Preview Changes Vs Essendon Round 11

[Biggie]

We HAVE to play Yeo in the GUTS

Just HAVE TO.

I'm still annoyed at that fact, moreso than the actual loss tbh.

 

[ziad]

Probably an unpopular opinion but i'd just keep Darling out until after the bye.

in - Lycett,Ellis
out - Sinclair, Nelson

Looks like the money to me. We desperately need darling but it would not be wise to rush him in

 

[RookiePick]

We play in some of the worst conditions for a tall and blokes are potting Fraser who kicked 2 in a row to get us back in the game? What the actual ****? The only bad thing Fraser did all day was to not take the red vest.

Selwood dropped or sub depending on our final selection. Shred to the 21.

I do not want to see Darling before the bye - give EP a leg up and test him out properly.

If Ellis is right to go Nelson could possibly do with a spell but I'm not convinced that is a like for like. I have no problem with Nelson holding his spot if he is cherry ripe. I can't wait to see Jackson with a couple more pre-seasons under his belt. Kid is gonna give us some much needed mongrel!

We aren't dropping Sinclair any time soon.

Out: Nelson/Selwood
In: Ellis (sub)

I don't see any need to freak out with a lot of changes. The conditions were difficult and we got done by a side that thinks it is in a premiership window. Disappointing loss but throwing the baby out with the bath water...no thanks.

 

[DickDunn]

In: Xavier Ellis, Jack Darling
Out: Jackson Nelson, Fraser McInnes

B Sam Butler, Jeremy McGovern, Shannon Hurn
HB Brad Sheppard, Will Schofield, Sharrod Wellingham
C Andrew Gaff, Matt Priddis, Liam Duggan
HF Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling, Chris Masten
F Mark LeCras, Josh J. Kennedy, Josh Hill
FOL Nic Naitanui, Elliot Yeo, Luke Shuey
I/C Dom Sheed, Callum Sinclair, Scott Selwood
SUB Xavier Ellis

 

[sey666]

In: Ellis
Out: Selwood

I think we are playing an underdone Selwood because they want to keep him beyond this year and think that he will leave unless we keep him playing him. The same thing happened with Brown in 2013 and Lycett last year and this compromises team balance; too many talls in the backline in 2013, three rucks in 2014 and now too many midfielders capable of playing the same role.

Darling to come back against Richmond.

 

[larrikin]

There were a couple of structural weaknesses exposed against Norf.
1. Lack of a genuine small forward - I lost count of the times kicking with the wind that we lacked a crumbing forward at the back of the contest. The trio of Hill/LeCras/Cripps were found wanting in positioning too many times. There is a real opportunity for Newman here but he needs to show more at WAFL so not the right answer. My view is that the balance is better with Hill or Cripps and not Hill and Cripps.

I think the issue for small forwards was largely the conditions. The ball was blowing so long in the last that crumbing was not front and sqaure but over the back, and the ball was getting there too quickly. What frustrated me about this was that North (smartly) moved heir spare man to behind the contest rather than blocking up the space in front, and we had nothing to counter it.

 

[Coldwash]

Inarling, Ellis.
Out:Selwood, Butler

Kennedy to play on the back flank. Sounds like a crazy idea but I think he offers more to the team in the back half given the injuries to Brown and Emac. He has strength in one on one battles and has decent foot speed. His diaposal out of the backline would also be an asset.

Those who say McInnes should be dropped are off the mark IMO. He's held down his position admirably and the forward line has functioned well with his presence.

Buttler would probably have to be dropped, which would be somewhat undeserving. Another option would be to give Nelson a spell in the 2nds.

Another positive of having Darling play down back is that it removes the temptation to throw Yeo into defense. Keep him in the guts where he belongs.

 

[DickDunn]

Inarling, Ellis.
Out:Selwood, Butler

Kennedy to play on the back flank. Sounds like a crazy idea but I think he offers more to the team in the back half given the injuries to Brown and Emac. He has strength in one on one battles and has decent foot speed. His diaposal out of the backline would also be an asset.

Those who say McInnes should be dropped are off the mark IMO. He's held down his position admirably and the forward line has functioned well with his presence.

