Prediction Round 2: Changes v Melbourne

[ImperialPurple]

Darcy playing for his career

Nah. He’ll continue to get picked week after week until he gets injured (when not if). Then he’ll get rushed back in when he’s almost (but not quite) ready. Then the cycle will start again. Rinse and repeat.

 

[DocT]

I feel like dropping Darcy now would be like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. If last week was about managing his load then he should be better this week, why would we drop him now?

Coz he was crap.

 

[thistimeforsure]

A reminder that Young and Darcy are contracted until 2033 and 2030 respectively.

Precisely why I am not a fan of long contracts.

Fair chance this all ends up as a great steaming WC looking pile of shit in 3-4 years time

 

[thistimeforsure]

I feel like dropping Darcy now would be like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. If last week was about managing his load then he should be better this week, why would we drop him now?

Cause he’s ****ing useless

 

[Freo Big Fella]

The thing that baffles me with Darcy is that the whole point of bringing Cox across is that we don't actually have to keep doing this.

He's always slow and takes time coming back from injury, but we've had to nurse him through because the alternative was a WAFL-level journeyman or a 65kg teenager with arms like garden hoses.

But we've now got an AFL-ready backstop who, on all available evidence, is in better current form. Let Sean get the miles into his legs at Peel and bring him back when he's fit and firing.

But if the selection committee continues to back him in without a genuine improvement, I'm increasingly worried this ends with the worst elements of our supporter base either bronx cheering our outright booing him. Which sucks, because he's a hell of a player at his best and a really important culture guy for the group IMO.

 

[Minz]

Fair chance this all ends up as a great steaming WC looking pile of shit in 3-4 years time

As long as that 3-4 years includes 3-4 premierships….

 

[FreoRicci]

Big difference is that Melbourne don’t have Petracca or Oliver this time.

Probably better for them. Playing with more unpredictability and pace

 

[FreoRicci]

The thing that baffles me with Darcy is that the whole point of bringing Cox across is that we don't actually have to keep doing this.

He's always slow and takes time coming back from injury, but we've had to nurse him through because the alternative was a WAFL-level journeyman or a 65kg teenager with arms like garden hoses.

But we've now got an AFL-ready backstop who, on all available evidence, is in better current form. Let Sean get the miles into his legs at Peel and bring him back when he's fit and firing.

But if the selection committee continues to back him in without a genuine improvement, I'm increasingly worried this ends with the worst elements of our supporter base either bronx cheering our outright booing him. Which sucks, because he's a hell of a player at his best and a really important culture guy for the group IMO.

The coaches, Strength and Conditioning just don’t want to admit fault?
Mason Cox is literally right there. The sacrificial lamb. Darcy can rehab for 2-3 weeks and get to 80% match fitness.

Cox is no slouch. I mean he is a 2023 Premiership Ruckman. Right?

 

[estibador]

I feel like dropping Darcy now would be like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. If last week was about managing his load then he should be better this week, why would we drop him now?

It would be one thing if he was on managed minutes last week but still contributed while he was on. But he was absolutely awful and a huge part of the momentum swings against us every time he was in the middle.

I can't help but feel we're choosing to go into this game basically a man down.

 

[Randomizor]

I feel like dropping Darcy now would be like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. If last week was about managing his load then he should be better this week, why would we drop him now?

Google “sunk cost fallacy”

 

[The Lobbster]

Probably better for them. Playing with more unpredictability and pace

There is no planet where removing 7 AA jackets from a midfield makes a team better, especially given Olivier and Petracca aren’t exactly performing badly at their new teams

 

[The Round House Drunk]

Genuine question:

When was the last time a clear best 23 player was dropped on the back of a poor performance?

Seems like JLo doesn’t do the whole ‘statement dropping’ thing. The match committee likes to back our guys in.

 

[DocT]

Wasn't expecting too much changes being the first game and we weren't blown away score wise. They're backing in the team they picked last week and allowing those that underperformed another chance.

