Rocca's IN.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Final 22.

[premiers06]

if it ain't broke dont fix it.

really this is mind boggling we have been in great form relying on our forward pressure and with rocca in our forward line players like goddard, fisher, gilbert and gram are going to be waltz around the 50 with rocca chasing them.

Also why did we drop wood seriously he had one bad game but the ruck contest is so vital considering we are up against gardiner and king really this isnt good at all IMO

I'd be happy to be proven wrong but looking at the team I am a lot less confident.

 

[johncitizen]

With Rocca in the team Anthony could have a day out and kick a bag..

 

[Invigoration]

People seem to have forgotten how much of a liability Rocca is, he was past it a year ago, I get the feeling he probably hasn't improved in that time.

Our forward line doesn't work with 3 talls and Anthony offers far more than Rocca, all Rocca brings is the arguement that he brings the ball to ground... Whoopty doo!

If we wanted to try him, why not bring him in, in the dead rubber last weekend? If we get beaten in a tight one and Rocca brings his usual shitness (which he will undoubtedly do), I'll have no problem calling for the early inclusion of Buckley next year.

I'm happy to be proven wrong, but an unfit and unreliable Rocca won't have more than 10 touches Sunday, one or two token marks and maybe a goal. First week of finals isn't the time to be working players back into the pace of AFL level. I'd much rather see us lose with the eye to the future (say playing a N.Brown or someone similar) than lose out of sentiment and because we threw back to the past.

On your bike Rocca, the NFL is calling.

 

[Parallel Andy]

LOL 2 goals in the VFL is equivalent to 3-5 goals in AFL

Read the post in full!
Rocca is cumbersome and does not win much ball at ground level.
If the ball comes to him from an AFL player it will hit him on the chest. From a VFL player he will be forced to chase wayward kicks.
I think he'll kick 4.

 

[mattys123]

Not much mention in here of the youngsters that will be playing in our side.

This week, for the first time ever, Steele Sidebottom, Dayne Beams and John McCarthy will play in the same senior Collingwood side, and that makes me giddy almost.

These 3 young stars are the midfield future of this football club, and it's astonishing to think that their first game together will be a 1 v 4 qualifying final in front of 85,000 fans.

I'm more excited by these 3 playing together for the first time then anything else, mainly because we have been waiting all year to see it.

Go Rusty, J-Mac and Laser.

 

[Strachuniee]

You could tell MM wasnt happy at all with Wood last week, to put it simply, he was terrible, and Dick has been ordinairy since he returned from injury via the VFL.

He hasn't been worse than fraser. No wonder we can't, as a club, develop ruckmen when we are willing to give them opportunity. Wood has had a fantastic month, plays one average game (where he wasn't alone) and gets dropped. Very stiff IMO.
Rocca's a very very lucky man should he end up playing. I'll be the first to acknowledge him should he play a good game, however should he have no impact watch the knives come out from everyone saying rocca should come in

 

[johncitizen]

Wood was likely dropped for team balance and match ups. Nice to know we have him in case anything should happen to Josh.

 

[tranquilli lace]

play this loud in full screen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCD8enXBhXw

Thanks for posting - I'd honestly forgotten how good he is/has the potential to be!

 

[1eye]

May force the saints hand to play Hudghton.

 

[Pie eyed]

ROCCA!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Paul.]

Wood was likely dropped for team balance and match ups. Nice to know we have him in case anything should happen to Josh.

Mick has said since the start of the year players will be dropped if they're not in form. It doesn't matter who you are.

I think Wood has been dropped because he was quiet last week. Layed a few nice taps in the ruck but I thought he was pretty bad.

Rocca has been covering something like 13km in the 2's. That is midfielder territory. Midfielder delivery in the 2's isn't as good either, where as in the senior's it is generally a lot less good.

Also in 2007 we played three forwards - Cloke, Rocca & Rusling - and we looked really good.

3 forwards is a very good idea. Le-roy Brown (do not understand the hatred for that man) can cover ground, peel off in defence, he is durable.

