Round 1 preview: Essendon

[Alex99]

You know C98... I think Douglas is one of those players who shows the level headedness of the experienced.

I thought he suffered from 1st game ''omfg I better not get in Roos way'' nerves and then his second game he took a few more chances and the 3rd game he didnt care.. thats what I liked. That tells me he believes he is good enough to be there and that cant be exploited by Sheedy

I was more concerned with how Jonathon Griffin and Kurt Tippett would play, particularly with challenging roles; Douglas was not really a worry as he has class written all over him.

 

[pjcrows]

I have absolutely no bloody idea what to expect from Round 1. There isn't much to be gained, really. If we win, it was expected, and there are still areas we will struggle with. If we lose, there are still areas we will struggle with.

If we can be 6-5 at the break I will be stoked.

 

[Stiffy_18]

You gave the impression back on post number (12) that you thought Chris Knights might get selected and now you have said that Jason Porplyzia is in our best 22 (I agree with both) but who misses out. That’s where I was when I picked that side, good players and both deserve to get selected but who misses out.

Jason Porplyzia could quite easily come into the side for Mathew Bode as that could be a direct swap and we would not lose anything in the little things.

Chris Knight’s is not going to replace Tyson Edwards or Simon Goodwin (yet) so would he offer more offensive output over a Michael Doughty or Brent Reilly?

Because IMO Robert Shirley and Nathan Van Berlo have specific roles in the side and I cannot see Chris Knights having the ability (or natural game) to fulfil this role?

I have thought about this a bit and its really tough to leave anyone out but IMHO, Porplyzia is in the best side because of his versatility, strong body, skills and ability to hold his nerve under pressure.

This is probably not going to be a very popular call on this boad but I feel that we need to go into round 1 with as strong a side as possible and a win in round 1 would be what this team needs. A loss would not be disasterous but it could make things very difficult with the next 4-5 games against top opposition.

So one change to your team

IN: Porplyzia
OUT: Douglas

Player like Bode with an ultimatum that he must perform or be dropped for the next game.

 

[Cap]

I have thought about this a bit and its really tough to leave anyone out but IMHO, Porplyzia is in the best side because of his versatility, strong body, skills and ability to hold his nerve under pressure.

This is probably not going to be a very popular call on this boad but I feel that we need to go into round 1 with as strong a side as possible and a win in round 1 would be what this team needs. A loss would not be disasterous but it could make things very difficult with the next 4-5 games against top opposition.

So one change to your team

IN: Porplyzia
OUT: Douglas

Player like Bode with an ultimatum that he must perform or be dropped for the next game.

no this can't happen - he is in my dream team (cheap rookies help bolster your team !!!)

Honestly how could you go past Douglas and Knights from their pre-season form ?

 

[pjcrows]

Once again, Bode cops it from everyone. Give the man atleast 2 real matches to show his stuff. For God's sake. Don't expect our team to set the world on fire in the first half of the year, because we won't. Unlike other years, we should be more focussed on building towards the finals. Our best team will be on the park and established by atleast Round 15, which is perfect. Let's see what happens.

 

[Stiffy_18]

no this can't happen - he is in my dream team (cheap rookies help bolster your team !!!)

Honestly how could you go past Douglas and Knights from their pre-season form ?

Experience and match readiness. From all our crushers, Porplyzia is the one most advanced and proabably most versatile. Thats why he gets the nod before Douglas and Knights who are damn unlucky to miss out.

Then again, I suspect both will be in the side at someone's expense.

 

[Jarmayhem]

I wonder if we'll see any immediate impact from

Out: Pyke
In: Jonas

 

[pjcrows]

I wonder if we'll see any immediate impact from

Out: Pyke
In: Jonas

I'm more concerned with the immediate impact from

Out: Our goal-scoring options
In: Perrie

 

[Jarmayhem]

I'm more concerned with the immediate impact from

Out: Our goal-scoring options
In: Perrie

Ha ha! Oh yeah... that...

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Both the gloved one and Welsh looked ok today at training.

But it was training after all.

However I believe with what I saw Douglas was in the mix but Tippett might not be.

 

[Vader]

Pretty good call Vader, although I disagree with the Torney comment.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Torney. Actually, I reckon he's a damn fine player. If he were a couple of years younger then he would have been an ideal replacement for Benny Hart (both have similar physiques and play a similar style of game).

The thing is:

• He's 29 (turns 30 mid June), 6th oldest player on our list.
• He's injury prone.
• He fills a role which could be filled by others.

Essentially, whilst he's a very good player, he's also one of the most easily expendable in our starting 22.

 

[Shane Hird]

Apologies if this has been done, I haven't read all the way through the thread. But this is how I think we'll match up against this side.

FF: Bode ~ Welsh ~ Burton
M.Johnson - Michael - Lovett-Murray

HF: McLeod ~ Bock ~ Edwards
Slattery - Fletcher - McPhee

C: Reilly ~ Thompson ~ Doughty
Winderlich - Watson - Lovett

HB: Torney ~ Stevens ~ Mattner
Monfries - Lucas - Hird

FB: Bassett ~ Rutten ~ Johncock
Johns - Lloyd - Davey

Ruck: Hudson ~ Goodwin ~ Shirley
Hille - McVeigh - Stanton

Interchange: Griffin ~ Van Berlo ~ Douglas ~ Perrie
Peverill - Dempsey - Welsh - Ryder

Emergency: Knights ~ Porplyzia ~ Tippett
Heffernan - Bradley - Dyson

Thats the most well presented team line-up list I've seen on BF Longy!

