Preview Changes v Sydney

[Bicks]

Will Walker (in the same outfit) look as good when he is resting on his couch on Friday?

Will Walker is a talented Sandringham Dragon's inside midfielder that will likely get drafted in this year's draft, big game coming up against the GWV Rebels next week so not likely to be rested.

Ahhhhh you meant Walker of the Taylor variety.....

 

[Bicks]

Listening to Sloane unfortuntley he must be rested as a non negotiable you dont aggrevate injuries unless its super important which it isnt

Talia I dont believe needs restinghe shoudl be good to go

Walker as a precaution is again too important to the team

For Sloane

We could play knight or CC more in the guts or bring in menzel

or bring in Wigg or Gooch

For tex

You have Otten, Menzel or Beech

Im not concerned at the replacements Sloane hasnt been fantastic and although Tex has had some great games last night wasnt one, look what Geelong did to Richmond without Selwood mind you they did have their best player back who wasnt there for the sydney loss

Not my take on what Rory said.

 

[MRB37]

Anyone reckon they'll use the chance to rest Rory to give Thommo a farewell game at home?

 

[40porpoise]

I would rest a few. Sloane and/or tex included. I'm glad we've locked down a top 2 spot, but now the only thing I'm worried about is injuries on the eve of finals.

For that reason I wouldn't be surprised nor concerned if Sydney absolutely belted us on Friday.

 

[Brentmeister]

Really tricky dilemma. Don't want to flirt with form but obviously no need to play sore players who could do more damage (Sloane, Tex, Talia, etc). If we rest a bunch of players this week, we could get rolled badly by Sydney. West Coast in Perth is a 50/50 game IMO. Imagine going into a home prelim (with a week to twiddle our thumbs during the pre-finals bye) having lost the previous two games. Not the sort of mentality you want to take into a crucial game.

I think we just keep taking the same approach we have all year. If a player passes a fitness/medical test, we play them. Talia last week a perfect example. Plenty of time to get some rest in the pre-finals bye. If a player goes down with an injury in a game that they could've potentially been rested in, c'est la vie...that's footy. Can't rest em all!

 

[Brentmeister]

Anyone reckon they'll use the chance to rest Rory to give Thommo a farewell game at home?

No. If we were definitely missing finals, Thommo would get a farewell. Now is not the time. Too much at stake.

 

[SNIPER_]

Is it time for Menzel to get another run? he's hitting the scoreboard regularly in the snaffle. Maybe rest Charlie.

 

[Thetrader15]

Happy to oblige, anything that gets you guys in the mood for a good lie down and a rest is fine by me!

View attachment 403146

Have a nice lie down and rest, like Kate!

Swans will need to make sure they are up for the game...but let's not start showing incentive images for that!

 

[Vader]

I don't see any point in resting players, just for the sake of resting players. Pyke spoke last night about the benefits of continuity, and maintaining form by playing continuously. I think he's earned the right for us to assume that he knows what he's doing.

Talia is clearly hampered by the groin injury, and we have Otten waiting in the wings. I think there's a strong case for resting Talia this week.

Sloane & Walker are probably the only other players under an injury cloud. It all depends on how they pull up today, and what any scans show (if required). I trust our medicos to get it right. If they need a rest, then they can have a rest. If not, then they should (and will) play.

 

[Vader]

If Talia is sore we give him 2 weeks off and play Hartigan in case he is needed for finals.

Keath is in front atm for mine but would be good to give Hartigan the gametime just in case.

Sloane and Walker rested but back for the West C game. We dont want guys only playing 1 game in 5 weeks as prep for a prelim.

Seed and Milera in. Gov gets more responsibility up front.

The problem with this is that Talia doesn't get 2 weeks off - he'd be getting 3 weeks off, and (if we win the Qualifying Final) he'd only play 1 game in 5 weeks by the time we get to the Preliminary Final. That's really bad for player continuity.

Right now it's tricky. I think it's actually important to beat Sydney, not from a ladder perspective, but from a mental perspective - it gives our players the knowledge that we're good enough to beat anyone, and it sows doubt in the minds of the Sydney players if/when they meet us again in the Finals. On the other hand, we want to be cherry ripe for the finals, and we'd be better off resting players for the Sydney game than the West Coast game, because of the bye after R23.

I'm inclined to rest Talia, because he's clearly playing below full capacity right now. Sloane & Tex are playing well, so there's no need to rest them if they pass their medical tests.

 

[Vader]

Anyone reckon they'll use the chance to rest Rory to give Thommo a farewell game at home?

No.

Even if Rory doesn't play, Thommo won't be the replacement.

 

[Jars458]

Anyone reckon they'll use the chance to rest Rory to give Thommo a farewell game at home?

Great idea.

