Game Day R18 vs Crows @ Marvel - Saturday 12 July 1:20pm

[MaxiBont]

The next two games will shape our season and definitely tell us if we have any chance in September.

The Crows are Top 3 in points scored and have a great forward line with their tall forwards and always the threat of Keays, Rankine, Rachele and Dawson.

Will be a big test for our defence and our structure.

Hoping JOD is all good to go. Need Davidson and Harmes back in. I think Buku should be in as the third tall defender. His marking ability could be needed against a strong Adelaide forward line.

Garcia gets another go. I’d want Dolan over McNeil but think that’s unlikely.

In - Davidson, Harmes, Buku
Out - Poulter, Dureya, Coffield

Sub - McNeil

 

[JohnnySteel]

We absolutely need another tall defender to combat Adelaide’s forward line.

 

[MaxiBont]

We absolutely need another tall defender to combat Adelaide’s forward line.

I think there’s a risk with going too tall. Usually one them have minimal impact in the game.

Adelaide have great smalls/mediums so going tall might expose as at ground level.

It’s a hard balance.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Jones and Buku in please, and Davidson back. Harmes, Garcia and Poulson are a worry.

 

[JohnnySteel]

I think there’s a risk with going too tall. Usually one them have minimal impact in the game.

Adelaide have great smalls/mediums so going tall might expose as at ground level.

It’s a hard balance.

I think we aren’t seeing Lobb’s intercepting best as he is too preoccupied with his opponent and is under pressure back there with only JOD. If we get another tall down there to support, Lobb can play that role much more effectively & a lot more balls won’t be going to ground anyway.

 

[Doggiesfan14]

Jones just has to come in, he’s the best we’ve got. Was stiff to go out, but we need to back him in. Had an interrupted preseason so can be excused for being a little rusty

 

[BEaston]

Poulter and Garcia need more time to adjust. They're not going to come in and play well straight away.

Like Hynes, they need some time to see if they're capable.

 

[bobs head soup]

I think there’s a risk with going too tall. Usually one them have minimal impact in the game.

Adelaide have great smalls/mediums so going tall might expose as at ground level.

It’s a hard balance.

As a rule I'd agree, but Adelaide have Thillthorpe, Tex and Fogarty as genuine big men who will cause damage if not adequately covered. Curtin is also 197/95 and pushes forward.

This is the one team that can really expose a Coffield/Cleary as a pseudo third tall.

 

[MaxiBont]

As a rule I'd agree, but Adelaide have Thillthorpe, Tex and Fogarty as genuine big men who will cause damage if not adequately covered. Curtin is also 197/95 and pushes forward.

This is the one team that can really expose a Coffield/Cleary as a pseudo third tall.

Good call on Curtin, their team is stacked.

 

[Golden_6]

In: Davidson, Harmes, Jones or Buku
Out: Poulter, Coffield, Duryea

Our defensive structure:
Williams Jones/Buku JOD
Dale Lobb JJ
Bramble

 

[Philthy1]

Our bottom six are going to hurt us comes finals given we have few weak links unless we can sort that out. It feels a bit like we are searching for the combination that we trust.

I would give Poulter another game to see if he can get up to speed with the game.

As for having Buku down back, he is an absolutely liability as soon as there is body contact. Can't play as a defender if all you can do is intercept.

Duryea is totally cooked.

Out: Duryea, McNeil
In: Davidson, Harmes

Depending on how Sellwood goes today, perhaps consider him. Baker, Gallagher (when fit) may fill a need but I am not inspired by those choices.

 

[Golden_6]

Our bottom six are going to hurt us comes finals given we have few weak links unless we can sort that out. It feels a bit like we are searching for the combination that we trust.

I would give Poulter another game to see if he can get up to speed with the game.

As for having Buku down back, he is an absolutely liability as soon as there is body contact. Can't play as a defender if all you can do is intercept.

Duryea is totally cooked.

Out: Duryea, McNeil
In: Davidson, Harmes

Depending on how Sellwood goes today, perhaps consider him. Baker, Gallagher (when fit) may fill a need but I am not inspired by those choices.

Our bottom 6 is generally pretty good if we remain healthy.

Lets assume Davison, Harmes & L Jones come in for Poulter, Duryea & Coffield (as an example), our bottom six likely consists of Davidson, Harmes, Bramble, Hynes, Jones & Garcia. It's really not too bad if I'm being honest.

 

[Philthy1]

Our bottom 6 is generally pretty good if we remain healthy.

Lets assume Davison, Harmes & L Jones come in for Poulter, Duryea & Coffield (as an example), our bottom six likely consists of Davidson, Harmes, Bramble, Hynes, Jones & Garcia. It's really not too bad if I'm being honest.

