Changes Vs The Dogs

[Vegas.]

we could damage ottens more if he tries heroics he's not capable of yet by playing under more pressure than what he's ready for, but you are probably right given we are#2 until finals

Mate he was out for 16 weeks with a 2 week injury! Can't treat it any more lightly than that. And if he does more damage then that is a risk you take with every player that runs onto the ground every day. We need to be pushing for a flag NOW, and a semi-firing Ottens would help no end.

 

[True Blue Cat]

Ottens won't be our savior but he is someone we need. Mumford isn't the best ruckman when it comes to hit outs but his 2nd efforts make him valuable. Blake is a good ruckman when it comes to hit outs but as a player is rather shit (no offence). Ottens is good with the hit outs and can play in another position (forward) so really he is someone we need. Someone that can ruck well but isn't limited to that is something we need for finals.

 

[SmothOperRaider]

Y all the talk about Ottens as if he will be our saviour?

If he can keep Blake off the park during the finals then I'm all for it.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

If he can keep Blake off the park during the finals then I'm all for it.

Amen

My ins: Chapman, Rooke, Milburn, Ottens
Outs: Varcoe (shoulder), Mumford, Lonergan, Gillies

Bomber has said the former three will all return this week, and I suspect we will give Otto a run. (Bomber was quite praising of Blake in the presser so I suspect he'll stay this week)
Mumford could use the rest after a long season. The other reason this would be good in my opinion is to see (september wise) whether Blake + Ottens can play together given one is a dinosaur and the other is slow with injury (if you watched the twos on sat you'll know what I mean). This Bulldogs are the ideal team to test it as with their game style they are the most likely team to expose slow guys the other way

Lonergan is well meh....and in a full strength defence he doesn't cut it.

Gillies doesn't deserve to be dropped on form, but given the lack of talls in WB FWD, he's surplus this week. Still a chance for finals though.

I'd bring Kelly back through the VFL...being conservative is the way since hammys are prone to go again when you're not. Likewise VFL for Wojo.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Cats Eye - I think the match committee and coaches have decided that SJ will play from here on in, and he was much better this week against Sydney. Maybe he gets a jab in the hip before each game but he must play for us to be a hope and keep our structure. He also takes the best defender (C Bolton on the weekend) and that is invaluable for Hawkins in particular as he slips to the third best defender (L Barry) and can expose them.

He is better than a fit stokes and varcoe combined and also has the x factor that he was missing from the saints rd 14 game so they have to rethink their matchups next time

I loved how Bomber said today that basically despite how injured Stevie J looked in the warmup etc, "don't be fooled because he moves like a crab"
Gold

 

[Pure_Ownage]

As if West is getting a game ahead of Ottens and wojak is going to really struggle to move dj out of the side

I agree Rooke, Chapman and Kelly will all play this week and Varcoe, Lonergan and maybe Gillies go out

Not as crazy as it sounds. West was just about best on ground and provides flexibility, and movement, that neither Ottens or Blake do. He won't play though...clearly is down the pecking order.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Can't

Actually we can elevate due to the number of LTI's cant we?

It's all academic though as we won't do this
Moles may be doing enough to earn an upgrade next year though?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Several came to the same conclusion about Prismall, that he was starved of opportunity, therefore, one or two games at a time isn't enough to get the experience and learning development.

Are we forgetting this when analysing Gamble's experiences?

I don't think we are...but I don't think you can select players in the team purely to stop them leaving....if match committee made decisions that way they'd be a pretty poor match committee. We need to pick the best 22 for each opposition and the 22 that is most likely to get us the prize on the last Saturday in September

This said, I hope Gamble is patient...his time will come and I'd prefer we didn't lose him

 

[Pure_Ownage]

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.

Agreed. Poor. Move him on.
Gotta get something in return though.
Do you think we can get Freo to give us a first rounder for him? they are freo recruiting after all

 

[Pettas]

I loved how Bomber said today that basically despite how injured Stevie J looked in the warmup etc, "don't be fooled because he moves like a crab"
Gold

Found it funny the journos were saying is it still a problem hes limping. where have they been the last three years?

 

[JUBJUB]

Actually we can elevate due to the number of LTI's cant we?

Too late.Upgrades have to be done before Rd18.

 

[goodoldcats]

It would piss me off to no end if we make a grand final and blake is playing, he will cost in finals, make no mistake about that. His game was "good" against sydney? It would be classified as a crap game for most ruckmen

 

[kriso182]

Yeah Blake doesn't handle pressure well. Just look at this handball to the invisible man when he found the ball. He needed to change his underpants he was that scared! I think Blake would be a liability in the finals.

 

[RustNeverSleeps]

Yep, not only is Blake lacking in basic motor skills, he's a squib to boot.

In that 2007 night preliminary against Collingwood, Blake was "dancing in darkies". Ducked the head on several marking duels and would'nt commit to the contest. The coaching fraternity saw this and he was subsequently dropped for the "big day out".

Nothing worse than a timid big man with no guts.

 

[thufrinthukutash]

You do realise prior to saturday he'd been out for about 4 weeks with a hamstring injury,don't you ?

Yes.

And my comment still stands.

He just "seems" to do things for himself. Its great that he knows how to get alot of the ball, but looks like he goes missing when he hasnt got it.

He is playing in the seconds for a reason and would suspect that the coaching staff are asking him to work on parts of his game that are not up to scratch.

 

[Johanpetro]

I don't think we are...but I don't think you can select players in the team purely to stop them leaving....if match committee made decisions that way they'd be a pretty poor match committee. We need to pick the best 22 for each opposition and the 22 that is most likely to get us the prize on the last Saturday in September

This said, I hope Gamble is patient...his time will come and I'd prefer we didn't lose him

Spot on