Changes Vs The Dogs

[Vdubs]

Everyone agrees that Blake played pretty well...everyone except Geelong Supporters.

Agree, Blakey will not be dropped, Bomber said he was GOOD, and Mummy TIRED, so if Mooney out we'll have 4 Tomcats==Harley/Gillies back, Hawkins/Lonergan forward.GAMBLE in for Varcoe,not sure about Kelly-6 weeks out, we need fit players agst. Dogs, unless we don't care about the result, but are focusing on the finals, then we play both Ottens and Kelly, with Mummy and Stokes out.

 

[Hot Spenny]

Brad Johnson may be doubtful for them.

Would just like to chip in to say that it's very unlikely Johnno will miss. He has the healing powers of Jesus.

A few of you have mentioned Stokes. I think he might have kicked 5 or so last time we met, maybe he is worth keeping in for this game.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Any chance of West being rewarded for his VFL efforts on Saturday?

 

[Vegas.]

Any chance of West being rewarded for his VFL efforts on Saturday?

If he didn't get a gig this week, can't see it happening now, especially considering there is no match-up for him against the Dogs.

That is not to say I wouldn't love to see it.

 

[RustNeverSleeps]

I saw Blake:

- Miss a set shot from 30m directly in front
- Handball indiscriminantly to the invisible man on several occassions
- Get beaten in several one-one-one marking contests with Jolly
- Get out-run by Jolly on several occassions
- Being used as a step ladder for some "hangers" by Swans players


I did not see Blake:
- Take a contested mark
- Win contested ball
- Influence the game in a positive manner


It seems that Blake has had a "good" game if he hasn't committed 5-6 comical clangers.

Simply not good enough. Move him on.

 

[kriso182]

I saw Blake:

- Miss a set shot from 30m directly in front
- Handball indiscriminantly to the invisible man on several occassions
- Get beaten in several one-one-one marking contests with Jolly
- Get out-run by Jolly on several occassions
- Being used as a step ladder for some "hangers" by Swans players


I did not see Blake:
- Take a contested mark
- Win contested ball
- Influence the game in a positive manner


It seems that Blake has had a "good" game if he hasn't committed 5-6 comical clangers.

Simply not good enough. Move him on.

You forgot the incident where Blake was out marked, then instead of standing the mark decided to run off and leave Jolly on his own. Jolly then decided to run in and pass to player in the 50 with no pressure. What was with that? Blake was far far far from impressive!

 

[Poetic Justice]

but Rust... the point Bomber made was that the benefit to having Blake in the side is that when the ball is bounced/thrown up, you are confident the midfielders are going to get good supply for the clearance.. which is something we need and something Blake DOES infact do.

 

[SmothOperRaider]

I saw Blake:

- Miss a set shot from 30m directly in front
- Handball indiscriminantly to the invisible man on several occassions
- Get beaten in several one-one-one marking contests with Jolly
- Get out-run by Jolly on several occassions
- Being used as a step ladder for some "hangers" by Swans players


I did not see Blake:
- Take a contested mark
- Win contested ball
- Influence the game in a positive manner


It seems that Blake has had a "good" game if he hasn't committed 5-6 comical clangers.

Simply not good enough. Move him on.

I'm not a fan of Blake in the side, but he actually took a contested mark in the first quarter, maybe you missed it. He did however fluff an opportunity late on to take a much easier chance in the forward line, but declined the opportunity to jump.

Can't remember if it was White or Jolly beating him, but a couple of times Blake being caught so far behind his man reminded me of his molestation at the hands of Gardiner a few weeks back.

 

[rooie]

it appears, if we beat the dogs, carlton will probably go on to claim 4th!!!

Who do you think will stretch the saints more in week 1, Dogs or Blues?

 

[Tristagi]

IN: Otto [now it it just won't happen in Round 22 or finals], Chapman, Rooke

OUT: Varcoe [inj], Lonergan and Mumford [rest]

Kelly at least a half in the VFL, Mummy just rest up/half in VFL, Wojac in VFL just cause I don't think we can afford to drop Stokes if Varcoe is injured.

 

[Glassjaw]

Otto will take Mooney's spot up forward.

I'd be massively surprised if he doesn't get a holiday.

 

[Claude Balls]

but Rust... the point Bomber made was that the benefit to having Blake in the side is that when the ball is bounced/thrown up, you are confident the midfielders are going to get good supply for the clearance.. which is something we need and something Blake DOES infact do.

But he does NOT in fact do that. It is just a pervasive Geelong-Board misconception that Blake is a good tap ruckman. He is marginally better than Mumford in this regard, but he's played about 80 more games so this is hardly a compliment. Geelong improved in clearances this week because their best midfielders a) spent more time on the ball, and b) played well at the same time.

It never ceases to amaze me how many Geelong fans subsribe to this myth. Watch him carefully next week, and among the 25 or so indiscriminant taps that Blake executes with a frantically outstretched paw , note how many are achieved with any semblence of art or intention.

I'm happy to see him in the side for now, as Mumford is clearly tired, but it certainly is frustrating to see so many people swallow this theory.

 

[JUBJUB]

I'm not a fan of Blake in the side, but he actually took a contested mark in the first quarter, maybe you missed it.

Correct,it was around half back and we got a goal from the following passage of play.

 

[Claude Balls]

More on topic. I'm really not sure how many they should bring back against the dogs. One theory suggests that the best 22 needs to be assembled ASAP so they have longer to acquire cohesion, but another suggests that the risk of recurring injury is too great.

