On 05/04/2010 at 00:25, Nasher said:

Agree with the gist of most of that, particularly re: Bate. For some reason he always takes a while to get back in to the swing when returning from breaks, be it injury or the pre-season (or in this case, both). Once the cobwebs blow out he'll be fine. I don't think he'll be able to blow them out properly in the VFL.

+1.

Those calling for Bate to be dropped have short memories. He looked slow, fumbled below his knees and fluffed kicks last year after an injury interrupted start to 2009. He ended up in the top few of our B&F.

There is no way he'll get up to speed playing with Casey, and he was actually quite good in the second half of Saturday's game. Those who have already watched a replay will see what I mean.

My tips are the same as most others:

In: Sylvia

Out: Bartram

If Rivers is fit, there must be a match-up for him against Adelaide otherwise he'll be playing at Casey. At a glance, I can't see one. Warnock to Tippett, Frawley to Walker and that's about it as far as tall forwards go. Joel Mac can play on Porplyzia, who is about three weeks short of a gallop anyway. And Joel Mac's game on Travis Cloke was exceptional after he was beaten twice in the second term in one on ones.

Out: Newton, Bennell.

In: Anyone ..

You'd expect Sylvia to come in.

  On 05/04/2010 at 02:03, the pearl said:

Out: Newton, Bennell.

In: Anyone ..

Sylvia & Martin

Would love to see Blease get a game if he is ready for it.

  On 03/04/2010 at 07:41, Chook said:

Frawley had no influence on getting the ball out of defensive 50. Despite the fact that he really didn't cost us anything on the scoreboard, he wasn't nearly attacking enough to hurt the opposition at all.

Where you even watching the game??

  On 05/04/2010 at 01:26, Lost Highway said:

Very sound comments. A game by Newton in which he did not disgrace himself is a rare thing. He did what he was asked without making us groan. He contested well in the ruck where his spring made up for height difference and even Jolly by no means towelled him. He supported Jamar's Herculean effort soundly and kicked a goal that he might normally have fluffed. He could be given another chance on the strength of it.

If Sylvia's really ready to go, then his selection is the only certainty. Rivers would be good, but he's not a certainty like Sylvia. Bate and Bartram are the most likely drops if you ask me. If confidence was shown after the drubbing in round 1, it's hardly likely that the selectors will go for the doctor after such a good team performance. They'll look on the positive side of players like Bruce, Bennell and Newton, who all gave something.

A good call. I thought every player played a part in stages.

The difference between us and a top side, is how long those stages are,the role they have been assigned and how they carried it out.

Going to be a bit tough to tell the player he missed out next week.

There still lots of improvement to come, just happy to see the positives.

Newton is still on my 'death row' he has been given a lifeline,still hoping he can take the next step.

Bruce is underdone

Bartram got a game probably only on matchups.

Jones,tried hard, he could be under the pump.

INS: Sylvia, Martin

OUTS: Bate, Newton

Bartram stays in as he played well and deserves another crack. Bennell's pace in the forward line made a difference - despite shirking it at times he created a big spark with his defensive pressure in particular. Bruce played a bit better than the previous week so I'll keep him, although he's lucky as I was almost going to drop him for Rivers - I felt Rivers played a shocker against the Hawks so might need a run in the 2s. Bate goes as he has been disappointing so far this year - Sylvia is the obvious replacement. Newton played OK although I feel Martin is a better option due to his ability in the ruck - this decision is based on the hope he has been working (alot) on his kicking.

The love for Bate comes and goes like the tide.

The bloke didn't have a pre-season and was servicable across half forward with 8 marks and 15 touches.

The fact that he is straight into the team without a preseason illustrates the esteem that he is held with by the Footy Dept.

He gradually got better last season after many posters thought he should be dropped and he finished 4th in the Bluey.

He is trying to play CHF at 22 when he is far more suited to HFF (and an effing good HFF) and he is trying hard.

Let him be.

Frawley was our best defender on Saturday. He's one of the most exciting young players we've got. We're a hard lot to please aren't we? If he was in a black & white jumper or navy blue jumper, people would be raving about him.