 

[Squiba]

I really hope we rest Talia more than anyone. He is far an away the most hampered out there ATM, and will be vital come finals. Keath gets the experience of potentially lining up on Franklin or Tippet, and either Otten or Dear comes in as the 2nd KPD.

We just can't risk Talia blowing a groin completely and relying on Keath + Otten in a grand final. I wouldn't be able to sleep the night before.

 

[Elite Crow]

Great idea.

Being sarcastic?

 

[Jars458]

Being sarcastic?

I am not sure actually. I am a softie at heart. Don't think It will happen.

 

[Dangerfield35]

We win this. No resting unless genuinely unfit. Don't flirt with your form.

If it was the other way around, I doubt the swans would rest players. Crows should not flirt with form, beat Sydney on Friday night, then
they can't make top 4. Easier for the crows to play the tigers in the first final.

 

[VKCrow]

I don't subscribe to the notion of not caring if Sydney beat us. The psychological advantage of winning would be priceless going into finals.

 

[VictorianCrow85]

If it was the other way around, I doubt the swans would rest players. Crows should not flirt with form, beat Sydney on Friday night, then
they can't make top 4. Easier for the crows to play the tigers in the first final.

Out of curiosity would your opinion of what 'Adelaide' should do have anything to do with what may be the best outcome for the Cats? I'm sure you've calculated where Geelong may or may not finish based on other results and us beating them would give you the easiest way to avoid playing your nemesis. (Isn't a criticism, perfectly logical way to view things)

 

[Elite Crow]

I am not sure actually. I am a softie at heart. Don't think It will happen.

I went to Prospect yesterday and Thommo would be so far off the pace of AFL it would be sad to watch

 

[Jars458]

I went to Prospect yesterday and Thommo would be so far off the pace of AFL it would be sad to watch

That's true,even at that level he is too slow.

 

[Canuck_Crow]

The problem with this is that Talia doesn't get 2 weeks off - he'd be getting 3 weeks off, and (if we win the Qualifying Final) he'd only play 1 game in 5 weeks by the time we get to the Preliminary Final. That's really bad for player continuity.

Right now it's tricky. I think it's actually important to beat Sydney, not from a ladder perspective, but from a mental perspective - it gives our players the knowledge that we're good enough to beat anyone, and it sows doubt in the minds of the Sydney players if/when they meet us again in the Finals. On the other hand, we want to be cherry ripe for the finals, and we'd be better off resting players for the Sydney game than the West Coast game, because of the bye after R23.

I'm inclined to rest Talia, because he's clearly playing below full capacity right now. Sloane & Tex are playing well, so there's no need to rest them if they pass their medical tests.

Totally agree,

I hated back in the day when Craig would refuse to rest players before finals, he was all about playing continuity. I clearly remember one year where there was a pretty much a dead rubber round 22 game against West coast and we took the full squad. Then if memory serves me right we lost to st kilda in the first week of the finals.

I think managing players is incredibly important but so is having a strong belief that you can actually get the job done. Look at how much pressure has been lifted off the team since the Cats game, sure they shat the bed against Collingwood for a half but the team knows that if they turn up, trust in each other and the system they can go toe to toe with any one...but there is one team they still have unfinished business with and thats the Swans. Last years final was brutal, it hurt and the swans are the only team in the 8 the crows haven't beaten yet. It is vital to show Sydney that if we play them in the finals that they are in for a tough time, and personally I want them to bleed (metaphorically of course) I want them to wake up in the middle of the night in cold sweats screaming "No Tex, please stop we can't take any more"

 

[Shaz2012]

Anyone reckon they'll use the chance to rest Rory to give Thommo a farewell game at home?

Only if he is given the instruction to go out and smash Sydney bodies as his primary objective

 

[Jack is Back]

They 'could' play I'm sure. Taped up, loaded uo with pain killers and after an ultra light week on the track. But it would be the dumbest move in our history to do so for a dead rubber.

I think you are under-estimating some of our dumb moves over the last 25 years but I agree that playing anyone who isn't 100% this Friday would be very, very dumb.

Out - Talia, Walker, Sloane
In - Massie, Seedman, Milera.

Massie takes Franklin, Keath and Lever take the next two tallest forwards, McLovin plays the Tex role and we have one extra runner.

 

[db swannie]

Hopefully Sloane plays, want to play a full strength Adelaide. No excuses.

I hope the knitting choir turn up at the airport! If they don't turn up, you know the Crows are running dead!

 

[marty36]

I think you are under-estimating some of our dumb moves over the last 25 years but I agree that playing anyone who isn't 100% this Friday would be very, very dumb.

Out - Talia, Walker, Sloane
In - Massie, Seedman, Milera.

Massie takes Franklin, Keath and Lever take the next two tallest forwards, McLovin plays the Tex role and we have one extra runner.

Elite Crow that was your favourite move wasn't it Massie to franklin

Nigel smart still hasn't forgiven you


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