Unofficial Preview Changes vs GWS

[gouki88]

It's Joel Cochran's 20th birthday on March 28.
I wonder if he might get an early birthday prezzie by being selected for GWS game.

It's unfortunate that the VFL schedule hasn't allowed for too much exposure going into the Giants game. Would have liked a couple of looks at several young ones

 

[HFF]

I pray they balance the team out.

Need to pick 2 more speedy half forwards/ small forwards and drop 2 guys that are basically clones of others we already have in in the team.

Crisp to play off half back rotations on ball as we need someone to run from behind as having Houston and Jaicos as just kickers doesn’t work.
Quaynor needs to run and use that speed more off half back too.

Jaicos full time on ball and moved out.

two current midfielders need to make way for pure small forwards…

West should also be playing ahead of Membrey for mine —body is cooked

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I think Pendles will get off on exemplary record grounds.

Would love to see him get off

Then we rest him anyway!

 

[Mollythedolly]

He was good defensively but still turned the ball over, missed simple hand passes and offered nothing offensively against the saints.

Parker’s I50 pass against the Saints was pinpoint.

 

[Mollythedolly]

Would love to see him get off

Then we rest him anyway!

Should get off because the Crows player ran past the footy.

 

[LuckyLee]

We need to build cohesion in our forward line - dropping all 3 forwards after just 2 games takes us backwards in this pursuit. These changes are not a longterm solution and are an unproductive diversion.
Membrey for West would be consistent with building a long forward structure but not the others as alternatives for Buller and McStay.

I suggested two changes, not three.

 

[timokane]

Out: McStay Membrey Allan
In: Moore Howe West Harrison Steene
Time to play kids now Pies times come.
Out with the old types like McStay and Membrey as well.
Time to move on from selecting the same tired old team week to week.
Shake things up.
This is shaping as a must win for the Pies.
Need a win to keep a brest in the top part of the ladder.
Loss here and a case of a slide is upon us.
Makes it hard as Lions and Freo are next 2 games as well.
Both away at gabba and ao.
At Marvel v gws as well should have been at the MCG this game.

 

[Thinking Magpie]

It's Joel Cochran's 20th birthday on March 28.
I wonder if he might get an early birthday prezzie by being selected for GWS game.

Hopefully you are right...

Interestingly, we are scheduled to play at MARVEL against GWS with NO...!!!!! games planned for the MCG on either Friday night or Saturday. Carl V Melb on Sunday at the G.

There are two games scheduled for Marvel on Saturday. (early afternoon and evening game - go figure...)

Since the AFL owns, Marvel, this would be an easy switch for the PIES game and get more than 40k that will be the approx crowd at Marvel...

Just a thought..;-)

 

[Stripes B and W]

Difficult to see Cochrane being selected v Giants when he missed out with no Howe and Moore v the Crows and at least one expected to return when we next play. Going in with one tall KPD and not selecting him does say a little about Where Fly has him at the present.
No chance to show any improvement in a VFL game doesn't help him either.

 

[peter9789]

Reflecting on the loss to Adelaide, we weren’t that far off them. We need to tidy up our forward entries, and fix some of the scoring problems.

I can’t see wholesale changes that some are calling for, as much due to the lack of exposed form due to not having any VFL games.

Ins: Moore, Anderson

Outs: Allan, Membrey.

I would love to have included west and steene but just too risky this time of year. Allan was awful 2 weeks in a row and we can’t carry him, and to me Membrey looks to have played a year too long. The 3 talls have not worked so feel we are better going with a smaller more dynamic front half.

Buller we just need to persist with for now, but hasn’t shown a lot so far. At some point DC may need some support so the club needs to figure this out with Steene the obvious candidate.

 

[timokane]

yes for this year mini rebuild then time to launch again in 2027 and 2028.
Got to start blooding youth now.
Lean times now.
Got the Pies in there in 9th or 10th and make wildcard and thats about it for 2026.
Take stock of what the list is then make the needed changes at seasons end.
Raft of changes expected at the Pies.
Then embark on getting back in the flag mix come 2028.
Level out first then come again.
Not expecting anything in 2026.
Make wildcard is a pass for the Pies in 2026.

