Preview Changes vs North

[the big lebowski]

Hi Mullets

We are likely to go in very undermanned for KPD's this week.

Thompson may cop a week. As may firritto. If we don't get grima back, who has missed three weeks we will only have Hansen, who is better suited to being a third tall.

Could potentially switch Petrie back if this eventuates. I can't see what else we could do.

 

[Smithalicious]

Didn't most posters dismiss our lack of pace as a problem? - they argued that its speed of ball movement that counts ( see thread by Rear Admiral re pace")

"I was hoping someone might be throw around a few names, points, etc. I'm all ears.

There are a whole heap of issues at hand, in regards to us winning or losing games, but from where I sit....our #1 issue is pace (or lack there of) from our running players. Almost everyone other than our Rucks and Key Position Players - Outside Mids, Flankers, Pockets, etc., need to quicken up. If you lined all our blokes up on a 100m running track with fresh legs - sure, our smaller blokes would beat our bigger blokes. But, if you compared our smaller blokes to most of the smaller blokes from other clubs, in regards to pure speed, we're in serious trouble. Wading deep in the brown stuff.

Dangermouse and Betts are the main exceptions, but they're utter freaks. But the rest of our runners have cement-filled boots. And a couple of them lack endurance, but they're mainly our younger guys. On a side note, endurance (and lung capacity) usually develops with age - just look at the top triathletes, marathon runners and cyclists - they're typically in their 30's, not 20's. Some even in their 40's. The other thing I've come across is that doing really heavy leg weights (the right way), with specialised "bounding" exercises and drills, is what improves your pure speed. Not endless laps of an oval - that gives you an engine (endurance).

I am trying to find out which small blokes on our list have the most pure pace, as in 100m running track. More the point, what is Sando trying to do, in terms of fast tracking these guys for selection? For me, this is what Sando needs to focus in on, not endless structures and set plays. We need blokes with honest to goodness, serious toe. Picking just one bloke with speed (Charlie Cameron) has already made an enormous difference."

Couldn't agree more! But what do you expect when we have Puolos as our head fitness coach (ex-rugby), lose Schwert and don't land Burgess.......

Look at K. Hunt with his transition to AFL, it took him ages to acclimatise to the conditions, yet we have a rugby fitness coach........

I think you can afford to have players able to run all day with the interchange changes but that can't be the majority of your players. You need actual speed.

Speed can come in all different ways though, whether it be actual leg speed, decision making or core and lower strength which allows you to turn on a dime. A team needs all kinds.

Would love for an external review of our club with the information actually acted upon rather than filed away. Need to get a really top notch group of fitness coaches.

Players like Grigg aren't fast but with his decision making and leg he can act quickly.

Players like Reilly don't have quick decision making or speed, even though he has a nice kick.

 

[Huntercrow]

In theory if we make no changes, our form fluctuation will deliver a win against North.

Unfortunately the reality is........

North are a quality team
We are coming off a six day break
We are coming off a Perth trip

With this in mind perhaps we analyse the 2 games.....
North had a good win against an average but desperate Tigers
We had a poor second half against a Quality defensive team
North came back from a deficit to record a good win.
We struggled in the second half for a 40 point loss

Some of the discussed issues from yesterday....
Our rucks were beaten (but this was to be expected.)
our midfield delivered poorly into the forward line
Our kick outs were abysmal and poorly planned and executed.
Our coach lost the plot after a good start
Our tagger was benched
At the end we had nothing left.

The other issues we have outside of yesterday's result....
Our co-captains are just about spent. Dare I say it we need VB!
Our full back is a liability with no real replacement options except an inexperienced youngster who needs more time in the ressies.

What are the options for the selection panel?
Do they react to the poor second half or put it down to experience?
Considering the absolute importance of a win against North Melbourne and the quick turnaround from the Perth game they may need to make several changes to introduce fresh legs.

So with that in mind, Who from the 22 struggled towards the end?
Not too many except for CEY looked to have anything left. Freo on the other hand looked ready to play again.
This doesn't bode well for the North game but at least we have a number of players ready to move up after some very good performances in the ressies. They are.......

Smack
M Crouch
Reilly
M.grigg
Porpoise

Who of the above offer fresh legs and an instant fix for the AFL side?

Smack
M Crouch
Grigg
Reilly
We also have CEY and Wright if fit

So who drops out?

Podsiadly. Provided little and can't see his aging legs surviving Perth.
From the mids take your pick except for Thompson they were well beaten.
The popular thinking seems to be Martin and Lyons. But for mine they were not to blame. The more senior players let us down. Perhaps one of these should also pay the price. Douglas?

What about Rutten? Hartigan is not ready, Rutten offers experience and leadership in the back lines and despite his shortcomings our defence wasn't the problem.

