Very Interesting Reports in the Papers

[hulld]

From the Sun
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21370969%5E20322,00.html

- JJ has inflammation in a toe joint and could play this week against Hawthorn.

- Coach Kevin Sheedy has already announced to the squad that six or seven senior players would miss Round 1.

"It's the first time, certainly for the past three or four years, there's genuine pressure on positions," Quinn said.

First-year players Bachar Houli, Alwyn Davey and Leroy Jetta are tipped to make their debuts against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.


From the Age
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/03/12/1173548107817.html

- ADAM Ramanauskas' quest to play again for Essendon could be realised within six weeks, a third comeback to the game that may be confirmed later today.

The 26 year-old midfielder returned to something approaching a regular training program only in late January but has made such swift progress that he is expected to meet high-performance manager John Quinn today to discuss a target date for a comeback.

Quinn believes Ramanauskas will play at VFL level in the first four rounds of the season. "If things continue along as they are, that's a certainty," he said yesterday.


Great news in both papers. Good to see JJ is fine and it's a credit to Rama about his comeback. Very interesting to read that Bachar Houli, Alwyn Davey and Leroy Jetta are tipped to play round 1. Where does that leave pev and heff?

 

[whirl]

It's good news about Rama, but I'd be reluctant to read to much into the rest of it. Wait and see, wait and see.

 

[Smokin]

Id be shocked if we took 3 rookies to Adelaide, but recently I am sorta warming to Davey and Jetta in this one.

We struggle there, and have to try something different. Our best bet would be to try and run them off their feet, and having Davey and Jetta as crumbing forwards under the big three, will allow us to free up Monfries and Lovett (and the Rolls Royce Hird) to spend more time in the midfield and hence, boost our quality and pace stocks there.

TBO Im not expecting a win in this one, so a gamble here or there wouldnt worry me at all.

Great news on Rama. Hopefully a heap of people get out to watch bendigo if he does indeed play.

 

[hulld]

Id be shocked if we took 3 rookies to Adelaide, but recently I am sorta warming to Davey and Jetta in this one.

We struggle there, and have to try something different. Our best bet would be to try and run them off their feet, and having Davey and Jetta as crumbing forwards under the big three, will allow us to free up Monfries and Lovett (and the Rolls Royce Hird) to spend more time in the midfield and hence, boost our quality and pace stocks there.

TBO Im not expecting a win in this one, so a gamble here or there wouldnt worry me at all.

Great news on Rama. Hopefully a heap of people get out to watch bendigo if he does indeed play.

spot on!!!!!

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

We'd get mauled if we took 3 rookies over there. Two at the most. Davey + Houli or Jetta.

Who would we rotate through the midfield?

Good news on Rama. I still have my fingers crossed that by round 16 he'll be pushing for a spot in our finals side.

 

[hulld]

we got mauled last year with heff, pev and bolts were in the side. why wouldn't we get mauled again if they played this time???

davey is definitely going to play. whilst jetta and bachar seemed to have picked up the pace of senior footy really well. i'm not convinced bachar will play, but i think that leroy will.

where the article said that 6 or seven senior players will not be picked, do you think that is form or injury related. i can only think of a couple senior guys that are injured.

 

[Smokin]

We'd get mauled if we took 3 rookies over there. Two at the most. Davey + Houli or Jetta.

If we played them man to man, of course we would. IMO Adelaide are our worst matchup. Too much grunt and firepower in the midfield, strong ruck stocks with strong KP forwards and backs. Yes some of them are aging, yes, they have Ruck injuries, but IMO we still need to punt, and our best bet is to have a lightning quick midfield and forwardline crumbers, and hope to catch them on the rebound a lot. We really have nothing to lose in trying something new, we are coming off a 20 goal mauling there.

Who would we rotate through the midfield?

At this stage it looks like it will be Watson, Stanton, Winda, Hird, Lovett, with perhaps Dyson (if in), MJ and JJ (coming back this week) and Monfries. Pev OR Hef as well, perhaps neither will be selected.

Lovett, Winda, Dyson and Monfries provide the pure pace.

Only playing Davey means these faster guys will have to spend more time in the forward line for balance.

Good news on Rama. I still have my fingers crossed that by round 16 he'll be pushing for a spot in our finals side.

He is rookie listed, cant play (at this stage).

