Changes vs WC

[Shambolic]

Murphy made some pretty feeble efforts on the weekend. He looks like he is playing sore.

All the mids seem out of form, and are having far lower efficiencies.

I thought Yarran showed some dare and excitement. He didnt get it much - he doesnt get it much - but we need him to keep working through that and get to AFL intensity asap.

We weren't very good at all and seem to have lost our mojo.

 

[Stamos]

Anyone know when McLean will be back in the Ants? Geez we need him.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Anyone know when McLean will be back in the Ants? Geez we need him.

2 weeks

 

[Madblue]

Hard to make changes when we don't have any depth.

 

[Stamos]

If Walker is suspended, I reckon we move Waite back, and bring in Fisher forward.

Lucas out (inj.), Johnson in.

Ellard in for Carrazzo.

If Houlihan is right, he comes back in.

 

[Kramer1]

Difficult to know what to do...would like to think the guys will come out breathing fire, but have thought that before and we have just managed to find new lows.

I think we have an opportunity to play some back to basics football this week. A simple game plan built around winning the contested ball, laying crunching tackles and owning the corridor. Man on man footy across the ground, Waite and Henderson forward (and left there), Gibbs in the middle (and left there) anyone who doesn't record at least three tackles can ****ing well walk home.

Ellard in for Lucas, Davies in for Joseph.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

yeah but he is still one of the few players that can create and make things happen.
For not chasing .. we can look to Judd Murph and Gibbs too.

Why stop with Yarran???

Look what happens now with who comes in and who doesnt is imaterial.
The players are undrilled.. theyre obviously confused... three different game plans in the first 10 weeks has knocked them about.
Ratts does not have the pin number to key into the ATM and collect.
He is totally clueless.
He cannot challenge!!!

My info is he has been given notice and has till the end of the season to turn things aorund.

Lets see!!....

Hey Hey Hey!!!... He is the only one having a go out there and needs more help and gets 3 votes every week according all the so-called experts on this board who cant see a thing he does wrong!!!

Seriously though he needs to start being more of a vocal leader and demand better efforts in a different way because his current method is not working. He only tackles when the ball is right in the vicinity of him, and you never see him take off after anyone with the intent that Yarran or Garlett does which used to be a feature of his game.

I wouldn't be totally against seeing what we could get for him in a year or 2's time, I think it will hurt us for a long time that we traded away a 10 to 12 year CHF in Kennedy when they are as rare as hens teeth through the draft these days. I just wish we could of orchestrated a deal not involving him because whoever we draft now at CHF will be cutting their teeth in the VFL for the next 3 years while Josh dominates.

 

[blue healer]

i guess it is a matter of perspective i have been at the last 2 games and share the frustration being vented here but this talk of dropping gibbs and or murphy is beyond me. They have both been very poor the last two weeks ( although all anger seems to be pointed at gibbs ) with our season hanging on by a thread WHAT are you going to replace them with an unproven ellard ( who will come in for lucas anyway) or a proven bit player in johnson, now is the time to back our quality players in and let them prove there worth to the team.

In times of trouble you should be turning to your better players and putting the heat on them to turn it around judd let kieran jack run around and make him look ordinary in the first half yesterday but oddly enough no one is calling for his head.

For mine there is not a lot of quality in the bullants that can come in and have an immediate impact ( yes some are better than those currently getting a game) but tipping guys out from our top end will not help us short or long term.

This is a good post, the team is going to be worse with these players out.

We have been blasted off the park in the last 2 weeks by teams that have played exceptional football, yes we were ordinary but they have been very good. We still, at worst, matched these teams for inside 50's and everyone blames poor delivery for lack of scoreboard pressure.

I think one of the reasons we are not hitting targets is that we are not presenting in the forward line as well as we were early in the season. There is no confidence in the leads provided (if any are provided at all) and we take few marks and bring the ball to ground too infrequently.

Hampson is 201 cms, 100kgs, touted as the most athletic big man in the club and the fastest over 20 mtrs. Why does this not add up to the ideal FF and in suggesting this last week the response seemed to be that he should learn the position in the Ants.

I say bullshit, play him there now. At least he should bring the ball to deck for the amigos. He cannot be worse than the options we have at present.

