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

[parano1a]

Who's do we think is going to pinch hit in the ruck for the five minutes josh will actually need to have a rest

Cloke - ruck
Anthony - CHF
Rocca - FF

 

[absy]

ROCCAAAAA! Can't ****ing wait!

 

[jasonwilde]

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

Yep, MM doing an out of the blue selection, ala Benny Kinnear/ Tristan Walker.
They worked a gem.

(P.S. seriously, good luck Pebs!)

 

[DThomas]

Oh god, imagine if Reid was played on Kosi! He'd be smashed!

 

[pants forever]

just watching Adelaide v Essendon and contemplating Wood & Rocca........Ruckman can have a massive effect. Josh being worked over by two old warhorses would be on the cards and I would have thought that the ruck combination of Wood and Fraser could have become a major weapon especially with their abilities to push forward off their opponants

I think we all want Rocca to play and do well, but logic says that wont happen, home and away VFL games are a lot slower than Qualifying finals...and Collingwood are more than capable of matching St Kilda. For finals, players need to be match hardened, Pebbles isn't.

Would be surprised if Rocca does play and Wood watches.

 

[swamp13]

Holy Crap!!!!!!!!!!!

as much as i love him, why are we changing so much off the squad in the first week, and did everyone see that hudghton is emergency for the Saints

 

[simpin68]

DaVe86 you're spooky man. Maybe the selection committee read your preview.

 

[Nebula1971]

My heart say's yes and my gut say's no. This is a final and you need to go with your gut.

All I can say is, I hope he tears it apart if he is in fact selected. We must win against the Saints as I have my doubts against the Crows, especially after their training run tonight against an insipid Essendon.

I reckon he could be a late withdrawal.

 

[mwalker]

It's reasonable form. It's form that could get him into the side if we needed to take a risk and change things up, and also if he was a player who could provide pressure in the forward 50 (which he is not even close to being).

But we don't need to risk it. We've been going fine! What is the point in risking this?

Rocca of 2003 would be our best forward by lightyears. But he is not the same player, not even close.

Forget this is Anthony Rocca, and call him John Smith. Would people want him selected if so? I doubt it.

But he IS Anthony Rocca and that is why he is in. Big body, proven finals experience, 200 game vet that is one of our better on field leaders and will demand some respect from a good backman.

And he should throw himself into the contest with vigour cause there is no 2010 for him. Perhaps not a Lloyd act but, if anyone has licence to run through a few if needed, it should be him.

I hope we come out and smash (physically) them early and see how fragile they are.

 

[lethalburns]

ROCCCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

If he has a big game and we win I recon I'll just about pass out.

 

[Swanny36]

Can't believe Woody got dropped.

What a load of crap, he has out performed Josh in the last two games, yet he gets the flick.

We NEED two ruckmen against St.Kilda, personally I think Rocca will have a decent game, same old Rocca with 12 or so touches and a couple of goals.

Just don't think Wood should have been dropped!

 

[mwalker]

The word "fatty" sums up your post, watched the news lately have we.

Whitnall (at any point of his dull career) makes Rocca of today look very, very skinny.

That's what I thought, I have only seen footage of Rocca once at training in the last month and he looked as fit as I have ever seen him. He won't have any bigger a tank but I he looks like his is moving well.

 

[smiddaz123]

But he IS Anthony Rocca and that is why he is in.

Yep. It's because he is Anthony Rocca.

If anyone else put in the exact performances than Anthony did at VFL level, I strongly doubt they would've been considered.

 

[Swanny36]

Yep. It's because he is Anthony Rocca.

If anyone else put in the exact performances than Anthony did at VFL level, I strongly doubt they would've been considered.

Danny Stanley for example, Dominates EVERY SINGLE week at VFL level, yet does not get a look in to the seniors.

I hope I'm wrong and Pebs dominates, it would be awesome.

Go Pies!

 

[lethalburns]

Rocca looks fitter to me than he ever has. I honestly hope he doesn't break down as that would be tragic.

Although I have to say, if its wet I don't think he will play.

I was only thinking last week that even if he doesn't play this year if he can maintain his fitness I'd give him one more year. The draft is not going to yield 5 high caliber players and we are going to axe 3-4 minimum at year end.

 

[mattys123]

I'm with that, I can see Rocca playing one more year if he steps up in the finals.

He wold have to go through the finals injury free, and actually contribute each week over the next month to be considered for one more year, but I see Rocca as very similar to Presti last year.

Presti didnt play a game till about round 21 or 22 last year, then got injured in the first final and missed the second.

Rocca is very similar, having only played a few games so far, and now making a "comeback" in the first week of the finals.

Rocca is ready to play, the question isn't about his fitness, it's about his ability to stand up to AFL finals football at 32.

