Prediction Round 9, 2025: Changes vs Richmond

[Wet Toast Rule]

I don't mind Gross as a HFF - Ben Cousins started out there, it makes sense given his frame.
Few first year kids go through the guts against the big bodies full time- aside from the likes of H Reid, Langford, Wardlaw
Gross has got fantastic potential, but it's better to get some runs through the CBD, but not as a primary mid just yet IMO

 

[twce13]

Yeah tbf it doesn't sound like a permanent move just a way to expose him to AFL and get him to rotate though the middle.

 

[Cuzz09]

Lalor v Harley

 

[FKASC]

I don't mind Gross as a HFF - Ben Cousins started out there, it makes sense given his frame.
Few first year kids go through the guts against the big bodies full time- aside from the likes of H Reid, Langford, Wardlaw
Gross has got fantastic potential, but it's better to get some runs through the CBD, but not as a primary mid just yet IMO

Even Langford has spent lots of time on the wing and HFF.

 

[Schtinker]

Time to play Ginbey in the middle again. Just play him on Taranto and body him throughout the game. B.Williams to play back and take Ruck against Lynch and Balta.

OUT: McGovern - Allan - Owies - Cole - Cripps
IN: B.Williams - Hall - Dewar - Grego - Gross

B: Duggan - B.Williams - Maric
HB: Baker - Allen - Hunt
C: Hough - Kelly - Hutchinson
HF: Hewett - Waterman - Dewar
F : Graham - A.Reid - Ryan
Foll: Flynn - Ginbey - H.Reid
INT : Gross - Hall - Brockman - J.Williams
EMG : Grego

 

[sharps24]

Fantastic. As much as our midfield sucks at the moment, at some point, our starting midfield will be something along the lines of Yeo, Reid, Hewett and one of Kelly/Hutchinson/Hough. Trialling Gross at half forward recognises that he is AFL quality but also recognises that Owies/Long/Brockman aren't the answer right now.

Oh Brockman aint it as a half forward eh. Led the team for centre clearances kicked 1.2 to Cripps 2.0 while besting him in every other stat, from less game time. All while managing to look like prime Andrew McCloud in the skills department instead of some ammo's player with 2 left feet. If not for the junk time gaols, that was one of Cripps most embarrassing games so far in a career littered with memorable fumbles.

Agree with the earlier poster who had him as a sub, much like Gaff last year if he must be in the side it's probably a good role for him. Play fresh in the 2nd half of games when everyone else's legs are heavy, he'll do some damage.

 

[DorothyG]

With BAllen, Gov and most likely ARied and possibly Duggan out to injuries, no one else is getting omitted.

You cant have 5 changes. 4 forced is alot.

Brook -> Gov
BWilliams -> Reid
Duggan -> Hall
Allen -> Cole probably full game and either Dewar/Long/Davis to sub.

Sounds like Gross/Grego/Shananhan aren't quite there yet. Honestly I would love to see a couple of constant weeks at the Beagles. Get some winning confidence into the young lads before they get thrown into the meat grinder

 

[Keys]

Too much talent in the guts atm keeping him out

He played two games as an inside mid against two mature bodied midfields in GWS and, in particular, Carlton. To his credit he performed manfully but against Carlton with only other youngsters in support we were smashed

The following week he was used as the sub against Essendon and when he did come on eventually he attended just one CBA before being sent back to the WAFL the last 2 weeks

Now this is me spitballing

Maybe he was pretty banged up after those two games given he’s still just 18 and relatively light framed by AFL standards as most 18 year olds are. As someone else pointed out he had that heavy collision with McKay that forced Harry out with a concussion so may well have been sore from that

So he was used as the sub and had minimal impact. Back to WAFL playing inside against Claremont predominantly but as more HF against Souths

Perhaps McQualter has recognised he’s not quite ready physically to be an inside mid full time but wants him in the team so has given him the task of playing forward as a way back in to the 22

It’s not unusual to bring an aspiring midfielder into the side as a forward before throwing them into the hurly burly of an AFL midfield.

