Unofficial Preview Round 22, 2025 v Swans @ Gabba, Saturday August 9th 4.15pm

[martinson]

I think it's a bit rich to have a crack at Marshall a 19 year old in his first? full game on the MCG against Collingwood where he did a reasonable job and go out of your way to defend very experienced players who made just as many if not more blues.

Fwiiw Marshall is very quick but seemed to play in a defensive mode not getting in the way of our mega stars . He was naturally a bit overawed and slow to react on a couple of occasions but he'll pick up the tempo quickly before too long.

It's just a matter of getting some confidence on the big stage . I would have loved him to goal near the end instead of unload a nervous shank but he'll learn from that.

 

[martinson]

He played his role, sure, but we can't rely on our mids producing 250+ pressure in every game left.

It worries me to get a pressure rating through the roof that high in terms of whether we have a bit of a letdown in the following week.

 

[braddsey]

It worries me to get a pressure rating through the roof that high in terms of whether we have a bit of a letdown in the following week.

If we’re going to have a bit of a letdown, next week is the week (as long as we still get the job done).
Fremantle away will be a massive game, and final round against the Hawks will also be a big match.

Top-2 is well and truly back in our hands. 3 games to play. That should be incentive enough - we’re so close to the end.

 

[McIvor]

I think it's a bit rich to have a crack at Marshall a 19 year old in his first? full game on the MCG against Collingwood where he did a reasonable job and go out of your way to defend very experienced players who made just as many if not more blues.

Fwiiw Marshall is very quick but seemed to play in a defensive mode not getting in the way of our mega stars . He was naturally a bit overawed and slow to react on a couple of occasions but he'll pick up the tempo quickly before too long.

It's just a matter of getting some confidence on the big stage . I would have loved him to goal near the end instead of unload a nervous shank but he'll learn from that.

I say this with the benefit of the TV but Sam looked like he burnt Berry and one other that were completely clear in the corridor when he did the un team like thing and selfishly took that shot when he should’ve passed. He’ll learn and Fages or his line coach will no doubt subtlety point that out to him. Outside of that, I really liked his game and enjoyed seeing the #20’roaming the ground.

 

[Tom14]

It worries me to get a pressure rating through the roof that high in terms of whether we have a bit of a letdown in the following week.

Pressure number stats are useful but are very much influenced by game style. We brought extras up to stoppage in the third quarter and successfully turned it into a stoppage heavy game - so pressure was going to be higher regardless.

It was no doubt a high intensity effort that could lead to some fatigue, but I reckon we probably offered as much pressure in this one as we had in other games that were a bit more open and flowing (NOT the GWS game though, that was just bad).

 

[3KZ is Football]

McStay being replaced by Hippy for you now?
Hipwoods form has been pretty good. in fact at the reveiw after the game Fagan mentioned Hippy in the group chat as outstanding when we needed a leader to stand up.
Sometimes I wonder what game you are watching…unless Lester is in it then it’s Lester Lester Lester.

Eric started the season really well, but his form has tapered off noticeably. Hipwood kicked 19 goals in his first 9 games this year, but has only managed 5 goals in his last 11 games. Coming into what is going to be a hot finals series, he needs to lift and find form.

 

[Nathan Barley]

With the success of the high pressure game against Collingwood I wonder if Dev could be considered in place of Marshall

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Let's hope Bruce become an elite defender and Doedee is an All Australian next year.

Despite injuries we have serious options, serious depth.

As I said in the lead up thread, if we play well we will win.

So did The Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

All right. We will call it a draw.

 

[KissKiss]

If we’re going to have a bit of a letdown, next week is the week (as long as we still get the job done).
Fremantle away will be a massive game, and final round against the Hawks will also be a big match.

Top-2 is well and truly back in our hands. 3 games to play. That should be incentive enough - we’re so close to the end.

I maintain that going all out to get top 2 or 4 isn't necessarily worth it. Don't need to burn every ticket if you then turn up flat in finals

 

[knaf]

With the success of the high pressure game against Collingwood I wonder if Dev could be considered in place of Marshall

I am a Dev fan, so perhaps I am wearing rose coloured glasses, but thought his disposal and decision making is improving when watch this weeks vfl game. I know he made some errors, but even the best do. Found myself thinking towards the end of the game, some team is going to pick up a very handy next year, if Dev leaves

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Eric started the season really well, but his form has tapered off noticeably. Hipwood kicked 19 goals in his first 9 games this year, but has only managed 5 goals in his last 11 games. Coming into what is going to be a hot finals series, he needs to lift and find form.

