Changes vs Geelong

[finbarr]

Who replaces him though?

His career output in almost every category is better than Monfries and he is also more versatile than Monfries.

I also like Grays speed and hunger for the contest and is averaging 7 contested possessions per game.

I think Monfries is a better option, especially now he seems to be covering much more ground up the field, and I personally don't believe he is more versatile than Gus. His stronger body and guile would be of far more value against a team like the cats.
Barring that, Eddy or even Howard in our forward line right now would suit me.

 

[philthy05]

Respect your opinion, but I'd like to know how you arrived at your conclusion that "Sam Gray is developing into a very solid AFL footballer".
Since debuting in 2014 his game hasn't developed at all. He's exactly the same footballer now as he was then. An undersized, small forward/mid who doesn't crumb but tries hard and applies the occasional tackle or does the occasional good bit of play. He's added no new tricks, no strings to his bow, still burns it, and still struggles getting any penetration in his kick. In short, he's reached his ceiling and doesn't seem to have a defined role in the side.

Spot on. Of all the players on our list I feel like sammys ceiling is the most clear and defined at this point. What is he 25/26 now? I would be so much more willing to give his spot to guys like palmer Amon ah chee whose ceiling we really don't know. At the moment he is filling role for us and playing to a standard but it's not a high standard to be honest.

 

[simmo_bc]

I think Monfries is a better option, especially now he seems to be covering much more ground up the field, and I personally don't believe he is more versatile than Gus. His stronger body and guile would be of far more value against a team like the cats.
Barring that, Eddy or even Howard in our forward line right now would suit me.

Monfries needs more time yet, he was in and out of the side towards the end of 2015 and the club thought long and hard about his contract.

At the end of the day, I'll back the selection committee in whichever way they want to go. A year off may have done Gus the world of good.

 

[glitch01]

I'd be just about willing to bet Sam Gray won't get dropped.
As much as he gets remembered for missing goals I think a lot of people are forgetting a lot of the link-up play he gets involved in.
His disposal has improved.
I get that we have more highly skilled players in reserves but none of them have been consistent enough to push for selection.
I think eventually Monfries will push him out but 2 or 3 good games after 2 years out probably means the coaches want him to play a couple more SANFL games first.



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[Pedro59]

I'd be just about willing to bet Sam Gray won't get dropped.
As much as he gets remembered for missing goals I think a lot of people are forgetting a lot of the link-up play he gets involved in.
His disposal has improved.
I get that we have more highly skilled players in reserves but none of them have been consistent enough to push for selection.
I think eventually Monfries will push him out but 2 or 3 good games after 2 years out probably means the coaches want him to play a couple more SANFL games first.



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This is my take too

I am a Gus Fan but iis Sam's link up play in tight in our current system better than what Gus could do?

Whereas Sam is a ball magnet Gus could go missing in play?

What's Sammy's field kicking like and is it compensated by his handballs etc

I would have thought Young and Gus were competing for the same spot

 

[Rogue Robot]

out Sam gray because he can't hit a goal ffs
/s

 

[Power Raid]

To win this we have to be substantially better than against the Suns.

We need to consider playing players in their best positions.

This is a concern when a coach doesn't or can't do this.

 

[MALTSY]

To win this we have to be substantially better than against the Suns.

We need to consider playing players in their best positions.

This is a concern when a coach doesn't or can't do this.

If we bring the same intensity but improve our disposal efficiency then we should be confident of our chances. I dont see many positional problems.
Perhaps Sam Gray..but his performances have slightly improved over last fortnight. Id be keen to check out Palmer (or Houston) playing on the half forward line.

 

[Magus]

If Sam was desperately needed in the midfield then he keeps his spot.

Fact is that Ken has asked him to play more forward this year (after previously admitting that he is NOT a forward) so I don't really have any resentment towards Sam for his output

However we do have better options/options that are yet to be explored. I wonder if Brett Eddy will receive the same amount of opportunities.

 

[Adz2332]

Gray and gray
Monfries and the better out of dougs or eddy

 

[Seanybruz]

Monfries has been great for our club but I think we are sacrificing the future by playing him in the AFL, I'd rather see him taking a quasi development role in the SANFL with the likes of AJ, Palmer et al. I don't think he is good enough to make a material difference to our side.