I'd be happy to see the following:

In: Chapman, Rooke, Ottens, Milburn

Out: Varcoe (A/C), Stokes (omitted), Lonergan, Mumford


I would also love to see Gamble get back in and find form, as I believe a fit Gamble is about 10x more threatening than a fit Stokes. Stokes is really starting to represent the synopsis next to his name: "mature age recruit taken in the 4th round..."

 

[True Blue Cat]

More on topic. I'm really not sure how many they should bring back against the dogs. One theory suggests that the best 22 needs to be assembled ASAP so they have longer to acquire cohesion, but another suggests that the risk of recurring injury is too great.

I'd be happy to see the following:

In: Chapman, Rooke, Ottens, Milburn

Out: Varcoe (A/C), Stokes (omitted), Lonergan, Mumford


I would also love to see Gamble get back in and find form, as I believe a fit Gamble is about 10x more threatening than a fit Stokes. Stokes is really starting to represent the synopsis next to his name: "mature age recruit taken in the 4th round..."

Gamble in the Vfl on the weekend played extremely well and i would like to see him make his way back into the Afl team. If he does hopefully he can play this Bulldogs game without knocking himself out. I agree Stokes is really starting to slip. Not sure what is attributing but he isn't quite at his best. Although maybe it is just fatigue setting in.

 

[Vegas.]

Actually the way Gamble played in the twos after an extended layoff (5-6 weeks?) indicates that Kelly might be able to put in a 75% game time effort in the ones. I know that getting though an AFL game is harder than a VFL one, but Vegas was really busting his arse out there, and he had a similar injury to Kel.

 

[True Blue Cat]

Everyone agrees that Blake played pretty well...everyone except Geelong Supporters.

Compared to the rest of his Afl games this season Blake played magnificently. His time in the Vfl has allowed him to improve a great deal. However he still has a large way to go. So he played well compared to usual but compared to how he needs to be playing he played poorly. He is still a 1 trick pony in my opinion. He may be good at tapping but he lacks the ability to kick accurately. When he has the ball he panics and just tries to get rid of it as fast as possible. Which is causing him to make bad decisions such as when he handballed it to Mackie during the Sydney game while Mackie was already wrapped up.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Gamble is an interesting one...he was awesome in the two's and is a definite AFL player....but frankly he has been relatively shite when given the opportunity this year. I would prefer him to Stokes based on that weekend effort though.

Maybe he is a chance for Varcoe depending of course on the extent of his injury. Will be a bold decision if selected though - to bring in a potential 4 or 5 changes is not really Bombers preference so close to finals.

 

[Tristagi]

i like gamble from the point of view that he can play as a key forward but double as a smaller forward..

 

[winty]

Gamble's played well against the Dogs in the past too. Kicked 4 against them last year, and was very lively against them earlier in the year before he got concussed. Well worth giving him a go, especially after his efforts in the VFL on the weekend.

 

[fatch_one]

Gamble should be an inclusion before the likes of stokes and varcoe in my opinion. Unlike these guys who keep getting rewarded for ordinary performances, the selection panel only seems to give gamble 2 games in a row at best. You cant expect someone to set the world on fire when they go into every game knowing they only have a 1-2 game window to fire.

Varcoe and stokes are still riding on early season form, maybe some pressure from possible being replaced by guys like gamble could light a fire under their ass at worst.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Its now or not at all for Gamble really... His AFL performances this year have been ordinary and he definitely has let some opportunities slip, especially considering our need for exactly his type of player. His VFL game was excellent and Stokes quite frankly was dissapointing, it would be a big call from Bomber but i think well worth the punt.

 

[CF]

Gamble should be an inclusion before the likes of stokes and varcoe in my opinion. Unlike these guys who keep getting rewarded for ordinary performances, the selection panel only seems to give gamble 2 games in a row at best. You cant expect someone to set the world on fire when they go into every game knowing they only have a 1-2 game window to fire.

yes you can. If you play in a team like ours then you have to take every opportunity you get. The truth is Gamble has been below ordinary this year in his AFL games and Varcoe & Stokes deserve their positions in the 1's much more than he does.

I suspect he may not be a Geelong Player too much longer if he doesn't make the most of every chance he gets to perform at the top level.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

yes you can. If you play in a team like ours then you have to take every opportunity you get. The truth is Gamble has been below ordinary this year in his AFL games and Varcoe & Stokes deserve their positions in the 1's much more than he does.

I suspect he may not be a Geelong Player too much longer if he doesn't make the most of every chance he gets to perform at the top level.

Absolutely agree with you Catman....Gamble should have fired in a few games, and just hasn't. Thought he was a little unlucky when he got concussed in one game after playing well, but on the whole he has been a little dissapointing. Saying that though, Varcoe and Stokes have had some very ordinary patches and been given the opportunity, inparticular Varcoe - who has repaid faith after a good season of so-so performances.

I think though Gamble shows something that most other players don't. He is definitely hard and has flare to burn. His biggest criticisms have been in doing the team thing, but after seeing him take to the VFL on the weekend i think the time is now and considering his freshness he could be a weapon for the finals. If not this week though, not at all

 

[hamG]

This would be an ideal week to give Gamble a run after Strokes was mauled by Shaw, yeah he is not a tagger and I don't blame him for his game but it is a great excuse to drop him none the less.