You're so precise in everything you do

 

[Damp Squarie]

This is probably not going to be a very popular call on this boad but I feel that we need to go into round 1 with as strong a side as possible and a win in round 1 would be what this team needs.

OK hands up whos not happy going into Rnd 1 with as strong a side as possible.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

OK hands up whos not happy going into Rnd 1 with as strong a side as possible.

Of course you go into every game with your strongest side unless you cannnot make the finals and experiment for the following year.

However what constitutes the strongest team is purely subjective regarding who relates what talent over others.

 

[fryingpan]

Adelaide by 9 points.

 

[Damp Squarie]

So doesnt that mean the coaching panel will still pick the strongest side?

One could argue that Roo would be in out strongest side if he was fit but he aint so the coaching panel wont pick him... kapeesh

 

[cold toaster]

Adelaide by 109 points

 

[Crow-mo]

Of course you go into every game with your strongest side unless you cannnot make the finals and experiment for the following year.

However what constitutes the strongest team is purely subjective regarding who relates what talent over others.

how is it subjective, when there is one opinion that matters?

 

[Markthirtytwo]

how is it subjective, when there is one opinion that matters?

And that sir is obviously yours.

 

[CrowHop]

Is Crow-Mo a selector ?

 

[Stephen2]

Stuff Drugs - Crows R1 team

Bored of talking about drugs?? Here's some thinking out loud about the R1 lineup. Was going to try and guess the probable lineup, but then changed my mind and am posting the lineup I would like. I'm "showing my working" as they say in high school maths.

First, to make categories... PS, am using Winged Crows thread for available players.

Definitely:
---------
Bassett
Bock
Burton
Edwards
Goodwin
Hudson
Johncock
McLeod
Reilly
Rutten
Thompson

Probably:
---------
Bode
Doughty
Griffin
Mattner
Shirley
Stevens
van Berlo
Welsh

Possibly:
---------
Douglas
Knights
Massie
Perrie
Pfeiffer
Porplyzia
Tippett
Torney
Vince

No Chance:
----------
Archard ®
Gallman ®
Jericho
MacKay
McIntyre ®
Sellar
Turner ®

SO from this list I could either guess the lineup, or choose the lineup I want.. Here's my preferred:

B:  Johncock   Rutten   Torney
HB: Bassett    Bock     McLeod
C:  Mattner    Reilly   Burton
HF: Thompson   Perrie   Bode
F:  Edwards    Welsh    Porplyzia
R:  Hudson     Goodwin  Shirley

I:  Griffin, Knights, Douglas, van Berlo

That leaves:
------------
Doughty - No space my young friend! Mattner & Burton took your wings, and are better at it, Douglas & Knights to rotate on the wings/midfield.. No space left...
Stevens - Much prefer Bock at CHB, but understand he will probably line up forward, and not so many midfielders in the F50, so Stevens will play.
Massie - Too many other options, prefer Torney.
Pfeiffer - Not yet.
Tippett - Not yet.
Vince - Sorry, Vince, Porps has shown more, and Bode is better than you at this time.

Love Mattner & Burton on the wings, love the backline I've given, love having Knights, Douglas, Porps & VB all in the lineup.
Love Welshy up there, but I hope he can reward my faith this year.

No contested marking power in the forward line, but then, there's not many options left.
Not enough grunt in the midfield, oh for a fit circa 2000 Ricciuto!

Any thoughts? I miss talking about the crows..

 

[NikkiNoo]

Re: Stuff Drugs - Crows R1 team

You might love Mattner and Burton on the wings but Craig doesn't. Mattner will play off the backlines and Burton out of the forward line. So you might need to re-adjust that side.

 

[Stephen2]

Re: Stuff Drugs - Crows R1 team

You might love Mattner and Burton on the wings but Craig doesn't. Mattner will play off the backlines and Burton out of the forward line. So you might need to re-adjust that side.

Yeah, I agree, Craig doesn't like it. But what do YOU think about the team, Nikki? You're a damn good footy observer/analyst from what I've read.

Your thoughts?

 

[NikkiNoo]

Re: Stuff Drugs - Crows R1 team

I normally don't do teams as I find them quite hard but my go would prob be more along these lines

B: Johncock Rutten Bassett
HB: Mattner Torney McLeod
C: Thompson Reilly Porplyzia
HF: Edwards Perrie Vince
F: Burton Welsh Bock
R: Hudson Goodwin Shirley

I: Griffin, Knights, Douglas, van Berlo

Leaves us with a very young bench so it could be that maybe knights starts on the ground instead of Porps. Bassett plays deeper better than Torney does, hence the swap (plus you have to have robin next to batman ) That may leave us a little short in the backlines, but both Torney and Bassett can play 'tall' when required. Still has the three talls in the forward line (not including Burton in that category though)

 

[CarnCrows]

Re: Stuff Drugs - Crows R1 team

Stevens will play. Perrie is not ready for CHF.