Prediction Round 1 Changes vs. Geelong

[freo84]

The only real change that matters is we dont get belted again.

Give a damn good account of ourselves.

 

[Chris25]

I would be pumping games into Draper over Davies. Honestly don't see what people see in him. He is ok in one on ones but that is about it, am I missing something?

I generally like my defenders to be good at defending.

 

[Duz97]

Is there an update on young? Is he training is he a chance to play? I haven’t heard anything about him

 

[Stevooo3940]

I generally like my defenders to be good at defending.

This. One thing I want to see is our defensive unit defend like their life depends on it. For too long now, I've seen players concede the mark the second they are slightly out-positioned. Be dog hungry. Be brave with the footy. Hurt them the other way. Make teams really not enjoy coming up against them. Draper, in years gone by (as well as little cox) just cop a 1 v 1 defeat and stand there like a stunned mullet, watching the replay on the big screen. I want to see a group of guys who take those losses personally. What we saw in the second half from Pearce in the Suns' final needs to be the standard.

I'll be there on Saturday and will have the microscope on the back line. We have the blueprint to beat them. Perfect conditions for a shootout! Let's run the old cats off their legs!

 

[Paracleet]

I'll be there on Saturday and will have the microscope on the back line. We have the blueprint to beat them. Perfect conditions for a shootout! Let's run the old cats off their legs!

I'm not convinced this is the right tool for the job.

 

[Docker82]

At this stage I think most of the '50/50' guys will play well. And tbh I think most of them would've played last weekend if we'd been fixtured in opening round.

Only really expect B.Cox and Frederick to miss from the best 23. They might leave Darcy out if they think he's underdone.

Reckon they'll just been building up Switta and Ryan a little differently and easing them back from injury but will pick them when real stuff starts.

 

[Spirit Level]

We were so disorganised in round 1 last year, apart from a 10 minute stretch in the 3rd quarter.

Really hope we haven't gone back to the handball heavy stuff

 

[freo_leo29]

I generally like my defenders to be good at defending.

So not Davies then lol

 

[Paracleet]

So not Davies then lol

Davies is a lot better at team defence, leaving his man etc. Draper is better 1 on 1 and if he makes it its going to be as first key back.

 

[freo_leo29]

Davies is a lot better at team defence, leaving his man etc. Draper is better 1 on 1 and if he makes it its going to be as first key back.

I think draper has a way to go too but Davies is average at best at defending

Gets caught out of position and doesn't have the reach from behind at WAFL level

 

[Chris25]

Davies is a lot better at team defence, leaving his man etc. Draper is better 1 on 1 and if he makes it its going to be as first key back.

It’s always interesting how players can be viewed so differently.

I’d personally back Davies in a 1 on 1, think his body work is better. Plus he reads the ball better in the air. Whereas for me, Draper is more likely to be a #3 or maybe #2 if he makes it. Loses his man far too easily when the ball is in the air for a true KPD. Good against the lead, but I’d worry if he was dragged deep.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Personally always thought if you could combine Davies competitiveness and technical (for lack of a better word) understanding of defending with Draper's athleticism you'd have the best defender in the comp

 

[ImperialPurple]

We were so disorganised in round 1 last year, apart from a 10 minute stretch in the 3rd quarter.

Really hope we haven't gone back to the handball heavy stuff

Otherwise know as the Announcement of Bruce.

 

[Paracleet]

It’s always interesting how players can be viewed so differently.

I’d personally back Davies in a 1 on 1, think his body work is better. Plus he reads the ball better in the air. Whereas for me, Draper is more likely to be a #3 or maybe #2 if he makes it. Loses his man far too easily when the ball is in the air for a true KPD. Good against the lead, but I’d worry if he was dragged deep.

I've seen him apply some subtle bodywork in WAFL. I've also seen him lose more contests than I am comfortable with. No amount of steady improvement in his bodywork is going to make him competitive with no. 1 or 2 AFL key forwards one on one though. He is simply too short and not athletic enough.

Draper is a less pure footballer, but has the raw athleticism, height, reach and speed for it to be possible. Equally I don't think he is ever going to be a half back flankers due to his 'footballer' Iimitations.

 

[Chris25]

I think steady improvement is exactly what you want from Davies. He’s only 21. If we drafted him as a mature aged player last year, we’d all be talking him up as a future Pearce replacement.

He’s also just 1cm shorter than Draper. I wouldn’t say that’s a big negative.

But regardless, my original point was more that he should be picked ahead of McDonald. I just threw in Draper because it’s always good for a bit of fun on here.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I've seen him apply some subtle bodywork in WAFL. I've also seen him lose more contests than I am comfortable with. No amount of steady improvement in his bodywork is going to make him competitive with no. 1 or 2 AFL key forwards one on one though. He is simply too short and not athletic enough.

Draper is a less pure footballer, but has the raw athleticism, height, reach and speed for it to be possible. Equally I don't think he is ever going to be a half back flankers due to his 'footballer' Iimitations.

 

[David Bubb]

JL just said that if Pearce gets through training he'll play whereas with Ryan it's "a bit more based on selection" stating there are others in good form. Bit of an unknown with Geelong's forward line etc.

Again said unlikely to go with two rucks plus Jacko, and said a debutant is a chance but there's a lot of small forwards in good form.

No mention of Young so hoping there's no concern

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

JL just said that if Pearce gets through training he'll play whereas with Ryan it's "a bit more based on selection" stating there are others in good form. Bit of an unknown with Geelong's forward line etc.

Again said unlikely to go with two rucks plus Jacko, and said a debutant is a chance but there's a lot of small forwards in good form

There's been a few heads in sand with Ryan, he's clearly able to play footy but is seen as not best 23. Maybe injuries save his spot

 

[Alfonz]

Draper had that one great game against Sydney a few years back where he was huge defensively. Spoiling everything and winning/halving 1-on-1 contests. It was only a mixture of B/C grade KPFs (McDonald, Mclean, Amartey) ... but it was still way better than anything Davies has shown he is capable of.

The question is why hasn't Draper gone on from there and progressed further? That move to train him as a small defender seems a bit stupid for his development.

 

[GingerDocker]

The Ryan situation is intriguing.

From the outside, I would have said he's one of JL's favourites, but that may not be the case anymore. There's always been questions about his conditioning so I doubt that's too much of an issue now...unless he's turned into the Michelin man and I haven't heard any of our track watchers say too much in that regard.

If he's not a walk up starter in the 23 then what's happened? Is it just a simple case of the baton slowly being passed on or is there more to the story?

 

[Spirit Level]

If we're moving on from Ryan that can only be a good thing right? Improvement should be looked for everywhere

 

[Big Animal]

JL just said that if Pearce gets through training he'll play whereas with Ryan it's "a bit more based on selection" stating there are others in good form. Bit of an unknown with Geelong's forward line etc.

Again said unlikely to go with two rucks plus Jacko, and said a debutant is a chance but there's a lot of small forwards in good form.

No mention of Young so hoping there's no concern

It's cause he has McVee to fit in and Walker in pre-season games has been one of the best - - - - and he Has to still fit in the BB gun. So sadly, no room for a recovering Ryan.

 

[Barnabus]

So if Cox and Ryan aren't in the team and Pearce wasn't in full training today maybe we will play OMac, Draper and Davies, good early test of depth.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

My guess for the team though I would really like Simpson in over Worner if I could.



I'm sure I've missed someone again...

 

[Big Animal]

My guess for the team though I would really like Simpson in over Worner if I could.

View attachment 2546971

I'm sure I've missed someone again...

team's not so Young anymore