Preview Let's look at this week

[Lach72]

So, we should be getting a few back.
Harves is making noises that Sandi, Ballantyne and Roger might make the cut.
Kepler should be back.

Brisbane have copped a few injuries too. Merret gone. Mitch Clark, hurt his ankle on the weekend and has been ruled out by Voss, and Banfield hurt himself.

Their midfield is still reasonably potent, if aging, with Black, Power, Rich and Redden.

I feel they are short of talls, so if Sandi plays, I'd keep Griffen in to ruck 50% of the time and rotate at FF.
Pav to CHF.
Kepler in a pocket. Roger on a HFF?

Jesse, Jay and Crowley out. Grover is apparently ok.

 

[Stronzo]

Sandi as sub!

 

[malpaso]

Chrichton and JVB have to come out.

I'm pretty sure that Crowley is in a better position to play than Grover and with the Lions having their strength in the middle we could use him.

Roberton IN for Grover
Bradley IN for JVB
Hayden IN for Chrichton

Hayden is the SUB.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

Their midfield is our biggest worry. Luenberger did really well against Sandi last game. Hopefully Crowley pulls up OK as we'll need him to keep either Black or Rich quiet. Probably Black as he sets up more of the play.

Rich seems to lift for games against us, fair enough too. Would be great if we could pursuade him to come home, if the Rhys to GWS rumours are true. It'd be pretty ironic if we ended up with both Hill and Rich in the team.

 

[Lach72]

Leuenberger is one reason I'd keep Griffin in.

Clark is out, so his chop out will not be as effective or possible, even.

Work him over with regular fresh rucks switching out of FF and put pressure on their height depleted defence.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

agreed, get griffin and sandi to tag team on him and play bradley as a true FF.

 

[electricfeel]

Silvagni might be pressing for selection too.

 

[E Shed]

Clark is a big out for them. He's been on fire lately. Wait to see who we've got available before getting too excited about this one. Critical mass was reached on the weekend in terms of player outs.

 

[36Crazyfists]

Brisbane havn't been travelling too well but their injury list is probably up their with ours. No Clarke, Bandfield, Adcock, Merrett etc this week but Redden is in some good form for them. Hopefully Sandi, Ballas, Kep and Roger can come into the team this week for a much needed boost and Barlow to kick a couple because he missed a few on Sunday.

 

[kp junior]

We will actually be overstocked for talls, especially for Subi.
If Sandi, Grover and Silvagni are fit, I'd drop 2 if not 3 of Johnson/Bradley/Clarke/Griffin. (Not Kep)
I'd love to see them drop Johnson and keep Clarke or Griffen, but it won't happen.

 

[Lach72]

Clarke goes for mine

 

[prattsta]

Rather than looking forward to this week, can we continue to talk about last Sunday's game instead? Honestly, it's a lot more fun...

If Sandilands comes back into the side, I still think we should play Griffin. Firstly, he's earned it. Secondly, both Bradley and Sandilands (in particular) should be eased back in for their first game back from injury. Ruck Griffin for 50-60%, ruck Sandilands for 40-50% and don't ruck Bradley at all.

At the start of the season I said that Clarke should play in the same side as Sandilands when a back-up is to be used in a limited capacity. Whereas Griffin should only be used when Sandilands is either out of the side, or basically not going to ruck at all. This week seems like it will be a perfect case of the latter. Whether Harvey decides to continue with the Clarke midfield experiment is a whole different kettle of fish. If Sandilands comes back, I really hope he doesn't.

I'd like to see one of Mellington or Pitt play in a forwardline role. Certainly if Ballantyne doesn't get up for this weeks game, but even if he doesn't it'd be nice to have another creative/attacking option in the forward half. O Walters, Walters, wherefore art thou Walters?...

Now seems like as good a time as any to bring Silvagni back into the side. That has me leaning towards using a guy like Roberton as the substitute. I don't like him as a change-up player - someone who can come on and change the style, tempo etc - but structurally he could cover a few holes. Particularly with doubts over Silvagni and Grover. In saying that, Bucovaz could probably play as the sub again and probably offers as much as Roberton and he's already in the side.

I think we can go in tall against Brisbane, but I'm not convinced whether I can trust our midfielders to work hard to help out both up forward and in defense. Hopefully Barlow can set the standard. This team is very tall (and underdone) though...

