Round 1 team

[UYD 4 Life]

What's everyone's thoughts on the team for round 1?

Here's my most likely

Spurr Hamling Johnson
Ryan A.Pearce Wilson
B.Hill Mundy Tucker
Banfield McCarthy Walters
Ballas Tabs Matera

Sandy, Fyfe, Neale

Blakely, Brayshaw, Langdon, Kersten

Think the majority are certain starters with question marks on:
B. Hill - fitness
Kersten - form/fitness - although from ross's interview it sounds like they're keen to play the 3 talls.
Spurr - form/fitness - delayed pre-season may count against him

Likely replacements:
B.Hill - D. Pearce
Spurr - C. Sutcliffe
Kersten - No real strong replacement they could either go or an extra runner or go with Cox (doesn't sound like he's in good form) or Darcy (delayed pre-season)

 

[theGav56]

Pretty much my expectations too.

 

[mike91]

Reckon you nailed it mate

 

[SHill Shall]

Assuming this is correct, I would hope the return of Shill and Bennell would force the outs of Spurr and perhaps Langdon, assuming no injuries. Or perhaps one of Ballas/Matera?

Either way, all our regular turnover merchants would be back at Peel.

 

[theGav56]

Assuming this is correct, I would hope the return of Shill and Bennell would force the outs of Spurr and perhaps Langdon, assuming no injuries. Or perhaps one of Ballas/Matera?

Either way, all our regular turnover merchants would be back at Peel.

Hughes, Logue and Cerra will be in soon enough.

 

[gungho]

I think the game is quickly moving to 1 or 2 key forwards at most. Would be surprised if Kersten keeps getting regular games.

 

[Scham]

What's everyone's thoughts on the team for round 1?

Here's my most likely

Spurr Hamling Johnson
Ryan A.Pearce Wilson
B.Hill Mundy Tucker
Banfield McCarthy Walters
Ballas Tabs Matera

Sandy, Fyfe, Neale

Blakely, Brayshaw, Langdon, Kersten

Think the majority are certain starters with question marks on:
B. Hill - fitness
Kersten - form/fitness - although from ross's interview it sounds like they're keen to play the 3 talls.
Spurr - form/fitness - delayed pre-season may count against him

Likely replacements:
B.Hill - D. Pearce
Spurr - C. Sutcliffe
Kersten - No real strong replacement they could either go or an extra runner or go with Cox (doesn't sound like he's in good form) or Darcy (delayed pre-season)

Looks good. Wouldn't surprise me if we played 2 rucks and certainly wouldn't surprise me if Danyle and Sutcliffe play.

 

[freo1997]

I think the game is quickly moving to 1 or 2 key forwards at most. Would be surprised if Kersten keeps getting regular games.

But he isn’t a key forward! Neither is McCarthy. Tabs plays that role, the other two are more Mobile Fwds imo.
I’m surprised people keep saying we’ll play two rucks. From reading between the lines, I gather that we’ll be playing one Ruck and one Ruck/Fwd.

At the moment Sandi is the Ruck, with Darcy/Meek as his back up in the wafl and I’d suggest that Cox/Jones would back up Tabs if form or injury hits him.

Who keeps McCarthy and Kersten hot on their heels in the magoos...Bennell? Dunman? Dixon maybe. That’s the closest other Fwds with their height and athleticism. Yarran would of been handy imo.

 

[eastfreo75]

I think the game is quickly moving to 1 or 2 key forwards at most. Would be surprised if Kersten keeps getting regular games.

I don’t see Kersten or MCcarthy as power forwards.

 

[dominguez]

I don’t see Kersten or MCcarthy as power forwards.

But he isn’t a key forward! Neither is McCarthy. Tabs plays that role, the other two are more Mobile Fwds imo.
I’m surprised people keep saying we’ll play two rucks. From reading between the lines, I gather that we’ll be playing one Ruck and one Ruck/Fwd.

At the moment Sandi is the Ruck, with Darcy/Meek as his back up in the wafl and I’d suggest that Cox/Jones would back up Tabs if form or injury hits him.

Who keeps McCarthy and Kersten hot on their heels in the magoos...Bennell? Dunman? Dixon maybe. That’s the closest other Fwds with their height and athleticism. Yarran would of been handy imo.

McCarthy and especially Kersten are under pressure. As you said they're not power forwards but they didn't provide great forward pressure last year either. They need to take more marks, kick more goals, and lay more tackles. I think early in the year we'll see Taberner deep, McCarthy at CHF and Kersten as a roaming high forward leading up to the wings.

