Opinion Qualifying Final Changes vs. Sydney

[Freeeoo]

BOM saying 80% chance of rain tomorrow. 2-6mm so not much.

 

[PapaJ]

Playing 3 rucks only makes sense to me if:

1) We play Clarke as a permanent key defender to cover Tippett (maybe Silvagni is still carrying an injury?).
2) We can stretch Sydney's defense and force Reid / Goodes to play as a permanent key defender to cover Clarke.
3) We play Griffin as the sub with the idea of maintaining our ruck dominance as Pyke fatigues (a big risk if one of our mids goes down).
4) We're just trying to mess with Sydney's match-ups / preparation by throwing them a curveball.

I still think that if we see any rain tomorrow at all, De Boer will come as a late change for Griffin. Taking 3 rucks into a wet game would be baffling.

2 and 4 are the only plausible reasons IMO.. but i still think he will be a late out

Yeah agree, the 'stretching defence' thing is fanciful I think. They far more dynamic than that, like us at our best actually. It wont stretch them that often have Griff permanently down there. They'll zone around him when they don't have the ball and run off him all day when they do. If he was a truly mobile big man like Clarke, then maybe I could see it working.

The problem for me is not only that we're going in tall, but I'm just not convinced Griff is even up for it. Last time we saw him against the Saints (admittedly a few weeks ago now), he was next to useless for anything but providing a tapping contest at bouncedown. I just don't get it.

 

[yoong]

I don't think we'll go 3 rucks, wet or dry. I don't think putting Clarke/Griff as KPD will work either. The only possible way I can see us fit in 3 rucks will be:

Sandi play his usual role.
Clarke/Griff play forward and pinch hit at ruck.
Pav move down to play as CHB.

I thought it makes more sense than Clarke as KPD frankly, but if we keep this structure I rather put Crozier forward than Griff...

Ok, Griff's IN is definitely a ruse.

 

[PapaJ]

I don't think we'll go 3 rucks, wet or dry. I don't think putting Clarke/Griff as KPD will work either. The only possible way I can see us fit in 3 rucks will be:

Sandi play his usual role.
Clarke/Griff play forward and pinch hit at ruck.
Pav move down to play as CHB.

I thought it makes more sense than Clarke as KPD frankly, but if we keep this structure I rather put Crozier forward than Griff...

Ok, Griff's IN is definitely a ruse.

Not a bad one really. At least it gives the Sydney staff something to think about instead of taking it completely easy while we sit cramped in a plane for 6-7 hours over two days.

 

[beetz]

I don't think we'll go 3 rucks, wet or dry. I don't think putting Clarke/Griff as KPD will work either. The only possible way I can see us fit in 3 rucks will be:

Sandi play his usual role.
Clarke/Griff play forward and pinch hit at ruck.
Pav move down to play as CHB.

I thought it makes more sense than Clarke as KPD frankly, but if we keep this structure I rather put Crozier forward than Griff...

Ok, Griff's IN is definitely a ruse.

This will never happen.

 

[Taylor]

The last time I saw Pav in the back line he was putting on a match winning spoil... Against Geelong in the corresponding game last year.

 

[beetz]

The last time I saw Pav in the back line he was putting on a match winning spoil... Against Geelong in the corresponding game last year.

I rephrase: Pav won't start in the back line. You may seem him, along with every one else, down there when we're flooding the back line because we're up by less than a kick with a minute to go.

 

[pokerspiv]

The problem for me is not only that we're going in tall, but I'm just not convinced Griff is even up for it. Last time we saw him against the Saints (admittedly a few weeks ago now), he was next to useless for anything but providing a tapping contest at bouncedown. I just don't get it.

Pretty hard to judge him on that game, everyone was terrible and the most likely reason is that the entire squad had the Flu.

 

[Swan Districts Kid]

Not a bad one really. At least it gives the Sydney staff something to think about instead of taking it completely easy while we sit cramped in a plane for 6-7 hours over two days.

I agree that Griffins inclusion is a red herring. He (or one of the other ruck men if injured) will be pulled out as a late change for Crozier or De Boer.

 

[PapaJ]

Pretty hard to judge him on that game, everyone was terrible and the most likely reason is that the entire squad had the Flu.

Maybe, I'm not convinced and wont be 'til I see him out there tomorrow.

