Preview Changes vs. Hawks

[The Sloane Ranger]

If we beat the hawks and pies - he stays in.

If we lose one or both, it's season over and J-Pod has to come out and we look towards next year.

Look towards next year with who.... Smack or LJ?

Both won't be at the club

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Look towards next year with who.... Smack or LJ?

Both won't be at the club

JJ, Tex, Lynch and Betts with Cameron.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

JJ, Tex, Lynch and Betts with Cameron.

IMO playing JPod helps us for next year

Tex's best prep for 2015 is to have JPod playing along side him in 2014

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

IMO playing JPod helps us for next year

Tex's best prep for 2015 is to have JPod playing along side him in 2014

Let me rephrase then - lose to Hawks and Pies, we should start experimenting with players and positions for next year as this year is gone.

 

[hey shorty]

Problem is, I don't think we will see Cameron until next season.

 

[I Lost My Keays]

I just want to see the Crouch brothers play together!

 

[King Elvis]

IMO playing JPod helps us for next year

Tex's best prep for 2015 is to have JPod playing along side him in 2014

Why? Tex will be up and down this year, he'll get his mojo back next year. He doesn't need Pods for that.

 

[1achie]

That's not a great example. Tex and tipped combined for over 100 in 20 games avge each in 2012. There's been no discernible midfield change, so the 2 tall structure in 2012 destroys this years efforts with 3 and I'd suggest betts would have kicked no less with those 2 than with the current structure. Dropping the extra tall allows for more mid-field power, resulting in more and better opportunities for the existing talls and more space to work in.

Obviously different quality when comparing tipp against either pods or jj, but it's jj that provides the similar structure, not pods.

And I know that tex is coming back from his knee, I'm only answering to the 'structure' discussion.

Sydney seem to be doing ok this year with a lot of tall forwards!

 

[1achie]

But that is exactly what a poor structure does. We get a bit from our future coach and forward line general in pods at the expense of the other 2 key forwards. Do you know that little about footy that you cannot concede that this is a distinct possibility. You're as brainwashed as sando, you can't see a way to win without 3 talls, meaning pods must play. Again I ask, who was our 3rd tall when we were a kick away from a gf in 2012. Tex and tipp keeping out of each other's way didn't seem to work too bad. It's a bit harder to avoid each other the more of them you put into a finite area.

Look, I might be biased against pods and I'll accept that it may be short-coming. All that means is that I won't be able to rejoice in an 8-10 finish that might have been anywhere between 5-12 if not for the investment in our future by playing a 31yo Geelong discard who denied us of mid-field grunt. Will be a very sombre off-season for me, but I'm sure you will be enjoying yours.

Calling him a Geelong discard is a bit rough. Geelong's list needed an injection of youth that forced them to move on a few older blokes they might have otherwise kept. They also forced Chapman to move on and he's a gun.
I think that Pods' form hasn't been match-winning brilliant but it has been pretty solid and he fills an important team role by playing his part fairly consistently week in, week out. He is 6th in league for contested marks. I also like the way he does some fairly basic things that the Crows have been poor at for years such as shepherding and tackling the arms rather than the hips. Hopefully this rubs off on a few other blokes.
So with all that in mind my first instinct is to defend the guy and say that he should be in the team at least until the end of this year. But I'm also thinking back to the last round of last year against the Eagles in Perth where we seemed to rotate all our resting midfielders through the forward pocket and I remember our mids kicked a heap of goals that game. So the idea of playing an extra midfielder also has plenty of merit. Perhaps it should be a horses for courses situation depending on who we are playing. If we are going to drop Pods for a mid I'd like to see Mitch Grigg get a an extended run on a forward flank. He's had a bit of the second year blues but he's worth persisting with because he's a proven goal kicker and has plenty of composure.

 

[Mattrox]

Calling him a Geelong discard is a bit rough. Geelong's list needed an injection of youth that forced them to move on a few older blokes they might have otherwise kept. They also forced Chapman to move on and he's a gun.
I think that Pods' form hasn't been match-winning brilliant but it has been pretty solid and he fills an important team role by playing his part fairly consistently week in, week out. He is 6th in league for contested marks. I also like the way he does some fairly basic things that the Crows have been poor at for years such as shepherding and tackling the arms rather than the hips. Hopefully this rubs off on a few other blokes.
So with all that in mind my first instinct is to defend the guy and say that he should be in the team at least until the end of this year. But I'm also thinking back to the last round of last year against the Eagles in Perth where we seemed to rotate all our resting midfielders through the forward pocket and I remember our mids kicked a heap of goals that game. So the idea of playing an extra midfielder also has plenty of merit. Perhaps it should be a horses for courses situation depending on who we are playing. If we are going to drop Pods for a mid I'd like to see Mitch Grigg get a an extended run on a forward flank. He's had a bit of the second year blues but he's worth persisting with because he's a proven goal kicker and has plenty of composure.

Calling him a Geelong discard is disingenuous given Scott's repeated comments about *almost* regretting letting him go. If he is 'almost' regretting it in a press conference, he's clearly been reflecting on the wisdom of forcing him out in his own time.

 

[footy4ever]

There are probably 3 players in the comp who can pack mark like Tippett - Pods isn't one of them

Sure, but why drop our best contested mark? Out of 396 players who play every week in 18 teams, Pods is 8th in the entire comp for contested marks. Danger is the next Crows player at 18th in the comp. He's a handy asset no matter what the structure nor the position of the Crows on the ladder.

