Selection Table week 1

[Munga47]

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are this week for the selectors.

Does Rooke play? Who goes out for him? Is it an unlucky Hunt?

Bartel to come in, I assume Byrnes will probably lose his spot for him.

What will they do with the ruck situation? King was really good yesterday but Blake was awesome Saturday night.

They're the only 3 selection issues I can see. Are there any others?

Rooke for Hunt (Unlucky I know)????
Bartel for Byrnes
Ruckmen????

 

[Partridge]

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are this week for the selectors.

Does Rooke play? Who goes out for him? Is it an unlucky Hunt?

Bartel to come in, I assume Byrnes will probably lose his spot for him.

What will they do with the ruck situation? King was really good yesterday but Blake was awesome Saturday night.

They're the only 3 selection issues I can see. Are there any others?

Rooke for Hunt (Unlucky I know)????
Bartel for Byrnes
Ruckmen????

Hunt has been good the last 3 weeks. No way should he be dropped.

At this stage, I think there will only be 1 change:

In: Bartel
Out: Varcoe

 

[Copernicus]

I foresee the following:

In: Bartel, Rooke
Out: Varcoe, Byrnes

If only change, then it will be Bartel for Byrnes. Will also depend on how Egan comes up.

 

[Munga47]

I absolutely agree that Hunt in the past 3 games seems to have found his confidence again and has been very solid. But if Rooke has played 2 VFL matches and with the VFL having a week break, do you bring him in? Or is somebody else looked at coming out?

I suppose my point is, Is Rooke good enough or played well enough to force himself in?

 

[Catter]

Hunt has been good the last 3 weeks. No way should he be dropped.

At this stage, I think there will only be 1 change:

In: Bartel
Out: Varcoe

If the clubs pays 10's of $1,000 to fly a guy over to Germany and not play him in the finals would be crap. Rooke will come in maye not for Hunt but Byrnes.

 

[Munga47]

Ooops, sorry. Didn't realise this exact subject concerning Rooke was in the Addy this morning. Just read it and they think he's a certainity.. But, it's the addy and we know how they are.

 

[Partridge]

I absolutely agree that Hunt in the past 3 games seems to have found his confidence again and has been very solid. But if Rooke has played 2 VFL matches and with the VFL having a week break, do you bring him in? Or is somebody else looked at coming out?

I suppose my point is, Is Rooke good enough or played well enough to force himself in?

Rooke was solid without starring. He wasn't as good as Hawkins or Davenport, or even King. But if they decide they need his toughness he could come in.

The only 2 players I can see missing are Varcoe and Byrnes - in that order. So if they decide to punt on Rooke then he and Bartel will come in. Not bad changes by any means.

 

[Mooney_d'King]

Rooke was solid without starring. He wasn't as good as Hawkins or Davenport, or even King. But if they decide they need his toughness he could come in.

The only 2 players I can see missing are Varcoe and Byrnes - in that order. So if they decide to punt on Rooke then he and Bartel will come in. Not bad changes by any means.

Yep, agreed. In Bartel and Rooke. Out Varcoe and Byrnes. Hunt has been very good and deserves his spot.

The Blake v King question is more difficult. Both had good games on the weekend.

 

[PoidaCat]

IN: Jimmeh, Chess Piece
OUT: Byrnes, Varcoe.

 

[cat_fanatic]

I totally agree that Bartel should come in for Byrnes if he's right - Byrnes played well but he can not be trusted in a final of this importance!

Rooke should come in for Varcoe - it is well known that physical pressure and hard tackling is a key component to success in finals and Varcoe is not prepared to put his head over the ball. Rooke is a better tackler, can go in the middle and apply forward pressure.

If Egan is not right then who will replace him? Is Max fit enough to take on the third tall while Harley moves to get the second tall in Egans place?

Does Hawkins deserve a spot over Nathan? I believe he does after his effort on the weekend but it wont happen unfortunately.

HUNT SHOULD NOT BE DROPPED! He has been fantastic in the last month – way to hit form at the right time Josh!!! (and Ottens while I’m at it)

 

[AFKAJR]

I absolutely agree that Hunt in the past 3 games seems to have found his confidence again and has been very solid. But if Rooke has played 2 VFL matches and with the VFL having a week break, do you bring him in? Or is somebody else looked at coming out?

I suppose my point is, Is Rooke good enough or played well enough to force himself in?

Surely if declared fit rooke must play. His hardness around the pack is essential in finals footy.

 

[cat in sydney]

Surely if declared fit rooke must play. His hardness around the pack is essential in finals footy.

Agree. Not only did the club spend $25,000 on getting him right for the finals, he's one of the toughest bodies we have, which is crucial for finals.

For a good example of how important, look at the Swans v Hawks game yesterday.
Right from the bounce, Sydney bashed, crached, pressured, bumped, and intimidated their younger and smaller Hawks players. This led to injuries for the Hawks, and it also led to poor skills, as they were fumbling, dropping marks, missing targets, and scared to put their head over the ball. And because of that, Swans bolted to a 70 point lead at half time!

The Swans gave Hawks a lesson of what finals footy is about. if we want to go anywhere, we need to be able not only handle that pressure, but deal it out. And Rooke is key to that.

 

[Sean Sheep]

It would concern me a little, seeing Varcoe and Byrnes going out... might leave us a little short on pace. Rooke and Bartel have to come in though, so I can't think of who else would be dropped.