Buttler would probably have to be dropped, which would be somewhat undeserving. Another option would be to give Nelson a spell in the 2nds.

Another positive of having Darling play down back is that it removes the temptation to throw Yeo into defense. Keep him in the guts where he belongs.

Yep.

 

[steve hucka]

Inarling, Ellis.
Out:Selwood, Butler

Kennedy to play on the back flank. Sounds like a crazy idea but I think he offers more to the team in the back half given the injuries to Brown and Emac. He has strength in one on one battles and has decent foot speed. His diaposal out of the backline would also be an asset.

Those who say McInnes should be dropped are off the mark IMO. He's held down his position admirably and the forward line has functioned well with his presence.

Buttler would probably have to be dropped, which would be somewhat undeserving. Another option would be to give Nelson a spell in the 2nds.

Another positive of having Darling play down back is that it removes the temptation to throw Yeo into defense. Keep him in the guts where he belongs.

 

[hudson2006]

Aside from yesterday's game, our forward line has been looking as good as it's ever been. I think McInnes has played an important role this, by leading, linking up play and crashing packs. This has created much more opportunities for the more dangerous JK and co.

Darling is much more dangerous with ball in hand, around goals and offers more forward pressure than McInnes. However I'm not sure he can perform the same role that McInnes is currently playing - factoring in his return from a foot injury, and that he doesn't have the bulk for troubling big KPDs.

Hill would be a closer equivalent and substitute for Darling IMO, but he has been in career-best form (discounting yesterday). We could exchange Darling for Sinclair, if Nic is ready to take on more minutes, but that is unlikely to happen.

I think the best option is to have Darling stay in the WAFL another week to build match fitness, and back McInnes in to keep the team structure as it is. If we dropped him I wouldn't be surprised to read next week that Kennedy was double teamed, Darling looked unfit and Sinclair/Naitanui amazingly had minimal impact up forward.

Nelson is another like McInnes that while not being very flashy has played an important role with consistency (keeping small forwards quiet while providing another good set of skills coming out of defence). I would keep him in.

In: Ellis (to sub)
Out: Selwood (match fitness/form)

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

So here was the line up for the Drug Rats on the weekend

With an injury list showing Winderlich, Watson and Zaharaker as possibly back (Fletcher has been pardoned from travel)

 

[eagles rule]

In Darling ,Ellis
Out McInnes , Selwood

 

[SpaceClef]

Winderlich to destroy us again like every other ****ing time

 

[Eaglemaniac]

Starting to get flashbacks of Heppell getting off the chain last year when Hutchings couldn't keep up with him. Still wouldn't have anyone to bring in to run with him, so hopefully he keeps having relatively quiet games. At the very least Winderlich won't be back to bully us.

Hutchings wasn't on Heppell when that happened. Heppell was switched into the backline by Bomber, and Simpson said at the time he let the forwards man him up. He only switched Hutch back on to him after he'd had a break out quarter. By then it was too late.

 

[MIKE85]

Darling's been training at full pace for a while now, I'd think if he pulls up fine from 80 minutes of WAFL, he'll be straighgt back in, especially in a game we now need to win.

 

[SloppyJoe]

Darling's been training at full pace for a while now, I'd think if he pulls up fine from 80 minutes of WAFL, he'll be straighgt back in, especially in a game we now need to win.

This. Reports from as far back as 3-4 weeks had Darling running full drills at training with the main group. Simpson's always going on about how he's so fit and has great skin fold tests with little effort (while the Gov sobs in the background and eats his celery on rice cake)

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Out: Nelson
In: Ellis

B: Ellis, Schofield, Butler
HB: Hurn, McGovern, Wellingham
C: Gaff, Priddis, Yeo
HF: LeCras, McInnes, Masten
F: Hill, Kennedy, Cripps
R: Naitanui, Shuey, Selwood
I: Sinclair, Sheppard, Sheed
S: Duggan
E: Nelson (standby), Lycett, Colledge (EP)

Darling to have another week at EP for match fitness.

Duggan given a mini-break in the vest. Thought about making Ellis sub but I think that leaves us a defender short and I want to avoid any temptation to stick Yeo back there.

