Prediction Round 12, 2026: Changes vs Essendon

[The_Reaper]

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.

A winnable home game against Essendon is not the time to be resting the likes of Harley or Yeo

 

[The_Reaper]

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.

Given how long Starc was out I think we have to give him another WAFL game minimum.

 

[Mop]

Gross in for HJ.

Its no secret I've been against dropping CDT until he needed a rest, but JWilliams has done his role superbly. A few weeks of WAFL won't kill CDT.

Starcevich to build some WAFL form.


Also.
Special credit to Tom Cole

28

Tom Cole

Age

29

Ht

188cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.9

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

5.0

4star

M

3.7

4star

T

2.7

4star

MG

110.3

2star

D

10.5

3star

K

6.3

3star

HB

4.3

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.5

3star

MG

110.3

2star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.8

4star

, thought he was solid again.

 

[Mop]

A winnable home game against Essendon is not the time to be resting the likes of Harley or Yeo

This. A tough roadtrip against a Geelong/Sydney/Melbourne is one thing, not a prime fixure at home against, on form, the worst team in the Comp.

 

[jdisc]

we finally got a ruck team actually working with the Williams brothers, I wouldn't go tampering with it. it's been years since we've actually had that department functioning.

Starc was heavily managed, he probably need another week at WAFL first.

I'd like to see Gross come in but don't want him shoehorned in HJs role

 

[EJ_Faithful]

Champion with a minor calf strain 4th quarter.

 

[Cuzz09]

Don't forget there will be a random 4-6 weeker pop up on Tuesday after a good effort.

Maybe Champion as EJ said... hope not but if it is Malakai then maybe worth giving Tylah Williams a shot

 

[Lia]

Can't really think of any changes except for Gross or Hewett for HJ, but we really don't want to shove either of them up forward.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

No change. Jilliams did more than enough to hold his spot over CDT, and Cole and Johnston did enough in their forward roles and there’s no real competition for those roles other than Owies. I definitely don’t want Gross or Hewett coming in and playing out of position.

 

[squashface]

If Champion is injured then HJ has to stay in which isn’t ideal because he sucks and blows a bit.

Schoenberg in I guess. Or even Dewar as I think his best position is forward.

 

[juice568]

Can't really think of any changes except for Gross or Hewett for HJ, but we really don't want to shove either of them up forward.

Why ? Its better to have quality in the afl side rather than having list cloggers

 

[Jukes]

Can’t help but feel the club will try and shoehorn CDT back into the team which I don’t mind.

If this is the case then it might be HJ out for CDT. Not ideal for structure but it did “work” for our 2 wins earlier in the season. CDT’s ground level play, IQ and athleticism means he won’t be worse than Johnston at the very least. In addition, the smalls we have probably allow it to work as well - Malakai’s emergence, Murdock’s form and Tom “Wizard” Cole.

 

[Cuzz09]

If Malakai is injured more than likely it will be Owies.

But Id be happy with an extra mid in Gross

 

[wce4premiership]

My only hope is that HJ takes a while to fire like Champion did. Champion looks the goods now.

I don't really mind HJ getting games to improve if he keeps bringing the pressure. However won't be too upset if he is dropped pending other players form in the WAFL.

 

[Cuzz09]

HJ is getting amongst it now at least.

Hitting the scoreboard.

Hopefully he has a breakout game, kick 3 or so and can feel at home

 

[Corn69]

Id move Baker into the midfield when Starc returns.

Other than that, no charges needed unless forced. Should spank the Bummers.

Team feels a lot different to the one that played against Richmond, ball movement is so much better and defence has improved drastically.

Players don't look confused anymore which is massive for the confidence.

Reckon Ginbeast easily shuts down Caddy.

 

[Smotie2]

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.

If you look at the replays it the game today you will see a massive corky on his left leg. It goes all the way down to his knee on his inner thigh.

It's why he played up forward mostly as he could hardly run very much and his knee was bleeding at one point

It was from last week's game.

Touch and go if he plays next week but they will leave it until late to decide I reckon.

 

[UseR2006]

If you look at the replays it the game today you will see a massive corky on his left leg. It goes all the way down to his knee on his inner thigh.

It's why he played up forward mostly as he could hardly run very much and his knee was bleeding at one point

It was from last week's game.

Touch and go if he plays next week but they will leave it until late to decide I reckon.

The other option would be to rest Yeo forward, and Gross takes Yeos mid spot. HJ goes out to make that work.

 

[garlic munchers]

Just watched a replay of the post Elliott stoush… out Duggan, what a squib!

Sits 2m off, watches as our young players fly the flag as Pies players pile in.

Not a captains A hole.

Duggan out, in anyone with a backbone.

 

[frenchconnection]

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

Ins: Gross and Hewitt.

Who is Whopper.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Harvey’s done his dash. It’s just a shame Hutch is injured.

You can make a case for either Hewett or Gross replacing him but neither were stellar today.

 

[PremiershipNo4]

Change: Will be tipping WC to win, with confidence for the 1st time in a long time.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Just watched a replay of the post Elliott stoush… out Duggan, what a squib!

Sits 2m off, watches as our young players fly the flag as Pies players pile in.

Not a captains A hole.

Duggan out, in anyone with a backbone.

That’s Duggan next to Ginbey, in the thick of it.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

The other option would be to rest Yeo forward, and Gross takes Yeos mid spot. HJ goes out to make that work.

I’m in favour of this. I don’t think Johnston provides enough.

 

[Rids]

No change for mine.

Thought Flynn and CDT were best in the WAFL but couldn’t leave out B and J Williams after today and look so much more balanced with HJ, Cole, Hough as small defensive minded forwards.

If Starcevich ready to go could maybe bring him in for Allan or Cole but would prefer to give him another week.

Im assuming Champion is okay. If not then either Owies for balance or Gross and Yeo to play mostly forward (as don’t think Gross or Hewett can play near full time forward)