Changes vs Hawthorn

[RossFC]

If it rains do you guys think it would be an advantage or disadvantage to us?

I think this year our game is less dependent on run and more on possession.

 

[bringbackbucky]

Would be a win for the ages if we can manage it. Head over the ball. Beat your man. Take them on. No reason why we cant make every contest a 50/50 ball. Then it just comes down to who can take their opportunities. Premierships aren't given away. Hope the boys are ready to get dirty and earn it.

 

[BrockBlitz]

Something is wrong when our three best preparation players are suddenly getting injured like this.

Seriously ?

Only one of them is a soft tissue injury.
Wines - dislocated wrist in a contest
Gray - corked calf in a contest


LOBBE - quad injury, soft tissue.

 

[Footy Matt]

We'll probably get smashed in the midfield with Gray and Wines out but I'm not overly panicking about the start to the season anyway with the caliber of opposition over the first 5 rounds. As long as the boys are competitive and continue building as the season goes on to close the current gap between Port and the likes of Hawthorn, Sydney and Freo and at least make top 4 (even top 6 again won't be a disaster) then I'm confident we can take it a step further than last year if fit and firing in the finals. Not meaning to sound negative and I'm probably getting a bit off the point here, but our Premiership chances significantly improve in 2016/2017 when our list likely surpasses Hawthorn and Freo due to their aging.

The only game we REALLY need Moore in the midfield and he's suspended because of a finger poke of doom 111!!!! on an $ANFL umpire. That's what really pisses me off here.

 

[finbarr]

Lobbe is a massive in btw. We can do this.

 

[Jonts]

Still winnable

 

[Zakk Wylde]

Any word of how long robbie will be out?

I don't think he will come back. Why bother ??

 

[Port 2004]

Lobbe is a massive in btw. We can do this.

Too true Finbarr. If we can get enough inside 50's we will stretch the hawks defence through both Ryder and Westy. Also think some people are massively understating our chances due to Robbies withdrawal. The replacement swill still do his job and with other players lifting any loss can be covered. The problems can come when you have multiple losses of your better players.

 

[davesnothere]

We will come out spitting fire and win in a tight tussle by less than a kick. Westhoff and Boak will lift and Hartlett will be that feared mid we know he can be. Oh and Carlile will flatten someone

Great now Carlile is getting suspended..... Will it ever end? [emoji20]

 

[raman]

Won't miss Gray he's not that good.

 

[JimmyBeerCans]

Won't miss Gray he's not that good.

Would of just got in Ah Chee's way oh I mean Mitchell's

 

[edgie]

Remember that time we won a flag, missing out best ruck and 2 best mids from the year before?

We can do it, but I'm still a little concerned we value the individual because the system is catered to the individuals. The best teams put the system first.

 

[tribey]

Won't miss Gray he's not that good.

Next Luke Ablett maybe hehehehe

 

[ExpectToWin]

We will come out spitting fire and win in a tight tussle by less than a kick. Westhoff and Boak will lift and Hartlett will be that feared mid we know he can be. Oh and Carlile will flatten someone

That's the thing isn't it, how many games have you watched where 1 team has key personal missing and the whole team lifts because they feel they need to try harder to compensate. If losing Grey and Wines means Boak, Hartlett, Ebert, Polec, Young, White and Westhoff go even harder through the midfield then it could end up being a greater output. Or am I just clutching?

 

[RossFC]

If Lobbe does play then I'll be super excited to see the Lobbe/Ryder tag team for the first time.

Should do a world of good for Schulz as well.

 

[El_Scorcho]

Absolutely. Hopefully the remaining players believe in themselves more than some people on here do. Hawthorn is a great team, but the way people are talking we need our best 22 just to have a shot at winning. We don't. What we need is for the 22 on the park to do their job.

Yep.

We lost to Hawthorn by 3 points on their deck in the prelim, despite going to sleep for the entire 2nd quarter.

I'm not sure why Hawthorn have this Geelong 2008 like aura about them. Everyone seems to think it's a given that they'll stroll through this season unchallenged, despite the fact that we, along with Freo, Sydney, Essendon and North, should theoretically be better football sides.

They've already lost to Essendon, and we're a better football side than Essendon. Especially at the Portress.

 

[Coobk001]

Lobbe is a massive in btw. We can do this.

Not necessarily if it is raining. It could mean we are top heavy in the forward half. We'll have to see how it plays out.


