Prediction Round 15- Changes v Essendon at Optus

[Snuffaluphagus]

Is that Essendon backline the worst we've come up against this year? yikes on a bike that's bad reading.

Hope the forecast is accurate and we get our only sun for 3 days between like 1pm and 9pm tomorrow. Id like to see our forwards get a run at those names

 

[Freo Big Fella]

Not sure where people are getting 'Banner's is guaranteed to play forward' from, the peripheral positions on the team sheet mean very little.

Think Aish Sub -> Fyfe starting mid -> Bolton starting forward is much more likely.

Would have liked to have seen Dudley back, but I can understand the caution giving he's coming off a lower fitness base and limited preseason.

 

[Minz]

Is that Essendon backline the worst we've come up against this year? yikes on a bike that's bad reading.

Hate it when someone writes that before a game… watch their back line have a coming out game now!! Yes, I know, I’m superstitious

Thank goodness this is a league game the night before and not a union game; scrums in this weather would make the field look like the world bog snorkelling championship venue (we’ll see that later in the season)

 

[Freo Big Fella]

And it's ****ing sensational to see Drisco back.

 

[ROGS]

Honestly, I was expecting Erasmus to be dropped after being subbed out.

Must really want him to sign that contract before dropping him.

Cant see how Draper is picked, has lost his confidence and needs an extended spell at Peel

 

[s_wd6]

I remember we were all salivating over the Melbourne team lining up against us…

One of the worst forward lines on paper and had 12 goals at the half

 

[freo_leo29]

Not sure where people are getting 'Banner's is guaranteed to play forward' from, the peripheral positions on the team sheet mean very little.

Think Aish Sub -> Fyfe starting mid -> Bolton starting forward is much more likely.

Would have liked to have seen Dudley back, but I can understand the caution giving he's coming off a lower fitness base and limited preseason.

JL sounded like he was playing Fyfe sub again

So Aish back and Banfield forward makes sense

I didn't even realise he was listed forward, that definitely means nothing, completely basing it off JLs presser the other day and the fact we shouldn't risk Fyfe off a 5 day break on this turf

 

[Fat Nyfe]

You just have to laugh if Banfield ends up as a forward again, despite not doing anything to earn that position again since being dropped for it originally, and in place of a guy who did earn it and is not playing this week. And some people think JL doesn’t play favourites.

 

[StingBitten]

You just have to laugh if Banfield ends up as a forward again, despite not doing anything to earn that position again since being dropped for it originally, and in place of a guy who did earn it and is not playing this week. And some people think JL doesn’t play favourites.

An uneducated take might highlight that Dudley debuted after the Geelong/Sydney debacle and the blow-torch was on JL. He's only worth a few touches but when he creates magic it's an absolute game changer.

Now we've won a few in a row and the heat's off JL it feels like conservatism is creeping back in. I love Aish but he's passed it and Banfield has become borderline undroppable again.

I'm uneducated and I don't have much more than that. I 100% believe Dudley should be in before both Banfield/Aish.

I also think it's bad juju (or in fact just bad character) not to bring a player straight back in after a funeral/sorry business. That's just me though.

 

[King Huskii]

Banfield does the Switta pressure role, I don’t think Dudley does.

True I didn't think of that

 

[Minz]

I recall Dudley chasing hard, ending up in the last line of defence and sticking a fair few tackles. Looked rather a lot more handy than Banners in that pressure forward role, but that is just the eye test

 

[ubiquitous226]

You just have to laugh if Banfield ends up as a forward again, despite not doing anything to earn that position again since being dropped for it originally, and in place of a guy who did earn it and is not playing this week. And some people think JL doesn’t play favourites.

"Playing favourites" and "conservatism" usually just mean they don't match our opinions.
I've seen every board on here claim their coach plays favourites at some point.

For the Duds v Banfield discussion, assuming Banfield actually plays forward, it's pretty clear it would be a different role they're playing, unless they swapped Reid's role too.

Add to that a debate on how many changes to make to a team and I don't think it's hard to land on why they made the selections they did.

 

[Rhufus]

"Playing favourites" and "conservatism" usually just mean they don't match our opinions.
I've seen every board on here claim their coach plays favourites at some point.

