Two main selection dilemmas

[Jelly Bean]

I feel the board has gone a little flat of late and lacked the rigourous debate of previous years (perhaps due to our uncontested dominance of the league) so I thought I would introduce a thread to garner opinions on what I see as being the two mostl hotly debated selection issues we have for our best 22.

Assuming all fit, the two selection issues I feel we have are:

1. Maxwell v Goldsack.
There are some who claim the skipper has automatic selection in our best 22 (despite what some claim as a lackluster year so far) as his on-field 'generalship' and credits in the bank outweigh his percieved defensive liabilities this year. Goldsack, however, has proven that he is a very solid player defensively and offensively, and possesses a certain degree of genuine flexibility that Maxwell arguably does not have. While I think Goldsack is the better player, and think that this year will be the last in which Maxwell is selected in preference to him, I think that Maxwell will be picked for the final game this year, and Goldsack will miss out (assuming all others are fit)

Jelly's Selection: Maxwell.

2. Blair v Fasolo.
I have obviously assumed that Krak has a spot (which could arguably been up for debate although clearly favoured by MM) and that Sidebottom has enough credits from last year's finals series to be selected as well, and therefore the decision as to essentially who becomes this year's grand final sub is between these two. Blair has shown a consistency and tackling tenacity in contested situations, and an ability to run hard and be in the right spots all year while playing largely as a small forward. Fas has come in and superceded the expectations of most outside the club, and in his 10ish games has confirmed himself a certain player of the future with his solid contested game, strong overhead marking, and super-dangerous right boot. In what is almost a flip of the coin, I have Blair slightly ahead (although wavering) due to being a little more inside as a small forward (Fasolo is a little bit more similar to a Didak type), however this selection may go down to whoever had the better week prior come selection time. Note that Blair has played most games this season, and we would be faced with a Kickett-esque situation if he was dropped for the last game

Jelly's selection: Blair

Would love to get other's opinions on this.

 

[docks]

If all fit and available:

Maxwell - It's not necessarily what he does but the intangible and subtle lift he gives the defense imho. Can't see it on TV but at the game you can see it a lot better in the way he controls the backline.

Fasolo - Nothing to base this on as I think him and Blair are pretty even but I personally have a gut feeling that Fasolo will be a bit of an X Factor in the finals.

Glad it's not my decision to make though and would be rapt if the selection panel are having these types of headaches.

 

[mwalker]

I will say Maxwell gets back in. His leadership in the finals series will be needed and MM is already talking him up as virtually a cert.

Fasolo. Loved the boy since we recruited him and he has not given me a reason to stop. He could kick a bag in a final, no doubt. He will be the "Blair" of 2011, ie coming in midway thru the year, continued to show form and held his spot.

 

[Breakthelines]

The only player that won't be ready for finals is Maxwell due to his thumb.

Wellingham, Tarrant and Ball all have to come in this week.

Thomas & Shaw first week of finals back from suspension.

Blair lacks polish in front of goal and showed that on Friday night, Fasolo is starting to collect a bit of footy and class class in front of goals. Fasolo stays in and the midget is out.

Round 24
In: Wellingham, Tarrant, Ball
Out: Young & Wood (Omitted), Thomas (Suspended)

 

[mwalker]

The only player that won't be ready for finals is Maxwell and his thumb.

Wellingham, Tarrant and Ball all have to come in this week.

Possibly Thomas & Shaw first week of finals.

Blair lacks polish in front of goal and showed that on Friday night, Fasolo is starting to collect a bit of footy and class class in front of goals. Fasolo stays in and the midget is out.

Round 24
In: Wellingham, Tarrant, Ball
Out: Young & Wood (Omitted), Thomas (Suspended)

MM seems to think he is recovering fast enough for week 1. And he was not surprised.

 

[mattys123]

Round 24
In: Wellingham, Tarrant, Ball
Out: Young & Wood (Omitted), Thomas (Suspended)

Yep, you have to agree with that.

Then week one of the finals would look like this IMO;

In: Maxwell, Shaw, Thomas (hopefully)
Out: Sinclair, ????, ????

That's where the dilemma begins, if Maxy and Thomas are available week one fo the finals, who goes out?

I still say Goldsack and Fasolo, but this is also reliant on no further injuries and suspensions in round 24.

I expect Goldsack to be playing on Grand Final day this year, just because like last year someone will have a terrible finals series or get injured.

