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Prediction R11: Changes vs Collingwood

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Ross on 6PR last night said Apeness wasn't a forward
I believe they have decided to permanently transition him into a ruck in an effort to protect his body. It sounds a bit strange given the workload that rucks have, but it was the high speed collisions that a leading forward makes that was getting him injured. By preventing him from leading at the ball they are in effect enforcing an injury prevention measure. A lot of his injuries were impact related afterall.
 
From memory Apeness played ruck during the 18s Champs because he was in the same team as Boyd(?) who was preferred in the main KPF slot.
 

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Maybe Ross has forgotten or it didn’t work out as they planned but he was definitely drafted as a KPF, says so in his Bio & was planned for as a long term replacement for Pav.
My view on this one is that it is a more recent development/decision that he is seen as a ruck first.

Happy to be corrected but at the start of the WAFL season he was playing forward until he injured his foot (same game that Darcy injured his foot & Grey injured his Hamstring) and missed a couple of games. Since returning he has now played four games as the main ruck and gone well in two of those four.
 
Mate, what? This post is actually embarrassing.

A few things to note:

1. Please read up on how Hughes has been going this season before commenting such rubbish.
2. Duman needed a rest, his output was dropping off.
3. Blakely has plateaued... I don't even. Like what? I... I'm just gobsmacked. Wow. He had a bloody stinker, his worst game for the season last week vs. North, but he has had near BoG games this season as well.
4. Crowden is a first year player. He plays where he is told to play.
Johnson, Balla, D Pearce don't, deserve to be a Freo next year. Why not play the mature guys that will?
Form at Peel this year is very hard to judge, no midfield quality, depth, so forwards and backs are under constant pressure.
Everyone has an opinion on Blakely I'm in the midfield boat, agree to disagree, if Hughes, Nyhius, Duman play then Connor
plays mid
As for Crowden, we have seen many players out of their position, not picked at all.
Collins is rated the best defender not playing AFL, Ross never gave him a proper go.
 
I really hope they mean ruck/fwd.
Darcy is a ruck
Meek is a ruck
Jones is a ruck
Sandi is a ruck
Strndica is a ruck/fwd.
Apeness is a ruck??

With only Sandi due for retirement this seems like a massive imbalance that needs sorting out this offseason.
Meek, Jones and Strnadica were all taken with throw away picks and Apeness has been injured for the majority of his 5 years at the club. Getting one or two of them to develop well enough to back up Darcy is a good strategy.

In terms of sorting it out this off-season, Apeness, Strnadica and Sandilands are the ones out of contract. My view is that none of those should be presumed to be not on the list for next season at this stage. If they are going well at seasons end, give them another contract. I certainly don't see any point in delisting either Jones or Meek with a season left on their contracts.
 
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Collins was given a go and destroyed throughout 2016, had bags kicked on him weekly
Collins would be behind Pearce and Hamling, no question about that. At best he would be a depth player for us. Pretty comfortable with the likes of Logue and Cox as talls who could play back there if required, but who have yet to settle exactly where their best position is.
 
I really hope they mean ruck/fwd.
Darcy is a ruck
Meek is a ruck
Jones is a ruck
Sandi is a ruck
Strndica is a ruck/fwd.
Apeness is a ruck??

With only Sandi due for retirement this seems like a massive imbalance that needs sorting out this offseason.
Nads was a longshot that looks like it may pay off. Prior to this season his prospects were completely unknown.
Johnson, Balla, D Pearce don't, deserve to be a Freo next year. Why not play the mature guys that will?
Form at Peel this year is very hard to judge, no midfield quality, depth, so forwards and backs are under constant pressure.
Everyone has an opinion on Blakely I'm in the midfield boat, agree to disagree, if Hughes, Nyhius, Duman play then Connor
plays mid
As for Crowden, we have seen many players out of their position, not picked at all.
Collins is rated the best defender not playing AFL, Ross never gave him a proper go.
I don't know about you, but I'd prefer we didn't lose every single game by 100+ points, which is exactly what would happen if you only played kids for a full year, you only need to look back 10 months to see this!

It's such garbage all these calls that kids must get thrown in because it's good for their development, like really? Is there evidence that that is the only and best option? Some kids develop better by going one level at a time, that means some WAFL first, young talls in particular. With our injury list being as long as it is, very few guys have missed out on potential AFL experience. I cannot name a single player at Peel who has screamed PICK ME over the last few weeks other than D. Pearce putting in some solid returns, and now Giro on return from injury.

Yes, let's get outraged about the yoof that hasn't been playing... except that's a complete lie.
 
12 games in 2016, 2 in 2017 and I wonder why every team was belting us?
Blame Owen.
earnt his way into the team in 2016 and played the rest of the season and showed he wasn't upto it.
Played his way in again but still wasn't upto it so didn't play again.

Fairly accurate assessment I would say?
 

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OUT:
S. Hill
D. Pearce
A. Sandilands

IN:
M. Apeness
M. Crowden
T. Duman
S. Giro
S. Jones
S. Kersten
T. Sheridan
 

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He definitely has. Been disappointing, his already poor kicking has gotten worse.
Yeah, you're watching the wrong player. Blakely's kicking has been gpood
Apeness, Jones, Giro, Crowden, Duman, Kirsten, Sheridan
Out
Hill, DP, Sandi
Can't be too unhappy with that. Ballas and Johnson still names but are on the extended interchange.

Hopefully they go with both Apeness and Meek so that we can try two forwards and a ruckman.
 
Notably, Johnson and Ballantyne have been named on the bench. For me that indicates both are more likely to be out than in, particularly Johnson who I would expect to be named on the ground if playing.

Full list of changes to be:

In: Kersten, Apeness, Crowden, Giro, Duman

Out: Sandilands, SHill, D. Pearce, Johnson, Ballantyne.

There is potential for a 6th I believe with Jones coming in, but that would probably only happen at Cox's expense so unlikely.
 
Yeah, you're watching the wrong player. Blakely's kicking has been gpood

Can't be too unhappy with that. Ballas and Johnson still names but are on the extended interchange.

Hopefully they go with both Apeness and Meek so that we can try two forwards and a ruckman.
Nah, definitely not, its been pretty bad. Watch him closely this weekend.
 
Interesting that Jones has been cited as a potential backup for Apeness to play pure forward. This is exactly what many are hoping for.

It makes us slower and with Hill out we need speed - probably a sensible move might be bringing in Giro and Sheridan to counter that.

I know the forward line looks a little raw but I’m rubbing my hands together to see a few giants back up there. Can’t be worse than what we’ve been doing recently.
 
Interesting that Jones has been cited as a potential backup for Apeness to play pure forward. This is exactly what many are hoping for.

It makes us slower and with Hill out we need fun - probably a sensible move might be bringing in Giro and Sheridan to counter that.

I know the forward line looks a little raw but I’m rubbing my hands together to see a few giants back up there. Can’t be worse than what we’ve been doing recently.

Reid and Howe out is massive for us in the air. Apeness, Fyfe should definately try aim for a couple of big grabs. Shame Taberner can't be out there.
 

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Prediction R11: Changes vs Collingwood

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