Changes Vs Essendon

[summerthebat]

I am very confident Headland will be playing this weekend, very!

 

[dominguez]

OUT: McManus, Murphy
IN: Dodd, Headland. Presuming these two are fit. Otherwise no changes.

The early reports were that Dessie certainly won't return prior to the Melbourne game, and that he may miss the rest of the season.

 

[estibador]

I agree that McManus should be dropped.

I watched the replay of the derby tonight and nearly all his possessions come from being a loose man in space. Nothing wrong with that in itself but surely we have more skilled players who can fulfill that role. Whenever he is in a one on one tussle he almost invariably goes to ground and loses the contest.

But what really annoyed me was an incident in the last quarter. Taz was chasing a bouncing ball towards the boundary line and Macca had the perfect opportunity to come steaming in and take out Hunter with a full blooded shepherd to buy Taz time and space. Instead he chose to run past the pair hoping Taz could give him a handball and a shot on goal. But under pressure from Hunter, Taz fumbled the ball over the line.

It seemed like the exact antithesis of the hard shepherding team play that Harvey wants. It may sound harsh but I get the impression that these days Macca is playing more for himself and his place in the team. With all due respect for the service he has given the club I think it's time to put him out to pasture.

 

[The Night Shift]

Can anyone see any way we could fit in Drummy?

 

[Kenny_01]

I agree that McManus should be dropped.

I watched the replay of the derby tonight and nearly all his possessions come from being a loose man in space. Nothing wrong with that in itself but surely we have more skilled players who can fulfill that role. Whenever he is in a one on one tussle he almost invariably goes to ground and loses the contest.

But what really annoyed me was an incident in the last quarter. Taz was chasing a bouncing ball towards the boundary line and Macca had the perfect opportunity to come steaming in and take out Hunter with a full blooded shepherd to buy Taz time and space. Instead he chose to run past the pair hoping Taz could give him a handball and a shot on goal. But under pressure from Hunter, Taz fumbled the ball over the line.

It seemed like the exact antithesis of the hard shepherding team play that Harvey wants. It may sound harsh but I get the impression that these days Macca is playing more for himself and his place in the team. With all due respect for the service he has given the club I think it's time to put him out to pasture.

Finally someone else has noticed!!!

Every time i made these points earlier on in the season, the standard reply would be "he puts in 110% and if the other players followed, we wouldn't have a problem". it is a myth that he is good at the hard/contested stuff. Truth is he is our biggest frontrunner.

And fair dinkum, how many times did he go to ground in a contest on the weekend? i think i lost count at 8.

 

[Lach72]

I agree that McManus should be dropped.

I watched the replay of the derby tonight and nearly all his possessions come from being a loose man in space. Nothing wrong with that in itself but surely we have more skilled players who can fulfill that role. Whenever he is in a one on one tussle he almost invariably goes to ground and loses the contest.

But what really annoyed me was an incident in the last quarter. Taz was chasing a bouncing ball towards the boundary line and Macca had the perfect opportunity to come steaming in and take out Hunter with a full blooded shepherd to buy Taz time and space. Instead he chose to run past the pair hoping Taz could give him a handball and a shot on goal. But under pressure from Hunter, Taz fumbled the ball over the line.

It seemed like the exact antithesis of the hard shepherding team play that Harvey wants. It may sound harsh but I get the impression that these days Macca is playing more for himself and his place in the team. With all due respect for the service he has given the club I think it's time to put him out to pasture.

I just about put my foot through the tv on Sunday when I saw that...he bloody ran poast looking for the easy handball

 

[FootyEater]

If dodd is fit, bring him in, if des is fit bring him in as well. would definetly be looking at bringing either foster or ibbotson in. so if that is the case then mcmanus, murphy and schammer probably need to make way, although i like the idea of giving murphy and schammer a chance to build confidence

 

[peppy la pew]

What's wrong with you people?
McAnus? McShiite?
The guy's an inaugral squad member, former captain, most games played behind Parks. Recovered from 2 knee recos, would take a bullet for Freo. A legend at Freo and you people are bagging him.
Get a life.
And if you think Thornton will be dropped you are watching a different game than I am.

Totally agree with everthing you said , some posters on this board are downright, pathetic and dis-respectful. I'm looking at you batman.

FFS we had a great win, how about we lay off insulting our players, having an opinion over their skill, ability or general crappiness is one thing, but petty name calling and personal abuse is not on.

 

[FootyEater]

It is no secret shauny mac is not the most skilled player in our team, he is frustrating sometimes, he makes mistakes. But a nicer person (particularly for a proffessional sportsman) you could not find. he has always behaved himself, he has integrity and loyalty. He single handedly converted my mate who was a die hard eagles supporter into a dockers supporter all because he took the time to have a chat, rather than being an arrogant pr.ck like many of them are. and troy cook is a very similar person as well. both of them would take a bullet for the club that we all on this board love.

so while they probably both should be dropped for younger players with more potential, both should be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, because both love the club, and would give anything to see us successful. lets leave the petty name calling and bagging out shall we

 

[dockertor]

I thought McManus was okay. I think Foster should come into to replace Schammer or Peake.

Have you been up the road sniffing powder with the egirls?

