Opinion Round 18 Changes vs. St.Kilda

[StingBitten]

We never really got out of second gear today and still beat GWS comfortably, Suban is really becoming an important power forward to our side... Sylvia could learn a few things from him.

With Ballantyne coming out it's likely the only change will be De Boer coming in. I don't know that the holy hell is wrong with C. Pearce; he was stimply astronomical last year and he's completely wilted this year. If they dropped him as well it'd be In for De Boer and maybe Sheridan/Crozier?

Would love to see Gumbleton get a shot although that's unlikely.

 

[pokerspiv]

McPharlin is a likely in too isn't he?

 

[FrancisX]

There would be 3 main questions for me.

Will Ballantyne be suspended? If suspended, Crozier or de Boer in.

Are any of our best 22 are fit again and ready for a recall; Hill, MacPharlin, Walters and Ibbotson? I am thinking we leave them on the sidelines till after the bye.

Is it better to continue to play all our vets, or do we give any of them an extended break? I am especially thinking of Mundy and Sandilands. Perhaps de Boer in for Mundy, with Sylvia and Morabitto getting more time in the midfield. And Griffin in for Sandi.

Not Walters, Hill or Ibbotson yet. Hill might be close post by I reckon

 

[ROYISHUNGRY]

Bet your bottom dollar Fyfe will be out, carrying a back injury into this game; fell pretty heavily today.

 

[ROYISHUNGRY]

We never really got out of second gear today and still beat GWS comfortably, Suban is really becoming an important power forward to our side... Sylvia could learn a few things from him.

With Ballantyne coming out it's likely the only change will be De Boer coming in. I don't know that the holy hell is wrong with C. Pearce; he was stimply astronomical last year and he's completely wilted this year. If they dropped him as well it'd be In for De Boer and maybe Sheridan/Crozier?

Would love to see Gumbleton get a shot although that's unlikely.

On Suban, really underrated how many crucial goal assists he has had this year. For me that's his most redeeming feature this season.

 

[Allikat]

Bet your bottom dollar Fyfe will be out, carrying a back injury into this game; fell pretty heavily today.

Nah I think he was just winded. He ran out the rest of the game pretty well.

 

[freo84]

Nah I think he was just winded. He ran out the rest of the game pretty well.

Fyfe got better as the game went on. Really struggled early due to some really line ball tagging and then broke it wide open.

 

[Cobbler]

I want to see Sylvia do well as I think he has more talent then Deboer, but Deboer IMO has a greater work ethic. It's hard to make a case for Sylvia as these are the sort of games where he should be making some sort of impact. He hasn't inspired me at all and this has been in a time when we have won comfortably.

If Ballas goes he may get a reprieve. He may even play Ballas's role, which against the Saints he'd need to make an impact on the scorebaord.

I'd imagine they'd rest McPharlin again as we have the bye after this game.

I feel this will be a great learning opportunity for Apeness and could go again against the Saints.

Man I miss Hill. You can't exchange his classy finishing.

Ins: Deboer, Crozier
Out: Ballas, Pearce

 

[heypenny]

A lot of you are very generous to Sylvia.

He's had three full games against Brisbane, Melbourne and GWS and he has been below average in all three.

His second efforts weren't good enough today and I never saw the 'harrassing' that Mayne, DeBoer or Ballantyne provide. I'm spewing he's taking up game-time/development from Sheridan, Crozier or Grey.

 

[Spoken4]

I want to see Sylvia do well as I think he has more talent then Deboer, but Deboer IMO has a greater work ethic. It's hard to make a case for Sylvia as these are the sort of games where he should be making some sort of impact. He hasn't inspired me at all and this has been in a time when we have won comfortably.

If Ballas goes he may get a reprieve. He may even play Ballas's role, which against the Saints he'd need to make an impact on the scorebaord.

I'd imagine they'd rest McPharlin again as we have the bye after this game.

I feel this will be a great learning opportunity for Apeness and could go again against the Saints.

Man I miss Hill. You can't exchange his classy finishing.

Ins: Deboer, Crozier
Out: Ballas, Pearce

Only person who can play Ballas role is Walters. And this guy:

 

[Taylor]

I'm not sure Sylvia knows where to be like the other guys do.

Didn't he spend all preseason watching while he ran laps?

Hard to learn the gameplan, Morabito knows where he needs to be.

 

[mike91]

It's almost a race nowadays to see who can say "Out: Sylvia" first.

The out Pearce joke has been replaced with Sylvia.

 

[cp3_jr]

I think Sylvia is playing his role and half forward is the toughest job in the team in modern football.

You are competing against huge numbers behind the ball and we set up with Pav/resting ruck/Apeness deep with Ballantyne the main small in the 50. Colin did most of his work from about 40m out to half back and often lead into space but didn't get used.

I also think we could use him in the middle more so Fyfe/Barlow/DPearce can play forward as well.

Overall his skills are very good and once he fully understands his teammates (and they understand him and have confidence in him) he will be a very good player for us.

I think it will be Ballas and possibly Clancee out for De Boer and Crozier as well.

Maybe Griffin in for one of the ruck man as well which Ross hinted at, at the end of his presser...

 

[Cobbler]

Only person who can play Ballas role is Walters. And this guy:

View attachment 67597

You know what I mean.

I think Sylvia is playing his role and half forward is the toughest job in the team in modern football.

