Preview R17: Changes vs. Melbourne Demons

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

I'm not sure it makes sense to rest Walker only one match after our bye.

If we were going to rest him, it would have made sense to recognise that we had one of the later byes in the season, and give him a rest around the round 8 mark. But since we didn't, it doesn't make sense to do so now.

If we're demoting him on form, that's another issue, but while he's been a little disappointing this year, I don't think he's been "demotion to the SANFL" disappointing.

He’s not getting dropped due to poor form based on the coach’s comments. I’ve not heard Nicks even talk about Tex working through some poor form or anything like that.

So posters can talk all they want about him being dropped, but there is zero indication the selectors see it that way.

 

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Well at least the interchange bench gives hope to Murphy being replaced by Taylor.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

On that interchange bench named I'm gonna guess we'll pick Rachele, Berry, ANB and Taylor with Smith as the sub.

Murphy, Burgess and Bond go out.

Berry, named 2nd last on the list, is a worry. Surely won't get dropped and Murphy in.

 

[dblstR]

Went to SANFL game last weekend and while I’m not sure he’ll ever make it as a solid AFL player (and he’s not young) Burgess was utterly dominant. Wouldn’t mind seeing him get a run in and Tex have a rest.

 

[Scorpus]

So if we bully Murphy on social media does that make the club more or less likely to select him?

 

[Syd Crow]

Well at least the interchange bench gives hope to Murphy being replaced by Taylor.

A forlorn hope of course....

 

[Golumless]

Not my point.

Like Kane Cornes making sure he got to 300 - I don't think it should be the focus.

Tex was woeful in the Richmond game imo. He only spent 62% TOG, and his field kicking was horrid. Not sure why we needed him in a game against the 17th team on ladder? He should have been rested earlier in the season AND we should be ready to rest him again before the end of the season (Eagles game stands out)

Who replaces him? Anyone who deserves a debut. Edwards comes to mind - shuffle the deck chairs and give the kid a chance to get a taste. Same as Smithers. As an older player that Nicks has decided is essential to our team ... he should have been rested against Richmond so Oscar Ryan could get his debut.

If ANY of our veterans don't come up for finals (they are more likely to be injured late in the season) ... what is our plan B?

PS - I don't understand Murphy playing at all but that is a different discussion - he should not even be the discussion considering some of the other players we have in the SANFL like Taylor, Dowling, Nankervis and Bond.

Then you're just getting frustrated for the sake of it. If you're going to replace someone, you better have a damn good idea of who that replacement is, or otherwise that answers why it hasn't happened. Also 62% of game time was approximately what we were using Thilthorpe for in 2023, so that's just a third tall role as we seem to like to mix and match a 2 and 3 tall set up throughout.

Edwards? So a team that's struggling offensively against the best is going to add another defender? Ryan? A lad who has barely fired a shot and again, is a defender. Don't get me wrong, Edwards has earned a debut, however that is independent to Tex.

Your plan B is just the next person on your depth chart.

Murphy is here because it is the exact same discussion. The same reason Tex is not getting dropped is why Murphy has come back to the 22. We have completely exhausted our forward line depth, and what's left of our forward line prospects are all kids who have no real future at AFL level (outside of maybe Pedlar, but even then, it's getting to 'put line through him' territory now).

 

[Syd Crow]

So if we bully Murphy on social media does that make the club more or less likely to select him?

They do the George Costanza opposite thing with what the fans want.

 

[cmndstab]

Went to SANFL game last weekend and while I’m not sure he’ll ever make it as a solid AFL player (and he’s not young) Burgess was utterly dominant. Wouldn’t mind seeing him get a run in and Tex have a rest.

Certainly handy to have him as an in-form option if one of our KPFs goes down, but outside of that I don't see much avenue for him to play for us.

 

[SugarShane]

So if we bully Murphy on social media does that make the club more or less likely to select him?

Bully him = We mustn't bow to their bullying. Select him again.

Don't bully him = The fans have accepted him. Select him again.

 

[BucketsNj]

So if we bully Murphy on social media does that make the club more or less likely to select him?

Probably makes him less likely to play well

 

[jamesclean]

Bully him = We mustn't bow to their bullying. Select him again.

Don't bully him = The fans have accepted him. Select him again.

 

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Went to SANFL game last weekend and while I’m not sure he’ll ever make it as a solid AFL player (and he’s not young) Burgess was utterly dominant. Wouldn’t mind seeing him get a run in and Tex have a rest.

Classic “too good for SANFL, not good enough for AFL” player. Every AFL game he’s played for the Crows he has looked so far off it, it’s not funny.

 

[WetCrow1991]

Probably makes him less likely to play well

Well if one is never going to play well, being less likely to play well is a bit moot isn't it.

 

[maxlilly]

The club isn't going to rest Tex because there isn't any wriggle room for him to get to 300.
But as we have seen so many times, senior players are bigger than the club.
And I can live with that this year.
But what I don't understand is why are we making him our main leading focal point in the forward line ?

He needs to be a role player, not the main target up there. The opportunist.
His 1 v 1 isn't good enough now and his opponent burns us on the rebound too often when we play the better teams.

 

[Crows I Am]

Tex is staying all season. Hopefully with a rest or at least a subbed out game or two but he's playing the whole season.

Yes we need to take the option to sub him out more often if we are not going to rest him. They are obviously locked in to get him to 300 this season, so we need to manage his minutes now in the games he does play.

 

[Crows I Am]

On that interchange bench named I'm gonna guess we'll pick Rachele, Berry, ANB and Taylor with Smith as the sub.

Murphy, Burgess and Bond go out.

I admire your optimism.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Murphy sub again with Max up forward.

Or Smith sub with Max down back.

Taylor, Burgess and Bond to miss.

 

[1970crow]

On that interchange bench named I'm gonna guess we'll pick Rachele, Berry, ANB and Taylor with Smith as the sub.

Murphy, Burgess and Bond go out.

Doubt Murphy goes out, he’s surpassed Taylor.

 

[crows dude]

Classic “too good for SANFL, not good enough for AFL” player. Every AFL game he’s played for the Crows he has looked so far off it, it’s not funny.

Took 8 marks and kicked two against Geelong. 6 Marks and 3 goals against Hawthorn. So not every game. He only played 7.

 

[Mutineer]

Umpires
Nick Jankovskis (1), Craig Fleer (26), Cameron Dore (28), Andrew Adair (36)

 

[Alwaysacrow]

Murphy out please, I don't care about anything else.
P.S. Plus a win of course.

 

[maxlilly]

Umpires
Nick Jankovskis (1), Craig Fleer (26), Cameron Dore (28), Andrew Adair (36)

They must be saving the bad umpires for when the top teams play against us

 

[SugarShane]

Classic “too good for SANFL, not good enough for AFL” player. Every AFL game he’s played for the Crows he has looked so far off it, it’s not funny.

Need another 110 looks at him at AFL level before we make that call.

 

[BucketsNj]

Well if one is never going to play well, being less likely to play well is a bit moot isn't it.

you'll never know