Strategy Trade and List Management Thread Part 8 (opposition supporters - READ posting rules before posting)

[_Mike_]

Opposition supporters coming to troll , you have been warned

 

[threenewpadlocks]

We're arguably the only club in the comp that chose not to have a mature back up ruck option.

The first game English missed, we didn't turn to Darcy or Lobb. We threw a kid to the wolves.

I don't think Emmett would have rucked more than Lobb over the course of the season.

In fact, in the Essendon game itself, Lobb went into the ruck before Croft did - we were happy to use Lobb in that situation. It's just that Lobb also went off in the 4th quarter.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

We're arguably the only club in the comp that chose not to have a mature back up ruck option.

The first game English missed, we didn't turn to Darcy or Lobb. We threw a kid to the wolves.

I've already spoken my thoughts enough over the past two weeks so I'll keep this brief. I can only assume that Sam Power saw Lobb as the English cover and he and Bevo weren't on the same page with it. Probably begs the question though that if you see Lobb as the only English cover (and potentially Darcy cover) and knowing he is a first choice key defender then why wouldn't you recruit a seasoned key defender to cover Lobb. I refuse to believe that he thinks Gardner is the answer to any AFL related questions coming into 2026

I thought the best option ahead of the Hawthorn game was to bring in Busslinger and move Lobb but I could at least understand the gamble knowing that the defense has been working and see if you can get away with two non rucks and try to read the Hawthorn taps. It was quite clear from early on that we couldn't get away with it and the only time we looked decent was when Lobb spent a real extended period in the third quarter rucking and we starting evening up the clearance battle. So the Geelong game I really don't understand. I can't imagine anyone with a sound mind watched that game and could convince themselves that an Emmett/Croft pairing was an option again. Even if Bevo thought it was the best idea, surely the assistants would push back and common sense would prevail

 

[Mojorisin]

I didn't watch the game but Marshall's stats look good from last night. Looks like he split the ruck with DeKoning closer to 50/50

 

[Mutt]

I didn't watch the game but Marshall's stats look good from last night. Looks like he split the ruck with DeKoning closer to 50/50

Last night Marshall looked exactly like the ruckman we need to support Tim.

 

[Marsy]

The thing I saw tonight, and it is something I notice in a lot of games, is how selfish our players can be. The amount of times I see opposition players shepherd in marking contests, when giving the ball, or when allowing a team mate to get the ball is crazy, then we have our team, and I just don't see it. Barring a few players, there is no mongrel, no desire to do the hard things that aren't glamorous because that's what the team needs. Freo did that a lot tonight, particularly over that 7 goal run.

Shepherding is something I wish our players would do more of. I have really noticed that our players will run next to a teammate to get the ball, but don’t even think to shepherd the opposition.

 

[Libbaaaa]

I didn't watch the game but Marshall's stats look good from last night. Looks like he split the ruck with DeKoning closer to 50/50

He is completely out performing de Koning. The 3 goals a bit flukey though, he’s a terrible forward.

 

[Chalky White]

Why? All of Buku, O'donnell, Coffield, Selwood, Williams, Jacques, Walker, and Cleary can play that role. We need an actual competent key defender to free up some of those guys to play that role.

They can attempt to play that role. Being successful at it is a far different thing

 

[VitalDread]

Cant remember if we have a 2026 draft thread
I wouldn't be shocked if Dogs bid on Swans or Lions academy players this year