Prediction Round Five Changes vs. Collingwood

[Docker82]

Driz flew to Adelaide and back, then drove to Mandurah. It is possibly why he couldn't kick the ball yesterday. He ain't fresh.

Collingwood and Freo are both travelling two weeks in a row.

Davies, Sharp and Cox are the only players who put their hands up at Peel. Sharp as an inside mid, Cox against an opponent who didn't compete.

They need to select best available.

Interested to read that 4 of Scerri's 6 handballs led to scores.

Honestly zero chance we see any of those three unless we rest someone or there's an injury we don't know about.

Agree those three are the ones that put their hand up.

Having said that thought Walker and Sweid did some nice things and sometimes match committee look at different things to us.

 

[Barnabus]

Honestly zero chance we see any of those three unless we rest someone or there's an injury we don't know about.

Agree those three are the ones that put their hand up.

Having said that thought Walker and Sweid did some nice things and sometimes match committee look at different things to us.

I think it is a bit silly to review purely off WAFL form. If we did that Brodie would have been first into the team every week for the last 2 years.

I would imagine the coaching staff look at players who have already performed at AFL level and look for the individual acts that show they are playing well. I doubt they get obsessed with the stats too much.

 

[Docker82]

I think it is a bit silly to review purely off WAFL form. If we did that Brodie would have been first into the team every week for the last 2 years.

I would imagine the coaching staff look at players who have already performed at AFL level and look for the individual acts that show they are playing well. I doubt they get obsessed with the stats too much.

Imagine stats play **** all in how they assess WAFL form. It'd be an assessment of how that WAFL translates to the next level and also whether they actually add to the AFL side.

I was one of the ones on here saying I wasn't impressed by Brodie at WAFL level despite the numbers looking very good.

I think I saw a few things from Walker and Sweid that I thought would translate to AFL level. Thought Cox and Davies looked too good for WAFL level tbh.

 

[jakefooty23]

Hard to make too many mistakes when you have no kicks and only 6 handballs. There is no world where Scerri keeps Freddy out of the team. I like what Scerri has shown so far (quick and big kick) but he is not ready for AFL just yet.

I agree, but with all things considered it wasn't the worst 6 handball game I've seen. 4/6 contested and 4 score involvements. Certainly not a great game by any means but he definitely has talent, hard position and he will have those down weeks.I like Frederick but I feel like going back to peel and dominating a game could be really good for him and his confidence

 

[Stinky Lomax]

People keep referencing Darcy's 50% game time like it's a hamstringing us, but what if it's by design?

Do we really want Jacko doing less than 50% of the rucking with these new rules favouring athletic rucks? And then he's free to do his unicorn floating thing for his other TOG while Darcy comes on and wears down the oppo rucks with a bit of bash and crash.

And when Darcy's done with his 50% rucking do we really want him up forward instead of one of the three headed monster? Just sit him down and use the extra bench spot.

Great observation, was talking about this last night with a mate.
From a coaching perspective our use of the 5th bench spot is first class & allows a strong 18 on field at all times.
Darcy is rucking & instead of spending 20% game time forward he’s on the bench as you say. It keeps our forward structure dangerous & keeps Darcy fresh to impact.
Added bonus it will prolong his career, which is a great thing.

 

[Tbonefreo]

Have we got a better option for Worner? Blimey

 

[AstonSouffle]

Better to stick to an opinion rather than flip flopping because we have beaten two bottom 4 teams and just barely saved ourselves from a second all time choke within a month...

Flipside to this - perhaps accept that Geelong and Adelaide are not roadkill you can spit on and perhaps be less overly self indulgent with holier than thou expectations (aka known as respect your opposition), both these teams had and have the capability to come roaring back. We win some you lose some, we're right up there and Freo are doing well.

Seems the people who whinge are the sort that if we not actively kicking the opposition in the face until their bloodied, crippled and begging for mercy then it's a catastrophic failure. Maybe recalibrate your compass that's been stuck on Magnetic Island and remember Freo are up and about and clearly have another level to go.

 

[Dockernut]

Have we got a better option for Worner? Blimey

Not really. Only Walker, Simpson, Drizzy, Sharp or a sack of turnips.

 

[freo_leo29]

Flipside to this - perhaps accept that Geelong and Adelaide are not roadkill you can spit on and perhaps be less overly self indulgent with holier than thou expectations (aka known as respect your opposition), both these teams had and have the capability to come roaring back. We win some you lose some, we're right up there and Freo are doing well.

