Round 1 casualties

[Wallace]

Any thoughts on which "fringe players" miss out for round 1 from the NAB Final?

Obvious omissions
- L. Jericho (god you would hope so)

Contentious
- I Maric - personally I would love to see him in the side but I think we will revert to the Biglands / Clarke combination. Tried and Tested. I think Maric has a real future. Good aggression.
- M. Bode - I know he has a few fans on this board but can be an absolute liability on the half forward line. Has endeavor but that is about it. tackling ability is ordinary (consistently has tackles broken) and set shot kicking for goal is terrible. Has tendency to kick around corners when not required.
- B. Vince - He is in my starting 22 for round 1. Wonderful hands, one touch player who didnt get much of the ball but had a clear hand in at least 2 goals and kicked another himself. Most impressive youngster of the preseason.
- N Van Berlo - Super impressive - may come down to a choice between him and Shirley.
- Shirley - See Van Berlo

Looks safe
- C Knights - Star on the rise. Likely to fill a bench spot for the majority of the season and be used in the midfield rotation (8-12 minutes per quarter on the ball)
- B Reilly - Looks to have stepped up from a "fringe player" to be a first choice 22 player. Tremendous pre-season. Looks to have the body to last a years worth of collisions in the midfield.

 

[-VC-]

Shirley should not only be in the 22, but in the starting 18. I would like to be able to make room for him and VB, but if it's a choice between the two I'd take Shirley. Otherwise I completely agree with what you said.

 

[macca23]

Those to miss:


Jericho - won't be chosen and rightfully so.

Maric - has had some good character building experience in the last 4 weeks. Not ready yet.

Massie - has done pretty well in the pre-season, but if it's a choice of Massie or Van Berlo, I'd rather invest in the future.

Ins

Bock - destroys the structure when he's not playing.



The above assumes that Roo, Welsh, Torney and Skippy don't play. "Young" Doughty to have a gallop in the SANFL.

 

[ExpectToWin]

Any thoughts on which "fringe players" miss out for round 1 from the NAB Final?

Obvious omissions
- L. Jericho (god you would hope so)

Contentious
- I Maric - personally I would love to see him in the side but I think we will revert to the Biglands / Clarke combination. Tried and Tested. I think Maric has a real future. Good aggression.
- M. Bode - I know he has a few fans on this board but can be an absolute liability on the half forward line. Has endeavor but that is about it. tackling ability is ordinary (consistently has tackles broken) and set shot kicking for goal is terrible. Has tendency to kick around corners when not required.
- B. Vince - He is in my starting 22 for round 1. Wonderful hands, one touch player who didnt get much of the ball but had a clear hand in at least 2 goals and kicked another himself. Most impressive youngster of the preseason.
- N Van Berlo - Super impressive - may come down to a choice between him and Shirley.
- Shirley - See Van Berlo

Looks safe
- C Knights - Star on the rise. Likely to fill a bench spot for the majority of the season and be used in the midfield rotation (8-12 minutes per quarter on the ball)
- B Reilly - Looks to have stepped up from a "fringe player" to be a first choice 22 player. Tremendous pre-season. Looks to have the body to last a years worth of collisions in the midfield.

I would have thought Shirley would be an automatic starting 18. He has developed into one of the competitions best taggers and finds plenty of the ball.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Shirley is in starting 18 despite popular belief

 

[drakeyv2]

Bock - destroys the structure when he's not playing.

Who would have said that 12 months ago?

Here's my side rnd 1 assuming all fit bar Torney & Huddo.

Hart, Rutten, Johncock
Bassett, Bock, Mattner
Edwards, Roo, Burton
Macca, Perrie, Hentschel
McGreggor, Welsh, Thompson

Biglands, Goodwin, Shirley

Clarke, VB, Vince, Knights

 

[Mad Dog]

We're still 10 days from selection but....

B Hart B Rutten G Johncock
K Massie N Bock N Bassett
B Burton M Ricciuto M Mattner
A McLeod K McGregor I Perrie
T Edwards T Hentschel S Thompson

R Biglands S Goodwin R Shirley

M Clarke B Reilly C Knights B Vince




Emergencies = N Van Berlo I Maric M Bode

This assumes Roo is fit but Welsh and Torney aren't.

If Welshy comes up then I'd reluctantly leave Vince out.
If Roo misses I'd bring Bode in ahead of VB only on PS form

That leaves Doughty and Skippy outside the 25......but Skippy is injured anyway.

Other than that - no one else is really pressing ATM

 

[Mad Dog]

Who would have said that 12 months ago?

Here's my side rnd 1 assuming all fit bar Torney & Huddo.

Hart, Rutten, Johncock
Bassett, Bock, Mattner
Edwards, Roo, Burton
Macca, Perrie, Hentschel
McGreggor, Welsh, Thompson

Biglands, Goodwin, Shirley

Clarke, VB, Vince, Knights

Drakey - No Reilly....is that just an oversight or do you think the others are in front of him ?

 

[macca23]

Drakey - No Reilly....is that just an oversight or do you think the others are in front of him ?

Surely he's just missed him.

Reilly is a certainty for the opening team IMO.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Massie and Shirley must be starters.

If that means not investing in the future then maybe VB should miss....I know; ya dont like it. But someone will have to drop out and it shouldnt be Massie OR Shirley.

Vince will be stiff if hes dropped and so will VB....BUT S"IT happens.

 

[drakeyv2]

Drakey - No Reilly....is that just an oversight or do you think the others are in front of him ?

Forgot all about him. ******** that makes it tough. He has been outstanding in & under. I guess that means out with the Vince boy & in with Reilly. I would hate to leave Vince out though. He does look like he's got "it" & I am well & truely on the V train.

