Prediction Round 2, 2026: Changes vs North Melbourne

[JackOutback]

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

They made him vice captain. I think anyone expecting Flynn or Duggan to get the flick is going to be disappointed.

 

[Obeanie1]

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

Didnt it rain in the 3rd?

Lights were on.

It was definately slippery.

 

[Obeanie1]

If we really want to win a game we cant play Flynn with both CDT and Archer at this point.

If our main ruck goes down we dont want one of these two shouldering too much of the load.

Right now Jack Williams provides a more experienced forward and 2nd ruck.

If we are serious about beating North at home then IMO its.

Out: CDT, Lindsay, Archer Reid

In: Harry Edwards, Baker, Jack Williams

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

If we really want to win a game we cant play Flynn with both CDT and Archer at this point.

If our main ruck goes down we dont want one of these two shouldering too much of the load.

Right now Jack Williams provides a more experienced forward and 2nd ruck.

If we are serious about beating North at home then IMO its.

Out: CDT, Lindsay, Archer Reid

In: Harry Edwards, Baker, Jack Williams

Williams didn’t play the WAFL scratchy due to a calf injury.

No way he’s coming in ahead of either CDT or Reid, let alone both.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

Where are Hewett and Dewar at? We need some class in our side. Are they both out long term?

 

[Cuzz09]

Where are Hewett and Dewar at? We need some class in our side. Are they both out long term?

Dewar turning into a decent player would be great

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Where are Hewett and Dewar at? We need some class in our side. Are they both out long term?

Dewar played alright in the scratch-match v SF. The problem is Allan & Davis both had good pre-seasons and were rewarded by being selected for R1. I rate him, he’ll get his chance, but I’m not sure it’ll be on Sunday.

Hewett got injured again last week.

 

[stallon]

If we really want to win a game we cant play Flynn with both CDT and Archer at this point.

If our main ruck goes down we dont want one of these two shouldering too much of the load.

Right now Jack Williams provides a more experienced forward and 2nd ruck.

If we are serious about beating North at home then IMO its.

Out: CDT, Lindsay, Archer Reid

In: Harry Edwards, Baker, Jack Williams

id rather run with Archer and CDT than JWilliams and either one of Archer and CDT

Ruck is a lot less a crash and bash position than last year. Archer and CDT would manage fine if Flynn went down, and it was just for part of a game

Xerri lost the hitouts to 23 year old Visentini, 30-16 lol. Archer and CDT are closer to Visentini than JWilliams is
Jumpers > the thick rucks

 

[Doashuey]

I had forgotten what an absolute shambles these changes threads were.
Footy is back!

 

[Sphynx]

id rather run with Archer and CDT than JWilliams and either one of Archer and CDT

Ruck is a lot less a crash and bash position than last year. Archer and CDT would manage fine if Flynn went down, and it was just for part of a game

Xerri lost the hitouts to 23 year old Visentini, 30-16 lol. Archer and CDT are closer to Visentini than JWilliams is
Jumpers > the thick rucks

Htiouts is a slightly skewed stat now.

They don't count a direct possession as a hitout anymore.

Xerri absolutely murdered him around the ground, he had at least 7-8 direct possessions out of the ruck.

He had 5 clearances and 3 of those were centre clearances himself. I.E he pushed Visentini and just cleared the ball himself, this isn't counting a first possion handball to a mid either. This isn't counted as a hitout. It even strangely counts as a lost ruck duel, as ruck duel win % are calculated by number of ruck contests/hitouts by CD.

But a direct center clearance is a hell of alot more valuable than even a hitout to advantage ever is.

They need a way to balance the basic ruck stats now I think.

We won the clearances 41 to 29 and the stats certainly dont support Visentini hitting it down our throats all game.

In our game there were 82 ruck contests for the game and only 30 of those were center bounces. It's not completely a jumpers game, but it's certainly a higher ratio with the new OOB's rule.

Xerri was easily in the best 5 on the ground.

 

[Proeagle]

I want to see Ginbey on Darling this week. Be a good matchup for us.

 

[Art OF war]

Surprised people dropping Davis, he was one of our best in the pre season and have heard Mini single him out a couple of times. It won't happen.

Out: Cole, A. Reid
In: Baker, Edwards

Davis played well enough to be no where near getting dropped.

However he has big room for improvement on one aspect. When he marked the ball he was consistently holding up play before eventually kicking it long down the line.

He needs to either play on or back up really fast so he has more room & time to execute.

One possible reason why he is holding up the ball movement is because he can tick the km's over and the rest of the forwards are struggling to get into the right positions. Either way retreat from the mark with urgency and give yourself the best possible chance of making the right play (which may still be long down the line).

