Preview Changes vs Essendon

[Golden_6]

The bottom end shouldn’t be made up of 18 year olds.

The Bakers, Poulters, Scotts etc of our team just aren’t on the level of similar best 18-24 players at the better teams. We recycle the same genuine D Graders in the team every few weeks. Serious premiership contenders don’t need to do that.

When you’re contending for a flag and the options are an unproven 18 year old or an average C/D Grader, you’ve got list issues.

Those guys are 30-35 guys on our list. They are there for cheap depth in times of an injury crisis which we don’t even have. For whatever reason, the MC chooses to play them when they don’t need to played.

 

[Freshwater]

Bevo is not only a poor selector, which is ok, none of us are good at everything, he doesn’t yet realise he is so poor at selecting. Lack of self awareness. As immortal has just said ‘hubris’ or in Australian that means ‘my shit don’t stink, I’m smarter than you’ has crept back into his head/character. We all defend him against his enemies, and he has so many now (both inside and outside of the club) that the common denominator is starting to become apparent.
Sam Mitchell is such a determined prick to win, that he puts aside his ego to just pick his best team without trying to be cute or seem smarter than mortals. And seems like a good bloke off the field of battle too. Something Bevo is struggling with.

 

[immortalmike]

What does that achieve though Mike?
We both know it wouldn't change anything in MC. We have about 8 years evidence of that.

Nose, say goodbye to Face.

I think the arse needs to fall out of the place to be honest.
I honestly am almost to the point of hoping we don't win another game. I'm not there yet but....

Something needs to force change.
It's scary the difference in the way we started the year compared to after the contract extension.

 

[Unorth]

It’s all a bit laughable.

We spend years in the wilderness on the wing trying to replace Hunter - Poulter, Baker, Scott etc.

Find an older draft pick in Davidson who instantly fixes up the position.

Then, for no justifiable reason, shift him into the forward line and put Sanders, who can really only play one position, on the wing, where he gets exposed and goes completely backwards himself.

Then drop Davidson altogether so we can play Baker, who is going to be delisted in a couple of months.

This is surely hard to reconcile even amongst the thirstiest of koolaid drinkers?

It’s not good coaching in terms of development or winning. Very Brendan McCartney.

 

[MaxiBont]

I thought Davidson was fine against Adelaide. 16 and a goal. He was playing in a weird position against Brisbane which didn’t help.

We know JJ, Dale and Bramble lack defensively. Crazy to me we keep running the 3 the same way every game.

This game would be perfect to experiment with Sellwood while putting players back into their best positions.

This could have been a game Davidson needed to get back into form. Weird decision.

 

[Bulldog rick]

What has Buku done to upset the mc.

 

[Bulldog rick]

Don't understand why Baker has been brought in to replace Davidson.

 

[Freshwater]

If we win and win well playing a weakened and already weak team means stuff all, if Vandermeer and McNeill look like superstars this week. Surely playing the kids this week would have been better? Khamis and Sellwood or Jacques? Then we’ll get Harmes back soon and hopefully Doc gets his rest etc. Not these same players who don’t do much each week, being propped up by all the talent.

 

[dogwatch]

What has Buku done to upset the mc.

Don't know what the stats say but from my observing of him he never seems to apply much defensive pressure.
He's also not very good in traffic or hunting the contested ball.

His strengths are his marking, his leap, accurate kicking for goal and his team-oriented personality. I'm not including his relief rucking here because he's actually pretty poor at it against AFL standard rucks. He can do all the right technical ruck things but he simply doesn't have the height or the physique for it. That's not his fault.

I like the bloke and I wouldn't be upset if they picked him but he is not best 23 in my opinion.

 

[Philthy1]

What has Buku done to upset the mc.

by being an uncontested player only. Can’t handle body contact at all.

 

[Doggies7]

It’s all a bit laughable.

We spend years in the wilderness on the wing trying to replace Hunter - Poulter, Baker, Scott etc.

Find an older draft pick in Davidson who instantly fixes up the position.

Then, for no justifiable reason, shift him into the forward line and put Sanders, who can really only play one position, on the wing, where he gets exposed and goes completely backwards himself.

Then drop Davidson altogether so we can play Baker, who is going to be delisted in a couple of months.

This is surely hard to reconcile even amongst the thirstiest of koolaid drinkers?

It’s not good coaching in terms of development or winning. Very Brendan McCartney.

I don't want to just argue with everyone because these aren't the changes I wanted and Davidson is one of my favourites, I want him in, but just because we don't know the reason, doesn't mean there isn't a justifiable reason why he is out. As I said, his last 3 games were pretty down for him by his usual output and there are things we don't fully see. His speed marks (very important for a player like him, maybe they are way down after 17 games), how much ground he is covering, are his repeat pressure acts and team blocking etc at the required mark?

