Sandi's injury !!

[sumavich]

Thank god, coz since then we have been hard ball get, clearance kings in the middle. Warnock is a star in the making, and Gilmore is killing it.
Best thing that has happened !!
We look scary in the middle for a change.
And belly, what a Champion !!!

 

[The Night Shift]

The Warnock & Gilmore express has certainly worked okay for us so far....

 

[dont bowl there]

Only a complete fool would say that Sandi getting injured has helped us this year.

 

[sumavich]

Only a complete fool would say that Sandi getting injured has helped us this year.

Well, I'm a complete fool.
But, at least our ruck knocks are going to a Freo player, and the follow up when its been on the gound has been exceptional since Sandilands has been out. It's no co-incidence mate.
BTW I don't think you know much either.

 

[Bradesmaen]

IT has helped us in the fact that Warnock is getting more game time to build his body to a tough standard as well as Gilmore proving that he can play well consistently.

 

[macka6210]

Hard to say its a positive but its great that players have been able to capitalise when given a chance to perform e.g gilmore and warnock. At least it puts us in a better position to ask/demand that Longmuir retires if his knee injury shows no improvement over the off season

 

[dominguez]

The Gilmore/Warnock combination has worked extremely well, but Sandi played a big part in our 9 win run last season.

 

[chook2734]

The main reason Sandi was ineffective for part of this year is that he WAS injured. Playing someone like Gilmore will only work for so long - it's the unknown factor that throws the opposition ruckmen - they don't know how to deal with at the moment. Once they work out how to turn the tables, it won't be so effective. A fit Sandi combining with a bigger, stronger Warnock next year will do wonders for our midfield.

 

[dugrene]

sandi is in our best 22. Looks like Happy and Warnock are as well, now.

Who knows Sandi might be able to spend a lot more at FF next year.

 

[masai]

A fit Sandi combining with a bigger, stronger Warnock next year will do wonders for our midfield.

Fully agree, some people here have tossed Sandi out with the bath water. He will arise again next year, bigger and better.

 

[Rob]

Only a complete fool would say that Sandi getting injured has helped us this year.

I dunno about helped, but our performance in the middle certainly hasn't got worse. Today was probably the best performance in the midfield for years, admittedly against ordinary opposition.

 

[sumavich]

sandi is in our best 22. Looks like Happy and Warnock are as well, now.

Who knows Sandi might be able to spend a lot more at FF next year.

Not if he can't take a chest mark. His skill level is way below Warnock, and Gilmore is a brilliant linkman.
Sandilands, our most over rated player, Warnock our most under rated.
Gilmore has shown what backing him in will do.

 

[dugrene]

Not if he can't take a chest mark. His skill level is way below Warnock, and Gilmore is a brilliant linkman.
Sandilands, our most over rated player, Warnock our most under rated.
Gilmore has shown what backing him in will do.

The reality is he is ours for the next couple of years. Our staff need to work out where he could be used most effectively at different times during a game.

He will be the difference often as not between winning and losing.

 

[chook2734]

Not if he can't take a chest mark. His skill level is way below Warnock, and Gilmore is a brilliant linkman.
Sandilands, our most over rated player, Warnock our most under rated.
Gilmore has shown what backing him in will do.

Sandilands actually has very good skills - his kicking was poor this season, but if you take a look at Chris Judd at the moment, you'll see that a busted groin can do that to anyone. He does struggle with his marking, but I believe it's a confidence issue as much as anything.

Hille and Laycock are both logs - easy for players like Warnock and Gilmore to run off and create, but come up against a more mobile ruckman and they will hurt you. I think the difference in our clearances etc is more to do with the likes of Hasleby and JCarr putting in every week and this week, coming up against some pretty weak opposition.

 

[wehavethepassion]

its the follow up by both of them when it hits the gound which is damaging for the opposition. Aslo Happy's link work has been a revelation.

Saints ruck: rix and Kossie. I think Happy is far to mobile for both of them.

 

[hoogs]

The reality is he is ours for the next couple of years. Our staff need to work out where he could be used most effectively at different times during a game.

He will be the difference often as not between winning and losing.

When Sandi comes back, play Warnock down in the forward line some more, and have Gilmore playing on the ball.

 

[Captain Pump]

Well, I'm a complete fool.
But, at least our ruck knocks are going to a Freo player, and the follow up when its been on the gound has been exceptional since Sandilands has been out. It's no co-incidence mate.
BTW I don't think you know much either.

Granted the follow up has been good, and Warnock and Gilmore are playing sensational footy, but our midfielders actually finding some form has clearly been the impetus to better clearance work. Not, as you say, Sandilands getting injured. It's no coincidence that the FFC's best footy ever came when Sandilands was in the best form of his career late last year.

In terms of what you said i.e. our ruck knocks going to Freo players I dont think that has improved, in fact in terms of sheer numbers it has almost certainly decreased. We are just playing far better when the ball is in dispute.

Freo Hit Outs Vs Opposition
R19 = 19 vs 32
R18 = 18 vs 39
R17 = 21 vs 42 (Sandi got 15 of them in less than a half)
R16 = 23 vs 48

By the way Sandilands is still leading the hitouts.

When Sandi comes back, play Warnock down in the forward line some more, and have Gilmore playing on the ball.

This is a very very good setup. And I am certain it will be the one that gets used.

 

[Underdog]

Personally I agree that it has been a blessing in disguise for you.

I believe the extra mobility around the ground compensates for the few missing knocks to advantage.

The 2 of them as a combo look promising and Warnock looks to be a terrific ruckman.

I just think that Sandi's poor marking, immobility and skills at times cancels out much of his advantage

 

[dont bowl there]

As many have pointed out, the reason why Sandi has been so poor this year is because he was playing injured! This time last year he was the next ruckman brownlow medalist, to say having him injured this year has been good is stupid. Just look at where we are on the ladder.

To say not playing him BECAUSE he is injured has helped is correct. We never should have played him while he was obviously at 50%