Prediction changes v Sydney

[free at last]

Game on a 1 hour delay on FTA on Saturday. Bit disappointing

That's a ****ing disgrace IMO.

 

[FreoGirl]

Anchorite only serves the finest quality of the absurd

I was hoping it was Kirup Syrup lol

 

[Vintage]

I want what you've been taking lol

Hey, join the cue behind the rest of us

 

[Lost_Deputy]

I'm not so sure about this week. Sydney's game against Port was the most impressive game I've seen by any team this year.
I'd actually be more confident of getting the win against the Hawks then Sydney

 

[JamFrank]

I'm not so sure about this week. Sydney's game against Port was the most impressive game I've seen by any team this year.
I'd actually be more confident of getting the win against the Hawks then Sydney

We will lift against them. I can't see them doing what they did to port against us: our midfield is bigger and stronger and won't be bullied like that.

 

[Lost_Deputy]

We will lift against them. I can't see them doing what they did to port against us: our midfield is bigger and stronger and won't be bullied like that.

Thanks man, I needed that

 

[rgauci]

Their midfield bullied us in the final last year. Parker went head to head with Fyfe and I think won that contest. I'm looking forward to Fyfe making amends.

Barlow and Mundy were more or less ineffective. Hill needs to work through the Cunningham tag who usually keeps him to 15 possessions or less.

Most of our midfield didn't Fire and yet we were still in it late in the game. Two guys who kept us in the game didn't play against West Coast. I thought Mzungu was excellent in the final last year and Silvagni punches above his weight. As good as Silvagni is, Mcapharlin is better. I'd play McPharlin v. Franklin inside 50 and Johnson outside 50. With Ibbo floating in front. Johnson has such a good read on the game he'll be very influential up the field.

Mzungu has to come in, purely for the Hanneberry matchup. He matches him for run and has quelled his influence on a number of occasions. I'd back Mzungu ahead of DeBoer or Suban in this particular match up. I'd put Clancee on Kieran Jack.

Kennedy is a real worry. Jetta's outside pace also a concern. Sydney has one of the few midfields in the league that matches us for size. **** their salary cap and academy. Though I think our 3 pronged tall forward line will tear their ageing tall backman a new one.

Rance to Sydney?

 

[Taylor]

I didn't think we had played them on our ground for a while, not since that game anyway.

 

[Agenfrida]

Their midfield bullied us in the final last year. Parker went head to head with Fyfe and I think won that contest. I'm looking forward to Fyfe making amends.

Barlow and Mundy were more or less ineffective. Hill needs to work through the Cunningham tag who usually keeps him to 15 possessions or less.

Most of our midfield didn't Fire and yet we were still in it late in the game. Two guys who kept us in the game didn't play against West Coast. I thought Mzungu was excellent in the final last year and Silvagni punches above his weight. As good as Silvagni is, Mcapharlin is better. I'd play McPharlin v. Franklin inside 50 and Johnson outside 50. With Ibbo floating in front. Johnson has such a good read on the game he'll be very influential up the field.

Mzungu has to come in, purely for the Hanneberry matchup. He matches him for run and has quelled his influence on a number of occasions. I'd back Mzungu ahead of DeBoer or Suban in this particular match up. I'd put Clancee on Kieran Jack.

Kennedy is a real worry. Jetta's outside pace also a concern. Sydney has one of the few midfields in the league that matches us for size. **** their salary cap and academy. Though I think our 3 pronged tall forward line will tear their ageing tall backman a new one.

Rance to Sydney?

Exaclty! Most of our midfield didn't fire. Based on this years performance, and being on our home deck, I doubt that will happen again.

We were also the "walking wounded" with several players out.

Sydney are class, but I'm now thinking Fred Ziffel was right when he said at the start of the year we'll go 4-0.

I'm always nervous about our chances, but for some reason am actually pretty confident going into this one. If we can't beat Sydney at home, with our list in the shape it's in, we can forget about the flag. I do agree that Mzungu needs to come in. Ross seems to love Suban for some reason, so I'd say MDB is the one to make way. Personally, I'd also drop Croz and bring in Duffy. We need some speed and x factor when the ball hits the deck in our F50. Walters is playing further up field even without Balla in the team.

Freo by 3 goals.

 

[JamFrank]

I didn't think we had played them on our ground for a while, not since that game anyway.

I hate watching games on the scg. Such a pitiful excuse for a football ground. One clean clearance and you can put it in the book. The size really seems to affect the dynamics of the game more than any other ground, in my opinion.

 

[Kram]

Long and fairly narrow is always the best type of ground to play and watch footy for mine.

 

[salim malik]

Hey, join the cue behind the rest of us

Would that be the far queue

 

[Frank J Moose]

Long and fairly narrow is always the best type of ground to play and watch footy for mine.

Make the most of the next two years then. And switch to WAFL after that because Burswood will be round like Victorian venues.

 

[free at last]

Exaclty! Most of our midfield didn't fire. Based on this years performance, and being on our home deck, I doubt that will happen again.

We were also the "walking wounded" with several players out.

Sydney are class, but I'm now thinking Fred Ziffel was right when he said at the start of the year we'll go 4-0.

