Changes vs Geelong.

[TheClokes]

B: Maxwell - Presigiacomo - Goldsack
HB: Shaw - Reid - O'Brien
C: Johnson - Swan - D. Thomas
HF: Didak - Cloke - Beams
F: Davis - Dawes - Macaffer
FL: Jolly - Pendlebury - Ball
INT: Sidebottom - Blair - Toovey - L. Brown​

 

[iGNITER]

Awesome side, that.

I thought so too.

 

[Snag Breac]

Im thinking the same as most others with the changes.

INS: Presti, Shaw
OUTS: N.Brown, Blair


B - Maxwell Presti Toovey
HB - O'Brien Reid Goldsack
C - Thomas Swan Shaw
HF - Didak Cloke Beams
F - Davis Dawes Macaffer
R - Jolly Pendlebury Ball
INT - Wellingham Sidebottom Johnson L.Brown

If Wellinghams knee doesnt pull up and he isnt 100% then Blair keeps his spot or potentially Medhurst gets a recall.

This^^^. We have to bring Medhurst back soon. He'll be starving for goal-glory.

 

[cfx_1]

Out: N. Brown, Blair

Ins: Presti, Heater

Blair has been great. His only blight is his ability to match it for 4 quarters. Obviously isn't there yet but will be and we need a full 4 quarters from everyone this week.

MaCaffer and Medhurst...... MaCaffer will retain his spot purely to be a defensive forward on enright... Which has been rather effective the last few weeks against Geelong. I don't feel Medhurst will be as effective in that role though his time is coming.

As for match-ups (if everyone lines up like they do on paper)

Harry V Johnson
BJ V Ablett
Swan V Bartel
Pendles V Ling
Didak V Mackie???
Ball V Selwood
MaCaffer V Enright
Goldsack V Chapman
Thomas V Kelly
Presti V Mooney/Pods*
Reid V Pods/Pods*
Maxwell V Hawkins

*Depending on who plays deeper, Presti should be the deepest.

 

[Bay Pie]

Out: N. Brown, Blair

Ins: Presti, Heater

Blair very stiff. He goes in very hard the little fella. If Wellers doesn't come up Wellers out & Blair stays in.

Give Medders one more week in the VFL. Not a good week to bring in a player who hasn't played at AFL level for a couple of months. Medders may take a game to get back into sync.

Bring him back against the Bombers.

 

[Football God]

Thoughts on matchup for Ablett - Ben Johnson?
Ablett has been spending plenty of time up forward, Johnno has been spending time down back and can run through the middle with him as required...

I'd like to see Dale and BJ rotate on him again, see how much we have improved on them.

Las week Ablett moved to forward pocket, be interesting if he makes this move against a quality opposition. I wonder who would move on to him if he does this.. ? Reid?

 

[Optimax]

I'd like to see Dale and BJ rotate on him again, see how much we have improved on them.

Las week Ablett moved to forward pocket, be interesting if he makes this move against a quality opposition. I wonder who would move on to him if he does this.. ? Reid?

BJ follows him everywhere, ablett is more of a small leading crumbing forward and johnson can handle that. I'm not expecting roids to shut him down completely but hopefully he can hurt him the other way as well

 

[Somebody]

I reckon Sidey is a bit jaded and needs a week off - not Blair who has become important. So Medders for Sidey.
Presti for Brown jnr.
Shaw for Wello if the latter needs a week, otherwise for ??

If Wello OK, maybe save Medders for next game but he needs to get some exposure asap. In form he is our S Johnson or even better - and Johnson is bloody good going on last week alone. I'd be reluctant to trade Medders for McCafe as McCaff is a great asset forward and also a utility.

 

[Old Spice]

I reckon Sidey is a bit jaded and needs a week off - not Blair who has become important. So Medders for Sidey.
Presti for Brown jnr.
Shaw for Wello if the latter needs a week, otherwise for ??

If Wello OK, maybe save Medders for next game but he needs to get some exposure asap. In form he is our S Johnson or even better - and Johnson is bloody good going on last week alone. I'd be reluctant to trade Medders for McCafe as McCaff is a great asset forward and also a utility.

I'll give this one a tick of approval.

 

[The Magnificent Seven]

I'll give this one a tick of approval.

Fraser ended the day with 1.4 while Medhurst, who rotated through the midfield, missed three set shots in the final term.

http://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/newsfeatures/news/newsarticle/tabid/5586/newsid/99416/default.aspx

Just sayin'.

