Showdown 17

[conVINCEd]

Basically they are saying that every player that has fair dinkum crack will get a game. If you are not prepared to give 110% to this club you will struggle to get a game. Surprise, surprise its a Malcolm Blight philosophy.

Then why the hell is Doughty playing?

Surely Begley will come under consideration this week with Hart out. Begley may have been poor in Round 1 but he is a quality player IMO; hopefully he can recapture his form of early last year.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Am I the only one that would play Rutten on Tredders and McGregor on the resting ruckman??????

We should play our best defender - McGregor, our CHB on their best forward - Tredrea, their CHF. So simple really, yet it never seems to eventuate ... & we usually lose. Need to shut down their matchwinners!

That leaves the Hound & Truck to cover White & the resting ruckman.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Doughty = Dropped. This is a MUST. You can't have people giving that type of effort at any stage in any game, let alone when a game is in the balance! If he isn't dropped, you can pencil the crows in to remain crap for the next 3 years (or as long as NC is coach!) Think of the precident is sets if he is allowed to remain in the team!
Another thought for this week, Mattner on Francou - injuring players with good tackles is his main asset! Francou would be thinking twice about that knee!
In: Begley, ?, ? - I couldn't come up with other options assuming Clarke, Torney & Burton are no good (although I hear Torney is a possibility) - Van Berlo = not yet, at least not in this game (although I think he will be picked)
Out: Doughty, Hart, Skipworth - Can we also drop Welsh for being weak as with his 'watch me fall over when the pressure is on' act? Probably not when I can only come up with one realistic in!

Doughty plays 1 average game & the calls for his head come. Go back & look at his form since NC has taken over & he has played far more good games than bad. I would like a matchfit Begley in the team, but that shouldn't be this week as he is struggling with Sturt. Dropping Welsh after 1 bad game is stupid too. Why don't we drop everyone regardless after 1 bad game. Surely not an over-reaction.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

What he said

I think Shirley will tag Francou.

Shirley should get either Francou or James - whoever is deemed more dangerous.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Yes

Rutten as a similar player is too short and physically not strong enough for Tredrea.
Best bet will be to play a different player type than Tredrea - would it be outrageous given his poor form to suggest M.Stevens?
Having made his name with the Crows as a backman it may be the injection he needs.

I would stick to our structure & start Kenny on Tredders. If we are getting beaten in KP's during the game, then I would consider swapping him with Stevo.

 

[blighty]

Am I the only one here that thinks Doughty will not get dropped??????
Craig has shown enourmous confidence in him. Sure he has had a stinker on the weekend but in all honesty he is better than that. Something tells me NC will give him another chance especially if Hart misses with the injury.

You could be right...Craig could not have been impressed with his overall efforts last week...let alone that pathetic marking attempt...not sure if what Doughtey offers is all that better than Shirley & Skipworth....certainly his leg is better...I'm a believer he's better value playing off a wing rather than in defence where his height & poor overhead ability limits his effectiveness.I've said before I would double team Tredrea by playing Bock alongside McGregor so in my side Doughtey makes way for Bock.

Harts absence means Torney must play & Clarkes availability allows 3 ruckmen to be utilised with Biglands up forward....if we learnt anything at all last week...we must get big bodies up forward able to contest in a marking contest. Scotty Welch must be given more room either in a pocket or across half forward.I'd play Jericho as the small crumbing forward...

Although I'm sure Van Berlo will play sometime this year I'm not convinced this game is the game to introduce him...

My side...
Biglands Hentshell Jericho

Welch Perrie Goodwin

Begley Roo Mattner

Bock McGregor Johncock

Bassett Rutten Torney

[F] Hudson Mcleod Edwards

Thompson, Clarke,M. Stevens & Bode

 

[Portia]

I dont think the Power would play Monty on Welsh. Monty generally prefers it across half back where he can set up play, I think Welsh is too quick from the goal front and would probably exploit Monty's lack of speed.