Also pay Mathew LLoyd whatever it costs to teach him to play the position and the amigos where to position themselves.

 

[Shambolic]

I think its a bit more than that - we're trying to squeeze perfect passes to low probability chances. I think its a bit of

a) opposition know to squeeze us as we dont have strong leads or good pack marks
b) we prefer pace and space and this is clogged when opposition plays this way
c) skills are down. Rusty, Gibbs and Grigg all tried pinpoint passes that just didnt come off

I didnt think id ever say this but I think we need Fish deep in the goal square for the long option when the short ones just look too tight.

 

[blue healer]

I think its a bit more than that - we're trying to squeeze perfect passes to low probability chances. I think its a bit of

a) opposition know to squeeze us as we dont have strong leads or good pack marks
b) we prefer pace and space and this is clogged when opposition plays this way
c) skills are down. Rusty, Gibbs and Grigg all tried pinpoint passes that just didnt come off

I didnt think id ever say this but I think we need Fish deep in the goal square for the long option when the short ones just look too tight.

I know the game was over but I still think Hampson provided the only real target we had in the forward line all day.

I agree that Fish should also be tried but would prefer him in the pocket. Everyone knows he can take a mark so would have to take a pretty good defender.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

I think its a bit more than that - we're trying to squeeze perfect passes to low probability chances. I think its a bit of

a) opposition know to squeeze us as we dont have strong leads or good pack marks
b) we prefer pace and space and this is clogged when opposition plays this way
c) skills are down. Rusty, Gibbs and Grigg all tried pinpoint passes that just didnt come off

I didnt think id ever say this but I think we need Fish deep in the goal square for the long option when the short ones just look too tight.

Fisher is not the answer for the long option, I think the penny finally dropped in the 2nd half yesterday when they played Hampson out of the goal square, it straightened us up and we took a more direct and quicker approach to goal and he looked threatening. I was also impressed with a couple of efforts when the ball hit the ground as he fought feverishly to try and lock it in or win it back.

Fisher is no bigger then Henderson or Waite who cant even impact a contested pack mark situation. It really wont matter who plays deep if we dont get it there quicker, too many times we are looking to pinpoint Betts or Garlett on a lead to the boundary line and we disregard the most dangerous kick in footy because of it, which is to the hotspot 1 on 1 where the defenders really panick. We dont have the footskills to hit leading players in the pockets and when we do it is less then 33% chance to kick a goal.

I would continue to play Hampson deep and start these little guys on the boundary line so they have to run to a spot front and centre and let Hampson have a real run at a few pack marks and split a few of these defenders open who want to flood back, this would allow Betts, Garlett, Yarran and co to hit the ground level balls with momentum.

In order for this to succeed however we need 1 of 2 things to happen.

1- stop over using the ball off half back and through the middle of the ground by going sideways and trying to be too cute for our skill level.

2- replace the f--king idiots in the side who continually do this week in week out with kids who will follow instructions and play to a structure or gameplan.

If this approach was adopted it would resemble some sort of basic gameplan that is easy to follow, teach and drilled. If they cant follow a simple gameplan then have the balls and willingness to make the players accountable for this at the selection table, if you prefer to adopt a gameplan which is too difficult for our young group to follow then we really have to look at the coach. The gameplan needs to suit the cattle you have at your disposal!!!

 

[blueboy25]

The first thing I would do is pick a squad of 25-28 players who will be in contention this week and fly to Perth first thing wednesday morning.

The squad can then spend 3-4 days as a team outside of their comfort zone and bond and try and work through what the hell is going on at the moment.

Not one player seems to be enjoying themselves at the moment and I think they need some time out of melbourne away from the constant press about how badly they are playing and regroup and attack the final 6 games of the season.

Bugger it the whole squad can come to my place for a bbq and a few beers and I can show them some videos of carlton teams of old who played for the jumper.

 

[Blue and Silver]

I for one happen to believe that several of our players are carrying injuries, or recovering from them and are finding it hard to perform at peak value with said injuries.

OUT: Lucas (hamstring) Walker (Suspended) Carazzo

IN: Ellard, Davies, Johnson

Ellard to play in and under the packs, Davies to go back and play the sweeping half-back role he has in the VFL, Johnson to play on the wing while AJ moves into the tagging role and Russell picks up Le Cras.

