Opinion Round 13 Changes vs. Richmond

[clivenator26]

MJ out for Silvagni who can play on Vickery, McPharlin to towell up Riewoldt, that frees up the big move of Dawson to full-forward.

 

[dockerfemme]

I think the Balla incident is quite different to Fyfe and Taylor Hunt as Balla is competing for the ball. I would not even call that a bump but more of a block to keep the opponent away from the ball. I also cannot see any head contact to Jaensch, although that does not mean it is not there. It will be interesting to see what the MRP says.

 

[Allikat]

out: MJ, Mayne (if sore/injured - could do with a rest)
in: Silvagni, Crozier or Mora

Doesn't sound like RTB wants to play Mora yet, and Crozier could do with some more AFL time. He's been playing well at WAFL level, and Richmond are the type of team he could show some real form against, because Richmond are shit.

I don't think Sylvia deserves a call up. A former first round pick with tonnes of game experience and no injury worries should be consistently towelling up the WAFL but he's not. He's rarely even out playing our rookies. He has potential but he needs to look at himself and if he really wants to play AFL footy again and actually put some effort in.

 

[mattis117]

I'm travelling over to be at this game. Going the corporate route - my cousin organised a $300 a head lunch and drinks session at the G with box at the game. First time seeing freo play at the G - worth it.

 

[theGav56]

The run of games coming up is going to be really interesting in terms of what the opposition clubs do with selections. Most of the clubs would be pretty resigned to missing the finals and may well decide to get some game time into younger players while moving some other players sideways. Some of the sides are a bit unpredictable (Richmond can play well/shyte all within a quarter of football). To me it presents a couple of selection opportunities for us;

1) We have advertised the fact that we want to score more, and we recruited Gumby and Sylvia to achieve this. Both are theoretically available although Gumby not realistically ready. IMO both should be considered best 22 and the question I have is about if it is better to get them in sooner rather than later. For Sylvia I would do that. With Gumby I would bide my time.

2) Morabitto is ready. Sure he may not have hit some GPS stat, but I think that is spin to take a bit of pressure off the selection. What an absolutely awesome sub this beast would be.

3) Silvagni is the classic "next cab" KPD. It may be tough for him but I am leaning towards only playing the 2 tall defenders against Richmond and Brisbane. Being more mobile should equate to being more offensive. It allows us to play any 2 of Grey, Sheridan, Morabitto and Sylvia while MJ is injured.

 

[beetz]

Not sure why we need Silvagni, Ibbo is more than capable of playing the role of loose man with Dawson taking Riewoldt and McPharlin taking that spud Vickery, not sure what other talls Richmond have down there?

I agree with Mayne getting a rest (whether it's in the WAFL or day off altogether remains to be seen).

Sheridan may have done enough to keep his spot for another week.

Freo need more firepower up forward than anything else. So would expect Sylvia/Crozier to get a look in with maybe Kep or Apeness smokies to play.

 

[Taylor]

I'm travelling over to be at this game. Going the corporate route - my cousin organised a $300 a head lunch and drinks session at the G with box at the game. First time seeing freo play at the G - worth it.

The Richmond crowd are something to behold, the noise they make shakes the stadium. It's something every footy fan should witness at least once.

Even if they are beating Freo... the roar when the ball goes through the goal is what I want for our home games, cheering on our boys and shouting down theirs.

On the other hand, the Essendon crowd at Etihad is embarassing. Booing their own players when they come off injured. Poor Stanton.

 

[TweeBeard]

Seriously, why are people still calling for Mayne to be dropped? His pressure was up, he was getting involved in scoring against Adelaide and the injury scare he had in the first half did not seem to hinder him in the slightest after a few minutes. I really can't see how giving him a rest would benefit him or the team in any way.

 

[beetz]

Seriously, why are people still calling for Mayne to be dropped? His pressure was up, he was getting involved in scoring against Adelaide and the injury scare he had in the first half did not seem to hinder him in the slightest after a few minutes. I really can't see how giving him a rest would benefit him or the team in any way.

Being dropped isn't necessarily a bad thing. He is no doubt well down on form compared to his last couple of years. He is very much a confidence player and it's obvious that's what he is lacking. Even the small things that I have noticed like his routine from when he marks to when he kicks at goal is very erratic. Last year it was pretty much identical every time and he never missed. Some time in the twos to get his hands on the ball again and get back to what he does best is what he needs for the long term. He is in the best 22 at the end of the day but is just going through a bit of a rough patch like any footballer does. I don't disagree his pressure is still top notch but Freo need more from him offensively.