Fantastic selection by Mick.

 

[Alpha Male]

Could this be a double bluff from Malthouse??

Lure the Saints into a late change for Hudghton (Robert Eddy the most likely to be dropped) and then pull Rocca out for a small (Dick?) at the last minute.

I'm really nervous about this game. If Rocca plays I'm happy for Dawson to take him and Blake has a very good record on Cloke but it's John Anthony that I worry about. When the guy is on he just doesn't miss. He can kick 7 goals with 7 kicks and I'm not sure who we play on him. I assume it's Fisher but I'd hate to see him taken deep. We need his run off half back to help out the midfield.

Ball back in is great for us and helps Hayes, Montagna, Dal Santo match up on O'Bree, Swan, Didak and Davis.

I think we have the edge in the ruck contest but the Pies have it around the ground.

Riewoldt is going to be the hardest match up. Presti just can't keep up with him all over the ground and it would be dangerous to let him have free reign on the wings. I think Presti plays on Kosi and Brown on Riewoldt with Maxwell double teaming.

Going to be a massive game and I think the winner of this will play in the GF regardless of the PF match.

Saints by less than 20 points, but very very nervous.

 

[Brent24]

Dislike the selections.

Rocca is past it, we don't need another forward who can't kick straight and who will get run off on.

Can't believe Wood is out, has been in ripper form and the only times we actually looked like winning a clearance against the Dogs was when Wood was in the middle, he performed better than Fraser, Fraser was absolutely terrible. Going in with one ruck, one who struggled badly last game is a poor decision in my book.

Happy with Pendles and Sidey, bring some much needed class into the side.

Agreed.

Rocca isn't what he used to be. He has done nothing at AFL level in a few seasons and his VFL form barely warrants selection.
Wood is incredibly stiff, he was better than Fraser last week. The "Fraser rucks better alone" argument is stupid, Wood was excellent rucking alone and passable with Fraser in the side.

 

[rose jam]

Fraser is a dominant finals player, Wood obviously goes out because the 2 ruckman policy reduces our rotations which reduces our strength. It isn't for us.
Rocca playing 60% match time with half forward, half ruck seems like a choice that could do damage, particularly as he would drift forward from the ruck.
You would actually think the high rotation ,short burst/rest method would suit Rocca more. He has never been slow, just can't sustain running for long periods.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I'm far more traumatised by Rocca's selection than Zac Dawson will be.

Lunatic selection, IMHO. I love Rocca but the first final is not the time to experiment with the side.

 

[HFF]

Watching that Anthony Rocca music video gives you a sense of optimism on what he can do when he is up and going.

If Rocca has a day-out, the Magpie Army won't let anyone forget it.

 

[Paddywhackers]

Don't be surprized if Rocca is a late withdrawell.

 

[Quicky]

I feel intense trepidation at this selection.

Massive massive gamble, could well turn out to be a massive massive f-ark up!!!

Wood should be in that side ahead of Fraser if they were to bring in Rocca.

Cant help but think this is brinkmanship from Malthouse and there will be a late change pulled.

If Rocca plays I hope i'm proved wrong.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Dawson to be having nightmares tonight

Not after last time earlier in the year. Not at all!!! Think he'll look forward to it. Not a skinny kid anymore.

 

[mdc]

Dislike the selections.

Rocca is past it, we don't need another forward who can't kick straight and who will get run off on.

Can't believe Wood is out, has been in ripper form and the only times we actually looked like winning a clearance against the Dogs was when Wood was in the middle, he performed better than Fraser, Fraser was absolutely terrible. Going in with one ruck, one who struggled badly last game is a poor decision in my book.

Summed it up nicely.

those that keep mentioning dawson are forgetting rocca played against st kilda last time. dawson had no problems.

Yep, but to be fair we were smashed everywhere, so Rocca didn't exactly get much opportunity. But yes, rumours of Zac Dawson shitting his dacks are greatly exaggerated.

Mick has said since the start of the year players will be dropped if they're not in form. It doesn't matter who you are.