Happy to be proven wrong, just my thoughts.

I'm more for the here & the now whilst we're a shot at the premiership this year, we don't necessarily need to be on the full bore development path. If Gus was included to even somewhat negate Yeo against West Coast we'd be top of the ladder right now.

It's not like we aren't getting games into the future of the club Impey, Johnson, Amon, Houston, SPP & DBJ are all 21 & under, plus we've had numerous youngsters on the emergency list very close to selection which bodes well for our depth.

 

[simmo_bc]

If we bring the same intensity but improve our disposal efficiency then we should be confident of our chances. I dont see many positional problems.
Perhaps Sam Gray..but his performances have slightly improved over last fortnight. Id be keen to check out Palmer (or Houston) playing on the half forward line.

Give Palmer another crack, he showed some good signs last year.

I am hoping AJ gets another go soon, he is a forward defensive animal not to mention he is the quickest at our club if not the whole AFL.

 

[scottjr]

Give Palmer another crack, he showed some good signs last year.

I am hoping AJ gets another go soon, he is a forward defensive animal not to mention he is the quickest at our club if not the whole AFL.

Palmer is another one as well. The club seems to really rate. Robbie whilst being managed is just a player. We have depth we really need an excuse to find game time for. If Robbie needs a break his injury could get found out against Geelong as he was a couple of weeks ago.

 

[simmo_bc]

If Robbie needs a rest, what is a reasonable time for a groin injury? I've never done one.

It must be Osteitis Pubis (remember when they was the buzz injury a few years back?!)

 

[Peck]

There is zero chance Robbie Gray will be rested IMO.

He is playing a completely different role to what he was last year, it would be expected that his form will fluctuate.

 

[ClickBOOM1870]

Robbie may not be 100% but hes still coming 12th in the Coleman and only 8 goals off the pace #gun

 

[Doctor Feel]

I don't think it's worth talking about changes until we see the SANFL game this week.

 

[yepits2020]

If Sam was desperately needed in the midfield then he keeps his spot.

Fact is that Ken has asked him to play more forward this year (after previously admitting that he is NOT a forward) so I don't really have any resentment towards Sam for his output

However we do have better options/options that are yet to be explored. I wonder if Brett Eddy will receive the same amount of opportunities.

While I think Eddy will become a regular, probably next year, Sammy Gray would get to far more contests than Eddy would.
We should be looking for better options all over the ground, but I think Sammy is in our best 22. He is actually improving each game, so I would continue with him.

 

[manureid]

Want to see Palmer again at the level. Sgary out i am afraid.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Only changes should be for injury, or a specific match up the coaches want or somebody does something extraordinary for the Magpies on Saturday eg Eddy kicks 12 or a midfielder gets 48 disposals and knocks the door down of the selection committee room .

 

[PAFC66]

out Sam gray because he can't hit a goal ffs
/s

He kicked one last week?

 

[Rogue Robot]

He kicked one last week?

I think you missed the sarcasm (/s)

 

[Kingfish73]

While I think Eddy will become a regular, probably next year, Sammy Gray would get to far more contests than Eddy would.
We should be looking for better options all over the ground, but I think Sammy is in our best 22. He is actually improving each game, so I would continue with him.

I am starting to turn around on the need for both Impey and Sam to put that massive pressure on defenders to lock the ball in. Their manic pressure is creating turn overs and one the reason we are locking the ball in our forward lines. We just need to be realistic on their roles and others. We need to better use our elite kickers to pin point targets in a congested forward line.

 

[MrPortAdelaide]

this game is season defining, if we win you can say with a bit of confidence we are top 6 material but if we lose then you can say with a bit of confidence we are just making up the numbers. Geelong are an ok team that should come undone against a well drilled, consistent outfit

 

[OneGreatClub]

this game is season defining, if we win you can say with a bit of confidence we are top 6 material but if we lose then you can say with a bit of confidence we are just making up the numbers. Geelong are an ok team that should come undone against a well drilled, consistent outfit

The only 2 things concerning me about this game are that it's on their home turf, a tough assignment for any team, and that they've lost 3 on the trot. They'll come out fire and brimstone but we sure owe them one. Plus they'll be rubbing in the anniversary year of the 119. Hey imagine the media headlines and buildup if we were to play them off in a GF.