How many positions up for grabs?

[Cattery]

If we're lucky enough to have the luxury of a full list to choose from come finals time what would be the makeup of the team, and how many spots would be up for grabs?
I'd say the twenty listed below are set in stone ........

Ablett, G
Bartel
Blake
Chapman
Corey
Egan
Enright
Harley
Johnson, S
Kelly
Ling
Mackie
Milburn
Mooney
Ottens
Rooke
Scarlett
Selwood
Stokes
Wojcinski

....... which would leave two spots open and probably seven players in the mix to fill them .... Ablett N, Byrnes, Hawkins, Hunt, Johnson D, Tenace and Varcoe.
Close to the mark or a ways off?

 

[Hood007]

I would say Nath is a definite.
This week Ins/Outs will tell if Blake is one too...

 

[sarah.13]

IMO there are three positions in dispute
1. Second Ruckman
2. Small Backman
3. Small forward.

 

[cat in sydney]

IMO there are three positions in dispute
1. Second Ruckman (Blake or King)
2. Small Backman (Hunt or Johnson)
3. Small forward. (Varcoe or Byrnes)

Agreed.

 

[cats2rise]

IMO there are three positions in dispute
1. Second Ruckman
2. Small Backman
3. Small forward.

Not quite. With Rooke to come back into the side, there is only 2 spots up for grabs.

They are a combination of the 3 positions you mentioned.

Just to clarify, I made a best 22 with all available.

It was the team that played Freo with these changes.

IN: Rooke Chapman
OUT: Byrnes Hunt

IMO the only other real debate is between King and Blake, but King would have to show something very serious to be in contention come finals time.

 

[sarah.13]

At this stage Rooke would be no better than a 50/50 chance given his injury problems.
Chapman for Byrnes is a gimme.
Blake/king will be decided shortly.
Neither Hunt or D.J. fill me with confidence.

 

[Hood007]

Just to clarify, I made a best 22 with all available.
It was the team that played Freo with these changes.

IN: Rooke Chapman
OUT: Byrnes Hunt

IMO the only other real debate is between King and Blake, but King would have to show something very serious to be in contention come finals time.

I agree.
King will probably get his chance at some stage before the finals...

 

[Bryceson]

I reckon:

1) Blake is no certainty. 2nd Ruck spot is between Blake and King, should be decided in the next 2-3 weeks.

2) Hunt and D.Johnson will be fighting for 1 spot if Rooke comes back.

3) Nath will be in.

That makes 22. Varcoe/Byrnes/Hawkins as probable emergencys.

 

[thegerman]

At this stage Rooke would be no better than a 50/50 chance given his injury problems.
Chapman for Byrnes is a gimme.
Blake/king will be decided shortly.
Neither Hunt or D.J. fill me with confidence.

I'm not quite so sure on DJ, the guy really does put his body on the line, which from past memory is more than what Hunt does, so there is a lot of a difference between the two.

Varcoe also could come in, if we need more forward pressure. At this stage though it seems to be ok with Stokes. Kelly was quite good also when he went forward.

DJ is a great addition to the team, just can't get in on a permanent basis. Has a big heart and puts everything out there, spoils like a champion. Does the 1%ers more than most, which is what this team was missing last year.

 

[Duskfire]

I like DJ. Works hard, does the job. Does it without flair, but still does it. Personally I think he is a good addition to the team, and if managed to stay around would grow in form as the weeks went by.

 

[crosby123]

I like DJ. Works hard, does the job. Does it without flair, but still does it. Personally I think he is a good addition to the team, and if managed to stay around would grow in form as the weeks went by.

Was beaten by Headland on the weekend. Hunt played better, much as I hate saying it.

 

[Cattery]

Not quite. With Rooke to come back into the side, there is only 2 spots up for grabs.

They are a combination of the 3 positions you mentioned.

Just to clarify, I made a best 22 with all available.

It was the team that played Freo with these changes.