 

[steve hucka]

Out: Nelson
In: Ellis

B: Ellis, Schofield, Butler
HB: Hurn, McGovern, Wellingham
C: Gaff, Priddis, Yeo
HF: LeCras, McInnes, Masten
F: Hill, Kennedy, Cripps
R: Naitanui, Shuey, Selwood
I: Sinclair, Sheppard, Sheed
S: Duggan
E: Nelson (standby), Lycett, Colledge (EP)

Darling to have another week at EP for match fitness.

Duggan given a mini-break in the vest. Thought about making Ellis sub but I think that leaves us a defender short and I want to avoid any temptation to stick Yeo back there.

I think Darling needs to play get rid of some rust against Essedon at home ready for a huge Friday night game against Richmond

 

[Suma Magic]

Any chance McInnes stays and Sinclair goes? Essendon doesn't have the strongest ruck division.

Butler McGovern Hurn
Wellingham Schofield Ellis
Masten Priddis Gaff
LeCras McInnes Duggan
Cripps Kennedy Darling

R: Naitanui Yeo Shuey

I: Sheppard Selwood Hill
S: Sheed

E: Nelson Sinclair Colledge

 

[Prem87]

In: Xavier Ellis, Jack Darling
Out: Jackson Nelson, Fraser McInnes

B Sam Butler, Jeremy McGovern, Shannon Hurn
HB Brad Sheppard, Will Schofield, Sharrod Wellingham
C Andrew Gaff, Matt Priddis, Liam Duggan
HF Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling, Chris Masten
F Mark LeCras, Josh J. Kennedy, Josh Hill
FOL Nic Naitanui, Elliot Yeo, Luke Shuey
I/C Dom Sheed, Callum Sinclair, Scott Selwood
SUB Xavier Ellis

Great team. Best we've put out all year!

Would rather Selwood was the sub and Ellis in the 21.

So excited by Darling. Will make the team lift naturally by his tackling, pressure and all-round Gun-ness!

 

[EagleShore]

Why did Simpson take Nelson out for Sheed Surely there was a better option, Our backline looked unsettled with Nelson out, I would of thought a tall would of got the vest, Lest be honest what a shit game we could of been playing anyone on the day and could of went either way, Still think we are a better team than the Roos just couldn't use the ball to chop them up in that weather, it was definitely a game we can learn from tho, Doesn't matter what the weather long bombs don't win you games of footy why couldn't they find a target outside 50 and had a shot from there ? It's not like anyone couldn't make the distance in that wind, Then at least we could of set up the press if it was a behind, Played some silly football really !

I agree with everything you say, (and please forgive me) but you committed a common error of grammar that I see daily. The only reason I am pointing it out is that, by doing it five times, I felt obliged to correct you.

It is not "could of"/"would of", rather it is "could've"/"would've" or "could have"/"would have". The reason it is so common is because the contracted version of have sounds the same as of when spoken.

 

[The_Reaper]

Out: booing the umpires
In: booing James Hird as he coaches from the boundary

 

[Avalor]

I would leave McInnes in - he is developing well - needs to take more contested marks, but he is doing well till now. If Darling is to come in, I would omit Hill after Sunday's effort to let him know he has to go in with the body, and not by just sticking an arm out. Would love to see Muzza come in soon too, but not yet. Ellis has surely put his hand up, but who goes out for him - Butler maybe. I really like Nelson and want him in.

 

[boondy]

mcginnity out injured

selwood in ,

crap isnt it , just cant be rid of it

 

[Nuke Fremantle]

Going a bit left field on this one but to me its become apparent that Schofield is starting to really feel the strain of playing on opposition monsters every week and as season rolls on the effect will snowball. I think he needs help. McInnes played a little of bit of defence for EP at the start of the season and with the imminent return of Darling could we move McInnes to defence? Could we throw Sinclair down back and trust NicNat to ruck all day? (Personally, I don't think he'll ever have the tank). Or we do we throw the kid Barrass to the wolves? It's risky but whatever we decide on Schofield needs help.

The Bummers could have Watson/Zaharakis/Winderlich/Fletcher all available this week. I think the game may be closer that what the odds suggest.