Preview Changes vs Hawthorn Round 19

[Bacchus]

Our chances of winning have gone from about 50% to 5%.

 

[Gunstall555]

I've just heard the news...I'm so sorry to hear about Nic Nat's mum. You're a fantastic club who will do a brilliant job of rallying around and supporting Nic through this tragic time.

 

[Auric Goldfinger]

RIP NN's mum.

Agree

That's fricken terrible....

Stay brave big fella

 

[ep2018]

Our chances of winning have gone from about 50% to 5%.

Not even 5%, Sandi blanketed Nic in the derby earlier in the year and we couldn't get our hands on the ball until Ross started playing players out of position.

 

[boondy]

deepest sympathy Nic

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Naits is the heart and soul of the club these days, and he's a good one. I'd say we owe a hell of a lot of that to his mum. RIP.

This will be a sure fire way to test ourselves against the best and should we meet again in the finals, Naitanui will add another edge to such a match up.

 

[WCEbrody]

Terrible news.

RIP

 

[mad_eagle]

Wasn't it the Hawks game a few years back, the 5.21 game, which was a few days after wills dad died?? I remember all the boys going to him on the siren.

Condolences to nic and his family, let's hope his mates can do him and her proud!!

It was indeed, was about to say the same thing.

R.I.P Mrs. Naitanui...judging by what I see and hear from Nic, you did a hell of a job raising your kids.

 

[Johnno22]

Family first!!

Poor bugger.

Tough time for Nic.
From personal experience I know it will take some time for him to get his head around it.
Wish him the best.
Know the club will probably give him a few weeks off to travel to Fiji and deal with it.
RIP

 

[random260]

Our chances of winning have gone from about 50% to 5%.

TBH it was about 40% to like 5%.

 

[vWestCoast]

**** some of you are soft supporters. No belief at all in the team, every time someone is injured or out everyone jumps ship and says we will lose.

This is what being a good team is all about we have defied the odds all year and this is just another test we will overcome. Tragic passing for his whole family however and football comes a long long way second to him until he's okay again. RIP

 

[maxamus]

So Lycett in mmm could we go in with just one ruck?, another midfielder may be a better option.

 

[Matera92]

Boys need to lift, NN goes out there every week and plays his heart out for the Blue and Gold.


Time for the other 21 to do the same.

 

[ep2018]

Need to make the most of our entries into fwd 50 now, Kennedy needs to kick a bag and hold onto marks!

 

[Avalor]

TBH it was about 40% to like 5%.

I was actually vey confident of winning this, have been all week, oddly ... not so now.
But in these circumstances, you just do not know how the team will react - could be really flat, or come out like savages and do it for Nik. Will be interesting to see ... certainly, it will bind the boys together.

 

[WCErevival]

**** some of you are soft supporters. No belief at all in the team, every time someone is injured or out everyone jumps ship and says we will lose.

This is what being a good team is all about we have defied the odds all year and this is just another test we will overcome. Tragic passing for his whole family however and football comes a long long way second to him until he's okay again. RIP

It isnt just anyone. Naitanui is easily the most important player in our team. It was already going to be tough with him playing. Will be great if we win but I'm not keeping my hopes up

 

[Here2tellyouwhy]

Such sad news.

Condolences to Nic and his family.

 

[lethal03]

A big loss for the Eagles, an irreplaceable loss for Nic. Condolences.

 

[Nuke Fremantle]

Firstly deepest sympathy to NicNat, I know if I lost my Mum my mind would be a wreck. An absolute wreck.

But this is a football forum and being so is primarily concerned with football matters and to be honest I have to say our chances against the Hawks are now pretty ****ed. NicNat was the one clear advantage we had over them and fate has taken that away. For all his recent improvement Sinclair is pretty meh in the centre square and an injury crippled Lycett hardly inspires confidence.

I'm not convinced about the 'galvanizing' effect this might have on the rest of the team. If ever a team was going to 'benefit' (if that's the right word) it would've been the Crows against us 2 weeks ago. History shows it didn't really alter the expected result.

Again, at the risk of being the prick who wears the black hat, NicNat would be one of the highest paid, if not THE most highest paid player on our list. Some would argue that $$$ are totally irrelevant in this scenario, so be it, but I'd expect him to play against Fremantle next week.

 

[Double the Fist]

I'm predicting a HUGE game from Lycett. In fact, I predict great games from Sinks and Lycett. both will be hungry as ****! They will monster and smash the Hawks I reckon.

 

[Brave Sir Robin]

I'm predicting a HUGE game from Lycett. In fact, I predict great games from Sinks and Lycett. both will be hungry as ****! They will monster and smash the Hawks I reckon.

I think they'll be an interesting combo and certainly curious to see how they go, we never know when we'll be without NicNat again.

On the surface they seem to be an OK mix. Sinclair's best work is probably up forward to be honest (especially if he improves his accuracy) while Lycett is much more of a tap ruckman. I think that Lycett will take most taps and Sinclair will spend more time forward.

 

[West Coast 06]

Can't see Lycett doing much tbh. He hasn't even been able to be consistent in the WAFL let alone AFL.

I would have been confident Sinclair could hold his own, if he hadn't had that knock to his knee last week.

Will be interesting, but I don't hold out any hope of winning unless Hawthorn implode.

 

[vWestCoast]

It isnt just anyone. Naitanui is easily the most important player in our team. It was already going to be tough with him playing. Will be great if we win but I'm not keeping my hopes up

Yeah don't worry I agree completely but some supporters are conceding defeat already. We're second on the ladder for a reason. I never used to have confidence in this group tbh but we can finally prove to ourselves and the comp we are legitimate contenders.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

Can't see Lycett doing much tbh. He hasn't even been able to beconsistent in the WAFL let alone AFL.

I would have been confident Sinclair could hold his own, if he hadn't had that knock to his knee last week.

Will be interesting, but I don't hold out any hope of winning unless Hawthorn implode.

You have to hold on to hope. All hopelessness has been sent to Trent Bridge not Domain. You would of returned your support badge whrn Emac and Brown went down. We still have a good team and they are playing some excellent football.

We will learn a lot tonight.
How are Sinclair and Lycett going to perform as a duo?
Is our midfield that much better and "un-vanilla" or did they look better because of NicNat's dominance?
How ready are we to take on some antisocial teams and play for real?

I do not want a loss however a loss would not blow a top 2 finish and given Richmond last night losing we still have a big buffer to being top 4.

 

[West Coast 06]

I am not without all hope, however you have to be realistic as well.

I am hoping they haven't brought the Gov back too early. Kennedy, Masten and Sinclair all look sore. We have McGinnity back in the team, a real warning sign right there! Selwood has been poo. And on top of our season long outs, we have now lost our most influential player.

So, yeah, bring on the best team in the comp!

Edit: LOL Richmond.