Prediction Changes v Tigers

[Shmiddy15]

Agree. It's a bit of a shame; I actually don't think that he's a terrible player (played an excellent WAFL grand final in the wet a couple years ago), and imo has always been solid when called upon, but he's a victim of being at a club with JJK, Darling, resting rucks, and now Waterman et al coming through.

He is a proper CHF - a bit Ash Hansen-esque in that respect - not an amazing player, but plays one of the most difficult positions on the ground pretty well. Could have played 50+ AFL games in another life IMO

He’d be a 100 game player at the mob down the road.

 

[Astro7]

I reckon Schofield is better than that. If you think back to 2015, he really stood up when he became our first-choice FB. He now finds himself behind Barrass and McGovern who are both gun intercept marks. And we've also got Sheppard and Hurn who play tall. But I'd happily put Schofield on the opposition's best key forward if we played against a side with a stack of talls or if Barrass or McGovern went down. It's just unfortunate that tall forward lines aren't trendy so it's hard to justify picking three tall defenders. Schofield is good enough to be playing AFL every week.

yes, you're probably right, the coach certainly backed him in post-game interview. I remember him at his peak breaking lines with attacking run etc, it's a perceived thing about the way he plays, his body language, that frustrates me, and he does tend to play loose, gets caught out. but as said he is a solid back-up as required.

Re-the Barrass comment above, yes he doesn't quite seem right when you recall him at his peak late last season. been waiting for him to fire up. could be a nagging injury.

 

[Priddis Is Done]

Agree. It's a bit of a shame; I actually don't think that he's a terrible player (played an excellent WAFL grand final in the wet a couple years ago), and imo has always been solid when called upon, but he's a victim of being at a club with JJK, Darling, resting rucks, and now Waterman et al coming through.

He is a proper CHF - a bit Ash Hansen-esque in that respect - not an amazing player, but plays one of the most difficult positions on the ground pretty well. Could have played 50+ AFL games in another life IMO

Im shocked that Freo never made a bid on him 2 years ago. Would have come cheap.

 

[frenchconnection]

I hear ya, I’ve got 2 Richmond sisters who hadn’t gone to a game for 20 years and are now the biggest supporters that ever lived They also think that any team outside of Victoria are nobodies.

Do your sisters live in Victoria or here in WA? In any event your sisters just think like most Victorian supporters do so they would fit in well over there

 

[frenchconnection]

Is Bubba the nickname for Ainsworth? Can't somebody give him a decent nickname - he's a grown man for goodness sake, albeit he has a very young face but at his age didn't we all!

 

[frenchconnection]

Yep. Same here. That was a shit kick. It was an ok game from Masten, he made a couple of blues but he plugged away, did a couple of good things and offered an option on the release. I reckon he's carrying a niggle. I think he is well aware that he can't drop his standards in this side.

Don't think Masten is Robinson Crusoe when it comes to playing with a niggle or two - think a fair proportion of our players are in the same boat. Noticed Le Cras rubbing his left ankle at the half time break when the cameras went onto the forward line players with Simmo having a word in their ears. May have meant nothing but some say he didn't play as well as normal?
How many more games before the bye as think the boys will be looking forward to it. Just hope they come back in the same form after, as the bye seems to have a strange effect on teams who are flying - can lose their momentum sometimes?

 

[frenchconnection]

I reckon Schofield is better than that. If you think back to 2015, he really stood up when he became our first-choice FB. He now finds himself behind Barrass and McGovern who are both gun intercept marks. And we've also got Sheppard and Hurn who play tall. But I'd happily put Schofield on the opposition's best key forward if we played against a side with a stack of talls or if Barrass or McGovern went down. It's just unfortunate that tall forward lines aren't trendy so it's hard to justify picking three tall defenders. Schofield is good enough to be playing AFL every week.

Three years is a long time in football! Agree Schofield is a handy player but not in our best backline of 6 when all fit. Our coaches/Selectors haven't done much wrong this year so I'm sure the right decision will be made?

 

[CheapCharlie]

Very impressed with you guys this year
If you get over Richmond next week you'd have to be a fave for the premiership

 

[frenchconnection]

IN: Gov, Sheed, Jetta, NN
Out: Schoey, Hutch, Nelson, Fmac

If both Hutch & Nelson go out who would we use to tag, if necessary?

 

[Candiru]

Three years is a long time in football! Agree Schofield is a handy player but not in our best backline of 6 when all fit.

Maybe not. But he'd be the starting FB at many clubs. I just think he's too good to play 2-3 games a season and be in the WAFL full-time.

He's also agile enough to play a role at ground level. Is it possible we could play all of McGovern, Barrass and Schofield instead of Nelson, for example?

