Opinion Round 16 Changes vs. Melbourne

[schmuttt]

Would expect it to be a big test of fitness for both teams, how does your mob usually run out games in Darwin? You guys did well against Port in the Alice but not really similar conditions.

We've been crap for a while so hard to tell, IIRC last win in Darwin was 1 point over Port in 2010. We have been looking a bit tired for a few weeks though so I'd imagine we aren't exactly hitting this game in peak condition.

 

[Freo Dr]

Sylvia has the one touch grab/quality ball use of a top five pick. With the same application as someone like deBoer our team will be hugely improved... But he needs to bring the application.

I think we all basically agree. From the game and replay I think Sylvia was always going to be subbed as he is still building fitness at AFL level. Sub last week, three quarters this week maybe full game against Melbourne. He was blowing pretty hard when subbed. Only question I have on him is his overhead marking but need to see him in more games yet.

 

[Freo Dr]

We've been crap for a while so hard to tell, IIRC last win in Darwin was 1 point over Port in 2010. We have been looking a bit tired for a few weeks though so I'd imagine we aren't exactly hitting this game in peak condition.

Cheers any thoughts on seeing Sylvia run out against you? He seems a quality user, building his tank a bit still for us but I am not sure about his overhead marking under pressure. How was he at the Dees with this?

 

[schmuttt]

Cheers any thoughts on seeing Sylvia run out against you? He seems a quality user, building his tank a bit still for us but I am not sure about his overhead marking under pressure. How was he at the Dees with this?

Erm, his overhead marking is his biggest strength, he'd be equal to Fyfe in that area. His biggest problem for us was inconsistency, he is capable of 30+ disposals and 3+ goals but didn't do it anywhere near enough.

 

[yakka man]

Erm, his overhead marking is his biggest strength, he'd be equal to Fyfe in that area. His biggest problem for us was inconsistency, he is capable of 30+ disposals and 3+ goals but didn't do it anywhere near enough.

LOL!

 

[schmuttt]

LOL!

You can laugh at me all you want, maybe his form at freo has been average but as someone who watched him extremely closely 2004-2013 if there is one thing he is elite at it is contested marking.

 

[yakka man]

You can laugh at me all you want, maybe his form at freo has been average but as someone who watched him extremely closely 2004-2013 if there is one thing he is elite at it is contested marking.

Fyfe has averaged more than one contested mark a game (1.6 this year and 2 in his second season) for every game in his career. A quick look at Sylvia's last eight years at Melbourne show that he never had more than one on average per game.

I'm sure he's a decent mark but to compare him to Fyfe is ludicrous.

 

[The Black Sheep]

Sylvia has the one touch grab/quality ball use of a top five pick. With the same application as someone like deBoer our team will be hugely improved... But he needs to bring the application.

Port experimented against Melbourne and rested their players to boot.

I reckon he was largely a product of the Melbourne culture.

Now the standards have been set, he's also been made well aware (via his long stint at Peel and his exclusion from match sims to run laps instead during the pre season) what's expected he won't let us down.

He knows he could play in a premiership this year and I don't doubt for a second he's as hungry as anyone in purple for it. Especially since he's spent the last eight years getting belted week in, week out.

He'll bring the application.

 

[Nothing]

Maybe Ross is sick of it but he gets very cranky now when asked about Morabito. Tonight when asked if Mora was a chance for Sylvia's spot he said they are nothing like each other & are competing for different spots. He described Sylvia as a power forward while saying Anthony sees himself as a winger inside mid. For whatever the reason I don't think he's keen to have Mora in the side at this stage of things.

It must suck for Stephen Hill to be keeping you out of the side.

I think it's Neale who is keeping Mora out of the team, espsecially if Mora views himself as a winger inside mid. FWIW, I'm happy that Neale is in over him, he's excelled this year.

 

[The Black Sheep]

You can laugh at me all you want, maybe his form at freo has been average but as someone who watched him extremely closely 2004-2013 if there is one thing he is elite at it is contested marking.

