Changes v Richmond

[Reginald Perrin]

So happy to finally be able to attend a game, can't wait to see Fyfe play. Will be happy to share some bevs with you guys after the game!

Loser buys the beers DrMike, so make sure you bring your wallet.

 

[feds2000]

In;
McPharlin
Fyfe
Lower

Out;
Ballatyne (has not played a good game for weeks)
Neale (Struggling for impact at AFL level)
Suban (Too slow)

Rofl didn't Balltyne kick three goals in one quarter last week and be one of our best players

 

[HarbourMaster]

Reckon we'll smash Richmond.

 

[DrMike]

Loser buys the beers DrMike, so make sure you bring your wallet.

Sounds good mate. Really hoping Richmond win now, ratio of Dockers to Richmond supporters swings many drinks in my favour!

Dockers game to lose really, good form coming up to the match, at home, beat us at our home ground earlier in the year, everything in your favour. I don't think it'll be a smashing though, Richmond just haven't been smashed since round 1 and they won't want a repeat occurrence. Think it'll be 100-80 in Freo's favour, our defence just isn't that great at the moment.

Edit: To add to what some of you guys are saying, Richmond is in really good form, we have some stability and players are playing for their careers. But as I said, our defence is pretty bad based on the team we've put up the last few weeks, probably running at 66%. Reason we haven't been exposed that much over the last few weeks is because our midfield has prevented the ball from getting up there too much, if Freo can keep it locked in their forward half (which I hear is something you're good at), expect the win.

 

[E Shed]

I
Neale (Struggling for impact at AFL level)

While I think it's fair to say he's not getting big numbers yet, he impacts positively every time he gets hold of it. Great in traffic, great user and decision maker. How awesome was his goal on the weekend? That was the very definition of making something out of nothing. It was a perfect read of the play, calculation of how to get the ball through the goals under extreme pressure, decision and execution, all in split second.
If you can't see this lad can play, you aren't looking close enough. His potential is recognised by the match committee thank goodness. I predict he will be in our top 6 players in 2 years.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

I don't get to see many Freo games, but I was wondering what is keeping Clarke out of the current team. Is it just Bradley has been playing better, or is he having any form issues?

 

[332docker]

I don't get to see many Freo games, but I was wondering what is keeping Clarke out of the current team. Is it just Bradley has been playing better, or is he having any form issues?

form...down on confidence - just needs another pre-season IMO...

 

[Ned_Flanders]

form...down on confidence - just needs another pre-season IMO...

This may be a good game to get him back in then. Maric is a warrior, but his back up is non-existant without Vickery in the team. Likely second rucks are either the likes of Browne and Derickx, or pinch hitters in McGuane and Post.

 

[Arcassius]

While I think it's fair to say he's not getting big numbers yet, he impacts positively every time he gets hold of it. Great in traffic, great user and decision maker. How awesome was his goal on the weekend? That was the very definition of making something out of nothing. It was a perfect read of the play, calculation of how to get the ball through the goals under extreme pressure, decision and execution, all in split second.
If you can't see this lad can play, you aren't looking close enough. His potential is recognised by the match committee thank goodness. I predict he will be in our top 6 players in 2 years.

I'm with EShed here. Short of Freo managing him because of his ankle we're a better team with him in and Subes out

 

[332docker]

In: McPharlin, Lower, Fyfe (if okay), Sandi (if okay)

Out: all unlucky but we need our best 22 playing together coming into finals to get some solid form-
Neale (if mayne no good he should stay i reckon), Suban, Bradley, Spurr

• B: Dawson, McPharlin, McPhee
• HB: Roberton, Johnson, Ibbotson
• C: Barlow, Crowley, Pearce
• HF: Hill, Mayne, Fyfe
• F: Griffin, Pavlich, Ballantyne
• Foll: Sandilands, Mundy , de Boer
• I/C: Mzungu, Walters, Duffield
• Sub: Lower

 

[Arcassius]

I can't imagine we'll start making wholesale unforced changes at this point of the season..

in McPharlin, Fyfe
out Suban, Roberton/Ibbo (balance)

 

[FreoRicci]

This may be a good game to get him back in then. Maric is a warrior, but his back up is non-existant without Vickery in the team. Likely second rucks are either the likes of Browne and Derickx, or pinch hitters in McGuane and Post.

Its time for Sandi to come back in then, Griffin to shoulder the majority of the ruck. Sandi to pinch hit and tire out Maric. Will be interesting to see how much Sandi makes our team, will we become reliance or finally work for the taps?

 

[UpTheGuts]

Reckon we'll smash Richmond.

