Do we drop players this week?

[sabre_ac]

With a few knocking on the door from the wafl should maybe someone from the likes of Headland or Medhurst have some time back in the WAFL?
Or should we play our best team on paper at all times?

Furthermore is it time for McPharlin to move into the forward line and maybe switch Polak back to the backline?
Something needs to change but what is it?

 

[pav_is_god]

As much as I'd like to see McPharlin play in the forward line there is no way in he'll that we could afford it. He his our rock of Gibraltar and is the only thing holding back the flood gates. Polak is gonna take time to gain confidence and experience in the forward line and I don't think we should expect too much of him at the moment. I think our only quick fix would be for Pavlich to play the majority of the time as a forward and give Browne or Dunn more of a run in the side.

As for dropping players, Medhurst should have been dropped s round ago.

 

[doppo]

If Headland isn't fit, which is pretty obvious, get him the hell off the field until he is.

Bring back Browne, we need someone hard at it in the midfield not afraid of putting his body on the line. Wouldn't mind seeing Dunn given a go either.

As for Medhurst I don't even know if a run at Claremont would do him any good, he'd probably just sulk.

 

[voodoo_86]

I'd like to see both players out, and browne in and probably murphy. I'd like to see if this promising kid can play at afl level.

Playing our best side on paper was very attractive at the beginning of the year, and now we've finally got it, and aren't performing anywhere near the paper standard, its time to wake a few players up and give some performing players a chance.

Later
Voodoo-

 

[ImperialPurple]

I've been thinking about this since yesterday afternoon, and I realised that masai was right on the money when he talked about "Gold passes" a few weeks back.

Too many players have "gold passes" - are walk up starts into the best 22 no matter what sort of crap they may dish up on the field.

By my reckoning (and I'm no expert), the only guys who have "earnt" the right to a "gold pass" at this point in the season are Hase, McPharlap, Belly, Macca, Pav and Sir Robert. And maybe Jimmy Walker and Roger.

These guys play with consistency and effort every week. Their good games are great, their bad games are still good. Guys have to earn their gold passes - who else apart form these 6-8 players put in a top effort and a good game every week?

Grover tries, Old Man Parks tries and Cookie does too... but they don't have the same level of consistency as these other blokes.

You can't go dropping guys and chopping and changing after every loss, but now that there has been two insipid outings in a row, maybe it's time for some of the others to hand in their gold passes, and be made to earn them back with effort and consistency... not just a promise and potential.

 

[Exeter]

I was perusing Dockerland today as one does occasionally and I was stunned to read some of the negative bollocks that some purported fans post about the Dockers.

Two losses and there are fans there slashing their wrists and writing off everything from the season, to the coach, to key players.

Get a grip people.

The Dockers are on a steady upward curve - losses are learning opportunities not the end of the world. My thesis on this is that there's this deep seated fear of your team not being good enough with some fans having recurring nightmares of Phil Gilbert, Clinton Wolf, Damian Drum and a variety of other horrors and that a backward slide into football oblivion is only a game away.

Dockers are rapidly improving and on their way to being premiership contenders - maybe not this year but certainly from 2005.

a loss or two aint the end of the world

 

[ImperialPurple]

Originally posted by Exeter
I was perusing Dockerland today as one does occasionally and I was stunned to read some of the negative bollocks that some purported fans post about the Dockers.

Two losses and there are fans there slashing their wrists and writing off everything from the season, to the coach, to key players.

Get a grip people.

The Dockers are on a steady upward curve - losses are learning opportunities not the end of the world. My thesis on this is that there's this deep seated fear of your team not being good enough with some fans having recurring nightmares of Phil Gilbert, Clinton Wolf, Damian Drum and a variety of other horrors and that a backward slide into football oblivion is only a game away.

Dockers are rapidly improving and on their way to being premiership contenders - maybe not this year but certainly from 2005.

a loss or two aint the end of the world

Exeter - so nice of you to drop in, we do miss you around these parts since you (and all your buddies) have moved onto greener pastures on EFH.

You are absolutely 100% spot on the money correct. On many fronts. Freo fans do have a deep-rooted fear of returning to the "bad old days" We've been tantalised by the prospect of success, and like taking candy from the baby, we have had a taste, we know it's great and we don't want to give it away.
Yes there are some people ready to slit their wrists, but I think the majority of fans are just very disappointed in the way our team has rolled over in the last few weeks.
OK; to lose by 23 against StK - the form team of the comp - is not a tragedy... but 1 goal in a half is nothing to be proud of.
And to lose by 10 pts in bloody Tasmania (hey AFL - send us to NZ next time why don't ya...) is also not a tragedy; but to have top 4 aspirations and then have so little application against the team sitting 15th, with 6 losses on the trot, and not even their best team on the park - well that is disappointing.
If your team - any team - has a red hot crack and loses to a better team on the day, well at least you take something positive out of it... but Saturday in particular showed that some of our guys don't appear to give a toss. No doubt they do - but show your supporters and your "raison d'etre" that you do.
It's frustrating to think that we were 5-1. What an great start to a season. But games like the one against the Hawks are MUST WIN in the context as we are now entering a period in the season where we could very well lose more than we win over the next 4-5 weeks... and suddenly we are back with the pack and struggling to make up numbers in the 8. Frustrating to blow such a great start. Freo fans are starved - and scared. You're right.
But I also think we are pretty realistic and know that our real opportunities will come in 2005-7. It's more the soft way they lost that is doing people's heads in more than anything else.

