Prediction Round 4, 2026: Changes vs Sydney

[Bleedblueandgold]

Brock definite in for much needed extra height in defence, and freeing up Shanahan to spend more time up forward.
Unsure who comes in for Dev if we don't challenge and Hewett isn't ready.
Our reserve stocks are already dwindling despite 4 extra rookie spots.
I suppose whoever played better out of Hall, MacRae and Champion on the weekend.
I suppose Maric or Dewar in if Duggan doesn't get up, hopefully not Cole. The Beagles need his leadership.

 

[sharps24]

Our forward line is very young/inexperienced so whilst Cripps didn’t have his best day I feel his presence is still important

And by rights, despite him not having his best game he could/should have had 3 goals - the one he kicked, the one he should’ve kicked and the one he should’ve had if Baker didn’t bbq him

Newton probably needs to have a bit more impact if he wants to hold his spot once Murdock is fit to return

Newton had a massive holding the ball run down tackle on Alir, took an amazing intercept slips catch, wasn't easily beaten 3 times in 1 on 1's against his defender including twice when the game was on the line, and just generally has the speed and drive of someone 15 years younger than Cripps. Cripps from his 10 possessions to Newtons 6 had 4 turnovers to 2, 0 intercepts to 2, 1 contested possession to 2, and of his 3 handballs at least 2 of them were straight to a player in a worse position who immediately got tackled and penalised for holding the ball. From his first 3 games despite having 3 goals last week that were essentially from handballs in the goals square from players who could easily have kicked them themselves and that he never would of dished off himself, he's also basically at career low stats for almost every metric and you basically have to go back to his rookie seasons at St Kilda and his 2013 West Coast campaign to compare. It's incredible the levels of cooked this bloke is yet still people pretend he's going beatifully. He's also playing with a lot of negaitive energy, basically having a Mathew Richardson sook on himself after every play because his body is not doing the things it used to and it's making him angry. But sure, we'd be lost without him.

 

[MrWoollie]

Brock needs to come in for me.

If Hewett is ready then:
Hewett and Brock in
Schoenberg and Yeo out

Both scenarios see Bo Allan moving forward to cover Yeo

I get what you are saying but his dash from half back has been something that we just haven't had for years; at the same time that other teams have been ripping us a new one off half back week after week.

But then he might just be a Peter Matera rip the game apart forward of the wing type.

Agree with Brock as a third tall to try to match up with Amarty.

 

[Keys]

I HATE CRIPPS

Could have just said this

 

[Ilkka Sinisalo]

Absolutely we should challenge. Worked for Newcombe, might as well

How about the good bloke defence? He’s such a loyal chap that he sacrificed two years of his career to play in the magoos at Brisbane as thanks for them not letting his girlfriend choke to death.

 

[WCErevival]

Both McCarthy and Allen can rotate through the middle to offset Yeo and Robertson.

I'm a little hesitant to bring in Hall as I dont think he has a future with us.

Brock and either Grego/Cole/Macrae to come in.

 

[amazingjoshy]

Absolutely we should challenge. Worked for Newcombe, might as well try.

Newcombe had it downgraded from medium to low impact because Richards played on

I didn't agree with it at the time but thats the precedent right there. 100% should be challenging

 

[Broken_Chairs]

Newcombe had it downgraded from medium to low impact because Richards played on

I didn't agree with it at the time but thats the precedent right there. 100% should be challenging

Makes sense in theory. Unfortunately, precedence doesn't exist in the AFL tribunal and they make it up as they go to suite whatever agenda they have on any given day.

 

[sharps24]

Could have just said this

More like I read the stats watch him play and want for some modicum of selection pressure to be applied to the half forward position for the first time since 2014.

Do you honestly think when Starcevich comes in that Lindsey or Allan should go out of this side to make way, given baker is playing back? Or that Murdock or Baker or Schoenberg are not superior options to Cripps as small forwards? Delusional if so. We play 3 tall forwards and 3 small forwards. On form Murdock is our #1 pressure forward followed by Baker [based of of half an game there against Port and the fact its his best position and he's the club champion and captain] and Schoenberg in his first game back had a far superior game to Cripps on paper and to the eye. The only arguable one is Newton but he offers so much Cripps doesn't in terms of athleticism, pressure and crumbing ability. Cripps will skate by for a few more weeks because of the injury to Murdock but after that he needs to be retired to WAFL permanently.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

More like I read the stats watch him play and want for some modicum of selection pressure to be applied to the half forward position for the first time since 2014.

Do you honestly think when Starcevich comes in that Lindsey or Allan should go out of this side to make way, given baker is playing back? Or that Murdock or Baker or Schoenberg are not superior options to Cripps as small forwards? Delusional if so. We play 3 tall forwards and 3 small forwards. On form Murdock is our #1 pressure forward followed by Baker [based of of half an game there against Port and the fact its his best position and he's the club champion and captain] and Schoenberg in his first game back had a far superior game to Cripps on paper and to the eye. The only arguable one is Newton but he offers so much Cripps doesn't in terms of athleticism, pressure and crumbing ability. Cripps will skate by for a few more weeks because of the injury to Murdock but after that he needs to be retired to WAFL permanently.

Don’t you normally just put anyone who points out your pathological Cripps hatred on ignore?

