo is worse than giving a 31 year old ballantyne a 1 year extension.

 

[mike91]

Nope not even close. I don't think its bad giving him one more year on a cheap deal as a depth player playing 10 games for peel and 10 games for freo in 2019.

I say giving Colin "Whore monger" Sylvia a 3 year deal as a free agent is much worse than giving Ballantyne a 1 year deal. Hell giving Jack Anthony a cheap 3 year deal to join freo is worse than giving a 31 year old ballantyne a 1 year extension.

It'd be beyond disgraceful to give him a contract. Not being disrespectful, but his career was done a year or two ago. No, no, no f***ing way should we remotely consider giving him a contract.

 

[Leslie_Chow]

Nope not even close. I don't think its bad giving him one more year on a cheap deal as a depth player playing 10 games for peel and 10 games for freo in 2019.

Surely you are taking the piss?

The worst thing that could happen to our team next year is if he plays 1 game. Sandi and Mundy offer leadership and are still relevant when they are on the field. Ballantyne offers neither.

 

[eastfreo75]

Leigh Fisher as one of the umpires? certain loss for us then as he s a former saints player and hates freo

That champion didn’t give Fremantle one free kick in 7 straight quarters.

 

[Freoforever86]

I’d rather Ballantyne play this week than Matera I think. Materas field kicking is horrid. Ballantyne just slips over before he can get the ball thus keeping his disp % up.

Both out of form with Cam and Sutty is a spud so no wins haha

 

[eastfreo75]

Leigh Fisher as one of the umpires? certain loss for us then as he s a former saints player and hates freo

Ross needs to call him in this.

 

[Freomaniac]

It'd be beyond disgraceful to give him a contract. Not being disrespectful, but his career was done a year or two ago. No, no, no f***ing way should we remotely consider giving him a contract.

Well he has 5 games to save his career. As I said, we cant exactly cull the list and get rid of another 7-8 players off our main list like we did at the end of 2016 and 2017 can we? May I remind you we only have 4 draft picks in this draft in a 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th rounder unless we manage to find a way to get a 2nd and 3rd rounder this season.

Surely you are taking the piss?

The worst thing that could happen to our team next year is if he plays 1 game. Sandi and Mundy offer leadership and are still relevant when they are on the field. Ballantyne offers neither.

No I am not taking the piss. I still think he still has something to offer for freo in 2019. Go look at freos leading goal kickers...

Walters: 20 goals from 14 games
Cox: 15 goals from 11 games
Mundy: 15 goals from 17 games
Ballantyne: 14 goals from 13 games
Cam McCarthy: 14 goals from 13 games
Matera: 11 goals from 16 games
Fyfe: 10 goals from 13 games

Not exactly spoilt for choice isn't it? Interesting spread of goal kickers

Ballantyne, Walters and Matera are our only forward pocket players. Unless we get a small forward in this years Draft to replace Ballantyne, Ballantyne will stay.


Again.... People want Freo to get rid of all the old players on the list. Yes we have 6 guys Aged 30 or over: Ballas, Sandi, ,Mundy, Spurr, Johnson and dan Pearce. Johnson and Danyle pearce have not been offered contracts for 2019.

Again..... Freo only have a 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th rounder in this draft unless we trade.

I’d rather Ballantyne play this week than Matera I think. Materas field kicking is horrid. Ballantyne just slips over before he can get the ball thus keeping his disp % up.

Both out of form with Cam and Sutty is a spud so no wins haha

Funny how people have bagged out Ballantyne. Matera has disappointed me this season. I would of rather kept our 2018 3rd rounder and got Matera last year. He was contracted to the suns for one more season. We should of held out for one more season and got him as a free agent.

 

[Rion]

We'll have pretty big problems next year if our forward line is so weak that Ballas is getting games.

As for now. Meh. He isn't any worse than McCarthy and Matera.

 

[Cobbler]

For the record I think Ballas is well passed it. I simply said he deserves the opportunity to extend... unless his cards are clearly marked, which clearly they are not.

Let the guy scrap.

Why does he deserve it? Well he’s bled purple and still 30 and we aren’t spoilt for choice in our small forwards.

He will be the toughest decision the list managers make.

Finally to clarify, I’m in favour of this being his last season.

 

[Cobbler]

What I don't get is how you could possibly think that and at the same time get stuck into Cam?

If I were guessing I'd say Cam has Ballas covered over the last two seasons stats wise.

Cam is contracted next season, so I don’t care what he does over the next 5 weeks. His test comes in the preseason.

