Preview Changes vs Tigers (Round 4)

[BrunswickDog]

Not feeling good about the tiges this week. Didn't we play them under similar circumstances last year: tiges coming off a disappointing loss and poor form, media questioning their hunger and tipping them to fall off a cliff, tiges having injuries, dogs holding reasonable form etc

Then the tiges came out and physically smashed us.

Hope we have learned our lessons from last year.

 

[gordo2016]

Not feeling good about the tiges this week. Didn't we play them under similar circumstances last year: tiges coming off a disappointing loss and poor form, media questioning their hunger and tipping them to fall off a cliff, tiges having injuries, dogs holding reasonable form etc

Then the tiges came out and physically smashed us.

Hope we have learned our lessons from last year.

Yes. This time hopefully ready for it.

 

[ossie_21]

Not feeling good about the tiges this week. Didn't we play them under similar circumstances last year: tiges coming off a disappointing loss and poor form, media questioning their hunger and tipping them to fall off a cliff, tiges having injuries, dogs holding reasonable form etc

Then the tiges came out and physically smashed us.

Hope we have learned our lessons from last year.

We’ll shit it in.

 

[BeMoreBont]

Not sure how to interpret the McLean/Bruce prognoses. If they were 4 months that's the start of August which is surely ample based on most ACL recoveries.

Josh Bruce was injured on 8 August and operated on within about a week so that's near enough to 12 months. Or 13 months if the prognosis is 5 months from now.

Toby was injured on 4 July and operated on within about a week so that would already be 13 months. Or 14 months if his prognosis is 5 months from now.

Are they really tracking that slowly or cautiously in their recovery or is this just lazy reporting by the club?

To be clear I don't want the club to rush either of them back by any means (especially Toby who is recovering from his second ACL rupture) but this just seems an unusually long time to me for Toby, and maybe for Bruce as well.

McLean has stated recently that this time around has been tougher mentally, based on a couple of set backs early on in the recovery. Doesn't sound like it's all gone smoothly.

I recall Bruce mentioning similar about set backs awhile ago also.

 

[Mantis Toboggan]

Not sure how to interpret the McLean/Bruce prognoses. If they were 4 months that's the start of August which is surely ample based on most ACL recoveries.

Josh Bruce was injured on 8 August and operated on within about a week so that's near enough to 12 months. Or 13 months if the prognosis is 5 months from now.

Toby was injured on 4 July and operated on within about a week so that would already be 13 months. Or 14 months if his prognosis is 5 months from now.

Are they really tracking that slowly or cautiously in their recovery or is this just lazy reporting by the club?

To be clear I don't want the club to rush either of them back by any means (especially Toby who is recovering from his second ACL rupture) but this just seems an unusually long time to me for Toby, and maybe for Bruce as well.

I’d say it’s not really worth paying attention to when it’s so far down the track. Prick those ears up when they’re talking ‘weeks’.

 

[BulldogMuscle]

McLean has stated recently that this time around has been tougher mentally, based on a couple of set backs early on in the recovery. Doesn't sound like it's all gone smoothly.

I recall Bruce mentioning similar about set backs awhile ago also.

Spoke with Bruce at a game recently, he still reckons he'll be back playing again around the bye.

 

[dogwatch]

I’d say it’s not really worth paying attention to when it’s so far down the track. Prick those ears up when they’re talking ‘weeks’.

Yes it’s a long way off but 5 months might mean no senior footy until 2023. So it affects how we think our season and our finals tilt (if any) might play out.

I had been expecting both players to return in the back half of the 2022 H&A rounds. 4 months might make that possible but only just … they might need 2-3 games in the twos to find their touch.

Three months /12 weeks was about what I had expected to read. Josh talking about returning after the bye is roughly in line with that.

 

[Del165892]

Not feeling good about the tiges this week. Didn't we play them under similar circumstances last year: tiges coming off a disappointing loss and poor form, media questioning their hunger and tipping them to fall off a cliff, tiges having injuries, dogs holding reasonable form etc

Then the tiges came out and physically smashed us.

Hope we have learned our lessons from last year.

Last time we were 6-0. This time we are 1-2. Don't worry about the Tigers. If we play at our best they can't match us. The question is whether or not we can bring the aggression and intensity required.

 

[Mofra]

Last time we were 6-0. This time we are 1-2. Don't worry about the Tigers. If we play at our best they can't match us. The question is whether or not we can bring the aggression and intensity required.

If we're switched on, we should be winning this midfield battle.
They've lost a fair chunk of their intercept marking capacity too due to injury.

Their forwardline can do some serious damage if they get decent supply.

 

[X_box_X]

If we are good enough to work our way back into being a top four contender, we should be winning these games.

 

[The 4th Horseman]

Do we look at bringing Martin in (as was the plan in round 2) straight after his recent COVID situation to help out English with the taps? Our midfield really should comfortably look after a declining Richmond midfield without Dustin Martin. If our mids can control the play as they did last week and we kick straighter we really should be winning this by 4 goals minimum.

 

[Mofra]

Do we look at bringing Martin in (as was the plan in round 2) straight after his recent COVID situation to help out English with the taps? Our midfield really should comfortably look after a declining Richmond midfield without Dustin Martin. If our mids can control the play as they did last week and we kick straighter we really should be winning this by 4 goals minimum.

