Preview R17: Changes vs. Melbourne Demons

[Mutineer]

This is probably the last opportunity to be brave to be creative at the selection table - but we won't be.

We will need a fit selectable squad of about 28 ready to go for the finals - to cover for injuries, specific selection criteria etc - with representatives across all lines. We saw 23 of them running around against Richmond - like it or not. And that won't change.

That means we need to have five more than the existing team ready to go. Based on current and previous selection policy those five - ie the ones currently not in the team - would be from these seven - Crouch, Murray - both if fit - Pedlar, Borlase and Taylor and to a lesser degree Nankervis and Draper. Out of the others, Burgess might come in to replace a tall forward but I think Michalanney was auditioned for that on the weekend. And McAndrew would be considered if ROB went down.

That means that, unless there is one highly unlikely last grasp at bravery or creativity, Edwards, Ryan, Dowling and Bond will have to wait until next year, which is terrible development policy, culture killing and downright disrespectful. Some might say they have not deserved selection but they have definitely deserved an opportunity. That opportunity was certainly missed last weekend. No-one would blame these guys for wanting out, should the opportunity present.

This also means that Jones, Cook, Schoenberg and Sholl are done and should look for other opportunities.

For me? Well it would certainly be dropping Murphy and Smith and bringing in Edwards and Taylor and perhaps even Dowling and putting Neal-Bullen, Cumming or Milera - or Walker!!! as sub or even Soligo.
And I would be doing another Max and trying Hinge out in the midfield and giving starting midfield time to Rachele.

No way is Michalanney auditioning as a replacement for a tall forward role, he went forward to quell Vlastuin's running/intercepting defence and if anything he was auditioning for the same role on other teams players i.e. Tom Stewart, Jarman Impey etc. The goals are a bonus.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Shaping our potential finals team, we need to ensure those on the fringes get a couple games each to solidify where we are at. From the weekend, Murphy should be removed full stop (and Pedlar not considered). Smith in contention but not definite best 23. Butts vs Murray will continue to be a talking point.

Out of the weekend side we have Taylor, Murray, Nankervis, Edwards, Dowling, McAndrew, Draper (if it starts to click) and Burgess (if we are wedded to a genuine '3 tall' structure). Hopefully we have some forward planning to hit the finals reasonably fresh and our 'next in line' options tested.

Out: Murphy, Smith
In: Taylor, any of Nankervis/Dowling/Edwards for a 2 game stint.

 

[Slim258]

I don't think they'll make changes just for the sake of it, Nicks has never done that. While many of us think Murphy should be dropped, if that happens, it’s likely Taylor comes in as the sub. But he’ll probably just do what Murphy did, then go straight back out. Ideally, Pedlar—who's now fit—comes straight back in for Murphy. That would show us he’s part of the preferred 23 and then I can rest easy

 

[sirpablo]

It kind of blows my mind that people want Draper in the team. He is not at the level yet. He has speed and agility but his composure just isn't there yet and he's pushed off the ball to easily at this stage. SANFL is a great place for him to develop. Let's take the emotion out of it and just pick the best team.

 

[hugecannon]

What pick was Joel Freijah?

He's the biggest steal of that draft.

45 I think - absolute bargain.

Bicks was huge on him all year with good reason.

While we won’t give any opportunity to the players we took at 21 & 27.

 

[Slim258]

It kind of blows my mind that people want Draper in the team. He is not at the level yet. He has speed and agility but his composure just isn't there yet and he's pushed off the ball to easily at this stage. SANFL is a great place for him to develop. Let's take the emotion out of it and just pick the best team.

Whilst I think the better players will develop in the better comp, the SANFL is a very good second competition, look at what Curtin has done this year after only a handful or so games last year, I have no doubt that the same will happen and Draper will shine next year.

 

[WetCrow1991]

It kind of blows my mind that people want Draper in the team. He is not at the level yet. He has speed and agility but his composure just isn't there yet and he's pushed off the ball to easily at this stage. SANFL is a great place for him to develop. Let's take the emotion out of it and just pick the best team.

Thanks Maffew, now you better get back to polishing your head.

 

[Carn The Texan]

45 I think - absolute bargain.

Bicks was huge on him all year with good reason.

While we won’t give any opportunity to the players we took at 21 & 27.

Yeah thanks to Mutineer 's coverage of his draft year I've been giving a lot of my mates the "i told you so" talk, I look like a genius cheers

 

[Pugsley]

No way is Michalanney auditioning as a replacement for a tall forward role, he went forward to quell Vlastuin's running/intercepting defence and if anything he was auditioning for the same role on other teams players i.e. Tom Stewart, Jarman Impey etc. The goals are a bonus.

We have learned that we can do this against Tom Stewart, haven't we Maffew?

 

[weekend at bernies]

Out: Murphy
In: Draper
but reckon we'll go unchanged.

Curtin has shown what happens when you give a player a decent run at it, which is why Draper needs to be getting game time.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

Whilst I think the better players will develop in the better comp, the SANFL is a very good second competition, look at what Curtin has done this year after only a handful or so games last year, I have no doubt that the same will happen and Draper will shine next year.