If he plays, I might well be RTB pulling rank. I remember a few times in the past couple of years Ross mentioning that he wanted to try all three, but alluding that match-ups and the match committee (and of course more recently injury) tended to work against it.

We'll see I guess.

 

[Grandstan]

“And then do you put a Zac Clarke back there or a Mayne and bring in another tall, (Jon) Griffin and (Jack) Hannath, or go a bit smaller because it’s going to rain?" Ross Lyon on Tuesday
We're still asking the question today.
Looking at sizes, Tippett is 201cm, Franklin 198cm, Reid 196cm and Goodes 191cm. Dawson is 197cm, Silvagni is 192cm and Ibbotson 186cm. Why not bring Griffin in rather than sacrifice Mayne or Taberner, who would be more useful in our forward line?

 

[beetz]

You wouldn't read about it but guess what...

The boys are stuck on the escalator at Sydney airport

 

[pokerspiv]

Maybe, I'm not convinced and wont be 'til I see him out there tomorrow.

If he plays, I might well be RTB pulling rank. I remember a few times in the past couple of years Ross mentioning that he wanted to try all three, but alluding that match-ups and the match committee (and of course more recently injury) tended to work against it.

I severely doubt he's using this game to experiment with. He's there as cover for one of our other ruckmen, named in the team just for the giggles.

 

[purplepassion82]

What a happy bunch of coconuts!

 

[popin]

It's finals time again and can FREO smash the MIllion dollar swans, well i wish you luck to see if 2014 is the year of the purple haze. I hope you like my post and hopefully you destroy the swans in a good victory

 

[Freo88]

Why has everyone forgotten about the Dockers?

http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/09/05/why-has-everyone-forgotten-about-the-dockers/

Interesting read

 

[Lost_Deputy]

It's finals time again and can FREO smash the MIllion dollar swans, well i wish you luck to see if 2014 is the year of the purple haze. I hope you like my post and hopefully you destroy the swans in a good victory

Bold Popin. Too bold? Time will tell

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Why has everyone forgotten about the Dockers?

http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/09/05/why-has-everyone-forgotten-about-the-dockers/

Interesting read

Great great read

Currently pissing down in Sydney

 

[salim malik]

Sounds more like syphilis to me

Sounds more like syphilis to me

Dont you have to have a wellington boot to get it?

 

[The Black Sheep]

“And then do you put a Zac Clarke back there or a Mayne and bring in another tall, (Jon) Griffin and (Jack) Hannath, or go a bit smaller because it’s going to rain?" Ross Lyon on Tuesday
We're still asking the question today.
Looking at sizes, Tippett is 201cm, Franklin 198cm, Reid 196cm and Goodes 191cm. Dawson is 197cm, Silvagni is 192cm and Ibbotson 186cm. Why not bring Griffin in rather than sacrifice Mayne or Taberner, who would be more useful in our forward line?

Clarke would be good as a third man up. While he doesn't really appear to know what to do in the forward line, he is very good at getting to the right spot around the ground and is a pretty deccent mark outside of our F50. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the backline tomorrow.

 

[strobe00]

Yeah agree, the 'stretching defence' thing is fanciful I think. They far more dynamic than that, like us at our best actually. It wont stretch them that often have Griff permanently down there. They'll zone around him when they don't have the ball and run off him all day when they do. If he was a truly mobile big man like Clarke, then maybe I could see it working.

The problem for me is not only that we're going in tall, but I'm just not convinced Griff is even up for it. Last time we saw him against the Saints (admittedly a few weeks ago now), he was next to useless for anything but providing a tapping contest at bouncedown. I just don't get it.

Injury cover if sandi has to withdraw to rest the knee that it looked like he tweaked last week. Adds confusion to include him in the 22 rather than just as an emergency.

If griff, sandi and Clarke all play it'll get real ugly.

All IMO.

 

[strobe00]

Great great read

Seconded. Great article. Top link Freo88

 

[PorcelainBus]

I have heard that Sandi is an out - if they play him it will be going in with an injured <50% player

 

[Lost_Deputy]

I have heard that Sandi is an out - if they play him it will be going in with an injured <50% player

Heard that 12 hrs ago and it was
proven wrong. Happy to be proven incorrect with deets

 

[PorcelainBus]

Heard that 12 hrs ago and it was
proven wrong. Happy to be proven incorrect with deets

Love to be proven wrong