B Hayden - Grover - Silvagni
HB Duffield - McPharlin - Broughton
C Hill - Pavlich - Fyfe
HF Mayne - Bradley - Mzungu
F Ballantyne - Johnson - Sandilands
R Griffin - Barlow - DeBoer

I Ibbotson - Lower - Crowley - Bucovaz (s)

Bucovaz survives (just) based on versatility and my 2 game rule for rookies. As mentioned, Mellington/Pitt might be a good option up forward though.

Hinkley, Crichton, Pearce, JVB and Clarke just can't fit in with so many 'best 22' players back. In all honesty though, I doubt so many players will come back in.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

We will actually be overstocked for talls, especially for Subi.

If Sandi, Grover and Silvagni are fit, I'd drop 2 if not 3 of Johnson/Bradley/Clarke/Griffin. (Not Kep)

I'd love to see them drop Johnson and keep Clarke or Griffen, but it won't happen.

Johnson's done a pretty good job up forward - kicking goals and taking good pack marks. He and Kep would be a handful. You'd think Clarke would be dropped, but Harvey might want to keep developing him.

 

[kp junior]

Rather than looking forward to this week, can we continue to talk about last Sunday's game instead? Honestly, it's a lot more fun...

If Sandilands comes back into the side, I still think we should play Griffin. Firstly, he's earned it. Secondly, both Bradley and Sandilands (in particular) should be eased back in for their first game back from injury. Ruck Griffin for 50-60%, ruck Sandilands for 40-50% and don't ruck Bradley at all.

At the start of the season I said that Clarke should play in the same side as Sandilands when a back-up is to be used in a limited capacity. Whereas Griffin should only be used when Sandilands is either out of the side, or basically not going to ruck at all. This week seems like it will be a perfect case of the latter. Whether Harvey decides to continue with the Clarke midfield experiment is a whole different kettle of fish. If Sandilands comes back, I really hope he doesn't.

I'd like to see one of Mellington or Pitt play in a forwardline role. Certainly if Ballantyne doesn't get up for this weeks game, but even if he doesn't it'd be nice to have another creative/attacking option in the forward half. O Walters, Walters, wherefore art thou Walters?...

Now seems like as good a time as any to bring Silvagni back into the side. That has me leaning towards using a guy like Roberton as the substitute. I don't like him as a change-up player - someone who can come on and change the style, tempo etc - but structurally he could cover a few holes. Particularly with doubts over Silvagni and Grover. In saying that, Bucovaz could probably play as the sub again and probably offers as much as Roberton and he's already in the side.

I think we can go in tall against Brisbane, but I'm not convinced whether I can trust our midfielders to work hard to help out both up forward and in defense. Hopefully Barlow can set the standard. This team is very tall (and underdone) though...

B Hayden - Grover - Silvagni
HB Duffield - McPharlin - Broughton
C Hill - Pavlich - Fyfe
HF Mayne - Bradley - Mzungu
F Ballantyne - Johnson - Sandilands
R Griffin - Barlow - DeBoer


I Ibbotson - Lower - Crowley - Bucovaz (s)

Bucovaz survives (just) based on versatility and my 2 game rule for rookies. As mentioned, Mellington/Pitt might be a good option up forward though.

Hinkley, Crichton, Pearce, JVB and Clarke just can't fit in with so many 'best 22' players back. In all honesty though, I doubt so many players will come back in.

Too tall, you have to make some tough decisons! Having said that, how good does that backline look

 

[Stronzo]

I'd like to see Harvey back Clarke in like he said he was going to.

 

[prattsta]

Too tall, you have to make some tough decisons! Having said that, how good does that backline look

7 talls isn't too bad, given we usually go with 6; Pavlich doesn't count as a tall according to Harvey .

If I have to pick one though, as much as I hate to say it, I'd leave Bradley out of the side. He hasn't done much since the Port game, MJ has been providing a decent target up forward and Bradley will be another player under an injury cloud.

Plus MJ has a golden ticket.

 

[93567]

After watching Zac Clarke live, I think he should keep his spot. He may not take all his marks or get a heap of the ball, but he's tall, strong and athletic, which worries the opposition. Off the ball, he does a lot of work to free up himself and his team mates and when he's around a ruck contest his run is blocked, which means that we almost always have a midfielder playing loose. This resulted in a shot on goal and plenty of chances. If Sandilands is rucking, we'll win most ruck duels. If Clarke is around, we'll have someone free to tap it to. I think that his attack on the footy makes his opponent play defensively and means that he draws multiple players, even at ground level.

 

[Higs]

Do people think Hinkley deserves another one? Didn't have the worst game on the weekend and was decent vs Essendon but he still looks panicky and can't handle the pressure. He's not first in line to be dropped at this stage but imo he's still just a WAFL grade player and won't be anything more.