 

[Invigoration]

In: Presti, Shaw
Out: Goldsack, Blair

It won't be as popular, but for match up stakes I'd favour keeping Brown in over Goldsack. Brown plays well on Hawkins, leaves Presti and Reid to take Mooney and Jpod. Also means Maxwell can play his customary floating role rather than having to focus solely on covering one of the aforementioned tall Geelong forwards.
I don't mind the Goldsack-Johnson match up, but like I said, I'd prefer to play the three key defenders this match and Goldy is still the obvious choice to make way out of that group. I'd slot him straight back in the week after though, he has been playing well. Horses for courses won't hurt him for a week though.

Toovey slots into the backline again in place of Goldy, and takes one of the smalls on offer. Macaffer will go to Chapman again you'd suspect, needs to make sure he keeps him honest.

Hopefully Wellingham gets up, he'd be our first port of call for Ablett when he goes into the midfield, BJ the better choice if he starts forward.

Can't see any reason to bring in Medhurst at the moment tbh, if it ain't broke...

 

[mattys123]

In: Presti, Shaw
Out: N.Brown, Wellingham

I'd be shocked if Sharrod got up this week, and as good as he has been, I would rather he had a week off if their are any lingering effects of the knee injury still existing by Thursday.

Nathan Brown for Presti, easy swap.

I have a bad feeling MaCaffer might go out for Medhurst, but I really do not want to see this happen, as I would prefer a defensive minded player like the Caff, rather then Meds whose AFL senior form has been terrible this year.

No time to rest players this week unless they are genuinely struggling to get up to play, if they are over 90% fit, play them.

 

[daics_35]

Sidebottom needs a rest big time and i think we should bring in Medhurst for one last crack this season if he plays crap for the next two or three games then drop him. His lazyness has been pissing me off this season.

 

[Somebody]

Sidebottom needs a rest big time and i think we should bring in Medhurst for one last crack this season if he plays crap for the next two or three games then drop him. His lazyness has been pissing me off this season.

Word is he has been working on some deficiencies in the 2's and looking a much more complete and solid player lately. It would be enormous to have Medders in All-Oz form for the finals so here's hoping.

 

[Swooop]

Most will probably disagree, but I don't think it matters much at all who wins this game. Winner may get some psych edge, but they become the hunted come finals time, so 50/50.

We win, we likely finish top and play Dogs.

We lose, finish second and play Saints. Think not alot in it, possibly prefer Saints.

It could be worth experimenting a bit eg If Ablett plays forward, you could give BJ, Tooves, Harry, even Goldy a quarter each on him, see who looks comfortable.

They could do same on Steve J.

Disagree with those who think maybe not the week for Medders, toss him in deep end i reckon, it will better prepare him for finals, he's gotta be ready by now!

Not a result to over emote about, either way, IMHO

 

[Pie Legend]

So what's the very latest on Wellingham? Scans were being done today, would love to know how they turned out.

 

[Invigoration]

Most will probably disagree, but I don't think it matters much at all who wins this game. Winner may get some psych edge, but they become the hunted come finals time, so 50/50.

We win, we likely finish top and play Dogs.

We lose, finish second and play Saints. Think not alot in it, possibly prefer Saints.

It could be worth experimenting a bit eg If Ablett plays forward, you could give BJ, Tooves, Harry, even Goldy a quarter each on him, see who looks comfortable.

They could do same on Steve J.

Disagree with those who think maybe not the week for Medders, toss him in deep end i reckon, it will better prepare him for finals, he's gotta be ready by now!

Not a result to over emote about, either way, IMHO

While Freo remains a chance to stitch up fourth spot, finishing first still remains paramount IMO.

Even if they don't, I'd still much prefer to cop the Bulldogs at the G than St.Kilda. Bulldogs rely solely on Barry Hall to kick a winning score and he is Presti's bitch, you can pretty much rest assured he won't have an impact against us which is great to know.

St.Kilda with a fit Riewoldt are a far bigger threat to us I reckon, even if we did dismantle them only a few weeks ago.

We need to beat Geelong as well, I think you are underestimating the importance of the game and the effect it'll have on the team. We need to prove we can match it with the best, the head of steam we'd get up from a win against Geelong now would see us flying into finals as a confident team on an absolute mission.

Big game for mine, if not the biggest of the year to date.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

In: Presti, Shaw
Out: Goldsack, Blair

It won't be as popular, but for match up stakes I'd favour keeping Brown in over Goldsack. Brown plays well on Hawkins, leaves Presti and Reid to take Mooney and Jpod. Also means Maxwell can play his customary floating role rather than having to focus solely on covering one of the aforementioned tall Geelong forwards.
I don't mind the Goldsack-Johnson match up, but like I said, I'd prefer to play the three key defenders this match and Goldy is still the obvious choice to make way out of that group. I'd slot him straight back in the week after though, he has been playing well. Horses for courses won't hurt him for a week though.