You are competing against huge numbers behind the ball and we set up with Pav/resting ruck/Apeness deep with Ballantyne the main small in the 50. Colin did most of his work from about 40m out to half back and often lead into space but didn't get used.

I also think we could use him in the middle more so Fyfe/Barlow/DPearce can play forward as well.

Overall his skills are very good and once he fully understands his teammates (and they understand him and have confidence in him) he will be a very good player for us.

I think it will be Ballas and possibly Clancee out for De Boer and Crozier as well.

Maybe Griffin in for one of the ruck man as well which Ross hinted at, at the end of his presser...

It's all good and well stating how difficult his role is etc. Fact is Deboer plays it better, has shown more for Peel and at some stage Sylvia will make way.

If not for Deboer soon, then surely later in the season when Walters and some others come back.

 

[BananaOnTheRun]

It can't be easy slotting into a side and learning to play to structures intuitively. If Ballas goes out, I can't see Sylvia being dropped when he's still learning his role.

 

[cp3_jr]

I agree Walters may take his spot but it depends if we persist with Pav/Resting Ruck and Apeness in the forward 50.

Also I don't think Deboer plays the role better, he has just played in the system longer and Sylvia is a better player.
Just my opinion but apart from his tackling, I'd say Sylvia is much more skilled and better offensively.

Deboer is playing as an inside mid for Peel so his form there is irrelevant to the role he plays for Freo. People also get far too caught up in stats (where mids and backman look good due to the modern game).

Also remember Sylvia has only played a couple of games so I wouldn't write him off yet.

 

[Kram]

Sylvia has been pretty ordinary let's be honest.. One more game for mine to get himself into gear.

 

[_007_]

You guys, I already told you, Ballantyne is a team player.

Sensing that his new team mate might be on the chopping block, he did what he knew was necessary.

He smacked a man much younger than him, as hard as he could, squarely in the stomach, unprovoked and behind play.

Hayden will lose his points and Colin will not be dropped now.

I applaud your foresight and sense of comradery, Hayden Ballantyne.

 

[Cobbler]

I agree Walters may take his spot but it depends if we persist with Pav/Resting Ruck and Apeness in the forward 50.

Also I don't think Deboer plays the role better, he has just played in the system longer and Sylvia is a better player.
Just my opinion but apart from his tackling, I'd say Sylvia is much more skilled and better offensively.

Deboer is playing as an inside mid for Peel so his form there is irrelevant to the role he plays for Freo. People also get far too caught up in stats (where mids and backman look good due to the modern game).

Also remember Sylvia has only played a couple of games so I wouldn't write him off yet.

He's 29 and played in the system for many years. He's played 5 for Fremantle. He was brought over from Melbourne to make an impact. He isn't doing this.

Stats aren't everything, but pretty sure he wasn't brought over to kick 1 goal from 5 matches, give away 10 free kicks as opposed to being awarded 1.

I'm not writing him off, but at the same time I'm not writing Deboer off. It's a coin flip right now and although you mention the role had at Peel, observers of Sylvia for Peel would know he also had chances to rack up touches etc.

31 touches and 10 tackles is hard to ignore for a back to back clubman of the year recipient when opposed to someone who is struggling to impact when winning by big margins against lower opposition.

Lastly, Sylvia wasn't exactly banging down the door with performances with Peel. Without sounding harsh he was 'gifted' his game through circumstance.

Deboer has had 3 games at Peel that would probably be better then any game Sylvia had at Peel bar one.

 

[smokingjacket]

Thought Appness looked like he needs two years in the gym. Never tried to put pressure on their defense and he just half heartedly jogged around, let his man run off him and rebound.

Well if he's learning how to play KPF forward from Pav then I wouldn't be surprised...I'll show myself out.

He looked like a tall who has just come from the under 18s really

Yep, funny bout that.

 

[Unique Name]

Out: Clancee
In: Macca

If Ballas is suspended
In: De Boer (As the sub, Mora full game)

 

[smokingjacket]

Hard to learn the gameplan, Morabito knows where he needs to be.

Mora came on as the sub and ran through some tired players off of the HBF with every teammate going out of their way to try and get him in the game. Very impressive as the sub but he wasn't getting carried away at the end of the game nor should he. As was said earlier Sylvia was often in good position on the ground and wasn't used. I'm not saying he was great but if you don't play in the middle then it's pretty hard to get a touch if your teammates don't pass you the ball.

The only players I'd consider dropping him for would be de Boer (maybe) or Walters (when fit) but seeing as Ballas is probably an out, dropping Sylvia this week would be monumentally stupid considering our lack of genuine forwards cost us the game against the Roo's earlier this year. Let's give him a run in Ballas role next week and see if he can light it up. de Boer to HFF to see what we've been missing in pressure.

 

[theGav56]

Yes C Pearce would be first in line for being dropped, followed by Sylvia. Both of them need to be giving a better return or they will feel the pressure of in-form players. Good stuff.

 

[Jimbos1]

Out: Sylvia, Ballantyne(if suspended)
In: Deboer, Mcpharlin/Crozier

Deboer has been exceptional at peel, likely to replace Sylvia. He had 10 tackles last round. 10.

 

[Schauermann]

Out: Sylvia and C. Pearce under most pressure to keep their spot. Ballantyne probably suspended.

In: DeBoer most likely to come in. McPharlin straight in again when fit. When making 3 changes Sheridan or Crozier probably most likely.