Preview The Crown Prince or the Clown Prince - Fremantle vs St Kilda Sunday 7th April Optus Stadium 15:20

[dockerfemme]

The Crown Prince or the Clown Prince.
(with apologies to AA Milne)​

You may wish to reprise the first and second instalments.
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/kissing-a-frog-fremantle-vs-st-kilda-sunday-2nd-july-domain-stadium-14-40.1169497/#post-51003345
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/there-was-an-old-man-who-lived-in-a-shoe-fremantle-vs-st-kilda-12-may-18-10-optus-stadium.1193523/

Prince Ross put up a notice
Lost or stolen or strayed
The Stevedores’ scoring power
Seems to have been mislaid.
​

Prince Ross looked everywhere. On top of the cupboard, under the stairs, in the Princess’s drawers (wait, what?).

He said to Sir Ballas, ‘Sir Ballas’ he said, ‘what have you done with the scoring power?’. But Sir Ballas, commonly known as Hayden, said not a word.

He said to Sir Leigh of the Montegnas, ‘Sir Leigh’ he said, ‘what have you done with the scoring power?’. But Sir Leigh could only scratch his head.

He said to Sir Davidhale, ‘Sir Davidhale’ he said, ‘what have you done with the scoring power?’. But Sir Davidhale said it was nothing to do with him.

He said to Sir Dardy, ‘Sir Dardy’ he said, ‘what have you done with the scoring power?’. And Sir Dardy said ‘Don’t worry Prince Ross. I’ve got this’.

In their excitement, Sir Ballas fell over, Sir Leigh passed out and Sir Davidhale waved his brown and gold streamers.

Does Sir Dardy have the scoring power? Can Prince Ross relax? Will he be the Crown Prince or the Clown Prince? Well, we will have to wait and see.

Fremantle vs St Kilda
Sunday 7th April 2018
Optus Stadium
15:20
​

Last Time They Met
2018 Round 8 Optus Stadium Dockers 13 11 89 St Kilda 8 11 59
The Dockers led all day. St Kilda did rally in the third quarter, but Dockers ran out comfortable winners. Sir Sandi, Sir Fyfe and Lachie Who got the 3,2,1 in the Brownlow.

Line-ups
The Dockers will be without best 22 players Connor Blakely, Hayden Ballantyne, Stephen Hill, Sandi and Harley Bennel, although Connor and Ballas are the only ones who look like getting on the park in the foreseeable future. Brennan Cox is also on the injured list and Sam Switkowski is underdone, both players who are marginal best 22.
The Saints are without Jake Carlisle, Dylan Roberton and Dan Hannebery, none of whom are close to playing. With Carlisle and Roberton being tall defenders, this may leave them underdone down back.

This Week’s Battle
The Dockers have been Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde so far this year - a brilliant win in Round 1 against North Melbourne at Optus, followed by an extremely ordinary performance against Gold Coast at Metricon.
St Kilda has won both its matches. A 1 point win over Gold Coast and an 11 point win over Essendon both at Marvel. It is difficult to get a form line from that, but a win’s a win.

Prediction
If Dardy’s found the scoring power, then Dockers by 15 points. If not, then it’s the Clown Prince all the way.

 

[Scham]

No excuses in this one. Richo is THE worst coach going around. They botched their rebuild and are desperately trying to get back on track and success is as foreign to them as it is to us. Their trading and drafting has been middle of the road at absolute best.

Must win. I think we will at home and by 21 pts.

 

[DeanS]

No excuses in this one. Richo is THE worst coach going around. They botched their rebuild and are desperately trying to get back on track and success is as foreign to them as it is to us. Their trading and drafting has been middle of the road at absolute best.

Must win. I think we will at home and by 21 pts.

Who's second worst?

 

[wild side]

Worst will be deemed this w/end.
Think we'll lose, and Ross will rightfully take his mantle as the worst in the comp!!
Good effort Femme!!

 

[beetz]

I do not want to see Ross trot out his same sh!tty old defensive game plan. Return to the run and gun that we saw in Round 1 and stick to it.

Players need to pull their finger out as well and realise that wins just don't happen, you're only as good as your last game so at the moment they are looking very amateur.

 

[Scham]

Who's second worst?

Probs the Scott at North. Maybe Bolton but he's showing some good signs this year. Actually, Cameron wouldn't far off either. What he's achieved with his list is deplorable!

 

[Monument Hills]

Probs the Scott at North. Maybe Bolton but he's showing some good signs this year. Actually, Cameron wouldn't far off either. What he's achieved with his list is deplorable!

Cameron. He was given a Ferrari but has constantly shown up in a Fiat with the engine light flashing.

 

[wayToGo_]

Cameron. He was given a Ferrari but has constantly shown up in a Fiat with the engine light flashing.

He's filled it with diesel and mostly ****ed up the engine. It's going to take more than a tune up to fix.