 

[No SPIN]

I suggested two changes, not three.

Sorry I misread you post

 

[tmpies01]

Difficult to see Cochrane being selected v Giants when he missed out with no Howe and Moore v the Crows and at least one expected to return when we next play. Going in with one tall KPD and not selecting him does say a little about Where Fly has him at the present.
No chance to show any improvement in a VFL game doesn't help him either.

I feel like we get too cocky with our defence. The lack of height back there was so obvious. Playing Cochran wouldn’t have hurt and I hope the coaches realise that.

GWS have quite a few talls. Not sure if going with Frampton and a 35yo Howe coming off a million soft tissues is a great idea.
(I’m unsure on Moore returning).

Again I’d rather lose while playing some youth.

 

[foreigner]

This may be unpopular and I may get shot down. I think we have lost the spark in this team. We don't have players who will play with flair and dare like Ginni or Bobby to give that spark.

We have very similar players who doesn't provide that spark. On top of that, the coaches and selection panel have been very conservative with minimal risk taking. We play with the same lack of dare or risk taking.

Remember 22/23, when we had the spark, the dare and risk taking even when we lost - we were a fun team to watch. Somewhere since the premiership we have lost all that.

 

[HFF]

This may be unpopular and I may get shot down. I think we have lost the spark in this team. We don't have players who will play with flair and dare like Ginni or Bobby to give that spark.

We have very similar players who doesn't provide that spark. On top of that, the coaches and selection panel have been very conservative with minimal risk taking. We play with the same lack of dare or risk taking.

Remember 22/23, when we had the spark, the dare and risk taking even when we lost - we were a fun team to watch. Somewhere since the premiership we have lost all that.

100%.

This is why we are two small forwards out of balance for me to provide something different.

To a man our players looks very similar in profile.
Only a handful of them have something different in terms of power or speed.

This is why we look pedestrian and there’s no spark or energy.

Hill was an obvious one but with him out we are picking similar types already in the team a pigeon holing them to play roles that require a completely different skillset.

We aren’t maximising the weapons of some our best players anymore and we are filling up spots with workman like players and too many of them at that.

 

[Piesinmyeyes]

I don't understand the calls to drop Parker. He has acquitted himself very well, particularly considering the absence of Moore and Howe. He is doing his job (playing his role, if you will) quite well. However, he will probably be the one dropped for Moore and/or Howe given his position.
Buller showed a lot more this week and given his general lack of experience at AFL level and in our system, he is worth persisting with.
Membrey was disappoiting this week but typically he adds value and structure.
McStay could not have played worse if he tried. He is the one that gets dropped for mine. I would bring in West and let Membrey mentor and support him on field.
Ed Allen showed one moment of potential in the Crows game but that only served to disappoint me even more. He solidified he has the talent which meeans he doesn't have the attitude to contribute to his fullest. He'll be the first to go.

In: Moore, Howe, West
Out: Pendles (suspended), Allen, McStay

Can we maybe try and rewire McStay as a CHB?
Few weeks in the 2s?
Or would he not comply?
Seems like he likes the mantle of key forward, though not delivering.
If he’s too slow or leg banged up, then not sure of his value anymore.

 

[tmpies01]

This may be unpopular and I may get shot down. I think we have lost the spark in this team. We don't have players who will play with flair and dare like Ginni or Bobby to give that spark.

We have very similar players who doesn't provide that spark. On top of that, the coaches and selection panel have been very conservative with minimal risk taking. We play with the same lack of dare or risk taking.

Remember 22/23, when we had the spark, the dare and risk taking even when we lost - we were a fun team to watch. Somewhere since the premiership we have lost all that.

I actually agree with this.

Does anyone else feel like we have also lost a bit of our close game spark specifically?
So many games last year that could have gone our way but we just didn’t have it like previous years.

Our last impressive close win against a decent opposition was the Dogs in round 2 last year. You could maybe argue the Dees on Kings Birthday. That’s it really.

I’m confident but not as confident in close games anymore.

Bobby is a huge loss and I hope we can get him back at some point. Not many players can provide what he can.

 

[cfc19902010]

Hopefully you are right...

Interestingly, we are scheduled to play at MARVEL against GWS with NO...!!!!! games planned for the MCG on either Friday night or Saturday. Carl V Melb on Sunday at the G.

