Preview R13: Changes vs. Brisbane Lions

[Betts are off]

Its not necessarily about that, its about picking the best side each week.

Smith deserves to hold his spot, and the last wet game we played Tex was dragged at half time.

Still not going to let it bother me. Tex will play, Laird will play. It would be more surprising if that weren't the case, then it happening given how we are travelling.

I simply can't see a reality in us making tactical selection committee moves until that changes. They'll go with the norm until it bites them. Put it in the book

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Hoyne straight up saying Smith over Laird for the HBF at 17.30

The Laird thing is an interesting debate.

I’m so glad we’ve moved him out of the midfield but to be fair to him he is in most clubs best 23 players including ours. Having said that I have no idea where to play him these days.

 

[feenix67]

Jeffy trigger warning

Very interesting analytics about Izak during the Crows discussion on this video. Not to blow our own trumpet here, but what was said basically reflects the observations we made on CrowCast in some of the Engine Room analysis videos and we had a good conversation recently about whether Ranks is better forward more than midfield. The data seems to show that the club agrees with us, that while he can have some great clearances, defensively he has some shortcomings and is more effective as a forward with mid bursts. His forward/mid ration has flipped since the Collingwood match. CD seems to think that Sam Berry has taken some of that load - I've long thought the obvious rotation is Izak and Rash (who is a clearance machine). Peatling I think has taken some of Izak's load in reality. Will be interesting to see how this develops over the remainder of the season.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

Still not going to let it bother me. Tex will play, Laird will play. It would be more surprising if that weren't the case, then it happening given how we are travelling.

I simply can't see a reality in us making tactical selection committee moves until that changes. They'll go with the norm until it bites them. Put it in the book

If this is where the debate over team selection now sits then we are in a pretty healthy spot in my view. Much prefer having these dilemmas than lamenting why Murphy and McHenry are getting games

 

[Betts are off]

If this is where the debate over team selection now sits then we are in a pretty healthy spot in my view. Much prefer having these dilemmas than lamenting why Murphy and McHenry are getting games

Good point. I suppose if the 2025 side's fringe players are both All Australian's and either a 2 time club BnF, or a 7 time club leading goal kicker then the floor and the ceiling of the team has definately come up.

 

[Mutineer]

Draper in the white vest...

 

[jenny61_99]

Draper in the white vest...

Good. Hopefully he gets a full game in the SANFL rather than being dicked about playing a half a quarter in the firsts.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

What does the white vest mean?

 

[skam85]

why has there been no talk about sending Milera to Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

, isn't he our best shut down defender for opposition small forwards?

 

[skam85]

What does the white vest mean?

B team evidently.
Except there's been numerous examples this season where it means absolutely nothing

 

[CrowBloke]

The team are now in the top 4 conversation at the halfway point in the season.

With respect, I know you're discussing Walker, but our current poz is no guarantee of success.
Nearly every year at least one team starts strongly, then fades to either miss Finals or get eliminated quickly.
Carlton 2022 comes to mind; 4th after Round 12 (9-3 75% W-L), 9th after Round 23 (12-10, so they won only 3 of their last 10 games).

The trick is to be playing your best, strongest footy to win 3 Finals in September, consecutively, and not in the first third or half of the season.
OK, we are not Carlton, but we are the Crows with a history of losing must-win games.

However, if we beat Brisbane I'll be starting to think more positively for 2026-2028.
For me, Nicks is the likely reason not to win a Flag. As always, we'll see. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Betts are off]

With respect, I know you're discussing Walker, but our current poz is no guarantee of success.
Nearly every year at least one team starts strongly, then fades to either miss Finals or get eliminated quickly.
Carlton 2022 comes to mind; 4th after Round 12 (9-3 75% W-L), 9th after Round 23 (12-10, so they won only 3 of their last 10 games).

The trick is to be playing your best, strongest footy to win 3 Finals in September, consecutively, and not in the first third or half of the season.
OK, we are not Carlton, but we are the Crows with a history of losing must-win games.

However, if we beat Brisbane I'll be starting to think more positively for 2026-2028.
For me, Nicks is the likely reason not to win a Flag. As always, we'll see. I hope I'm wrong.

I understand your point and agree, 3rd at round 12 gets you SFA at seasons end if you fall away. However it does mean you've banked enough wins to officially flip the switch to 'win-now' mode, which I firmly believe has happened for our selection committee.

And with that in mind, I can't see a reality where experienced heads don't get the inside track for the remainder of the season. It's not that I don't want to see kids getting their blocks of games, or us to select tactically. Rather given the context of our season and the importance of success in 2025 to these coaches and administration, I just don't think it will happen outside of injury.

And i'm choosing not to let it bother me as much anymore.

 

[Danger in Texas]

Jeffy trigger warning

Very interesting analytics about Izak during the Crows discussion on this video. Not to blow our own trumpet here, but what was said basically reflects the observations we made on CrowCast in some of the Engine Room analysis videos and we had a good conversation recently about whether Ranks is better forward more than midfield. The data seems to show that the club agrees with us, that while he can have some great clearances, defensively he has some shortcomings and is more effective as a forward with mid bursts. His forward/mid ration has flipped since the Collingwood match. CD seems to think that Sam Berry has taken some of that load - I've long thought the obvious rotation is Izak and Rash (who is a clearance machine). Peatling I think has taken some of Izak's load in reality. Will be interesting to see how this develops over the remainder of the season.