After all that - thanks for your words of encouragement. You're a good bloke Ex!

 

[Ripper]

Originally posted by ImperialPurple


After all that - thanks for your words of encouragement. You're a good bloke Ex!

Agreed. Ex is far too sensible for Bigfooty.

 

[Kapow!!!]

There's nothing wrong with our current line-up. They've just been in a rouhg patch of fumbling and turnovers. Medhurst and Farmer need to start being front and center in the forward line, Polak needs to take his time and learn how not to kick it into the man on the mark and simmonds, well, Simmonds didn't do anything wrong, we just didn't get it to him at the right spot and quick enough.

I reckon they'll fire up this week and get over against Brisbane!

 

[Kapow!!!]

Oh and use Pav in the middle, otherwise we have no run. Pav on Voss and when Voss goes forward, stick Hadril on him. That should work.

McPharlin on Brown, WHAT A F***ING MATCHUP THAT WILL BE!!!!

 

[voodoo_86]

I'm just curious as to what the posts on EFH were like when the eagles capitulated to carlton. Surely it was much the same as some of the posts dockers fans have been posting.

I don't know that for a fact, but it's what I assume.

Haven't read dockerland recently either, but the posts on here, while obviously venting frustration, haven't demanded anything radical. Dropping medhurst and headland have been the only things i've heard called for and that shouldnt be deemed unneccessary.

Later
Voodoo-

 

[Rob]

Medhurst has had enough chances. He is just not making a contest in the forward line. Not sure why, but regardless we just can't afford it. As it stands, he is not part of our best 22.

Also gives us a chance to see what Farmer can do up there on his own for an entire match.

 

[sabre_ac]

People arnt slashing their wrists after 2 losses.
There calling for players that havent performed all season to be given a wake up call.
The likes of Murphy are kicking bags of goals in the wafl and players like Browne are doing very well.
Medhurst from what I have seen considers himself untouchable, numerous times I have seen him go off the rails at his team mates.
No one is paranoid about going back to the dark days we all know that we have a great team.
But we also have a great second team, I say give them a go.
Players that think their careers are on the line play like there is no tommorrow (take one look at hayden a few years ago).
Medhurst should maybe be forced to walk in their shoes if only for a week or so.

 

[Freo Shark]

Originally posted by Rob
Medhurst has had enough chances. He is just not making a contest in the forward line. Not sure why, but regardless we just can't afford it. As it stands, he is not part of our best 22.

Also gives us a chance to see what Farmer can do up there on his own for an entire match.

Listened to CC's comments after the game about Medders game being "peeled" back to make him more team oriented and how its made him frustrated and less aggressive and he'd adapt to it.

What I cant understand is that why that frustration and softness is being tolerated still. His first action is to feign for a free kick and then looks frustrated when he doesnt get one and the opposition take it away. If he gets hold of it he doesnt play percentages and wants to do something flashy.

The guy needs a wakeup call in the WAFL and told to pull his finger out.

Problem is tho, you cant drop both Farmer and him when your playing the Lions after 2 successive losses. Both needs kick up the asses and Farmer probably needs his future spelt out in simple and blunt language like Hayden had done to him.

 

[Rob]

Originally posted by Freo Shark

What I cant understand is that why that frustration and softness is being tolerated still. His first action is to feign for a free kick and then looks frustrated when he doesnt get one and the opposition take it away. If he gets hold of it he doesnt play percentages and wants to do something flashy.

From what i've seen the last few weeks, his first option is that he tries to outposition his opponent. That's fine. The problem is when he can't, which is going to happen to every forward in the league every game. He gives up, lets his opponent take a virtually uncontested mark, chucks a sooky sooky la la and then blames the guy who kicked it for not putting it on his chest. IMO, that's not lack of ability, that's attitude. Hopefully Claremont can teach him how to lose it.

 

[masai]

Originally posted by ImperialPurple
I've been thinking about this since yesterday afternoon, and I realised that masai was right on the money when he talked about "Gold passes" a few weeks back.

Too many players have "gold passes" - are walk up starts into the best 22 no matter what sort of crap they may dish up on the field.

Thanks IP, I won't quote the rest of your post but you have expressed what I regularly feel and the players who give 100%.

When I was asked who played well on the weekend, my reply was "the usual suspects". We need more stepping up regularly.

We must remember back 3 years were if we got within a couple of goals we were happy (a win, we'd love to see that!!!). We are alot better now and our expectations have risen at the same time which is good as we are basicly saying we won't stand for mediocrity.

As for changing the team, remember alot of the kids in the WAFL are still finding their feet (only 18), and I don't think the panic button should be hit. The kids need a solid base (confidence) before facing the gladiators.

I can see Des, Meddie and Farmer in the gun site, but maybe we need to look at their style of play. Meddie must go back to his natural game, but get out of Snakes way. Des if injured - to Subi. Farmer must play at Snakes feet.

I felt we started to get some momentum when Pav went forward. Play the roaming forward position with someone like Browne / Gilmour / Dunn going into the guts.

That's my rant.