Toovey slots into the backline again in place of Goldy, and takes one of the smalls on offer. Macaffer will go to Chapman again you'd suspect, needs to make sure he keeps him honest.

Hopefully Wellingham gets up, he'd be our first port of call for Ablett when he goes into the midfield, BJ the better choice if he starts forward.

Can't see any reason to bring in Medhurst at the moment tbh, if it ain't broke...

Reid played on Mooney last time and got pushed aside a bit. I am with you on this one. Last time we played the cats I was cursing the non selection of Presti, because N Brown would have been a better opponent for Mooney and Presti for Pods. Hawkins will require another tall opponent as will Ottens if he goes forward.

 

[Swooop]

While Freo remains a chance to stitch up fourth spot, finishing first still remains paramount IMO.

Big game for mine, if not the biggest of the year to date.

Well yes, def. if Freo were fourth, you'd want to be first! And looking at their draw, they could win three of the four ( Hawks at AU unlikely) whereas Dogs have two tough ones ( cats, and swans who'll be at home)

I'd possibly conceded Freo wouldn't be fourth, but they certainly still could.

Saints don't seem to be the same side with Fisher, Gilbert, Blake tagged, and whilst not underestimating them, still think i'd prefer them than a confident Dogs in a final on current form

 

[pies_1981]

In: Presti, Shaw
Out: N.Brown, Wellingham
.

Yep I'd go with those changes also. If Wellers isn't 100% there is no need to risk it. If he is right to go though maybe Sidey could come out for a rest instead.

 

[1eye]

Reid played on Mooney last time and got pushed aside a bit. I am with you on this one. Last time we played the cats I was cursing the non selection of Presti, because N Brown would have been a better opponent for Mooney and Presti for Pods. Hawkins will require another tall opponent as will Ottens if he goes forward.

This might still happen, saving presti with a potential Geelong matchup in the finals.

 

[Smoky]

Medhurst has had a few good week in the VFL, from what I've read. MM will prob want to give him a chance to prove himself, this might be the week.

Maybe he could come in for Wellers if the knee doesn't come good.

Presti and Shaw will be back for Brown and Blair.

Rest Wellers, drop Nathan Brown... In steps Presti and Heater on the wing... The witch stays... he's earned it.

Medhurst needs to absolutely kill them in the VFL to get his spot back. P.S guys we're on top of the ladder, we don't just drop players to make way for someone who was in All Australian form 2 years ago. Has played well in the VFL - but we need him to be absolutely grovelling for a spot, desperate for a finals berth... Enter the X Factor late August. (Remember he played every game at Freo for the whole year and was dropped for their only final and traded on 99 games for the club! Keep him hungry and give him a last minute shot if he has earnt a spot in the best team in the league.

 

[3066]

Presti in for Brown.

Shaw in for ???? I dunno.

No way I'd drop Goldy or Blair. Blair has really been outstanding and really to have a 2nd hard nut along side Bally goes a long way specially against a side like the Cats. The difference though Blair is really a good kick in up spotting targets.

Goldy is in great form. Just a silly idea to entertain the fact he would be dropped.

It's a great problem to have huh?

 

[daics_35]

Word is he has been working on some deficiencies in the 2's and looking a much more complete and solid player lately. It would be enormous to have Medders in All-Oz form for the finals so here's hoping.

If he is at his best for the finals and everyone else is playing like they are atm, we will be flag certanties.

 

[Invigoration]

Well yes, def. if Freo were fourth, you'd want to be first! And looking at their draw, they could win three of the four ( Hawks at AU unlikely) whereas Dogs have two tough ones ( cats, and swans who'll be at home)

I'd possibly conceded Freo wouldn't be fourth, but they certainly still could.

Saints don't seem to be the same side with Fisher, Gilbert, Blake tagged, and whilst not underestimating them, still think i'd prefer them than a confident Dogs in a final on current form

Yep, I agree the Saints look a lot more vulnerable than they did 2-3 months back, but I'm not prepared to write them off after a poor month of footy. Their finals aspirations all depend on Riewoldt and re-establishing some team cohesion with him again I reckon.

It was only a few weeks ago everyone was saying Dogs were just making up the numbers, the Aker thing would derail their campaign and their window was closing.
It's chopping and changing pretty frequently up the top end.

Be an absolute dream if Freo stitched up fourth and we knocked off the Cats and sealed top spot though, like you said, Doggies have a tough run home so it's still feasible.