Although not all, sure the ones melting over cox non inclusion are same ones melting when he was recruited. Thought cox only had one decent preseason game, and when he battled with Darcy, it was said Darcy came out on top.

Cox offers more around the ground.

 

[DocT]

Genuine question:

When was the last time a clear best 23 player was dropped on the back of a poor performance?

Seems like JLo doesn’t do the whole ‘statement dropping’ thing. The match committee likes to back our guys in.

I don't think it was just the one poor performance.
It was the 45% or so game time.
He has been a liability around the ground for a while now.
It's all those things.
We have to face up to the fact that it is a long time since Darcy has done much. If he's not 100% fit he should not be considered for the team.

 

[thistimeforsure]

As long as that 3-4 years includes 3-4 premierships….

Hope springs eternal

 

[heavho]

Cox not coming in is a clear indication this team still has no idea what the f$ck it’s doing

 

[The Round House Drunk]

I don't think it was just the one poor performance.
It was the 45% or so game time.
He has been a liability around the ground for a while now.
It's all those things.
We have to face up to the fact that it is a long time since Darcy has done much. If he's not 100% fit he should not be considered for the team.

Yeah I’m not disputing any of that.

It’s more that they seem to like backing the players in that they consider best 23 locks.

Probably Sharp comes to mind as someone that has fallen out of the best 23. Luke Ryan over the off season as well.

Players like Banners, Ras and NOD have been on the periphery and tend to make way pretty quick when a best 23 player returns to the side.

But yeah, i was fully expecting them to select Darcy again and that’s how it went. Wasn’t there a moment last season or the one before when Swaggy was close to tears during a game after another injury? Let’s just hope the decision to back him in pays off.

 

[Freomaniac]

A reminder that Young and Darcy are contracted until 2033 and 2030 respectively.

Precisely why I am not a fan of long contracts.

Both blokes when fully fit and in top form are easily best 23.... Just saying

 

[Freomaniac]

I don’t know how as an AFL coach you could see the performance of Darcy last weekend and think that was even remotely okay and back him in again. Plenty had bad performances but Darcy could barely move.

Even if he somehow comes out and plays a blinder this week (against Max Gawn of all people) this selection alone just proves there is no selection integrity, there is no way any other coach in the league is playing Darcy again especially when we have an AFL capable ruck sitting at Peel.

View attachment 2555752

Just going to leave this here again because I feel it’s relevant. If he produced this against a first gamer how do you think he’s going to go against the best ruck in the league?

That's a crazy ruck stat

 

[FreoRicci]

There is no planet where removing 7 AA jackets from a midfield makes a team better, especially given Olivier and Petracca aren’t exactly performing badly at their new teams

Gawn is a generational ruckman. Perhaps best all time. He is massive for that midfield.
Steele, Pickett, Windsor is still a battling midfield.

 

[Boomer93]

Inb4 people still say JL is too scared to make big calls at the selection table...

 

[Tbonefreo]

Is there a time frame on Youngy?

 

[swanny1234]

What incriminating pictures of JLo does Sean Darcy

4

Sean Darcy

Age

27

Ht

203cm

Wt

111kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.1

3star

K

3.4

1star

HB

6.6

4star

CL

2.4

4star

HO

28.8

5star

D

6.8

1star

K

2.0

1star

HB

4.8

3star

CL

1.8

4star

HO

20.3

5star

D

11.4

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

6.8

5star

CL

2.6

5star

HO

32.0

5star

continue to hold over him. Utterly absurd you continue to pick him after last week.

 

[swanny1234]

Both blokes when fully fit and in top form are easily best 23.... Just saying

But neither are even close to fully fit or in top form - Darcy hasn’t been there for 4 years.

It’s a sunken cost. It’s fine to say they’re easily best 23, but if they never get on the park, that means jack shit.

I have a lot more hope for Young, but geez it’s frustrating.

 

[Deathly]

Incredibly preditcable.

I also hope playing an underdone Young (along with another handful of players) in a L was worth it. They never learn with him.