Preview Changes v Saints

[Milux]

Outs- Andrews. Gardiner.
Ins- Payne. Lester.

Andrews has been so far below avg for a very long time now. He either needs to find some confidence or he may just need a mental break from things. A top 2 team can't survive without a fully fit and confident full back. He is a pro. Obviously won't get dropped over minor indiscretions. But the coaching staff surely can't be happy with his performance.

 

[Nunez]

I feel much better about yesterday's game after a good night's sleep. It's not like finals are next week and the issues we've got aren't fixable in season. We're no guarantee to make the GF but plenty of time to put ourselves in a position to do just that. Will need our best 22 on the field and clicking at the same time, but ain't that the truth about every team in contention this year.

 

[martinson]

Must win game. Unfortunately Andrews ,Answerth ,Ah Chee , Zorko , Lyons , Gardiner who likely won't play anyway and McCarthy all look tired and jaded .Plus a couple of others whose output is a bit better but still inconsistent . Hipwood and McStay still seem to be struggling post injury.

Off the short turnaround from Perth against a fresh and hungry opponent if we were ever going to pull the trigger on some changes this is the week.

 

[RoyBoy17]

Out:
Prior - need a better wing option, James Aish

Multiple players found. Use birthday to differentiate. eg [PLAYERCARD="23/11/1962"]Joe Smith[/PLAYERCARD]

of all players towelled us up yesterday
Gardiner - assuming he won't be available, actually was doing ok until incident
Hipwood - how well will he back up on the short turn around? Might be a good chance to rest him up over next couple of weeks. I also think we need to play two rucks against Saints
Answerth - like him defensively but turning it over too much, hurting our rebound

In:
Berry - need his energy on ball, couldn't care less about his disposal, we've played Mitch on a wing for the last 5 years
Daniher - goes without saying
Lester - straight swap for Gardiner, would rather his experience over Payne, better suited to playing on Membrey
Wilmot - really impressed with his composure and defensive work in two's. I think he can give us more rebound off half back as well. Coleman, Rich and Wilmot combo would be good to try out.

 

[Strato]

Was talking to my Dad earlier, who is far more astute about footy and AFL in general and he is of the view that perhaps our overall second position on the ladder is misleading. As he said, we've had a pretty soft draw to date compared to our opposition and with a very tough run over the next 3 games and then finishing with a final four games of the season that is even harder probably says we arent the second best team in the comp. I've often thought that our players seem to think they can turn and win - Hawks game proof of that - and overall our form has been on the nose for most of the year, despite winning.

I tipped us to beat Dockers today and on the back of dropping the Hawks game coupled with a number of teams on 32 points, I think if we have drop Saints and Demons, we could drop as far as sixth or seventh on the ladder in pretty quick time, which is a long way to thinking this morning we could be equal top if we beat Dockers. I suspect that maybe we just are a middle top 8 team with Demons, Dockers, Cats and possibly Blues and Saints and even the Dogs well in front of us.

Time will tell and I do hope my Roys - Lions loving Dad and even myself is horribly wrong.

I totally agree with your Dad. He is "SPOT ON".

 

[KissKiss]

Gardiner > Lester.
I would have done it last week but injury forces it now. Would have considered Payne but sounds like he hurt his ankle (kid has terrible timing)

Fort > Daniher
Daniher is a straight in. Could go either way with Fort or Oscar but think Oscar has shown more across the years. I think getting Daniher in helps a lot with forward matchups which lets Hipwood and McStay get up the ground more

Answerth > Ah Chee or Wilmot. His ball use is a liability and the back line has a few poor kicks that hurt.

Really need Andrews to have a big game on King. He is the danger and can turn games in minutes

 

[martinson]

Out:
Prior - need a better wing option, James Aish of all players towelled us up yesterday
Gardiner - assuming he won't be available, actually was doing ok until incident
Hipwood - how well will he back up on the short turn around? Might be a good chance to rest him up over next couple of weeks. I also think we need to play two rucks against Saints
Answerth - like him defensively but turning it over too much, hurting our rebound

In:
Berry - need his energy on ball, couldn't care less about his disposal, we've played Mitch on a wing for the last 5 years
Daniher - goes without saying
Lester - straight swap for Gardiner, would rather his experience over Payne, better suited to playing on Membrey
Wilmot - really impressed with his composure and defensive work in two's. I think he can give us more rebound off half back as well. Coleman, Rich and Wilmot combo would be good to try out.

