Prediction Round 2: Changes v Melbourne

[CaseySibosadoHOF]

If they're gonna play Darcy and Pearce when they were clearly not fit (45% and 59% TOGs), I can't see them being dropped a week later when they'll be fitter. Should have sat at least Darcy for Mason Cox

18

Mason Cox

Age

35

Ht

211cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

5.2

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.2

4star

D

6.0

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

0.3

1star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

, but you don't correct yesterday's mistake next week.

Ryan can't see returning next week coz he was ill for the WAFL praccy, but we need him back asap. Imo get him right for the Adelaide trip coz that's when we need him. I think that was Chapman's 1st career game as a "proper" 3rd tall (he's played on Cameron before, but he's always had more structure around him), and it showed, especially with Pearce playing so little. Forget all the ball movement talk, your deep defenders need to be able to defend and read the game.

Cox for OMac the easy call. And still think we're missing something in the running department. The last line of defence didn't stand up and butchered the ball, but they weren't helped by the defensive efforts higher up the ground. It's Geelong and they're amazing at that, but it was also at the skinniest ground in the country.

 

[laptop_MR]

Cant agree on Darcy. These new rules almost make him a liability. He’s a tap ruck, so is Cox. Cox is on a 1/3 of the coin

Couldnt agree less.

Cox tap work is nowhere near the level of Darcy. 29.8% HTA ratio for darcy to 26% for cox in 2025 (and beats him in that metric each year). When our midfield is as small as it is, good service matters

The impact of the new rules are hugely overstated. Darcy can still do his thing in around the ground stoppages, the new rules don't seem to have stopped the other big boys like Nank or Pittonet from having an impact. Gawn towelled up TDK today, even.

 

[FreoRicci]

Gawn is a big factor for Melbourne competing
22 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal and 36 hitouts.

Darcy and Jackson will have their work cut out.

 

[swanny1234]

Couldnt agree less.

Cox tap work is nowhere near the level of Darcy. 29.8% HTA ratio for darcy to 26% for cox in 2025 (and beats him in that metric each year). When our midfield is as small as it is, good service matters

The impact of the new rules are hugely overstated. Darcy can still do his thing in around the ground stoppages, the new rules don't seem to have stopped the other big boys like Nank or Pittonet from having an impact. Gawn towelled up TDK today, even.

A fit Darcy maybe, this Darcy…. Nah no chance.
The differences between Gawn, Pitto and X vs Darcy is that those guys are fit and run out games, Gawn played like 90% TOG, Darcy played 43% TOG.

Cox is a better option right now.

 

[jakefooty23]

The ball barely went forward in the last quarter. So Amiss, Dudley Switta and Treacy will struggle without supply.

In general thought Dudley’s game was one of the positives.

It was more aimed at the players higher up the ground but the point still stands. Abysmal final term

 

[Bud]

I went Kardinia Park and watched the game..Freo played last years grand finalists on their home deck and lost by 10 points.. disappointing not to win given the start.. but they ran out of gas..in defence of Amiss he had Tom Stewart climbing all over him and he was sacrificed to keep Stewart from launching his normal attacking game from half back.. Voss had the third defender and was poor.. should have done better.. got too emotional off the ball..Chappy does lack confidence with his loopy kicking from the half back line..positives.. Erasmus kicking and accuracy has improved significantly.. Johnno was very good and his 45 metre kicks between the arcs gave the forwards best advantage..id like to see Johnson become 2013 Crowley like and start in the middle and tag the likes of Bont, Noah Anderson

15

Noah Anderson

Age

25

Ht

192cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

6.0

4star

M

2.0

2star

T

0.0

1star

CL

0.0

1star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

6.0

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

0.0

1star

CL

0.0

1star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

6.0

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

CL

0.0

1star

, Nas and develop his offensive game…better style of play than last year.. missed Luke Ryan desperation and coolness in the last Line of defence.. he always seems to get a spoil in… i remain positive.. comp has got tighter.. Melbourne and Roos improving.. Go Freo

 

[FreoRicci]

I went Kardinia Park and watched the game..Freo played last years grand finalists on their home deck and lost by 10 points.. disappointing not to win given the start.. but they ran out of gas..in defence of Amiss he had Tom Stewart climbing all over him and he was sacrificed to keep Stewart from launching his normal attacking game from half back.. Voss had the third defender and was poor.. should have done better.. got too emotional off the ball..Chappy does lack confidence with his loopy kicking from the half back line..positives.. Erasmus kicking and accuracy has improved significantly.. Johnno was very good and his 45 metre kicks between the arcs gave the forwards best advantage..id like to see Johnson become 2013 Crowley like and start in the middle and tag the likes of Bont, Noah Anderson, Nas and develop his offensive game…better style of play than last year.. missed Luke Ryan desperation and coolness in the last Line of defence.. he always seems to get a spoil in… i remain positive.. comp has got tighter.. Melbourne and Roos improving.. Go Freo

Not sure why midfield don’t rotate Johnson through in that role.
Young Serong and Brayshaw aren’t exactly strong defensive wise. Put Johnson next to Serong and Young, and he ll do his job for them.

 

[anchor man]

Darcy out for Cox.

Chapman out for Ryan.

Wormer out for Cooper Simpson

Simpson has not passed all his fitness rewuirements.
And wont play competitive footy for another three weelks.

 

[anchor man]

For those saying Darcy should be dropped, you are dreaming.
If you were to drop him, he would not play a competitve game for three weeks until the WAFL starts.

 

[chaosball32]

Not sure why midfield don’t rotate Johnson through in that role.
Young Serong and Brayshaw aren’t exactly strong defensive wise. Put Johnson next to Serong and Young, and he ll do his job for them.