I don't understand why we would bring AhChee in though, the kid isn't ready to play against the big boys. Yes bring him in against WCE, WB, etc from round 6 on, but not now. There's been a lot of pro-AhChee stuff I've stayed out of, but having watched him fail to have an impact in most of the pre-season games, and having watched him a lot last year, I just can't feel the same way. The kid has potential, and he has a future, but he isn't ready. P Stewart is. O'Shea is. AhChee isn't.

With Gray out, if I was coach my adjustment would've been Broadbent into the middle, P Stewart down back.


Either way IMO we're f@#$. You dont come up against the best side in the league who are virtually full strength, lose your 2 best clearance players and your best SANFL clearance player all in the 1 week, in a game which will most likely be a wet clearance slog, and win. You can sugar coat it all you want, but those injuries against the best side in the comp will prove the difference.

Hope to god this Robbie thing is only minor and he is back next week because we will need him.

 

[Port 2004]

That's the thing isn't it, how many games have you watched where 1 team has key personal missing and the whole team lifts because they feel they need to try harder to compensate. If losing Grey and Wines means Boak, Hartlett, Ebert, Polec, Young, White and Westhoff go even harder through the midfield then it could end up being a greater output. Or am I just clutching?

No you are not clutching. What you have said is 100% correct. Supporters generally place far too much importance on player (s) missing. If the replacement plays his role and team first is carried out, there is no reason why we cannot win. Just look at the talent that you listed in your post.

 

[Chokito]

That's the thing isn't it, how many games have you watched where 1 team has key personal missing and the whole team lifts because they feel they need to try harder to compensate. If losing Grey and Wines means Boak, Hartlett, Ebert, Polec, Young, White and Westhoff go even harder through the midfield then it could end up being a greater output. Or am I just clutching?

I hope to see this (and the Lobbe/Ryder tag team) actually happen. I am struggling to keep the faith at the moment...

 

[Shaxx Attaxx]

Hey we are meant to be this top four side. All the other ones have coped with players out. If we are that good we should be fine. Time to prove ourselves

 

[finbarr]

Remember when we used to look at the top sides and say "Geez, they lose so & so and thingamajig, yet they still have buggalugs, Whatshisname, blah, blah & blah running through their midfield. It's not fair!!!!!".

Well turn that around and think about "Geez, they lose Wines and Gray but they still have Boak, Ebert, Hartlett, Wingard and Polec running through there. It's not fair!!!!!".

 

[port always]

Not necessarily if it is raining. It could mean we are top heavy in the forward half. We'll have to see how it plays out.


I don't understand why we would bring AhChee in though, the kid isn't ready to play against the big boys. Yes bring him in against WCE, WB, etc from round 6 on, but not now. There's been a lot of pro-AhChee stuff I've stayed out of, but having watched him fail to have an impact in most of the pre-season games, and having watched him a lot last year, I just can't feel the same way. The kid has potential, and he has a future, but he isn't ready. P Stewart is. O'Shea is. AhChee isn't.

With Gray out, if I was coach my adjustment would've been Broadbent into the middle, P Stewart down back.


Either way IMO we're f@#$. You dont come up against the best side in the league who are virtually full strength, lose your 2 best clearance players and your best SANFL clearance player all in the 1 week, in a game which will most likely be a wet clearance slog, and win. You can sugar coat it all you want, but those injuries against the best side in the comp will prove the difference.

Hope to god this Robbie thing is only minor and he is back next week because we will need him.

Geez I don't know who you are but you are talking too much sense....Why on earth don't the selectors see this

 

[finbarr]

Not necessarily if it is raining. It could mean we are top heavy in the forward half. We'll have to see how it plays out.

Even if it does rain (it's expected to stop by lunchtime), having Lobbe's big body and second efforts around the stoppage will be invaluable.

 

[Coobk001]

I admire the optimism of some fans here, wish I had that level of confidence.

This match:

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Could not have said it any better! lol

 

[WulfricNick46]

Was listening to Ah Chee last night at the Club's Talking Footy, and he was raring at the bit to go out so many times, it will be good for him to get a big game under his belt and I think he will lift knowing that he will have big shoes to fill.

I hope to see this (and the Lobbe/Ryder tag team) actually happen. I am struggling to keep the faith at the moment...

And Agreed, Lobbe & Ryder will run a muck and do a great job - this is the pairing we've been waiting weeks for!