 

[prattsta]

Do people think Hinkley deserves another one? Didn't have the worst game on the weekend and was decent vs Essendon but he still looks panicky and can't handle the pressure. He's not first in line to be dropped at this stage but imo he's still just a WAFL grade player and won't be anything more.

I'd be happy to play him again, but I don't know if there is a spot for him with everyone that is potentially coming back in.

He'll still be in the mix this week though, as a lot of players are still in doubt.

After watching Zac Clarke live, I think he should keep his spot. He may not take all his marks or get a heap of the ball, but he's tall, strong and athletic, which worries the opposition. Off the ball, he does a lot of work to free up himself and his team mates and when he's around a ruck contest his run is blocked, which means that we almost always have a midfielder playing loose. This resulted in a shot on goal and plenty of chances. If Sandilands is rucking, we'll win most ruck duels. If Clarke is around, we'll have someone free to tap it to. I think that his attack on the footy makes his opponent play defensively and means that he draws multiple players, even at ground level.

It comes down to Griffin versus Clarke if Sandilands returns. Has he done enough to be ahead of Griffin? I'm not sure he has...

 

[malpaso]

It comes down to Griffin versus Clarke if Sandilands returns. Has he done enough to be ahead of Griffin? I'm not sure he has...

I don't think Clarke is viewed as a ruckman though by the coaching staff. On that note, he could stay in if Bradley does not come up or even keep Bradley out.

 

[Avid_Avenger]

Do people think Hinkley deserves another one? Didn't have the worst game on the weekend and was decent vs Essendon but he still looks panicky and can't handle the pressure. He's not first in line to be dropped at this stage but imo he's still just a WAFL grade player and won't be anything more.

As you said, not first in line to be dropped this week so deserves another one at least.

Was good vs Essendon. Thought he played like a wet lettuce leaf at times vs Dees but his hands are amazingly clean - some of his pick ups on the run are top class. His overall skills are good enough I think.

I could be wrong but I don't think Hinkley has played more than two games in a row at AFL level? Maybe, just maybe, with some extended time in the team he might stop wetting his pants at unfortunate moments.

 

[Avid_Avenger]

I'd be happy to play him again, but I don't know if there is a spot for him with everyone that is potentially coming back in.

He'll still be in the mix this week though, as a lot of players are still in doubt.



It comes down to Griffin versus Clarke if Sandilands returns. Has he done enough to be ahead of Griffin? I'm not sure he has...

Not as a second ruckman/KPF target. But to play him as anything else when we are down on competent ball-gathering runners and KPF targets is a poor strategy IMO. If we had less injuries the Clarke-midfielder experiment wouldn't be so strange.

I think he might stay in one more week at least though.

 

[Electric]

Flying into Perth for the week so pretty excited to be able to go to the game, seeings I pay 400 odd bucks for membership and only get to go to 5 or 6 games a year.

Will be good to see Barlow running around subi again and hopefully Sandi.

 

[Outshined]

It's all speculation at this stage since we don't know how Grover and Crowley have pulled up or if Silvagni, Hayden and Sandi are ready but assuming we have at least some of the guys for selection I'd be definitely leaving out Crichton and JVB. On the tall issue, I'm a massive Clarke fan, but I doubt he's going to make a successful midfielder. The third man up play that we use with him will be nullified when Sandi gets back since he wins pretty much all of the hitouts anyway. I'd love to see him played out of the goal square or even on the wing where his lack of pace wont get exposed as much as playing directly in the midfield.

I tend to agree with Prattsta in leaving out Kep. Yes he's been a great contributer, but the big fella looks more and more sore every week and his output has been down over the past month. That leaves MJ and the resting ruckman as tall forwards. Hinkley and Buco get another crack, while hopefully Mellington debuts. It'd be quite nice for one of our best uninjured midfielders to come in as well.

So basically...

IN: Mellington, Hayden, Palmer
OUT: Crichton, JVB, Crowley (assuming he wont pull up)

If Grover is gone as well then who we bring in is determined by Silvagni's fitness. If he's not ready Roberton is the next man in line.

Oh and as soon as Suban is back, Duffield is gone. Incredibly soft player.

 

[dockshark]

I think Griffen deserves to keep his spot. He has worked his guts out all year to get into the team....and then given 100% comitment after getting a run. I'd rather go in with an extra tall that will commit and give all he has than one of the (several) frontrunning down-hill skiers that we watched on Sunday.