 

[Obeanie1]

id rather run with Archer and CDT than JWilliams and either one of Archer and CDT

Ruck is a lot less a crash and bash position than last year. Archer and CDT would manage fine if Flynn went down, and it was just for part of a game

Xerri lost the hitouts to 23 year old Visentini, 30-16 lol. Archer and CDT are closer to Visentini than JWilliams is
Jumpers > the thick rucks

Then we are playing one too many talls IMO.

We will have plenty of games to play both and get development games into.

But if we are serious about winning games we pick our best balanced side to win.

 

[Obeanie1]

Williams didn’t play the WAFL scratchy due to a calf injury.

No way he’s coming in ahead of either CDT or Reid, let alone both.

Well that rules him out then.

We will go tall with both then.

And add Harry down back.

 

[ArdentEagle]

Flynn has to be out - We'd have ****ing rocks in our head not to do so.

I'd actually like a bit more leg speed.

CDT/Reid Ruck as discussed.

Ins - Baker, Kelly, Dewar/Shoenberg
Out - Flynn, Graham, Cole

 

[KERRPOW]

In: Edwards, Baker
Out: A.Reid, Cole or Duggan

 

[wce4premiership]

Get Owies in!

Heart and soul of this club, has been for 12 years or so.

 

[Mop]

Williams didn’t play the WAFL scratchy due to a calf injury.

No way he’s coming in ahead of either CDT or Reid, let alone both.

Fivey, which Williams, BJWill or Jwill? Please be specific with your Williamsing

 

[Keys]

Fivey, which Williams, BJWill or Jwill? Please be specific with your Williamsing

Bailey played limited minutes, Jack didn’t play at all

Rumours he went up the hill with Jill are unconfirmed

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Fivey, which Williams, BJWill or Jwill? Please be specific with your Williamsing

The only Williams mentioned in the post i was replying to.

(But potentially you’ve got him on ignore, so for the record it was Jack)

 

[stallon]

Then we are playing one too many talls IMO.

We will have plenty of games to play both and get development games into.

But if we are serious about winning games we pick our best balanced side to win.

There are other clubs running 3 KPFs and a ruck/fwd on top, its not just us

Crows for example ran 3 KPFs plus a ruck/fwd
Freo ran 3 KPFs and a ruck/fwd

We are in a position where Shanahan, Archer and CDT are all in our top 10 or so most talented young players while also being ready for AFL, we have to have them in the side
Waterman is our best forward so he plays
Then we need an actual ruckman

 

[jdisc]

We need to drop Flynn but keep developing Reid and CDT as forward/back/winger types who can play off the half back flank or maybe do a bit of crumbing in the forward pocket

 

[stallon]

Htiouts is a slightly skewed stat now.

They don't count a direct possession as a hitout anymore.

Xerri absolutely murdered him around the ground, he had at least 7-8 direct possessions out of the ruck.

He had 5 clearances and 3 of those were centre clearances himself. I.E he pushed Visentini and just cleared the ball himself, this isn't counting a first possion handball to a mid either. This isn't counted as a hitout. It even strangely counts as a lost ruck duel, as ruck duel win % are calculated by number of ruck contests/hitouts by CD.

But a direct center clearance is a hell of alot more valuable than even a hitout to advantage ever is.

They need a way to balance the basic ruck stats now I think.

We won the clearances 41 to 29 and the stats certainly dont support Visentini hitting it down our throats all game.

In our game there were 82 ruck contests for the game and only 30 of those were center bounces. It's not completely a jumpers game, but it's certainly a higher ratio with the new OOB's rule.

Xerri was easily in the best 5 on the ground.

My point was that Xerri is going to dominate whoever we put against him around the ground, Flynns opponent generally is 9 times out of 10 in the top 3 players for the opponent

We can at least try and win the hitouts with someone more athletic

 

[jdisc]

CDT/Reid Ruck as discussed.

neither are ruckman though they are small forwards/wingers

 

[wirra44]

Davis played well enough to be no where near getting dropped.

However he has big room for improvement on one aspect. When he marked the ball he was consistently holding up play before eventually kicking it long down the line.

He needs to either play on or back up really fast so he has more room & time to execute.

One possible reason why he is holding up the ball movement is because he can tick the km's over and the rest of the forwards are struggling to get into the right positions. Either way retreat from the mark with urgency and give yourself the best possible chance of making the right play (which may still be long down the line).

I noticed that too with Davis, I feel his ball drop hinders him a bit in getting and going, seems like it’s a bit of an effort for him to get it right so he slows it down. Bit of shame because I love all other aspects of his game.