 

[FootyEater]

peake should definetly get a go, schammer im thinking should remain purely to give him a bit of confidence, i think people understimate how important a fit schammer is. he will be vital to us next year IMO

 

[Kenny_01]

Both Macca and Cookie deserve to play the last 3 games.

Parker should also be brought back for the last home game.

Not if we are in finals contention.

We should be giving game time to the youngsters anyway, not playing the has beens.

But i wouldn't be suprised if we did do what you suggested, as this is the sort of thing the FFC do. You wouldn't see Cook, Macca and Parker brought in if they were at WC or Essendon though.

 

[Plugga]

IN: Cook (get him to 150)
Headland (appears his hamstring was a conspiracy)
Dodd (if fit)

OUT: MCarr (good time for a week off to rest his groin, back week after)
Schammer
Mundy or Thornton

 

[dominguez]

Fine sunny day forecast for Sunday, conditions better suited to Ibbo or Foster than Cook IMO.

 

[summerthebat]

Totally agree with everthing you said , some posters on this board are downright, pathetic and dis-respectful. I'm looking at you batman.

FFS we had a great win, how about we lay off insulting our players, having an opinion over their skill, ability or general crappiness is one thing, but petty name calling and personal abuse is not on.

He was a prick to me when I was 18 and working in a bar when the Dockers came through on their 'mad monday' drinks.

I can call him what I like.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

Out: Thornton
In: Headland?? (If fit), if not, one of Foster or Drum.

Our last three losses to the Bombers have come on the back of blokes like Lovett, Lovett-Murray, Alwyn Davey and Leroy Jetta absolutely flogging us in the speed stakes.

On the other hand, our last few wins have come from us monstering them up forward. If we can neutralise their run, I don't think their backline will be able to cope with Pavlich/Tarrant/Murphy/Farmer and Solomon/Warnock/Gilmore/Schammer/Haselby/Bell all rotating through.

As much as I'd like Cookie to get his 150 games, I just can't see a spot for him in the side. Who do we drop to fit him in?

 

[FREO81]

Q; Who was Thornton's opponent?

A; Emberley.

Some posters need a little perspective and not just hold on to preconceived ideas about players.

Answer: Staker. did you watch the game

 

[Ripper]

Answer: Staker. did you watch the game

He spent time on both. Both had little impact (Staker more then Embley)

Scottys rebound work was first class and had as much to do with putting them on the back foot as anyone.

 

[Kenny_01]

No chance of Thornton being dropped...

only players that have a chance of being dropped are Macca, Murphs and Scham. Maybe M Carr due to hernia.

i'd like to see Murphs and Scham stay in though. Give M Carr a week off

in- Dodd, Headland
Out- McManus, M Carr (hernia)

Dodd takes M Carrs tagging role and Headland takes Macca's role.

 

[summerthebat]

He spent time on both. Both had little impact (Staker more then Embley)

Scottys rebound work was first class and had as much to do with putting them on the back foot as anyone.

I can not understand why he was rated 4/10 in the west.

When I re-watched the tape I was looking out for any reason he could have been considered 'bad' on the day.

He was involved with two turnovers, one was because Peake dropped his hand pass albeit in a pressure situation, the other was when he received a hand pass with 3 Eagles around him. Other than that, his runs were potent and much more effective than a risky kick from the half back line into the midfield.

Hopefully he keeps that role for this weeks game with Dodd to play more defensive, allowing Johnson and Hayden to push further up field to receive Thornton's handball for the all important inside 50.

 

[DOCKER MAN]

In: Foster
Dodd

Out: M Carr (has been playing with a double hearnia and has been getting injected every quater i have heard, he should not be playing although he did play well last week, if sandi can't play with one how can M Carr)
Shammer

I don't know why some of you have Murphy and Thorton in your outs they both had good games. Thorton had a few bad decissions but had a generally a very good game i thought, Murphy just had a 1 in a million bad day in front of the sticks.

 

[dominguez]

Scottys rebound work was first class and had as much to do with putting them on the back foot as anyone.

His run and carry is great, and he usually runs through the corridor which is fantastic. But he's really suspect in the air. There's a couple of times each game where he pays too much attention to his man instead of killing the ball. It's not that he's soft, he panics. Dodd does the same thing at times, but his defensive career is in it's infancy. If you watch the tape again watch Thornton in the marking contest where he gives away the 50, he just looks lost.

I still don't like having four defenders who are extremely vulnerable one on one inside 50 (Johnson, Mundy, Black and Thornton). We need to find another Parker, a defender who you won't notice because he doesn't get the ball, but neither does his direct opponent.

 

[E Shed]

No chance of Thornton being dropped...

only players that have a chance of being dropped are Macca, Murphs and Scham. Maybe M Carr due to hernia.

i'd like to see Murphs and Scham stay in though. Give M Carr a week off

in- Dodd, Headland
Out- McManus, M Carr (hernia)

Dodd takes M Carrs tagging role and Headland takes Macca's role.

Yeah that works.

 

[Vintage]

Murphy just had a 1 in a million bad day in front of the sticks.

Yeah, that banana from the boundary line in the first was a shocker.

 

[peppy la pew]

He was a prick to me when I was 18 and working in a bar when the Dockers came through on their 'mad monday' drinks.

I can call him what I like.

From what i've been told you deserved it, now harden the **** up !!