I want to find out if he can, because he might be bloody handy next year in another push for a flag. (Hoepfully back to back)

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Is it possible to tank in finals? Wood in, Rocca out, simple. Wood even offers more down forward than Rocca.

 

[mwalker]

Yep. It's because he is Anthony Rocca.

If anyone else put in the exact performances than Anthony did at VFL level, I strongly doubt they would've been considered.

In all honesty I don't know if I think it will work or not but since I can do nothing about it I tend not to worry too much.

But it has peaked my level of interest in the game even more if that is possible and I hope he can do a "Stewie Dew" and open the game up in a 15 minute burst of 3 goals straight.

 

[Quicky]

I can't help but keep thinking there is a big element of subterfuge in Roccas inclusion. Malthouse playing mind games with Lyon. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Rocca as a late omission.

 

[doppleganger]

Yep. It's because he is Anthony Rocca.

If anyone else put in the exact performances than Anthony did at VFL level, I strongly doubt they would've been considered.

Rocca has gone back and played to get fitness and form, he has done that. Getting 20 touches having a run in the ruck, shows Anthony is fit enough.

Anthony is a PROVEN AFL player.

Danny Stanley for example, Dominates EVERY SINGLE week at VFL level, yet does not get a look in to the seniors.

I hope I'm wrong and Pebs dominates, it would be awesome.

Go Pies!

Stanley has shown that he cant make the step up from VFL to AFL, Anthony can.......MASSIVE difference.

 

[smiddaz123]

Rocca has gone back and played to get fitness and form, he has done that. Getting 20 touches having a run in the ruck, shows Anthony is fit enough.

Anthony is a PROVEN AFL player.

It shows he is fit enough for VFL. The intensity increase between a VFL Home and Away game and an AFL Finals game is insanely high. You think he can just step in like that? He'd have to be eased into it, considering his fitness these days (don't kid yourself, he isn't very fit). Rocca's conversion rate at VFL level has been very poor, well below 50%. Is that another thing we want in the side?

Scott Lucas was a proven AFL player too, who quite frankly, was completely useless for most of the year.

 

[doppleganger]

It shows he is fit enough for VFL. The intensity increase between a VFL Home and Away game and an AFL Finals game is insanely high. You think he can just step in like that?

I dont know, but MM and the coaching staff obviously feel he will be up to it.....hopefully they know best. If he has a dud game and we lose the knives will be out for MM!

He'd have to be eased into it, considering his fitness these days (don't kid yourself, he isn't very fit). Rocca's conversion rate at VFL level has been very poor, well below 50%. Is that another thing we want in the side?

No he wont, if he can play periods in the Ruck he can hold down the goal square! Hudgton and Dawson aren't the most attacking FBs like Scarlett and Lake, so doubt they will go running off him much.

Dont know enough bout the conditions at VFL level, but usually those grounds have no protection from the wind. If Rocca kicks his first one he usually goes alright!

Scott Lucas was a proven AFL player too, who quite frankly, was completely useless for most of the year.

True, again need to trust in MM I guess, but comparing a veteran who has won us finals games, and almost won us a GF in 02 to a bloke like Stanley is stupid.

MM would have targets that they wanted Rocca to make, and he must have made em........good enough for me!

 

[el toado]

I honestly dont know what to think about this selection. I know what Rocca can do and that leads me to think that he could make an impact. But then I think that his best at least was 3 years ago and even in his best years he could go missing in games and that scares me.

At the start of the year I was of the impression that we couldnt win a flag without big Ant in the side but as the year went on the teams performances changed my mind. Then we lose one week and everything changes again!

If he can take their best defender, make a 50:50 contest every time and stop his man from running off FOR 4 QUARTERS! then I think it is worth it as his presence will help our other forwards play better. If he cannot contest then I think it has the possibility to hurt us and hurt us bad.

Best of luck Anthony!

Go Pies!

 

[Shellz]

It shows he is fit enough for VFL. The intensity increase between a VFL Home and Away game and an AFL Finals game is insanely high. You think he can just step in like that? He'd have to be eased into it, considering his fitness these days (don't kid yourself, he isn't very fit). Rocca's conversion rate at VFL level has been very poor, well below 50%. Is that another thing we want in the side?

Scott Lucas was a proven AFL player too, who quite frankly, was completely useless for most of the year.

Not having a go, but what are you basing that on?

 

[Swanny36]

Rocca has gone back and played to get fitness and form, he has done that. Getting 20 touches having a run in the ruck, shows Anthony is fit enough.

Anthony is a PROVEN AFL player.



Stanley has shown that he cant make the step up from VFL to AFL, Anthony can.......MASSIVE difference.

Stanley hasn't had a full blooded go in the middle at AFL level, which is where he plays his best footy..