EDIT:…and BTW, is averaging more contested marks per week than Skirt Tippett.

 

[Combathorse]

I just want to see the Crouch brothers play together!

I cant think of a bigger boost for the playing group on Friday. Matts a contested ball winner so we could lighten the load on Danger with his inclusion as well. The problem is who could we sacrifice?

 

[Wood_Duck]

Sure, but why drop our best contested mark? Out of 396 players who play every week in 18 teams, Pods is 8th in the entire comp for contested marks. Danger is the next Crows player at 18th in the comp. He's a handy asset no matter what the structure nor the position of the Crows on the ladder.

EDIT:…and BTW, is averaging more contested marks per week than Skirt Tippett.

Its not even worth discussing any further. Most of the people you are arguing with have already admitted to be irrational haters in another failed thread down the page a bit.

 

[Heafy83]

If no one is injured leave the side as is. 90% of players would be playing some sort of niggle at this stage of the season. Only change is maybe Rutten out for Thompson.
Also sorry to say to all those Matt Crouch lovers out there if everyone is fit to play he wont come in. He is an inside mid and none of our inside mids deserve to be dropped.
There is no way Brodie Martin is dropped either. He has been really solid and provided some great outside run.

 

[King Elvis]

Sydney seem to be doing ok this year with a lot of tall forwards!

Again, the calibre of the player is completely different.

Calling him a Geelong discard is disingenuous given Scott's repeated comments about *almost* regretting letting him go. If he is 'almost' regretting it in a press conference, he's clearly been reflecting on the wisdom of forcing him out in his own time.

What would you expect him to say?

I like Pods, he seems like a great bloke, I just think it's a mistake having him in the side - both for structural reasons, and for future development.

 

[Mattrox]

Again, the calibre of the player is completely different.



What would you expect him to say?

I like Pods, he seems like a great bloke, I just think it's a mistake having him in the side - both for structural reasons, and for future development.

Whose spot is he taking?

Structurally he can play the swing man role, and has done it well, without sacrificing forward structure. Port swings Westhoff back and does this well. However, if he is not firing forward or if Schulz is well held they are (will be) in trouble. Their fans want Butcher in to solve the lack of tall forwards....... Thank goodness we aren't relying on Butcher for forward structure.

I really fail to see any negative with Pods being included while Tex is building his consistency. Pods playing should help Jenkins development.

When comparing structure and roles of players in other teams there are always going to be mismatches in skills and talent. But if the player is best 22 and playing the role well, what's wrong with developing a structure or aspect of game plan that top 4 clubs have? At worst it stops us being one dimensional.

If I were the Hawks I would be almost ignoring Tex due to inconsistency. Match up hard on Pods to prevent contested marking and on Jenkins. Adjust if required. I'm hoping the 3 of them can give the Hawthorn defenders a real hard time. Hawthorns job is much easier if Pods isn't playing.

 

[Wood_Duck]

If I were the Hawks I would be almost ignoring Tex due to inconsistency. Match up hard on Pods to prevent contested marking and on Jenkins. Adjust if required. I'm hoping the 3 of them can give the Hawthorn defenders a real hard time. Hawthorns job is much easier if Pods isn't playing.

If I were the Hawks, Id be hoping like crazy that the Crows were batshit stupid enough to leave Podsiadly out.

 

[Slippery Pete]

Did he actually say something to that affect?

Pretty sure he did. Somebody will be able to confirm.

 

[Wood_Duck]

Pretty sure he did. Somebody will be able to confirm.

He did, it was in one of the interviews he did after fleeing Adelaide.

 

[1990crow]

If no one is injured leave the side as is. 90% of players would be playing some sort of niggle at this stage of the season. Only change is maybe Rutten out for Thompson.
Also sorry to say to all those Matt Crouch lovers out there if everyone is fit to play he wont come in. He is an inside mid and none of our inside mids deserve to be dropped.
There is no way Brodie Martin is dropped either. He has been really solid and provided some great outside run.

M.Crouch in for Laird and shuffle. Got smashed in the centre clearances last week, inside mids didn't earn their keep.

 

[themuldohyeh]

Any word on injuries?

Danger, Thommo, Talia and Rutten?

 

[DangerSloane]

31 year old averaging 14 disposals this year, 2 more than smack last year. But look, pods is a developing tall, smack peaked in 2013, so structuring up around him makes sense. Pods is average, is stunting our development and we'd be a better side if we ran an extra midfielder out of his position.

Only someone that doesn't understand the game wouldn't see the worth of Pods, especially since about round 7.

 

[Team DJ]

OUT - Rutten
IN - Hartigan

Talia - Rough
Otten - Gunston
Hartigan - Hale


On Standby
Danger - Lyons
Thompson - MCrouch

 

[DangerSloane]

Have you watch Lynch he does not play tall and is not suited to playing as a third tall

His strength is his gut running and playing as a high HF where he can out work his opponent and present as a extra link man

100% true.
Lynch is a tall flanker.
He does his best work on the wings...
As I've said before, he makes the 3 tall structure work.

 

[DangerSloane]

can't believe our best kick into the forward 50 all year came from Sauce on the weekend.

Charlie Cameron's was better IMO.