Key Four Push for Selection

[Drummond]

Article on the AFC website:

http://www.afc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4417/newsid/73523/default.aspx

Key four push for selection

Four Crows have today strengthened their claims for selection in next Saturday’s opening round.

Jason Porplyzia successfully returned to football in West Adelaide’s SANFL league trial while Ben Rutten, Nathan van Berlo and Brad Symes all trained with the main group at AAMI Stadium this morning.

It was Porplyzia’s first game since his shoulder reconstruction six months ago. Rutten (knee) and van Berlo (foot) both played against the Indigenous All-Stars in early February but were sidelined through the NAB Cup/Challenge series. Symes broke a wrist and thumb in mid-January.

Interesting selection dilemmas we face. If we try to look at each case separately I think we get a better understanding of who plays and who doesn’t.

van Berlo has been out for about a month but we all know he has a great fitness base so physically he should be fine to play out Round 1. The only concern is whether we would be rushing him back too soon and the possibility of re-injuring his foot. He hasn’t played in the SANFL since his debut season and being a big stats fan I don’t want to see his 54 game streak come to an end. I rate his chances of lining up against Collingwood but even if he doesn’t, I expect he’ll come straight back through the Crows and bypass the SANFL.

I think we can all agree that Symes is a long shot at best to face the Pies. I think he’ll be better off playing for Central in their clash against the Eagles to get some match fitness. He’s been out of action for too long and will need a run to find some form and shake off the rust. As we all know Symes is one who needs a few games under his belt to perform at his best. He’s one who shouldn’t be rushed back.

While it was encouraging to see Porplyzia make his comeback today for West Adelaide I don’t think he should be considered for selection just yet. Whether he plays for West again next weekend or not remains to be seen. Personally I’d have him train strongly for another week, be the travelling emergency on Saturday with the plan of returning against St.Kilda.

And then there’s Ben Rutten. He’s coming back from knee surgery so you would want to make sure he’s 100% fit before rushing him back. I am leaning towards playing him against Collingwood because he’s too important to have out.

So who plays/who misses?

 

[cmndstab]

For mine, Rutten and Porps return but VB and Symes don't. Injury aside, Symes owes the club some time in the SANFL to regain some trust. With VB's injury, I forget what they call it, Planta Fascia or something but apparently it can be a real niggly injury that can keep giving you problems so they should make absolutely sure he's alright before playing him again.


With Porps, he is apparently entirely unhindered by his shoulder and now has an SANFL match under his belt, so I say bring him back. With Rutten, he's too important to leave out if he's fit, which the word is that he is.

 

[Mismatched]

For mine, Rutten and Porps return but VB and Symes don't. Injury aside, Symes owes the club some time in the SANFL to regain some trust. With VB's injury, I forget what they call it, Planta Fascia or something but apparently it can be a real niggly injury that can keep giving you problems so they should make absolutely sure he's alright before playing him again.


With Porps, he is apparently entirely unhindered by his shoulder and now has an SANFL match under his belt, so I say bring him back. With Rutten, he's too important to leave out if he's fit, which the word is that he is.

Yeah can't argue with any of that, I think Porps is ready, as good as our forward line is looking with Walker, Tippet and Hentschel, if we're to beat the Pies, I think we'll need him there too, just adds that extra dimension and takes the pressure off the others. Have him make his return as a forward pocket for a couple of weeks before giving him some genuine midfield time.

Rutten is similar, one of those players you never realise how important he is until he's out of the side. I'd love to see some stats on how we've fared in games without Rutten since mid '04. Having him in the side just gives us an extra option to go against the unpredictable nature of the Collingwood forward line.

VB, I just feel we should give him an extra week or two, its one of those injuries you really want to get right before putting too much stress on it and yeah Symes hasn't entrenched himself enough in our 22 to be an instant selection.

 

[jackster83]

Rutten to play as he is so important down back. His lack of speed does cost us at times but he is still the best full back we have (and still in the top 5 full backs in the comp).

Symes to play SANFL until he regains some form as IIRC he took a while to get back into form after his last injury last year.

VB is a senior enough player to not have to come back through the SANFL as is Porps. It depends if they are 100% fit or 85% fit able to limp through a game. Porps is harder to replace and fitness has never been his real strength anyway. I'd give the Porpoise a game and let van Berlo watch from the stands.

 

[Elder van Berlo]

I'd love to see some stats on how we've fared in games without Rutten since mid '04.

Since round 13 2004 (when Rutten came into the side)

2004: 5-4 with Rutten, 0-1 without
2005: 18-7 with
2006: 17-7 with
2007: 11-9 with, 1-2 without
2008: 12-10 with, 1-0 without.

Total: 63-37 with, 2-3 without.

On topic, Rutten is too important to our structure to leave out. If it was the Bulldogs I'd say give him another week but we need him in the side. I think Porps should come in as well, Symes should play SANFL if he's ready and vB should be given at least another 1-2 weeks off, before coming back directly to the Crows.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

My Thoughts

Porplyzia - is a definite selection he only needs 5-6 touches inside the forward 50 to hurt a side

Rutten - if fit must play even given his limited match fitness, he is so critical to our structure

VB - given the nature of his injury I would like the club to add a extra week or two to his recovery to ensure he is right to go

Symes - I am a fan of Symes and so is NC however he needs to gain form and fitness through the sanfl prior to selection

If Rutten and Porplyzia play I would be keen to take the $3.25 on offer at sportsbet

I believe the Pies are slightly overated and once again we are servely under rated

 

[Deaneus!]