Darcy is too talented to languish in the WAFL IMO. If Sandilands in the ruck and Taberner/Kersten/McCarthy all start the season well and we win 3 of our first 5 games it's hard to see Darcy getting many chances. But if we're not winning and/or Kersten or Taberner struggles I think we'll see Darcy come in and get an opportunuity as a forward/ruck.

 

[dominguez]

The 4 players on the interchange Saturday will be interesting.

Assuming Brad Hill is fit it leaves Langdon, Brayshaw, Banfield, Tucker and Danyle Pearce fighting for 4 spots. If the match committee goes for Pearce and doesn't select one of the young blokes who have shown a bit over the summer, and we lose badly, there will be plenty of criticism of team selection.

 

[E Shed]

Ross has made it pretty clear he wants Dan Pearce in and to be fair he probably deserves to be. Had a great summer by all accounts and looked in good touch in the last JLT.
Doubt Tucker will be left out, he's primed for a breakout year. Banfield looks like he brings a lot of what Ross likes and I suspect everyone wants Brayshaw playing so Langdon may be the unlucky one if Brad gets up.

 

[wild side]

Danyle will be in 4 sure, sadly

 

[wayToGo_]

If Danyle is in I'm assuming Brad Hill isn't playing. From the JLT2 squad, 2 have to be dropped regardless. If we assume Meek and Sutcliffe, I don't see who else deserves to be dropped any more than Danyle if BHill plays? Tucker and Langdon both performed far better than DP. Unless they are considering Spurr given his interrupted pre-season?

 

[Scham]

During his time at Freo, Ross has never gone into Rd 1 with a debutant, so to have 2 this week will take a lot of courage from him. I hope he's got it in him but neither Brayshaw nor Banfield are locks just yet despite their great preseason form.

 

[Unique Name]

During his time at Freo, Ross has never gone into Rd 1 with a debutant, so to have 2 this week will take a lot of courage from him. I hope he's got it in him but neither Brayshaw nor Banfield are locks just yet despite their great preseason form.

Warm up the melt thread if either of those two aren't in and DP/Sutty are. I will flip my shit.

 

[theGav56]

Warm up the melt thread if either of those two aren't in and DP/Sutty are. I will flip my shit.

By all means go into melt mode, but if anyone thinks the future is being built around D Pearce and Sutcliffe, then they haven't been paying attention.

Personally I think it is silly to want as many debuts as possible for round 1. First year players rarely play many games during the year and also play a reduced percentage of game time. Far better to spread them out and even better for their introduction to be when they have found their feet and shown confidence in the role they are asked to play. I didn't see many on here predicting a Banfield debut for round 1, and yet here we are.

 

[wayToGo_]

I think most will be completely fine if Brayshaw and Banfield are the only debutants round 1. But if either don't play at the expense of Sutty/DP/etc then given their comparative form in JLT people should be entitled to a bit of a melt about it. I doubt anybody that is paying reasonable attention expects anyone who didn't play JLT2 to be under consideration excepting Brad Hill if fit.

 

[theGav56]

I think most will be completely fine if Brayshaw and Banfield are the only debutants round 1. But if either don't play at the expense of Sutty/DP/etc then given their comparative form in JLT people should be entitled to a bit of a melt about it. I doubt anybody that is paying reasonable attention expects anyone who didn't play JLT2 to be under consideration excepting Brad Hill if fit.

I think Banfield is a borderline inclusion personally. I would have him in, but he could eaasily miss. But the role that he plays in the team so far is not as specific as Pearce or Sutcliffe, so it is a long way from being like for like. Pearce is in for S Hill, and Sutcliffe for Hughes/Logue imo.

By the way, I don't think melts need an entitlement.

 

[wayToGo_]

I think Banfield is a borderline inclusion personally. I would have him in, but he could eaasily miss. But the role that he plays in the team so far is not as specific as Pearce or Sutcliffe, so it is a long way from being like for like. Pearce is in for S Hill, and Sutcliffe for Hughes/Logue imo.

By the way, I don't think melts need an entitlement.

Spurr is in for Hughes. MJ is in for Logue. I don't think we need to play 8 defenders - so I think you either pick Spurr or Sutty, not both.

We have Tucker and Langdon on the wings (one of them is for Stephen Hill). Like I said, Danyle only plays if Brad isn't fit.

I think Banfield's role is hugely important and it's something we've struggled with for a long time. When was the last time we had someone impress at half forward? He had 8 score involvements in JLT2 - pretty sure that was third best behind Ballas (10) & Neale (9), and equal with Walters. He had 5 in JLT1 and I'm pretty sure he had plenty in the practice match as well. DPearce and Sutty had 0 score involvements in JLT1 and 5 and 4 in JLT2 respectively. BB also kicked goals in all three games. If that kind of output gets you dropped then I'm seriously confused.

