Prediction Round 13, 2025: Changes vs North Melbourne

[THE A5]

Jack Darling is the difference.

In all seriousness looking forward to the Darling v Ginbeast match up. 10 years ago it was darling that 191cm physical beast that was playing well above his weight division and now it Ginbey doing it was us.

 

[Keys]

Chesser is not yet AFL fit. He was on managed WAFL minutes against the Black Ducks and will need a run of games to get right. Too early in my mind. We need to have M/C Integrity

Shouldn’t be in discussions until after the bye which would mean he’d have played three games in the WAFL including last weekends game on managed minutes

First game after the bye is Collingwood away then GWS at home which is when I’d be considering him if his form warrants selection

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

Darling to kick several goals.

 

[jdisc]

Dropping McCarthy after only playing 0 games seems a bit harsh.

to be fair i watched the geelong game and he was basically invisible, i didnt see him touch the pill once

 

[garlic munchers]

Jack Darling is the difference.

More chance of someone in the crowd suffering facial injuries after being pinged with a falcon from the ball ricocheting off Darling's chest.

Sandy Brock will be Darling's new Alan Toovey!

Eagles by 17.

 

[Ruben Grubarb]

South Bunno. Launceston. Norf have an uncanny ability to sniff out white trash.

 

[ArdentEagle]

Shouldn’t be in discussions until after the bye which would mean he’d have played three games in the WAFL including last weekends game on managed minutes

First game after the bye is Collingwood away then GWS at home which is when I’d be considering him if his form warrants selection

Well...I want to discuss him.

He's almost like a brand new toy that I want us to play with. (Sounds rude, but I don't mean it that way for once)
I was seriously impressed with his WAFL game. Best game I've seen him play, and to be honest, to a level I didn't think he is capable of.

AsterixTheGaul and you are right that it is too early this week. However, if he runs out a full game, to an equal or higher level this week. I'd bring him in.

It's partially just the excitement of a new toy but also a structural thing for me...I really want Hutch in the Crippa role and would love Chess on the wing, especially now it's not a Gimp role.


Bringing him in along with McCarthy would add even more speed and foot skills.

 

[Marlin01]

If my memory serves (please correct me if it doesn’t) Chesser effectively went from under 16s to AFL due to his own injuries and the Eagles injury crisis. He never really got a chance to play senior footy at a level he could dominate.

I think it would do him the world of good to play for an extended period in the WAFL.

 

[fullbull]

I don't believe it, he's talking shit.

Maric is the easiest omission of all time this week. McCarthy will jump straight into that role IMO.

Dewar didn't have a great game in defense either, nor Hutchinson, not that I think the latter will be dropped.

Maybe, but then consider how conservative his approach with Gross has been. I’d love to see him play this weekend, but I have a feeling if Maric is out, there’s probably a good chance it’s Allan or Bazzo that might take his spot in the 22.

Hope I’m wrong!

 

[Rivoroo17]

I don't see why Mccarthy can't learn the team structure at AFL level, after all the game plan we are implementing is the Richmond style which I'm sure he is very familiar with already. No point wasting him at WAFL level, he won't learn any strategic information he doesn't already possess and the top up players just lower the overall quality of the team. Playing him at the WAFL is arguably worse for his development because he is already at a clear level above the play and the top ups ruin the team cohesion and don't know the game plan.

Last thing I'd want is for him to alter his kicking because the top ups and wafl graders are unable to mark a lace out kick at the chest, like what happened like a dozen times on the weekend.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Maybe, but then consider how conservative his approach with Gross has been. I’d love to see him play this weekend, but I have a feeling if Maric is out, there’s probably a good chance it’s Allan or Bazzo that might take his spot in the 22.

Hope I’m wrong!

Technically i don't really care, but by rights Allan hasn't earned selection ahead of anyone at this point.

His WAFL form has been average at best. Still looks to me like the MC has no idea what they want his position to be long term so he's floating between the backline and on ball and not getting the best of either, development wise.


Going by recent MSD history, i'd be expecting McCarthy in this week if we're a chance to actually win the game, which we should be consdering it's only North Melbourne in Bunbury. Why else do you draft a 24yr old.

 

[Bender_]

Last thing I'd want is for him to alter his kicking because the top ups and wafl graders are unable to mark a lace out kick at the chest, like what happened like a dozen times on the weekend.

This was so frustrating. Would hit a lead perfectly with the opponent chasing and our players were either still dropping the mark or getting spoiled as they weren't grabbing it with their arms extended.

 

[captain cotch 9]

The whole Tiger army is behind you this week!

 

[flyinghi64]

Why so many want to drop Hutch?
15 disposals, 7 marks and 409 MG, not exactly deplorable.

Personally I would think Bo goes back to play a full game at WAFL to get some k's into him.

Archer would also be my pick to go out before JWilliams.

Out Bo, Archer
In Hall, BW. Will need Hall I think for his inside grunt against Nth. We need as many first hands on the ball as we can and he provides this.

I think Maric holds his spot, getting subbed was a shot across the bough as a warning.
McCarthy another game in WAFL and if he goes similar or better then Maric needs a good game himself.

