McIntosh back - Adopted son Haynes out

[GoEagles]

"Veteran West Coast Eagles defender Ashley McIntosh has recovered from a hamstring strain and has been named in the team to play Melbourne in an important game at Optus Oval on Saturday.

The dual premiership defender trained impressively at Subiaco Oval last night, convincing coach John Worsfold and his match committee that he was ready to resume after missing last week’s 32-point defeat of the Western Bulldogs.

McIntosh started the season impressively before hurting his leg in the third quarter of the round two match against Collingwood. To that stage he had been the master of Scott Cummings and a range of other Magpie forwards, but his presence was missed as the club lost by one agonising point.

The return of McIntosh is significant for this game, with Melbourne boasting two powerful and experienced forwards in captain David Neitz and David Schwarz. With McIntosh available he can share the responsibilities of holding the twin towers with another in-form veteran, Glen Jakovich.

While McIntosh will resume, the same cannot said of dangerous forward Mark Merenda who will miss again because of a thigh strain..

The inclusion of McIntosh at the expense of David Haynes was the only change made to the team which eclipsed the Bulldogs at Subiaco Oval last Sunday.

Coming in to the emergency list are defender Kasey Green and ruckman Dean Cox while Haynes was also included in the emergency list.

A decision will be made later tonight as to the travelling emergency.

A cluster of players, unlucky to miss selection will press their claims in the WAFL on Saturday.

The West Coast Eagles Squad for Round 4.

Backs:
PETER MATERA (30), ASHLEY McINTOSH (11 ), DARREN GLASS (23)

Half Backs:

MICHAELCOLLICA (22), GLEN JAKOVICH (27 ), DAVID WIRRPUNDA (44)

Centres:

MICHAEL BRAUN (10), BEN COUSINS (9), DREW BANFIELD (6)

Half Forwards:

DANIEL KERR (4), TRAVIS GASPAR (26), CHRIS JUDD (3)

Forwards:

PHIL MATERA (33), TROY WILSON (40), ANDREW WILLIAMS (37)

Ruck:

MICHAEL GARDINER (1), ROWAN JONES (18), CHAD FLETCHER (7)

Interchange:

CALLUM CHAMBERS (15), ADAM HUNTER (39), RICHARD TAYLOR (8),

ANDREW EMBLEY (32)

Emergencies:

DEAN COX (20),..DAVID HAYNES (38),KASEY GREEN (35)

Team Changes:

In: Ashley McIntosh returns after missing one game with a hamstring strain

Out: David Haynes"

Source West Coast Eagles website

 

[iceman]

Good to see McIntosh back, he'll be invaluable this week since the Demons have both Neitz and Schwarz in good form

Haynes will have to improve to get back in the side

 

[Thrawn666]

Id be surprised if Mc Intosh ran out the game, or didnt pull up lame for next week's game

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

I don't think Milli can be used effectively in defense anymore. I would like to see him playing more in the forward line. He could provide another tall option to complement Willow and Gardy. Maybe use him in defense in the 1st quarter and then rest him up forward for the rest of the game.

 

[Mead]

Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
I don't think Milli can be used effectively in defense anymore. I would like to see him playing more in the forward line. He could provide another tall option to complement Willow and Gardy. Maybe use him in defense in the 1st quarter and then rest him up forward for the rest of the game.

I disagree- Mcintosh is still a high quality full back, and Schwarz and Neitz suit his style of play- look for Milli to pull out a good game.
The thing which confuses me is why Cox hasn't been named- i know gardiner was excellent last week, but going into a game with one real ruckman is a heck of a gamble, and robs us of the extra flexibility of Gardy on the HF line

 

[TheRealBuzz]

Agree with the Mead.

Milli still has a lot of quality footy in front of him.
Just like Jako, you should never write him off.

And I also agree that Cox should be playing.
The Demons don't have any back-up for White, and Gardy and Cox could have tag teamed him and run him into the ground.

 

[jod23]

Im very happy to see Milli back as he will be very valuble down back against one of the Z's.....our backline is always better when Milli is down there.

 

[Voice of Reason]

We'll have to wait and see whether Milli actually plays. Hope Woosha doesn't play injured players as much as Mick did. We probably do need an extra tall defender for this Melbourne game.

My view is that he remains the best full back in the competition WHEN FIT and in fact cannot sustain more than swift bursts in the forward line. Frankly we can't afford to be resting players during games.

Haynes will really have to lift his game - there's no guarantees that another AFL club would pick him up at the end of the year if he doesn't cut it with the Eagles this year, good player though he potentially is.

 

[Methuselah]

Glad to see McIntosh back in the team, but more than a little worried about just 1 week off with a hamstring strain - or was it just a twinge?
He may not see out the game, in which case I'm betting that Hunter has been included to help out down back.
Melbourne are a good team, playing well right now and WCE will have to be on their mettle to beat them. The critical area is the midfield and there is no doubt they are weakened by the loss of Johnstone. However, a look at the possessions of the remaining mid-fielders is a little scary. to win we must get more out of Banfield, Fletcher, Chambers and Kerr this week.

 

[thegur]

straight after the pies game, whoever I was listening to did the injury report ....

"he felt as if he was about to strain his hamstring and decided not to risk the tear and went off as a pre-caution"...

which raises some questions.

is the week off enough?

will he travel over? is it just me, or do the injured players always get the extra week when the return date is a melbourne game? i.e if the game was in Perth, he'd play.....

having said all that, we need the extra tall, the weather in Melbourne has been good, no rain, but it is Melbourne.

i was in favour of Siera/Tuckey to be included, or Cox for that matter.

thegur

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Originally posted by TheRealBuzz
Agree with the Mead.

Milli still has a lot of quality footy in front of him.
Just like Jako, you should never write him off.

And I also agree that Cox should be playing.
The Demons don't have any back-up for White, and Gardy and Cox could have tag teamed him and run him into the ground.

Even though Cox is not named, that wouldn't be the case. White takes the centre ruck, and then drops a kick behind play, with Ox taking most rucks taps up forward where he excells.

But, that won't happen. White vs. Gardiner should be good!

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Originally posted by thegur
having said all that, we need the extra tall, the weather in Melbourne has been good, no rain, but it is Melbourne.

If today's weather is anything to go by, tomorrow will be cold, overcast with strong chances of rain (ohh goody, makes going to the game that much more fun).

Would rain be good for us? I mean, on the one hand our forwards lack talls so rain would help, on the other hand our defense lacks shorts so we could get slaughtered by a short forward.

 

[Methuselah]

...Our defence lacks shorts!
I thought this was wealthy club.....no wonder they feel under pressure during games.
I have an old pair I can donate....c'mon everyone lets help out here.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Originally posted by Methuselah
...Our defence lacks shorts!
I thought this was wealthy club.....no wonder they feel under pressure during games.
I have an old pair I can donate....c'mon everyone lets help out here.

HAHAHAHAHAH, you got me there