There are two games scheduled for Marvel on Saturday. (early afternoon and evening game - go figure...)

Since the AFL owns, Marvel, this would be an easy switch for the PIES game and get more than 40k that will be the approx crowd at Marvel...

Just a thought..;-)

They wont do that.. its too logical

 

[No SPIN]

We aren’t maximising the weapons of some our best players anymore and we are filling up spots with workman like players and too many of them at that.

Can you elaborate?

 

[windchimes]

I actually agree with this.

Does anyone else feel like we have also lost a bit of our close game spark specifically?
So many games last year that could have gone our way but we just didn’t have it like previous years.

Our last impressive close win against a decent opposition was the Dogs in round 2 last year. You could maybe argue the Dees on Kings Birthday. That’s it really.

I’m confident but not as confident in close games anymore.

Bobby is a huge loss and I hope we can get him back at some point. Not many players can provide what he can.

Honestly, I reckon our last impressive close win was the one against the Lions in late 2024.

That Dogs game last year we didn’t ever really look like losing and then the win against Dees was probably one of the most underwhelming/unflattering Pies wins I’ve watched.

I can’t really put my finger on why this particular aspect of our team has changed, but we’ve got a pretty good group of brains at the wheel so I’m sure we’ll sort it (eventually)

 

[Finnishpie]

Although he seems to be a way away, I think Howe should, if he returns to full fitness, be moved forward.

Moore and McInness can play in the backline.

 

[GreekLunatic]

Mcstay won’t get dropped play west and even Cochran

 

[LuckyLee]

100%.

This is why we are two small forwards out of balance for me to provide something different.

To a man our players looks very similar in profile.
Only a handful of them have something different in terms of power or speed.

This is why we look pedestrian and there’s no spark or energy.

Hill was an obvious one but with him out we are picking similar types already in the team a pigeon holing them to play roles that require a completely different skillset.

We aren’t maximising the weapons of some our best players anymore and we are filling up spots with workman like players and too many of them at that.

Lipinski being a guaranteed pick every week is a great illustration of your argument. I find him one of the most frustrating senior players in the side in terms of work rate, tackling pressure, hardball gets, key moments impact, etc and yet he faces little scrutiny and his spot in the team is under no pressure at all. Back in 2023 he was virtually out of the side and very lucky to scrape into the sub role for the GF. Now he’s a walk up start every week. He’s a good looking rooster though. Good for marketing I suppose.

 

[gouki88]

Lipinski being a guaranteed pick every week is a great illustration of your argument. I find him one of the most frustrating senior players in the side in terms of work rate, tackling pressure, hardball gets, key moments impact, etc and yet he faces little scrutiny and his spot in the team is under no pressure at all. Back in 2023 he was virtually out of the side and very lucky to scrape into the sub role for the GF. Now he’s a walk up start every week. He’s a good looking rooster though.

Except that isn't true. Lipinski has been in the side whenever he's been fit for 99% of his time at Collingwood. He missed games through injury and was essentially a lock in the side for the rest of the year.

'I was almost in tears': Magpie's tough road back from injury blow

Pat Lipinski has returned from another shoulder reconstruction and settled in the Magpies' side

www.afl.com.au

His work rate is clearly rated highly. He is always in position to do something. He can be frustrating, especially given he didn't maintain his career best form that he found for a moment last year, but he is far from representative of some kind of struggle

 

[Abdul_The_Bull]

Lipinski being a guaranteed pick every week is a great illustration of your argument. I find him one of the most frustrating senior players in the side in terms of work rate, tackling pressure, hardball gets, key moments impact, etc and yet he faces little scrutiny and his spot in the team is under no pressure at all. Back in 2023 he was virtually out of the side and very lucky to scrape into the sub role for the GF. Now he’s a walk up start every week. He’s a good looking rooster though. Good for marketing I suppose.

I think it was at half-time (IIRC) that Lipinski had a team high 4 tackles and 4 score assists. He is a bit of a quiet achiever and becuase he isn't a huge power like a JDG or a super-human athlete like a Naicos or a penetrating kick like a Dan H, he is underratde and a little maligned.