Horsley was full of praise for his game against Souths and I think he’s definitely in the mix for a trip to the MCG this weekend

 

[Barrybran]

Oh Brockman aint it as a half forward eh. Led the team for centre clearances kicked 1.2 to Cripps 2.0 while besting him in every other stat, from less game time. All while managing to look like prime Andrew McCloud in the skills department instead of some ammo's player with 2 left feet. If not for the junk time gaols, that was one of Cripps most embarrassing games so far in a career littered with memorable fumbles.

Agree with the earlier poster who had him as a sub, much like Gaff last year if he must be in the side it's probably a good role for him. Play fresh in the 2nd half of games when everyone else's legs are heavy, he'll do some damage.

I'll take the two games we've seen of Gross over the 15 games we've seen of Brockman. Hopefully Brockman can continue to show what he's capable of.

 

[DorothyG]

It’s not unusual to bring an aspiring midfielder into the side as a forward before throwing them into the hurly burly of an AFL midfield.

I think we have been blinded a little by guys like Diacos, Ashcrofts and to an extent Reid, who come in and basically play as a full time mid from day one.

These guys are not the norm.

Like you say, Gross has shown very promising signs but we can't and shouldn't expect him to be a starting mid exclusively.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

I think we have been blinded a little by guys like Diacos, Ashcrofts and to an extent Reid, who come in and basically play as a full time mid from day one.

These guys are not the norm.

Like you say, Gross has shown very promising signs but we can't and shouldn't expect him to be a starting mid exclusively.

I'm all for protecting him early on, but if he's already one of better midfield options atm, I wouldn't be exclusively shoehorning him as a forward at AFL level for the immediate term. I'd rotate him between forward and midfield. We need all the help we can get.
Hewett is showing good signs, but Yeo is out long term and Reid is struggling with a tag.
TK is inconsistent and is often disinterested, Hutchinson is still developing, while Duggan, Baker and Graham are part timers.

 

[bzparkes]

I'm all for protecting him early on, but if he's already one of better midfield options atm, I wouldn't be exclusively shoehorning him as a forward at AFL level for the immediate term. I'd rotate him between forward and midfield. We need all the help we can get.
Hewett is showing good signs, but Yeo is out long term and Reid is struggling with a tag.
TK is inconsistent and is often disinterested, Hutchinson is still developing, while Duggan, Baker and Graham are part timers.

I would presume they want him playing as a half forward so he has another position to rotate into to assist with interchange rotations, instead of being played exclusively as a mid and needing more bench time.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

If not for the junk time gaols, that was one of Cripps most embarrassing games so far in a career littered with memorable fumbles.

Cripps’ first goal was the first score of the third term and gave us a game high lead.

You and Goroyals have a very odd definition of junk time.

 

[Bender_]

I think we have been blinded a little by guys like Diacos, Ashcrofts and to an extent Reid, who come in and basically play as a full time mid from day one.

These guys are not the norm.

Like you say, Gross has shown very promising signs but we can't and shouldn't expect him to be a starting mid exclusively.

Back in my day (I'm not certain when that is/was, but you know what I mean) we barely saw first year players in our senior side. They'd play patches here and there but didn't really become mainstays until they bulked up a heap. Judd was a freak and Cousins was forward for most of his first year.

At the WAFL game on the weekend I saw McQualter speaking to Gross at quarter time - after that he spent the majority of the game on the HFF. I'd be pretty confident in saying McQualter was telling him he's doing a great job in the midfield and now he wants him to work on his forward stuff as that's where he'd be rotating in the seniors.

 

[Grahame]

" He's 18'
" He's 75kg "
" Load Managment "

Yep all good reasons why playing him at HFF with spells as a mid is a way of easing him into the side without him getting beaten up or exhausted.

I don’t think anyone doubts he belongs but physically he’s not yet up to being a full time mid.

