Prediction Round 12, 2026: Changes vs Essendon

[Tugga27]

Who is Whopper.

HJ.

 

[Quinz]

There's some glimpses of a player in Whopper but still a lot to work on. I think Gross deserves a crack.

Let Hewett really put his stamp on a few more WAFL games.

 

[lmach]

I hope we ****ing smash them. About time we release the shackles, 2024 home derby style.

 

[joeyavalanche]

View attachment 2619143
That’s Duggan next to Ginbey, in the thick of it.

Fast forward 5 secs from that point and watch Duggan.
Honestly, the sooner we rip off the Duggan band aid the better for everyone.

 

[Avalor]

No changes for me. Leave the team as is for another week.

 

[jdisc]

pendlebury a chance for a call up?

 

[ghostbat12]

I can see Allan for starc

That’s it. Given Johnston is out of contract, he shouldn’t get dropped as there was enough there to allow us to see a bit more of what he can do. Yes he can do a bit better but third game in 2 years and look where the game was.

Bazzo is deer in headlights but no other options unfortunately.

 

[MaxHunt]

If they decide to play Starc and Champion is out. Move Baker FWD. His disposal in the backline is a real liability but his pressure up front would be welcome.

 

[FKASC]

They’ll replace Williams with CDT 100% imo. Mini won’t be able to hide his hate boner for Jack.

 

[Wight Wolf]

I am not impressed by Gross - if he gets recalled I hope he proves me wrong.

 

[Cuzz09]

I think

 

[Cuzz09]

I think HJ is still quite lean to really take a game by the scruff so he needs to be clever around goals.

 

[southcoast]

Maric would have to be feeling nervous after his defensive efforts of recent weeks.

Maric for Starcevich (if he is deemed ready). Otherwise a shuffle around and Gross or Hewett in and Maric out.

 

[WCE_Phill]

Don't see the hate for HJ, never going to be a star, but I see a solid contributor. Happy for him to stay, keep applying pressure and the opportunity will come. Barely play 6 games

Maric seems to find himself in the right spots but defensively is poor. Hes an awkward one

 

[Happy Mastenator]

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.

I’d still sit on Roberts. He’s empty stats but also still their clear meters gained leader. He’s their bailout down back due to his ability to make himself available. Shut him down as an outlet and they will be spinning their wheels and completely fall apart trying to move the ball

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Fast forward 5 secs from that point and watch Duggan.
Honestly, the sooner we rip off the Duggan band aid the better for everyone.

Ok.

Slightly more than 5 seconds later, he’s on the right of this shot pulling Schultz out of the fight.

 

[kaiserchief13]

Maric would have to be feeling nervous after his defensive efforts of recent weeks.

Maric for Starcevich (if he is deemed ready). Otherwise a shuffle around and Gross or Hewett in and Maric out.

How hard is it to make someone tackle hard?

 

[EJ_Faithful]

I can see Allan for starc

That’s it. Given Johnston is out of contract, he shouldn’t get dropped as there was enough there to allow us to see a bit more of what he can do. Yes he can do a bit better but third game in 2 years and look where the game was.

Bazzo is deer in headlights but no other options unfortunately.

If the club decides Starc is ready Bazzo is the easy option out. Starc plays taller than he is, is hugely stronger, Is better 1vs1, a better kick and better at reading the play.

Champion (injured) out for Owies in (balance)

 

[EJ_Faithful]

How hard is it to make someone tackle hard?

If they don't have the appetite for it, impossible. It's why for all his talent it looks like Dewar won't be making the grade at AFL level. Seems to have dropped his head. You either have the work rate and intent or you don't. This is elite sport and you have to be ridiculously better than everyone else to be able to get away with not constantly providing 100%

It's also why Ginbey is an absolute beast and the clubs likely next outright captain and Hewett is playing in the WAFL. If Hewett since arriving at the club had been as hard working as Ginbey he'd be a starting mid alongside Harley and he'd be posting good numbers too.

 

[Bacchus]

Don’t get the Bazzo hate. Think the defence has looked a lot more solid the last two weeks with him in.

 

[Smotie2]

Well I'm glad we are are investigating Duggangate every frame by frame to see whether he deserves to be corp marshalled or not.

I am a registered anti dugganist but he had a good game yesterday, less turnovers and fought hard and clearly decided to pass the ball by hand to a better kicker when possible and is clearly trying to stop the fighting. He's not wimping out, just Tryna do a captains role

He's right on this one imo.

 

[Tugga27]

Maric would have to be feeling nervous after his defensive efforts of recent weeks.

Maric for Starcevich (if he is deemed ready). Otherwise a shuffle around and Gross or Hewett in and Maric out.

Maric feels nervous every time he's out there.

 

[Proeagle]

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.

If CDT comes in, it has to be J Williams out, or even give Shanahan a run in the WAFL to build some confidence. Cant go to tall by replacing a small with CDT. Starcevich for Bazzo or Cole I guess.
I would give J Williams one more week and CDT another game in the WAFL.
And I would bring in Gross as midfield depth. Rotate with the other mids.


Whatever we do, I hope it is like for like. We have looked far better with less talls.

 

[Cursedsword02]

After sleeping on it, I've settled on the following:

OUT: Maric
IN: Gross

Gross becomes the fourth-string midfielder, and Duursma moves to a more outside/HHF role as he did in the early wins.

Murdock to run with Archie Roberts, and Hough tagging Merrett is more important than before if both Caldwell and Durham are out.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

If CDT comes in, it has to be J Williams out, or even give Shanahan a run in the WAFL to build some confidence. Cant go to tall by replacing a small with CDT. Starcevich for Bazzo or Cole I guess.
I would give J Williams one more week and CDT another game in the WAFL.

Whatever we do, I hope it is like for like. We have looked far better with less talls.

I think Shanahan is doing relatively fine, evidenced by a couple of clutch goals in the final term. I wouldn't be opposed to giving him an actual rest if he needs it rather than playing a block of WAFL, but he isn't the only one that needs one. Decent chance some will keep going until the bye.