Prediction Round 10 Changes vs. Essendon

[stax on the mull]

Thought Ras worked hard for his possessions. Did a lot of running to get kicks and get out on his own to receive, while they weren't damaging kicks down the ground, he did take metres forward and kept it in our possession for the most part. One could have been clanger kick inside 50m in the last quarter bounced in front of Hawk defender and ended up in that banana goal to Treacy after Bolton came in to win the ball back.

 

[FreoRicci]

Low grade MCL for Pearce.
Goddamn he gets rotten luck with the impact injuries.

He ll miss next week. But honestly he should miss next week then St Kilda and be ready v Brisbane.

I’d imagine they will rest Davies, Draper and MacDonald on the weekend?

 

[ubiquitous226]

Hope Davies gets a chance now, want to see him at AFL level for a few weeks.

It could also work for retention by giving them the opportunity, or also backfire if he does well

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Some harsh words from a few re The Rhino, that would have been his worst game in purple. Yep he wasn't good, but talking dropping him is unintelligent.
Gunston has torn many backs to pieces this season. They left the forward line free of players, makin it a one on one contest. There would be few FBs that would win that battle with those conditions.

I think Davies can make it interesting if he's picked and plays well in Pearce's place. It wasnt just Gunston, we had no one to put him on as he was either too slow or too small. He wasnt picked to start the year so I dont think his spot is as set as it used to be.

 

[PrancingPony]

We shouldn't be dropping anyone bar injury, the group needs to keep playing together.

Pearce out for Davies, although I still think it will be McDonald.

 

[serial_thrilla]

I think Davies can make it interesting if he's picked and plays well in Pearce's place. It wasnt just Gunston, we had no one to put him on as he was either too slow or too small. He wasnt picked to start the year so I dont think his spot is as set as it used to be.

Would Davies have been quick enough for Gunston?

 

[theGav56]

Doubt we take Essendon lightly by resting multiple players.

We might see someone out managed or with a niggle but managing 2-3 players isn't going to happen nor should it.

Last thing we need is to lose to a team like Essendon.

Hmmm.

'managing' and 'resting' are more or less the same thing.

Both of Pearce and Young would play the next game if it was a final, but mid-season I think there are pretty good reasons for leaving them at home. The main one being that they are 2 of our most important but injury prone players.

Pearce was definitely looking proppy. An opportunity for Davies is a good investment.

OUT: Pearce, Young
IN: Davies, Scerri

 

[rgauci]

They'll likely be conservative if AP is out and bring in Omac but Davies seems to be in the best WAFL form of the key backs.

I wouldn’t guarantee it. Macdonald has been thrown forward in the WAFL and Davies has taken the role of number 1 key defender for Peel.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Would Davies have been quick enough for Gunston?

No, I wouldnt want him on Gunston either but he would have been strong and big enough to go on Ramsden or Lewis from the get go which given Ramsden beat Ryan aerially a few times, I assume was part of the thinking.

I will say, given my concerns on disposal from the back half, going from Ryan to Davies if it happened doesnt exactly help there much. And to be clear for everyone, I'm not saying to drop Ryan, just that if Davies is good enough, there's opportunity for him.

 

[anchor man]

Would Davies have been quick enough for Gunston?

Maybe the question should be, do we have a back man that has the smarts to combat Gunstons smarts.
Pace may be a factor, but you have to be able to read the play as well as he does.

 

[poshman]

Davies is cherry ripe for a development opportunity. Strong enough, built his game and shown he is above the lower level. We should aim to give him 5 games this season at least.

Looking forward to what he can do and let's nurse Pearce though to finals football.

 

[serial_thrilla]

Davies is cherry ripe for a development opportunity. Strong enough, built his game and shown he is above the lower level. We should aim to give him 5 games this season at least.

Looking forward to what he can do and let's nurse Pearce though to finals football.

I also feel that we're not as reliant on Pearce's leadership in the backline compared to two years ago. Clark, Chapman and Cox are all very vocal.

 

[poshman]

I also feel that we're not as reliant on Pearce's leadership in the backline compared to two years ago. Clark, Chapman and Cox are all very vocal.

