Opinion Changes vs Geelong

[rogerjames]

fair enough, we must accept our poor planning in the ruck area. but when you know you're going to loose the ruck, why play a slow midfield who react rather than put pressure on the opposition?

Surely you play a couple of fast centres who will run back and defend as well as tackle.

Do we have many? Our first round draft pick must be a fast skilled midfielder then hope like hell he plays R1. We must also do what Clarkson was brave enough to do and trade out a senior midfielder for a younger quicker midfielder.

 

[Jonts]

McKenzie had more rebound 50s than Riley Bonner or Hamish Hartlett.

he also let his direct opponent kick 5

 

[Schulzenfest]

In: Pittard, SPP
Out: Rocky, Houston

Amon and McKenzie should get another week in the first team.

McKenzie yes, Amon no. I’m prepared to give more leeway to a bloke playing his first game for the club than a bloke
playing his 37th.

he also let his direct opponent kick 5

No he didn’t. Unless you count Polec giving away a free to Stringer or Houston handballing straight to Stringer directly in front as ‘McKenzie letting him’ kick goals.

Clurey has been awesome for us for over a season now, calls for him to be dropped are premature.

Nah. He was awesome last season but this season he’s been very average (I’m still mad about him getting outbodied in a one-on-one by Charlie ****ing Cameron last week) and Hombsch is in good form in the SANFL. We always talk on this forum about how important it is to have good depth creating competition for spots, but that depth doesn’t work if you refuse to use it because ‘oh well, Clurey was good last year’.

Sidenote, why do our breakouts only ever seem to last one year? Ah Chee in 2015, Young in 2016, Clurey and Houston in 2017. At this rate I’m fully expecting Bonner and Marshall to be crap next year.

If Frampton isn’t even considered to be good enough in times of drastic need, like now, then the question has to be asked as to why the hell hes still on the list.

Agree completely. He got a two year contract last year and I was against it but he was the flavour of the month at the time so it slipped through without much criticism. It’s now looking like a terrible signing.

 

[rumoursofwinter]

Out.

Houston (just a kick), McKenzie (just a kick), Rocky (injured) Marshall (injured)

In.

Pittard, Hombsch, Spp, Thomas.

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

Running defender Jasper Pittard amassed 28 disposals and seven rebound-50s in his comeback from a hamstring injury at Alberton Oval on Saturday afternoon.

A dour draw saw Lindsay Thomas lead all-comers with two goals, but it was his late miss against Woodville-West Torrens that will be remembered.

The former Roo's shot from about 40m registered as a behind to level the scores.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-04-15/around-the-state-leagues-who-starred-for-your-club

 

[SureBuddy]

With Robbie playing majority midfield and Wingard playing a large chunk there too, we are lacking a genuine small forward attacking option. I wouldn’t be against finding a way to bring in Lindsay Thomas this week.

 

[Chachi]

I thought the cannons first game for us was very solid, definitely don’t see him being dropped this week.

There were far worse.
People are calling for McKenzie and Amon to be dropped but I can't see the benefit of dropping a player after one game or bringing a player back like Barry after one game out. This achieves very little and has more downside.

 

[Chachi]

That's only half the argument. Many just want to see Dixon and Howard in their normal positions where they're effective.

This is exactly right. It's the rest of the structure that is being affected by not replacing Paddy with a ruckman.
We played Lobbe when it was clear it had gone past him and my feeling is that Frampton and Hayes would beat Lobbe AND the club must believe this too otherwise why get rid of Lobbe in favour of other ruck options?

Ken won't change his mind but that's unfortunate because there has been plenty of examples when players had a lot of doubt around their ability but with the rise in level came a lift from that player - they rise to the occasion.

Unfortunately this is not even an option because Ken has publicly come out and said we don't have a ready to go ruck other than Paddy and the blokes in the 22. He'll look like dill if u turns now.
I was really disappointed he said this, it was short sighted. Ok he was getting fed up with the media asking the same question for 3 weeks in a row but how else does it help the side? It doesn't is the answer and now he's affected the confidence of Frampton and Ladhams in particular. Ken is a smart guy, no doubt about it but he's made a bad error here.

