Crows make three changes

[CrowHop]

I've seen Norwood a few times this year and I agree Pfeffier is heading in the right direction, but I think he has to show us good football for a fair time to earn his selection. After his slighly troubled past 4 weeks isn't enough yet. He has to really earn it, and I think he will, but not quite yet. Over the last 18 months Douglas SANFL form well ahead of Pfeffier. He is also playing half back in a sweeping role the easiest position oin he game these days. He can really mark, great speed off first 5 yards. needs to be hard at all contests not just some. A way to go yet.

Shirley good v S Burgoyne last 3 Showdowns hence his sensible recall

Tend to agree a bit re Pfeiffer. A couple of games in a row doesn't earn you an instant AFL game, especially when you;'ve been on a list for 3 years.

 

[morell]

I love the way Port supporters are talking this up as a really hard game to pick. If they really are a genuine premiership, they should win this and win it easy. I get the feeling they are trying to convince themselves that we are still a really good side, so if they do beat us they have somehow eradicated the problem they have with big bodied, defensive teams. I think they maybe in for a shock if they think we are some sort of measuring stick. A fully fit Geelong or Sydney will be a completely different test than an injury riddled Adelaide.

You wont find many Port supporters who think we are a genuine chance. I know I don't. We have a long way to go.

Port should finish in the top 4, but we aren't a top 4 side - if that makes sense.

Macca19, you're a quality poster mate and we value the quality Port posters on our site, but surely you jest when you think it will be close !

More so for the atmosphere and importance of the 'showdown'. I realise they have lost some of their gloss recently but they are still bigger than your average Port home game.

We have 4 kids who haven't played in one yet. It will be an interesting game to see how they cope.

 

[morell]

And as for Drummond;

Port supporters have had a similar experience with Thomson this year. The way we looked at it was perhaps the coaching staff had asked him to work on something specific e.g. kicking technique, defensive pressure, where to run and when to run, that sort of stuff - it could be anything. In other words, as supporters we have very little idea about precisely why players are picked and why they aren't.

We simply do not have all the information to make an as educated decision as the coaching staff.

 

[jarmanagic]

Are you sure you’ve seen Norwood this year? Even in the games when Pfeiffer has played? So you’re implying that Pfeiffer picks and chooses his contests? That’s a laugh and a half. Courage, courage and more courage is what you’ll get with Pfeiffer, anyone who suggests otherwise hasn’t seen him play.

Mate you do fire up easily. I'm a staunch Norwood and Crows man. I very much want Pfeffier to be a star AFL player and I think he can. I'm happy to look at him with positivity but I know what I've (and others) have seen. I dont think you need Glenn Archer level attack on the footy to be a high quality AFL player though. Dare I say it but our beloved Mcleod (who is a superstar, a champion of the highest order an has been absolutely outstanding this year) doesnt always crash into all contests, nor should he. When you're 19 and trying to earn your AFL spot??? maybe

By the way I really want to believe your Meesen optimism, but I can't see it myself. Hope you are right though

 

[Macca19]

I love the way Port supporters are talking this up as a really hard game to pick. If they really are a genuine premiership, they should win this and win it easy.

We arent a genuine premiership chance.

 

[Stiffy_18]

My god Drummond, if you don't want to support the AFC then don't let the door hit you on the way out

Back to the topic, the only bit of a downer this week is dropping Campbell. I am not a fan of bringing in someone for one game and then dropping them.

Porps HAD to come in. In too good a form and VITAL to us with Bode out. That was a no brainer IMHO.

Shirley also HAD to some in. We were soft as butter in the midfield last week. FFS we got boned by Essendon. You know you have gone super soft when you get flogged by Essendon in the ruck and the midfield. We need his hardness and his record on Shaun Burgoyne is good.

I CANNOT believe people are whinging why Douglas is back in. I was disappointed he was dropped. People come on here and whinge and moan why youngsters are not getting a game yet they would drop a player who is clearly too good for SANFL. FFS he got tagged last week and still got 20 touches, kicked a goal and I thought his tough inside work was great. So if this kid is too good for SANFL and struggles at the AFL what you do with the kid is give him ALF games and let him adapt to the game at AFL level and get more comfortable. Playing him in SANFL defeats the purpose because he won't learn a thing in SANFL.