Agreed! Chappy has taken huge strides and Cox and Clark lead the backline very strongly these days. Good environment for Hugh to step into.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

It has to be Davies opportunity right, I would be disappointed if it’s OMac instead.

 

[Docker82]

Hmmm.

'managing' and 'resting' are more or less the same thing.

Both of Pearce and Young would play the next game if it was a final, but mid-season I think there are pretty good reasons for leaving them at home. The main one being that they are 2 of our most important but injury prone players.

Pearce was definitely looking proppy. An opportunity for Davies is a good investment.

OUT: Pearce, Young
IN: Davies, Scerri

I don't think managing and resting are two different things.

What I think is that resting players without at least a niggle won't happen.

 

[Docker82]

I also feel that we're not as reliant on Pearce's leadership in the backline compared to two years ago. Clark, Chapman and Cox are all very vocal.

Even Worner was doing a lot of pointing etc late in the game last night (Realistically there's more to it than pointing but that's what I can see from the stands).

Leadership of the backline is a team effort these days.

 

[_007_]

If I am coaching the rematch

Pearce → Gunston
Cox → Ramsden
Ryan→ Lewis
Worner → Watson
McVee → Moore
Chapman → Ginivan

Clark → Treacy

 

[TheLastCall]

Definitely Pearce --> Davies
I wouldn't rest Young, he's still building, I'd consider lower TOG maybe 65%

I'd be interested how M Cox pulled up, as he was checking on his hammy early in the match, yes he played it out.
If he has any awareness of his hammy should we debut Riddle?

 

[FreoGirl]

I think we wait and see who performs this weekend at Peel

 

[stax on the mull]

Looking a long way ahead - Caddy is Essendon's No 1 forward, so I guess that would be Cox's match up. May and Langford are their 2nd and 3rd tall/tallish options this weekend. They're playing 2 rucks with Wright and Bryan so there's likely they'd have a minor height advantage in their forward 50m when Wright goes forward as we don't have another 201cm key back like our capt.

Their injury list is quite long for a team needing to put their best side out to be competitive against the top half of the ladder. Melbourne their only win so far at Adelaide Oval.

I liken away matches against struggling bottom of the ladder teams similar to how visiting teams would come to Freo in our early years. Teams trying to build a side but not having many of the pieces to be consistent. On a good night though with a enthusiastic home crowd there was often a mood of hoping to get a rare win with a makeshift side against a top team. Like we occasionally under Gerard we could beat the grand final sides North Melbourne or Adelaide at home even in our worst win/loss years.

One of these next 2 games is a danger game. Probably the St Kilda one.

 

[Righteo]

WAFL watchers - who would be closer to a game between Riddle and Nicholls?

 

[mattis117]

WAFL watchers - who would be closer to a game between Riddle and Nicholls?

The real answer is neither of them, but theoretically it is Nichols

 

[CaseySibosadoHOF]

WAFL watchers - who would be closer to a game between Riddle and Nicholls?

Both basically 0 chance, but of the 2 I'd say Nicholls is better, but Riddle might need less injuries to get in (both would need an injury crisis).

But this week is a huge test for how real the Riddle ruck work is. Played well in what I believe was his first WAFL Seniors game as primary ruck on Riley Sprigg. But tomorrow he's taking on Scott Jones.

 

[ROGS]

Thought Ras worked hard for his possessions. Did a lot of running to get kicks and get out on his own to receive, while they weren't damaging kicks down the ground, he did take metres forward and kept it in our possession for the most part. One could have been clanger kick inside 50m in the last quarter bounced in front of Hawk defender and ended up in that banana goal to Treacy after Bolton came in to win the ball back.

Not sure why the poor form of Johno over the past 3 weeks is not being discussed, yes he has improved but still feel he coasts most of the time, JOM to take his place when fit again

 

[estibador]

If the club wants to stay true to its stated aim of building a sustained success model then they have to play Davies over Omac this game.

This is exactly how you do it - drip feed in the younger players while the team is going well so they can gain experience and integrate seamlessly into the system.

Not continue to flog a dead horse with older reserves players who won't be around much longer. That's how you end up with all your next generation underdeveloped and suddenly all having to come into the team together and tipping over into that critical mass of becoming an inexperienced rebuilding team again.