 

[GremioPower]

100% disagree. He needs to find form and he has no right to find it in the 1s. He is very slow atm and doesnt see much of the ball. No player is above playing for the Magpies. Not even our captain. Its about time we demonstrated that this club actually does have some standards re performance. Otherwise we will continue to get the same crap currently being served up. Yes we are 3-1 atm but all 4 starts have been garbage and players are playing well below their potential. Ebert is playing like a hack, Boak not much better. What happened to these players. We were supposed to build a team around them but they are very average players.

I think everyone should play at least one game for the Magpies every season.

 

[Portmanteau]

There were far worse.
People are calling for McKenzie and Amon to be dropped but I can't see the benefit of dropping a player after one game or bringing a player back like Barry after one game out. This achieves very little and has more downside.

Not trying to make a big call either way here but it seems to me based on exposed form Barry is a better proposition than Amon at the moment. He is just so much better at breaking lines with those 1/2s through the middle and seems at least able to impact contests physically which continues to be an area of weakness for Amon (not his role granted, but an outside player being able to bring the ball to ground more often than not in a contest is valuable).

 

[Schulzenfest]

Not trying to make a big call either way here but it seems to me based on exposed form Barry is a better proposition than Amon at the moment. He is just so much better at breaking lines with those 1/2s through the middle and seems at least able to impact contests physically which continues to be an area of weakness for Amon (not his role granted, but an outside player being able to bring the ball to ground more often than not in a contest is valuable).

Not to mention that he runs a lot harder and a lot quicker defensively than Amon does.

I was mildly annoyed at the Barry for Amon selection decision before the game but the more I think about the angrier it makes me. Barry is exactly the sort of player who we needed in the side for this game chasing Essendon’s speedy mids and flankers down the wing. God knows nobody else was doing it.

 

[Willsy10]

Very tough selection night coming up. Normally no side wants to make more than 3 changes but we could be forced to.

I'm leaning towards this:
Out: Clurey (omitted), Houston (omitted), Amon (omitted), Rockliff (omitted/Inj).
In: Hombsch, Pittard, SPP, Atley.

This probably won't happen, as it will be three changes max. I suspect one of the outs will survive and maybe 2 if Marshall is ruled out.

 

[Brian McGee]

Ha anyone stopped to think about the fact that ken saying Frampton isn’t ready could be about something as simple as returning from injury and not having the required fitness and strength to be competitive? He had shoulder surgery in the off season, then missed multiple games in the pre season with unnamed reasons . He could be just working his way back into fitness ready to play. And having a below fitness ruck out there, plus losing Marshall and a hobbling Rockliff would have been very hard on our players due to rotations.

 

[RossFC]

IN: SPP, Pittard, Hombsch

OUT: Rockliff (Rested), Houston (Dropped), Marshall (Concussion)

Howard probs would be forced up forward for a week with Watts, Dixon rucking, Hoff roaming, Hombsch, Clurey, Jonas and McKenzie (flanker) down back.

Bonner pushed up to the wing with Pittard in. SPP to have a bigger contribution up forward and in the middle than Rockliff would.

Would like 2 of Thomas, Neade or Barry in for Amon and McKenzie also but I reckon it's too much change.

 

[Chachi]

Not trying to make a big call either way here but it seems to me based on exposed form Barry is a better proposition than Amon at the moment. He is just so much better at breaking lines with those 1/2s through the middle and seems at least able to impact contests physically which continues to be an area of weakness for Amon (not his role granted, but an outside player being able to bring the ball to ground more often than not in a contest is valuable).

I agree with you.
The only point I was making is one game in or out isn't assisting either player. Does 1 match in the Snafl allow Barry to address the issues that got him dropped? Surely we need to see some consistency from him and 'earn' his spot back in the side. Likewise Amon wasn't terrible but still has plenty to improve on but must be given at least a couple of games before pulling a line through his name.
I think long term Barry may be the better prospect but also perhaps neither are best 22 when all are fit and firing.

