Changes vs North Melbourne

[theteamtobeat]

In: Merrett, Green, Zorko, Robertson
Out: Freeman, Bewick, Harwood, Robinson (Calf, 50/50 chance to play next week)

Freeman - needs a run in the Neafl to get his confidence up. His whole Nab challenge performances were average and that miss from 20 metres out, straight in front of the goals didn't help him either. Even Schache performed better then Freeman. He's a talented player, but needs to find form. Freeman needs to be dropped as he was the poorest among all the talls and we can't afford to go too tall next week. I would like to see McStay take Freeman's spot up forward and be that swing man.

Harwood - Makes way for Zorko.

Bewick - Makes way for Green.

 

[Milux]

In: Merrett, Green, Zorko, Robertson
Out: Freeman, Bewick, Harwood, Robinson (Calf, 50/50 chance to play next week)

Freeman - needs a run in the Neafl to get his confidence up. His whole Nab challenge performances were average and that miss from 20 metres out, straight in front of the goals didn't help him either. Even Schache performed better then Freeman. He's a talented player, but needs to find form. I would like to see McStay take Freeman's spot up forward and be that swing man.

Harwood - Makes way for Zorko.

Bewick - Makes way for Green.

And dropping freeman back to a shit league is exactly the way to get some ones confidence up.

 

[lionshine]

And dropping freeman back to a shit league is exactly the way to get some ones confidence up.

Not sure I necessarily agree with dropping Freeman but dismissing the idea of someone gaining confidence with a run in the reserves is ridiculous. Let's say he did get dropped back, he kicks 8 goals and returns to the seniors in Round 3 with his confidence sky high.

 

[theteamtobeat]

And dropping freeman back to a shit league is exactly the way to get some ones confidence up.

We finish second last in that "Shit league" last year and couldn't even make finals the year before. The league has vastly improved since the days we were winning grand finals, year after year.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Robinson cleared, not that there was anything in it.

 

[carnthemlions]

Merrett Andrews Cutler
Hanley McStay Gardiner
Zorko Bastinac Mayes
Bell Schache Bundy
Freeman Walker Green
Martin Rockliff Rich
Lester Taylor Robertson C Beams
Ins: Merrett, Robertson, Zorko, Green
Outs: Robinson (calf), Harwood, Paparone, Bewick (omit)


I've put Hanley back on the HBF, this is where he started and with our new game style of taking the game on he will provide that drive we need. Merrett's our big lock down defender and Paparone comes out for him. I just can't stand seeing a bloke in his fourth year being so goddamn skinny and I personally don't think he'll be there in a few years time and think that Gardiner at least provides body on body and a contest. I just watched Mayes draft highlights and have to admit that most on here are right. He is not a defender and definately should be playing forward of the ball. Would prefer him playing as a HFF so maybe swap with Bell who has elite running. Green will be badly underdone but he is best 22 and our leading goal scorer for the last two seasons so he's an in. Swap Robbo for Robbo if injured and I think that N Robbo will provide a better contest than Bewick. Harwood might be a bit tough but he is another that I don't see being there in a few years time and C beams is a better player so he gets the nod. Zorko back in after his week off.

I think it's fairly obvious that the coaching staff trust Paparone, which is why he's kept his spot while others like Mayes, Cutler and Harwood have been in and out of the side. I really don't care what he looks like to be honest, there are plenty of players with far more experience who don't 'look' like veterans. As for Mayes playing forward of the ball... who does he replace? How do you think the coaching staff can possibly justify such a drastic change in what they expect out of our half forward flankers to fit one player in?

 

[cotter101]

In: Merrett, Green, Zorko,
Out: Bewick, Beams, Mayes

Harwood Merrett Gardiner
Cutler McStay Paparone

Hanley Rich Bastinac

Bell Schache Christensen
Green Walker Freeman

Martin, Rockliff, Zorko

Robinson, Lester, Taylor, Andrews

 

[Milux]

Not sure I necessarily agree with dropping Freeman but dismissing the idea of someone gaining confidence with a run in the reserves is ridiculous. Let's say he did get dropped back, he kicks 8 goals and returns to the seniors in Round 3 with his confidence sky high.

Its not just about his confidence. It has a bucket load to do with team continuity. IMHO dropping people in and out of the team just destroys this. I could understand if things havent changed after say round 6 or 7.

 

[Milux]

We finish second last in that "Shit league" last year and couldn't even make finals the year before. The league has vastly improved since the days we were winning grand finals, year after year.

I see what your getting at. And maybe fare enough.

 

[carnthemlions]

Its not just about his confidence. It has a bucket load to do with team continuity. IMHO dropping people in and out of the team just destroys this. I could understand if things havent changed after say round 6 or 7.

Agree. There's no way we'll be making changes beyond injuries/returning players after a trip to Perth that wasn't disastrous. Three changes is plenty already.

 

[lionshine]

Its not just about his confidence. It has a bucket load to do with team continuity. IMHO dropping people in and out of the team just destroys this. I could understand if things havent changed after say round 6 or 7.

I agree with you there. I liked the three tall forwards structure and don't think Freeman should be dropped. I was only arguing with the assertion that players can not gain confidence through the reserves.

 

[theteamtobeat]

Its not just about his confidence. It has a bucket load to do with team continuity. IMHO dropping people in and out of the team just destroys this. I could understand if things havent changed after say round 6 or 7.

I totally agree with the continuity bit, but lets say Freeman kept his spot and Merrett came back in. Then we have too many talls. Which key position player do we drop?