Although there is a certain bloodnut due to play game 299 who may be looking over his shoulder now. I'm sure he will play 300 but I would think that he is under more presure to hold his spot now than at any time since he was 17.

 

[Allefgib]

Forgot all about him. ******** that makes it tough. He has been outstanding in & under. I guess that means out with the Vince boy & in with Reilly. I would hate to leave Vince out though. He does look like he's got "it" & I am well & truely on the V train.

Although there is a certain bloodnut due to play game 299 who may be looking over his shoulder now. I'm sure he will play 300 but I would think that he is under more presure to hold his spot now than at any time since he was 17.

I'd agree with that. He did show his poise and experience a number of times on the weekend but the skills arent as silky and the pace/strength is down a bit too. I wonder if he will be playign come round 22. I hope he is good enough to thats for sure. If he isn't, I hope the club handles it well but still gets the young guys in to learn their craft just like Benny had the chance to.

 

[bigman]

I'd agree with that. He did show his poise and experience a number of times on the weekend but the skills arent as silky and the pace/strength is down a bit too. I wonder if he will be playign come round 22. I hope he is good enough to thats for sure. If he isn't, I hope the club handles it well but still gets the young guys in to learn their craft just like Benny had the chance to.

Ben is still in our best 22 but he is no longer as good below his knees as he was - probably due to his hamstring problems. This was very evident on Sat night on a couple of crucial occasions.

 

[Allefgib]

Ben is still in our best 22 but he is no longer as good below his knees as he was - probably due to his hamstring problems. This was very evident on Sat night on a couple of crucial occasions.

Good to hear and hope you're right. Guys a champion.

I'd also like to see clarke get alot of time this year. I do believe he is far and away our best ruck option when we need to take control of a game. FAR and away. Plus it gives our young mid-fielders a real opportunity to grow and learn at the feet of one of the best.

 

[-CG-]

Massie and Shirley must be starters.

If that means not investing in the future then maybe VB should miss....I know; ya dont like it. But someone will have to drop out and it shouldnt be Massie OR Shirley.

Vince will be stiff if hes dropped and so will VB....BUT S"IT happens.

Finally someone else who thinks Massie has put in the hard yards and deserves his spot

 

[afc9798]

Finally someone else who thinks Massie has put in the hard yards and deserves his spot

I would also agree that Massie deserves his spot and I also think Bodey has done enough to be in the side. He kicked goals the other night and never gave up the chase. Sure he doesn't always have the silkiest skills, but he gets the ball and attacks fiercely. With a little more support at the ball ups in the forward line, he'll be every valuable.

On that topic, if Johncock throws his body in like he did on Saturday night, he'd be my first picked player ATM. It was beautiful to watch and also interesting to see the looks on the faces of the Geelong players when he went at it so hard. It was like they were forming a guard of honour at times....

Still not fully sold on VB and Maric still has a way to go, but at least they are headed in the right direction and Craigy stayed true to his philosophy of giving the young guys a decent go to prove themselves. If Clarke starts to do a bit around the ground and in defence like he did on Saturday, I'm happy to see Maric get limited game time for now.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Finally someone else who thinks Massie has put in the hard yards and deserves his spot

I get the impression that if Torney was available he would be chosen ahead of Massie and its probably not fault of Massies because hes played well in the pre season cup.

Is there room in the side for Massie and Torney should they both become available?

 

[-CG-]

I get the impression that if Torney was available he would be chosen ahead of Massie and its probably not fault of Massies because hes played well in the pre season cup.

Is there room in the side for Massie and Torney should they both become available?

Yeah, thats what I was thinkning

 

[Damp Squarie]

On the News Tonight............Welsh is now unavailable until Rnd 4 due to poor healing of stress fractures........... Bugger .

 

[Stiffy_18]

On the News Tonight............Welsh is now unavailable until Rnd 4 due to poor healing of stress fractures........... Bugger .

Chance for Jericho to bounce back

 

[Damp Squarie]

Why not?
Im sure by now NC (or fwd coach) has discussed the game with him.
It shouldnt be viewed as a chance to redeem himself though but perhaps a game where he needs to make the most of his opportunities.sic

Remember last year when Reilly was ripped up over a poor performance? He came back well against the Woods if I remember right.

Now could be Jerichos chance.

 

[drakeyv2]

I doubt Jerico will play. Big chance to fit Vince in though.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

I doubt Jerico will play. Big chance to fit Vince in though.

I have feeling young Vince may make his debut. Wlehs and Thorney definately won't play and I will be suprised if Roo an Boc play. This isn't a Jericho bacg but I don;'t believe you can have Burton, perrie and jericho in the forward line all at once so young Bernie come on down.

 

[Vader]

I have feeling young Vince may make his debut. Wlehs and Thorney definately won't play and I will be suprised if Roo an Boc play. This isn't a Jericho bacg but I don;'t believe you can have Burton, perrie and jericho in the forward line all at once so young Bernie come on down.

Roo will play, if fit. I seriously can't see the AFC bringing him back via West Adelaide.

Bock on the other hand...

 

[marvin]

I get the impression that if Torney was available he would be chosen ahead of Massie and its probably not fault of Massies because hes played well in the pre season cup.

Is there room in the side for Massie and Torney should they both become available?

I don't really see where.

Best back 6 to me looks like:

Bassett - Rutten - Hart
Torney - Bock - Johncock

I just can't see a spot for Massie apart from as a backup.

Does anyone know if he has ever been tried as a forward flanker / pocket type by Carlton, Norwood or Adelaide?