I don't see it that Eric's form or contribution to the forward line necessarily correlates directly to how many goals he's kicking or not kicking. He's never been a big goal kicker and I don't think he's expected to become one.

My main gripe is his goal kicking accuracy when he misses straightforward set shots.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Mark my words, Marshall will become just as good as Levi Ashcroft, if not better. He played well against Collingwood, and let's not forget that this is his first full game, and it was done so against collingwood at the G. You can't expect him to play like prime Lachie Neale

9

Lachie Neale

Age

32

Ht

177cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

27.0

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

15.5

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.7

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

28.3

5star

K

13.9

5star

HB

14.4

5star

M

4.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.9

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

4.6

2star

HB

7.4

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

CL

0.4

3star

.

 

[M Malice]

I say this with the benefit of the TV but Sam looked like he burnt Berry and one other that were completely clear in the corridor when he did the un team like thing and selfishly took that shot when he should’ve passed. He’ll learn and Fages or his line coach will no doubt subtlety point that out to him. Outside of that, I really liked his game and enjoyed seeing the #20’roaming the ground.

Cam burnt a couple of team mates as well, I think Sam's performance is getting clinically analysed because it was his first full game.

Also agree and like you thought he had a good game.

 

[twhowler]

It's a good week for Lester to be out

Amartey and McDonald out for the swans still.

Hayden McLean

2

Hayden Mclean

Age

26

Ht

197cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.1

2star

K

5.1

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

4.0

5star

G

0.4

3star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.3

4star

G

0.8

4star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.6

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

4.4

5star

G

0.2

3star

a test coming out of concussion.

That's all 3 of their tall forwards from the gf!

Their KF against essendon were:

Jack Buller - 199cm from 2023 mid season draft, has played 6 games for 5 goals.

Peter Ladhams

19

Peter Ladhams

Age

27

Ht

204cm

Wt

103kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

6.8

3star

HB

8.8

5star

M

2.0

2star

T

2.0

4star

G

0.3

3star

D

21.0

5star

K

9.0

4star

HB

12.0

5star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.0

3star

G

0.0

1star

D

14.6

4star

K

6.4

3star

HB

8.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.0

4star

G

0.4

3star

- 202cm - 0 goals on the weekend and was subbed out

So two tall blokes but not really threatening goal-kickers.

You would think we go the same approach as the Geelong game, keeping a smaller back 7. Therefore i can't see Joyce playing. Doedee would be fine given he is more a medium / interceptor. Brain would make sense, decent in the air.

Gardiner on Buller
Harris loosely on Ladhams

Hayward, Papley and Heeney are their biggest goal-kicking threats. Hayward was missing on the weekend but unclear how long for from what i have read.

Starce will get one of them. Wilmot another. Then whomever comes in for Lester gets the third one?

The other approach would be to bring in a key back to get a game in the 1s, if we are worried Lester won't get up for the dockers match. They have Treacy, Amiss and Voss.

 

[M Malice]

It's a good week for Lester to be out

Amartey and McDonald out for the swans still.

Hayden McLean a test coming out of concussion.

That's all 3 of their tall forwards from the gf!

Their KF against essendon were:

Jack Buller - 199cm from 2023 mid season draft, has played 6 games for 5 goals.

Peter Ladhams - 202cm - 0 goals on the weekend and was subbed out

So two tall blokes but not really threatening goal-kickers.

You would think we go the same approach as the Geelong game, keeping a smaller back 7. Therefore i can't see Joyce playing. Doedee would be fine given he is more a medium / interceptor. Brain would make sense, decent in the air.

Gardiner on Buller
Harris loosely on Ladhams

Hayward, Papley and Heeney are their biggest goal-kicking threats. Hayward was missing on the weekend but unclear how long for from what i have read.

Starce will get one of them. Wilmot another. Then whomever comes in for Lester gets the third one?

The other approach would be to bring in a key back to get a game in the 1s, if we are worried Lester won't get up for the dockers match. They have Treacy, Amiss and Voss.

Probably better for us if those 3 play then going on their GF performances.

 

[Section 5]

I maintain that going all out to get top 2 or 4 isn't necessarily worth it. Don't need to burn every ticket if you then turn up flat in finals

The problem is we play 2 good sides fighting for spots in the 8 just like us.
The other game against the Swans who may want revenge on their GF loss and the one earlier this year
Unfortunately, you have to play very well (going all out) to win games.
The draw to North and loss to Melbourne shows if the effort is lacking teams will get you.