Good changes this week, but Campbell is a bit stiff!

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

We arent a genuine premiership chance.

Not you too Mac. I'm so over hearing how if Port win the premiership this year, it will be the greatest and fastest rebuild in the history of sport ( just ask Ruc). Your top 8 players ( C & K Cornes, S & B Burgoyne, Motlop, Lade, Tredrea, Brogan) are just as talented, if not more so, then any other teams best 8 players. So the fact you are again a premiership chance should really be no big surprise. Actually if you think about it, and you take into consideration the aforementioned talent, you could say you actually underachieved the last 2 years.

 

[Drummond]

I CANNOT believe people are whinging why Douglas is back in. I was disappointed he was dropped. People come on here and whinge and moan why youngsters are not getting a game yet they would drop a player who is clearly too good for SANFL. FFS he got tagged last week and still got 20 touches, kicked a goal and I thought his tough inside work was great. So if this kid is too good for SANFL and struggles at the AFL what you do with the kid is give him ALF games and let him adapt to the game at AFL level and get more comfortable. Playing him in SANFL defeats the purpose because he won't learn a thing in SANFL.

Good changes this week, but Campbell is a bit stiff!

Oh spare me Stiffy.

Too good for the SANFL? I know you highly rate the young lad but let’s assess his form in the SANFL a little more closely…

10 possessions, 2 marks
15 possessions, 1 mark
22 possessions, 5 marks, 1 goal
30 possessions, 6 marks, 7 goals
19 possessions, 3 marks, 2 goals
20 possessions, 3 marks, 1 goal

Averages of 19.33 possessions, 3.33 marks, 1.8 goals per game. Too good for the SANFL? Give me a break. Had one outstanding game, and another very good game, but otherwise no real standout performances.

Chris Knights was an example of someone who WAS too good for the SANFL, Douglas definitely is not.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

We arent a genuine premiership chance.

It's not what the premiership ladder or betting is saying Mac. You're sitting 3rd on the ladder and you have won the last 3 games by a total of 240 odd points. Mate, you are definately a premiership chance, no matter how much you guys try and downplay it.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Oh spare me Stiffy.

Too good for the SANFL? I know you highly rate the young lad but let’s assess his form in the SANFL a little more closely…

10 possessions, 2 marks
15 possessions, 1 mark
22 possessions, 5 marks, 1 goal
30 possessions, 6 marks, 7 goals
19 possessions, 3 marks, 2 goals
20 possessions, 3 marks, 1 goal

Averages of 19.33 possessions, 3.33 marks, 1.8 goals per game. Too good for the SANFL? Give me a break. Had one outstanding game, and another very good game, but otherwise no real standout performances.

Chris Knights was an example of someone who WAS too good for the SANFL, Douglas definitely is not.

I see you are doing your reputation as a stat whore no harm.

Way to go

Believe it or not, the game is not about stats. He is more than comfortable at SANFL football to the point where he is getting a tag on quite a few occasions. His game last week was very good even though the stats aren't sexy enough for you

 

[bus24]

I see you are doing your reputation as a stat whore no harm.

Way to go

Believe it or not, the game is not about stats. He is more than comfortable at SANFL football to the point where he is getting a tag on quite a few occasions. His game last week was very good even though the stats aren't sexy enough for you

Not to mention he's not going to be a high possesion player (Chris Knights style) anyway.

He's at the level in between SANFL and AFL footy. He's only going to improve by playing at the highest level.

Should be played in defence with stints on the ball or have a few games as a run-with player.

 

[coast2coast]

has dogga played his last game for afc? let's hope so.

thanks for your service but your time is up.

 

[CrowHop]

My god Drummond, if you don't want to support the AFC then don't let the door hit you on the way out

Back to the topic, the only bit of a downer this week is dropping Campbell. I am not a fan of bringing in someone for one game and then dropping them.

Porps HAD to come in. In too good a form and VITAL to us with Bode out. That was a no brainer IMHO.