Seems the people who whinge are the sort that if we not actively kicking the opposition in the face until their bloodied, crippled and begging for mercy then it's a catastrophic failure. Maybe recalibrate your compass that's been stuck on Magnetic Island and remember Freo are up and about and clearly have another level to go.

Don't rate either of those two teams with the players they currently have available, we should be wiping the floor with them, as seen in both the first halves.

Then when the pressure goes up, the same contributors make terrible mistakes and because we win they don't pay the price.

Sick of it TBH, we all could see it happening in the final stretch last year and nothing was done.

Coach needs to realise that constantly improving is how you win a flag, have Brisbane stood still the past 2 years? nope, they blooded new players in the back ends of both seasons who ended up being vital to their flags.

Pies did it with Markov in 23, Tigers did it back in 2017 with the likes of Townsend.

Coaching isn't just tactics on the day, its picking the right team carry it out and from the evidence seen so far this season, we have shat the bed once, nearly shat the bed another time and beaten 2x bottom 4 sides, not exactly jumping for joy over that and the criticism is warranted.

 

[theGav56]

Coaching certainly isnt just about coaching on the day:

Scerri and McVee blooded in the very earliest part of the season.

A new ruck structure bedded down adjusting to AFL regular 'visionary' rule fiddling.

A markedly different and more attacking game plan introduced and is producing results.

Adjusting to the new 25 man bench.

Rejig of the midfield to adjust for the injury to Young, with the use of Bolton in the midfield adding a lethal edge.

Significant development and improvement from MJ and Erasmus.

 

[StingBitten]

For me Changes threads are weird.

I'd like to suggest more than one change but it's taboo because 1. We know JL is conservative at selection (especially when winning). 2. He could be listening. 3. Other posters are scared he's listening too.

It's also hard to comment on Peel form because it's proven time and time again players lift when playing the big time.

I see Walker and Simpson as best-22, in spite of their rusty games - but they're unlikely to come in while we're winning.

I also think Sharp puts some serious miles on the board that we've been missing, and it might be worth giving him another crack.

I don't see any changes happening this week.

 

[rgauci]

When I watched the replay, Wagner was potentially worse than JOM and I thought the latter was horrendous.

O’Driscoll and Sharp could improve the team, they are bigger and much younger than the aforementioned.

Scerri also not doing much.

I’d like to see at least 1 change. The idea that you don’t change a “winning” (2-point) formula is ludicrous.

Worner also very good in the first half.

First 3 outs would be Scerri, JOM then Wagner.

 

[ubiquitous226]

When I watched the replay, Wagner was potentially worse than JOM and I thought the latter was horrendous.

O’Driscoll and Sharp could improve the team, they are bigger and much younger than the aforementioned.

Scerri also not doing much.

I’d like to see at least 1 change. The idea that you don’t change a “winning” (2-point) formula is ludicrous.

Worner also very good in the first half.

First 3 outs would be Scerri, JOM then Wagner.

I don't think there should be a rule that you don't change a winning team, we should always be striving to have the best team to win the next game while also thinking about how we develop the best team to give us the chance to win a premiership.
For someone who is process driven it wouldn't make sense to draw an arbitrary line there either; review the performance and assess options to improve across the board.

However there is value in continuity and stability, and I don't believe in change for the sake of change.
Maybe others believe "sending a message" or being ruthless is more important than other considerations, when I think there are plenty of other ways to achieve that.

Scerri could be rotated, it's just a matter of what the alternative may bring - wondering if Banfield will be considered on the HFF again, not sure Sweid or Murray would offer anything additional at this stage.
Sharp for Wagner is also an option, but I'd expect they'd back Wagner in and ask Sharp for a body of work to prove himself more inside.
Collingwood aren't particularly tall, so Walker for Worner is also a talking point, but I think Worner would be a decent match up for Elliot in the air, or even rotating onto De Goey if necessary.

 

[Ghost Pig]

Longmuir said he wants the fellas in the two's to force someone out of the side.

I watched the Peel game, on that basis, the only two candidates would be Sharp on effort alone, his disposal was not an improvement on anyone currently in the team and Cox, who looks to be in ripping nick, BUT Darcy's involvement in that winning rebound forward might have sewn his spot up for another week.

Think we might just be on watch for sore bodies come Monday training.

 

[jusjoshin]

Is Brayshaw in trouble for the knee to Pedlar?

No, Pedlar tripped and face dived into his knee. It was brutal, but not Brayshaw's fault in any way.