The last thing the club would want is to lose a few, and finish 7th or 8th.
That would mean no Gabba games and possibly no MCG games either.

 

[GenericUsername202]

I maintain that going all out to get top 2 or 4 isn't necessarily worth it. Don't need to burn every ticket if you then turn up flat in finals

I would prefer to finish 3rd or 4th. We're objective a better team away from home, and if we faced Geelong at the MCG, or Adelaide at home (which we should have won last time) or even collingwood (which we did win) i would feel a lot more confident.

 

[KissKiss]

The problem is we play 2 good sides fighting for spots in the 8 just like us.
The other game against the Swans who may want revenge on their GF loss and the one earlier this year
Unfortunately, you have to play very well (going all out) to win games.
The draw to North and loss to Melbourne shows if the effort is lacking teams will get you.

The last thing the club would want is to lose a few, and finish 7th or 8th.
That would mean no Gabba games and possibly no MCG games either.

I do agree that we dont want to totally take our foot off the pedal yet. But come the last game against the Hawks you reassess the chances. Not to fiddle too much with form but to assess what risks to take. Ie do we risk players with niggles etc

We've proven last year and before that you don't need to finish top 2 to win it. Priority is getting into finals in a fit state

 

[braddsey]

I do agree that we dont want to totally take our foot off the pedal yet. But come the last game against the Hawks you reassess the chances. Not to fiddle too much with form but to assess what risks to take. Ie do we risk players with niggles etc

We've proven last year and before that you don't need to finish top 2 to win it. Priority is getting into finals in a fit state

Zorko would be up for a rest sitting on game 299…

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

Kind of contradicted yourself there, can’t have a settled side then also replace Hipwood with a small.

I’d give Doedee a go because I think he’s a better option than Gardiner and you’d want him to get a few games under his belt before finals.

I like Marshall but he’s also been very effective as the sub so I think that’s where he ends up when Lohmann is back, also gets Bailey up the ground a bit more which I like.

I have highlighted part of your post that there is no evidence to support. I would love Doedee to play better than Gardiner but I would be even more pleased if Doedee would play better than Andrews!!!!!!
Fages backs his list so rarely makes speculative changes and we have no evidence how Doedee will go in the seniors.

 

[mattsmob]

I have highlighted part of your post that there is no evidence to support. I would love Doedee to play better than Gardiner but I would be even more pleased if Doedee would play better than Andrews!!!!!!
Fages backs his list so rarely makes speculative changes and we have no evidence how Doedee will go in the seniors.

I think Doedee’s best is better than Gardiner’s best, whether or not he can reach that is a different question

 

[braddsey]

I think Doedee’s best is better than Gardiner’s best, whether or not he can reach that is a different question

I've not seen Deodee play at all this year, but based on reports I'm confident he can't get to his best this year. Gardiner is playing well enough that we don't need to take the risk of giving Deodee his first AFL level run in 26 months.
From a club perspective, Gardiner has been a great servant. He deserves his own shot at getting a medal this season.

 

[Denno]

I think Doedee’s best is better than Gardiner’s best, whether or not he can reach that is a different question

Only problem with that is that they aren't like for like.

Andrews, Lester and Doedee is too small, and gives us no option for changes if Andrews is getting beaten.

Gardiner stays.

 

[Clarkythelion]

I am a Dev fan, so perhaps I am wearing rose coloured glasses, but thought his disposal and decision making is improving when watch this weeks vfl game. I know he made some errors, but even the best do. Found myself thinking towards the end of the game, some team is going to pick up a very handy next year, if Dev leaves

Unfortunately for Dev he is now playing with Annabel and he will be able to see he is about to slip another step down the pecking order, Annabel has been great. Yes some team will take Dev and I'll be very happy for him and them he deserves a go.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Pressure number stats are useful but are very much influenced by game style. We brought extras up to stoppage in the third quarter and successfully turned it into a stoppage heavy game - so pressure was going to be higher regardless.

It was no doubt a high intensity effort that could lead to some fatigue, but I reckon we probably offered as much pressure in this one as we had in other games that were a bit more open and flowing (NOT the GWS game though, that was just bad).

That style of pressure game probably is the best way to combat the influence or even stifle a player like Daicos.
We were talking about this before the game and it was mentioned , the best way to stop him is to stop the supply.
Also as soon as he received the ball at a stoppage , quite often someone was on his back or tackling him coming out of that stoppage.
Not saying this was the only reason we put extras at the coalface but just shows how well it works to slow the effect of damaging outside players.

Having been at the Gold Coast game , that's exactly what they did to us.