IN: Rooke Chapman
OUT: Byrnes Hunt

IMO the only other real debate is between King and Blake, but King would have to show something very serious to be in contention come finals time.

Think that's the way I'd go also except to keep Hunt and omit D Johnson instead, nothing much between them though, just think Hunts kicking could be valuable come finals time.

The only other one worrying me at present is Nathan, but hopefully he'll lift his game in the next few weeks and recapture his early season form.

 

[cat in sydney]

Think that's the way I'd go also except to keep Hunt and omit D Johnson instead, nothing much between them though, just think Hunts kicking could be valuable come finals time.

The only other one worrying me at present is Nathan, but hopefully he'll lift his game in the next few weeks and recapture his early season form.

Re: Hunts kicking - like the simple clearance kick he had against Bulldogs that he kicked straight to Brad johnson running into goal? Fortunately for Hunt BJ missed it, but if he'd kicked it, he would have been dragged, and hammered by fans, and potentially dropped imo. I'm becoming less convinced that Hunts kicking is all its cracked up to be. Good style, but average results in critical situations (note: I'm 50/50 on who should be in the side, Hunt or DJ).

Re: Nathan's form - Nath loves playing Richmond (see Rd6), so expect him to have a good day this weekend, and get some confidence back in his game.

 

[SriLankanCat]

Id say Rooke is too underdone for finals. Id bring in J Hunt for him. The other two spots haev to go to N Ablett and Varcoe or Tenace.

DJ adn Byrnes would be emergencies.

Id hope we give S KIng a good hitout before the finals and i think Blake should rest up.

 

[sarah.13]

Id say Rooke is too underdone for finals. Id bring in J Hunt for him. The other two spots haev to go to N Ablett and Varcoe or Tenace.

DJ adn Byrnes would be emergencies.

Id hope we give S KIng a good hitout before the finals and i think Blake should rest up.

The Grand Final is 9 weeks away,plenty of time to get some match fitness and touch back,just hope his hammy holds up,Maxxy will do the rest.

 

[Cattery]

Re: Hunts kicking - like the simple clearance kick he had against Bulldogs that he kicked straight to Brad johnson running into goal? Fortunately for Hunt BJ missed it, but if he'd kicked it, he would have been dragged, and hammered by fans, and potentially dropped imo. I'm becoming less convinced that Hunts kicking is all its cracked up to be. Good style, but average results in critical situations (note: I'm 50/50 on who should be in the side, Hunt or DJ).

Re: Nathan's form - Nath loves playing Richmond (see Rd6), so expect him to have a good day this weekend, and get some confidence back in his game.

Was thinking more along the lines of the sixty meter kick out of defence that went like a heat seeking missile to someone [ S Johnson? ] beyond the wing, or the superb goal he slotted from the fifty meter arc, but yeah I take your point, he can butcher it from time to time; to be fair though the same thing can happen to anybody, I've actually seen Gaz turn it over on the rare occasion, and I certainly wouldn't be calling for Hunts head on the back of one errant kick.

To put it simply I think the plus side of his kicking far outweighs the few that may be misdirected. Personally like to see him further up the ground delivering the ball into our forward fifty, could be a pretty potent weapon I believe.

Like you I don't see a whole lot between him and DJ overall but forced to make a choice I'd opt for Hunt for the reasons outlined ....... and I certainly hope you're right about Nath, if he can recapture his early season form it will be a huge bonus, don't see us having a real weakness if that happens.

 

[cat in sydney]

Was thinking more along the lines of the sixty meter kick out of defence that went like a heat seeking missile to someone [ S Johnson? ] beyond the wing, or the superb goal he slotted from the fifty meter arc, but yeah I take your point, he can butcher it from time to time; to be fair though the same thing can happen to anybody, I've actually seen Gaz turn it over on the rare occasion, and I certainly wouldn't be calling for Hunts head on the back of one errant kick.