Out
Pods
Martin
Douglas
Lyons

In
M Crouch
Grigg
Wright
Smack

Jenkins may also be doubtful after his bruised chest received at 3 qtr time

 

[Redleg Crow]

Having watched the Crows SANFL game there is no way Crouch Jr should not be playing. Truth is he should not have been dropped. He should play every fricken game for the rest of the season.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I can handle Jenkins having 4 disposals (1 smothered) but what I can't handle is his reaction after his kick was smothered. He just frowned and slowed down to a jog. Turn around and go and get the ball FFS!

Jj needs to close the gap between his best & worst as goes missing too much. Only young but need to build on his mental strength.

 

[FantasticShirt]

Ins:

M Crouch needs to play. I appreciate the need to manage younger players in their first year but he's had a few games out now. Barring some ridiculous form slump or injury he needs to play the remainder of the year.

Grigg looked good again and we know what he's capable of when he turns it on. He should be given another opportunity.

Outs:

Brodie Martin. Showed yesterday what his worst looks like and it's really really bad. Didn't register a possession in the first quarter and was pretty bad all day. 8 disposals with 2 clangers going at about 60%....

Plenty of others?

Jj needs to close the gap between his best & worst as goes missing too much. Only young but need to build on his mental strength.

There were moments in the game yesterday where it seriously looked liked he'd spat the dummy and just thrown in the towel. The delivery to him wasn't great and Freo's gamestyle must be frustrating to play against but it was really disappointing to see from a professional athlete.

That said, he shouldn't be dropped. McKernan has been woeful in the SANFL and doesn't deserve a game.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

I don't care about playing finals this year

I care about picking talent that is going to with games improve us as a side and move us up the ladder and I'm not talking about 6-8th spot I'm talking about top 4

With this in mind we have to play Matt Crouch and even though he is not at his best we have to play Grigg because he is a talent and has Serious AFL weapons, Sando please try Grigg across HB

 

[Mismatched]

All these guys like Grigg, Lyons, Wright who have been parked at a pseudo-mid/half forward position this season and struggled - can't we expand our midfield rotation a bit? Why does Thommo have to be at EVERY centre clearance? Can't Sloane/Danger have the odd run across half back?

Agreed and its the same position that Vince has seemingly struggled in for a number of years. I definitely think we need to be increasing the amount of time Thommo, Sloane and Danger spend on the flanks. It doesn't have to be a heap more, but it will help freshen them up, help them shake a tag and also give these fringe midfielders a chance to show what they are capable of.

Jj needs to close the gap between his best & worst as goes missing too much. Only young but need to build on his mental strength.

Agreed, although the same could be said for the entire team as a whole, just isn't capable.

I don't care about playing finals this year

I care about picking talent that is going to with games improve us as a side and move us up the ladder and I'm not talking about 6-8th spot I'm talking about top 4

With this in mind we have to play Matt Crouch and even though he is not at his best we have to play Grigg because he is a talent and has Serious AFL weapons, Sando please try Grigg across HB

Agreed, its clear as bloody day that we can't compete with sides like Port, Sydney, Hawthorn and Fremantle. Our focus needs to be on becoming one of these elite sides, it shouldn't just be on making the finals as it currently appears to be the case. Making finals should mean nothing to us if we're not going to challenge for the flag. Forget this notion that if you make the finals, anything can happen. History says that it is next to impossible to win a flag from outside the top 4, its happened once in 20+ years with a different finals format. Forget about top 8, its top 4 or its nothing and even then our eye needs to be on a bigger prize, bowing out in a Prelim is not acceptable.

 

[1970crow]

G

good one captain hindsight. yeah lets just travel to subi pretty much conceding we have already los the match

Pretty sure there were quite a few calling for Jacobs to be rested during the week. With danger it's been a theme since about round 4 or 5.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Pretty sure there were quite a few calling for Jacobs to be rested during the week. With danger it's been a theme since about round 4 or 5.

Bottom line is we need to be smarter about resting players rather than playing them injured. You would have thought we had learnt from thommo last year achieved no good for afc or the player. It iimpacted on his form so much, many were calling him to be delisted.. Then this year he suddenly recaptures good form because he is fit again.

Rutten injures his knee preseason, so we play him injured & calls come that he is past it.

Danger is struggling to run out a game. Are we better off with a 65% danger for the rest of the season or rest for a few games & have a 100% danger in a few weeks. Meanwhile m crouch & Lyons can show us their clearance talent.

 

[1970crow]

You'd think it would be obvious and yet seems to escape our selection group. We're not talking about tanking but the fact is that it's season over. Injured players shouldn't be playing and we should be getting a good look at our list. We won't though, especially while we can still mathematically make the 8.

 

[King Elvis]

Out;

Martin - performed ok, but depth player.
CEY - obvious.
Pods - not great, and we are too tall as a team.


In;

Grigg.
M Crouch.
Wright? Brad in a couple of weeks.

 

[Bailey01]

Out;

Martin - performed ok, but depth player.
CEY - obvious.
Pods - not great, and we are too tall as a team.