Ross Lyon specifically said that in the trade/FA period they were chasing a big marking tall. They got Sylvia before landing Gumby and in the presser he said, we wanted a tall marking option. We haven't got that yet so we've gone for Sylvia. I take that to mean that Ross appreciated his ability to take a contested grab, despite not being a tall.

 

[The Black Sheep]

I think it's Neale who is keeping Mora out of the team, espsecially if Mora views himself as a winger inside mid. FWIW, I'm happy that Neale is in over him, he's excelled this year.

Neale plays as a centreman. Not a big difference. But he's not keeping mora out of the team. I think a lot of it is that Lyon doesn't want to risk having two players not having played in the team before (or for long) who also have/had concerns over their fitness. If Sylvia clicks in the next couple of weeks, I think we'll finally see Mora in purple.

 

[FD2646]

Agree that his marking is very good, however, not in the same post code as Fyfe. Having said all that Col should have received at least 2 free kicks for front on contact vs WCE.

 

[schmuttt]

Ross Lyon specifically said that in the trade/FA period they were chasing a big marking tall. They got Sylvia before landing Gumby and in the presser he said, we wanted a tall marking option. We haven't got that yet so we've gone for Sylvia. I take that to mean that Ross appreciated his ability to take a contested grab, despite not being a tall.

Pretty much. Fyfe is also a fair bit taller than Sylvia and has a better leap, but talking purely hands Sylvia is anyone's equal imo. I hope he does well at freo his inconsistency was frustrating but he did a lot of community work for the club and genuinely tried to change his 'party boy' image.

 

[yakka man]

Pretty much. Fyfe is also a fair bit taller than Sylvia and has a better leap, but talking purely hands Sylvia is anyone's equal imo. I hope he does well at freo his inconsistency was frustrating but he did a lot of community work for the club and genuinely tried to change his 'party boy' image.

I hope so too. I wasn't trying to be snippy, but Fyfe's marking is out of this world. Best contested marking mid in the game.

 

[schmuttt]

I hope so too. I wasn't trying to be snippy, but Fyfe's marking is out of this world. Best contested marking mid in the game.

You're right he probably is, mids who can take a mark are a dying breed, bartel is the only other or that comes to mind (oh and Goddard).

 

[pokerspiv]

 

[Righteo]

Erm, his overhead marking is his biggest strength, he'd be equal to Fyfe in that area. His biggest problem for us was inconsistency, he is capable of 30+ disposals and 3+ goals but didn't do it anywhere near enough.

Not equal to Fyfe, no midfielder is, but I did notice he took some very strong grabs on the weekend that I was certain he'd spill. Definitely surprised me a little.

 

[Freo Dr]

Pretty much. Fyfe is also a fair bit taller than Sylvia and has a better leap, but talking purely hands Sylvia is anyone's equal imo. I hope he does well at freo his inconsistency was frustrating but he did a lot of community work for the club and genuinely tried to change his 'party boy' image.

Thanks for that. The question was only because against Brisbane he had some chances but they all went to ground (was wet) and against WCE there was a couple he almost grabbed but didn't but was against a taller opponent - maybe could have got a free as well in some. Based on the size of his arms he SHOULD be a good grab for his height.

 

[E Shed]

Not equal to Fyfe, no midfielder is, but I did notice he took some very strong grabs on the weekend that I was certain he'd spill. Definitely surprised me a little.

I noticed too. He spilled one first that I thought he would take as I remember him as having good hands at Melbourne but I think he was trying too hard. He seemed to relax after he got a goal on the board. His defensive work has been strong & I'm pretty sure he knows DeBoer is breathing down his neck. I'm really hoping he has a big one next week. Its a shame its not on the G!

 

[Ragtooth]

You're right he probably is, mids who can take a mark are a dying breed, bartel is the only other or that comes to mind (oh and Goddard).

I’m just wondering if Sylvia is a downhill skier? Sorry I didn’t follow him that closely at Melbourne, Was he only good once the team was going well or did he manage to stand up at times despite the team playing average?...From following him in dreamteam, he was frustrating as hell, 100+ one week 40 the next.