 

[Chachi]

Ha anyone stopped to think about the fact that ken saying Frampton isn’t ready could be about something as simple as returning from injury and not having the required fitness and strength to be competitive? He had shoulder surgery in the off season, then missed multiple games in the pre season with unnamed reasons . He could be just working his way back into fitness ready to play. And having a below fitness ruck out there, plus losing Marshall and a hobbling Rockliff would have been very hard on our players due to rotations.

Absolutely. I'm sure if this was the case Ken would have said as much if it was too just get the media of his case.

 

[port_adelaide_1870]

We are playing one to many defenders in my opinion, when DBJ is playing a small forward role something has gone wrong. Don’t select him if you don’t have a match up. Could argue that Atley would had been a better selection than DBJ against Essendon..

 

[RossFC]

We are playing one to many defenders in my opinion, when DBJ is playing a small forward role something has gone wrong. Don’t select him if you don’t have a match up. Could argue that Atley would had been a better selection than DBJ against Essendon..

Saw Houston up forward in 2 games earlier this season too. Apparently DBJ was doing a Monfries style forward tagging role yesterday?

 

[Wargreymon90]

I actually thought dbj provided something up forward.

 

[LP7_]

I agree with you.
The only point I was making is one game in or out isn't assisting either player. Does 1 match in the Snafl allow Barry to address the issues that got him dropped? Surely we need to see some consistency from him and 'earn' his spot back in the side. Likewise Amon wasn't terrible but still has plenty to improve on but must be given at least a couple of games before pulling a line through his name.
I think long term Barry may be the better prospect but also perhaps neither are best 22 when all are fit and firing.

Was Amon’s form in the SANFL good enough to get him a call up in the first place? Average form in the SANFL, worse form in the AFL. Give Dom another crack, far, far higher ceiling.

 

[bomberclifford]

SPP, Pittard to come in.
Houston, Rockcliff to come out.


Billy Frampton is the new Johnny Butcher.
He won't get a game unless our season is done and dusted.

 

[MrPortAdelaide]

you can bet Scott is planning an ambush style game with all the injuries on his list

 

[RangaInTeal]

We are playing one to many defenders in my opinion, when DBJ is playing a small forward role something has gone wrong. Don’t select him if you don’t have a match up. Could argue that Atley would had been a better selection than DBJ against Essendon..

I liked the role change and he kicked a great crumbing goal showing some versatility. May be able to play a lock down Half Forward role in the future. I think versatility is key, along with pace, if you have a few blokes who are good at two positions you become a far harder team to compete against opposed to a vanilla team.

I don’t disagree though, we are a defender to many!

 

[Power Raid]

Do we have many? Our first round draft pick must be a fast skilled midfielder then hope like hell he plays R1. We must also do what Clarkson was brave enough to do and trade out a senior midfielder for a younger quicker midfielder.

we will need to do a clarkson with boak, broadbent, trengove, thomas and westhoff on their last legs with Ryder and Gray not far behind. We need to deliver this year through luck or next year through clever trading.

The job is made even more difficult Amon, McKenzie, Leinart, Neade, Toumpas, Irra, Frampton, Snelling, Hewitt and Drew not being AFL standard, an ageing and out of form Ebert and Rockcliff and compounded by watts, polec, motlop and wingard being so hot and cold.


If Watts takes Westhoff's role on the wing next year and Marshall takes Watt's role, our forward line will be far more structured. Our defence already looks good, when we aren't robbing them of Howard to have a makeshift ruck. So our deficiencies are a mobile ruck and pace through the middle. What to give to get this, is the challenge.

 

[Forzaport]

Assuming Marshall and Rockliff get through and are declared fit:

In: Frampton, Pittard, SPP
Out: Amon, Houston, McKenzie

Funny that. I would have given McKenzie a second week but I'd rather have a ruck this week and I'd rather DBJ, Bonner, Hartlett, Pittard in the team. I don't want to stack the defence.