Prediction Round 12, 2026: Changes vs Essendon

[HoneyBadger35]

Only got to see the first half of the WAFL, so unsure how things went.

Hewett started like a house on fire then got he hard tag midway through Q1, final numbers still look ok. Starcevich minutes restriction so not yet. Gross 20 and 2 is promising, but…

In: Gross - even though I’m reluctant to shoehorn him to that awkward HFF role.
Out: HJ - happy he got an extended spell to show something but just don’t think this is working for him.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Starcevich and Duff-Tytler in for whoever.

Yeah, Starcevich was on minutes restriction, but from the club in interviews they wanted him to get one WAFL game in before he came back, that was the one WAFL game.

And Duff-Tytler had 15 touches, 20 hit outs and two goals, he's in.

Don't have an opinion on who goes out, we've had a good couple weeks, just get the other two blokes in.

 

[Spooky17]

Surely Gross gets a run after a sustained run of good form in the WAFL. Need to reward his efforts, deserves a chance in the seniors. Liking how often he hits the scoreboard.

 

[Sammy J]

Out: HJ and Maric
In: Gross and Starcevich

 

[Barrybran]

Starcevich and Duff-Tytler in for whoever.

Yeah, Starcevich was on minutes restriction, but from the club in interviews they wanted him to get one WAFL game in before he came back, that was the one WAFL game.

And Duff-Tytler had 15 touches, 20 hit outs and two goals, he's in.

Don't have an opinion on who goes out, we've had a good couple weeks, just get the other two blokes in.

Surely Gross gets a run after a sustained run of good form in the WAFL. Need to reward his efforts, deserves a chance in the seniors. Liking how often he hits the scoreboard.

Who are we replacing with CDT and Gross?

 

[Smotie2]

Just awesome that now there is pressure on every player to perform.

We have turned a corner and we arent at rock bottom anymore

Johnstone and cole out.

Starcevic and gross in

 

[Cuzz09]

no changes

 

[The_Reaper]

Unfortunately I think CDT makes us too tall in the forward line unless he is replacing Jack Williams.

 

[Sammy J]

Unfortunately I think CDT makes us too tall in the forward line unless he is replacing Jack Williams.

Agree. Jack played well enough to hold his spot. I think CDT stays out for this one.

Milan or Hough to sit on Merrett next week?

 

[kaiserchief13]

In - Starcevich

Out - Duggan

 

[txbyhull]

Wouldn't make any major changes next week barring injury / fitness.

Whopper the only one for mine. I thought Jack Williams was ****ing excellent.

Hold fire another week on Hewett and Starcevich

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Unfortunately I think CDT makes us too tall in the forward line unless he is replacing Jack Williams.

Absolutely, and Williams was really quite good today. Cracked in and consistently found a way to gather cleanly and get his hands free, I was impressed by that because we really haven’t seen it before from him.

 

[HoneyBadger35]

Agree. Jack played well enough to hold his spot. I think CDT stays out for this one.

Milan or Hough to sit on Merrett next week?

Hough to Merrett in the guts.

No tagging role springs to mind for Murdock, SuperCoach dorks would say Archie Roberts but the bloke is the most empty calorie back pocket stat padder we’ve seen in some time.

 

[eagles rule]

Who are we replacing with CDT and Gross?

The likely omissions for this scenario would be like for like in JWilliams and Johnstone ..

 

[eagles rule]

Absolutely, and Williams was really quite good today. Cracked in and consistently found a way to gather cleanly and get his hands free, I was impressed by that because we really haven’t seen it before from him.

JW didn’t kick a score today 0.0 which is the main reason he is in the team and could leave his spot vulnerable ..So CDT gets a recall .

 

[wce4premiership]

Would hate to see Jack Williams dropped for CDT after that performance. Good at ground level, good ruck work and some clever little touches in scoring chains.

Can't see Starcevic coming in without another run in the legs at WAFL level to up the minutes, but he is a chance given that we have a bench of 5 now and some players can be carried with 60-70% TOG.

Can't see Duggan being dropped either (yet) given his last 3-4 weeks - despite the nonsense that gets repeated in gameday threads.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

In - Starcevich

Out - Duggan

I wish

 

[txbyhull]

JW didn’t kick a score today 0.0 which is the main reason he is in the team and could leave his spot vulnerable ..So CDT gets a recall .

Did you watch the game

 

[HoneyBadger35]

JW didn’t kick a score today 0.0 which is the main reason he is in the team and could leave his spot vulnerable ..So CDT gets a recall .

He did an obscene amount of rucking compared to usual and linked up quite well.

I don’t think they’re dropping him after that game if they didn’t bring CDT straight in in the first place.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Johnson for Gross.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Jack Williams had 21 disposals, 6 clearances and 4 tackles.

It was almost a perfect game from a backup ruckman. 4th highest ranked WCE player.

He's not getting dropped for CDT.


IN: Gross
OUT: Johnston


Surely Cole goes out for Starcevich once he's got. Baker can fill Cole's current role up forward.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

In: Gregoss
Out: Cole, Johnston

Maybe 1 more week for Starc in the WAFL. Also keen to bring in Hewett...

 

[Cursedsword02]

Can't see us making that many changes, or any for that matter.

I've seen Johnston and Cole mentioned here a few times already, but they were amongst our top players for Pressure Acts (14 and 19 respectively), so that could hypothetically save them.

CDT had a good game in the WAFL by all reports, but Jilliams played well tonight too.

On my end, I have Allan and Maric as potential outs, but there's a case for not swapping the former between AFL and WAFL, and the latter had 20 disposals despite looking a bit soft out there at times.

Do we give Starcevich another week, or is it one and done before we parachute him in?

I honestly don't know here, guys. This might be the toughest ins and outs I've thought about in a while.

 

[UseR2006]

This might get me yelled at but...

In: Gross
Out: Yeo / Harley

Now hear me out, Yeo looked slow as today, yes he kicked some goals but out of the middle he was being burned for pace.
Guy could use a rest even if just for a game or two. Gross has deserved a call up for a while. He isn't a HF though so shoehorning him there wont work. I'd rest Yeo for a match or Harley (still a kid and hasn't had a break yet) and give the kid a run.

Otherwise i'd reward the performance from today and the prior week and only make minimal changes.

 

[Tugga27]

Outs: I just don't think Whopper is going to make it.
Maric just isn't physical enough.

Ins: Gross and Hewitt.