 

[theGav56]

Spurr is in for Hughes. MJ is in for Logue. I don't think we need to play 8 defenders - so I think you either pick Spurr or Sutty, not both.

We have Tucker and Langdon on the wings (one of them is for Stephen Hill). Like I said, Danyle only plays if Brad isn't fit.

I think Banfield's role is hugely important and it's something we've struggled with for a long time. When was the last time we had someone impress at half forward? He had 8 score involvements in JLT2 - pretty sure that was third best behind Ballas (10) & Neale (9), and equal with Walters. He had 5 in JLT1 and I'm pretty sure he had plenty in the practice match as well. DPearce and Sutty had 0 score involvements in JLT1 and 5 and 4 in JLT2 respectively. BB also kicked goals in all three games. If that kind of output gets you dropped then I'm seriously confused.

It isn't about being dropped because it is a pre-season game. First year players have a development program and move within that (at least I assume they do). The team that gets picked to play each week has a slightly different agenda, which is usually to win games. We are in a bit of a different situation because of being in a rebuild, but it generally holds true regardless. But there is no way that he would be a "lock" for the best 22. The coaches may well have identified specific things they want him to work on and that the best place for him to do that is in the wafl; the same situation as Taberner. He could be sore. Sure, posters find that confusing, but that is pretty irrelevant. I think the club's player development is more or less the best we have ever had.

Logue and MJ played in the same side last season. At the moment I think there is the likelihood that only one of Hughes or Logue has a spot. But it is contentious.

 

[wild side]

I think Banfield is a borderline inclusion personally. I would have him in, but he could eaasily miss. But the role that he plays in the team so far is not as specific as Pearce or Sutcliffe, so it is a long way from being like for like. Pearce is in for S Hill, and Sutcliffe for Hughes/Logue imo.

By the way, I don't think melts need an entitlement.

he puts on way more defensive pressure than Danyle or sutcliffe, in fact i don't remember sutcliffe tackling. Brayshaw and Banfield are tacklers with intent!!

 

[Righteo]

During his time at Freo, Ross has never gone into Rd 1 with a debutant, so to have 2 this week will take a lot of courage from him. I hope he's got it in him but neither Brayshaw nor Banfield are locks just yet despite their great preseason form.

He did say something like "yeah you'd expect them to play", which coming from Ross is about as strong a confirmation as you can get. I'm pretty sure they will both play but yes, if they don't then he'll cop a lot of flak for reneging on his statement.

Agree with E Shed that Langdon looks like the one who'll miss out.

 

[stax on the mull]

Have to have Langdon in surely. We need speed and outside run to balance the loss of S Hill. It balances the midfield out when you have Fyfe, Mundy and Neale in there, you need some explosiveness on the outside, and Langdon is one of the quickest in our team.

Brad Hill will be the only player I would risk with poor preparation. Even someone like Spurr, no matter how experienced he his, he's only done one JLT game and a WAFL scratchy. I'd have D.Pearce and Sutcliffe ahead of him.

 

[wayToGo_]

It isn't about being dropped because it is a pre-season game. First year players have a development program and move within that (at least I assume they do). The team that gets picked to play each week has a slightly different agenda, which is usually to win games. We are in a bit of a different situation because of being in a rebuild, but it generally holds true regardless. But there is no way that he would be a "lock" for the best 22. The coaches may well have identified specific things they want him to work on and that the best place for him to do that is in the wafl; the same situation as Taberner. He could be sore. Sure, posters find that confusing, but that is pretty irrelevant. I think the club's player development is more or less the best we have ever had.

Logue and MJ played in the same side last season. At the moment I think there is the likelihood that only one of Hughes or Logue has a spot. But it is contentious.

Logue and MJ played in the same side because we didn't have Alex Pearce last season. Maybe we'll play 4 KPDs but can't remember us ever doing that before.

Ross Lyon came out and said integrity of selection was important and that players that had done full pre-seasons and performed well would have the edge over those that hadn't. Brayshaw and Banfield have both done full pre-seasons, have both played 2 and 3 strong pre-season games respectively (as indicated by Ross), and both output more than a 31yo who has been in the AFL system since 2004. If a veteran player can't show more than an 18/19yo rookie at JLT then why exactly do they deserve a spot in the B22 over them?

You are entitled to your opinion. I just don't think you can use the word 'integrity' in regards to selection and then drop a guy who has exceeded expectations with every opportunity he has had so far. "You can only play what's in front of you" and he has.

I guess we'll find out who is "confused" in the coming days