Prediction Changes v West Coast @ Marvel

[Proffessor]

Father time "destroyed" both of them not the MC

They lost a yard of pace and can't/couldn't get to the contest to intercept/impact like they could in the past

Just like supposedly happened to Matthew Boyd in 2017 until they gave him a farewell game and he proved that story was complete BS.

The MC can put players out to pasture well before they are ready, but they aren't always right.

 

[Foxman98]

What shocker did he play?

People have a massive anti-age bias. If Jones was clean bowled like Buss was on the weekend, people would have his career done and dusted. I'm happy to cut Buss some slack, one bad mistake shouldn't necessarily truncate a career but we need to be more understanding of the old blokes as well.

Jones has had some injuries that have disrupted his season, just because he is a mature player doesn't mean he doesn't need a bit of time to get his touch timing and confidence back.

I think had we managed him a bit better, we would be in a much stronger position, but there is still time.

How critical were guys like Morris and Matthew Boyd in 2016? Jones could be critical for us this season, if we can manage him correctly.

Morris and Boyd were still playing well at a high level Jones hasn't

 

[Proffessor]

Morris and Boyd were still playing well at a high level Jones hasn't

I think we should play him and give him the chance.

The alternatives have had most of the year to fill the hole created by his absence. They have clearly failed to step up and make it their own.

In my book it is a small risk for a potentially large reward.

 

[_Cerberus_]

I think we should play him and give him the chance.

The alternatives have had most of the year to fill the hole created by his absence. They have clearly failed to step up and make it their own.

In my book it is a small risk for a potentially large reward.

We have given him two chances though. He was ordinary and the worst of the tall trio in the opening rounds. Didn't set the word on fire on his return, and now isn't even the best in the VFL team. We are less than two weeks out from a must win game vs Freo.

What happens if he gets beat for pace, falls over his own feet, and gives up a few goals costing us a spot in the finals? Thats a big risk not a small one. It's too late to take the risk now unless one of JOD, Buss or Lobb get injured.

 

[Proffessor]

Jones was almost worst on ground in the hawks final last year (although there were a few candidates)

Bringing him in for finals would be a disaster.

I think you need to watch that game again. Jones not even in the conversation for WOG.

Weightman, Ugle-Hagen, Gallagher and Bramble all had him well and truly covered.

Fortunately Bramble has learnt some lessons and lifted his level. Unfortunately for a range of reasons the others haven't been able to respond appropriately this season.

 

[Proffessor]

We have given him two chances though. He was ordinary and the worst of the tall trio in the opening rounds. Didn't set the word on fire on his return, and now isn't even the best in the VFL team. We are less than two weeks out from a must win game vs Freo.

What happens if he gets beat for pace, falls over his own feet, and gives up a few goals costing us a spot in the finals? Thats a big risk not a small one. It's too late to take the risk now unless one of JOD, Buss or Lobb get injured.

In his return game against Brisbane, their tall forwards\resting rucks scored a combined total of 1 goal.

I'd say he did his job, and was surprised\disappointed he didn't hold his spot.
I'd also argue that he was not the worst of the tall trio in the early rounds and also suffered from sacrificing himself too often in order to cover for others.

Young/fringe players don't often do that because they'd typically rather let the team fail than take a personal risk. Sadly too few see such failings, but they are clearly there for those who know what to look for.

 

[Cudi]

Not bringing him in makes far less sense.

We are screaming out for an experienced big bodied marking KPD. We have one we just need to play the bloke.

Gardner has been in far better form in the VFL, he would be in front of Jones.
That tells you how well Jones is travelling.

 

[Sentinel]

Morris and Boyd were still playing well at a high level Jones hasn't

If he gets back in, I'm hoping for a Matthew Croft style end of career send-off. Go out with an unexpected bang.

 

[LondonBulldog]

I watch a lot of games AFL and VFL. This view is directly related to both Buss and JOD.

Jones has dropped off, without a doubt, not off a cliff though like some bandwagon people are saying. Buss has good games in the VFL and average games as well.

Now I don't think JOD is your last line of defense / full back player, much better with a bit of space to intercept and give him time to drill his left foot. Buss is limited and does not bring to the table what we need. He is a tall flanker.

So for me, although aging and not what he was, if we want a pure full back, he probably is still the best on the list. This frees up Lobb and JOD. Buss can't offer that, he is not a full back.

If they don't play Jones, I would run with only JOD and Lobb and go with a shorter 3rd tall, yet potential to get exposed.

Interesting for the coaching, yet Buss in my opinion did not fit into the team of the weekend and the sub was the correct move.

 

[Bald Headed Flog]

I would genuinely rather see Gardner in the seniors than Jones. We can’t pick players off reputation. Realistically, neither of them can be selected

 

[_Cerberus_]

I watch a lot of games AFL and VFL. This view is directly related to both Buss and JOD.

Jones has dropped off, without a doubt, not off a cliff though like some bandwagon people are saying. Buss has good games in the VFL and average games as well.

Now I don't think JOD is your last line of defense / full back player, much better with a bit of space to intercept and give him time to drill his left foot. Buss is limited and does not bring to the table what we need. He is a tall flanker.

