Round 7: Changes Vs Adelaide Crows

[Fat Nyfe]

Are you kidding guys, Blakely fully fit comes in everyday of the week. Before his injury he was tracking to become an elite midfielder. He’s a clearance bull that makes the loss of Neale ok. We’re getting beaten in the middle, our biggest weakness on the ground right now but people are suggesting no changes because we won? Lol. He’s a better player now than Conca, Colyer, Brayshaw and Tucker. Considering Brayshaw is young and improving, and Tucker is slowly getting there after all the games we’ve put into him it’s probably out of Colyer or Conca to go. They are both serviceable role players but definitely fringe with a fully fit team including Blakely and S.Hill. Blakely’s back now so one of them goes to the fringe.

 

[wayToGo_]

Blakely is going to make a positive difference when he comes back in but only if he is fully fit.

We're actually the #1 centre clearance team 6 rounds in. We've averaged a +3.7 centre clearance differential. The next best atm is Port Adelaide with +2.5. Adelaide are one of the worst in the bottom 5 (-1.7), along with North (-2.5), Lions (-2.3), Cats (-1.8) and Sydney (-1.7). Clearly Fyfe, Mundy and Walters with others pinch hitting are doing really well in space at centre bounces - we weren't close to our best yesterday and we still broke even with the Dogs.

However at stoppages we're struggling a bit (-2.5 stoppage clearance differential). That's where we're missing Neale (Lions are 2nd best at stoppages +4.2, behind only Port +5.8). Crows are 4th at +3.7. Both Saints and Dogs at +1.7 and it's where we got caught out a few times in the respective games against each.

Like others I'm hopeful Blakely could excel at stoppages and fill some of that void Neale has left behind. But Tucker and Brayshaw are both also improving at a rapid rate. Although we're often losing the stoppage clearance count we've still generally been applying enough pressure around the ball to force a quick kick/handball and cause a turn over. Although we've had the most turn overs of any team we intercept so often we've now broken even on the differential. I still think reducing turn overs (especially across half forward) will have the biggest impact to our ability to both win games and to pile on scoreboard pressure. My concern is an underdone Blakely probably isn't going to help that cause at all. We need to get the ball into the hands of Walters, BHill, Mundy and Tucker - give them space to compose and they can hit a leading Hogan or McCarthy every time. If Blakely is revved up to be a first possession ball magnet that can work the ball to the outside then bring him straight back in. If he needs an extra week at Peel to get warmed up then so be it. We need to be better at stoppages against Adelaide irrespective of Blakely being in or out.

 

[kp junior]

Are you kidding guys, Blakely fully fit comes in everyday of the week. Before his injury he was tracking to become an elite midfielder. He’s a clearance bull that makes the loss of Neale ok. We’re getting beaten in the middle, our biggest weakness on the ground right now but people are suggesting no changes because we won? Lol. He’s a better player now than Conca, Colyer, Brayshaw and Tucker. Considering Brayshaw is young and improving, and Tucker is slowly getting there after all the games we’ve put into him it’s probably out of Colyer or Conca to go. They are both serviceable role players but definitely fringe with a fully fit team including Blakely and S.Hill. Blakely’s back now so one of them goes to the fringe.

Yep, Colyer unlucky but he’s probably the one


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[Farrand]

My concern around bring Blakely in is that he gets reinjured. WAFL isn't high intensive and he should be given a bit of time to get his body right and work out any minor soft tissue concerns playing for Peel.

The Crows are pretty hard at it and that relentless intensity at AFL level makes me worry he'd be back on the injury list fairly quickly.

 

[Scham]

My concern around bring Blakely in is that he gets reinjured. WAFL isn't high intensive and he should be given a bit of time to get his body right and work out any minor soft tissue concerns playing for Peel.

The Crows are pretty hard at it and that relentless intensity at AFL level makes me worry he'd be back on the injury list fairly quickly.

So what are you thinking? 1 more WAFL game? 2? 3?

Or just wait until there’s a vacancy in the team through injury or suspension? Or if we lose a game?

 

[Spirit Level]

In: Blakely
Out: Conca

Is Darcy ready to come back in?

 

[Farrand]

So what are you thinking? 1 more WAFL game? 2? 3?

Or just wait until there’s a vacancy in the team through injury or suspension? Or if we lose a game?

Easy, friend! You seem hysterical

Probably a couple more games in the WAFL. In the meantime Cerra should be played in the middle or North should be brought in.

 

[theGav56]

Purely because Blakely is better than him and someone needs to make room. Even Cox is unlucky not to be in the side.


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But we are not discussing best 22. Neither Cox nor Blakely look like they are the best choices for the next game. The club needs to make the tough choice, and not select them until they are the best choice for the next game.

Amazing that some posters (not you) who have been critical of the club bringing back players too early are now pushing for Blakely. If he has a great week at training, sure consider it.

Cox played as a defender in the wafl didn't he? Hope they can give him a run forward at Peel this week.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

With Logue coming back, Cox has to be playing forward for Peel.

Between Duman, Logue and Carter we have flexibility with backline depth.

