Preview R24: Changes vs. North Melbourne

[MrBarry]

Thilthorpe isn’t being rested. There’s a rest the following week.

It's not about being rested, it's avoiding any sort of uneeded injury.

 

[Vader]

My opinions only...

1) Will Nicks and co inexplicably find a way to once again select Murphy and/or Schoenberg over Dowling? Like most others, I would drop both and absolutely select Dowling, but what are the odds of this actually happening?

Yes, of course they will. History has shown this repeatedly. I agree with you that neither Murphy or Schoenberg should ever be selected at AFL level, ever again, and both should be delisted as soon as the finals are done.

2) Will Laird returning against North (which is the only definite thing we know) simply mean Smith drops out of the side, or is there any way Brodie is retained as the sub? I’d drop Smith. I just don’t see the point in having a back half player as the sub. Ever.

Yes Laird will return. Smith could end up as the sub.

3) Are any of Nankervis, Cook or Draper a chance of squeezing in to play North, even if it’s just as the sub? Something tells me none of them will be in the 22, but maybe one of them gets a gig as the sub?

None whatsoever.

4) Is there any reality in which Butts is preferred over N Murray for the North game and finals? This is a really tough call. Gun to my head, I’m actually dropping Murray for the qualifying final, but I don’t envy the selectors here.

Yes, this is a very real possibility. Butts did nothing wrong other than getting injured. A week in the SNAFL should be all he needs to prove that he's regained his fitness and is ready to play at AFL level again.

5) Is Taylor, who was subbed out instead of Murphy, any chance of being dropped or relegated to the sub role? Taylor would be anchored in the starting 22 if I had anything to do with it. The only time his name should even come into the conversation to be potentially relegated to the sub role is when Rachele is ready to return.

I doubt there's any chance of him being dropped. Taylor has been pretty good for the last few weeks - certainly a massive upgrade on Murphy.

 

[Vader]

It's not about being rested, it's avoiding any sort of uneeded injury.

I can see a case for resting Thilthorpe, given that he's clearly carrying an injury at present (the neck problem from last week). I don't see any case for resting players who are > 90% fitness.

 

[MrBarry]

I can see a case for resting Thilthorpe, given that he's clearly carrying an injury at present (the neck problem from last week). I don't see any case for resting players who are > 90% fitness.

What is the need to play players who are absolutely key to our finals success, if we are locked away in a top 2? Dawson and RT are non-negotiables, we simply cannot risk them if there is no need.

Taking those 2 out and slotting Dowling/Laird in is more than enough to beat North away. Schoernberg and Murphy shouldn't be anywhere near this team either, but I can see them playing next week.

 

[Vader]

What is the need to play players who are absolutely key to our finals success, if we are locked away in a top 2? Dawson and RT are non-negotiables, we simply cannot risk them if there is no need.

Because we don't want players to be underdone should we get to the PF. Recent history is littered with teams which gained direct entry from the QF, only to lose to the team coming through the SF. The incidence rate of this has skyrocketed since the introduction of the pre-finals bye. Underdone players is one of the significant contributing factors.

Assuming we go straight from the QF to the PF, any player rested against Norf would have only played 1 game in 4 weeks - which is far from ideal preparation for the 2nd most important game of the season.

Resting injured players makes 100% sense. Resting fit players (or those who are carrying niggles - which every player is at this time of year) risks key players being underdone for the later finals. It's not worth the risk.

Taking those 2 out and slotting Dowling/Laird in is more than enough to beat North away. Schoernberg and Murphy shouldn't be anywhere near this team either, but I can see them playing next week.

Agree 100% with these changes.

RT needs to be rested next week, so he can recover properly from his neck injury. Dawson is fit, and should play against Norf.

 

[MrBarry]

Because we don't want players to be underdone should we get to the PF. Recent history is littered with teams which gained direct entry from the QF, only to lose to the team coming through the SF. The incidence rate of this has skyrocketed since the introduction of the pre-finals bye.

Assuming we go straight from the QF to the PF, any player rested against Norf would have only played 1 game in 4 weeks - which is far from ideal preparation for the 2nd most important game of the season.

Resting injured players makes 100% sense. Resting fit players (or those who are carrying niggles - which every player is at this time of year) risks key players being underdone for the later finals. It's not worth the risk.

Agree 100% with these changes.

RT needs to be rested next week, so he can recover properly from his neck injury. Dawson is fit, and should play against Norf.

Fair enough, RT being rested has to be the absolute minimum though.

 

[daniel_4tw]

Schoenberg and Murphy out. That should have been both their farewell game.

Laird and Dowling in.

Smith sub.

If anyone has a slight niggle you rest too, but I wouldn’t rest anyone just for the sake of it.

We still are missing that small forward but Murphy isn’t the answer. Just play Rankine 100% forward with Dowling taking his midfield minutes.

 

[Boundryump]

Dowling, Laird, Draper in

 

[FR0GGY]

All of Sid, Dowling and nank should play

 

[kikkavic]

Yeah, agree with consensus of Murphy, Scho, (Smith) -> Dowling, Laird, (Nank).



Did he actually injure something or was it precautionary?