My Thoughts

Porplyzia - is a definite selection he only needs 5-6 touches inside the forward 50 to hurt a side

Rutten - if fit must play even given his limited match fitness, he is so critical to our structure

VB - given the nature of his injury I would like the club to add a extra week or two to his recovery to ensure he is right to go

Symes - I am a fan of Symes and so is NC however he needs to gain form and fitness through the sanfl prior to selection

If Rutten and Porplyzia play I would be keen to take the $3.25 on offer at sportsbet

I believe the Pies are slightly overated and once again we are servely under rated

Completely agree with all of the above, except Centrebet have Adelaide at $3.45, slightly better odds.

I can't wait to watch other sides get nervous when they realise we might actually have a forward line this year.

 

[macca23]

Yeah can't argue with any of that, I think Porps is ready, as good as our forward line is looking with Walker, Tippet and Hentschel, if we're to beat the Pies, I think we'll need him there too, just adds that extra dimension and takes the pressure off the others. Have him make his return as a forward pocket for a couple of weeks before giving him some genuine midfield time.

Rutten is similar, one of those players you never realise how important he is until he's out of the side. I'd love to see some stats on how we've fared in games without Rutten since mid '04. Having him in the side just gives us an extra option to go against the unpredictable nature of the Collingwood forward line.

VB, I just feel we should give him an extra week or two, its one of those injuries you really want to get right before putting too much stress on it and yeah Symes hasn't entrenched himself enough in our 22 to be an instant selection.

Nicely summed up there James.

That's exactly as I see it.

 

[ltdamn]

Rutten could come back in on the bench, he doesn't need to play a full game but he strikes me as being one of those players who needs match contact to reach his peak form and fitness. Stevens could switch between down back and up forward whilst Truck was on or off so they don't have to toss him in the deep end for a whole game, but his injury is a great example of why the Crows are so keen for one of the younger talls to learn how to play CHB/FB.

VB makes me a little nervous and I wouldn't mind him having another week, because those foot injuries can really screw up a good player - ask Michael Owen (http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25213557-29437,00.html). Particularly with a player like VB who just runs and runs all day, he can't avoid re-damaging it if it's not absolutely 100%, unlike a Luke Jericho style superstar who can turn a game without having to actually run or be physical.

Symes wouldn't really stress me if he was fit and didn't play, to be honest - we have enough talent to cover his position although he is a class act nonetheless.

Porps obviously needs another game with Westies if we've learnt anything from pushing him through last year.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I don't think we will pick all 4. That would be going in severely underdone IMHO.

I would pick Porplyzia for a number of reasons. He is a natural footballer and he doesn't need much time to get the touch back. His fitness level wouldn't be a problem as I suspect he would have done a lot of running, bike riding and swimming to keep his fitness up. The only question would be match fitness and touch and as mentioned previously, I don't think thats a problem for someone like Porps. He definetly makes my round 1 team.

Rutten is a really important player for us. He is vital to our structure and I suspect the Pies will play with 3 talls in their forward line (Cloke, Anthony and a resting ruckman). Anthony always gives Truck a bit of grief but I still think he needs to play if ready. Gives us a few more options and settles the defensive structure. Like Porplyzia, he is a natural footballer so the touch shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Van Berlo would be some chance, especially considering how highly he is rated by the club but I would probably not pick him for round 1.

Symes is no chance IMHO.

I think we should go in with a maximum of 2 from the 4. Going in with 3 might make us a lot more vulnerable.

 

[Southerntakeover]

I usually err on the side of not playing unfit players...

However, i have voted that Rutten, the great one, and Porplyzia should all play, with the caveat that they are all fully fit. If they are training without restriction, and the clubs best medical opinions suggests that there is no further risk to playing them, im all for putting our best players on the field.

 

[jo172]

Rutten, Porplyzia and Van Berlo for mine.

Rutten due to his importance in our structure, his availability also greatly adds to our flexibility with blokes like Stevens being able to float forward and back. Also he's a bloke who can typically play with minimal match preparation after injury.

Porplyzia due to his freak abilities. If he touches the ball 5 times in our forward half of the ground we'll probably have 5 scoring shots. That's good enough for me, we don't need him to be able to run out full games in the midfield at this point.

Van Berlo due to our lack of run with players with Shirley being the only other. Van Berlo's natural fitness base shouldn't be too badly affected by his lay off IMO.

 

[cmndstab]

Those votes are remarkebly distinct. Every time I've looked Porps and Rutten have had the same score. I wonder if anyone voted for one but not the other?

 

[Witty Remark]

Porps Truck and VB IMO.

Was just trying to find a thread about how Crows players who played on the weekend fared, but to my surprise there wasn't one. Does anyone have any info to share???


_______________
VB for captain

 

[IddyBiddy]

Those votes are remarkebly distinct. Every time I've looked Porps and Rutten have had the same score. I wonder if anyone voted for one but not the other?

Its a public poll, if you click on the number you'll be able to see who voted for who. There are actually quite a few who voted for one but not the other actually.

 

[Jars458]

Rutten and Porps to play for mine but VB nees at least another week due to the nature of his injury and Symes needs 3-4 I would have thought.

 

[Niximus]

oops I did every option

 

[beartoo]

Rutten to play because he is so important to us down back. I'd give Porps a run in the SANFL to pick up match fitness and all going well bring him back against the Saints. Symes will come back through the SANFL I think and I also think VB will be given another week to get the foot right.
Rutten for sure, Porps a possible.