Dixon is clearly no where near AFL at the moment given his injury history and current output.

Need Cox putting plenty of pressure on Tabs and McCarthy to make sure they are performing week in, week out

 

[Farrand]

But we are not discussing best 22. Neither Cox nor Blakely look like they are the best choices for the next game. The club needs to make the tough choice, and not select them until they are the best choice for the next game.

Amazing that some posters (not you) who have been critical of the club bringing back players too early are now pushing for Blakely. If he has a great week at training, sure consider it.

Cox played as a defender in the wafl didn't he? Hope they can give him a run forward at Peel this week.

Exactly. Adelaide will be a tough game for sure, lot of intensity in the midfield and it would be concerning to bring an underdone Blakely back in just to have him reinjured. Hammies are notorious for going again quickly and I think we all want Blakely to prove what we've been saying about him for years, he's a gun midfielder.

 

[Scham]

Easy, friend! You seem hysterical

Probably a couple more games in the WAFL. In the meantime Cerra should be played in the middle or North should be brought in.

Wot? It was an innocent question. I was just trying to get what you were suggesting.

I highly doubt North gets brought in before Blakely. And I wouldn’t hold your breathe on Cerra playing in the middle either. There’s been plenty of opportunities in the past for that to happen, and it hasn’t.

The club isn’t known for their great track record on managing injuries, but I think if Blakely has done 3 weeks of full training plus got through a game of WAFL, he’s closer than 3 weeks away from being ready for league duties. 1 more WAFL game at the absolute max imo.

 

[Farrand]

Wot? It was an innocent question. I was just trying to get what you were suggesting.

I highly doubt North gets brought in before Blakely. And I wouldn’t hold your breathe on Cerra playing in the middle either. There’s been plenty of opportunities in the past for that to happen, and it hasn’t.

The club isn’t known for their great track record on managing injuries, but I think if Blakely has done 3 weeks of full training plus got through a game of WAFL, he’s closer than 3 weeks away from being ready for league duties. 1 more WAFL game at the absolute max imo.

It was a joke aimed at all the consecutive questions, brother. No offence intended.

Yeah, can't see Cerra playing in the midfield soon. It's a similar situation to Blakeley it would seem. He'll be a half back warrior until the opportunity arises in the future.

I think more than one game is necessary just to see how he pulls up after consistent match time. Remember the same was done with Barlow back in the day and it identified remaining leg issues.

 

[tacopavlich]

Blakely for McCarthy would make us a better side as our forwardline seems strong enough without him and we really need help around stoppages. Tough call though as he's such a good player and can be the difference in breaking a game open with his kicking. I'd give him a week to recover either way.

 

[Square Peg]

If Brayshaw lays only one tackle like he did yesterday, his spot is definitely up for grabs.

 

[bushchook]

So what are you thinking? 1 more WAFL game? 2? 3?

Or just wait until there’s a vacancy in the team through injury or suspension? Or if we lose a game?

I think 1 more WAFL game is fair enough. He hasn't played for over 9 months and I would severely doubt his match fitness at this stage. His last game was June 16 2018. That's a very lengthy layoff.

 

[bushchook]

In: Blakely
Out: Conca

Is Darcy ready to come back in?

Conca won't be getting dropped. He's clearly the new teacher's pet.

 

[Rion]

Feel like if we had lost there wouldn't be a single person on here that wouldn't want Blakely in.

 

[rgauci]

In: Duman, Cox
Out: Cerra, McCarthy

Cox killed Adelaide last time we played.

 

[theGav56]

Feel like if we had lost there wouldn't be a single person on here that wouldn't want Blakely in.

The natural spot for him is taken by either Cerra or Nyhuis, and I am in no hurry to get them out of the side. I doubt if he would come directly into the midfield, which is where I want him.

Not sure what the rush is to get Blakely in. In the end I think everyone on here wants him in when the club thinks he is ready.

 

[Rion]

The natural spot for him is taken by either Cerra or Nyhuis, and I am in no hurry to get them out of the side. I doubt if he would come directly into the midfield, which is where I want him.

Not sure what the rush is to get Blakely in. In the end I think everyone on here wants him in when the club thinks he is ready.

I agree with that but I mean all anyone is doing on this board is speculating either way.

I think he definitely plays mid, even if it isn't full-time to start with. We badly need another big contested beast which is exactly what Blakely is. That need was made very obvious against WB (although I'm sure getting the W disguises that somewhat).

If he's going to play a mix of defence and mid I think Conca is the obvious out (assuming you want to go like for like).

 

[Joao]

To the people saying Conca or Colyer out: is that what you want or what you think will happen?

Because I am all but 100% sure neither are getting dropped.

 

[_007_]

I've always understood these threads to be for what we would like to see happen.

 

[wayToGo_]

In: Duman, Cox
Out: Cerra, McCarthy

Cox killed Adelaide last time we played.

Interestingly so did Cerra 30 disposals off half back.

 

[Dockernut]

Out: Langdon
In: Blakely

 

[theGav56]

I am all but 100% sure neither are getting dropped.

So, you're saying there's a chance.