We can only afford one change this week so who?

[relapse]

Burton, Roo or Macca. At this present stage I would take Burton, Roo is massively underdone and Macca also seems to be.

If we make more than one change it would unbalance the side

out Douglas
in Burton

I think if we get over the line in the prelim we might be able to afford to bring in one more person.

 

[ICanDressMyself]

Why can we only afford to make one change this week? I'd love to get Roo, Macca and Burton all back.

However, Roo wont be playing and Macca might need another week off so it'll probably be Burton in Douglas out. Although I do think we need Kenny back in the side.

 

[Crows_Chick]

Burton and Macca both back, Roo give him another week... Can we really afford to go into this game without these guys IF they are proven fully fit ?? Even if they are used only sparingly off the bench in a rotation system, they wouldbe essentially fulfilling the role that the likes of Douglas and Massie are now... Is there anything to lose in that case by playing them both ??

Macca for one is a proven BIG game player, one way or the other the selectors will be heroes or villains based on their decisions and the result of the game !! Will be a big night for them !

 

[relapse]

Why can we only afford to make one change this week? I'd love to get Roo, Macca and Burton all back.

However, Roo wont be playing and Macca might need another week off so it'll probably be Burton in Douglas out. Although I do think we need Kenny back in the side.

Hypothetically if we brough back in three underdone players in a final would be suicide.

We have the ability to be able to bring in Burton this week and either Roo or Macca for the GF if we win, maybe both, but we have to be wary of picking just by name.

 

[Glenno23]

Burton and Macca both back, Roo give him another week... Can we really afford to go into this game without these guys IF they are proven fully fit ?? Even if they are used only sparingly off the bench in a rotation system, they wouldbe essentially fulfilling the role that the likes of Douglas and Massie are now... Is there anything to lose in that case by playing them both ??

Macca for one is a proven BIG game player, one way or the other the selectors will be heroes or villains based on their decisions and the result of the game !! Will be a big night for them !

If we go in with all 3 we WILL LOSE....

1 is more than enough..... you can't have to many players in a prelim that haven't played in the last few weeks.... you need to be able to run all day, Roo, Macca and burton won't be able to do this. That's nearly a whole benches worth!!!!

1 player only, and it has to be Burton.....

edit: there is a difference between match fit and "fully fit"

 

[KUNG FU]

Burton seems an almost undoubted chance to play.

I'd wheel Macca out on a his death bed for a final. The guy can win games like no one else on our list. Even just having that extra experience will make such a difference to the team. Even if he only plays a half, he'll play as much as Douglas would.

Changing 4 players certainly did not hurt the Eagles last weekend. No reason why 2 players will hurt us this week.

 

[Crowsno1]

Burton, Roo or Macca. At this present stage I would take Burton, Roo is massively underdone and Macca also seems to be.

If we make more than one change it would unbalance the side

out Douglas
in Burton

I think if we get over the line in the prelim we might be able to afford to bring in one more person.

If Macca and Birdman are fit and firing and the selection committee deems them so, how can you honestly leave them out? Their fitness was never in question, it was just a matter of their respective injuries being overcome before they could be available for selection. Both are major match winners and could prove the difference in the outcome of the game.

 

[Crows_Chick]

If we go in with all 3 we WILL LOSE....

1 is more than enough..... you can't have to many players in a prelim that haven't played in the last few weeks.... you need to be able to run all day, Roo, Macca and burton won't be able to do this. That's nearly a whole benches worth!!!!

1 player only, and it has to be Burton.....

Didn't advocate all 3 to come in... said 2 changes Burton and Macca in... Give Roo another week to get himself up and going !!

 

[Glenno23]

Didn't advocate all 3 to come in... said 2 changes Burton and Macca in... Give Roo another week to get himself up and going !!

Oh, ok,

2, MAYBE, i admit Macca is a legend who could win us the game, and it might be risky, but as you said, who is the other to go with Dougie?

 

[macca23]

Burton and Macca both back, Roo give him another week... Can we really afford to go into this game without these guys IF they are proven fully fit ?? Even if they are used only sparingly off the bench in a rotation system, they wouldbe essentially fulfilling the role that the likes of Douglas and Massie are now... Is there anything to lose in that case by playing them both ??

Macca for one is a proven BIG game player, one way or the other the selectors will be heroes or villains based on their decisions and the result of the game !! Will be a big night for them !

I'm tipping the same as you. Burton a certainty and Macca a big chance. Roo no chance.

 

[Crowsno1]

If we go in with all 3 we WILL LOSE....

1 is more than enough..... you can't have to many players in a prelim that haven't played in the last few weeks.... you need to be able to run all day, Roo, Macca and burton won't be able to do this. That's nearly a whole benches worth!!!!

1 player only, and it has to be Burton.....

Craigy would not bring in underdone players and for my money, Burton and Macca will be able to run all day. It's not like Birdman and Macca are coming back from major knee surgery and are only just starting to regain fitness. Birdman is a fitness freak who will run the feet of any WCE opponent he is tagged by and Macca will hopefully be refreshed from having his feet up for the last few weeks. Roo is another story all together. Bottom line is that our run will be greatly enhanced by the inclusion of Macca and Birdman. I for one can't wait to see them tear it up against Wet Toast.