 

[slicedndiced]

Seriously, why are people still calling for Mayne to be dropped? His pressure was up, he was getting involved in scoring against Adelaide and the injury scare he had in the first half did not seem to hinder him in the slightest after a few minutes. I really can't see how giving him a rest would benefit him or the team in any way.

Absolutely.

He is just starting to hit his straps again after a rough patch.

The only way he won't play is if he is injured. No way in hell will he be playing with Peel on the weekend.

 

[Okinakashi]

Some time in the twos to get his hands on the ball again and get back to what he does best is what he needs for the long term....

... I don't disagree his pressure is still top notch but Freo need more from him offensively.

If you don't think he's perfoming offensively - maybe rewatch the game. Actually, you really don't have to put that much effort in - check out the match highlights on AFL.com.au - He Kicked a goal - should've kicked 2 and was heavily involved in at least 4 others (Q1 - Mayne to Duffield to Ballas - Pav got a free kick and kicked the goal Q2 Mayne to Clarke to Duff - Goal, Q4 30m chase in the Fwd 50, hard ball get - hanballed to Suban - Goal. Also Q4 Gut run to get 30m in the clear - recieves a pass from Mundy, then hits Pav on the chest lace out - Goal.)

To paraphrase RTB - Good Forwards kick goals and they also watch goals being kicked.

Unless he's injured, C. Mayne will be on our team sheet for the MCG come Thursday night.

 

[The Anchorite]

Saw McPharlin having scans this morning. Haven't watched game yet, not sure what the concern is.

 

[beetz]

If you don't think he's perfoming offensively - maybe rewatch the game. Actually, you really don't have to put that much effort in - check out the match highlights on AFL.com.au - He Kicked a goal - should've kicked 2 and was heavily involved in at least 4 others (Q1 - Mayne to Duffield to Ballas - Pav got a free kick and kicked the goal Q2 Mayne to Clarke to Duff - Goal, Q4 30m chase in the Fwd 50, hard ball get - hanballed to Suban - Goal. Also Q4 Gut run to get 30m in the clear - recieves a pass from Mundy, then hits Pav on the chest lace out - Goal.)

To paraphrase RTB - Good Forwards kick goals and they also watch goals being kicked.

Unless he's injured, C. Mayne will be on our team sheet for the MCG come Thursday night.

I do remember that one, it was brilliant. I guess I have just set the bar high for him because he is usually good for at least 2 goals a game. Seems a bit out of sorts at the present for mine - maybe he is taking on more of the pressure forward role (even more so than usual) with De Boer out?

 

[slicedndiced]

Saw McPharlin having scans this morning. Haven't watched game yet, not sure what the concern is.

He got pole-axed in a marking contest, and was in the hands of the trainers for a while, but it looked more like he was badly winded than anything.

It certainly didn't seem to hamper him for the rest of the game.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I do remember that one, it was brilliant. I guess I have just set the bar high for him because he is usually good for at least 2 goals a game. Seems a bit out of sorts at the present for mine - maybe he is taking on more of the pressure forward role (even more so than usual) with De Boer out?

Ross did say in the press conference he has been playing injured.

Perhaps he could use a week off to get 100% fit, although this is our last game at the MCG so it is very important we win and kick accurately.

 

[beetz]

Ross did say in the press conference he has been playing injured.

Perhaps he could use a week off to get 100% fit, although this is our last game at the MCG so it is very important we win and kick accurately.

I don't buy in to the whole he isn't playing well because he is injured stuff. If a player crosses that white line they are deemed fit to contribute fully for a whole game. It should never be an excuse which is what our WA counterparts tended to use when explaining Nic Nat's poor form.

 

[smokingjacket]

OUT: Sheridan, MJ
IN: Sylvia, Morabito

It's time to bring Sylvia in. His MCG experience would be valuable, and he is far more capable of impacting games than Sheridan.

I don't think we need to go with the 3 talls KPD. Silvagni is not a like for like swap with MJ. Sure, they are both tallish, but Silvagni is slow and doesn't provide the rebound that we'll miss with MJ. Not saying Morabito should necessarily play down there, but I think we can go with the setup from the second half against Adelaide.

