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

[rose jam]

I don't see the saints as a running rebound team. They tend to group together and move it out slowly. It's their movement from just behind the centre into the forward line that is quick.
I can't see any opponent that they'd play on Rocca is going to go on a runathon up the ground. The Saints backs don't move out of their zone just as ours don't.

This move is as much about getting Trav Cloke to play high to force their backman out of their zone as anything else while still having the bail out option up forward.

Expect Thomas to play permanent small forward as the defensive little man.

 

[DJ Black @ White Blood]

Posted this in the training thread also

Veteran forward Anthony Rocca celebrated his shock selection for the Magpies' qualifying final against St Kilda with a sprightly final hitout at Gosch's Paddock on Saturday morning.

The 32-year-old's recall for just his fourth senior outing for the season and first since the last time the Pies met the Saints in Round 7, has been warmly embraced by team-mate Shane O'Bree, the Pies' second-most experienced player with 218 matches for the club, just one behind Rocca.

O'Bree said he's never seen 'Pebbles' looking so trim and fresh.

"Anthony deserves his spot in the side," said O'Bree. "It's not as if we've given him a game for the sake of being Anthony Rocca, he's really deserved his spot and it's a credit to him."

"He'll definitely inspire us because we know with Anthony Rocca being down in our forward line there's just his knowledge of playing up forward plus it takes a good defender to pay on him."

"Even if he's not getting a kick his presence up forward is great and definitely finals experience is the key."

"I know that in our years 2002 and 2003 when we were paying in grand finals he was the key to us having a great finals campaign."

While Rocca shone on the track, so too did Scott Pendlebury who appears to have fully recovered from the back injury which forced his late withdrawal from last Sunday's loss to the Western Bulldogs which relegated the Pies to a fourth-place finish heading into September.

The senior squad trained with the addition of several extras but back-up ruckman and nominated emergency Cameron Wood who was unlucky to be dropped for Sunday, was not among them.

O'Bree said the Pies were less concerned with the Saints' past three weeks during which they suffered their only two defeats for the season to Essendon and North Melbourne, than their form across the entire home-and-away season.

"The last three weeks St Kilda's probably just been looking for the finals and they might have taken their foot off the pedal a little bit," he said.

"But they're still a great team and we know that in the first week of the finals it's a new ball game."

Brad Scott's departure following his appointment to the senior post at North had left a hole in the coaching structure at the Lexus Centre, O'Bree conceded, but the club's new midfield manager Blake Caracella has settled in nicely.

"It's definitely a big loss losing Brad, but all year and even the last couple of years under Guy McKenna the midfield players have really taken ownership ourselves," said O'Bree.

"It's a big loss losing Brad, but we've been able to handle it."

"For us to be a good team we've got to be hard on ourselves and stick to the structures so it's up to us to take ownership of that and really be hard on ourselves when people go away from it."

 

[jerry springer]

O'Bree said he's never seen 'Pebbles' looking so trim and fresh.

"I know that in our years 2002 and 2003 when we were paying in grand finals he was the key to us having a great finals campaign."

unfortunatly that was 6 years and 2 ankles ago.

This move just doesnt make any sense.The Cons's far outweigh the pro's.

Not fair on Woody either who has really put in the hard yards over the past few months.

 

[Optimax]

unfortunatly that was 6 years and 2 ankles ago.

This move just doesnt make any sense.The Cons's far outweigh the pro's.

Not fair on Woody either who has really put in the hard yards over the past few months.

when does fair come into?

Wood gave us nothing aroudn teh ground (slightly less then fraser) and along with fraser was smashed by a solo will minson

I would prefer a tall forward (rocca, dawes) play if our two rucks will be mauled regardless. It also now means that st.kilda have to try and match us up not the other way around and my mail on gardiner says he will miss this week and it isnt McEvoy coming back in

 

[jerry springer]

when does fair come into?

Wood gave us nothing aroudn teh ground (slightly less then fraser) and along with fraser was smashed by a solo will minson

I would prefer a tall forward (rocca, dawes) play if our two rucks will be mauled regardless. It also now means that st.kilda have to try and match us up not the other way around and my mail on gardiner says he will miss this week and it isnt McEvoy coming back in

I just think Woody has contributed a lot over the past 2 months and deserves his spot.I think he will be also more valuable with his tap work and helping out in the backline.he also can go forward and kick a token goal.

Saints have the best running defence in the Comp and Ants isnt really known for his chasing in the forward line.That with the omission of Dick really plays into the running defence of st kilda's hands.Ants is going to really have to smash some packs,take some big grabs to earn his spot.Lets hope he turns back the clock.

I think its fair to say the selectors are playing some very high risk poker.

 

[Optimax]

I keep saying it but last week with dick and without rocca we got cut up with defensive drive, and our forwardline and rucks gave us almost nothing offensively as well.

We needed to take a risk this week, why leave it to the last minute if you know something isnt working?

 

[rose jam]

we haven't used 2 ruckman all year, and proved that it sux for us, so we drop that for a better system.

Makes sense except to the blind

 

[the_fresh]

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.

Does anyone know what his finals record is?

Goals kicked?
Marks taken?
Tackles laid?

I'll dare say they're as bad as his career stats when you look at them at face value.

 

[Optimax]

rocca
9 finals 19 goals
finals high of 6 goals versus sydney 2007

 

[jerry springer]

I keep saying it but last week with dick and without rocca we got cut up with defensive drive, and our forwardline and rucks gave us almost nothing offensively as well.