Brayshaw is one of the better defensive mids in the league. Unfortunately that was no where to be seen yesterday as he was virtually a non-factor.

Regardless I don’t think our midfield was the problem yesterday, we won the clearance count every quarter except the 2nd quarter, which was when (surprise) Darcy did most of the rucking.

Our problem was the complete lack of composure once Geelong got a run-on, and this compounded in being completely unable to move the ball out of our d50 in the 4th. People can say we were gassed but some of the decision making was completely bizarre. Clark chipping that kick-in straight to a Geelong player instead of going long when we were behind with a few minutes to go was just mind-boggling and can’t be put down to fatigue. Amongst many others.

 

[chaosball32]

For those saying Darcy should be dropped, you are dreaming.
If you were to drop him, he would not play a competitve game for three weeks until the WAFL starts.

So we continue to essentially be a man down carrying a player who’s nowhere near fit enough to be on an AFL field?

Strange logic.

 

[Lach72]

Simpson has not passed all his fitness rewuirements.
And wont play competitive footy for another three weelks.

Eh? He played for Peel yesterday I believe? He’s listed as kicking a goal

 

[anchor man]

Eh? He played for Peel yesterday I believe? He’s listed as kicking a goal

Ok, I thought he hadn't got that far.

 

[anchor man]

So we continue to essentially be a man down carrying a player who’s nowhere near fit enough to be on an AFL field?

Strange logic.

Garbage.

 

[Superkoops]

For those saying Darcy should be dropped, you are dreaming.
If you were to drop him, he would not play a competitve game for three weeks until the WAFL starts.

The pre-season WAFL games are decently competitive. We play Claremont on Sat 21/03 and West Coast 28/03. They are game conditions that replicate the main season. It was the intraclub games before yesterday’s game against Perth that were Micky Mouse.

I was surprised Darcy played ahead of Cox but watching the game we should have gone with LJ and Voss, and had the extra runner. Darcy could have got a decent hit out vs Perth. Luke Ryan after being ill is a few weeks away I’d guess. Also Cooper Simpson likely needs another game at WAFL. He played and kicked a goal but has been building his conditioning.

I wouldn’t be dropping Darcy now.

Cox or Hugh Davies for McDonald.

There were a number of players down that I’m willing to go with again. That was one of the worst games I’ve seen Brayshaw play. Switta average, NOD average, Amiss needs to lift.

 

[swanny1234]

For those saying Darcy should be dropped, you are dreaming.
If you were to drop him, he would not play a competitve game for three weeks until the WAFL starts.

That’s the fault of the WAFL (and maybe we should reconsider the partnership and move towards the AFL reserves league if it stays like this) - we cannot have a half fit player running around the AFL, when we have a fully fit alternative. I’m sorry that’s the way it is.

You can’t carry someone playing 40% time on ground, and then be totally ineffective during the 40% of time he spends on the field.

The American should play.

 

[swanny1234]

So we continue to essentially be a man down carrying a player who’s nowhere near fit enough to be on an AFL field?

Strange logic.

It’s amazing people actually think like this..

 

['51 Bewick]

Hi folks. Do you think Chris Scerri is likely to debut for the Dockers any time soon? I usually have some success with mature agers, but not sure about this bloke.
Cheers.

 

[Barnabus]

Hi folks. Do you think Chris Scerri is likely to debut for the Dockers any time soon? I usually have some success with mature agers, but not sure about this bloke.
Cheers.

Nope, he is behind Bolton, Reid, Switkowski, Frederick, Dudley, Murray and probably Sweid. Add to that he only has WAFL practice matches for the next couple of weeks.

 

[go_the_dockers]

Hi folks. Do you think Chris Scerri is likely to debut for the Dockers any time soon? I usually have some success with mature agers, but not sure about this bloke.
Cheers.

Very hard for us to tell. A couple good wafl games and he could push for selection, but I have not seen any stats or reports from the WAFL game to know.

More than likely, he is backup for Switta who played poor on the weekend, but is fit and will be given 3 or 4 games to get fit.

 

[WilloTree]

Just an aside, but I think we need to bed Wagner down back again for a while until he gets his confidence back. We played 8 defenders this week, so someone can probably go in order to give him more back 6 minutes. Anywhoo..

Changes: Early thoughts..

If Cox is fit he comes in for O-Mac
Clark, Pearce and to an extent Chapman pick themselves.
I'd bring in Ryan is he's well
There's no need for all of Wagner, Worner, Walker and McVee. Drop 1, or two if you want to pick another mid/def (Banfield/JOM)

Same mids/forwards.

If Darcy isn't fit enough to run out the game pick Cox

Oh, and we have to have a plan for Kozi so Walker/O'Meara should be considered.

 

[CapitalA]

Alex Pearce won't be dropped. He is the captain.

He did solid in the backline. Took a fair amount of intercept marks

Yeah Pearce was easily the best KPD, McDonald was shit house.

 

[DocT]

Brayshaw is one of the better defensive mids in the league. Unfortunately that was no where to be seen yesterday as he was virtually a non-factor.

Regardless I don’t think our midfield was the problem yesterday, we won the clearance count every quarter except the 2nd quarter, which was when (surprise) Darcy did most of the rucking.

Our problem was the complete lack of composure once Geelong got a run-on, and this compounded in being completely unable to move the ball out of our d50 in the 4th. People can say we were gassed but some of the decision making was completely bizarre. Clark chipping that kick-in straight to a Geelong player instead of going long when we were behind with a few minutes to go was just mind-boggling and can’t be put down to fatigue. Amongst many others.

Fatigue dedfinitely impacts decision making. It has more complex impacts too. Team structure suffers because people can't make position, they are less precise, well drilled plays don't come off etc