AJ needs to be a tagger again, get into the action and really pester his opponent. Give him one of WC up and comers like Strijk or Sheppard and let him play offensive as much as possible. Needs a confidence boost more than any thing else.

Ellard deserves his shot, at Subi none the less, if he can block and clear the way for Judd he will have done his job.

Davies and Johnson are needed for the hardness at the contest in the back half and against opponents. While Johnson may of not been seen in this light before he certainly was in my eyes after his games earlier on this year.

Gibbs is on notice. If his body isn't right he shouldn't play. We needed his accurate disposal, but if he is going to butcher it, better he takes a rest, and if this is a form issue, than he is better off in the VFL for a mental kick up the arse.

I will assume Walker is suspended for now until I hear otherwise

 

[Shambolic]

Fisher is not the answer for the long option, I think the penny finally dropped in the 2nd half yesterday when they played Hampson out of the goal square, it straightened us up and we took a more direct and quicker approach to goal and he looked threatening. I was also impressed with a couple of efforts when the ball hit the ground as he fought feverishly to try and lock it in or win it back.

Fisher is no bigger then Henderson or Waite who cant even impact a contested pack mark situation. It really wont matter who plays deep if we dont get it there quicker, too many times we are looking to pinpoint Betts or Garlett on a lead to the boundary line and we disregard the most dangerous kick in footy because of it, which is to the hotspot 1 on 1 where the defenders really panick. We dont have the footskills to hit leading players in the pockets and when we do it is less then 33% chance to kick a goal.

I would continue to play Hampson deep and start these little guys on the boundary line so they have to run to a spot front and centre and let Hampson have a real run at a few pack marks and split a few of these defenders open who want to flood back, this would allow Betts, Garlett, Yarran and co to hit the ground level balls with momentum.

No doubt Hampson showed something - the only real highlight for mine.

And you're spot on that Fisher isnt as big as the other two. Its just that he's a pack marker - the other two are leads/ sticky fingers (not the rolling stones type). If we're stuck with a compressed forward line, as our opponents seem to be doing, one thing you could do is try a risky approach of using him as the go-for-it pack marker. he's the onlypack marking player we have on the list.

Hammer showed more as a big leading forawrd. Not sure he can take a real pack mark as yet.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

No doubt Hampson showed something - the only real highlight for mine.

And you're spot on that Fisher isnt as big as the other two. Its just that he's a pack marker - the other two are leads/ sticky fingers (not the rolling stones type). If we're stuck with a compressed forward line, as our opponents seem to be doing, one thing you could do is try a risky approach of using him as the go-for-it pack marker. he's the onlypack marking player we have on the list.

Hammer showed more as a big leading forawrd. Not sure he can take a real pack mark as yet.

Thats just it, give him an extended opportunity to develop into a Kurt Tippett type, play him there for the rest of the year and into next year and see if he can develop his ability to pack mark. The very least he will do if give confidence to the midfield group that he will give a real contest and he doesn't even need to mark it that often, just dont get outmarked!!!

I would be backing him in the hold onto a few marks or creating spillages when it is 1 on 3 or 2 on 4/5 as it so oftens is and then see what the small forwards can do more so then Fisher at the moment.

I also believe his huge frame might have a few defenders doubting whether they should keep going back in front of him if he can split a few open!!!

 

[choo]

OUT; Walker, Lucas, Robinson
IN: Warnock, Ellard, Houlihan

Carrazzo v Priddis head to head just get the ball Carrots!!!
Warnock ruck Hampson FF
Waite to wing as link on big ground
Ellard hard at it in the middle

If Gibbs' back stops him from travelling bring in Johnston we need his disposal

Watched the replay
Disposal into 50 in the first quarter was soul destroying. You could see the reaction of the players to the shocking errors with stupid short passes in the forward line.

In Ratten's defence; i think he is trying to talk up the positives this week after blasting the players continuously for the past month. That's my only explanation to his assertion that the second half was good!!
you may find the coaches agreed before talking to the players that the message would be; we're getting better.

 

[Claypigeon]

I want to see as settled a team as possible this week. .. Its obvious the chopping and changing forced on the team for the last couple of months has some bearing on the way the team is going. ..

