Who will play?

[Renegade]

With King, Ottens, Riccardi, S.Johnson and Kingsley all seemingly fit.....maybe Kingsley not quite fit yet.... Who should we expect to see in the team out of these key players? I'm guessing King will play with the others missing out. I'd hate to see us go into the game with Blake rucking against Keating for the most part of the game. I'd say the captain will come in and play maybe a half off the bench to give Blake a hand and possibly Moondog to ruck for half a quarter. Thoughts?

 

[Copernicus]

It's hard to say since we don't really know the condition of some of these players but one would expect one or both of Ottens and King to front, with Blake as back-up. Ricco will play, and probably Kingsley also. I don't know enough about Johnno's condition but I wouldn't be surprised if he got a spot on the pine and played out a couple of quarters.

Should be an interesting team.

 

[Jack-Packenham]

I doubt the cats will go in with all of King, Ottens, Playfair and Blake considering 3 of them have had a very limited build up. I think Blake will be the unlucky one to miss. Doubtful wether the other 3 could play full games so a 3 way rotation between them with each spending 10 minutes a quarter on the pine.

 

[Partridge]

I doubt the cats will go in with all of King, Ottens, Playfair and Blake considering 3 of them have had a very limited build up. I think Blake will be the unlucky one to miss. Doubtful wether the other 3 could play full games so a 3 way rotation between them with each spending 10 minutes a quarter on the pine.

If King and Ottens are fit, play them. What's the use of having them running around in the 2nds? Same with Steve Johnson, he barely raises a sweat in the reserves anyway. I hate this term "underdone". Gives the impression that they're all 10 kilos overweight.

Commonsense should apply, if they are first team players and they've trained strongly - play them. End of story.

 

[catempire]

I get the feeling now that King will play and Riccardi will play but Ottens and Steve Johnson will have a run in the VFL. Kent will have another week off.

 

[Sammy D]

I don't think Kingsley will play

 

[thehoff]

I get the feeling now that King will play and Riccardi will play but Ottens and Steve Johnson will have a run in the VFL. Kent will have another week off.

I too believe King and Ricardi will play, however i too believe the Ottens will play.

I also think you are on the money is S.Johnson playing in the magoos, along with Monica and Super Kent to miss one more week.

 

[year of the cat]

I think King will play, possibly Riccardi, but I will be very surprised if they play Ottens, S johnson and Kingsley. Bomber would look pretty stupid if any of these three went down in round one. Its big picture stuff this year - we need the big guns at the end of the year.

 

[Tweak Talent]

I'd think

King, Riccardi would be certainties to play.

Dog would be 50/50.

Ottens to play in 2's

 

[thehoff]

I'd think

King, Riccardi would be certainties to play.

Dog would be 50/50.

Ottens to play in 2's

What is the point of playing Ottens in the 2's?

If he is fit enough to play football then why not play him in the seniors.

Imagine the uproar if he got injured in the 2's. He has just as much chance (if not more) to get injured in the reserves as at senior level.

 

[smelly cat]

If King and Ottens are fit, play them. What's the use of having them running around in the 2nds? Same with Steve Johnson, he barely raises a sweat in the reserves anyway. I hate this term "underdone". Gives the impression that they're all 10 kilos overweight.

Commonsense should apply, if they are first team players and they've trained strongly - play them. End of story.

Hmm.. don't really agree with your "common sense."

Would you seriously consider taking 3 players who aren't yet up to AFL match fittness and have them take up three positions out of four on your interchange bench?? For round 1? When the opposition are all fresh???

"Underdone" doesn't hurt you in the first quarter, but by three quarter time against an eager Brisbane side with Black, Power, Akermanis and Voss leading the charge, we'll be in big trouble. I'd much rather have Mackie, Byrnes, Prismall on the bench than an exhausted King, Ottens and Johnson who can't take futher part in the game.

King will play, for a 45min max.
Blake will defintely play, no doubt, and share ruck duties with Mooney when King is off.
Ottens will definitely NOT play. He still needs to warm into the season. Going from 30% intensity training to the 100% intensity of an AFL match is a sure way to tear his groin once more. He needs to play in the VFL at least once, probably twice, for a half.

As for the others- no idea. Wouldn't be suprised if either Riccardi or Steve Johnson get a run, but I don't think both will. Johnson is a guy you can bring back with no match practice and he'll still kick/ set up a couple of goals. Kingsley will miss one more week I reckon.

 

[Rosso]

What is the point of playing Ottens in the 2's?

If he is fit enough to play football then why not play him in the seniors.

Imagine the uproar if he got injured in the 2's. He has just as much chance (if not more) to get injured in the reserves as at senior level.

I agree. Or what happens if he plays a half in the twos and struggles for a kick. Does he sit there ala Jade Rawlings kicking the dew off the ground up until July.

Now I don't think I'm breaking new ground here but Ottens is a confidence player and turning up at 8.30am for a 10.15am game isn't going to fill your head with confidence now is it.

Play him up forward and let him ruck inside 50 but other than that share the ruck duties with King, Mooney and Blake if required. Otto can then build up match fitness and still have an impact on our senior side, where it counts.

If it was round 17 and these big blokes hadn't played for a few weeks but they had trained flat out for two weeks they'd be playing, no questions asked.

 

[BlueNWhite]

I find your discourse, as a board, refreshing and enlightening.

 

[Partridge]

Hmm.. don't really agree with your "common sense."

Would you seriously consider taking 3 players who aren't yet up to AFL match fittness and have them take up three positions out of four on your interchange bench?? For round 1? When the opposition are all fresh???

I understand where you're coming from, but I'll maintain my position. Exactly how far away from "match fitness" are they? Remember King and Ottens are ruckmen, so will have spells either on the bench or in the forward pocket. Neither will spend 100 minutes on the ground anyway. If they hadn't been able to train, no problem I agree with you wholeheartedly. But both of them have got through the last 3 training sessions with flying colours, which indicates to me they must be just about right.

Interestingly, Jonathan Brown has played a half against a reserves side, then one practice match. Why isn't anyone questioning his match fitness?

 

[chapmanmagic35]

What is the point of playing Ottens in the 2's?

If he is fit enough to play football then why not play him in the seniors.

Imagine the uproar if he got injured in the 2's. He has just as much chance (if not more) to get injured in the reserves as at senior level.

That's not the worry though, it's playing underdone players who won't be able to contribute much because they will be tired after 'x' amount of time.

 

[BlueNWhite]

That's not the worry though, it's playing underdone players who won't be able to contribute much because they will be tired after 'x' amount of time.

Refer to the West Coast v Saints match last night- St Kilda had completely run out of tickets by the 4th quarter

 

[thehoff]

That's not the worry though, it's playing underdone players who won't be able to contribute much because they will be tired after 'x' amount of time.

They are professional athletes that are paid to be fit. Surely they should know after 5-7 years in the AFL system if they can run out a game of football.