Let's not get too upset

[you idiot sheehan]

I came back from the game very very angry, but some 18 hours later I think we should all take stock and be realisitc. It was a terrible decision to leave out Maxwell, Rowe & Cloke. Absolutely terrible. Maxwell would have freed Lonie up to play on the wing - we were in desperate need for some good delivery into the foward line, Cloke would have been hugely important in the ruck, and Rowe would have simply added much need enthusiasm and class. If MM doesn't pick those guys next week for Williams, Holland and O'Bree I'll give up. Those three simply aren't good enough and they're not going to take us anywhere.

On the actual match itself we were simply beaten by a side more committed to their game plan, faster, hungrier and a little bit classier. We should have had them beaten by half time, and more often than not when you haven't got enough to show on the scoreboard for your efforts by the long break you're up against it. The 03 QF Final comes straight to mind. Too many players simply didn't have enough impact. Rocca and Tarrant were both pathetic. Williams, Holland, O'Bree and Shaw just aren't good enough. I don't care if Shaw gets it 20 times because he'll turn over half of them.

I wouldn't get too concrned in the context of the season just yet. The last two wooden spooners have won in Round 1. Geelong turned it around last year. But we aren't going to improve if we keep playing Williams, Holland and O'Bree. 6 players who I had in by best 22 from the start of the season didn't play yesterday and only three of them because of injury - crazy. Fraser, Richards, Didak, Maxwell, Rowe and C. Cloke would have been a big help to that lethargic mob yesterday.

If we turn to Adelaide next week, it's a huge opportunity to redeem ourselves. Surley MM won't be that to stupid again to leave out at least Maxwell and Rowe. If Rocca and Tarrant do what they're paid to do and they all adhere to their gameplan (get it down to our forwards long and quickley!) then we can certainly beat the Crows at home. If we can get the four points next week who knows what that will do for their confidence for the rest of the season.

 

[grayza]

i agree with what you are saying YIS......it was a poor game skill wise, unattractive and really football that two bottom 4 sides from last year would display

when it was their to be won the Doggies were more committed, wanted it more, and executed their game plan a lot better than the Pies did

but it is only round 1, and there are 21 more games to go just yet.......im looking forward to going to the Dome on Sunday and seeing a more consistent, 4 quarter effort

 

[FOOTSTEPS]

Well done, I totally agree. Hopefully the media continue to bag us, as I believe the pies are at their best when their up against it!!!!

 

[Jabso]

Holland is a good player and will take us places.
People forget about his superb 2003 season as one of the comps elite taggers and he also got plenty of the ball, in the prelim he was BOG by far. 2004 he played a more attacking role and came equal 2nd in our B+F despite it being a poor year for us.

 

[Jabso]

These are the only reasons I can think of as to why C.Cloke, Rowe and Maxwell were left out of the side.

C.Cloke: I think MM has been unimpressed with his pre-season form and I am too. We need to send the message that if you work hard and show good form you will be selected.

Rowe: He HAS worked hard and shown great form but rumour has it he lied to the club saying he was sick but was found on the drink in a pub. If he lied to the club like that then I can accept that as a reason.

Maxwell: He has also worked hard and shown great form. The only way I can vouch for his non-selection is team balance. However in the end Presti was left without a matchup but Bulldogs forward line was like a lucky dip all day, you didn't know who you would get in there. They had the ability with Darcy, Rawlings, Grant, Bowden, Bandy to stretch us but they ended up only playing one real tall forward.

 

[the_mighty_pies_3733]

Totally agree except for one thing. Brodie Holland IS good and should be on the side. Replace Shaw, Williams and O'Bree with Rowe, Cloke and Maxwell.

 

[Jabso]

The likes of O'Bree and Lonie, who have been almost automatic selections need to be dropped to give them a reality check and to make them fight for a spot in the 22 along with the youngsters. Our depth may be not the best but it is not THAT bad, it has improved since the beginning of last year. Lockyer may have played a good game for us, but if he has an ordinary patch then he should be dropped too.

 

[Wildman]

Pace,we need more pace in the side badly.

 

[browny4PM]

Replace Shaw, Williams and O'Bree with Rowe, Cloke and Maxwell.

What's the obsession on here with wanting to replace our midfield with talls??

The only 2 that should be looked at being dropped are Lonie and Williams, solely because they don't play like they are desperate to win, they are utilities so are quite easy to replace without damaging team structure too much and they need a big kick up the ****.

O'bree will no doubt be given a while to show some form, if not he will be dropped and possibly delisted at the end of the year. Any talk of dropping Shaw when he is producing the best form of his short career, and is doing his job each week, is ludicrous.

 

[silverphoenix]

Can we expect richards back next week, if so, does that force fanning out, or do we run 2 ruckman. Should we start playing some kids who have been on the list a couple of years now like brayden and billy morrison and perhaps even brent hall. We have alot of young talls to come through. It may have been in this thread or a different one but why are we wasting taz at full forward, he is not a natural FF, he is a flanker. But it doesnt really matter now, lets look to next week. IMHO maxwell and rowe definately need to come in, and so does Richards if he is fit (im not in melbourne so i cant make a call on that), while williams and obree definately need a kick up the arse and earn a spot in the seconds before they pull on the black and white guernsey again. If richards does come back in, do we drop fanning and run a ruck combo of Richards and Rocca? Or keep flaps in and drop walker, IMO i think fanning should be dropped, he did ok, but walker played a better game.