The mix seems to be (for now), in order: Dawson, Peatling/Berry/Soligo, some Rankine and a small amount of Rachele

Ideally you want Soligo to step back up and Berry to continue his good run with that kind of mix, but it seems to be functioning well

 

[CrowBloke]

And i'm choosing not to let it bother me as much anymore.

Very thoughtful reply, thanks.

I should probably do the same.

 

[feenix67]

The mix seems to be (for now), in order: Dawson, Peatling/Berry/Soligo, some Rankine and a small amount of Rachele

Ideally you want Soligo to step back up and Berry to continue his good run with that kind of mix, but it seems to be functioning well

Yeah, although I'd love a bit more of Rachele in there, maybe taking a bit of Dawson out for stints forward or on the wing. We seem to have a pretty solid mix now though with some flexibility

 

[spenze]

The Laird thing is an interesting debate.

I’m so glad we’ve moved him out of the midfield but to be fair to him he is in most clubs best 23 players including ours. Having said that I have no idea where to play him these days.

Yeah, I don't think he is. Other teams wouldn't play him in their back 6 due to his lack of metres gained , not being zippy and not being a great one on one lockdown type. He really needs to excel in one of those attributes to get a spot there.

Nobody is playing him midfield though a case for him maybe playing in the front six could be made I guess.

Your last sentence sums it up well, he doesn't quite have the attributes anymore to command a spot, he has gotten slower and the game has moved on from a good ball reader being the loose in defence, they have to take the game on and Lairdy is too cautious for that.

Hopefully, we don't have to wait until a major type of injury like Crouch for us to get a run of games to show us that we are a better team without Laird.

He is still handy but the modern game is moving past him.

 

[AFC979810]

Jeffy trigger warning

Very interesting analytics about Izak during the Crows discussion on this video. Not to blow our own trumpet here, but what was said basically reflects the observations we made on CrowCast in some of the Engine Room analysis videos and we had a good conversation recently about whether Ranks is better forward more than midfield. The data seems to show that the club agrees with us, that while he can have some great clearances, defensively he has some shortcomings and is more effective as a forward with mid bursts. His forward/mid ration has flipped since the Collingwood match. CD seems to think that Sam Berry has taken some of that load - I've long thought the obvious rotation is Izak and Rash (who is a clearance machine). Peatling I think has taken some of Izak's load in reality. Will be interesting to see how this develops over the remainder of the season.

I think you were too busy playing with your own trumpet to actually look at his entire season.

Were Rankine's midfield minutes reduced over the past two weeks because we were being smart with him and not wanting to waste him getting battered and bruised in the midfield in 66 and 90 point smashings? Because his midfield numbers were eerily similar to Rds 1 & 2 which were also blowouts.

The 6 games with most midfield time: North, GCS, Geelong, GWS, Carlton, Collingwood (4 of the 6 are top 8 teams).

The 6 games with least midfield time: Saints, Bombers, Freo, Port, WCE, Sydney (1 of the 6 are in the top 8).

True test will be this Friday against Brisbane. Rankine should be fit and raring to go.

 

[crows dude]

The Laird thing is an interesting debate.

I’m so glad we’ve moved him out of the midfield but to be fair to him he is in most clubs best 23 players including ours. Having said that I have no idea where to play him these days.

Back Pocket.

NOt half back.

That is Smith, Milera, Hinge to rotate through.

 

[feenix67]

I think you were too busy playing with your own trumpet to actually look at his entire season.

Were Rankine's midfield minutes reduced over the past two weeks because we were being smart with him and not wanting to waste him getting battered and bruised in the midfield in 66 and 90 point smashings? Because his midfield numbers were eerily similar to Rds 1 & 2 which were also blowouts.

The 6 games with most midfield time: North, GCS, Geelong, GWS, Carlton, Collingwood (4 of the 6 are top 8 teams).

The 6 games with least midfield time: Saints, Bombers, Freo, Port, WCE, Sydney (1 of the 6 are in the top 8).

True test will be this Friday against Brisbane. Rankine should be fit and raring to go.

It's possible, but there's no doubt he has work to do defensively in centre square situations. He's a bit better at stoppage but still not great. You only have to have a close look to see that, irrespective of stats.

 

[FR0GGY]

Looks like the bloke on the right has seen the team sheet that shows laird back in.

 

[Mutineer]

Looks like the bloke on the right has seen the team sheet that shows laird back in.
View attachment 2333697

I bet spenze knows who that bloke is and the other one too..

 

[Rank]

I must admit I've never been a fan of Berry but he's been ok and can keep his spot for now, Pedlar must stay and Smith can stay in and Laird stay out. The next thing will be who goes out for Murray in a couple of weeks

 

[Danger in Texas]

I must admit I've never been a fan of Berry but he's been ok and can keep his spot for now, Pedlar must stay and Smith can stay in and Laird stay out. The next thing will be who goes out for Murray in a couple of weeks

I mean that’ll pretty clearly be Butts

 

[Rank]

I mean that’ll pretty clearly be Butts

I agree totally with that, Id just leave as is till then if possible.

 

[Alwaysacrow]

I hope they decide to play Rash mostly forward. He's on fire at the moment and the ball will be on the deck a lot on Friday night.