Opinion Changes vs Port

[GROTTO]

In fairness to Pods most games he has played this season he has copped an injury. Now I am not sure if that is dumb luck or a sign of an aging body.

If he is 100% fit, I would play him. Having Pods allows us the option to play him in defence, I just do not know who to replace him up forward.

The thought of LJ,Smacko and JJ terrifies me to no end. However, we do need to match them in defence so the options are limited with the resources we have.

I liked what LJ did last night and I thought Smacko played well, remember this is the guy that we wanted to trade last summer so for mine I thought he played ok, its a pity he didnt kick the first goal for us with that mark, but I get the feeling Sando needs to give him a free ticket. Why? Because his performance last night was that of average forward, played better than Hawkins too. Last year he should never have been in the team. He showed signs that with confidence he may just turn the corner.

 

[GROTTO]

Whoever we choose to play, I hope there isn't any question over their fitness levels. We don't need another 4th quarter blowout after we've "spent all our tickets" against a fit team in Port.

Had the game involved just a 6 or 7 day break I would be very worried, the time between games may just save us IMO.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

If the reason for Pods' ineffectiveness last night was injury, he should have been subbed. Big bugbear of mine last season - when guys copped minor injuries early they would spend the day hobbling around and generally being liabilities while the sub sat there and watched. It happened more than once but the one example that springs to mind was Mackay getting a corkie v Freo at home in the first couple of minutes, and doing sweet FA for 3 quarters before getting the vest.

Geelong took a lot of size into last night's game, I would not have been upset for Lyons to come on for Pods, give us a bit more run and open up the forward line for Betts.

 

[StonesThrow]

I was amazed the coaching staff didn't do something like this to help him last night.

Personally I think being one out deep against Guthrie would have been good

The only problem with that is actually delivering the ball to him one out. With our delivery you can't isolate him anyway.

Where as the half forward idea he should be able to use his strength and speed to be that next option from half back. It allows him to be in the game more and also more opportunity to get distance on the tagger.

 

[cmndstab]

If the reason for Pods' ineffectiveness last night was injury, he should have been subbed. Big bugbear of mine last season - when guys copped minor injuries early they would spend the day hobbling around and generally being liabilities while the sub sat there and watched. It happened more than once but the one example that springs to mind was Mackay getting a corkie v Freo at home in the first couple of minutes, and doing sweet FA for 3 quarters before getting the vest.

Geelong took a lot of size into last night's game, I would not have been upset for Lyons to come on for Pods, give us a bit more run and open up the forward line for Betts.

The issue is if you sub them early, then you might end up with another injury where they're unable to play at all. And then you have a guy with only a niggle sitting on the bench, unable to re-enter the game.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

The issue is if you sub them early, then you might end up with another injury where they're unable to play at all. And then you have a guy with only a niggle sitting on the bench, unable to re-enter the game.

Which is a problem if they are capable of playing through the niggle to an acceptable level. But if the niggle leaves them incapable of (in Mackay's case) running, or (in Pods' case) catching, what is the point of having them out there at all?

I would rather be one short on the bench but have the 20 who are out there going full tilt and not making basic errors because they're not up to it physically, then have a liability who is out there but is hurting the team's cause.

What I suspect happened is that we knew Crouch couldn't get through a full game because he was underdone and rigidly stuck to the plan of subbing him. If I'm right about that (and it's only a theory), I would have preferred Lyons to start and Crouch as sub because we wouldn't have been hamstrung by knowing that we only had one option as far as the sub went.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

Whoever we choose to play, I hope there isn't any question over their fitness levels. We don't need another 4th quarter blowout after we've "spent all our tickets" against a fit team in Port.

Put it this way. I drafted the face off for next week earlier this week because I know I'll be short on time next week. One thing that's in there at the moment is that I reckon we might have closed the gap as far as fitness goes.

Safe to say I will be making some changes to that section before going to print.

 

[GROTTO]

The fact was, that Pods was able to provide a contest and take up a good defender so I didnt have a problem with Sando having him on the ground.

I still have faith in Pods, but lets play him this week only if 100% fit.

 

[GROTTO]

I was amazed the coaching staff didn't do something like this to help him last night.

Personally I think being one out deep against Guthrie would have been good

The move should have been made to move Danger one out in the goal square, he was being bashed all night and had a relatively average game.

The game was also lost in the box.

The loss of Bails cannot be underestimated.

 

[Footypie32]

In: Laird, Lyons(from Sub).

Out: Porps, Martin.

BOB to Sub.

 

[Hodgy]

It's always the same on this board, as soon as we lose everyone starts bagging their favourite target. The simple fact is that last night Geelongs 3 stars, Johnson, Selwood and Bartel were the best 3 on the ground while our 3 stars, Sloan, Danger and Thommo weren't in the best 20 on the ground. Our depth players actually kept us in the game last night, Kerridge was very good, Smack and LJ played better than you could hope and Jeansch proved me wrong. If we really have to blame anyone then I think the coaching box might need to get some attention as well
1, Never trying anything to free Danger up.
2, Not subbing Thommo when he was struggling to keep up with anyone or Jpod when injured.
3, Doing nothing to tag Selwood all game
When you think that we were playing Geelong at their home and none of our big guns fired and yet were still leading in the last quarter then I think that's got to be seen as a good sign for the rest of the year and we shouldn't be panicking yet. Certainly not with our depth players. Thommo however...

