Unofficial Preview Changes vs GWS

[Go Woods]

In West, Moore (fingers crossed)
Out McStay, Buller.

Buller needs to play VFL for a decent block.

Forward mix.
HF Schulz Membrey McCreery
F Elliot West De Goey.

 

[stormskye]

In West, Moore (fingers crossed)
Out McStay, Buller.

Buller needs to play VFL for a decent block.

Forward mix.
HF Schulz Membrey McCreery
F Elliot West De Goey.

Who’s second ruck?

 

[foreigner]

West has to play. Take your pick which key forward he replaces. Membrey is the most like for like, but he's also the best of a miserable bunch.

Hopefully HH can replace Allan or Lipinski soon.

Changes don't matter though. Unless we adapt and start playing with dare, it'll be a long season.

Indeed. This is the type of play Fly called "boring" when he first came in. Now we play a boring chip mark type of play with interest. No dare at all. Quite boring to watch. Bring back those glory days of 22/23.

 

[Go Woods]

Who’s second ruck?

Moore can take ruck duties in the defensive half and give DC a chop out at the centre square.

 

[foreigner]

You look around the competition and you see a stack of young players being selected …and there no way they are all “ready”

Here, I get the feeling we don’t respect them as much to have the balls to pick them.

It’s something Fly is going to need to get his head around real fast whilst he still has his hands on the wheel and before we become a train wreck.

There’s easily a case to be made that we can fit in another 2-3 young players at the. Expense of some senior guys and you wouldn’t even see a difference that’s negative.

West and Hayes in a forwards line crying out for fresh blood in the air and at ground level for starters

Well said

 

[Cory]

Yep, agree Dave. Just close your eyes and think of a happy place.

Place full of pregnant teenagers?

 

[FromTheBoundaryLine]

If we are going to kick it to the “hotspot” on slow entries why can’t we move the hotspot to say 30-35 metre out. Position our tall forwards there then we have the option to kick it straight over there heads if we want. Have a couple of small lurking behind. More space to go to work all round.

Also if the idea is get it to ground why don’t player use less predictable kicks like punts, mongrel punts, torps and grubbers even?

If ya going to disrupt a system, say a defensive system, you have to throw something strange at it from time to time.

Need some strange attractors going forward . Basic systems theory.

 

[nahnah]

De Geoy from the square. Bring in West for Membrey who provides nothing. McStay to the backline. One more chance for Buller to fire a shot. Not sure how to fix the CBA's other than keep Long out of there and maybe try Perryman instead.

 

[Unknown Identity]

Push McStay back and play Moore forward if he can return.

We need an aerial threat.

West probs In for either Membrey or Buller.

Ed Allan already on notice.

 

[Johno9911]

Out: Membrey, Buller, Allan
In: West, Steene, Moore

For mine we have to commit with Mcstay at least a bit longer - maybe having to lead 2 youngster will give him the spark or "kick in the ass" he needs. Buller seems all at sea, needs to find some touch in the 2's and as much as I am huge fan of Skunk I think we need to be fast tracking Westie in to this side. I think Steene right now will give us as much as Buller is - and from what I saw over preseason is a significant upgrade in the ruck department, which given how bad we were at stoppage Saturday night might be the boost we need.

Ed is such a headscratcher tbh - has all the tools, tall and strong, has run and a turn of speed, but just doesn't do enough with it. You get a glimpse here and there - but that's all it equates too, I pray it finally "twigs" for him but with every passing game that hope is dwindling

Roll in with:
Quaynor Frampton Maynard
Houston Moore JDaicos

Cameron NDaicos DeGoey
Sidebottom Long Steele

Schultz West Lipinski
Elliott McStay McCreery

Pendlebury, Parker, Perryman, Crisp, Steene

The personal aside - the flakiness of our pressure and offensive running is mind boggling. How can it go from non existent, to electric and unstoppable, and then back to non existent just as quick? Is it a mental thing - as in we just assume it'll happen and it's not until we're 3-4 goals down we actually switch on? Or is it a game style thing where we try and conserve that until we really need it? All I know is when our pressure is up and we're running hard, chaining by hand we look like absolute world beaters - and we need to see it more than for a flash of a couple minutes when we're already in a hole...

 

[Footy Sheila]

Our 27 years and younger team

FB Parker (23) Cochran (19) Q* (26)
HB Daicos * (27).McInnes (23).Perryman * (27)
W Allan (21) Daicos * (23) Steele (24)
HF Harrison (22) Buller (24) Lippa * (27)
F Hayes (19) West (20) Saxena (18)
R Steene (22) McCreery* (24) Long * (23)
Int. Anderson (22) Prindable , Tew (21), Ryan (21), maybe Hill if ever he plays again * (26)

* automatic selections when fit

I would start rotating some of the younger ones
(2-3 games in a row). If things get ugly by the middle of the season, I would give most of the abovementioned a go.

v Giants

1. West for McStay
2. Cochran (if Moore or Howe unavailable)
3. McInness and/or Harrison (might be tricky to bring back two ACL recovery players the same week), so maybe Harrison for Pendles
4. Hayes for Membrey - we need to try a different forward setup

I think we were very unlucky to lose Harrison and McInness for an entire season. Who knows how they would have developed with a full season under their belts. v Giants at the MCG might be a good game for one or the other to come in.