Ballas has potentially 5 weeks of his AFL career remaining. Someone that is facing the reality of their career ending and probably not wanting it to end, deserves the chance to earn an extension. Regardless of supporters views there’s no way Ballas is ready to end his career.

I’m by no means saying Ballas deserves an extension or is still a good player.

 

[Freomaniac]

For the record I think Ballas is well passed it. I simply said he deserves the opportunity to extend... unless his cards are clearly marked, which clearly they are not.

Let the guy scrap.

Why does he deserve it? Well he’s bled purple and still 30 and we aren’t spoilt for choice in our small forwards.

He will be the toughest decision the list managers make.

Finally to clarify, I’m in favour of this being his last season.

If his cards are marked, we would of known already. Johnsons and Danyle pearces cards are marked, they are both gone this season.

I want Ballantyne to fight for his career. As I said, Some people wanted Michael Johnson gone at the end of 2016. The only thing that saved Johnson at the time was he still had a contract for that season, he would of been gone if he didn't. Johnson played all 22 games last year.

Who did he hold back? Alex Pearce? Nope, he was in rehab with his injured leg. Sam Collins? Possibly, we gave him 14 games in 2 years and he was gone last year.

We'll have pretty big problems next year if our forward line is so weak that Ballas is getting games.

As for now. Meh. He isn't any worse than McCarthy and Matera.

Lets be honest here, Who is Ballantyne holding back if he plays this weekend? I dont think it is a bad thing if he is playing for freo and Peel next season. As you said, Freo are not spoilt with small forward selections.

We have played a lot of youth as it is this season.

 

[StingBitten]

Who is Ballantyne holding back if he plays this weekend?

Grey

 

[GoFreo4eva]

I'd probably prefer he didn't play but then again I don't think it hurts having some experience out there either with such a young side.

Hardly worth foaming over, Bennell obviously isn't quite 100% ready and maybe the club doesn't want to to take any chances.

Yeah agree on both counts. I think the very cautious approach on Bennell, while frustrating, makes sense. imagine the melts if he was picked this week after a single unrestricted minutes game last week (in which he apparenetly tweaked an ankle) and he goes down straight away. The witch hunt for Ross and S&C guys would on in earnest within seconds.

 

[Son of a Wizard]

So much hate for Balla. Can’t understand it. The guy was an excellent small forward for this club for a long time. So what if it’s a send off game. Will he make a difference? Probably not. Will it make a difference if he does? No. Ease up on our past guns, crew. Not their fault the MC is selecting them.

Absolutely. Playing small forward in this team is almost impossible. Even Son Son is struggling in this position.

 

[mattis117]

The Ballantyne hate is over the top. No one is expecting him to go around again - give the guy a break, he has been a fantastic player for this club for almost a decade. The way our fans treat players on the way out is disgusting, not everything is about THIS WEEK.

Disappointing not to see Harley, but I can appreciate that the club would like him to build for one more week at Peel.

Very much looking forward to seeing Tabs playing for Peel, and having him back next week. Never thought he would become a keystone in the side, and not having him has stung more than just a little bit.

If Sutcliffe is cut I would suggest that means he has played his final game for Freo.

 

[mattis117]

It'd be beyond disgraceful to give him a contract. Not being disrespectful, but his career was done a year or two ago. No, no, no f***ing way should we remotely consider giving him a contract.

You would do well to learn a little bit about the concept of respect because you display none whatsoever.

 

[mattis117]

Grey

A small forward is keeping a midfielder out? Ok?

 

[Wizard]

The Ballantyne hate is over the top. No one is expecting him to go around again - give the guy a break, he has been a fantastic player for this club for almost a decade. The way our fans treat players on the way out is disgusting, not everything is about THIS WEEK.

THIS!

We are somewhat anchored to that 13th spot on the ladder at the moment, we would need to win minimum 3 more games and have no Essendon/Adelaide lose out to move up so its not like winning hurts our draft position.
Likewise the Dogs behind us would need the same scenario for us to drop.

Therefore, i for one am keen to see us win some games even if they are largely irrelevant.

Ballas gives us a better chance of winning then some others currently in the squad so if he is deemed the best option then i want to see him play. Granted i would prefer Harley, however we are just going to have to wait.

 

[Wizard]

A small forward is keeping a midfielder out? Ok?

His AFL career has predominantly been that defensive forward role.

 

[Unique Name]

13th also should give us slightly easier double-ups next year.