Prediction Round Five Changes vs. Collingwood

[mayne iac]

AFL.com has McVee as one of our best players…

I don’t think there will be any changes to the current team, unless someone is injured

I agree

 

[mattis117]

Rest him so he doesn't play! Seriously.
I am amazed. Please tell me that you are not one of those that are preachibg Darcy isn't fit.

Not at all, Darcy is our permanent second ruck right now, but Cox playing vs Collingwood makes sense from several angles.

 

[anchor man]

Not at all, Darcy is our permanent second ruck right now, but Cox playing vs Collingwood makes sense from several angles.

Please explain them.

 

[mattis117]

Please explain them.

1. Cox will be fired up against the side that released him, point to prove.
2. Darcy should be managed through the season, he is too important to overload. Take the season long view that he hits peak fitness in Round 20.
3. Per above, Rest Darcy for away trips to minimise kilometres in the air.

We have a luxury in that our best depth players is a ruck, we need to use that.

Big Darcy is unlikely to lose his spot; his tapwork is simply elite. He is really hitting his straps the last couple of weeks and I thought we looked better when he was rucking last night.

 

[Superkoops]

Not at all, Darcy is our permanent second ruck right now, but Cox playing vs Collingwood makes sense from several angles.

On reflection games against Carlton (home) and WB (away) are off shorter breaks. Will be better opportunities to rest Darcy and play Mason Cox.

I watched Peel and Cox was very good. He was playing on Benning who for me looks like a WAFL Reserves player. What did impress me though was his ground work and stuff he did around the ground.

Scerri was non-existent: only 1 tackle and only 9 pressure acts. Had something like 19metres gained in only 59% game time. Had a great first game but needs go to Peel to work on his game.

 

[EastcoastDocker]

Adelaide also brought in another ruckman specifically to combat Jackson and Darcy and they still lost the ruck battle. Darcy very important.

Think Adelaide were happy the they could bring in O'Brien. Likewise next week pies will be happy to play the 2 rucks. Darcy v Cameron and Darcy vs O'Brien are 2 old-school ruck matchups. I think there's no doubt that the game is moving away from that. Briggs is particularly useless now too.

It's an uncomfortable position for Freo, crows, GWS, pies. You have these good servants of the club, guys on good coin, who really through no fault of their own have had their powers taken away from them.

 

[fleur]

Im reasonably certain its actually a calf and they were/are being dodge with team selections.

They made him warm up in Brissie though, which I doubt they’d do for shenanigans

 

[JunglistPosse]

Did you watch the Peel game today? No way Murray Walker or Simpson get in at the moment. The only ones on form would be Mason Cox and Sharp.

Yep watched that game and totally agree. They didn’t do enough .

 

[worsemim]

Have we ever actually rested players under JL? This conversation about Darcy feels highly theoretical. It's just not how we go about things. We manage minutes in game, we bring players back cautiously through managed WAFL minutes. But once you're in the team, we prioritise continuity.

 

[ImperialPurple]

This thread can always be categorised into 2 categories. Sensible posters who have a 'most likely' view of what might happen and then posters who always want a minimum of 2-4 changes, even after a win.
Fwiw I think Tracey and Shai might need a spell at peel. Need those 2 kicking more goals

I’m never sure whether people are posting what they think will happen, or what they want to happen. Usually the distance between the two is a rather large gulf.

I can see the only possible out to be Scerri, with maybe Sharp to come in after a very good showing at Peel, but with that there’d have to be some serious throwing around of the magnets so I can’t see this happening. (Scerri out a distinct possibility however).

Barring injuries:
JOM won’t go out.
Switkowski won’t go out.
Darcy won’t go out.
Wagner won’t go out.
Worner highly, highly unlikely to go out.

If Young or Freddy are ready this obviously changes things up a fair bit, but by all reports that won’t be the case for a few weeks yet.

(PS Treacy and/or Shai playing for Peel is one of the worst calls I’ve seen in here for a very, very long time!)

 

[WhoneedsMcLeod]

Not sure I'm looking forward to Freddy our sheep dog returning to full fitness and coming back in.
Had my fill of watching him stand off whilst others are battling their asses off to win a critical contest.

 

[EastcoastDocker]

Not sure I'm looking forward to Freddy our sheep dog returning to full fitness and coming back in.
Had my fill of watching him stand off whilst others are battling their asses off to win a critical contest.

2026 AFL is very much suited to Freddie

 

[PrancingPony]

Not sure I'm looking forward to Freddy our sheep dog returning to full fitness and coming back in.
Had my fill of watching him stand off whilst others are battling their asses off to win a critical contest.

If he's fit he takes Scerri's spot easily.

The game as it stands suits his style of play. Plus it'll be good to have one of our best goal kickers back.

 

[serial_thrilla]

Imagine winning 3 straight and having the luxury of bringing in Banfield

Mason Cox is not the messiah. Neither are Walker, Simpson or Murray.

Banfield in for Scerri.

Tonga Bob Bailey Banfield being mentioned as a potential in by the BigFooty masses.

We've gone full circle.

 

[Superkoops]

Think Adelaide were happy the they could bring in O'Brien. Likewise next week pies will be happy to play the 2 rucks. Darcy v Cameron and Darcy vs O'Brien are 2 old-school ruck matchups. I think there's no doubt that the game is moving away from that. Briggs is particularly useless now too.

