Prediction Round 2, 2026: Changes vs North Melbourne

[Mighty Eagles]

Apart from the fact they weren’t humid at all. Was a perfect night for footy

I was watching it with some mates and it was 60% humidity during the game according to the Apple Weather app.

 

[stallon]

We play North next
Xerri has shown he cant compete in hitouts against more athletic ruckmen who can just jump over him, yes Xerri will dominate around contest but he does that against every ruckman so kind of irrelevant.
Xerri lost hitouts to 23 year old Visentini 30-16 today

Id be very tempted to just play Archer and CDT in the ruck, Flynn doesnt have that advantage over Xerri, wont be as bad as Witts but still
Even ****ing Harry Barnett id consider, who knows maybe just throwing him in the deep end might work? lol

I think we dont need to bring in another KPD, but we Edwards will come back in anyway if fit.
North play Larkey, Darling and Trembath(ruck/KPF). Trembath is only 193cm, Darling is only 191cm

People have suggested dropping Archer, I disagree- I think he should stay in the side. We need games into him, I think he will be a good KPF long term for us. Playing slightly taller up forward isnt a huge concern for me right now

Cole -> Baker
Flynn -> Barnett(lol)
Maric -> Edwards (unlikely but I dont like how Maric seems to pad his stats, I want Lindsay to take those kicks)

Im avoiding any other drastic changes, we lost to probably the best team in the comp, at their home, when theyve played a game already. We were always going to get smashed.
North next week is a better gauge of where we are at.

 

[KERRPOW]

Milan into the ruck

In terms of ruck heights.....flynn is miniature

 

[Elite Pete]

Graham didn’t play any pre season games against opposition. Always going to be rusty.

Hopefully Edwards, Starcevich, Baker and Hewett back over the next 2 weeks and with no injuries the selection is going to get real hard. Will be interesting to see how Mini plays it, especially if we win this week.

 

[Rivoroo17]

Training watchers any chance bailey williams looks up to play rnd 2? Anyone would be better than Flynn at this stage, even if his minutes are managed between the forward line. Out of anyone his attributes are more suited to the current ruck meta and should be good against xerri who's looked miserable with the new ruck rules.

Davis probably misses out with edwards coming back in and both Bo and Maric having very good games. Thought he got a fair bit of it in the second half but he just didn't bring the pace when he had the opportunity and his kicking (although improved) still isn't good. He doesn't have a opposite foot to save his life and that's a liability on wing along with his handballing that isnt too flash.

Out: Flynn, cole, Davis
In BBW (if available), baker, Edwards

 

[Cuzz09]

no changes

 

[Pwani Magharibi]

Baker and Edwards in for Cole and Cripps

Ruck:
Out: Flynn
In: A Reid or J Williams or Barnett or Miles-Wrency or Naitanui or Inanimate Carbon Rod

What will happen: Flynn stays in team until Bailey is fit. Bailey stinks it up until we want Flynn back. Flynn comes back in, stinks it up until we want Bailey back. Repeat until 2027.

 

[PremiershipNo4]

I think Edwards should come in, but with a tall going out, that decision is hard.
Baker in Cole out.
I’m looking forward to the day when Ginbey doesn’t get asked to play an opponent a foot taller than himself.
Xerri vs Flynn makes me sad just thinking about it, but what are our options???

 

[Goroyals22]

Was greasy raining for much of the second half, no?

It sprinkled twice for about 15 seconds each time… wasn’t enough to make anything damp let alone wet

 

[Goroyals22]

I was watching it with some mates and it was 60% humidity during the game according to the Apple Weather app.

I was there and any suggestion it was humid is just plain incorrect…. Especially qld humid..

 

[lmach]

Yeah it wasn't humid at all compared to usual GC games.

Was surprised at the amount of Eagles fans there. Didn't really hear much from us until we all started to get up and about after the Murdock/Reid double fend

 

[ziad]

I was watching it with some mates and it was 60% humidity during the game according to the Apple Weather app.

even in Sydney 60% isnt a humid day of note.