We probably need to see how some of our players pull up. Obviously Daniher is coming in Likely to be for Fort. Lester likely for Gardiner. I 'd prefer Ah Chee to Answerth even though Ah Chee isn't going too hot. T Berry deserves a chance . I prefer him to Dev but if Dev stays maybe Prior goes back for Answerth . Not too many other choices bar Mathieson and Wilmot which would be un Fagan like to ring many changes in a game like this.

 

[Lazza16]

Outs- Andrews. Gardiner.
Ins- Payne. Lester.

Andrews has been so far below avg for a very long time now. He either needs to find some confidence or he may just need a mental break from things. A top 2 team can't survive without a fully fit and confident full back. He is a pro. Obviously won't get dropped over minor indiscretions. But the coaching staff surely can't be happy with his performance.

Think Payne thru a shoe in the VFL.

 

[25 years on]

We need some serious game plan changes. Kicking to a contest is ok if we win the contest, if we lose it the opponents speedsters outnumber our defence and get good entries onto the 50.
Eric needs to stop leading into the pocket, it makes for a difficult kick for goal.
We knew Freo’s game plan and they knew ours, and ours lost. Much the same as happeNed in the last few finals.
Our game plan is good enough to beat most teams, but not the best, and in the finals we must meet the Best and beat them. I don’t think our plan can do that.

 

[martinson]

We need some serious game plan changes. Kicking to a contest is ok if we win the contest, if we lose it the opponents speedsters outnumber our defence and get good entries onto the 50.
Eric needs to stop leading into the pocket, it makes for a difficult kick for goal.
We knew Freo’s game plan and they knew ours, and ours lost. Much the same as happeNed in the last few finals.
Our game plan is good enough to beat most teams, but not the best, and in the finals we must meet the Best and beat them. I don’t think our plan can do that.

We just have too many players looking a bit tired and not sharp enough.

The good thing is if they can get their mojo back and start firing together we're still a chance.

But being realistic it's been an issue even in many of the games we've won..

Some regulars have been mostly below their best all year. We don't have too many options . But we do have a couple who could add a bit more grunt and pressure on the ball carrier.

 

[25 years on]

We made a lot of fuss about getting speed to the back line, then play Rich and Zorko?

 

[Tom14]

We made a lot of fuss about getting speed to the back line, then play Rich and Zorko?

Yes, we do play 2 of our best senior players. Also Zorks was only in defensive 50 for parts of the last quarter.

 

[martinson]

Yes, we do play 2 of our best senior players. Also Zorks was only in defensive 50 for parts of the last quarter.

I don't know why people are picking on Rich . No one expects him to run with a fleet footed 22 year old who just got off the leash because of our set up.

Rich was good defensively when he was in the contest and at least tried to change the angles and kicked to space where he could so we could generate some run. Zorks hasn't had his usual zip for a few weeks and we're hoping that's temporary.

 

[25 years on]

Yes, we do play 2 of our best senior players. Also Zorks was only in defensive 50 for parts of the last quarter.

Did it work

 

[JB42]

If Andrews name wasn't Andrews, he would have been dropped weeks ago. Payne in, Andrews out.
Lester in, Gardiner out (injured)
Matho, Robinson potential ins. Need more defensive tackling pressure around middle. One of Prior, Robertson, Answerth out.

 

[Milux]

Think Payne thru a shoe in the VFL.

Dang I forgot. I was there too and walked past him at qtr on the bench.

 

[25 years on]

I don't know why people are picking on Rich . No one expects him to run with a fleet footed 22 year old who just got off the leash because of our set up.

Rich was good defensively when he was in the contest and at least tried to change the angles and kicked to space where he could so we could generate some run. Zorks hasn't had his usual zip for a few weeks and we're hoping that's temporary.