Probably depends whether he actually tested positive - we saw how Libba and Marra performed after having it.
If he did have Covid I'm 100% in the "VFL game first" camp

 

[dergert]

A week off for Martin might actually be a benefit? He'd be fresh (pending whether he actually caught the virus or not).

 

[Del165892]

We’ll shit it in.

There will be shit.

 

[BallaratBulldog]

There will be shit.

That’s called the gameday thread.

 

[doggies ftw]

Do we look at bringing Martin in (as was the plan in round 2) straight after his recent COVID situation to help out English with the taps? Our midfield really should comfortably look after a declining Richmond midfield without Dustin Martin. If our mids can control the play as they did last week and we kick straighter we really should be winning this by 4 goals minimum.

I’d be reluctant to bring in Martin, as I believe I read he did test positive not just as a close contact. I’d 100% be playing Sweet though. I’d say Nank/Soldo is the hardest task English will come up against this year - harder than Gawn/Jackson who are obviously better but hurt you in different ways, whereas Nank and Soldo will just physically bully and wear down Tim all day, asking him to ruck one out against them would be genuinely unthinkable to be honest - I think we’ll see someone come in.

But yeah our midfield really should be dominating so long as they’re given a relatively fair go. I’d be very disappointed if we backed off our pressure again after stepping up for one game.

 

[dogwatch]

As this is a Saturday game will the team be announced on Thursday as in past years, or just 24 hours ahead (ie Friday in this instance) as for Rounds 1-3?

Asking for a friendly Pieman.

 

[Northernsoul74]

As this is a Saturday game will the team be announced on Thursday as in past years, or just 24 hours ahead (ie Friday in this instance) as for Rounds 1-3?

Asking for a friendly Pieman.

Back to the old way. Thursday teams.

 

[The 4th Horseman]

I’d be reluctant to bring in Martin, as I believe I read he did test positive not just as a close contact. I’d 100% be playing Sweet though. I’d say Nank/Soldo is the hardest task English will come up against this year - harder than Gawn/Jackson who are obviously better but hurt you in different ways, whereas Nank and Soldo will just physically bully and wear down Tim all day, asking him to ruck one out against them would be genuinely unthinkable to be honest - I think we’ll see someone come in.

But yeah our midfield really should be dominating so long as they’re given a relatively fair go. I’d be very disappointed if we backed off our pressure again after stepping up for one game.

I like the idea of Sweet coming in but does his form warrant selection? Would like us to use the 2 ruck structure though for this game for the reasons you've stated.

 

[Foxman98]

Hannan Wallis outside of Cordy are they only 2 that are the obvious ones to drop. McNeil West and Garcia have the form. Khamis played better but is it time to bring TOB in. Do we structure up properly with Sweet/Martin or go another tall with the Love Schach again

 

[doggies ftw]

I like the idea of Sweet coming in but does his form warrant selection? Would like us to use the 2 ruck structure though for this game for the reasons you've stated.

Yeah I dunno I didn’t watch last week his stats were good though. Week before he wasn’t great but sat in the forward line for most of the day with terrible entry. His form probably doesn’t warrant it but when we’ve put ourselves in the position that he’s literally the only option then I think we just back him in. From all reports he had a really strong preseason.

 

[bobs head soup]

In; Khamis, O'Brien, McSteal
Out; Cordy, Wallis, Scott

Would play O'Brien as tall forward/backup Ruck. Agree Tim needs more support vs Nank/Soldo and TOB is best qualified, can play forward for periods.

Was hit and miss as a forward at Hawks but way superior to the alternatives. Is strong overhead and mobile, could make for an interesting addition in the short term.

Khamis reserves form sounds promising and obvious 3rd talk type defensive replacement for Cordy.

Scott is a little stiff but McSteal can play a more defined role and form warrants promotion.

Would make VDM sub.

 

[Foxman98]

In; Khamis, O'Brien, McSteal
Out; Cordy, Wallis, Scott

Would play O'Brien as tall forward/backup Ruck. Agree Tim needs more support vs Nank/Soldo and TOB is best qualified, can play forward for periods.

Was hit and miss as a forward at Hawks but way superior to the alternatives. Is strong overhead and mobile, could make for an interesting addition in the short term.

Khamis reserves form sounds promising and obvious 3rd talk type defensive replacement for Cordy.

Scott is a little stiff but McSteal can play a more defined role and form warrants promotion.

Would make VDM sub.

What's your justification of keeping Hannan in over Scott?

 

[bobs head soup]

What's your justification of keeping Hannan in over Scott?

It's a pretty line ball call, wouldn't be surprised either way but Hannan seems to play more of a specific role, offers something overhead and hard runs all day whereas Scott is more of a spare parts man.

 

[Foxman98]

It's a pretty line ball call, wouldn't be surprised either way but Hannan seems to play more of a specific role, offers something overhead and hard runs all day whereas Scott is more of a spare parts man.

What role does Hannan play? He took 2 uncontested marks and only had 4 touches. Scott was clean and composed and had almost 3 times as much of the pill.