The main strengths of the Crows is their midfield and backline. Clarke and hudson got 26 hitouts between them against the wet toast, who didnt have a first string ruckman on the day, (Cox is ********!) they usually have the likes of Roo, Mcleod, and Edwards running through the middle all who are great accumulators of the ball, 1st question is who do we tag, Roo or Mcleod, they are the top 2 danger men, Mcleod would have to be taken by Shaw, while the bigger boddied Roo, would have to be stopped by holland or lica.

So here is how i think we should line up against the crows in 5 days time:

B: Maxwell / Wakelin / Clement
HB: C.Morrison / Walker / Woewodin
C: Lonie / Licuria / Lockyer
HF: Buckley / Rocca / Caracella
F: Burns / Taz / Davis
Foll: Richards / Holland / BJ
Int: Cole / B.Morrison / Rowe / R.Shaw
Emg: Obree / B.Shaw / S.Prestigiocomo

 

[Jabso]

After a bit of thinking i think the changes should be (if Richards is not fit):
IN: Rowe, Maxwell, C.Cloke
OUT: Lonie, Williams, O'Bree

B: Maxwell, Prestigiacomo, Woewodin
HB: Johnson, Wakelin, Clement
C: Rowe, Morrison, Cole
HF: Caracella, Rocca, C.Cloke
F: Davis, Tarrant, Burns
Fo: Fanning, Licuria, Lockyer
Int: Walker, Holland, Buckley, R.Shaw
Emg: Williams, O'Bree, B.Shaw

 

[silverphoenix]

After a bit of thinking i think the changes should be (if Richards is not fit):
IN: Rowe, Maxwell, C.Cloke
OUT: Lonie, Williams, O'Bree

What has Cloke done to deserve a spot in the side, he has had a poor preseason. WHile you want to take out one of the guys who has had a great one in lonie. Not to mention the fact that you want to replace 3 player who can all go into the middle or on wings with 2 KPP's and a midfielder?

Lost it!

 

[Cyclops]

I'm not giving up hope, it is only round one.

I thought Bucks, Rocca and Tarrant all looked off colour. Thats a shame, we started injured in 2004 too, but it was the same in 2003.

We have a fair list and a good coach. However I'm going to have to blow off some steam about Williams. I don't like to criticise our boys so I'll say this about him:




















There. I feel much better.

 

[browny4PM]

What has Cloke done to deserve a spot in the side, he has had a poor preseason. WHile you want to take out one of the guys who has had a great one in lonie. Not to mention the fact that you want to replace 3 player who can all go into the middle or on wings with 2 KPP's and a midfielder?

Lost it!

As much as i love the way Cam plays his footy, i agree he's had a shocker of a pre-season. You can't play him out of form too because when he's in a bad mood or out of touch he just hits people. The last thing we need is C Clo on the sidelines for 6 weeks.

In order for Taz to play on a flank, where he belongs, we need a true FF to come into the side. Cam is not up to it at this stage, Tex?? Maybe, Billy is still not up to it IMO, Trav is probably the only one who's stood up in this position during the pre-season (albeit for Willi).

Not a likely scenario at this stage, as we know MM's stance on playing young guys with potential.

 

[silverphoenix]

Not a likely scenario at this stage, as we know MM's stance on playing young guys with potential.

Then some1 needs to have a word in his ear, he played Rogan from word dot, ditto with dids, whats the difference between these to and any1 we drafter last yr. We are lacking pace in the middle, didak will bring some in, so will rowe when he stops ********ing off the coaching staff, we have a 100m sprinter on our rookie list who could come in, ffs just take a crowbar to andy williams legs and put him on the Long term injury list, mix things up by puting taz on a wing, he has leg speed, bring in the 2nd year players to hold down key positions if need be.

 

[Cyclops]

As much as i love the way Cam plays his footy, i agree he's had a shocker of a pre-season. You can't play him out of form too because when he's in a bad mood or out of touch he just hits people. The last thing we need is C Clo on the sidelines for 6 weeks.

Why not? he plays a shocker but belts the oppostion sensless, which has gotta help the sides chances, and then gets the 6 weeks off he needs to get fit. Just kidding of course.

One move I liked was sending Tex into the ruck with clear instructions to belt Darcy. Darcy hands out his fair share (eg the throat hit on Tarrant in the second Quarter) so Tex had a chance to learn his trade from a journeyman.

Intimidation and physicality is a key part of the game. We have few players who can hold their own, let alone cast a shadow. Rocca is our ony feared enforcer, with J Cloke, Burns and Holland making guys think twice. If Cam Tex and a few others get some scalps, we'll be more formidable.

 

[eddiesmith]

Tex into the ruck was the worst move Mick has made in his entire coaching career.

We need Cam as he is our only fit Ruckman to help Fanning. Park him in the goalsquare to provide a contest when he ain rucking and allow Taz and Rocca to run free

Cam, Rowe Maxwell in
Walker, Williams, Cole out