Match Ups V Kangaroos

[Kildonan]

Forwards: N. Burke(180), F. Gehrig(195), D. Wulf(188)
Backs: J. Sinclair(180), S. Watt(192), D. Motlop(184)

Half Forwards: X. Clarke(181), N. Riewoldt(193), A.Hamill(184)
Half Backs: D. Teague(186), J. Baird(192), G. Archer(182)

Centre: H. Black(177), L. Hayes(186), N. Dal Santo(185)
Centre: B. Rawlings(181), A. Simpson(185), D. King(183)

Half Backs: A. Jones(176), M. Maguire(190), S. Powell(181)
Half Forwards: C. Jones(187), D. Petrie(197), S. Grant(178)

Backs: B. Voss(181), M. Hudghton(191), S. Lawrence(177)
Forwards: L. Harding(180), S. Rocca(195), T. Makepeace(180)

Followers: J. Koschitzke(197), R. Harvey(181), L. Ball(183)
Followers: M. Porter(199), A. Stevens(178), B. Harvey(168)


Interchange:, J. Peckett(182) L. Montagna(178), S. Baker(179), J. Blake(189)
Interchange: B. Robbins(181), S. Clayton(186), L. Brown(193), D. Wells(180)

OUT: B. Goddard(189), A. Thompson(180), S. Milne(176).
IN: S. Baker(179), L. Ball(183), D. Wulf(188).

Emergency: S. Milne, L. Fisher, A. Murray
Emergency: D. Morrell, H. McIntosh, D. Harris

The Kangaroos effectively have Clayton, Grant, King, Rawlings(tagger), Robbins, Stevens and Harvey playing in the midfield.

Our midfield consists of Harvey, Hayes, Ball, Powell, Black and Dal Santo. Maybe its time to bring Baker back to the midfield to tag one of their match-winners - like Grant.

The match ups look good with the exception that we’re down one or more options in the ruck department.

I would like to see Gehrig play forward to spread their defence. Last time we met, the Kangaroos targeted Riewoldt, we were without Hamill and Koschitzke and could find no other options to goal. Ironically it was the crumbing Milne that kept us in the game that day scoring 4 goals.

Gehrig v Watt should be a good tussle
Riewoldt v Baird a much more even affair when Nick is not triple-teamed.
Hamill v Archer (both missed the first round meeting) time for Aaron to stand up here
Petrie v Maguire will be a tough one for young Matty, but I’d be keen to let it go a while even if Petrie looks like getting on top of him.
Rocca v Hudghton, Max is getting his touch back after a good game v O’Loughlin, I think he’ll do the job here.
Harding v Voss Brett is on a roll at the moment, must stay accountable

Wulf played quite well, I thought, in round 1, and I’m sure is out to cement a spot.


Now is the time for us to show that we have improved. There are seven matches till the end of our season. We’ve played all of these teams earlier this year and won four out of seven. We should be able to better this time round with more home ground appearances and more games under our belt.

We do miss Knobel but this is not the problem at the moment. We need to do the 1%ers i.e. SHEPHERD, BACK UP, PRESENT AS TARGETS, PRESSURE THEIR BALL CARRIERS and get the free flowing game happening. Direct fast football. We have the players and we have the desire, we’ve just got to get our heads right.

 

[Darky]

B : Makepeace Watt Sinclair
HB : Rawlings Baird D.Motlop
C : Robbins Simpson Jones
HF : Grant Petrie Archer
F : Harding Rocca Wells
R : Brown Stevens Harvey
IC : Porter Clayton Teague King

That's how I'd expect them to line up at the start of the game. Laidley often adjusts his positions 2 or 3 minutes in, after having a look at the opposition.

Once the teams settle I'd expect the match ups of the starting 18s to be like this, not necessarily in the above positions, and not necessarily how I would personally match them up :

Makepeace - Burke
Watt - Gehrig
Sinclair - Black

*Rawlings - Hayes
*Simpson - Dal Santo
*Jones - Harvey
* These three rotatable (ie - Rawlings/Harvey, Simpson/Hayes, Jones/Dal Santo) depending on the coaches' attacking/defensive frame of mind or on Laidley's use of Jones.

Robbins - Powell
Baird - Riewoldt
Grant - Lawrence/Peckett
Harding - Voss
Petrie - Maguire
Archer - Hamill
Rocca - Hudghton
Wells - Jones
Brown - Koschitzke
Stevens - Ball
D.Motlop - Clarke
Harvey - Baker

I don't see a starting match up for Wulf, certainly wouldn't have him go near D.Motlop.

When we are confronted with a ruckman who doesn't dominate (I think it's fair to say Koschitzke is an example), Laidley has tended to use Brown for extended periods to add a bit of mobility. It wouldn't surpise me to see Porter get next to no game time this week. I'm of the opinion you play your best ruckman against second-stringers, not send in a your own second-stringer to break even.

Archer should be the man for Hamill, but I fear Laidley may opt to start Archer forward and see if he can get away with using Teague on Hamill.

The midfield match-ups as indicated with * are a bit of a raffle I guess. Hard to predict what's in store for Corey Jones. He spent a bit of time running with Buckley two weeks ago, and spent some time in our starting 4 in the centre square last week, so maybe a bit of versatility is being added, or maybe it's part of a plan to use him on Harvey this week. Using the taller Martin Pike used to have some effect, so this could be the rationale behind it. This year Jones has also played as the third tall (mobile) forward - great on a lead, sure hands... we'll have to wait and see how he's used this week.

I was thinking Robbins would have been Thompson's match up, but obviosly that won't go ahead now. Probably have him on Powell, who may have to step into a more genuine midfield role in Thompson's absence.

 

[Woodson]

Originally posted by StKildonan
[BHalf Backs: A. Jones(176), M. Maguire(190), S. Powell(181)
Half Forwards: C. Jones(187), D. Petrie(197), S. Grant(178)

Petrie v Maguire will be a tough one for young Matty, but I’d be keen to let it go a while even if Petrie looks like getting on top of him.

We do miss Knobel but this is not the problem at the moment. We need to do the 1%ers i.e. SHEPHERD, BACK UP, PRESENT AS TARGETS, PRESSURE THEIR BALL CARRIERS and get the free flowing game happening. Direct fast football. We have the players and we have the desire, we’ve just got to get our heads right. [/B]

If you think that leaving an undersized toiler like Maguire is worthwhile then FORGET about winning the game. The 1% er's of any game is what translate to a victory. I can't see North letting StK dictate terms as the disposal of both these teams is ordinary (see, even I'm bluntly honest) with North having 'under pressure nous' to get that extra lift when required. It may be a evenly contested game for a while until NORTH wake up and use Petrie as the weapon to win the game.

Harvey & Hayes are StK's only hope to create enough to push the Roos but I think Laidley has 'the clues' to negate there influence
over four quarters. North by 27pts.