 

[Karlostj]

If we played them man to man, of course we would. IMO Adelaide are our worst matchup. Too much grunt and firepower in the midfield, strong ruck stocks with strong KP forwards and backs. Yes some of them are aging, yes, they have Ruck injuries, but IMO we still need to punt, and our best bet is to have a lightning quick midfield and forwardline crumbers, and hope to catch them on the rebound a lot. We really have nothing to lose in trying something new, we are coming off a 20 goal mauling there.



At this stage it looks like it will be Watson, Stanton, Winda, Hird, Lovett, with perhaps Dyson (if in), MJ and JJ (coming back this week) and Monfries. Pev OR Hef as well, perhaps neither will be selected.

Lovett, Winda, Dyson and Monfries provide the pure pace.

Only playing Davey means these faster guys will have to spend more time in the forward line for balance.



He is rookie listed, cant play (at this stage).

Luckily for Essendon, Roo, McGregor, Hentschel, Perrie won't be playing and the only ruckman that they will have is Hudson. As it looks like Essendon will be full strength, we probably have our best chance in a while to have a win.....

 

[GmeUP]

I say take the 3 rookies. As others have stated I dont really expect to win in Adelaide and it would be good to see the young fellas in a real hitout instead of the halfassed NAB challenge teams they have faced.

If I was Sheeds I would look at lineing up like this :

FB: Welsh, Michael, McVeigh
Def 50 roamer: Fletcher
HB: McPhee, Lucas, Lovett-Murray
C: Houli, Watson, Slattery
HF: Davey, Hird, Monfries
FF: Lloyd, Lovett
R: Hille, J.Johnson, Stanton

B: Ryder, M.Johnson, Johns, Winderlich

 

[monty1104]

If we played them man to man, of course we would. IMO Adelaide are our worst matchup. Too much grunt and firepower in the midfield, strong ruck stocks with strong KP forwards and backs. Yes some of them are aging, yes, they have Ruck injuries, but IMO we still need to punt, and our best bet is to have a lightning quick midfield and forwardline crumbers, and hope to catch them on the rebound a lot. We really have nothing to lose in trying something new, we are coming off a 20 goal mauling there.



At this stage it looks like it will be Watson, Stanton, Winda, Hird, Lovett, with perhaps Dyson (if in), MJ and JJ (coming back this week) and Monfries. Pev OR Hef as well, perhaps neither will be selected.

Lovett, Winda, Dyson and Monfries provide the pure pace.

Only playing Davey means these faster guys will have to spend more time in the forward line for balance.



He is rookie listed, cant play (at this stage).

Does his situation work the same as normal rookies where someone has to be placed on the long term injury list to get elevated?

 

[wazzabp]

I would also take the 3 rookies, we do have to take a different approach to this game.
Last year we took experienced players and it got us polaxed, so theres no point in trying to do the same thing with the same team.
I say go with the pace of Jetta, Davey and Houli as Adelaide do have some aging players. Lovett, Widerlich and Dyson should also be given stints across the middle, half forward and forward lines, and rotate the lot of them to break up Adelaides solid defence.
Playing them against Adelaide will also give our young guys a bit of an idea of what it takes to play against top level footballers and give the something to build up to during the year.

 

[hulld]

I say take the 3 rookies. As others have stated I dont really expect to win in Adelaide and it would be good to see the young fellas in a real hitout instead of the halfassed NAB challenge teams they have faced.

If I was Sheeds I would look at lineing up like this :

FB: Welsh, Michael, McVeigh
Def 50 roamer: Fletcher
HB: McPhee, Lucas, Lovett-Murray
C: Houli, Watson, Slattery
HF: Davey, Hird, Monfries
FF: Lloyd, Lovett
R: Hille, J.Johnson, Stanton

B: Ryder, M.Johnson, Johns, Winderlich

Scotty will not play at CHB.
I'd also be surprised if Paddy played round 1.
dyson would be picked to play on the wing ahead of slats and houli.
i commend you for not picking kepler, heff or pev

 

[GmeUP]

I am aware that team is not likely to be picked but that would be my preferred option to start with. Blood some youngsters. Leave Fletcher to support Mal and create from half back. I also want Ryder ahead of Laycock as I dont believe Laycock has what it takes to be an elite AFL ruckman.

 

[hulld]

but ryder isn't ready to play ruck. if he was picked it would be as a third tall defender. his still only 18 remember.......

from the praccy games i have seen this year laycock seems to have come on in leaps and bounds. i think that he'll have a very serviceable season.