 

[Footskill]

I don't think there should be a rule that you don't change a winning team, we should always be striving to have the best team to win the next game while also thinking about how we develop the best team to give us the chance to win a premiership.
For someone who is process driven it wouldn't make sense to draw an arbitrary line there either; review the performance and assess options to improve across the board.

However there is value in continuity and stability, and I don't believe in change for the sake of change.
Maybe others believe "sending a message" or being ruthless is more important than other considerations, when I think there are plenty of other ways to achieve that.

Scerri could be rotated, it's just a matter of what the alternative may bring - wondering if Banfield will be considered on the HFF again, not sure Sweid or Murray would offer anything additional at this stage.
Sharp for Wagner is also an option, but I'd expect they'd back Wagner in and ask Sharp for a body of work to prove himself more inside.
Collingwood aren't particularly tall, so Walker for Worner is also a talking point, but I think Worner would be a decent match up for Elliot in the air, or even rotating onto De Goey if necessary.

Think this is a balanced view. Not change for the sake of it. The fact we scraped over the line , where it could if gone either way depending on the bounce of the ball or individual acts doesn't mean there weren't areas that could of been improved on.

In regards to Banners. Wouldn't mind seeing him in the HFF role, as he never excelled playing third tall. Think the faster transition play will suit him , especially if he is running back help out def and streaming forward on a break. Although I feel they will leave him in his defence and might not be good chopping and changing for his sake even.

Was a good win and more of a test than the previous two though. I can see no changes or one unforced change

 

[Footskill]

McVee worries me, there's a soft defensive underbelly there that I was worried about when we traded for him, and we aren't seeing the elite distribution we were supposed to be getting as compensation for the underbelly.

I think it will take bit more time to observe whether his 'attacking' attributes he was recruited for dominates his 'defensive' attributes. There are few defensive efforts such as putting pressure or the chase has been underwhelming, as well handballs under pressure, although this improved last two games

 

[Lach72]

If we accept that currently the midfield is working well, having Young as an option toe replace Worner might not be a bad option

 

[Purpletown]

No, Pedlar tripped and face dived into his knee. It was brutal, but not Brayshaw's fault in any way.

It looked to be accidental. Pedlar's head also hit the ground reasonable hard.

 

[pK75]

Young isn’t going to the back line again, if he comes in in a modified role it will be forward/mid. Everyone just need to wrap their head around that. We never rotate backs into other positions, there are 7 backs and they just rotate roles in that 7.

 

[south beach]

I am onboard for resting Darcy at some point. Probably West Coast or Carlton would be preferable to Collingwood though.

In: Walker and Sharp
Out: Worner and Scerri

Worner unlucky to be dropped but Walker fills a need while Worner is a third medium defender. Scerri needs to work on his involvement and positioning but definitely has some great attributes. His kick could become a real weapon.

Not sure about the discussion around dropping Sherri. Didn’t seem like he was on the ground much but every time he goes near the footy he looks great. Worth while persisting with him. Put games into him. See him as an upside to Switta

 

[ubiquitous226]

Not sure about the discussion around dropping Sherri. Didn’t seem like he was on the ground much but every time he goes near the footy he looks great. Worth while persisting with him. Put games into him. See him as an upside to Switta

Scerri has definitely shown some flashes, but if he gets to Switta levels he's done incredibly well, let alone improving on him.

 

[south beach]

Scerri has definitely shown some flashes, but if he gets to Switta levels he's done incredibly well, let alone improving on him.

Think Switta is a bit overrated. Goes missing for large parts of the game last quarter was good but not much else

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Young isn’t going to the back line again, if he comes in in a modified role it will be forward/mid. Everyone just need to wrap their head around that. We never rotate backs into other positions, there are 7 backs and they just rotate roles in that 7.

I really think it'd be the biggest possible upgrade though. Replacing Worner with young is massive for the quality down there and it's not like you cant put him on ball if needed.

The midfield is humming and Bolton clearly plays his best footy mid first then forward. I'd hate to lose his burst which the midfield sorely needs or Reid's creativity

 

[pK75]

I really think it'd be the biggest possible upgrade though. Replacing Worner with young is massive for the quality down there and it's not like you cant put him on ball if needed.

The midfield is humming and Bolton clearly plays his best footy mid first then forward. I'd hate to lose his burst which the midfield sorely needs or Reid's creativity

I agree that Worner for Young would be a massive upgrade, but think the coaches rate worner above Scerri so that’s who will drop out when Young returns, when Frederick gets fit again, the real question will be asked of where young fits best to manage his body while impacting the most.