Having said that and in contradiction of it, I cannot help but think Jacobs needs a rest. .. I'm a fan of his but the amount of ruck work he is carrying since Kreuz went out is starting to get on top of him. .. He looked like Renouf circa Round 4-6 2010, too tired. .. Maybe bring in Warnock and play three rucks rotating forward/bench to give Jacob that rest, not sure. ..

we should win this if the side can settle, we had the match ups right last time and should again (hoping Houla is fit and Walker escapes suspension). ..

 

[Blue Warrior]

What's needed is a commitment to eachother and the team too many individuals running around in navy blue at the moment. We have to protect our outside midfielders Murphy,Gibbs(if he isn't dropped) and allow Judd to become a receiver for run and carry. I think Walker should have a run on the ball aswell atleast he has some grunt in him.
Time for a change up and drop some "name" players to show we won't allow crap performances anymore.

 

[yibbida]

Wiggins & White both didn't play Bullants last week, so we can forget about them playing in the 1's.

Bring in Ellard and unleash Tuohy on the wide open spaces of Subi. From all reports he runs hard, kicks long and accurately.

Outs will be Lucas & Walker (probably....)

Last chance for a few of the boys I would think. If we drop out of the 8, we might start playing the "kids" to see where we stand for next few years.

We live in the 5yr plan AFL world now.....

 

[Ryan Dixon Webb]

I'd love to see Ellard come in and start in the centre square. Send Gibbs into the middle as well. Should consider bringing in Johnson, Davies, Houlihan or even Tuohy - who would lap it up at Subiaco.

 

[pansies]

Out: People who are ill disciplined and can't kick.
Carrazzo - The only thing going for him is that he can get the ball. On Sunday he couldn't even do that. Also needs to improve his kicking.

Robbo - Seriously needs to learn how to tackle. Has he laid an effective tackle without giving away a free kick?

Joseph - Disposal is a problem, just blazes away too often. Also continually gets caught in the backline holding the ball trying to take everyone on. If there isn't a match up for him then he shouldn't play otherwise he is too much of a liability.

Lucas - Injury.

In: Players that can kick the ball effectively

Houlihan - According to Simpson he'll be playing this week.

Davies - From reports he has a good kick and from memory of the NAB game against Sydney he looked composed and solid in the backline.

Johnson - Again someone who can kick well. It's very important on Subi to be able to properly dispose of the ball otherwise on the big open spaces the ball can quickly turn the other way.

Ellard - Seems to have earned his spot and playing with confidence. Hopefully that can infect everyone else.

If Walker doesn't get off then that is truly the end of the bump. Most of the time when people go on about the 'Bump' being dead it is usually about an incident that has involved the victims head. In this case Walker hit the swans guy on the shoulder. Not to mention he wasn't injured. It should never have been a free kick. I didn't know they gave free kicks for knocking the wind out of someone.

It is no coincidence that this also happened on newly laid grass that runs the length of the ground right in the middle. It is impossible to turn on this and almost everyone who was slipping did so there.

 

[Bluebear]

Would make a huge statement, and drop some big name players.

Out: Gibbs, Murphy, Carrazzo.
In: some kids who want to prove a point.

They won't have the guts to do it this week.

Shapes as an elimination final for us. Lose this and we are all but cooked.

However, lose it and the next week vs Pies might be the time to drop one or two for a kick in the pants.

I would like to see Ellard get another go. Not sure at whose expense. maybe Carrots.
Would also like to see Johnson come in and play the Hoops defensive forward role and lead up HFF - use his kicking I50.
If Henderson isn't 100% (which he didn't look on Sunday) then either Fisher or O'hAilpin to come in.

MC must stick fat with Hampson at FF. Is getting a bit better each week and if he can get his confidence up then he could be a real asset next year and beyond.

 

[LoveMyBlueBoys]

Walker copped 70 points, bit harsh but at least it means no matches missed

 

[Sin City]

Walker copped 70 points, bit harsh but at least it means no matched missed

Gee that's alright, I thought he was gone

 

[LoveMyBlueBoys]

I thought he'd get off, there didn't seen to be any intent there, just 2 guys going for the one ball. Walkers' not the Waite type either so I'm sure those 70 points hanging over his head won't worry him. So the only certain out is Lucas at this stage?