Preview R3: Changes vs. Geelong Cats

[JPetro83]

WOW, No Dawson....I can guarantee the tv will be off by half time tomorrow night in my house. Makes the Freo game a must win OR its going to be a very long year ahead. not even april and already i fear this could turn into a nightmare season.

 

[Slim258]

Hopefully one day we get Cheese, Cheddar, and Milk for the dairy trifecta.

Moose Dairy?

 

[Slim258]

I can guarantee the tv will be off by half time tomorrow night in my house. Makes the Freo game a must win OR its going to be a very long year ahead. not even april and already i fear this could turn into a nightmare season.

You have to be one of, if not, the most negative person going around.

 

[BunjiMC]

A significant change to last year where we ran everyone into the ground. Hopefully we are approaching this the right way and don't miss finals completely...

 

[Play On Advantage]

Depends a bit how McAndrew is going with his body. Given its his first real season of AFL we will need to play ROB occasionally to just manage the workload. Seeing how this week is already looking maybe this is a chance to play ROB and play Thilthorpe as a permanent forward. Lessen the workload for McAndrew for a week

Geelong dont have a big physical ruck so this wouldnt be the week.

 

[Geoffa32]

The guys coming in will be champing at the bit to prove themselves.

If Nicks lets em play more attacking we a chance.

 

[Trigger13]

Our fitness guys is a fu$&n joke

 

[Trigger13]

And if Nicks doesn’t give this team a license to go all out with run and dare, rather than shutting up a shop to reduce the damage, then he can pack his bags on Monday.

 

[Stephen2]

And if Nicks doesn’t give this team a license to go all out with run and dare, rather than shutting up a shop to reduce the damage, then he can pack his bags on Monday.

Or like... Pop our best kicks in defense then, if our defenders are gonna be our 30 possie getters and muck around like this.

Others listed em, Cook, Cumming, Dawson..

Keane, Hinge, Curtin to come

 

[BRL121]

I'm concerned that we won't see much at all from Dawson this year.

He doesn't seem to have recovered from whatever hampered him at the end of last season (foot?).
He has struggled on-field all pre-season and season so far, looking completely shot at the end of every game.
He has exhibited a grim demeanour from the start of every game and has looked pretty unhappy, as if playing under difficulty.

How has this situation been allowed to continue for so long? Does he need an extended break to regain fitness?

 

[davos44]

I'd go

Out: Ah Chee (injured), Laird (injured), Dawson (injured), Walker (rested)
In: Nankervis, Edwards, Taylor, Maley

Maybe give Marsh a crack too, why not

Our average age will drop by about 1.5 years with those changes. 26 Years to 24.5 Years

About time this clubs B graders got their big boy pants on and stopped relying on Dawson, Walker and... Laird to have a blinder.

Berry, Soligo, Peatling, Cumming, Pedlar, Fogarty and Cook need good games.

 

[Geoffa32]

I'm concerned that we won't see much at all from Dawson this year.

He doesn't seem to have recovered from whatever hampered him at the end of last season (foot?).
He has struggled on-field all pre-season and season so far, looking completely shot at the end of every game.
He has exhibited a grim demeanour from the start of every game and has looked pretty unhappy, as if playing under difficulty.

How has this situation been allowed to continue for so long? Does he need an extended break to regain fitness?

Yep have noticed this as well.

 

[Redline]

Geelong dont have a big physical ruck so this wouldnt be the week.

True but I don't think ROB is in our best side and given the other outs I don't have high hopes for this week anyway. No good getting to the bye and McAndrew being cooked only to have to play ROB for a serious of games.

 

[ABAB]

And if Nicks doesn’t give this team a license to go all out with run and dare, rather than shutting up a shop to reduce the damage, then he can pack his bags on Monday.

Limit percentage will be his thinking.

 

[I Lost My Keays]

Surely Edwards gets a gig?

 

[GreyCrow]

I'd like to keep a good percentage at least.

Limit percentage will be his thinking.

Cyclonus Matty Nicks Alt

 

[JPetro83]

You have to be one of, if not, the most negative person going around.

Do you blame me after what this club has dished up the last 28 years? hell, i wa sin high school last time this club won a flag. We cant win tomorrow night. i am a realist and until this club wins another flag i will continue to be a negative f***

 

[DJ75]

Laird out: Bond in
Walker out: Maley in
Ah Chee out: Nank in
Dawson out: Edwards in.

Smokies definitely are Marsh and ROB, the latter would be idiotic

ROB's career isn't over yet.

Across the AFL there is a huge number of hamstring and calf issues (we are getting more than our fair share though). At some point the dopes in AFL house will see the impact their rule changes have had and try to bring it back a little. That will probably involve changes to ruck rules that will give ROB a re-birth.

 

[Crom1995]

If anyone has watched AFL over the last decade, rarely the teams playing the best footy right now go on to sustain it into finals etc. Brisbane were 0-3 in 2024, and won the grand final. Port won 13 in a row during the year in 2023 and went out in straight sets. It's a long season, and I think the club realised we peaked too early last year. We broke out Collingwood MCG hoodoo, and got within a kick of everyones flag fancy at the moment. Back to back 6 day breaks and a trip to Geelong wont determine our season.

 

[DJ75]

Edwards better debut if Dawson Laird and Tex are all out

What if we were to, I don't know, maybe play Dowling in his actual preferred position and let him win the ball? See how he goes?
Not on a wing. Not at half forward. Not as a defensive mid. You know, actually try to let him use his main strength.

A radical suggestion I know. Crazy even.

 

[BRL121]

If anyone has watched AFL over the last decade, rarely the teams playing the best footy right now go on to sustain it into finals etc. Brisbane were 0-3 in 2024, and won the grand final. Port won 13 in a row during the year in 2023 and went out in straight sets. It's a long season, and I think the club realised we peaked too early last year. We broke out Collingwood MCG hoodoo, and got within a kick of everyones flag fancy at the moment. Back to back 6 day breaks and a trip to Geelong wont determine our season.

No, but injuries to star players will.

 

[jackster83]

Our average age will drop by about 1.5 years with those changes. 26 Years to 24.5 Years

About time this clubs B graders got their big boy pants on and stopped relying on Dawson, Walker and... Laird to have a blinder.

Berry, Soligo, Peatling, Cumming, Pedlar, Fogarty and Cook need good games.

Rankine actually starting to play like a consistent A grader would be nice too.

Guy needs to be winning B&F's rather than just goal of the year nominations.

 

[Mutineer]

What if we were to, I don't know, maybe play Dowling in his actual preferred position and let him win the ball? See how he goes?
Not on a wing. Not at half forward. Not as a defensive mid. You know, actually try to let him use his main strength.

A radical suggestion I know. Crazy even.

Dowling is not an inside mid, he's an outside mid at best/wing/high half forward.

 

[Cromulant]

You have to be one of, if not, the most negative person going around.

I dont think theres any doubt.

 

[Cromulant]

Do you blame me after what this club has dished up the last 28 years? hell, i wa sin high school last time this club won a flag. We cant win tomorrow night. i am a realist and until this club wins another flag i will continue to be a negative f***

Theres nothing realist about you.