We needed to take a risk this week, why leave it to the last minute if you know something isnt working?

ive got no problems taking a risk.especially with the double chance.Hopefully medder's and JA can fire and then Ants can play a cameo role

Actualy cloke is the one who really needs to pull his finger out of his bum.We really need him tommorow

Cloke
Medhurst
Rocca
Anthony

Thats is a imposing lineup on paper.Just need our crumbers to fire

 

[Optimax]

ive got no problems taking a risk.especially with the double chance.Hopefully medder's and JA can fire and then Ants can play a cameo role

Actualy cloke is the one who really needs to pull his finger out of his bum.We really need him tommorow

Cloke
Medhurst
Rocca
Anthony

Thats is a imposing lineup on paper.Just need our crumbers to fire

Bingo, rocca playing will also help cloke as he now gets the 3rd instead if second and can play his more natural up field role. Also means i dont have to see him line up anywhere within 40 meters of goal too

 

[mattys123]

All I know is the big fella looked like a kid in a candy shop this morning at training, and I haven't seen him like that since 07.

He is a Collingwood champion, one of the icons of our great club, and deserves one more crack, especially seeing as he is in decent form and is now fully fit.

Dog fight incoming between Wellingham and McCarthy for position number 22 in the side, judging on today's training session.

I was happy when Rocca and Sidebottom were named, and I am now even more confident their inclusions will improve us tomorrow.

We have to win, the easier road goes to the winner, while the loser plays Adelaide then Geelong just to get to the GF.

Win tomorrow, and we will be one win away from our first realistic crack at a flag since 02, and I'll back us in to win it all.

 

[Teak_Pies]

As long as Cloke and jack can be freed up abit im happy.

 

[the_fresh]

rocca
9 finals 19 goals
finals high of 6 goals versus sydney 2007

So one good game in 2007, and a avg. of just over 2 in those 19 finals.
How many did he go goal-less? i'm tipping at least 4

 

[magpies42]

What ever happens happens, if they dont pay rock respect and play a good defender on him...he will out mark them. if they do, it frees up jack. good move

 

[the_fresh]

All I know is the big fella looked like a kid in a candy shop this morning at training, and I haven't seen him like that since 07.

He is a Collingwood champion, one of the icons of our great club, and deserves one more crack, especially seeing as he is in decent form and is now fully fit.

Dog fight incoming between Wellingham and McCarthy for position number 22 in the side, judging on today's training session.

I was happy when Rocca and Sidebottom were named, and I am now even more confident their inclusions will improve us tomorrow.

We have to win, the easier road goes to the winner, while the loser plays Adelaide then Geelong just to get to the GF.

Win tomorrow, and we will be one win away from our first realistic crack at a flag since 02, and I'll back us in to win it all.

if this was round 18 and we were out of the finals race then yes.
The fact is he is not in our best 22, he is not in great form, good VFL form is not great form & what we've seen this year he is not suited to the game at the AFL level.

 

[Optimax]

So one good game in 2007, and a avg. of just over 2 in those 19 finals.
How many did he go goal-less? i'm tipping at least 4

iirc Bulldogs 06 (totally monstered by a dominat dogs midfield) and geelong 07(played with a broken foot, broken thumb, and dislocated his shoulder during the game)

So his finals record isnt bad, he also has a habit of standing up when it matters:
1st quarter 02 qf,
PF 02 started our run,
GF 02 great all day,
03 qualifying final puts us back in front in the last iirc,
07 EF kicked 6 goals,
07 semi kicked 3 to put us back in the match

So the_fresh i would give up on the he is no good in finals talk. Your knowledge on the matter is as good as your knowledge on our ecent draftees (eg blight)

 

[Zahki]

I think at this point we just need to trust Mick. I don't agree with the Rocca decision either, but I'm not a coach. Malthouse knows what he's doing, and if he thinks it's a good move then I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and trust that Rocca is ready to step up and perform.

That said, I expect there will be a lot of scrutiny placed on this decision should we lose.

 

[Smoky]

iirc Bulldogs 06 (totally monstered by a dominat dogs midfield) and geelong 07(played with a broken foot, broken thumb, and dislocated his shoulder during the game)

So his finals record isnt bad, he also has a habit of standing up when it matters:
1st quarter 02 qf,
PF 02 started our run,
GF 02 great all day, - In fact kicked the winning goal - although ruled a point - F***ING CHEATING *****
03 qualifying final puts us back in front in the last iirc,
07 EF kicked 6 goals,
07 semi kicked 3 to put us back in the match

So the_fresh i would give up on the he is no good in finals talk. Your knowledge on the matter is as good as your knowledge on our ecent draftees (eg blight)

Edited for accuracy

 

[cobbly]

So one good game in 2007, and a avg. of just over 2 in those 19 finals.
How many did he go goal-less? i'm tipping at least 4

I'll take 2 goals from Rocca. Especially since he is going to bring others into the game (Medders to have a big one) and take pressure off the other talls, especially Cloke.

 

[rose jam]

If Anthony Rocca is the 22nd best player on our list then I'd say we're in pretty friggin' good shape

 

[joefootylover]

if anthony rocca is the 22nd best player on our list then i'd say we're in pretty friggin' good shape

damn straight!

 

[DThomas]

He doesn't necessarily have to kick any goals, he just has to get their best defender and smash some packs for our small crumbing forwards.

 

[Pie eyed]

No way Rocca gets a game.

He did not get a single possession in the VFL today...

 

[Shellz]

Carlton lost tonight. Life is good.

We were good enough to make Top four giving us the second chance. Let's play Rocca... he will play with the excitement of a 20yr old and the experience of a 32 yr old.

Let's kick some Saint Kilda Ass!!

Tear them up big anth