 

[weekend at bernies]

In: Laird, Lyons(from Sub).

Out: Porps, Martin.

BOB to Sub.

as much as I want Laird back, he has played no warm up games, needs game time/match fitness before being rushed back

 

[Footypie32]

as much as I want Laird back, he has played no warm up games, needs game time/match fitness before being rushed back

Yeah, obviously it depends on fitness. Same with Dougie. He's an automatic inclusion if his boys are intact. If neither are fit I would probably make no changes. We were certainly not disgraced and I'm sure the blokes that had a poor one would absolutely seething to make amends against Port.

 

[threefa9]

I don't think we need to make any changes unless someone really puts there hand up in the trial. Douglas and Laird should come back in when 100% probably give laird a run in ressies

 

[Jars458]

Laird is our best small defender by a country mile. Worht the risk IMO as Monfries and Wingard will tear us a new one if we don't have him.

 

[StonesThrow]

Will Laird play in the reserves this weekend?

 

[Jumbo]

Will Laird play in the reserves this weekend?

The sanfl site says that he is expected to be eased back into action this week.

 

[GROTTO]

Problem with Douglas, is that he could play but geez will he have confidence. Its a nasty injury and given this is going to be a tight contested match he may feel less confident. This is where it is up to the individual rather than the coaching staff.

 

[GROTTO]

It's always the same on this board, as soon as we lose everyone starts bagging their favourite target. The simple fact is that last night Geelongs 3 stars, Johnson, Selwood and Bartel were the best 3 on the ground while our 3 stars, Sloan, Danger and Thommo weren't in the best 20 on the ground. Our depth players actually kept us in the game last night, Kerridge was very good, Smack and LJ played better than you could hope and Jeansch proved me wrong. If we really have to blame anyone then I think the coaching box might need to get some attention as well
1, Never trying anything to free Danger up.
2, Not subbing Thommo when he was struggling to keep up with anyone or Jpod when injured.
3, Doing nothing to tag Selwood all game
When you think that we were playing Geelong at their home and none of our big guns fired and yet were still leading in the last quarter then I think that's got to be seen as a good sign for the rest of the year and we shouldn't be panicking yet. Certainly not with our depth players. Thommo however...

I think you are right in everything you said.

Cats best players carried them over the line. Our best were found wanting.

Danger to full forward even for a spell would have been worth a roll of the dice.

Selwood was allowed to roam along with Bartel. Geez FFS these guys are Geelong legends and there is no hard tag on them.

They smashed us on the rebound last night, I would hate to thing what the Power may do on Saturday arvo.

By the time we field our best time, the season may possibly have passed us by.

 

[1970crow]

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[MRB37]

In fairness to Pods most games he has played this season he has copped an injury. Now I am not sure if that is dumb luck or a sign of an aging body.

It was bad luck, elbow bent weird in a tackling contest, if the ump had of paid the free the first time the guy tried to break a tackle and failed, it wouldn't have happened. The fact they gave him two chances too dispose of the ball and let him get away with it was even worse.

Anyway, only two changes i'd be gung-ho on making would be Laird in (if he plays OK in the reserves) and Matt Crouch in. Could make a case for Jenkins too, but I thought both McKernan and LJ played alright, although LJ would certainly want to up his work rate a bit for mine. Laird for Martin, then move Jaensch further up the ground. He's got a super kick on him, if you can give him some space he can roost one from 55m out.

Rest of it can be some slight teaks to the gameplan. Handball a little less, make sure you protect Danger and definitely make sure you concentrate on tagging Boak or Ebert out of the game.

 

[1970crow]

It's always the same on this board, as soon as we lose everyone starts bagging their favourite target. The simple fact is that last night Geelongs 3 stars, Johnson, Selwood and Bartel were the best 3 on the ground while our 3 stars, Sloan, Danger and Thommo weren't in the best 20 on the ground. Our depth players actually kept us in the game last night, Kerridge was very good, Smack and LJ played better than you could hope and Jeansch proved me wrong. If we really have to blame anyone then I think the coaching box might need to get some attention as well
1, Never trying anything to free Danger up.
2, Not subbing Thommo when he was struggling to keep up with anyone or Jpod when injured.
3, Doing nothing to tag Selwood all game
When you think that we were playing Geelong at their home and none of our big guns fired and yet were still leading in the last quarter then I think that's got to be seen as a good sign for the rest of the year and we shouldn't be panicking yet. Certainly not with our depth players. Thommo however...

agree 100%. could number 1 have been solved by allocating him to number 3. would have thought that would be a worthwhile punt for half a quarter to see what happens.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

...and definitely make sure you concentrate on tagging Boak or Ebert out of the game.

Nah good teams don't tag.

 

[Tex200]

The only problem with that is actually delivering the ball to him one out. With our delivery you can't isolate him anyway.

Where as the half forward idea he should be able to use his strength and speed to be that next option from half back. It allows him to be in the game more and also more opportunity to get distance on the tagger.

Either or. Just needed to do something

 

[PhoenixPower]

Nah good teams don't tag.

thought I would come check out the thoughts on how you guys would line up for this week

read this post and gave up .........