Strategy Do we roll the dice with Nic?

[new breed]

As the coach said he hasn't done any intense drills just joined in main training , sounds like he is no chance although Willie Rioli might be the xfactor surprise selection .

 

[88mph]

As the coach said he hasn't done any intense drills just joined in main training , sounds like he is no chance although Willie Rioli might be the xfactor surprise selection .

We don't do xfactor selections.

It's single scoop vanilla with the exact change.

 

[Brave Sir Robin]

I can tell the boys and fans are not focused in their mind they are relying on nic to come back in order to win.

Pray tell...

 

[Suma Magic]

As the coach said he hasn't done any intense drills just joined in main training , sounds like he is no chance although Willie Rioli might be the xfactor surprise selection .

I thought Sinpson had said that he won't play this year?

 

[Seadog]

We don't do xfactor selections.

It's single scoop vanilla with the exact change.

Last year we reached deeper into the alphabet and had a Z factor selection. NN or Rioli would be a step up on that one.

 

[FKASC]

Last year we reached deeper into the alphabet and had a Z factor selection. NN or Rioli would be a step up on that one.

Actually, last year was a Y? factor selection.

 

[new breed]

I thought Sinpson had said that he won't play this year?

NicNat or Willie ?

Weeks ago they did say Willie wont play this year but not yesterday !

 

[Suma Magic]

NicNat or Willie ?

Weeks ago they did say Willie wont play this year but not yesterday !

Willie. Yeah I thought he had been ruled out.

But an injury to LeCras or Cripps and you never know...

 

[UmpirePlease!]

No Willie, no Eagles!

 

[ChampRevesby]

No Willie, no Eagles!

Well the Eagles do have no balls so whats the point of a Willie?

 

[Brave Sir Robin]

Well the Eagles do have no balls so whats the point of a Willie?

Surely we have a bunch of tennis balls lying around somewhere. Otherwise what have we been training with all year?!

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Surely we have a bunch of tennis balls lying around somewhere. Otherwise what have we been training with all year?!

Pretty sure tennis balls were banned after Cox nearly put JK's eye out.

 

[Trouto]

He has always rotated forward to some extent.

ahh, god i love that clip!

 

[Level_Headed]

Pretty sure tennis balls were banned after Cox nearly put JK's eye out.

We are slow learners too, they should have been banned after that debacle of a preseason where we used tennis balls to improve our kicking instead of footies.

 

[kerr87]

Is Rioli seriously a chance????
Please tell me its true.

Would be a huge call in terms of fitness.

 

[SloppyJoe]

The risk is not that he will do his knee again. From everything I've seen/heard/read he is as much a chance to do his knee again this week as he is in round 1 next year.

The risk is that he is not match fit, may not have the touch, may not be able to play the way he is used to playing and as a result of all that may offer less than Vardy.

 

[QS]

The best bit is how we're all making such informed decisions without even seeing his medical reports.

You're posting this on bigfooty and you act surprised?

 

[mick06]

All he needs to do is jump tap Nd hunt. Its not like hea ever offered anything around the ground

 

[Yippy Yi Yeo]

All he needs to do is jump tap Nd hunt. Its not like hea ever offered anything around the ground

 

[Dark Sharks]

The risk is not that he will do his knee again. From everything I've seen/heard/read he is as much a chance to do his knee again this week as he is in round 1 next year.

The risk is that he is not match fit, may not have the touch, may not be able to play the way he is used to playing and as a result of all that may offer less than Vardy.

For the sake of this thread i'll keep the debate going.

I think 99% of people on here would argue that even a 60% fit Naitanui out of touch would still play a large part in us winning the game.

All he needs is a few clean palm downs, a bit of bustling through some tackles and releasing a plodding midfielder to space and it's still something we weren't getting out of Parto, or anyone else for that matter.

On one leg, he'd still be an improvement to this team.

 

[eaglesfan84]

I don't understand the logic "don't play him in the finals because he could re-do is knee". He could quite easily do the knee at any time during his current training regime, in the offseason, first game of 2018 etc. If he is fit, then play him, you would be crazy not to. He is hugely important to our teams chances of going deep into the finals (if we get past Port).

I think that's the point, is he match fit enough?

If he's a few paces behind Ryder physically and mentally then is there any point playing him?

You know Petrie and Vardy will be there mentally, they know where to go and are usually in the right spots but it's just they can't athletically match Ryder. A fit Nic Nat can match him, but we'd be going in with an unknown Nic Nat.

Another thing to consider is if he pushes himself too hard and injures another part of his body and does a hammy or a calf or a quad. Also the fact he will definitely fatigue in the last quarter (possibly the end of every quarter) which will no doubt make him almost useless against a match hardened Ryder where as you know Vardy and Petrie can still go hard late in quarters.

 

[flyinghi64]

When asked on 360 last night by Gerard,
"I have to ask the obligatory question, Natanui?"
Simmo laughs and says about the 400th time he has been asked this question. Should have knocked it on the head a long time ago.
But I can tell you Nic will definitely NOT play THIS week.
The emphasise on THIS week was so obvious that there was something to it.
Either just messing with everyone or saying if we get through this week he is a chance to come in next week.
If we do and he does you have to feel for who makes way.

 

[ThePuma #9]

If his knee is fine and it's purely a match conditioning issue then pick him and put him in the forward line. The match up will create headaches for Port and we only need to get 65 percent game time out of him for it to be worth it. I can almost guarantee whoever has to man up on him will be shitting themselves which might lead to a few free kicks and his pressure around the packs will help keep the ball in the forward 50. Worth thinking about at least. Come Thursday I would name him in the squad just to make Port have to plan for him even if not in final team. This is finals FFS smoke and mirrors should be used wherever possible.

 

[Suma Magic]

It does feel a bit odd.

Is he ready this week?
No way, not ready.
How about next week?
Oh yeah definitely maybe, that extra 1 week after over a year of rehab makes all the difference.

It's like sleeping for 8 hours and then hitting snooze for 10 minutes. "I'm tired as but I'll be sweet with an inconsequential amount more."

 

[javaguice]

Play him....you would be nuts not to. Late 2017 - doesn't get much later than this. He will need match practice anyway if we get up and he has to play the following week.

Do or die game, i think now is the time.