Shirley also HAD to some in. We were soft as butter in the midfield last week. FFS we got boned by Essendon. You know you have gone super soft when you get flogged by Essendon in the ruck and the midfield. We need his hardness and his record on Shaun Burgoyne is good.

...

Good changes this week, but Campbell is a bit stiff!

Top post Stiffy, agree with all this.

 

[vlbl]

really happy to see props back and douglas as well, like all you guys not sure about shirley back but it is most probably a role for him to tag the S.bourgeoyne or Cornes (good luck to him). I personally think VB would be a better run with player atm mainly cos of his big motor and he can also hurt a team in attack instead of just doing a defensive role and not playing on the tagged players mind that he needs to keep a tight check on his opponent as well, much like Ling for the cats. I think the main reason campbell and douglas are put in the team at this stage is to play the crumming role (which is a huge waste of talent and strategy IMHO), its obvious both are better suited to the midfield role and thats the reason he made the swap with campbell and douglas and did not bring in Pfeiffer. So once again we will see douglas playing out of position and have minimal impact and not showing much at afl level.

Hope i'm wrong though.

 

[CrowHop]

has dogga played his last game for afc? let's hope so.

thanks for your service but your time is up.

Bit stiff.

 

[morell]

It's not what the premiership ladder or betting is saying Mac. You're sitting 3rd on the ladder and you have won the last 3 games by a total of 240 odd points. Mate, you are definately a premiership chance, no matter how much you guys try and downplay it.

Premiership chance is one thing, Genuine Premiership chance is another.

IMO there are only three genuine Premiership chances - Geelong, Sydney and West Coast

 

[Drummond]

I see you are doing your reputation as a stat whore no harm.

Way to go

Believe it or not, the game is not about stats. He is more than comfortable at SANFL football to the point where he is getting a tag on quite a few occasions. His game last week was very good even though the stats aren't sexy enough for you

Just backing up stats to destroy your ridiculous comment. Too good for the SANFL!

Look at Symes over at Port; he is someone who is legitimately too good for the SANFL. In the best players every week by collecting 30 possessions and destroying teams on the rebound.

Douglas isn't, despite what you might think.

So if you don’t think stats do justice in this case, what about best players? He’s been in the best 3 out of his 6 SANFL games. Any way of arguing that one? He might look comfortable in the local league, he might be getting tagged, but surely if he was “too good for the SANFL” he would be breaking these tags?

 

[Southerntakeover]

Ahh Drummsticks... i couldnt wait to see your reaction after reading this thread.

1. Campbell dropped, after one game.

Correct.

2. Shirley back in, yes, he will guide us to our next premiership.

Is every player expected to 'guide us to our next premiership'?

3. Douglas back after an average SANFL game last week.

You have a problem with playing a youngster?

4. WHERE THE FREAKING HECK IS PFEIFFER?

5. Pfeiffer isn't even an emergency.

Douglas > Pfeiffer

6. Jericho is an emergency.

Douglas > Jericho > Pfeiffer

 

[*PAF]

Oh spare me Stiffy.

Too good for the SANFL? I know you highly rate the young lad but let’s assess his form in the SANFL a little more closely…

10 possessions, 2 marks
15 possessions, 1 mark
22 possessions, 5 marks, 1 goal
30 possessions, 6 marks, 7 goals
19 possessions, 3 marks, 2 goals
20 possessions, 3 marks, 1 goal

Averages of 19.33 possessions, 3.33 marks, 1.8 goals per game. Too good for the SANFL? Give me a break. Had one outstanding game, and another very good game, but otherwise no real standout performances.

Chris Knights was an example of someone who WAS too good for the SANFL, Douglas definitely is not.

If I may cut in.
To be good at the SANFL level all one has to do is be really really good at one thing.
If a player is really good in one aspect such as being tall, or strong or a good mark, perhaps by being an accumulator etc but has deficiencies in other areas, then unfortunately he may end up a SANFL star that cannot make the leap to AFL. Plenty examples of that over the years and no doubt there will be plenty more in years to come
In other words just because someone is good in the SANFL does not necessarily mean they will good at the next level.
Not sure how relevant to the discussion it was but ...

