Preview Changes vs Hawks round 2

[bzparkes]

Who is this directed at? If it is me, I want to be clear I certainly don't dislike Bennell. I think he is next in line as a general forward after LeCras, Cripps, and Hill. Him not being selected would not be about form but more about structure. I thought today we were way too offensively weighted and our team defence structures suffered as a consequence. Against a better team (eg Hawks) I think we may have struggled. If you play 6 forwards and have JK, Darling, LeCras, Cripps and Hill that only leaves one more spot (this also assumes Gov is playing back). You need at least one, preferably two high half forwards that can come up and impact in the middle and further down the ground as link ups. Darling and LeCras seemed to be that today. But if Jetta was playing then Jetta, Yeo or Duggan might play that role. It all gets very crowded if you also add Bennell in that list (who doesn't have the advantage of being a pinch hitting midfielder like the others).

An option might be to drop Cripps or Hill but these guys proved themselves week in, week out last year with scoreboard pressure (30-40 goals), elite forward pressure (that team defensive structure we need) and both seem to be pinch hitting as mids this year. I'm not sure the advantages of adding Bennell offset the disadvantages of losing who he displaces with Jetta coming back in, as our forward line is pretty potent regardless. It's hard because I agree he deserves a spot given his performance was pretty good today. Maybe we don't need to bring in hutch, we keep Bennell, and we see how playing an extra forward plays out?

Bennell played up the ground and was down back a few times too, no way he comes out and would be a pretty poor message to send to the team when someone performs well you drop them anyway. I see probably Nelson coming out as he didn't really do much and coughed the ball up a fair bit. Wasn't terrible by any means but if you're going to select a team on form then he'd be the obvious choice.

 

[Godfather32]

Just don't see how Jetta is a like-for-like replacement for Ellis/Nelson. Unless he's playing a much more accountable role which potentially negates his attacking value? Bennell was good but not amazing and I think he's clearly the most suitable player to drop out.

Nelson is shaping to be an important future player for us, he's shown composure and hunger for the contest and we should be pumping games into him. Worth noting as well that Ellis has been rotated on-ball, which gives you some idea of how Simmo views his versatility.

Why does he have to be a like for like replacement?
Backline of

Hurn Mackenzie Schofield
Wellingham McGovern Sheppard

looks alright to me, Jetta and some of our mids will probably rotate through there off a half back flank at times depending on matchups.

Ellis is slow and lacks polish, he's in the side for his experience and because he knows the hawks game plan. As our guys get more experienced and have picked up the gameplan there's less need for him.
Agree with you completely on Nelson, I'd have him in the side all year, I just think that he'll be the first to get dropped by the match committee.

 

[iLikeIt]

Just don't see how Jetta is a like-for-like replacement for Ellis/Nelson. Unless he's playing a much more accountable role which potentially negates his attacking value? Bennell was good but not amazing and I think he's clearly the most suitable player to drop out.

Nelson is shaping to be an important future player for us, he's shown composure and hunger for the contest and we should be pumping games into him. Worth noting as well that Ellis has been rotated on-ball, which gives you some idea of how Simmo views his versatility.

I think people are looking at it from a change from last year and not just yesterday. Yesterday we played 8 defenders (EMac, Schoey, Gov, Hurn, Sheppard, Butler, Ellis, Nelson). Last year we played 7 (inc Gov). We also played 6 forwards yesterday (JK, Darling, LeCras, Cripps, Hill, Bennell) where as last year we played 5 (-Bennell). This means yesterday we effectively played two mids down on what we played with most games last year (because we have a few injuries to mids obviously), plus we also didn't have our running half back (Wellers).

Jetta adds one mid back and has to surely replace a defender or a forward. Hutchings is probably the only other option to bring in as a mid if we decide to structure the same as last year, again at the expense of a forward or a mid you'd think. Otherwise we are playing guys we played primarily as forwards/defenders as mids (we did yesterday).

 

[Godfather32]

And how did that go in the grand final? You can't go with the same system and expect a different result

Don't be ridiculous, our lack of Bennell in the forward line wouldn't have changed the result of the grand final one bit. We got smashed in the middle, our backline was under the pump for the whole game and our key forwards didn't perform. We had about 2 players who played well for the whole game, Bennell would have just been another player out of his depth.

 

[Farang83150]

Jettas gotta be an in so we can watch Rioli trying in vain to catch him when he put's the foot down.

 

[iLikeIt]

And how did that go in the grand final? You can't go with the same system and expect a different result

He played an ok game yesterday against a team likely to finish bottom 3. Let's see if he can handle games against top 8 before we start labelling him our GF saviour in 2016. Ridiculous! - made me lol though

 

[The Falcon Strike]

If I was to guess at changes I'd say Butler out and Jetta in.

We have Ellis, Hurn, Nelson, Shepp - plus the three talls and even Bennell if required.

We are surplus defenders and short midfielders.

To me, Butler is fringe best 22, not likely to improve and therefore most expendable.

 

[Max zero]

I think Bennell will stay for 2 reasons:

1) He is flexible can play small forward or small defender. Important this year.
2) Has a big tank - a number of times he was involved in a scoring chain in both the back half and the front hald. Important this year.

