Preview R5: Changes vs Fremantle

[Cannon82]

I'm convinced perennial Watts backers put anyone who cans his game in the Watts basher basket.

I pay his dues when they are there but he has been ordinary even by his standards. In four quarters of footy he did a handful of regulation plays amongst a litany of nothing. His marking contests were woeful, not because he didn't clunk them but because he rarely brought it down to advantage. He's out of sorts.

Yep, pretty fair assessment. He wasn't good last night but he wasn't alone there either. His marking contests were disappointing - nothing wrong with expecting contact but he needs to do better than stick the arms straight up in the air. Disposal was also poor, but so was the rest of the team's. Not sure who in the Casey team is worth bringing up to replace him though... Watts doesn't seem like the type to find form in the VFL either. He'll get 20 odd touches, kick a goal or two, probably get told he's shit a lot and come back and play the same when he's picked again.

Jamar, Lumumba, Howe were all ordinary and I think we played some terrible footy at times but because the players are actually accountable these days and we're applying plenty of pressure, we're better at shit footy than our opponent. The drag them down to your level and beat them with experience caper.

 

[Headless]

To echo others, I'd love to see Harmes have a big one for the Scorps.

 

[d33my]

we're better at shit footy than our opponent.

Depending who you talk to, Roos pretty much won a flag at Sydney with this idea

 

[Cannon82]

I feel like we'll get slaughtered in the ruck with jamar and dawes vs Sandi and clarke, maybe need a genuine 2nd ruck

We'll get slaughtered there whether we've got one ruck or two, let's not get pumped around the ground as well for a few hit outs. We don't need two bad ruckmen, we need one good one... which will probably be obtained in the trade / FA period at the end of the year, I hope.

 

[PerfectFooty]

Pendersen for watts. will clunk more and second ruck like he was doing before frost showed up. Watts i back him but at this stage he needs to have a break go back and find some confidence.

Grimes for nev. depends his performance at casey this weekend though and if wether nev will be ok or not

Not sure who to bring in for kent though

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

I love absolutely everything about the man but geez, Cross has to be looking down the barrel this week.

Kent out = Bail in, yay us...

 

[d33my]

I love absolutely everything about the man but geez, Cross has to be looking down the barrel this week.

Kent out = Bail in, yay us...

Why Cross? Thought he did pretty good in the wet. Hard at it etc, 16 touches 5 marks, 4 tackles (you'd probably want a few more tackles from him but certainly not droppable form)

 

[d33my]

Are we all assuming Bernie to run with Fyfe?

 

[Benwah83]

Grimes comes in structurally. Nev going down hurts - Balllas is back and Walters is on the hunt.

Yeah, fingers crossed Nev pulls up ok this week and is right to play. We are going to need him next week.

 

[Cannon82]

Why Cross? Thought he did pretty good in the wet. Hard at it etc, 16 touches 5 marks, 4 tackles (you'd probably want a few more tackles from him but certainly not droppable form)

I thought he struggled a bit last night, couldn't go with his opponent a fair few times and did a few poor things. Not in danger of getting dropped, but I can't see him pushing his career out any further than this year. Might get shuffled out later this year to give someone else a go if the likes of Stretch, ANB show form in the VFL.

 

[Dee Won]

I love absolutely everything about the man but geez, Cross has to be looking down the barrel this week.

Kent out = Bail in, yay us...

Our mids were getting beat on the spread in the first half, cross to me was one of the main culprits. Once the rain came in the second half he was good as the difference in leg speed nullified.

 

[Tulip]

Old habits die hard boys, but we need to stop looking at ways to improve now that we look good. I know that sounds silly, but what I mean is that Cross and Jamar were both absolutely fine last night and deserve the right to see the season out at the very least. Just like with Watts, none of the D-graders or first year guys in the reserves will do any better and the fossils are great for the clubs culture. Winning sides should stick together, especially when you look at what we have in the wings.

 

[Dee Won]

I'm not saying drop Cross, just hope by mid season some of fringe mids make a strong push for his spot, maybe the likes of Michie/Riley so we have his future replacements

 

[d33my]

Where is JKH at? Apart from his early goal he was barely sighted last night. Who would we bring in for him though? He needs to find a way to impact games more.

 

[Cannon82]

Where is JKH at? Apart from his early goal he was barely sighted last night. Who would we bring in for him though? He needs to find a way to impact games more.

Missing that first set shot at goal was frustrating... needs to slot that. Does some really clever and composed things in traffic that show you how good he could be, but like you say, just doesn't get enough of it. 8 touches last night. I think he's got more chance of making it as a Sam Mitchell style mid than as a small forward.

 

[Topkent]

At the end of last year I was saying people were stupid for wanting to push cross out of the team, however 4 games in I get the feeling it's caught up with him a little bit and I reckon this is his last

I love his effort and the way he puts his head over it but you can see the impact Michie made on the game which cross just can't do



Also Hogan is a massive part of the Roos game plan, he is playing the Barry hall role, I fully expect Roos to chase a the Darren Jolly ruck next because stoppages and rucks are vital in finals games
Not sure who it is but we will make a big play for a ruck I reckon

 

[Sylvia Saint]

Out. Kent, Jetta
In. Bail, Grimes

Horses for courses.

 

[Cannon82]

Please not Bail.

Grimes for Jetta is an easy one. Rather Toumpas for Kent I guess, although I don't think he'd get much of a sniff against Freo.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

****, Bail probably is the only guy who can fill that Kent role.

 

[Tempy Tiger]

He said he probably wouldn't he thinks, hardly confirmed it.

Actually he did say he wouldn't play next week due to his history with concussions.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

re : Cross, yea, spot on Cannon, slowed down a touch this year, struggling to go with his opponent at stoppages, worst of all in our D50, I've seen it a few times this year and while he's never had anything close to elite disposal he has even been pretty ordinary even for his own standards.

Love the man, but I've a got a feeling this will be his last year, the game is starting to get away from him, and there is no way i would have said that prior to round 1.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Where is JKH at? Apart from his early goal he was barely sighted last night. Who would we bring in for him though? He needs to find a way to impact games more.

we must see totally different things, i thought his forward pressure was awesome all night long, did enough for mine to justify his place in the side for next week.

 

[Tempy Tiger]

I'm convinced perennial Watts backers put anyone who cans his game in the Watts basher basket.

I pay his dues when they are there but he has been ordinary even by his standards. In four quarters of footy he did a handful of regulation plays amongst a litany of nothing. His marking contests were woeful, not because he didn't clunk them but because he rarely brought it down to advantage. He's out of sorts.

Totally agree. It was exactly the same during Davey's last two seasons. People are in denial. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. Watts is soft and his lack of physicality stands out like dogs balls now we've got some good strong young players. He's playing his way out of AFL football at a rapid pace.

 

[Blackas87]

Next 3 weeks are going to be a good test. Fremantle, Sydney and Hawthorn.

Grimes for Jetta.

Either Toumpas or Bail for Kent. Bail is a better fit but Toumpas has played pretty well the last 2 weeks at casey and another big performance today he may get the nod.

 

[Topkent]

re : Cross, yea, spot on Cannon, slowed down a touch this year, struggling to go with his opponent at stoppages, worst of all in our D50, I've seen it a few times year and while he's had anything close to elite disposal he has even been pretty ordinary even for his own standards.

Love the man, but I've a got a feeling this will be his last year, the game is starting to get away from him, and there is no way i would have said that prior to round 1.

He has been slamming the ball on the boot far more often