To put it simply I think the plus side of his kicking far outweighs the few that may be misdirected. Personally like to see him further up the ground delivering the ball into our forward fifty, could be a pretty potent weapon I believe.

Like you I don't see a whole lot between him and DJ overall but forced to make a choice I'd opt for Hunt for the reasons outlined ....... and I certainly hope you're right about Nath, if he can recapture his early season form it will be a huge bonus, don't see us having a real weakness if that happens.

Yep, get your point. Hunt does show glimpses of what made him so good in 04 (iirc), with his booming lefties to the wing. However, he hardly does them anymore.
I agree with a potential of being more effective further up the ground, pushing into the 50 (because I still see deficiences in his defensive attitude and capabilities). His bigger body in the centre could be handy in the finals... however, with the balance we've got in the centre, who would you move out for him? None of who we've currently got in there.

For me, Hunt, DJ, Varcoe, Byrnes are probably about 23-26 on our list. With no injuries, they're out of the side. With an injury, one of them gets in based on team structure.

 

[Cattery]

Yep, get your point. Hunt does show glimpses of what made him so good in 04 (iirc), with his booming lefties to the wing. However, he hardly does them anymore.
I agree with a potential of being more effective further up the ground, pushing into the 50 (because I still see deficiences in his defensive attitude and capabilities). His bigger body in the centre could be handy in the finals... however, with the balance we've got in the centre, who would you move out for him? None of who we've currently got in there.

For me, Hunt, DJ, Varcoe, Byrnes are probably about 23-26 on our list. With no injuries, they're out of the side. With an injury, one of them gets in based on team structure.

Yeah agree we're pretty well served for midfielders, reckon he could still be rotated through there at times, or even do a job up forward, bit of a balancing act though.

Also just out of curiosity who would be your 22nd player then, I'd think one of those four you mention is almost certain to play.

 

[cat in sydney]

Also just out of curiosity who would be your 22nd player then, I'd think one of those four you mention is almost certain to play.

Yeah sorry, one of them will need to be in. However, I'm not going to call a 22nd player, because i think they are all even, but get in depending on who the opposition is.

Here is my preferred line-up.

B MILBURN SCARLETT HARLEY
HB MACKIE EGAN ENRIGHT
C WOJCINSKI BARTEL COREY
HF S. JOHNSON MOONEY ROOKE
FF STOKES NABLETT CHAPMAN
R OTTENS G.ABLETT LING

INT KELLY BLAKE SELWOOD + one of these emergencies.

Emergencies from KING, HUNT, D. JOHNSON, VARCOE, HAWKINS

That's my best 22.
So, instead of them being 23-26... I'll just say they're all 23rd, and whichever area on the team needs to be bolstered depending on opposition and conditions, that one gets the nod. I wish we had a clear 22 though, but I'm not quite sure we're there as yet.

 

[Cattery]

Yeah sorry, one of them will need to be in. However, I'm not going to call a 22nd player, because i think they are all even, but get in depending on who the opposition is.

Here is my preferred line-up.

B MILBURN SCARLETT HARLEY
HB MACKIE EGAN ENRIGHT
C WOJCINSKI BARTEL COREY
HF S. JOHNSON MOONEY ROOKE
FF STOKES NABLETT CHAPMAN
R OTTENS G.ABLETT LING

INT KELLY BLAKE SELWOOD + one of these emergencies.

Emergencies from KING, HUNT, D. JOHNSON, VARCOE, HAWKINS

That's my best 22.
So, instead of them being 23-26... I'll just say they're all 23rd, and whichever area on the team needs to be bolstered depending on opposition and conditions, that one gets the nod. I wish we had a clear 22 though, but I'm not quite sure we're there as yet.

Looks exactly right to me, though as I've already stated I'd go with Hunt in the final position.

Whichever way you look at it it's pretty good, I'm sure there's quite a few sides who wouldn't mind having someone like Hunt, or one of the others mentioned, as their 22nd best player.