I would drop Freeman because he performed the poorest on Sunday and also in the Nab Challenge out of all the talls. I would love to see him in the team due to team continuity, as you stated, but then we go in too tall.

B: McStay, Merrett, Andrews
HB: Paparone, Gardiner, Culter
C: Hanley, Rich, Zorko
FOL: Martin, Rockliff, Bastinac
HF: Taylor, Schache,Christensen
F: Green, Walker, Freeman
INT/EMG: Bell, Robinson, Mayes, Lester, Beams, Harwood, Robertson

 

[Milux]

Leppa likes a tall team. Wouldnt be surprised if gardiner comes out for merret. Neither would i be surprised if harwood/beams comes out for merret. Only forced changes for now. Freeman keeps his spot.

 

[Lace Out]

We have a bit of an issue with our small defenders. You could justify dropping Harwood, Mayes and Claye Beams. Even Cutler is probably only safe by default.

Gardiner was really good though. Just needs to be a little more careful with his ball use. And I didn't think Bewick was all that bad - just not involved enough.

To me Beams, looked a little rusty. I think he could do with two or three weeks in the NEAFL getting his hands on the footy more. And obviously he was the last man picked.

Merrett will come back for Beams, leaving us with him, Andrews and McStay to mark to play on Petrie, Waite and Brown. Gardiner goes to Thomas or whoever is deepest forward at any point, leaving Cutler and one of Harwood or Mayes rounding out the backline. Bewick and Paparone to drop back from the wing to help out.

So that would be Beams and Harwood/Mayes out for Merrett and Zorko. Green can wait another week.

Between Higgins, Harvey and Anderson the Roos are pretty quick around their half forward line. We'll be too slow, but I don't see an obvious way to fix that through team selection.

Bravo.Someone actually considering the make up of the team we are playing in these team selection threads.

 

[theteamtobeat]

Leppa likes a tall team. Wouldnt be surprised if gardiner comes out for merret. Neither would i be surprised if harwood/beams comes out for merret. Only forced changes for now. Freeman keeps his spot.

Gardiner played on Darling and kept him to 2 goals, considering we were getting smashed, he did well. Will be interesting to see what happens at the selection table.

 

[Milux]

Gardiner played on Darling and kept him to 2 goals, considering we were getting smashed, he did well. Will be interesting to see what happens at the selection table.

Good problems to have aye.

 

[theteamtobeat]

Good problems to have aye.

Yeah, your right. Can't wait to see this guys develop. Hopefully Walker takes his game to another level.

 

[Full Wingspan]

I truly believe we need to give Harwood a chance this year to show that he has improved enough to warrant a spot on our list and become part of our next premiership team.

Beams makes way for Merrett as he was the late inclusion and didn't do enough to keep his spot.

Zorko comes in for Bewick as Rohan is unfortunately not AFL standard. It's do or die for him this year and he did not make a very good impression last night.

Green is the controversial one. Has he done enough in the ressies game/the preseason to warrant selection or did he miss through injury/player management?

He may return if Leppa wants to go smaller and drop Freeman, however I think it is vital to blood games into him as he is almost certain to be a vital part of our forward future.

I'd be happy to keep him out another week if he has not performed at training/reserves. I feel Green is not yet a sure thing and we need to take a tough love approach with the super sub.

 

[joshhem]

In: the #MerrettMob

 

[jackess]

In: the #MerrettMob

Out: The party pooper (TheBrownDog)

 

[WA Lion]

It is an interesting conversation about the balance of talls in our team, and if one was to come out, who would it be.

Sitting behind the goals at the ground yesterday, it was abundantly clear that Walker and Schache provided the best running patterns by a long way, and that while Freeman is a dangerous target when he is around the ball, he isn't running to the right places in order to use that ability. If Leppa where to go a smaller forward line, at this stage he would be the one to come out.

The conversation about the tall defence may not be resolved for another week or so, as North generally has an overly tall forward line, meaning we will play a tall backline, and Geelong the week after the same with their multiple ruckmen. Round 4 against the Suns will be interesting though as they don't tend to play as many talls.

You would imagine Merrett and Zorko are certainties, so for me Harwood and Bewick would be the 2. These 2 have had longer in the system than Cutler and Mayes, and (IMO at least) haven't shown anything more. Bewick is in and out of the game too much and Harwood costs you as many (if not more) goals than he saves.

Green is the interesting one. Traditionally you would bring your 2 time leading goal kicker straight back in, but who for and what does it do to the balance of the side?

Personally I would give him one more full game in the 2's then bring him back, but if Mitch Robinson doesn't get up with that calf injury then Green comes back in.

 

[M Malice]

did michael close play in the reserves practice match? wouldn't mind him in for freeman, give us a bit more pressure in the forward half and he should be able to push all the way up to the wing with his elite endurance.
zorko and merrett are 2 certain ins with green in if they deem him ready, didn't watch the game but from reports it would be 2/3 of mayes, freeman, paparone, harwood, beams out. although mayes and paparone seem to be 2 of leppas favorites.

 

[theteamtobeat]

Apparently Suns smashed us by 92 points in the practice match on the weekend.

http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/2016-03-28/neafl-suns-thrash-lions

 

[WA Lion]

Apparently Suns smashed us by 92 points in the practice match on the weekend.

http://www.goldcoastfc.com.au/news/2016-03-28/neafl-suns-thrash-lions

I may be wrong but fairly certain they had up to 20 listed players in that game, was always going to be a tough ask

 

[Mr Ripper]

did michael close play in the reserves practice match? wouldn't mind him in

Yeah he did. Million to one chance of promotion at this stage.