I'm always nervous about our chances, but for some reason am actually pretty confident going into this one. If we can't beat Sydney at home, with our list in the shape it's in, we can forget about the flag. I do agree that Mzungu needs to come in. Ross seems to love Suban for some reason, so I'd say MDB is the one to make way. Personally, I'd also drop Croz and bring in Duffy. We need some speed and x factor when the ball hits the deck in our F50. Walters is playing further up field even without Balla in the team.

Freo by 3 goals.

I was reading some where in the media yesterday that suggested freo could quite possibly be 15-0 before we take on Hawthorn in rnd 16.

 

[Agenfrida]

I was reading some where in the media yesterday that suggested freo could quite possibly be 15-0 before we take on Hawthorn in rnd 16.

That's a big call though. Injuries, form can change things pretty quickly. Plus Adelaide in Adelaide is going to be a tough one.

 

[free at last]

That's a big call though. Injuries, form can change things pretty quickly. Plus Adelaide in Adelaide is going to be a tough one.

Massive call by that footy scribe.

 

[Arcassius]

I was reading some where in the media yesterday that suggested freo could quite possibly be 15-0 before we take on Hawthorn in rnd 16.

Getting ahead of ourselves a bit. Our form has been good but not infallible. The port game was scratchy and we only beat them by 7 points. Geelong aren't the same Geelong we've had classics with, and west coast are woeful. The media will blow us up but there are a lot of close games to come

 

[JamFrank]

Would that be the far queue

I thought that was in the rack?

 

[Ragtooth]

I was reading some where in the media yesterday that suggested freo could quite possibly be 15-0 before we take on Hawthorn in rnd 16.

haha I hope that some people aren’t getting to far ahead of themselves (media included). I like to try and take a step back. A week is a long time in footy and 13 weeks is even longer. Sydney smashed Port in Adelaide and were super impressive (like our 1st half in the derby but apply that to the most the game). They have loads of talent and I think they’ll be hard to beat. We need our fringe players to really step up this game!! We’ve played none of the teams which are playing good football atm (Syd,Hawks,Ess,Adeliade). Geelong and Port are good teams but evidently from the last 3 weeks, their output has been poor from their previous years. We’ll get a real measure this weekend and I’m expecting a little dose of reality (but still win). I am bullish about our chances, however I don’t think we should get to carried away. Sydney are a super team.

As for changes, I would like Silvangi in if fit because it leaves Johnson in the 3rd tall role, which he has admitted to last week, “I can’t wait to return to that role when one of the guys comes back”. And Muz, I feel, is too good to leave out. Saying that I agree with most that it is unlikely to see two changes to this winning side. So barring injury, Out one of Croz/Deboer, In one of Muz/Silvangi

 

[free at last]

Getting ahead of ourselves a bit. Our form has been good but not infallible. The port game was scratchy and we only beat them by 7 points. Geelong aren't the same Geelong we've had classics with, and west coast are woeful. The media will blow us up but there are a lot of close games to come

I'm not getting ahead of myself.I just found it amusing that a footy scribe could even suggest it.
You only have to go back 6 mths and see how we fell apart with injuries to key players.

 

[dthom]

Ibbo as spare man and filling the hole in front of buddy and Tippett as well as taking all those intercept marks may end up being highly pivotal. More often than not when he does this we go back very quickly the other way on rebound. On the other hand Sydney need to contest with our 3 bigs and arguably the best small forward who plays up the ground too. One of freos greatest strengths I feel is the ability to constantly rotate our mids forward and vice versa.

Ibbotson shapes to be the most important player of the game. Assuming he can get the job done like he has so far this season it should ensure that we have the best possible chance of winning. As far as the midfield-to-forward rotation thing goes, I'm starting to think that we might benefit from playing Barlow as a Half Forward for 60-70% of the time. Especially if Mzungu comes back. Barlow has an enormous tank and could run long leads all day without much problem and be a good link up player on the rebound. Think about it, how many opposition teams have a 6 foot 2-3 player in their defence who has the stamina to run in the midfield all day? He'd have his opponent desperate for a rest by quarter time.

 

[beetz]

Ibbotson shapes to be the most important player of the game. Assuming he can get the job done like he has so far this season it should ensure that we have the best possible chance of winning. As far as the midfield-to-forward rotation thing goes, I'm starting to think that we might benefit from playing Barlow as a Half Forward for 60-70% of the time. Especially if Mzungu comes back. Barlow has an enormous tank and could run long leads all day without much problem and be a good link up player on the rebound. Think about it, how many opposition teams have a 6 foot 2-3 player in their defence who has the stamina to run in the midfield all day? He'd have his opponent desperate for a rest by quarter time.

Think this has already been happening. Pretty sure Barlow leads the club for marks.

 

[blue shark]

This game should be very close, too hard to pick a winner, and the weather will have a bearing on the outcome. Over here in the
West, we would own them.

 

[JamFrank]

How stupid is it that the two games of the round Syd vs Freo and Hawks vs Port are on at the same time?

Meanwhile the enthralling Melbourne vs Richmond has the Friday night slot all to itself. Come on AFL.

 

[dthom]

Think this has already been happening. Pretty sure Barlow leads the club for marks.

I might need to clarify. I mean as a proper traditional lead up half-forward. I think he may be playing more time in the general area but not as the lead up option. Barlow was the midfielder who had the most marks last year as well. He averaged 1.2 more marks per game than the next best midfielder (Mzungu) and around 2 more marks per game than Mundy and Fyfe. Those numbers are achieved mostly through work rate obviously.