Silvagni is definitely a like for like swap for MJ. Not as good but he's definitely a third defender. This is where he cut his teeth under Harvey and it's where he's best suited long term. Terrific intercept mark, ability to zone off his player, will always kill the ball if he's left his man (maybe too recklessly sometimes), he's got great disposal maybe even better than MJ as he doesn't try and overplay it coming out of the backline, last but not least naturally looks to move the ball forward at all times. Under Harvey all our defenders were expected to be able to rebound quickly as we usually launched our attacks from our back 50 like Geelong now. Dawson has limitations but Lyon prefers playing a lockdown defender and getting the midfielders back to help to run the ball out. Different strokes.

He's never been a lockdown FB and I don't think he ever will be as he's not tall enough and doesn't have the leap to cover for it. His strength is intercept marks and rebound play which sounds a fair bit like a replacement for Johnno.

 

[JunglistPosse]

Posters older than 7 would remember this as fantastic footy.

Rules out Silent Alarm then

 

[clivenator26]

Vickery offered two weeks, which means Richmond might bring back Hampson who I think would be a good match up for Silvagni.

IF (big IF) Ballaz gets weeks then it'll be Crozier, Mora or Sylvia duking it out for a spot.

 

[TweeBeard]

Silvagni is definitely a like for like swap for MJ. Not as good but he's definitely a third defender. This is where he cut his teeth under Harvey and it's where he's best suited long term. Terrific intercept mark, ability to zone off his player, will always kill the ball if he's left his man (maybe too recklessly sometimes), he's got great disposal maybe even better than MJ as he doesn't try and overplay it coming out of the backline, last but not least naturally looks to move the ball forward at all times. Under Harvey all our defenders were expected to be able to rebound quickly as we usually launched our attacks from our back 50 like Geelong now. Dawson has limitations but Lyon prefers playing a lockdown defender and getting the midfielders back to help to run the ball out. Different strokes.

He's never been a lockdown FB and I don't think he ever will be as he's not tall enough and doesn't have the leap to cover for it. His strength is intercept marks and rebound play which sounds a fair bit like a replacement for Johnno.

Umm... Silvagni is a key defender and always has been.

 

[sij1981]

MJ out for Silvagni who can play on Vickery, McPharlin to towell up Riewoldt, that frees up the big move of Dawson to full-forward.

what about an even bigger move dawson to ruck and sandi - bigger in goal square.

 

[sij1981]

I'm travelling over to be at this game. Going the corporate route - my cousin organised a $300 a head lunch and drinks session at the G with box at the game. First time seeing freo play at the G - worth it.

got a spare spot in the box for me, am over there for work - just trying to decide whether to stay 1 extra night to go to the game !!!

 

[smokingjacket]

Umm... Silvagni is a key defender and always has been.

I said "lockdown FB" not key defender, key defenders come in many shaped and roles these days. Johnson won his AA playing at CHB and he alternates between marking the third tall and loose man, using his game sense to get free. This is the role that I think Silvagni best plays, not as a lock down key defender admirably filling in for Macca or Dawson. As I said before his best football was played in this position.

If you what you mean is that Silvagni has always been a lockdown key defender, then no he hasn't. He's only filled this role, mainly under RTB when filling in for injured players like McPharlin.

Read the post, it states that he was a key defender under Harvey, third man is still a key defender as Johnson shows. We just had a different setup.

 

[TweeBeard]

I said "lockdown FB" not key defender, key defenders come in many shaped and roles these days. Johnson won his AA playing at CHB and he alternates between marking the third tall and loose man, using his game sense to get free. This is the role that I think Silvagni best plays, not as a lock down key defender admirably filling in for Macca or Dawson. As I said before his best football was played in this position.

If you what you mean is that Silvagni has always been a lockdown key defender, then no he hasn't. He's only filled this role, mainly under RTB when filling in for injured players like McPharlin.

Read the post, it states that he was a key defender under Harvey, third man is still a key defender as Johnson shows. We just had a different setup.

Hmm.. I have always thought Silvagni played most predominantly as a lock down key defender under Harvey and and has continued to do so under RTB. My memory isn't fantastic, so I'm not saying you are completely wrong, but I remember Silvagni playing on the oppositions 2nd tall most of the time, 1st tall whenever McPharlan was unavailable and offering very little in the way of rebound or offense. I thought his rebounding ability only started to show mid/late last year and this year.

Perhaps the reason I'm struggling to remember 100% how he played under Harvey is because the players' roles weren't nearly as clearly defined as they are now.

 

[Freomaniac]

Take it from a Melbourne supporter. Sylvia simply has to play against Richmond.

I am guessing Sylvia has a habit of doing well Against richmond?

Still If Johnson is out yes Silvagni is in.

If ballantyne is out, Bring in Sylvia.