 

[frenchconnection]

Only lock is Naitanui in and McInnes out

If Sheed is fit, replace Hutchings or Ainsworth
If McGovern is fit, replace Schofield
If Jetta is fit, replace Nelson

If Darling or Yeo are rubbed out it will change the outs above

Wash your mouth out - surely not. That will cause World War III over here in the West should that happen! Think they will be okay though IMO.

 

[frenchconnection]

There'll be some unlucky guys on Thursday

Out: McInnes, Schofield, Nelson
In: Naitanui, McGovern, Jetta

B: Sheppard, Barrass, Hurn
HB: Jetta, McGovern, Duggan
C: Gaff, Redden, Masten
HF: Cripps, Darling, Waterman
F: LeCras, Kennedy, Lycett
R: Naitanui, Yeo, Hutchings
I: Cole, Rioli, Ah Chee, Ainsworth
E: McInnes, Schofield, Bayok, Nelson (held over)

Sheed might need another week, and there's no real candidate to come out for him. Hutchings and Ah Chee both played well, and Ainsworth should get a few weeks to find his feet in the designated "pump games into young kids" spot (which Venables and then Petch had earlier in the season).

Hi you have nailed it i recokon Petch is must for his pace.

In Sheed, NN, Gov, Jett and Petch
Out Ainstoworth (unlucky), Fmac, Schofield, Nelson (we have enough defenders)

I think Ainsworth is unlucky, but Hutch is also in good form who would you drop. I like what Petch does up forward

Didn't some say Ainsworth's kicking is not up to AFL standard yet? Wouldn't he be the likely candidate out for sheed, if fit?

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Maybe not. But he'd be the starting FB at many clubs. I just think he's too good to play 2-3 games a season and be in the WAFL full-time.

He's also agile enough to play a role at ground level. Is it possible we could play all of McGovern, Barrass and Schofield instead of Nelson, for example?

Against a team like Adelaide with a tall forward line, I think so.

Against the Tigers, definitely not.

 

[Wosh]

Do your sisters live in Victoria or here in WA? In any event your sisters just think like most Victorian supporters do so they would fit in well over there

We all live in Melbourne. I lived in WA for 23 years though, my hubby was born and bred in Fremantle. I started barracking for the Eagles from day 1 over there.

 

[WillieNillie]

The Mark Hutchings hate is absurd. Pick players based on current output I say not on pre conceived ideas. His last 3 weeks have been great and well better then what Ainsworth will give us at this point in time. Im all for giving kids a go but when you are playing a game to capture top spot of the table, lets pick players on form not on age....

IN: NN, Sheed, Jetta, Gov
OUT: Schoey, McInness, Ainsworth, Nelson

Id only play Jetta if he is 100% good to go and no possibility of setbacks. The rest should just play if they are available.

 

[Eagle Wrath]

I am surprised Shepherd keeps getting up for each match. He has looked beaten up all year with corks etc. Looked very sore at one stage yesterday as well. Wouldn't want to lose him though. He has been great this year.

 

[Turboman1994]

Interested to see how our talls stand up to them

 

[i am a logo]

I just realised this is pretty much the biggest blockbuster since the Judd era. When Richmond beat norf today both clubs will be 2 games clear on top

 

[Jiggyman]

Out: some dudes
In: some better dudes

 

[Astro7]

I just realised this is pretty much the biggest blockbuster since the Judd era. When Richmond beat norf today both clubs will be 2 games clear on top

It's a huge game in the context of the season and how it might play out, but on the flip-side it's just another game and 4 points..curiously if we win then it will be the first time since 2005 that the Eagles will have collected eight consecutive victories...read into that what you will.

 

[hungrytiger]

Im putting my best 22 up which we should see soon. Based on the 4 small fwds pre injury like Simmo has said doesnt know how long we can play 3 tall fwds and 2 rucks for.

Hurn Barrass Shep
Cole Govs Jetta
Sheed Redden Gaff
Venables Darling Cripps
Ryan Kennedy Rioli

Nic Nat Shuey Yeo

Lycett(Ruck) Duggan(HB/mid) Ainsworth(mid) Lecras/Petruccelle(fwd)

 

[Biggie]

first time since 2005 that the Eagles will have collected eight consecutive victories...read into that what you will.

We make the GF and lose in heartbreaking fashion?

 

[FKASC]

Is Bubba the nickname for Ainsworth? Can't somebody give him a decent nickname - he's a grown man for goodness sake, albeit he has a very young face but at his age didn't we all!

Anus

 

[Candiru]

Against a team like Adelaide with a tall forward line, I think so.

Against the Tigers, definitely not.

If you look at the Tigers' defence, they regularly play four guys over 190cm in Rance, Astbury, Grimes and Broad. McIntosh also.

That doesn't mean we have to but you can play a bunch of tallish guys if they're mobile and read the play well.

 

[Astro7]

We make the GF and lose in heartbreaking fashion?

It's just a moment, it'll pass.....