 

[whirl]

Does his situation work the same as normal rookies where someone has to be placed on the long term injury list to get elevated?

yes, the normal rules apply

 

[Merv]

I am aware that team is not likely to be picked but that would be my preferred option to start with. Blood some youngsters. Leave Fletcher to support Mal and create from half back. I also want Ryder ahead of Laycock as I dont believe Laycock has what it takes to be an elite AFL ruckman.

Firstly how many ruckmen actually end up as ELITE ruckman, not many.

What don't you like about Laycock?
Is that he's quite a good mark, is quite mobile and can actually pick the ball up off the ground or around his knees or maybe it's that he can drift forward and provide a marking target if needed.

Ryder is no where near ready for ruck duties yet and i'm not so convinced he is actually a ruckman or that Essendon see him as one either

 

[Not a Wellman]

I am aware that team is not likely to be picked but that would be my preferred option to start with. Blood some youngsters. Leave Fletcher to support Mal and create from half back. I also want Ryder ahead of Laycock as I dont believe Laycock has what it takes to be an elite AFL ruckman.

Ryder is miles away and Laycock IF injury free will be our number 1 ruckmen by the end of the year.

I don't mind Lucas at CHB but he'd be the better loose man not fletcher IMO.

 

[hulld]

dont forget scotty kicked 67 goals last year and he is a premiership CHF. the reason he played in defence for a couple of years is because we had nobody else capable. it would be pointless of picking up big mal if scotty was to play in defence.

gmeup, don't forget the anzac day clash against the pies where laycock dominated for a half. he has a huge upside and he has had a full pre-season for the first time.

 

[GmeUP]

dont forget scotty kicked 67 goals last year and he is a premiership CHF. the reason he played in defence for a couple of years is because we had nobody else capable. it would be pointless of picking up big mal if scotty was to play in defence.

gmeup, don't forget the anzac day clash against the pies where laycock dominated for a half. he has a huge upside and he has had a full pre-season for the first time.

I remember that quite clear was also Lovett's arrival at AFL level and another Hirdy big day out. Hird was a champion before and has been since, Lovett is coming along in leaps and bounds despite his off-field troubles and Laycock has shown little or nothing since.

I think Ryder would be the better choice given hes more athletic, could go forward or on a wing when not rucking!

 

[hulld]

laycock has been injured for the majority of the time since that anzac day game. in the last two seasons whenever it looks like he was getting some form he got injured.

ryder is nowhere near being ready to play ruck in the AFL. anyway he has shown quite a bit playing in defence this pre-season.

 

[macca69]

I say take the 3 rookies. As others have stated I dont really expect to win in Adelaide and it would be good to see the young fellas in a real hitout instead of the halfassed NAB challenge teams they have faced.

If I was Sheeds I would look at lineing up like this :

FB: Welsh, Michael, McVeigh
Def 50 roamer: Fletcher
HB: McPhee, Lucas, Lovett-Murray
C: Houli, Watson, Slattery
HF: Davey, Hird, Monfries
FF: Lloyd, Lovett
R: Hille, J.Johnson, Stanton

B: Ryder, M.Johnson, Johns, Winderlich

Because Adelaide seem to have a lot of injuries to talls already this season, they'll go into this game with a much smaller side than usual. Also Essendon's major weakness' last year were a lack of speed and footskills through midfield, although these guys are only debuting, they already have something to offer you guys, that a lot of your more mature players don't.

I'd expect a lineup something like

B: Welsh Michael Slattery
HB: Lovett-Murray Fletcher McVeigh
C: McPhee Watson Winderlich
HF: Hird Lucas Lovett
F: Davey Lloyd Monfries

Ruck: Hille, JJ, Stants

Int: Laycock, Houli, Jetta, Johns

Hope that with Houli, Jetta and Davey in that Monfries and Lovett will get some genuine time in the midfield rotations. I reckon you guys are a chance to knock of Adelaide.

 

[hulld]

dyson in for slattery.
mcphee will play in defence
besides that I am happy with it

 

[monty1104]

I agree with GmeUP that Paddy Ryder ios a better option in the ruck that Laycock. I see Laycock as a Steve Alessio type player. Good, accurate kicking, strong marking forward and a backup in the ruck. I don't see why Hille, Laycok and Ryder can't all play together. The only problem being having to sit CJ out, which may not be a bad thing for 2007.

 

[hulld]

cj is more ready than paddy to play regular senior footy.
give paddy some time
laycock is much more talented than SES was

 

[DaSawx]

Ryder is 18, no need to rush him at all