He is obviously a coach's favourite being selected week one and playing almost every week so far, so that the fact he has been omitted now isn't because the coaches suddenly hate him or have just done it for kicks and for no "justifiable reason", we just may not fully know what that is.

 

[MaxiBont]

I don't want to just argue with everyone because these aren't the changes I wanted and Davidson is one of my favourites, I want him in, but just because we don't know the reason, doesn't mean there isn't a justifiable reason why he is out. As I said, his last 3 games were pretty down for him by his usual output and there are things we don't fully see. His speed marks (very important for a player like him, maybe they are way down after 17 games), how much ground he is covering, are his repeat pressure acts and team blocking etc at the required mark?

He is obviously a coach's favourite being selected week one and playing almost every week so far, so that the fact he has been omitted now isn't because the coaches suddenly hate him or have just done it for kicks and for no "justifiable reason", we just may not fully know what that is.

It’s a bit hard to accept this when the replacement is Baker.

I tend to agree with what you’re saying, but I’d prefer to let Davidson work through it against a weaker team than bring someone in who we know isn’t best 22.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Don't know what the stats say but from my observing of him he never seems to apply much defensive pressure.
He's also not very good in traffic or hunting the contested ball.

His strengths are his marking, his leap, accurate kicking for goal and his team-oriented personality. I'm not including his relief rucking here because he's actually pretty poor at it against AFL standard rucks. He can do all the right technical ruck things but he simply doesn't have the height or the physique for it. That's not his fault.

I like the bloke and I wouldn't be upset if they picked him but he is not best 23 in my opinion.

Yeah I like Buku too, and happy to keep him on the list, but he is definitely a limited player (currently). Good mark and good goal kick as you say, but he struggles to impact outside of that.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

What does that achieve though Mike?
We both know it wouldn't change anything in MC. We have about 8 years evidence of that.

Nose, say goodbye to Face.

“You didn’t pick who I wanted! I hope we lose!!!”

 

[Marsy]

I would put money on Oskar baker

13

Oskar Baker

Age

27

Ht

184cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.8

4star

K

8.8

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.7

4star

MG

277.8

4star

No current season stats available

D

16.0

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

5.2

4star

M

5.2

5star

T

2.0

4star

MG

333.6

5star

kicking the ball out on the full if I could.

 

[A dog in Qld]

Maybe fatigue is getting the better of Davidson and being managed or just plain omitted?

Agree with fatigue ... regardless of his age he is still a first year who has done an amazing job

 

[Doggies7]

It’s a bit hard to accept this when the replacement is Baker.

I tend to agree with what you’re saying, but I’d prefer to let Davidson work through it against a weaker team than bring someone in who we know isn’t best 22.

I think Baker is being played as the "impact sub", pace off the bench to inject into the 4th quarter, but yeah if he isn't as is starting on a wing i'm not happy with the selection either and we've been there and done that with Baker. Only role that makes sense for me is the sub.

 

[dogwatch]

I would put money on Oskar baker kicking the ball out on the full if I could.

You’re incredibly stiff. It must be the only thing the bookies aren’t willing to take a bet on.

 

[BEaston]

It's good that we're not doubling down on the mistake to bring in Jones over Buss last week.

Davidson a bit stiff, but he may just need a rest/easier game.

 

[bresker]

One of the most important stats is that of kicking goals, and Buku is definitely better at that than some of the players masquerading as forwards. It would only be a special day of their young lives if McNeil Poulter or Vanders kick 3 , but in my mind I can visualise the laconic Buku Khamis doing it quite easily . There's pressure but don't discount scoreboard pressure. Call me old fashioned , but I like forwards who kick goals.

 

[Libbaaaa]

Baker makes no sense, neither does Poulter.

 

[Ash1337]

Last chance saloon I think for a couple like Baker & Poulter. Buss probably rewarded for his last game.

 

[BEaston]

I don't think Poulter has had the best opportunity this season in his senior games.
If he gets a full game (not sub) against the Dons and doesn't do at least decently, I'm willing to put a fork in him.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

What has Buku done to upset the mc.

It's pretty obvious. He's a mark and kick player who doesn't offer much in the way of defensive pressure. In a side who's achilles heal aside from a number of our elite players is this very aspect of the game. Its the main reason we are such erratically middling side.

He'd play every week as a 3rd tall if he had anything like Aaron Naughtons ability to stay in the game when he doesn't have the ball or is completely out of form. But he just doesn't and in my view it's why in spite of him hitting the scoreboard a couple of times a game. He hasn't been able to cement a spot that should be his.

 

[adogsfan5]

Happy for Buss.. but hooley dooley, that Davidson fu** around has really pissed me off.