I obviously was way too harsh on Frawley after the game and should have reserved my judgment until I watched the replay on Fox. Sorry and thank you to all those people who called me out on it. I was certainly wrong about him. But he still had a couple of crucial turnovers that resulted in goals, despite his otherwise fab defensive game. I want to set the record straight and say I think Frawley is an awesome player, and if it weren't for these crucial mistakes today, I would have put him in our best. Such is the nature of being a defender that errors just become so much more costly due simple to where you're playing. I know this from experience.

But having watched the replay, Jones was significantly worse than I remembered and I'd consider dropping him along with Michael Newton and/or Strauss for Sylvia, Rivers and/or Garland.

I will be furious if Newton gets dropped. He is awful, but it is just unfair on the bloke to give him one game a year to do something then straight out. Nobody else deserves his spot and we are still in development/rebuild/experimentation mode. He muts stay for at least 2 more weeks to try and prove something.

Sylvia for Bartram the only change for mine

  On 05/04/2010 at 04:22, Curry & Beer said:

I will be furious if Newton gets dropped. He is awful, but it is just unfair on the bloke to give him one game a year to do something then straight out. Nobody else deserves his spot and we are still in development/rebuild/experimentation mode. He muts stay for at least 2 more weeks to try and prove something.

Sylvia for Bartram the only change for mine

It is hard on a player to bring him in and then drop him again straight afterwards. Especially when your team has just nearly pulled off the greatest upset in a while. But I'd bring in Sylvia as a forward who rotates through the middle. He's not as tall as Newton, but he's a good mark and has good disposal. However, he can't contest the ruck, which Newts did quite respectably when he had to yesterday. So unless we also bring in Martin or Spencer, dropping Netwon would also be forcing Jamar to pretty much ruck 100% of the game - which would be Herculean after his effort on Saturday. So that would indicate Newton shouldn't get get dropped. It'll be interesting. I would consider dropping Bartram if he hadn't done some good things in the last quarter against Collingwood. Those few disposals he had then lead to a couple of our team goals in that quarter. And again, it would be hard on Bartram to get dropped after one game.

  On 05/04/2010 at 03:32, rpfc said:

The love for Bate comes and goes like the tide.

The bloke didn't have a pre-season and was servicable across half forward with 8 marks and 15 touches.

The fact that he is straight into the team without a preseason illustrates the esteem that he is held with by the Footy Dept.

He gradually got better last season after many posters thought he should be dropped and he finished 4th in the Bluey.

He is trying to play CHF at 22 when he is far more suited to HFF (and an effing good HFF) and he is trying hard.

Let him be.

I don't think he's as good as you probably think he is. But he is good, and he's being asked to do a lot more than he's probably capable of.

The fact that he's in the team without a pre-season doesn't necessarily show the esteem he is held in. It may well just show the fact that we don't have any other options.

  On 05/04/2010 at 04:22, Curry & Beer said:

I will be furious if Newton gets dropped. He is awful, but it is just unfair on the bloke to give him one game a year to do something then straight out. Nobody else deserves his spot and we are still in development/rebuild/experimentation mode. He muts stay for at least 2 more weeks to try and prove something.

Sylvia for Bartram the only change for mine

I see what you're getting at, but Bartram's in the same boat as Newton. Only one game for him.

  On 05/04/2010 at 05:49, titan_uranus said:

I don't think he's as good as you probably think he is. But he is good, and he's being asked to do a lot more than he's probably capable of.

The fact that he's in the team without a pre-season doesn't necessarily show the esteem he is held in. It may well just show the fact that we don't have any other options.

I agree; he's good but no world beater. Doesn't have enough arrows in his quiver - unlike Petterd - but has the turning circle of a Landcruiser. Can't mark overhead, as a rule. I'm not denying he's an important if limited player, but under-done he's just not giving enough. Perhaps if he retains his place, he'll show something next week.