Goldy may miss week one of the finals (If Maxy makes it), but he may well still play in back to back flags.

Fasolo plays if Thomas doesn't, I think it's about as simple as that.

 

[ThexderX]

I love Maxy, but he is surely a liability unless he is absolutely 100% fit. I can't see how that can be, so for mine he cannot be selected. Imainge if he fails to spooil with the damaged hand, which costs us a match losing goal.

Blair and Fasolo is going to be a real heartbreaker....assuming one has to miss out, which I'm not convinced will be the case.

If I have to chose one.....Fasolo misses out.

 

[Shade]

i hope maxwell dont come back
goldsack is the better play imo

and id choose fasolo over blair

 

[jonbe54]

Seems to be a changing of the guard going on at the moment. I love both Maxy and Blair BUT both have been gone past at the moment, whether through injury or dip in form is irrelevant. I'm a big fan of Mick's 'form player plays - no matter how many games he has to his credit' philosophy. Maxy needs to be 100% and I don't think that will happen and Fasolo is another dangerous forward option that will spread opposition backlines paper thin when added to the array we already have.

 

[dubber]

Does anyone think Macaffer is a chance for lining against Geelong?

 

[Shade]

Does anyone think Macaffer is a chance for lining against Geelong?

nah wont see him till 2012

 

[standingroomonly]

Does anyone think Macaffer is a chance for lining against Geelong?

Sadly not, injury has ruined his year. Hopefully he gets himself set for a big 2012

 

[Pie eyed]

Seems to be a changing of the guard going on at the moment. I love both Maxy and Blair BUT both have been gone past at the moment, whether through injury or dip in form is irrelevant. I'm a big fan of Mick's 'form player plays - no matter how many games he has to his credit' philosophy. Maxy needs to be 100% and I don't think that will happen and Fasolo is another dangerous forward option that will spread opposition backlines paper thin when added to the array we already have.

LOL.
Blair is in great form.
Had one quiet game last week.

 

[Fasta_123]

I hope the caff gets another shot this year. Last 6 rounds and finals last year he was my fav player. Such a strong mark, great tackler and just seemed Yo win every one on one and even on a few occasions two on one! The club must think he's got something to give seeing as they sent him to Arizona

 

[Thommo 42]

B: Toovey Tarrant Davis
HB: Shaw Reid O'Brien
C: Thomas Pendles Wellingham
HF: Didak Cloke Beams
F: Sidebottom Dawes Blair
Foll: Jolly Swan Ball
Int: Goldsack Johnson Brown
Sub: Fasolo

Wow, just realised I missed Krakouer. This is going to be a bloody hard team to pick!

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Sack and Fas for me.

 

[Shade]

I hope the caff gets another shot this year. Last 6 rounds and finals last year he was my fav player. Such a strong mark, great tackler and just seemed Yo win every one on one and even on a few occasions two on one! The club must think he's got something to give seeing as they sent him to Arizona

he wont hes gone far behind the pecking order for the small forwards

 

[jonbe54]

LOL.
Blair is in great form.
Had one quiet game last week.

Didn't say he was in bad form I said a dip in form which by my definition means a week or two of below par form. Even one off week could be enough to see a player get the chop at this stage of the year. Like I said love both Blair and Maxwell but both will be under the magnifying glass.

 

[HFF]

Blair's goal kicking ability has been lacking for some time now. When the ball is in his hands inside 50 you can just about say with confidence that he will miss. Sometimes he doesn't even make the distance. Now, he does have other qualities but IMO, Fasolo looks like a much more dangerous option in attack.

 

[BuckleysBrigade]

Some pure numbers for you all or stew over:

Blair v Fasolo
Disposals - 16.2 v 12.8
Contested Pos - 8.2 v 6.4
Efficienct - 71% v 74%
Marks - 2.4 v 3.5
Clearances - 2.3 v 1.6
Free for - 0.8 v 0.6
Free against - 0.5 v 0.8
Tackles - 4.2 v 2.3
1%ers - 1.2 v 0.9
Goals - 1.2 v 1.4
DT score - 71.9 v 60.4
TOG - 75% v 30% eek:!!)