 

[Truck Rutten]

And as for Drummond;

Port supporters have had a similar experience with Thomson this year. The way we looked at it was perhaps the coaching staff had asked him to work on something specific e.g. kicking technique, defensive pressure, where to run and when to run, that sort of stuff - it could be anything. In other words, as supporters we have very little idea about precisely why players are picked and why they aren't.

We simply do not have all the information to make an as educated decision as the coaching staff.

Nice post

 

[asdfasd]

Glad to see Doughty out of the team for this week, but I'm disappointed at Campbell being dropped after his first game. No, he wasn't overly impressive in his first game, but he needs at least a couple of weeks in the AFL to try to get a feel for it. Pulling him out after one week won't help him (or us) at all...

 

[Damp Squarie]

Glad to see Doughty out of the team for this week, but I'm disappointed at Campbell being dropped after his first game. No, he wasn't overly impressive in his first game, but he needs at least a couple of weeks in the AFL to try to get a feel for it. Pulling him out after one week won't help him (or us) at all...

Youve just answered your own question and vindicated my beleif from last weeks rant, that he would not get a gig tomorrow.

He'll get his chance,at least the coaching panel have seen him in battle; the wars not over yet.

 

[jenny61_99]

Oh under "normal circumstances" eh? Give me a break. We're 12th on the ladder, lost 6 of our past 8 matches, are one of the worst form teams of the competition, and yet you refuse to play the youngsters.

I really, really struggle to see how playing Pfeiffer over a guy like Shirley would be forfeiting our season. You said yourself you’ve never seen Pfeiffer play, so how the heck would you know if he’s ready to play or not? You just look at his DOB and games played and therefore make up your mind up that he’s not ready to play.

It is truly staggering how unbelievably short sighted you are. You refuse to go point by point in this argument because you have absolutely no clue. You harp on how we’re still a chance to play finals football and as a result we cannot play any youngsters because they’ll surely stuff up our chance to get there! Playing a guy like Pfeiffer over Shirley WOULD NOT be forfeiting our season. If these guys like Shirley, Doughty, Mattner were so good and they excelled in their positions, why then are we 12th on the ladder? Playing the youth wouldn’t make this team any worse that what we currently are. You can’t see this because you’ve never seen the potential replacements and you’re too busy dreaming about the warm and fuzzy feeling you would get about making up the numbers.

I won't go point by point because it is POINTLESS - as is your argument. I haven't said don't blood youngsters - NOT ONCE. But I have said not all at once, which you seem to think will be a great thing. Is Pfeiffer a tagger? Is he an experienced tagger? Shirley is. Apparently he's done the job on S Burgoyne a few times. What don't you get???? You seem to think that playing Pfeiffer will be the answer to all our prayers. Well I have news for you. Just as Campbell wasn't last week. The fact is that these debutants will take a while to find their feet at this elite level. They will generally not come in and have a huge impact on a game no matter how sensational they were in the SANFL. We actually - as we are still trying to make the finals - need someone who will have an impact on the game NOW. You need to settle down and try to understand the reasoning behind decisions for THIS game - stop taking it as a personal insult that those that KNOW (and consequently the ones that make the decisions), don't agree with you.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

I see you are doing your reputation as a stat whore no harm.

Way to go

Believe it or not, the game is not about stats. He is more than comfortable at SANFL football to the point where he is getting a tag on quite a few occasions. His game last week was very good even though the stats aren't sexy enough for you

Whoa Stiffy your gonna get at least 200 irate emails today.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Just backing up stats to destroy your ridiculous comment. Too good for the SANFL!

Look at Symes over at Port; he is someone who is legitimately too good for the SANFL. In the best players every week by collecting 30 possessions and destroying teams on the rebound.

Douglas isn't, despite what you might think.

So if you don’t think stats do justice in this case, what about best players? He’s been in the best 3 out of his 6 SANFL games. Any way of arguing that one? He might look comfortable in the local league, he might be getting tagged, but surely if he was “too good for the SANFL” he would be breaking these tags?

Every heard of matchups son?