I have to disagree there. Prior to Chad moving into defence, you'd be right, but when Chad got the loose man role, Monty had to shift his game to greater accountability. Welsh would be an appropriate matchup.

 

[macca23]

Am I the only one that would play Rutten on Tredders and McGregor on the resting ruckman??????

Not for me Stiffy.

McGregor to have first crack at Tredrea.

Rutten on White.

Basset on the resting ruck.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Not for me Stiffy.

McGregor to have first crack at Tredrea.

Rutten on White.

Basset on the resting ruck.

Yep, that's how I see it too Macca.

 

[macca23]

Shirley should get either Francou or James - whoever is deemed more dangerous.

IMO Chad Cornes is Port's most dangerous mid-fielder these days. James the most skilful. Francou the most courageous.

I'd put Shirley on their prime tagger, Cornes and reverse the role. The rest of the mid-fielders should attack, attack and attack some more, because potentially this is our strongest area of advantage. That way we could make
Port's mid-field chase rather than play forward of the ball, which is their preference.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

IMO Chad Cornes is Port's most dangerous mid-fielder these days. James the most skilful. Francou the most courageous.

I'd put Shirley on their prime tagger, Cornes and reverse the role. The rest of the mid-fielders should attack, attack and attack some more, because potentially this is our strongest area of advantage. That way we could make
Port's mid-field chase rather than play forward of the ball, which is their preference.

Exactly, the midfield is surely the only area where we have an advantage so we must go all out attack. I would start with Roo, Thompson and Mcleod in the square and Mattner and Goody on the wings.
I hope Mattner is never used as a tagger again. Ayres nearly destroyed Mattners games when he played him as a tagger in 2003.

 

[noddy]

IMO Chad Cornes is Port's most dangerous mid-fielder these days. James the most skilful. Francou the most courageous.

I'd put Shirley on their prime tagger, Cornes and reverse the role. The rest of the mid-fielders should attack, attack and attack some more, because potentially this is our strongest area of advantage. That way we could make
Port's mid-field chase rather than play forward of the ball, which is their preference.

Definitely what macca says which is something i also have been preaching.

Make Cornes the hunted & see how he likes it.


Well i do hope you meant Kane & not Chad though macca.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

IMO Chad Cornes is Port's most dangerous mid-fielder these days. James the most skilful. Francou the most courageous.

I'd put Shirley on their prime tagger, Cornes and reverse the role. The rest of the mid-fielders should attack, attack and attack some more, because potentially this is our strongest area of advantage. That way we could make
Port's mid-field chase rather than play forward of the ball, which is their preference.

I was thinking of Shirley on K Cornes, which would be the way to go unless it turns in to a 2 on 1 situation with Kane following Macca & freeing up a player.

 

[johnnypanther]

Only reason Port's playing so many talls ATM is because we've run out of midfielders that are out of nappys. I think the crows should try and exploit our lack of pace, lack of rotation in the middle. Thats a big part of how Freo beat us.

the only problem with that suggestion is that IMO the Crows biggest weakness is a lack of pace

 

[Portia]

Nah, I reckon the Crows biggest weakness is that their pacy players often don't use that pace to best effect, and by that I mean that they're either McLeod being disinterested, or another outside player that has a good run but then sprays the kick.

At the moment, the Crows `receiving' midfield seems to be: Pace, Finishing, Motivation - pick any two.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

Looking at the quality of Port last night (until their last quarter fade out) they are streets ahead of us in terms of a team unit (depth) and individual talent.

Really though, our midfield should be able to get the upper hand. If Roo, Goodwin, Edwards, Macca and Thompson play at their peak, it could be interesting. Only problem (!) is where are goals are going to come from.

While I do agree with you, remember Showdown XV.

Every game is different.

 

[Markthirtytwo]

IMO Chad Cornes is Port's most dangerous mid-fielder these days. James the most skilful. Francou the most courageous.