FWIW, here's my two cents:
Maxwell over Moneybags: With Heater, Harry and Davis I think Goldy's rebounding runs (his strength IMO) are not as important and his importance is minimised. Further, Maxy is clearly better in terms of leadership and one-on-one (admittedly he has battled a bit recently in the latter). Also Goldy's disposal still concerns me and a team like Hawks will carve us up on the rebound for poor disposal.
Blair over Fas: Blair's strength, IMO, lies in his importance inside 50; he's quick and hard to man-up on, and provides great pressure - and example is that goal he kicked against Freo from 10m out. This will only be emphasised with Dawes and Cloke back in and, along with Krak, he becomes more important in a FWD set-up including both big men. I think Fas has been great around the flanks as a player driving us forward, but I see this as a role which can be played by many, where as Blairs upside is more unique IMO. Mind you, it is like splitting hairs!

 

[Jelly Bean]

Some pure numbers for you all or stew over:

Blair v Fasolo
Disposals - 16.2 v 12.8
Contested Pos - 8.2 v 6.4
Efficienct - 71% v 74%
Marks - 2.4 v 3.5
Clearances - 2.3 v 1.6
Free for - 0.8 v 0.6
Free against - 0.5 v 0.8
Tackles - 4.2 v 2.3
1%ers - 1.2 v 0.9
Goals - 1.2 v 1.4
DT score - 71.9 v 60.4
TOG - 75% v 30% eek:!!)


FWIW, here's my two cents:
Maxwell over Moneybags: With Heater, Harry and Davis I think Goldy's rebounding runs (his strength IMO) are not as important and his importance is minimised. Further, Maxy is clearly better in terms of leadership and one-on-one (admittedly he has battled a bit recently in the latter). Also Goldy's disposal still concerns me and a team like Hawks will carve us up on the rebound for poor disposal.
Blair over Fas: Blair's strength, IMO, lies in his importance inside 50; he's quick and hard to man-up on, and provides great pressure - and example is that goal he kicked against Freo from 10m out. This will only be emphasised with Dawes and Cloke back in and, along with Krak, he becomes more important in a FWD set-up including both big men. I think Fas has been great around the flanks as a player driving us forward, but I see this as a role which can be played by many, where as Blairs upside is more unique IMO. Mind you, it is like splitting hairs!

Geez, those stats mount a case for Fas. Achieving those disposal / mark / goal numbers with less than half the time on ground as Blair... Could be quite useful as a sub...

I would actually change my answer somewhat... I suggest that if the role is as a sub, then Fas would get the nod. If it is as a starting 21 player, then Blair.

Either way, one is going to be stiff, but especially so in the case of Blair if he gets dropped after playing almost every game.

 

[jonbe54]

Despite our injuries and suspensions we are in a FANTASTIC position regarding personnel. So many worthy players to consider, sometimes 3 players for 1 position the wealth of options can be put down to tremendous recruiting and a coaching and player development team equaled nowhere else in the league.

 

[vjknight]

If all fit and available:

Maxwell - It's not necessarily what he does but the intangible and subtle lift he gives the defense imho. Can't see it on TV but at the game you can see it a lot better in the way he controls the backline.

Fasolo - Nothing to base this on as I think him and Blair are pretty even but I personally have a gut feeling that Fasolo will be a bit of an X Factor in the finals.

Glad it's not my decision to make though and would be rapt if the selection panel are having these types of headaches.

if 100% then maxwell definitely, despite his 'poor form'. his captain qualities still shine thru. google mike brearley for a comparison.

the other spot i wouldve thought was decided. we are debating who is 22nd spot - ie who is the sub. fasolo has proved he's the best sub, and hence he gets the spot.

there ya go guys - all decided.

 

[Breakthelines]

B: Toovey Tarrant Davis
HB: Shaw Reid O'Brien
C: Thomas Pendles Wellingham
HF: Didak Cloke Beams
F: Sidebottom Dawes Krakouer
Foll: Jolly Swan Ball
Int: Goldsack Johnson Brown
Sub: Fasolo

Wow, just realised I missed Krakouer. This is going to be a bloody hard team to pick!

Blair out and Krakouer in without a doubt!!!

 

[vjknight]

B: Toovey Tarrant Davis
HB: Shaw Reid O'Brien
C: Thomas Pendles Wellingham
HF: Didak Cloke Beams
F: Sidebottom Dawes Krakouer
Foll: Jolly Swan Ball
Int: Goldsack Johnson Brown
Sub: Fasolo

bloody hell that is a good side. actually unbeatable.