 

[Hoffy95]

I think its pretty simple.

Bartel will come in for Varcoe who will be first dropped.

IF they name Rooke which I'm almost certain they will, then Byrnes will make way for him.

Highly unlikely they will make any other changes. Hunt for me has certainly secured a spot ahead of Varcoe and Byrnes.

Smokies would be King for Blake, but I hope they stick with Blake, and possibly Tomahawk for Nathan Ablett.

Apart from that, I can't see any other possible scenarios except if Egan doesn't come up, then who knows? I'd say Harley would go to CHB, Rooke would go to back pocket, and Byrnes would keep his spot.

 

[Munga47]

The more I think about this the more I respect how difficult it must be for the coaching staff.
Let me play devils advocate for a second.

Here's what everyones thinking
Out
Varcoe, Byrnes
In
Rooke, Bartel

Here's how we lined up last week in the backline

Milburn Scarlett Harley

Mackie Egan Wojo

Kelly Enright Corey

Josh Hunt came off the bench and was very very good.
Now enter Max Rooke, Who moves from the backline?
So we play Rooke, Hunt, Egan, Harley, Scarlett and Milburn.

Where does that leave us with Mackie and Wojinski, will it be as simple as pushing them more forward towards the wing and part of our normal high rotation?

I think Byrnes and Varcoe will be replaced easily by our many smaller running options also. But my concern is not with the backline, but with players like Mackie and Wojinski who have providied us with awesome running ability coming out of the backline. Does pushing them somehwhere else now flirting with change?
This is the only reason I keep coming back to Hunt.

I don't want the guy to get dropped either cause he's been fantastic but I just feel that we may have too many defensive options now.

 

[year of the cat]

B: Enright Scarlett Milburn
HB: Harley Egan Mackie
C: Wojcinski Ling Bartel
HF: S.Johnson N.Ablett Chapman
F: Stokes Mooney Hawkins


Foll: Ottens Corey G.Ablett



Int: Blake Kelly Selwood Hunt



have decided to risk Hawkins for the first final. Still plenty of run off the bench. Only need two small forwards in Stokes and Chapman.

 

[sarah.13]

It would concern me a little, seeing Varcoe and Byrnes going out... might leave us a little short on pace. Rooke and Bartel have to come in though, so I can't think of who else would be dropped.

Pace is good but grunching tackles and possessions are better.
Would have been handy if Davenport was available.
Bartel in for Varcoe -definetly.
If Egan doesn't come up,then Rooke in,otherwise wait till next game.

 

[Partridge]

Josh Hunt came off the bench and was very very good.
Now enter Max Rooke, Who moves from the backline?
So we play Rooke, Hunt, Egan, Harley, Scarlett and Milburn.

Where does that leave us with Mackie and Wojinski, will it be as simple as pushing them more forward towards the wing and part of our normal high rotation?

No one. Rooke isn't a defender anymore. He's a midfielder. He'll be part of the rotation through the middle. I can easily imagine him starting on the bench, then once introduced, coming off the centre square at the ball like a psychopath.

 

[sexyhunk]

i'm afraid one will be
out: egan
in: rooke

 

[g-thing]

Don't get me wrong I don't mind Hunt as a player and if the selectors pick him again then good luck to him. But I can't see where this view that Hunt is playing great is coming from. From my observations he does a lot of good things but he also has his defensive lapses which I think are often costly. The question is can we cope with those in the finals. I'd bring Rooke in for him without hesitation. The x factor is Egan's injury.

 

[Mooney_d'King]

The x factor is Egan's injury.

Well we have to deal with it now:

EGAN BLOW FOR CATS
Monday, September 3rd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
BY BRAD KLIBANSKY

GEELONG have been dealt a major blow on the eve of the finals, with key defender Matthew Egan suffering a fracture of the navicular on his right foot.

The Cats have just released a statement, adding, “The club will be seeking a surgical opinion and look at all available options to get Matthew back on the field this season.”

 

[year of the cat]

Well we have to deal with it now:

EGAN BLOW FOR CATS
Monday, September 3rd, 2007 at 12:49 pm
BY BRAD KLIBANSKY

GEELONG have been dealt a major blow on the eve of the finals, with key defender Matthew Egan suffering a fracture of the navicular on his right foot.

The Cats have just released a statement, adding, “The club will be seeking a surgical opinion and look at all available options to get Matthew back on the field this season.”

Bugger bugger bugger - to look on the bright side at least all the power forwards (i.e. Brown, Riewoldt, Pavlich) are not playing finals. Real shame for Matthew though.

 

[Copernicus]

Well, Egan out changes things:

Out: Egan, Byrnes
In: Rooke, Bartel

 

[Turbocat]

Egan gone for the rest of the year ..maybe. Mmmm. As most have observed on this board , our weakest point is tall defenders and rucks. Egan or Ottens going over was always going to shuffle the Geelong squad. There is no obvious replacement for Egan that doesn't upset our current side , Sam Hunt didn't play and H is simply not up to it. That Thompson kid in the VFL isn't on our list and Spencer........ NO COMMENT

We might have to look at Mooney to the backline , Ottens to the forwardline and King and Blake in the ruck . Not happy with it but what else can we do? Maybe Rooke on the backline.

 

[g-thing]

Copernicus your "Travis Varcoe Sponsorship" might give it away a bit but you seem to imply Varcoe should stay in. Not even funny.