I think it was 'awareness' so he might be good for North game

 

[kikkavic]

I think a few sore bodies need a rest. I wouldn't care if half the sanfl side gets a go

 

[Boundryump]

Hope they don't think it will be an easy game....remember West Coast

 

[Crows I Am]

Dowling and Laird in for Murphy and Schoenberg at a minimum.

Smith to sub

If RT is struggling with his neck injury then we would be crazy to play him this week. I know Burgess was awful last week, but I'd rather him come back in for one last game than risking Thilthorpe and then him making his injury worse.

The other option would be for Murray to pinch hit in the ruck and then bring in Nank for RT.

 

[Cromulant]

Dowling and Laird in for Murphy and Schoenberg at a minimum.

Smith to sub

If RT is struggling with his neck injury then we would be crazy to play him this week. I know Burgess was awful last week, but I'd rather him come back in for one last game than risking Thilthorpe and then him making his injury worse.

The other option would be for Murray to pinch hit in the ruck and then bring in Nank for RT.

Not sure Toby is close, but i reckon the first sentence is spot on.

 

[Crows I Am]

Not sure Toby is close, but i reckon the first sentence is spot on.

I meant N Murray to pinch hit if needed.

 

[Carn The Texan]

Dawson could be in Brownlow contention, it would be madness to not play him.

Don't think you drop your captain. And nothing wrong with keeping Rankine in the team with plenty of bench time to keep his workload under control. Thilthorpe an easy one to rest, clearly still some soreness from that "stinger" or whatever they want to call it.

 

[crows dude]

No resty resty is needed. They get a week off before finals. And if we win first final there is another week off.

Injured - Max, Rachele, McAndrew, Ryan

Butts if fit I think is now in front of Muzza
Dowlings form cant be ignored so replaces Schoenberg
Laird also back in for Murphy

SANFL
Sturt V Crows Sat Arvo
F Welsh Burgess Cook
HF Murphy T Murray Haysman
C Nankervis Crouch Sholl
HB Jones N Murray Edwards
B Borlase Madgen
R Strachan Schoenberg Draper
I Gallagher Drury Atkinson Crane

AFL
F Neale-Bullen Thilthorpe Walker
HF Keays Fogarty Rankine
C Cumming Berry Curtin
HB Hinge Keane Laird
B Worrell Butts Milera
R O'Brien Dawson Soligo
I Taylor Peatling Smith Dowling
S Bond

 

[kikkavic]

Don't think you drop your captain. And nothing wrong with keeping Rankine in the team with plenty of bench time to keep his workload under control. Thilthorpe an easy one to rest, clearly still some soreness from that "stinger" or whatever they want to call it.

I think hinge, fog, peatling, thilthorpe, worral are all candidates for a rest. I could handle them all rested, but I doubt we drop Murphy if we rested them all. Would like to see nicks get a look at some real outside chance players, preseason next year is the next opportunity.

 

[daniel_4tw]

If we rest Thilthorpe, should we bring in Butts for defense and play Murray in the forward line with pinch hitting in the ruck?

Honestly have no idea if we should go for Murray or Butts in defence. Both have been great. I think Butts probably better but Murray is too good not to be in the side.

 

[Cromulant]

If we rest Thilthorpe, should we bring in Butts for defense and play Murray in the forward line with pinch hitting in the ruck?

Honestly have no idea if we should go for Murray or Butts in defence. Both have been great. I think Butts probably better but Murray is too good not to be in the side.

If there's a tall we shouldnt play in the ruck, its Nick Murray

 

[ams4crows]

Nicks mentioned wanting to find our way back to good form so I doubt we rest anyone.

The point is to push ourselves now, so that we are ready physically for finals. One game in month before a prelim is not good prep.

 

[Cromulant]

Nicks mentioned wanting to find our way back to good form so I doubt we rest anyone.

The point is to push ourselves now, so that we are ready physically for finals. One game in month before a prelim is not good prep.

Doesn't mean we wont rest anyone if they don't need it.

I suspect one of two guys might get a week off.

 

[NSolis]

There’s really no reason to risk form and match fitness with a bye coming up and potentially another one after that. I’d only leave someone out if they are actually injured.

 

[Carn The Texan]

If we rest Thilthorpe, should we bring in Butts for defense and play Murray in the forward line with pinch hitting in the ruck?

Honestly have no idea if we should go for Murray or Butts in defence. Both have been great. I think Butts probably better but Murray is too good not to be in the side.

Murray not a bad call for forward line, structurally we can put him in a similar position. I still wouldn't mind seeing Nank up forward though

 

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Just got a message from a friend. I have no way of knowing how true it is- he's honest, but it's come from a friend of a friend of his, who s on the fitness staff. Apparently we have been in a heavy training load for 4 weeks.

So, 4th hand news, but it's interesting.

Just got a message from a friend. I have no way of knowing how true it is- he's honest, but it's come from a friend of a friend of his, who s on the fitness staff. Apparently we have been in a heavy training load for 4 weeks.

So, 4th hand news, but it's interesting.

This would be true for most top 8 teams. A heavy load now and then taper the training down for finals, so you’re peaking performance for finals.

The risk is you drop a game or two when you’re in the heavy training loads, which may have impacted Collingwood and Brisbane.