It's an uncomfortable position for Freo, crows, GWS, pies. You have these good servants of the club, guys on good coin, who really through no fault of their own have had their powers taken away from them.

Not sure I agree on Cameron and Darcy. Some of the effectiveness has been taken away - especially the centre bounce. However around the ground and boundary throw ins are still important for the wrestling strong ruck types.

It looks to me that Darcy is building fitness and touch still. Getting better by the week. Just fumbling a couple of times meaning instead of 12 possessions he ends up with 8. He just needs to improve his work around the ground.

Also as the weather changes and we get into winter the game will slow and become more contested.

Mason Cox is a good back-up and given the injury history and need to play two rucks to allow freedom for Luke Jackson he will get his chance and absolutely they will rest Darcy at some point.

They stuffed up round 1. Either Cox or pinch hitter like Voss should have done the job. Knowing the the fact that early rounds are super fast and Geelong more hardened/conditioned meant an underdone ruck like Darcy being chosen along with some others still finding their way meant it was a poor match committee selection decision. Since then no issue with Darcy.

 

[anchor man]

1. Cox will be fired up against the side that released him, point to prove.
2. Darcy should be managed through the season, he is too important to overload. Take the season long view that he hits peak fitness in Round 20.
3. Per above, Rest Darcy for away trips to minimise kilometres in the air.

We have a luxury in that our best depth players is a ruck, we need to use that.

Big Darcy is unlikely to lose his spot; his tapwork is simply elite. He is really hitting his straps the last couple of weeks and I thought we looked better when he was rucking last night.

Fair enough, but you don't rest a player like Darcy that thrives on the hard work on a romantic theory.
He, Darcy is just nearing full match fitness. As plenty of people have been bagging him out for not having.
Darcy will play, and only one Cox will play for Freo, and it wont be Mason.

 

[benfica]

At some point we have to get Wagner or worner out for hayden young

26

Hayden Young

Age

25

Ht

189cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.4

3star

CL

0.2

2star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.4

2star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.4

2star

CL

0.2

2star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.4

4star

CL

0.2

2star

to move to half back , can't have two jittery players like wags and Karl on this team at one time

 

[Dirty_banchez]

Worner out for mine. Johnson very iffy with his disposal.

 

[malpaso]

A cork in his calf - he will definitely get up. Was very close on Thursday night. Well I’d expect Freo are planning on him playing.

He did not look very close running around on Thursday night at all.

 

[malpaso]

Not sure I'm looking forward to Freddy our sheep dog returning to full fitness and coming back in.
Had my fill of watching him stand off whilst others are battling their asses off to win a critical contest.

He upgrades Scerri immediately.. the faster pace and go forward are his bread and butter..

 

[JammoMonty]

Mason Cox is not the messiah. Neither are Walker, Simpson or Murray.

Banfield in for Scerri.

Banners is done mate. Time to move on. Prefer to persist with Scerri but in true JL form he would probably drop a young hungry player than someone like O’Meara who almost cost Freo the game last night. Someone that experienced shouldn’t miss 20m out directly in front.

 

[freo_leo29]

JL in his presser basically saying he doesn't make changes while we are winning

This was the massive problem last year and ended with us entering the finals without our best available team.


I don't think he is that bad of a tactical coach but this is why fresh eyes are a need, just don't have faith in him picking an improving team, JOM probably gets a free ride all year because he was already in the team.

 

[Docker82]

For Peel - Draper was barely sighted last quarter and much of the second half for that matter. Not sure if he had a niggle being managed or injury.He definitely didn’t do enough. Thought NOD’s last quarter was good.

For Freo - Worner aside from that 3rd quarter turnover was ok. Judd McVee had a kick in the first he just kicked straight to Adelaide player but was otherwise good.

I can see the potential for Darcy to be rested and Mason Cox in.

Chris Sceri likely the only other under pressure. Bailey Banfield travelling emergency (and very versatile) a good chance to come in.

Darcy (managed) > Mason Cox
Sceri (omitted) > Banfield

Apart from Cox thought Davies looked the most AFL quality yesterday at Peel tbh.

Would I bring in another KPD? Absolutely not but Davies is ready if we need one. Obviously there's McDonald as well.

As impressive as Draper was in 2024 I feel he's a fair way behind the other two at present. Certainly not putting him into the team as a rebounded either - you either recall Walker or leave it as it is.

 

[AstonSouffle]

Lol people asking for Longmuir to get sacked with Freo 3-1, and Freo only losing to the Cats by 10 points...

Either they're just telling a flat sarcastic joke, or worse they actually have this opinion and these people are secretly walking amongst us in society and that's genuinely unnerving.

 

[Docker82]

Cox played against a ruck that we discarded about five years ago.
You don't manage players of Darcy's quality at this time of the year. Darcy was far far better than reasonable. He was quality.
Why would you rest him when people here have been screaming that "he isn't fit".
It is bullshit.Illogical.

People making a lot of having a shorter break than our opposition.

Whist true we are on a seven day break atm and have nine day break the week after. Removing our opposition from the equation it isn’t that bad and Darcy should be able to get through.

It's between Round Six and Round Nine resting players becomes an option where we have three six day breaks in a row.