 

[Tonga Bob]

Zounds! Sir Ross of Lyon (it's in France, look it up) doth espouse thy efforts thou gavest dockerfemme

 

[dockerfemme]

Zounds! Sir Ross of Lyon (it's in France, look it up) doth espouse thy efforts thou gavest dockerfemme

Thank you, Tonga Bob

 

[kingswood71]

Wont lose this at home.
Prince Ross will encourage his minions to forward the leather ellipsoid directly AND with accuracy to Sir Tabs and Sir Lobb.
They shall both kick 4 majors.
Sir Nathan of Brownlow shall accumulate 38 touches with many contested and be awarded by royal degree 3 votes.
The purple army will rejoice and shall march forth like the crusaders of old, leaving foes trembling.
Prince Ross again will fall into favour.
Us by 27 points. Thus speaketh the kingswood.

 

[BlueE]

Sir Leigh of the Montegnas has fought for and defended Prince Ross of the Lyon in the past and comes with special knowledge to influence the narrative and is the only Knight that has the Princes's ear for action.

Sir Nathan of the Brownlow is a brave leader in battle and the minions will follow, rising to the occasion to give the purple army hope for one more week.

The battle in the Optus will be won by the Purples by 24 points.

This speaketh Rufus Blue.

 

[freo1997]

Stkilda by 20 points.

We don’t have enough support for Fyfe/Mundy atm. Our ruckman is too inexperienced to carry the load, unfit and possibly carrying an injury. I just have huge concerns for our engine room for this game and for the rest of the season.

 

[Scham]

Stkilda by 20 points.

We don’t have enough support for Fyfe/Mundy atm. Our ruckman is too inexperienced to carry the load, unfit and possibly carrying an injury. I just have huge concerns for our engine room for this game and for the rest of the season.

If we get beaten by the Saints we may as well shut up shop, play all of the old blokes and battlers in the firsts and put all our time, effort and resources into developing our youngsters at Peel.
Go to the draft with a very early pick and use it well. Trade in whatever else we need and reset for 2020 with at least 2 new assistants.

 

[Dale147]

Stkilda by 20 points.

We don’t have enough support for Fyfe/Mundy atm. Our ruckman is too inexperienced to carry the load, unfit and possibly carrying an injury. I just have huge concerns for our engine room for this game and for the rest of the season.

Yes, I feel the same way.

 

[Mogumber]

Saints by a couple unfortunately, Ross will offer his head and it will duly be chopped off by the black knight, sir peter bell. We aren’t very good

 

[Righteo]

Stkilda by 20 points.

We don’t have enough support for Fyfe/Mundy atm. Our ruckman is too inexperienced to carry the load, unfit and possibly carrying an injury. I just have huge concerns for our engine room for this game and for the rest of the season.

The Saints will likely be going with either Lewis Pierce (i had to look him up) or Rowan Marshall in the ruck. Marshall is a ruck/fwd hybrid who's played less career games than Darcy and only started getting minutes in the ruck last season. Jack Steven, their most damaging mid, is still well underdone from the time he took off and is going to be tested on a massive ground like Optus.

I don't know why this game in particular makes you worried about our engine room? I think it will be an arm wrestle early but if the Saints at home in round 3 makes you want to hoist the white flag and adopt the foetal position....yeesh.

 

[Fat Nyfe]

I think we’ll win this at home in a dour slog. St Kilda are full of confidence and will really bring the pressure unlike North and we’ll counter by going ultra defensive. But our better spread of talent should be enough with Pearce bouncing back from a poor game, Fyfe playing a blinder and Hogan getting on the scoreboard. We’ll dominate much of the game but won’t be able to put it on the board, keeping the Saints in it.
75 - 65 win.

 

[Okinakashi]

Surely Dave, Alex, Luke and the youngsters don't all have stinkers like last weekend, when at least half a dozen of our team played their worst game in a long time.

If a couple of the above have average or better games, we should squeak past the Saints.

If not...

 

[MadMundy]

If we lose there's something wrong. We need to come out firing today. Fremantle by 40

 

[wayToGo_]

I'd prefer we waited until Sunday

 

[basashi]

If we lose there's something wrong. We need to come out firing today. Fremantle by 40

Saints will see Freo as winnable and they would just love to go 3-0 and will make sacrifices to get it.

Let's see. Hopefully the home ground will get us home.

 

[elsleevador]

I do not want to see Ross trot out his same sh!tty old defensive game plan. Return to the run and gun that we saw in Round 1 and stick to it.

Players need to pull their finger out as well and realise that wins just don't happen, you're only as good as your last game so at the moment they are looking very amateur.

Do you think Ross changed his game plan after the first week?
I don’t.

 

[beetz]

Do you think Ross changed his game plan after the first week?
I don’t.

I think Ross reverts to his outdated defensive gameplay when he is challenged. He would rather stem the attack than be on the offensive.

 

[Joao]

I think Ross reverts to his outdated defensive gameplay when he is challenged. He would rather stem the attack than be on the offensive.

I was there, the structure didn't change (or at least not notably) from the start of the game to the end.

So either you think Ross changed the plan from the one that won by 82 points at the start of the GC game or...