I disagree that Davidson and Garcia are bottom six.

Garcia will be better for the run.

Hynes is getting better each week so no way would I drop him.

Maybe L Jizz comes in given Adelaide have a tall forward line.

 

[Golden_6]

I disagree that Davidson and Garcia are bottom six.

Garcia will be better for the run.

Hynes is getting better each week so no way would I drop him.

Maybe L Jizz comes in given Adelaide have a tall forward line.

Who do you have in there instead? The only other candidates from last night are JOD, Sanders & VDM.

 

[Philthy1]

Who do you have in there instead? The only other candidates from last night are JOD, Sanders & VDM.

I think we are talking about our bottom six over the course of the season when everyone is fit, not necessarily off the back of one game.

From last night tho, I think our bottom six would have been Poulter, Duryea, McNeil, Coffield. After that take your pick.

JOD wasn't great last night, but I wouldn't go dropping him.

 

[dogwatch]

IN: a fringe player or two that we can champion all week then stick the boot into half way through the game
OUT: the equivalent player/s from last week

 

[BigFloppa]

Adelaide are going to seriously expose our defence. This could get ugly. If our defence struggled that bad against Norf, what will it look like against one of the best forward lines in the comp?

 

[Munnez]

Jones just has to come in, he’s the best we’ve got. Was stiff to go out, but we need to back him in. Had an interrupted preseason so can be excused for being a little rusty

His form at VFL hasn't been outstanding unfortunately he may be done age gets all players in the end

 

[Smiley Boy]

If Jones is fit he absolutely needs to play this game to combat Thilthorpe, Walker & Fogarty

 

[go_sports_team]

If Jones is fit he absolutely needs to play this game to combat Thilthorpe, Walker & Fogarty

100% agree. Even if he's just there to spoil with his fist of fury he would be an upgrade. We were right behind the goals watching the JOD vs Larkey first quarter and it was embarrassing. Crows will tear us apart if that happens again.

 

[dogwatch]

Adelaide are going to seriously expose our defence. This could get ugly. If our defence struggled that bad against Norf, what will it look like against one of the best forward lines in the comp?

TBF Larkey is one of the best key forwards in the comp. He would thrive at a club that was contending (and so I presume the commentariat have been suggesting for some time that he go to Collingwood, Geelong or Hawthorn).

Larkey kicked 5 of their first 7 goals. When Lobb figured out how to play him and he stopped kicking goals we started to pull away. He is arguably as good as Taylor Walker and Thilthorpe. Possibly better. The obvious difference is that Adelaide have got two such players, North only one.

It's hard to tell when a player is in a weak team but any player who kicks 71 goals for a side that wins 3 games for the season and finishes second last (as Larkey did in 2023) has got some serious talent.

 

[BEaston]

In: Davidson, Harmes, Jones
Out: Coffield, Duryea, Poulter

Backs: Lobb, JOD, Jones, Dale, Bramble, JJ, Williams
Mids: English, Bont, Libba, Red, Davidson, Freijah, Sanders
Fwds: Naughton, Darcy, VDM, Harmes, West, Garcia, Hynes
Sub: McNeil


I do really like what Poulter could potentially bring to the team. He could be a point of difference as a Jarrad Grant

Jarrad Grant

Age

36

Ht

193cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

6.2

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.3

4star

G

1.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

13.6

4star

K

6.0

3star

HB

7.6

5star

M

5.4

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.6

3star

type if he could put it together. I think he does need more time in the side to settle but one of him, Garcia or Hynes has to make way for Harmes.

As it's Adelaide, I'll probably drop Poulter and keep Hynes and Garcia as it's likely that our best form of defense will be by keeping the ball locked in our forward half and Hynes and Garcia are better in that aspect than Poulter.

 

[BEaston]

Actually, could move Poulter to the sub and drop McNeil. Poulter is more flexible IMO.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

It's going to be Gardner. You know it's going to be Gardner.

 

[X_box_X]

As I mentioned in the review thread, our defence will be fine as long as we employ a team defence that has previously worked for us.

It's all well and good playing a high half forward press, but that only becomes successful if any opposition disposal is under immense pressure. That makes it far more difficult for teams to transition with speed forward to expose our loose defence.

If teams manage to fluke a quick kick out of congestion into the waiting arms of one of their half forwards, so be it. Not much we can do about that. But law of averages suggests that won't happen often enough to be outscored by the final siren.

It doesn't matter if Jones is in. He won't make the difference.

We can keep our current lineup and still get ultimate success. It requires everyone to be on the same page.