Neither Ellis or Butler are flexible or known for having big tanks.

I have also softened on Masten. I underestimated how much effect the rule changes and interchange cap have had on the game and how the importance of endurance has greatly increased (much more then I though it would). If he could actually have an impact with his 20 odd possessions that would be a nice bonus.

 

[Mead]

Jetta and Hutchings for Nelson and Butler

FB Schofield Mackenzie Sheppard
HB Hurn McGovern Jetta
C Redden Shuey Gaff
HF Lecras Darling Yeo
FF Cripps Kennedy Hill
R Naitanui Priddis Hutchings

Int Lycett Ellis Bennell Duggan

Which of Ellis/Butler/Nelson is selection 22 is arguable but we need pace in our backline, and we need midfield grunt.

I think Bennell is a definite for the interchange ahead of any of those three because a) he's quick and he takes the game on and b) he's a genuine versatile small man, capable of playing well at either end. He's also a decent matchup for Rioli if he gets away from Sheppard.

Speaking of Sheppard, it's nice that we are finally going to get to see him play in the same team as the guy everyone expected us to take in the 2009 draft.

 

[Suma Magic]

Who plays on Cyril? We may prefer Nelson to play on him and Poppy.

Think it will just be Jetta in. And one of Nelson, Bennell, Butler, Ellis or Duggan out. Very tough to pick.

Leaving the team like this:

? Mackenzie Schofield
Sheppard McGovern Hurn
Jetta Priddis Gaff
Yeo Darling LeCras
Cripps Kennedy Lycett

Naitanui Redden Shuey

Hill

With the last four coming from the aforementioned five.

I was really impressed with Bennell yesterday. I hope he stays in.

 

[javaguice]

Nelson to niggle at rioli for the entire game.

 

[javaguice]

Also super keen to see reddens impact vs hawks. Loved his game and looks really good on the inside.

 

[bUCKET__]

Nelson to niggle at rioli for the entire game.

Ellis shook up Rioli pretty bad in our first final last year... very hard to take him out of the game these days though, can't keep class like that down with just one player. Definitely need to work on the team defense.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Also super keen to see reddens impact vs hawks. Loved his game and looks really good on the inside.

His disposal by foot really surprised me as well. Though, to be fair, it was a low pressure game.

 

[QS]

It is at times like this that we need Tom Swift.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Nelson to niggle at rioli for the entire game.

I love it how he loves to niggle and get in the oppos face

 

[frenchconnection]

If I was to guess at changes I'd say Butler out and Jetta in.

We have Ellis, Hurn, Nelson, Shepp - plus the three talls and even Bennell if required.

We are surplus defenders and short midfielders.

To me, Butler is fringe best 22, not likely to improve and therefore most expendable.

The funny thing he was one of the better performers in the GF last year - probably due to having played in a GF before. Did not get stage fright like many others and did not appear overawed. His experience and cool head does come in handy sometimes so on that basis, who had a bad game yesterday? The team has to be picked on form.

 

[Max zero]

The funny thing he was one of the better performers in the GF last year - probably due to having played in a GF before. Did not get stage fright like many others and did not appear overawed. His experience and cool head does come in handy sometimes so on that basis, who had a bad game yesterday? The team has to be picked on form.

True but now we have an extra 19 or so players with that GF experience.

 

[avishka5]

Maybe if jetta can have an impact rebounding off half back, rioli might be moved into negate jetta. Then we can have someone pick up rioli when he is on the attack. The only issue he is that jetta sucks at two way running.

 

[javaguice]

Hawks look very beatable vs cats

 

[avishka5]

Someone One in an Eagles fb page suggested that shuey make way for jetta ahaha. Legit NO!!

 

[getgaff]

Hutchings has to play, even if we only pick him for team balance in certain games than Hawthorn is one of those games. Was a bit of a rabbit in the headlights when we played them in the GF but I think if we give him a defined role he will make good against certain teams with a leaning to contested midfielders. If Mitchell or Lewis are getting off the leash than Hutch shifts onto one and just clamps down. Sacrifice winning your own ball for the greater good of the team.

If fit I'm 50/50 currently on Jetta. Definitely needs to come under consideration but at the same time I'd like to see him have a solid run at East Perth as well against Souths.

I'm treading on eggshells a bit with the outs. Did't watch enough of last nights game to make an accurate assessment but for balance and the need for some experience in one of Ellis or Butler I'll say Ellis and Duggan to make way. Duggan travelling emergency

 

[WCEbrody]

Jetta in.

Unlucky player - out

 

[getgaff]

Someone One in an Eagles fb page suggested that shuey make way for jetta ahaha. Legit NO!!

Bloody Facebook keyboard warriors. Nothing like the more learned keyboard warriors of Big Footy haha. Hope that the fool got shouted down by all in sundry

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

If I was to guess at changes I'd say Butler out and Jetta in.

We have Ellis, Hurn, Nelson, Shepp - plus the three talls and even Bennell if required.

We are surplus defenders and short midfielders.

To me, Butler is fringe best 22, not likely to improve and therefore most expendable.

I agree with this.
Butler only makes sense when we have attacking half backs surrounding him.
With us missing Wellingham, don't see a spot for Butler at the moment.