 

[Bender_]

Don’t you normally just put anyone who points out your pathological Cripps hatred on ignore?

Quoting this post so he can't see it here either.

 

[lusheslewis]

I've been a Cripps supporter but I think sharps24 might have a point.

 

[MeltMan]

ill be at work again for this one, is this the super yesterday bullshit from fox / kayo so live broadcast is delayed?
guess ill be 55 and listening on the wireless again

 

[lusheslewis]

ill be at work again for this one, is this the super yesterday bullshit from fox / kayo so live broadcast is delayed?
guess ill be 55 and listening on the wireless again

Yes it's delayed on free to air TV.

 

[garlic munchers]

Newcombe had it downgraded from medium to low impact because Richards played on

I didn't agree with it at the time but thats the precedent right there. 100% should be challenging

Dev should have just forearmed him straight to the head and got off Scott free…….. or maybe not seeing he isn’t a pies player.

Schonenburg would feel stiffed seeing a tummy tap is rated a hanging offence but head high strikes are fair game.

Or just maybe Ned Long just got the hitting the Clayton Oliver redhead get out jail free card.

 

[duffmalind]

Out: Yeo, Robertson, Flynn,
In: B Williams, Murdock, Hewett.
Shanahan to Backline. CDT, A Reid, B Williams ruck/fwd.
There is absolutely NO need to play Flynn.
If Duggan is injured (hopefully) then play Greggo.

 

[duffmalind]

Do you put Allan on blakey? Consistently has our top 2 highest speed and total distance run. Could nullify his run off the half back, blakey consistently tears us apart.

Unfortunately, every pacy skilful halfback has ripped us apart in the last 4 years. Im putting CDT/Harley on Blakey. Baker on Papley, Bo Allan on McInerney, an angry Ginbey on Curnow as he will be riled up. Shanahan on Amartey. Brady Hough doesn't have a natural match up here which is good for us. Samecwith McCarthy.
Sydney off a 2 week break and a loss. We have the opportunity to start the game much better here (hopefully). Would love Dev to get off his suspension as we really need his size on Heeney. Otherwise get Harley wound up before the game and straight to Heeney.
We don't want to upset Chad Warner in any way, so best we put Cripps on him.

 

[duffmalind]

I know the match commitee will match up Duggan on Papley, or at least Sydney will. Put your money on Papley 2+ goals. It's a soda.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

The outs are starting to bite, Yeo & Dev joining Starc, Hewett, Long, Edwards, Hutch & Murdock, our depth is really going to be challenged.

Out: Yeo, Dev
In: Macrae, Grego

I thought Grego looked great in his AFL debut last year, bring him in to give Papsmear a a bath.
Macrae the experience & mature body to replace Yeo.

Not convinced we need to bring another key defender in, Ginbey, Hough and Young as front line and if necessary Shanahan or Reid can drop back. But McDonald is a bog-average footballer and Amartey has had 1 good game in an almost decade long career. Panic stations over their height are unnecessary.

 

[Cuzz09]

What a great test for this group.

Shame we've lost a couple of experienced soldiers but I hope we can give the Swans a run for there money.

I feel like if we give them a 5 goal start it won't be easy to get back so hopefully we can start decently.

Another Eagle first gamer:

In: Macrae, Brock
out: Yeo, Robertson

 

[squashface]

Newcombe had it downgraded from medium to low impact because Richards played on

I didn't agree with it at the time but thats the precedent right there. 100% should be challenging

Feel like if we try this they will just wheel out the "Potential to cause injury" clause for its 1 or 2 runs for the year.

 

[Barrybran]

I am not in the 'dump Flynn' camp just yet but it is interesting to see teams going with athletic rucks and seeing them hold their own (McAndrew, Steene, even Blakiston is doing OK as a ruck). Bailey's day is coming. I just hope he's ready for it.

 

[Westend]

I am not in the 'dump Flynn' camp just yet but it is interesting to see teams going with athletic rucks and seeing them hold their own (McAndrew, Steene, even Blakiston is doing OK as a ruck). Bailey's day is coming. I just hope he's ready for it.

Think you might be after the Sydney game...expecting Grundy to run him ragged

damn losing Yeo and Dev big bodies is going to hurt bad time to lose both

 

[Barrybran]

OUT: Schoenberg, Robertson, Yeo
IN: Brock, Hewett, Hall

I'm not sold on these changes but the logic is Brock comes in as another tall, Baker swings forward and Schoenberg makes way, giving Newton another chance alongside Baker. Hewett comes in for Dev with the ability to swing forward. Hall comes in for Yeo with the option of swapping Hall swapping CBA and wing time with Allan and Duursma. Lindsay stays in.

We could hold onto Schoenberg and drop Newton instead but I'd like to see how Newton goes with a full game alongside Baker up forward. Maric could come in for Yeo but I think that puts too much pressure on Allan/Duursma to chop out in the middle. That said, we could play Maric wing/back and Hough/McCarthy could take some mid minutes as well.

 

[Yeahnahmate]

Champion far more unselfish and nifty than Cripps (circa 2026) but does he have the base to apply pressure at the top level as consistently as we need from every player to produce that team defense we need. Hope he’s getting there as can be a little spark plug if fit enough