 

[Gets!]

Burton 100% to play.

Macca 85% to play.

Roo 12.4% to play.

These are all 100% based on my research, of which I am still yet to undertake.

 

[absolutezero]

I agree:

Burton & Macca in for Douglas and Massie.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I'm tipping the same as you. Burton a certainty and Macca a big chance. Roo no chance.

Same for me too.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Roo is not ruling himself out but is unlikely to play... Burton and Macca are pretty much avaiable... The question is.. IF Roo is avaiable next week... would drop someone for him? I know he's a champion but it would be very harsh on the person dropped expecially if everyone fires this week.

 

[King Elvis]

I agree:

Burton & Macca in for Douglas and Massie.

That'd be my decision as well.

Feel sorry for whoever has to tell the guys they're omitted

 

[Mad Dog]

Burton for Douglas looks like the obvious one.

Bad luck for "The Black"........but someone must give way.

Macca looked ok on the news but not super impressive from what I saw. He always seems to hold a bit in reserve though.

 

[Mad Dog]

If we go in with all 3 we WILL LOSE....

1 is more than enough..... you can't have to many players in a prelim that haven't played in the last few weeks.... you need to be able to run all day, Roo, Macca and burton won't be able to do this. That's nearly a whole benches worth!!!!

1 player only, and it has to be Burton.....

edit: there is a difference between match fit and "fully fit"

I agree with this.

Saturday's game won't be a strategic slogfest....it will be a relentless battering of 2 midfields against each other where both defenses will be under enormous pressure. We need every single player fit, fast, and firing with no room to carry players.

Ironically - if we get through - against a side like Sydney it's more a battle of tactics where more experienced heads would be prefered - and to an extent pace could be traded for guile.

We need to get it right this week.

 

[Mad Dog]

Burton seems an almost undoubted chance to play.

I'd wheel Macca out on a his death bed for a final. The guy can win games like no one else on our list. Even just having that extra experience will make such a difference to the team. Even if he only plays a half, he'll play as much as Douglas would.

Changing 4 players certainly did not hurt the Eagles last weekend. No reason why 2 players will hurt us this week.

Those players were out for a lot less time though

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

IN:Burton and Macca
OUT: Douglas and Massie.

 

[Wilburwild]

IN:Burton and Macca
OUT: Douglas and Massie.

i think this is what will happen. and its pretty unlucky for both the guys who will go out, but thats finals footy. and to say Macca wont run out the game is a load of ****! he is the player you want in your finals team (2 norm smiths prove that) and he will rise another level in a final. and as for the birdman, well he's just a supremely fit player and will be raring to go (not to mention unpredictable, and almost impossible to match up on!)

 

[Boundryump]

personally i think Ken Mcgregor should come in before Burton and Mcleod,you must remember the Eagles have got some big players who need to be matched up forget the mid field we'll get thumped there but we need someone to control their forwards.Strange how Kenny is a forgotten player i bet you he plays.

 

[Vader]

Many of our problems during the slump were caused by bringing back players who were badly underdone (Welsh, Perrie, Hart). Given the outstanding performance of our backboners and youngsters in their past two outings, I'm inclined to make the changes as minimal as possible.

Statements that Burton is less "underdone" than Roo or Macca are dodgy at best. Burton hasn't played since R18 - six weeks ago. He is probably more advanced in demonstrating his fitness, but that's not the same as match fitness.

My suggestion is ONE change for the PF, and ONE change for the GF - if we get there.

So, for the PF:
IN: Burton
OUT: Douglas

IF we make it to the GF, then Macca comes in for Massie. However, odds are that we won't escape the PF unscathed, in which case the "out" will be decided for us.

 

[Jars458]

As much as I would love to see Macca play I am thinking we may need Massie for a defensive midfield role. So Burton for Douglas is a risk worth taking but perhaps we shouldn’t make two changes. Then if we make the GF, we will have serious issues in Grand Final week with Roo and McLeod also available. Its good to have these problems.

 

[afc9798]

As much as I would love to see Macca play I am thinking we may need Massie for a defensive midfield role. So Burton for Douglas is a risk worth taking but perhaps we shouldn’t make two changes. Then if we make the GF, we will have serious issues in Grand Final week with Roo and McLeod also available. Its good to have these problems.

I think if Macca is 90% OK, then he will replace Massie and rightly so. It's hard on Massie, but that's unfortunately what happens in finals. The only other option would be to drop Torney and I would be spewing if that happened. He is a far better option than Massie or Hart (if he was fit) for that matter. Burton is as close to a certainty as you can get and rightly so, as he is a genuine matchwinner and always seems to perform well against the eagles. We need a wildcard and Burton is the man for that job.

So what do we gain and what do we lose:
Massie: Solid, dependable, but slow defender, definitely not a matchwinner.
McLeod: Proven matchwinner, big game player, but at 90% of his powers.
Douglas: Great kid, tough and fearless, but limited experience.
Burton: Proven performer, pace, goalkicker and versatile.

No brainer really, on the proviso that Macca and Burton prove their fitness. I hate the fact that guys have to be dropped, but that's the nature of the beast unfortunately. Personal sacrifice for club glory.