For the Duds v Banfield discussion, assuming Banfield actually plays forward, it's pretty clear it would be a different role they're playing, unless they swapped Reid's role too.

Add to that a debate on how many changes to make to a team and I don't think it's hard to land on why they made the selections they did.

I agree, I think if I was coach Id be playing my 23 favourite players every week. They`re favourite for a reason.

 

[Deathly]

Darcy out is pretty significant and peeps can stick their head in the sand all they want but Darcy is not being "managed"

It's almost alarming honestly. 2 games at basically half TOG with a bye in between - "managed" again already against the exact kind of side he should be working through playing against to get minutes and form for himself. The exact kind of side to back-up and work on the clubs' "2 ruck" strategy. If Aish can get selected then Darcy can at least hit another 50% TOG against Essendon. Conditions and turn-around should mean **** all in Darcys' case.

 

[Dirty_banchez]

I think we are a much better team with Jackson as our only ruck. We just seem to move the ball quicker from D50 as we have more runners to use in transition.

I do wonder where Darcy's head is at right now. His confidence must be shot.

 

[VolgaBoatman]

Was a little bit surprised by Aish selection, but he has been putting in the work at Peel. So selection integrity probably means he gets a shot. Love what O'Driscoll was doing early in the season, hope he can back to that.

Looking forward to seeing how Erasmus goes after he was subbed off last week, really wanting him to put in a strong performance, he's been steady so far - definitely less turnovers, not caught holding the ball as much as previously.

 

[anchor man]

Would Dudley be regretting taking time off for personal reasons? Seems to have cost him a place in the B23.

A family members funeral!. I doubt it.

 

[pK75]

I don’t understand these changes at all, Darcy for NOD I get, as Nod replaces the midfield minutes Jackson would play when Darcy was in the ruck. But Aish for Switta by swinging Banfield forward when you have Dudley ready to walk straight into Swittas role is just bizarre

 

[mattis117]

I don’t understand these changes at all, Darcy for NOD I get, as Nod replaces the midfield minutes Jackson would play when Darcy was in the ruck. But Aish for Switta by swinging Banfield forward when you have Dudley ready to walk straight into Swittas role is just bizarre

You're assuming Dudley can play Swittas role. I don't think he is fit enough to play that role. It would require multiple shifts in positions, Bolton would have to play Swittas role and Dudley would play a small forward role. Let's remember that Switta is NOT a small forward. He is a connecting half forward.

Selection is horses for courses as they cringingly keep saying. They have picked a team that they think is best placed to beat Essendon. Their priority would be to put our best players in their best roles, not putting them in other roles so they can shoe horn other players like Dudley into the side.

As maligned as Banners is, he has flexibility on his side. He can basically play anywhere on the ground in almost any role. He's not brilliant at any of them, but he keeps getting selected because he can be moved around to fill holes anywhere.

 

[Dale147]

 

[Taylor]

Conventional footy wisdom wouldn't have played two rucks and three tall forwards in the wet for the past two games either. So who knows what the plan here is.

I would prefer Darcy against St Kilda than a teenager in Essendon, but can't help but feel it's an advantage we could have really pressed.

 

[Eski3]

Conventional footy wisdom wouldn't have played two rucks and three tall forwards in the wet for the past two games either. So who knows what the plan here is.

I would prefer Darcy against St Kilda than a teenager in Essendon, but can't help but feel it's an advantage we could have really pressed.

I actually think the "horses for courses" is a bit of a fitness thing. If it's a seasoned ruck who's going to run Jackson into the ground over the full game they play both. If it's someone who Jackson can run into the ground they stick with Jackson. If Marshall is playing next week they'll go back to the two rucks

 

[The Round House Drunk]

View attachment 2345935View attachment 2345936

The padding around Luke Ryan’s waist/ribs is clearly visible in the photo.

 

[Minz]

The padding around Luke Ryan’s waist/ribs is clearly visible in the photo.

Ouch. That is some thick padding

 

[Quazar2]

So 5 wins in a row and we've played finals each time all but one in 2005. Makes this game a very big, important one now. C'mon lads, gotta be up for the fight.

Could be huge in the season's context. Give it all you've got