You'd be the first to do so in 20 rounds
That said, maybe we're due. Many fans think so

 

[Belnakor]

Rofl didn't Balltyne kick three goals in one quarter last week and be one of our best players

so what? What did he do on the weekend? What did he do last time we travelled?

Goes missing every time he steps onto the plane. Sure he was OK in a game we won by 10 goals. He needs to do more.

 

[Belnakor]

obviously don't watch games, just read stats and reviews

Richmond are in good form

they lost to GC 3 weeks ago, then beat a couple of teams whose season is over. Hardly great form.

 

[DOCKERZ]

Out: Suban, Robbo
In: Lower, McPharlin

Lower to midfield, de Boer back to defensive forward.
Don't think Fyfe will come up.

 

[estibador]

Is that you Ross?

Ha, I think Ross is smart enough not to openly say he accepts mistakes. Some of our players would take that as an invitation.

 

[HarbourMaster]

You'd be the first to do so in 20 rounds
That said, maybe we're due. Many fans think so

I just don't think you're drilled very well.

Forward of the ball alot, easy to score against.

 

[DrMike]

I just don't think you're drilled very well.

Forward of the ball alot, easy to score against.

It's not that, it's just age and experience we're lacking.

they lost to GC 3 weeks ago, then beat a couple of teams whose season is over. Hardly great form.

If that's what you're hoping to win on then you've got a surprise coming. Compared to the GC round we've changed 8 players from the previous two against Brisbane and Bulldogs. The GC game was also without Maric.

 

[HarbourMaster]

No, age and experience is a cop out.

Your midfield is routinely caught out because they run forward of the play exposing your average backs.

It's roulette football.

 

[DrMike]

It might be a cop out but it's the truth /shrug

 

[Freomaniac]

What happened to mayne?

mayne got subbed off, he got a concussion

 

[strobe00]

I can't imagine we'll start making wholesale unforced changes at this point of the season..

in McPharlin, Fyfe
out Suban, Roberton/Ibbo (balance)

Exactly what I was about to post.

And for me, it's Ibbo that has to go. The pr!ck never gets out of third gear... for (apparently) one of the quickest guys in our team, I never actually see it, as he never sprints. I saw one passage of play where the Crows kicked a goal where his lack of application in THREE successive contests lead to them kicking the goal. Can't remember who or when, but if he'd actually put his head down and really gone for it on any of the three occasions he could have killed the play. On every occasion he jogged, or half jumped or half-heartedly pursued.

I hope the coaches see it on the replay because he deserves time in the WAFL just for that string of lazy play.

 

[Arcassius]

Exactly what I was about to post.

And for me, it's Ibbo that has to go. The pr!ck never gets out of third gear... for (apparently) one of the quickest guys in our team, I never actually see it, as he never sprints. I saw one passage of play where the Crows kicked a goal where his lack of application in THREE successive contests lead to them kicking the goal. Can't remember who or when, but if he'd actually put his head down and really gone for it on any of the three occasions he could have killed the play. On every occasion he jogged, or half jumped or half-heartedly pursued.

I hope the coaches see it on the replay because he deserves time in the WAFL just for that string of lazy play.

He has been good in patches in past games taking some good defensive marks and mopping up - I have him as someone who probably deserves to be dropped, but may not be if they decide to persevere and try play him back into form. Just on gut feel they are more likely to drop Roberton than Ibbo

 

[strobe00]

He has been good in patches in past games taking some good defensive marks and mopping up - I have him as someone who probably deserves to be dropped, but may not be if they decide to persevere and try play him back into form. Just on gut feel they are more likely to drop Roberton than Ibbo

The thing about Ibbo is that there's always some good mixed up with the bad. That's the only thing that saves him (the defensive marks in particular), as he really doesn't attack the ball or the man when the ball is on the deck or in the opposition's hands. That and the fact that he's potentially a very good player.

The main issue I have with him is that he just doesn't work hard enough to tackle or close down his man if he's in the midfield. He's very friggin' casual. Roberton may be slower but he attacks the ball (and the man) that much better.

Ibbo is fine as a loose man in defense, but his lack of effort and pressure in the midfield is a massive negative. Would love Robbo to get another game and Ibbo to go back to WAFL to get his efforts back up to AFL standard.

Unfortunately you're probably right re: who'll get dropped. But it isn't form that's Ibbo's issue... it's effort. Deserves a kick up the a*se. Dunno what they did to Duffield a couple of weeks ago (seven tackles in the derby) but whatever they did, they need to give Ibbo a double dose.