In;

Grigg.
M Crouch.
Wright? Brad in a couple of weeks.

Hartigan?

 

[King Elvis]

Only for Truck or Otten.

I think we are too tall, need another runner in the side.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Time to rest pods. Swap for mckernan would also give sauce a break in ruck & hopefully motivate jj that his consistency is on notice. Sauce was laboring yet we hardly used jj in ruck.

Alternative is hartigan for Otten back & Otten replaces pods forward.

M crouch in is must. Should be to rest danger but won't be.

Cey didn't get a great run but at least got a taste. Needs to go back to sanfl to work on his disposal.

Wright should come back in too if ok.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

*If* we were a genuine chance for the top four, then sure - play Podsiadly, Rutten, Thompson, Reilly, Porplyzia. But we aren't. In fact with any teams we've played who are around the top four - Geelong, Port, Sydney, Freo - we've been comprehensively beaten.

Thompson has clearly played well enough to stay in the team and also play on next season. However, we need to get away from using him as Numero Uno in the midfield. It is preventing the next shelf from developing. Get him out of there, allow Crouch x 2 and Lyons to increase their midfield time.

Rutten and Podsiadly are at similar stage. Big old and slow, getting by on their smarts. We look so static as a team though. If we aren't a top four or even top eight team, then we need to be harsh and call time. Rutten and Podsiadly out, Lynch isn't back yet so Shaw and Hartigan in. Three tall forwards - Walker, Jenkins, Otten. Three tall defenders - Talia, Hartigan, Shaw. Both Hartigan and Shaw are still raw and make mistakes but you have to start somewhere, both have upside.

Reilly and Porplyzia need to stay where they are. Mackay doesn't offer enough for an experienced player.

Out: Rutten, Podsiadly, Mackay, Martin, Ellis-Yolmen
In: Hartigan, Shaw, M Crouch, B Crouch, Grigg

Yes, this would leave us short on experience but we've seen the benefit that their experience brings us and it ain't anything worth persevering with. Getting us nowhere.

F Betts, Walker, Cameron
HF Thompson, Jenkins, Douglas
C Sloane, Dangerfield, Grigg
HB Smith, Talia, Laird
B Shaw, Hartigan, Brown
1R Jacobs, B Crouch, M Crouch
INT Otten, Lyons, Jaensch, Kerridge

 

[Bailey01]

Time to rest pods. Swap for mckernan would also give sauce a break in ruck & hopefully motivate jj that his consistency is on notice. Sauce was laboring yet we hardly used jj in ruck.

Alternative is hartigan for Otten back & Otten replaces pods forward.

M crouch in is must. Should be to rest danger but won't be.

Cey didn't get a great run but at least got a taste. Needs to go back to sanfl to work on his disposal.

Wright should come back in too if ok.

Give CEY more of a run, how can he perform great on his debut when the rest of his teammates are stinking it up?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I wouldn't be dropping mackay as has been consistent this year.

Imo b crouch needs at least 1 more sanfl game for conditioning. Not worth rushing as may end up reinjured. His brother is ready for a recall though.

Have no issue picking Grigg but I would make him earn it with consecutive solid sanfl performances.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Give CEY more of a run, how can he perform great on his debut when the rest of his teammates are stinking it up?

Imo his disposal isn't up to scratch & should be working on as a priority.

 

[Bailey01]

Imo his disposal isn't up to scratch & should be working on as a priority.

Wasn't terrible, just wanna see him have a full game and if the disposal is ordinary then he will go back to SANFL

 

[Roo Lives Again]

You know it's been a truly shocking game when there are calls for McKernan to come in.

Or someones been on the magic mushies again....

 

[CIDA]

I have seen enough of CEY to suggest he has very, very ordinary foot skills, as have others who have watched his SANFL games this year, really don't see him having an overly productive AFL career as it's unlikely he'll be able to improve that facet of his game. We really need to start to put foot skills at the top of our recruiting shop list!! Ball burners do not make good defenders!!

It's a shame, was thinking he could be developed into a player of the Lumumba mould. Pacy, strong and big bodied and can provide run off HB.

 

[adelaidecrows]

It's a shame, was thinking he could be developed into a player of the Lumumba mould. Pacy, strong and big bodied and can provide run off HB.

He was far from anything that resembles this yesterday.

 

[George 13]

Time to rest pods. Swap for mckernan would also give sauce a break in ruck & hopefully motivate jj that his consistency is on notice. Sauce was laboring yet we hardly used jj in ruck.

I would do this as well, If only Smack showed a bit more it would be a certainty, Would do it anyway just to give Pods a rest(kick up the arse), And also to see if Smack can grab at yet another opportunity.

 

[CIDA]

He was far from anything that resembles this yesterday.

I recall two instances where he showed pace. The chase on Hill - he didn't get him but did well to stay with one of the faster players around. Also where he was able to beat a man and run on the wing.