I can imagine if we play him there and he breaks down … melt melt melt

 

[Cuzz09]

Geez be nice if Gross across HF turned into Benny Cousins/Toby Greene

4

Toby Greene

Age

32

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.2

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

2.3

5star

D

26.6

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

14.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.0

1star

type that started FWD and eventually midfield gun.

I thought that about Noah Long , showed some good signs up fwd , looked clever but hasn't done a lot since. Knee injury killed him.

Hope Gross gets selected at very least

 

[bzparkes]

Geez be nice if Gross across HF turned into Benny Cousins/Toby Greene type that started FWD and eventually midfield gun.

I thought that about Noah Long , showed some good signs up fwd , looked clever but hasn't done a lot since. Knee injury killed him.

Hope Gross gets selected at very least

Gross was actually likened to Toby Greene in the lead up to the draft.

It's a good comparison.

 

[Shazzman]

Shanahan is the obvious replacement, no need to double up on two below par ruck options in the same team.

Too wrongs don't make a right

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

He played two games as an inside mid against two mature bodied midfields in GWS and, in particular, Carlton. To his credit he performed manfully but against Carlton with only other youngsters in support we were smashed

The following week he was used as the sub against Essendon and when he did come on eventually he attended just one CBA before being sent back to the WAFL the last 2 weeks

Now this is me spitballing

Maybe he was pretty banged up after those two games given he’s still just 18 and relatively light framed by AFL standards as most 18 year olds are. As someone else pointed out he had that heavy collision with McKay that forced Harry out with a concussion so may well have been sore from that

So he was used as the sub and had minimal impact. Back to WAFL playing inside against Claremont predominantly but as more HF against Souths

Perhaps McQualter has recognised he’s not quite ready physically to be an inside mid full time but wants him in the team so has given him the task of playing forward as a way back in to the 22

It’s not unusual to bring an aspiring midfielder into the side as a forward before throwing them into the hurly burly of an AFL midfield.

Horsley was full of praise for his game against Souths and I think he’s definitely in the mix for a trip to the MCG this weekend

Last year Gross played a lot as a forward at Oakleigh as the Chargers had Jagga Smith and Finn O’Sullivan as the 2 main midfielders. In addition, Tom was way better than both as a forward.

So in my opinion, he is more than capable of playing both mid and forward but he will need another 2 years in S&C to be able to play permanently as a mid, which is where I believe he will land.

 

[AsterixTheGaul]

I believe either Flynn or Williams will be able to be way more competitive in the the ruck against Nankervis. We don’t need both as Jack Williams will be fine as the ruck support.

Changers I’d like to see against Richmond
1. Brock for Gov (concussion) with Brock on Lynch and get Oscar to play the Gov role
2. Shanahan to debut with Archer (ankle) needing to have a week completely off
3. Gross to replace Owies on the hff. We cannot have both Cripps and Owies in a forward line.

If Duggan needs a rest, bring in Hall as a mid moving Hough back to defence.

I want to see Harley match up on Lalor

 

[SAweagle]

Yep all good reasons why playing him at HFF with spells as a mid is a way of easing him into the side without him getting beaten up or exhausted.

I don’t think anyone doubts he belongs but physically he’s not yet up to being a full time mid.

I can imagine if we play him there and he breaks down … melt melt melt

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

Check mate, I guess. No way Grahame can come back from that devastating reply

 

[javaguice]

If we can somehow get 20% more synergy I reckon we can pull this one out of a hat

 

[Wooshaaaa]

Fantastic. As much as our midfield sucks at the moment, at some point, our starting midfield will be something along the lines of Yeo, Reid, Hewett and one of Kelly/Hutchinson/Hough. Trialling Gross at half forward recognises that he is AFL quality but also recognises that Owies/Long/Brockman aren't the answer right now.

Yeo is done. Please, everyone stop counting on Yeo being in our midfield. If he is fit, it's a bonus. We need to win without him.

 

[Grahame]

Check mate, I guess. No way Grahame can come back from that devastating reply

Shattered!