I think Wood has been dropped because he was quiet last week. Layed a few nice taps in the ruck but I thought he was pretty bad.

...except Josh was far, far worse than Wood, and Wood's been critical to our success over the last 3 months.

It's an insane selection decision (dropping Wood even more so than selecting Rocca), and I can only hope that as long as it's not wet Wood will be a late change in. I opened this thread while eating a pack of Doritos, and now I'm literally spitting chips!

 

[leons magic]

I don't mind Rocca being included in the side, past it or not because he will still create a contest and give St Kilda something to think about. Jack Anthony although he has had a decent year, always seems to get outplayed against a great defender or defence e.g. brian lake last week, scarlett earlier in the year. St Kilda have an awesome defensive unit and i cant see him doing much damage against them IMHO. Jacks main strengh is his accuracy and ability to make the most out of his opportunities, but those awesome players and defences nullify him to the point where he is going so bad that he has no impact. Due to his pure size even if Rocca doesnt hurt St Kilda much on scoreboard his pure presence and ability to make a contest will bring others into the game.

The selection that worries me most is dropping wood who has been excellent in recent times bar his performance last week in which i thought Fraser was worse. I thought Wood should play out the year to help his development and he has showed when onsong that he can be an asset to the side especially with his ruckwork and tapping ability which i believe Fraser does possess. The inclusion of Leigh Brown is a joke, he is an average footballer at best. To those that say he has had a good year and should be in this week are kidding themselves. He is a bits player, a shit forward who is inaccurate, to slow to pinch hit around the ground in the ruck and lastly he has been used down back with success but has never really played on someone. Those who say he played on J.Brown and did well must have been watching a different game to me. Jonathan brown got shit delivery when they did go forward, and the ball hardly entered our back 50 in the second half. I have no doubt in my mind he would have kicked 10 that night on leigh had the game been more even in the second half. Still ended with 5.4 or something and 10 odd marks.

Leigh will get exposed in finals footy especially if he gets a classy opponent such as a riewoldt or a kosi one out...but unfortunately i think think thats what will be required to see the end of him. I admire his courage and attack on the ball and have no doubt he gives it his all. But he lacks any class or skill and his decision making costs us at times when there has been no pressure on at all, can you imagine in heated final against possibly the most difficult of opposition who have prided themselves on creating so much pressure on the ball carrier. With no N.Brown to go to if one of their big forwards gets a hold of the game, Leigh will have to go to them and will be exposed for the ordinary footballer he is, and prove once and for all he hasnt got what it takes to help lead us to a premiership

 

[barrydiggs]

Malthouse has pulled off a miracle to get us top four after a 5 - 3 start.. I'll back him on this one.. we've got a double chance to play with

 

[Skade]

I'm far more traumatised by Rocca's selection than Zac Dawson will be.

Lunatic selection, IMHO. I love Rocca but the first final is not the time to experiment with the side.

Would really like to have seen him last week now. But have faith in those who know best

 

[premiers06]

Malthouse has pulled off a miracle to get us top four after a 5 - 3 start.. I'll back him on this one.. we've got a double chance to play with

if we are going to be any chance to go very deep in september we need to win this game badly and we shouldn't be 'playing' with anything.

if rocca does acctually play i will be spitting chips as well

 

[Krueger]

WTF is it with all this BS about its a huge risk playing Rocca? Wasnt it a huge risk to play McCarthy last week? Not to mention Dick? Both were average. Did they cost us the game? Wood was crap did he cost us the game? Fraser was also crap did he cost us the game?

Rocca is ONE player not the whole bloody team.

So if we make one change which includes Rocca its a huge risk but to make four other changes its all ok? Pffftt

Everyone keep crapping on about Roccas lack of forward line pressure and true he is terrible at it. On the other hand the Saints defenders will be under pressure in a contested situation if Rocca is in the forward line. Not to mention freeing up Anthony from the no. 1 opposition defender.

Garbage like "playing Rocca will cost us the game" is just that - GARBAGE.