As for changes…It would be likely that it’s only Macca IN and Tabs OUT.
I would like to see in the next three weeks players like Deboer, Mora (naturally), Keplar, Snos (if uninjured) and Griff given a run…but with a bye in the next three weeks, it’s likely no one will be rested/rotated unless injured or if the aforementioned seriously knocked at the door like Clancee did at WAFL, 39 possessions (round 3) or 18 possessions in once quarter (last WAFL game).

Mora has been knocking loudly at the door but not absolutely busting it down… He hasn’t played a game with 30+ disposals yet, a big ask after only playing 11 consistent games of football in three years!!! WAFL mids like Neale and Sheridan used to get consistent high 20’s - 30+ disposals a week and it still took them a long while to get into the team. Mora really needs to absolutely bust that door open with an undeniable stunning game(s) to get selected IMO..just my 2¢.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Neale plays as a centreman. Not a big difference. But he's not keeping mora out of the team. I think a lot of it is that Lyon doesn't want to risk having two players not having played in the team before (or for long) who also have/had concerns over their fitness. If Sylvia clicks in the next couple of weeks, I think we'll finally see Mora in purple.

I thought someone like C Pearce is keeping Mora out of the team, more than Neale. I think he needs 2-3 games before the finals so we can see if he is an upgrade on other players currently in the side.

Personally I would like to see Clarke, D Pearce and Pavlich rested and Taberner dropped, with Apeness, Griffin, Mora and McPharlin back in.

 

[schmuttt]

I’m just wondering if Sylvia is a downhill skier? Sorry I didn’t follow him that closely at Melbourne, Was he only good once the team was going well or did he manage to stand up at times despite the team playing average?...From following him in dreamteam, he was frustrating as hell, 100+ one week 40 the next.

As for changes…It would be likely that it’s only Macca IN and Tabs OUT.
I would like to see in the next three weeks players like Deboer, Mora (naturally), Keplar, Snos (if uninjured) and Griff given a run…but with a bye in the next three weeks, it’s likely no one will be rested/rotated unless injured or if the aforementioned seriously knocked at the door like Clancee did at WAFL, 39 possessions (round 3) or 18 possessions in once quarter (last WAFL game).

Mora has been knocking loudly at the door but not absolutely busting it down… He hasn’t played a game with 30+ disposals yet, a big ask after only playing 11 consistent games of football in three years!!! WAFL mids like Neale and Sheridan used to get consistent high 20’s - 30+ disposals a week and it still took them a long while to get into the team. Mora really needs to absolutely bust that door open with an undeniable stunning game(s) to get selected IMO..just my 2¢.

I think he was consistently inconsistent rather than a downhill skier. Remember a queens birthday where we got smashed in 2011 and he had something like 30 and 4. Was a smart pickup by Freo really, he won't be top 5 in your B&F in his career but he's the type of player that could have a couple blinders in September and suddenly you are premiers.

 

[The Black Sheep]

I thought someone like C Pearce is keeping Mora out of the team, more than Neale. I think he needs 2-3 games before the finals so we can see if he is an upgrade on other players currently in the side.

Personally I would like to see Clarke, D Pearce and Pavlich rested and Taberner dropped, with Apeness, Griffin, Mora and McPharlin back in.

Problem is too that deBoer, Walters, Johnson and McPharlin have to come back in too. So really there's five spots in the team when you include Mora. Tabs will go for Johnson/Luke. Not sure about the others.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Problem is too that deBoer, Walters, Johnson and McPharlin have to come back in too. So really there's five spots in the team when you include Mora. Tabs will go for Johnson/Luke. Not sure about the others.

Not disagreeing it will be tough for him to hold his spot, all I am saying based on his WAFL form he has earned 2-3 games. If he plays well he keeps his spot, otherwise he doesn't.

 

[Arcassius]

The Richmond game where he had 5 goals in a losing side is another example - i'd agree with the inconsistent call