 

[Goroyals22]

Yeah it wasn't humid at all compared to usual GC games.

Was surprised at the amount of Eagles fans there. Didn't really hear much from us until we all started to get up and about after the Murdock/Reid double fend

There is always a good turnout of eagles fans in Queensland… and lots of youngsters in eagles gear

 

[Astro7]

Big game for the newbies at Optus stadium, with tens of thousands of WC fans in support, should rock their sox!

 

[Cuzz09]

No excuses for a slow start

 

[shoutsatclouds]

It sprinkled twice for about 15 seconds each time… wasn’t enough to make anything damp let alone wet

Moist?

 

[lmach]

There is always a good turnout of eagles fans in Queensland… and lots of youngsters in eagles gear

Yeah I just didn't expect the same usual turnout due to the likely result. Was a nice surprise.

 

[Sammy J]

Feel like the new ruck rules would play more in Bailey's favour than Flynn's tbh. They both kinda suck, but Bailey atleast has a leap on him and is more dangerous up forward.

Likely he'll need to dominate the WAFL though to get his chance.

 

[Sphynx]

We play North next
Xerri has shown he cant compete in hitouts against more athletic ruckmen who can just jump over him, yes Xerri will dominate around contest but he does that against every ruckman so kind of irrelevant.
Xerri lost hitouts to 23 year old Visentini 30-16 today

Id be very tempted to just play Archer and CDT in the ruck, Flynn doesnt have that advantage over Xerri, wont be as bad as Witts but still
Even ****ing Harry Barnett id consider, who knows maybe just throwing him in the deep end might work? lol

I think we dont need to bring in another KPD, but we Edwards will come back in anyway if fit.
North play Larkey, Darling and Trembath(ruck/KPF). Trembath is only 193cm, Darling is only 191cm

People have suggested dropping Archer, I disagree- I think he should stay in the side. We need games into him, I think he will be a good KPF long term for us. Playing slightly taller up forward isnt a huge concern for me right now

Cole -> Baker
Flynn -> Barnett(lol)
Maric -> Edwards (unlikely but I dont like how Maric seems to pad his stats, I want Lindsay to take those kicks)

Im avoiding any other drastic changes, we lost to probably the best team in the comp, at their home, when theyve played a game already. We were always going to get smashed.
North next week is a better gauge of where we are at.

Trembath might only be 193cm, but he has a 100cm vertical and is built like a young Fraser Gehrig.

He’s a much bigger aerial threat than Larkey. He definitely requires a KPD.

Ratagolea went to him yesterday FWIW.

 

[WeaponX]

Cole out, Baker in
Jack Williams in if fit, we need his forward marking.

 

[stallon]

Trembath might only be 193cm, but he has a 100cm vertical and is built like a young Fraser Gehrig.

He’s a much bigger aerial threat than Larkey. He definitely requires a KPD.

Ratagolea went to him yesterday FWIW.

I mean we literally have Reuben Ginbey btw, hes made for those awkward athletic KPF matchups

 

[Sphynx]

I mean we literally have Reuben Ginbey btw, hes made for those awkward athletic KPF matchups

Yeah, Ginbey is a good matchup. My point being you either need a KPD or someone with that athletic range and size, Ginbey is in the same athletic mould as Trembath.

 

[Bender_]

What I want:

Out: Cole, Davis, AReid, Duggan
In: Baker, Edwards, Kelly, Hewett

What I think will happen:

Out: Cole, CDT
In: Baker, Edwards

 

[stallon]

Yeah, Ginbey is a good matchup. My point being you either need a KPD or someone with that athletic range and size, Ginbey is in the same athletic mould as Trembath.

Darling is also a weird matchup.
In my mind between Allan (191cm), Hough(191cm) and Ginbey they can cover Darling and Trembath
Our normal KDP Young or Edwards takes Larkey

Could even put Ginbey onto Larkey, he did an ok job after being put onto Ben King later in the game yesterday

 

[Bender_]

Unfortunately Flynn will be in this side until either Bailey Williams is fit or until thay actually play AReid in the ruck.