 

[wce4premiership]

Why so many want to drop Hutch?
15 disposals, 7 marks and 409 MG, not exactly deplorable.

Personally I would think Bo goes back to play a full game at WAFL to get some k's into him.

Archer would also be my pick to go out before JWilliams.

Out Bo, Archer
In Hall, BW. Will need Hall I think for his inside grunt against Nth. We need as many first hands on the ball as we can and he provides this.

I think Maric holds his spot, getting subbed was a shot across the bough as a warning.
McCarthy another game in WAFL and if he goes similar or better then Maric needs a good game himself.

I'd like Hutch to stay. I'd like him to even get more time on ball but am happy for him to play the wing, especially if he can start using his aerial prowess to win possessions.

I think it would be worth resting Maric, don't have him play WAFL. He's still young and McCarthy is worth a shot off the good form which isn't just WAFL but extends to the VFL as well.

Maric is young, a rest won't hurt.

 

[WCErevival]

Why so many want to drop Hutch?
15 disposals, 7 marks and 409 MG, not exactly deplorable.

Personally I would think Bo goes back to play a full game at WAFL to get some k's into him.

Archer would also be my pick to go out before JWilliams.

Out Bo, Archer
In Hall, BW. Will need Hall I think for his inside grunt against Nth. We need as many first hands on the ball as we can and he provides this.

I think Maric holds his spot, getting subbed was a shot across the bough as a warning.
McCarthy another game in WAFL and if he goes similar or better then Maric needs a good game himself.

Low disposal efficiency and high number of turn overs are the main reasons.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

What frustrates is that a crab like Jayden Hunt with limited skills keeps getting selected because he has the ability to repeat run up and down the wing. Yeah but when you got it *******, what was the outcome?

I hear ya. Hunt is pretty ordinary at best but the biggest factor keeping him in the side is we don't have a genuine winger on the list. We've got some on-ballers in the WAFL but no bona fide winger. It might even secure him a one year extention.

 

[Proeagle]

Has anyone else noticed that teams traveling over to Perth regularly get a long break before coming here. Geelong 10 day break then over here, North a bye then travel here. Not the first time it has happened either. Gives them more training time and time to go over tactics against us.

 

[garlic munchers]

Has anyone else noticed that teams traveling over to Perth regularly get a long break before coming here. Geelong 10 day break then over here, North a bye then travel here. Not the first time it has happened either. Gives them more training time and time to go over tactics against us.

Agree that the poor Darling(s) do seem to get an inordinate rest before taking the arduous road trip to WA.

Mind you, not sure they need extra time to go over tactics to play us as most sides seem to have us pretty worked out.......give us the ball and watch us dump kick to disadvantage.

 

[fullbull]

Technically i don't really care, but by rights Allan hasn't earned selection ahead of anyone at this point.

His WAFL form has been average at best. Still looks to me like the MC has no idea what they want his position to be long term so he's floating between the backline and on ball and not getting the best of either, development wise.


Going by recent MSD history, i'd be expecting McCarthy in this week if we're a chance to actually win the game, which we should be consdering it's only North Melbourne in Bunbury. Why else do you draft a 24yr old.

Yet Allan keeps getting given opportunities - it’s definitely an odd one. I think being a 1st round pick is buying him more opportunities than perhaps he has earned on merit.

I don’t think recent MSD history matters here - that was clearly a Simmo thing, and not something Mini necessarily subscribes to.

I’d like to see T-Mac in the team this week - I just won’t be shocked if he’s not selected, based on what Mini has said this week.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Yet Allan keeps getting given opportunities - it’s definitely an odd one. I think being a 1st round pick is buying him more opportunities than perhaps he has earned on merit.

Branderitis

 

[Elite Pete]

Has anyone else noticed that teams traveling over to Perth regularly get a long break before coming here. Geelong 10 day break then over here, North a bye then travel here. Not the first time it has happened either. Gives them more training time and time to go over tactics against us.

Yep was an issue last year too.

 

[FootyNuffy101]

Has anyone else noticed that teams traveling over to Perth regularly get a long break before coming here. Geelong 10 day break then over here, North a bye then travel here. Not the first time it has happened either. Gives them more training time and time to go over tactics against us.

Yep, Saints and Melbourne got 9 while Essendon got 6 (after Gather Round, same as us for that game).

For Freo, Port got 7, Collingwood 5(!), Adelaide 6, Dogs 9, Sydney 8.

Teams (from Vic) probably just request their longest breaks before their furthest away games.

 

[Astro7]

Allan as a 1st round pick looks pretty ordinary so far. Yes, hasn't been on the park much, injured and subbed. Has pace, like to see what else he brings, when he gets a decent run? So far its a 1st round pick spending time in the Wafl with poor disposal.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Yet Allan keeps getting given opportunities - it’s definitely an odd one. I think being a 1st round pick is buying him more opportunities than perhaps he has earned on merit.

He’s been picked twice this year and one of them was as a sub that came on midway through the last quarter.

That’s not a huge amount of opportunities