Changes vs Tigers

[Rubberducky]

It's the business end of the year so it's going to be interesting, I can't see Ablett or Wojak being rushed back. For me it's Chappy and DJ that make way for Ling and Milburn.

I love Harry Taylor, have all year, with Milburn back is the 'finals view' that Harry won't hold his spot and he's being groomed more as a back up and / or for a big 2009?

 

[dtrainium]

If Lonners is out, I think that the genuine second key defender will go to SJ. Other teams won't make the mistake the Hawks did by putting Guerra on SJ at the start of the game.

I can't see Kelvin Moore trying to run around with Johnno. I think firstly if we all look at the forward line for Richmond and then try and work out matchups from there, you generally can tell exactly what the selection comittee is doing each week. To often these threads are filled with player x out for player y and no justified reasons are given. Also have a look at midfield battles and who would play on who. It will depend a lot on what happens with Ling and whether he plays, if he does I'd expect him to tag Foley. Richmond also have Richo and he's been lights out recently, I'd expect us to have someone in a run with role on him, Rooke would probably be the clubs first pick for the job, and then you have Mackie who might be considered for the role or have a couple of rotations through him at some stage. That would really depend on whether Hughes plays for them next week.

Their likely tall forwards would be Hughes and Schultz, with Simmonds / Pattinson resting down there occassionally. We'd have to be prepared to cover them with our defenders Scarlett & Taylor, with Harley picking up the third whoever it is whenever they are down there. Aside from that Harley would probably be looking for a matchup on a medium or small forward to try and zone off, maybe Reiwoldt, maybe Edwards. I think Hunt on Brown is pretty much a lock. Assuming all are fit I think the main starting matchups will be:

Hughes - Scarlett
Schultz - Taylor
Brown - Hunt
Reiwoldt - Milburn

with the other defending options on smaller forwards being Harley, Mackie and Enright. I can't see any room for Wojack in there this week, with Enright, Mackie and Milburn hopefully providing drive off half back.


Midfield battle an interesting one, again assuming all are fit, Ling goes to Foley, Rooke to Richardson, and the other midfield rotations would be: Ablett, Corey, Bartel, Selwood, Stokes, Kelly in an immediate sense anyway, with backup provided by small forwards with an ability to rotate through on occassion.


Even if it is bucketing down with rain, I think we'd still go with two genuine tall forwards as the game is at the Dome. Mooney obviously the first pick, and then Lonergan as the second, with Simpson still needing a bigger engine to play seniors, and Big Tom injured. The three small forwards / crumbing types I think we'll select would be Johnson (Steve that is), Gamble and then that still leaves room in the side for Varcoe, who would probably if only have his nose just infront of Byrnes at the moment. Two ruckmen obviously Ottens and Blake.

The 22 for me (not necessarily in playing positions)

B: Hunt - Scarlett - Harley
HB: Milburn - Taylor - Mackie
C: Rooke - Bartel - Corey
HF: Kelly - Mooney - S Johnson
F: Varcoe - Lonergan - Stokes
R: Ottens - Ling - Ablett
Int: Blake - Selwood - Enright - Gamble
Em: Prismall - Wojcinski - Byrnes

Even if Ablett isn't going to play I'd still name him on the team sheet anyway, in the hope that Tuck would be setting himself for the role. The only variable I can see is if they didn't believe they could find the right matchup for Harley with Taylor in the side, they might drop Taylor and bring in Wojcinski to play on a small. Though I think the selectors would be awake to the fact that Richmond will probably try to stack their forward line at some stage and Taylor and Harley would work well in the same defence. I'm also eager to see if Richmond select someone to play that defensive forward role like Hawthorn did, if so expect Harley to zone off whoever that player is and have a field day across half back.

 

[Ricketts]

"Decoy Lonners" seem to do quite well against the 'best defence in the league' at AAMI.

Yeah, he's the competition winner, and his prize is a spot in our forward line. Pretty fun really.