So for me, although aging and not what he was, if we want a pure full back, he probably is still the best on the list. This frees up Lobb and JOD. Buss can't offer that, he is not a full back.

If they don't play Jones, I would run with only JOD and Lobb and go with a shorter 3rd tall, yet potential to get exposed.

Interesting for the coaching, yet Buss in my opinion did not fit into the team of the weekend and the sub was the correct move.

As someone said from Bevos presser, the reason we play three defensive talls, is to allow Lobb to do some rucking, so Darcy can stay forward. Go back to two, then Darcy will have to ruck again, otherwise JOD will be by himself.

 

[Proffessor]

Gardner has been in far better form in the VFL, he would be in front of Jones.
That tells you how well Jones is travelling.

Perhaps to people who have been lobotomized so that they can forget\ignore their preceding AFL careers and only consider very recent VFL form.

Jones could retire, spend two years on the couch drinking and smoking and still be a mile ahead of Gardner.

 

[LondonBulldog]

As someone said from Bevos presser, the reason we play three defensive talls, is to allow Lobb to do some rucking, so Darcy can stay forward. Go back to two, then Darcy will have to ruck again, otherwise JOD will be by himself.

Buss has looked like a fish out of water for 2 weeks. People are just hoping the "youngster" comes good. He might, but he is a long way off at the moment. If we make a final, he is not needed at this stage.

 

[MaxiBont]

Buss has looked like a fish out of water for 2 weeks. People are just hoping the "youngster" comes good. He might, but he is a long way off at the moment. If we make a final, he is not needed at this stage.

Buss has been fine.

He made one bad mistake against Melbourne when the ball went through his legs but I thought he was playing fine till then.

He certainly hasn’t looked out of place in the last 2 weeks.

 

[stefoid]

LJizz was battling 'general soreness' a month ago after missing the start of the season with a bad hamstring.

Its not impossible that he gets his body and fitness right in time for finals.

 

[dogwatch]

Buss has been fine.

He made one bad mistake against Melbourne when the ball went through his legs but I thought he was playing fine till then.

He certainly hasn’t looked out of place in the last 2 weeks.

Agree. He looked OK to me.

This is his third year in the system. If we want 10 year defenders we have to start giving them opportunities when they are showing some form.

 

[A dog in Qld]

For those from Geelong way, who are planning to come up to the game on the weekend. There are buses instead of trains for the entire weekend. I will probably drive all the way to Werribee* and train it in from there. Since buses take an hour and half to complete all stops if its not a direct route to Geelong.

*FFS: Also works on the Werribee line. So need to get off one train and onto another, with the whole trip seemingly an extra 20 minutes or so.

Trains from Laverton into and from the city

 

[Proffessor]

Buss has been fine.

He made one bad mistake against Melbourne when the ball went through his legs but I thought he was playing fine till then.

He certainly hasn’t looked out of place in the last 2 weeks.

I agree to a certain extent.

He has been OK and mostly playing at the level expected, with the big exception that he hasn't shown much in the way of attacking initiative. Given he struggles for size against the big guys he absolutely needs to add some attacking flair to his game if he expects to establish himself as a permanent fixture in the team.

If he doesn't bring such initiative and\or doesn't regularly win one on one contests with his opponents, then he simply can't afford to make costly mistakes, he has to be rock solid.

A bit like a low possession forward can't afford to miss easy goals.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

No brainer to me Jones over Buss and Gardiner.

 

[my plums]

Buss was good from what I saw. He had that one bad moment, but you could say the same thing about Truck knocking the ball to the Melbourne player in the last quarter for one of their goals.

 

[Foxman98]

Buss was good from what I saw. He had that one bad moment, but you could say the same thing about Truck knocking the ball to the Melbourne player in the last quarter for one of their goals.

Ed literally did the same thing as well before the Petty goal

1 mistake doesn't undo all the good

 

[Freshwater]

For those from Geelong way, who are planning to come up to the game on the weekend. There are buses instead of trains for the entire weekend. I will probably drive all the way to Werribee* and train it in from there. Since buses take an hour and half to complete all stops if its not a direct route to Geelong.

*FFS: Also works on the Werribee line. So need to get off one train and onto another, with the whole trip seemingly an extra 20 minutes or so.

The only public transport from Geelong is really the train, buses are like torture. Geelong line generally unreliable, daughter gets delayed weekly. My backup is a relative near Hoppers station, now you say that line also has delays! This game is ridiculously late on a Sunday anyway 4:40pm! With no trains it’s lost a bunch of us in Geelong from attending.
I need my Ute for work what are the odds it’s gets stolen Sunday evening if I park it at Newport Station?

 

[Mucat]

Rest isn't always best. We just had a 10 day break so he should be fine. Sub him at 3 qtr time to save a bit in the tank for Freo if we really think he needs it. There's a bye before finals if we sneak into the 8.

100%

 

[Mucat]

Ed literally did the same thing as well before the Petty goal

1 mistake doesn't undo all the good

From what i saw last sunday Buss is starting to read the game so why does he has to be dropped be sides everybody makes mistakes

 

[Euku]

Buss has been playing really well , Jones is building continuity for the first time this season and his reliability and ceiling are higher than Buss at this moment so if your trying to win the flag, there is a wise choice