 

[LuckyLee]

Would bringing in two of West, Steene & Hayes as replacements for two of McStay, Membrey & Buller really make us any worse? Why not give it a go? Hopefully one of them will grab the opportunity and never look back.

If we’re gonna lose, let’s at least lose whilst boldly trying something different.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

In West Steene Cochran
Out Membrey Buller Pendlebury

Suspect Moore won’t be back yet so just a question of whether or not Cochrane gets a call up or a mid replaces Pendles

 

[LuckyLee]

In West Steene Cochran
Out Membrey Buller Pendlebury

Suspect Moore won’t be back yet so just a question of whether or not Cochrane gets a call up or a mid replaces Pendles

I think Pendles will get off on exemplary record grounds.

 

[Eric Shin]

It's going to be a long couple of weeks

 

[Vicky Park]

It's going to be a long couple of weeks

It sure is. Starting to think it could be a long season too.

Very frustrating to have no VFL form to rely on, but hoping that Harrison and/or Hayes could add some zip to our forward line. And then of course there’s West.

Think the coaches might be reluctant to make too much change for the next game, but to ease these guys in over the next several games.

I typically expect us to win most of our games, and under Fly we have. But what I saw on Saturday night - despite the relatively low losing margin - has made me despondent. If we continue like this in ‘26, those wanting to see more kids will get their wish. Because we won’t be playing finals.

 

[Abdul_The_Bull]

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

 

[TW Sherrin]

It sure is. Starting to think it could be a long season too.

Very frustrating to have no VFL form to rely on, but hoping that Harrison and/or Hayes could add some zip to our forward line. And then of course there’s West.

Think the coaches might be reluctant to make too much change for the next game, but to ease these guys in over the next several games.

I typically expect us to win most of our games, and under Fly we have. But what I saw on Saturday night - despite the relatively low losing margin - has made me despondent. If we continue like this in ‘26, those wanting to see more kids will get their wish. Because we won’t be playing finals.

I think a couple changes will open things up.

Playing 3 slow tall forwards doesn't work. It didn't work last year and with the new last touch rules it will work less this year.

Either Membrey or McStay has to go and revert to an Elliott / Degoey type forward focus. Hope West or Howe can get some goals in the vfl as well.


Moore and Howe will also improve the defence.

 

[lyfsux]

Out: Pendles (suspended)

Now that looks just weird

 

[granniewolf]

in West, Hayes, Steene

Out McStay, Allan, Pendles

 

[No SPIN]

Would bringing in two of West, Steene & Hayes as replacements for two of McStay, Membrey & Buller really make us any worse? Why not give it a go? Hopefully one of them will grab the opportunity and never look back.

If we’re gonna lose, let’s at least lose whilst boldly trying something different.

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.

 

[Gaben]

McStay can finish his career at Collingwood on 200-games, be happy to never see him again. Gotta be close to the most underwhelming 200-game career in history, right?

Play Steene, we clearly aren't a threat this year so we need to put some time into blokes like West and Steene and re-group for 2027 with Butters and King.

 

[gouki88]

McStay can finish his career at Collingwood on 200-games, be happy to never see him again. Gotta be close to the most underwhelming 200-game career in history, right?

Play Steene, we clearly aren't a threat this year so we need to put some time into blokes like West and Steene and re-group for 2027 with Butters and King.

McStay is in that Lachie Henderson category of bloke who is big and decently athletic but just never quite puts it together. Both somehow 200+ game players. At least Henderson had the decency to go into defence

 

[UltraEgo]

Our 27 years and younger team

FB Parker (23) Cochran (19) Q* (26)
HB Daicos * (27).McInnes (23).Perryman * (27)
W Allan (21) Daicos * (23) Steele (24)
HF Harrison (22) Buller (24) Lippa * (27)
F Hayes (19) West (20) Saxena (18)
R Steene (22) McCreery* (24) Long * (23)
Int. Anderson (22) Prindable , Tew (21), Ryan (21), maybe Hill if ever he plays again * (26)

* automatic selections when fit

I would start rotating some of the younger ones
(2-3 games in a row). If things get ugly by the middle of the season, I would give most of the abovementioned a go.

v Giants

1. West for McStay
2. Cochran (if Moore or Howe unavailable)
3. McInness and/or Harrison (might be tricky to bring back two ACL recovery players the same week), so maybe Harrison for Pendles
4. Hayes for Membrey - we need to try a different forward setup

I think we were very unlucky to lose Harrison and McInness for an entire season. Who knows how they would have developed with a full season under their belts. v Giants at the MCG might be a good game for one or the other to come in.

I'd have Swadling in ahead of Ryan personally

 

[granniewolf]

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.