Its not like Draper is coming over to Adelaide with no experience playing against men, I am not sure how much he is going to learn in the SANFL.

He has done that quite well last year, he needs time to adjust to AFL.

 

[MRB37]

Pedlar listed as a test, so I'm guessing that'll be the basis of sending him back to the SANFL.

 

[cmndstab]

It kind of blows my mind that people want Draper in the team. He is not at the level yet. He has speed and agility but his composure just isn't there yet and he's pushed off the ball to easily at this stage. SANFL is a great place for him to develop. Let's take the emotion out of it and just pick the best team.

At the start of the year Draper was played as a clearance midfielder (albeit usually coming on as a sub) and looked great. We were all commenting on how nice it was to have a first year player come into the role and immediately look ready.

It was only when we stopped playing him in the centre that he seemed to struggle. I'm very confident that he could have more impact there as a sub than anything Murphy has ever produced in the sub role.

 

[SLOWNE]

If Murphy plays, would love to hear how they justify it.

I really wish that someone in the media had the balls to point blank ask these questions and not let him weasel out of answering with his non-sensical jargon and talk of intangibles.

I am so sick of the smug look all over his dial like we are all the idiots for not understanding his master plan.

 

[BucketsNj]

I think we're past the kids get a golden ticket stage.

I disagreed with the Murphy selection because I don't think he's been good enough at the lower level. But Edwards hasn't been smashing the door down either. He tends to have one good game in three. They obviously chose Smith and Murphy because they felt they were the two next best players - I mean, Smith certainly was.

This is the thing. None of us know, but we all want the shiny new toys.

 

[Golumless]

It kind of blows my mind that people want Draper in the team. He is not at the level yet. He has speed and agility but his composure just isn't there yet and he's pushed off the ball to easily at this stage. SANFL is a great place for him to develop. Let's take the emotion out of it and just pick the best team.

As a non-sub midfield rotation, I agree, Draper needs another preseason to build up the strength needed to be competitive in the AFL.

That said, there is a role for him at AFL, and that's as a small forward. Draper is ultra-talented, a good ball winner one you get out of the clearance situations and is rapid. Whilst our ability to stifle defensive transition is a strength of ours, it does give a different look to our forward line defensive profile than what we have, alongside getting someone we believe is an elite talent in a low-impact position to start off with. Especially as we've reached the point that we've exhausted our depth as we're cycling through Taylor/Pedlar/Murphy.

If Murphy plays, would love to hear how they justify it.

Let's be real, they can't publicly, because that just calls out the likes of Taylor/Pedlar/Cook etc as not being up to it. Whilst that's not wrong at this point, it's something better kept to closed doors.

We select via our depth chart and sector performance and it's Taylor's failure to lock down this position which opened this door.

Pedlar's last two games were played in slippery conditions and he was very poor in both. He doesn't warrant a recall.

I did leave Pedlar in there in case this was just an injury sub and we were happy committing to him, that said, this position is just the equivalent of shuffling the deck chairs on the titanic if we are unwilling to bring in Draper.

 

[cleanhands]

Out: Murphy
In: Draper
but reckon we'll go unchanged.

Curtin has shown what happens when you give a player a decent run at it, which is why Draper needs to be getting game time.

It’s what we are doing to Murphy

 

[Golumless]

Out: Murphy
In: Draper
but reckon we'll go unchanged.

Curtin has shown what happens when you give a player a decent run at it, which is why Draper needs to be getting game time.

That is not what Curtin is showing. You can give most players (kids or otherwise) a decent run at it and they won't amount to much. It's the importance of giving an uber-talented kid a structured position and stability.

 

[FR0GGY]

This is the thing. None of us know, but we all want the shiny new toys.

Why would you continue to play with an old broken toy that never worked?

 

[Golumless]

I think we're past the kids get a golden ticket stage.

I disagreed with the Murphy selection because I don't think he's been good enough at the lower level. But Edwards hasn't been smashing the door down either. He tends to have one good game in three. They obviously chose Smith and Murphy because they felt they were the two next best players - I mean, Smith certainly was.

Edwards has smashed that door down and then some this year, especially for a position that isn't stacked with quality talent. That said, you can make a performance argument for why Edwards hasn't got a gig which is to do with Adelaide's defense turning into the meanest sons of bitches in the league (and it's usually wise to not touch a sector that's performing at that kind of level).

 

[Mutineer]

Maybe listen to Murray Davis's interview posted on the website today re Draper.

 

[Alwaysacrow]

If Murphy plays, would love to hear how they justify it.

A team player, a shape maker, a defensive forward. Anymore?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Maybe listen to Murray Davis's interview posted on the website today re Draper.

What was the key message?

 

[Scorpus]

What was the key message?

Without seeing it I'm going to say it says Draper has a variety of things to work on but is talented and an important part of the future

 

[FR0GGY]

Without seeing it I'm going to say it says Draper has a variety of things to work on but is talented and an important part of the future

Well that gets you games. Cough Smith cough