I'd put Shirley on their prime tagger, Cornes and reverse the role. The rest of the mid-fielders should attack, attack and attack some more, because potentially this is our strongest area of advantage. That way we could make
Port's mid-field chase rather than play forward of the ball, which is their preference.

Outside the square thinking and I like it.

Think Francou is all three of your initial comments.

 

[Dogga_Style]

If the no shows at today's training are anything to go by you can count Shirley and Bode OUT! They made brief apperances on the sidelines but that was it.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Then why the hell is Doughty playing?

Surely Begley will come under consideration this week with Hart out. Begley may have been poor in Round 1 but he is a quality player IMO; hopefully he can recapture his form of early last year.

He has been ordinary for well over a month. Why would you bring in an out of form player. And I might add, BADLY out of form??????

 

[Stiffy_18]

Not for me Stiffy.

McGregor to have first crack at Tredrea.

Rutten on White.

Basset on the resting ruck.

OK I will play a Port coach now.

What if I put Matthew Primus in the forward pocket?????? Do you still leave Bassett on him or do you make a switch.

We need to make sure the match ups are right and quite frankly, McGregor has been disappointing so far this year. I keep having nightmares of that wizard cup showdown where a half arsed Tredrea took McGregor to the cleaners so much so that NC had to double team Tredders with Kenny and Scott Stevens.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

OK I will play a Port coach now.

What if I put Matthew Primus in the forward pocket?????? Do you still leave Bassett on him or do you make a switch.

We need to make sure the match ups are right and quite frankly, McGregor has been disappointing so far this year. I keep having nightmares of that wizard cup showdown where a half arsed Tredrea took McGregor to the cleaners so much so that NC had to double team Tredders with Kenny and Scott Stevens.

McGregor to start on Tredrea full-stop. It also doesn't upset our structure. I would be tempted to play Bassett on White as I think he will move around the forward line more than their resting ruckman, who is more likely to play out of the goal square (v Rutten).

 

[jc67]

OK I will play a Port coach now.

What if I put Matthew Primus in the forward pocket?????? Do you still leave Bassett on him or do you make a switch.

Big Ben will be his shadow I predict.
attacking tagger type ruck

 

[Truck Rutten]

OK I will play a Port coach now.

What if I put Matthew Primus in the forward pocket?????? Do you still leave Bassett on him or do you make a switch.

Sorry Stiff, no good. Nowhere near belligerent enough, and not one single whinge or complaint.

 

[conVINCEd]

He has been ordinary for well over a month. Why would you bring in an out of form player. And I might add, BADLY out of form??????

Who else has similar physical attributes to Hart? Torney is about it.

As for our backmen, I would play McGregor on Tredrea, Basset on White and Rutten on the resting ruckman, simply because of Rutten's superior strength over Basset - after all, isn't this the reason we are so happy Truck is now playing at FB?

 

[DJ75]

Doughty plays 1 average game & the calls for his head come. Go back & look at his form since NC has taken over & he has played far more good games than bad. I would like a matchfit Begley in the team, but that shouldn't be this week as he is struggling with Sturt. Dropping Welsh after 1 bad game is stupid too. Why don't we drop everyone regardless after 1 bad game. Surely not an over-reaction.

And this is the exact reason we have been crap for the last few years. Give a guy enough opportunities and he will eventually play a game good enough. Bottom line is Doughty made the Crows look like a joke, and you can be sure his efforts (and it wasn't just the spoil) will be shown by every coach to his team before we play them this year.
Same goes for Welsh (who I actually like!) His efforts when the heat was on was very poor. I wouldn't drop him, but I sure as hell would rip into him. Doughty on the other hand MUST be dropped. We MUST make a statement about what is expected of our team. Tell him to go back to SANFL and show a strong attack on the ball and them bring him back. Remember that team confidence is more important than one individual (how many of our boys saw that effort on telly and are now wondering if everyone else is on the same page in terms of the putting your body on the line?)