I am not picking on Rich, I am just saying we knew Freo had fast small fwds and our game plan leaves our defence wide open to fast small players

 

[KissKiss]

Did it work

It was a high risk reward situation. We had to attack and he did provide drive. I think it was worth a shot even if it didnt pay off in the end

 

[LIONS08]

If Andrews name wasn't Andrews, he would have been dropped weeks ago. Payne in, Andrews out.
Lester in, Gardiner out (injured)
Matho, Robinson potential ins. Need more defensive tackling pressure around middle. One of Prior, Robertson, Answerth out.

I don’t think the issue is Harris. Team defence is key. We don’t have that second tall to come across and impact the contest.

 

[mpal6]

I feel much better about yesterday's game after a good night's sleep. It's not like finals are next week and the issues we've got aren't fixable in season. We're no guarantee to make the GF but plenty of time to put ourselves in a position to do just that. Will need our best 22 on the field and clicking at the same time, but ain't that the truth about every team in contention this year.

Agreed, the 3 losses were all within our reach and if a couple of frees or bounce of the ball went our way in the game, you never know.

That being said, the loss will sharpen up both the coaches and playing group to push for the next level. What we are doing as "our system" is clearly not enough when we come up against the top teams in the business. We need to go to drawing board for more plans/contingencies/emergencies/whatever we want to call it.

Rather get all the reality check now than cruise along through the season and come up short in finals.

 

[tate13]

In: Daniher, Paine

Out: Gardiner, Fort.

Think Paine's intercept marking might be a bit more of an asset to help quell King, which has me picking him ahead of Lester.

Prior and Dev on the fringe. Wouldn't be surprised if Cal gets recalled and one of them made sub. Beast and Robbo also options.

 

[briztoon]

We just have too many players looking a bit tired and not sharp enough.

The good thing is if they can get their mojo back and start firing together we're still a chance.

But being realistic it's been an issue even in many of the games we've won..

Some regulars have been mostly below their best all year. We don't have too many options . But we do have a couple who could add a bit more grunt and
pressure on the ball carrier.

It’s hard to stay at the top, and keep up that intensity. Especially when the coach is against rotating and resting players.

I believe age and three and half seasons at the top are catching up to us.

There’s a pack of young teams coming up behind us, being led by Carlton and Freo.

As I’ve said before, I fear there’s a drop off for us coming in next season or two.

I don't know why people are picking on Rich . No one expects him to run with a fleet footed 22 year old who just got off the leash because of our set
up.

Rich was good defensively when he was in the contest and at least tried to change the angles and kicked to space where he could so we could generate some run. Zorks hasn't had his usual zip for a few weeks and we're hoping that's temporary.

The problem for our midfield and defence has always been outside the contest. We get killed by run from faster teams.

We know it, but haven’t looked to address it.

Fagan is wedded to our current playing style for as long as Rich, Zorko, Neale, and Lyons are our leading players.

 

[martinson]

It’s hard to stay at the top, and keep up that intensity. Especially when the coach is against rotating and resting players.

I believe age and three and half seasons at the top are catching up to us.

There’s a pack of young teams coming up behind us, being led by Carlton and Freo.

As I’ve said before, I fear there’s a drop off for us coming in next season or two.


The problem for our midfield and defence has always been outside the contest. We get killed by run from faster teams.

We know it, but haven’t looked to address it.

Fagan is wedded to our current playing style for as long as Rich, Zorko, Neale, and Lyons are our leading players.

I don't disagree with anything you've said in essence but whilst we're well in contention you have to keep rolling the dice in the hope that you can get there .

We had hoped that this year was the year we would ice it rather than have a few cracks showing which has become evident across a few games if we're being honest.

 

[Nunez]

I don't disagree with anything you've said in essence but whilst we're well in contention you have to keep rolling the dice in the hope that you can get there .

We had hoped that this year was the year we would ice it rather than have a few cracks showing which has become evident across a few games if we're being honest.

Melbourne have lost two games in a row.

Fremantle lost two games in a row and looked nowhere near contenders at half time last week.

The flag race is wide open this year - we are in with just as good a chance as other teams. It'll come down to who times their run better.

 

[Mikevk123]

B Starcevich Andrews Answerth
HB Rich Adams K.Coleman
C J.Berry Lyons Mcluaggage
HF Bailey McStay McCarthy
F Cameron Daniher Hipwood
FOLL: Mclernery Robertson Neale
INTER: Payne, Rayner, E.Smith, T.Berry
Sub: Ah’Chee