But if he's taking the second big defender and playing as a decoy it makes it easier for Gamble and SJ which is a win.

 

[SJ]

Yeah, he's the competition winner, and his prize is a spot in our forward line. Pretty fun really.

But if he's taking the second big defender and playing as a decoy it makes it easier for Gamble and SJ which is a win.

Exactly. I'm not saying he's going to dominate every match - the kid has played 15 AFL games for goodness' sake.

But it's very hard to win a premiership playing only one key position forward.

 

[Shmoses]

Don't think you can omit Rooke. His performance was diminished by having to tag. Sure he turned it over, but he did also kick an extremely crucial goal in the fourth quarter. He'll be in.

 

[vc_viking]

This gets harder every week, especially when they bring new players in who play well.

My thoughts are:

Gaz for Pris
Dash for DJ
Ling for ...hmm this gets harder, I reckon Lonergan might be struggling to retain his spot, might be a bit of a risk to play a shorter forward line but Gamble can play reasonably tall, Milburn has pinch hit forward and I'd be interested to see how Harry goes up forward too.
Wojcinski for ...big call but he might find himself in the magoos. While his form is good, it does not demand selection. He would be vying with Varcoe and maybe Harry for a spot and I have a feeling they may keep their spots. Woj may get a reprieve if Chappy doesn't come up from his hammy twinge. I know Rooke and Hunt were down last night but prior form will see them keep their spots.

Thoughts?

You hit the nail on the head. Ling is the Vice Captain and deserves to be back in.

 

[whoknows]

I'm all for Rooke when he is in form, he isn't at the moment.

But dropping Rooke just results in another problem... The chance of him killing someone in the VFL.

Keep him in, just to be on the safe side....

 

[vinum coupe]

I can't see them dropping varcoe for a while.
His fitness seems to be improving where as last year it fell away.

If he keeps it up (he was moving up field and carrying the ball last week for a change) he will have the spot sewn up for the year

Stuffed if I know who they will drop. I think the selection panel will just throw some darts at a board.

I'd like to see Bartel and Selwood rested for a week

 

[candiehappy]

Todays paper suggests Gaz won't be back this week. Ling & Milburn back. Wojak a bit longer, Chappy 2 or 3. So basically 2 ins. D Johnson straight out for Milburn. Either Gamble or Prissa for Ling. I'm favouring giving Prissa another run, still covering for Gaz.
Can't see any other changes.

 

[BlueNWhite]

Considering Lonners and Moons ain't kicking goals, I can't see them dropping Gamble this week - Prismall makes way for Ling for mine.

 

[gargantuan]

Don't think you can omit Rooke. His performance was diminished by having to tag. Sure he turned it over, but he did also kick an extremely crucial goal in the fourth quarter. He'll be in.

IIRC didn't the leadership group confront the selection committee earlier this season after the game that Rooke was dropped for and insist that he should not be ever dropped again due to what he adds to the team? I'm sure I read that somewhere.

DJ will be dropped for Milburn, Ling coming in for Prissa who really hasn't grabbed his chance to shine in the last two weeks and unfotunately I think Varcoe will be rested if Ablett is fine for the game. Wojak to come back through the VFL.

 

[Just do something]

IIRC didn't the leadership group confront the selection committee earlier this season after the game that Rooke was dropped for and insist that he should not be ever dropped again due to what he adds to the team? I'm sure I read that somewhere.

DJ will be dropped for Milburn, Ling coming in for Prissa who really hasn't grabbed his chance to shine in the last two weeks and unfotunately I think Varcoe will be rested if Ablett is fine for the game. Wojak to come back through the VFL.

I think there will be just 2 changes only
Ling for Chapman and Milburn for David Johnson. I dont reckon gaz will play or will wojinski and if they name them they will just name the dropped blokes as emergencies.

 

[Cohzee]

I think there will be just 2 changes only
Ling for Chapman and Milburn for David Johnson.

Agreed.