  On 05/04/2010 at 05:04, Chook said:

It is hard on a player to bring him in and then drop him again straight afterwards. Especially when your team has just nearly pulled off the greatest upset in a while. But I'd bring in Sylvia as a forward who rotates through the middle. He's not as tall as Newton, but he's a good mark and has good disposal. However, he can't contest the ruck, which Newts did quite respectably when he had to yesterday. So unless we also bring in Martin or Spencer, dropping Netwon would also be forcing Jamar to pretty much ruck 100% of the game - which would be Herculean after his effort on Saturday. So that would indicate Newton shouldn't get get dropped. It'll be interesting. I would consider dropping Bartram if he hadn't done some good things in the last quarter against Collingwood. Those few disposals he had then lead to a couple of our team goals in that quarter. And again, it would be hard on Bartram to get dropped after one game.

Agree. We must bring in either Martin or Spencer. We have nothing in the way of backup ruckman at this stage and this should be worrying!! I would prefer to see Martin in because Spencer just seems far too raw. This inclusion will probably be at the expense of Newton, I would like to see him retain his spot however. Any game where he doesn't blow is a game in the right direction..

Sylvia will regain his spot also seeing as he is in the 22. I think hes inclusion will be at the expense of Batram or Jones- although I feel Bennell should be sent to the VFL (cause hey, you gotta stick by your convictions).

In Martin, Sylvia

Out Newton, Jones/Batram/Bennel

Why would you change the Newton does centre square, Dunn around the ground ruck backup system for Jamar that we used on Saturday. Why not just increase it. I agree we have to look after Jamar, but I think he was about 85% TOG on Saturday, we could drop that back to 70-75% which should look after him until Spencer or Martin deserve a game.

  On 06/04/2010 at 05:16, the master said:

Why would you change the Newton does centre square, Dunn around the ground ruck backup system for Jamar that we used on Saturday. Why not just increase it. I agree we have to look after Jamar, but I think he was about 85% TOG on Saturday, we could drop that back to 70-75% which should look after him until Spencer or Martin deserve a game.

Totally agree. As the week has gone on, I've managed to watch the game on two more occasions, and the backup that Newton gave, both in the ruck and in the forward line, was much better than I had thought after my first viewing. There's no way I'd drop him after we nearly won. I'd give Strauss a run at Casey and bring in Sylvia to replace him. If we want to bring in Rivers and/or Garland, I could see dropping Jones (because of his poor disposal and lack of speed) and/or Bennell (but only if it will help him with his hardness, not "punish" him for his mistakes). But the problems with doing that might be that we create a little imbalance bringing in two taller defenders for a midfielder and a speedy player.

So I'd end up just doing the following:

INS: Sylvia

OUTS: Strauss

  On 05/04/2010 at 05:49, titan_uranus said:

I see what you're getting at, but Bartram's in the same boat as Newton. Only one game for him.

Not exactly. Bartram was bought in at the last minute to improve our matchups against a particular opponent. Where as Newton is being given a chance to be a key forward in a team currently lacking one. I feel Newton needs at least 2 more games. Unless he plays like he did last year against the Crows. If this were to occur the AFL should ban him for bringing the game into disrepute.

  On 06/04/2010 at 12:43, Roost It said:

Not exactly. Bartram was bought in at the last minute to improve our matchups against a particular opponent. Where as Newton is being given a chance to be a key forward in a team currently lacking one. I feel Newton needs at least 2 more games. Unless he plays like he did last year against the Crows. If this were to occur the AFL should ban him for bringing the game into disrepute.

Newton is one shaky performance away from permanent retirement one would think, but would definately like to see him retain his spot to prove once and for all any worth he may have.

What's the news on Kyle Cheeney? Where has this young man been?

  On 06/04/2010 at 13:08, Enforcer25 said:

What game were you watching??!??

Unbelievable call. Terrible call Hutchy.

Before you lay the boots in, recognise that I've since changed my opinion and apologised for being so wrong. But he did make some crucial errors on the week-end. I'd not drop him now though.As I said above:

Posted 05 April 2010 - 03:12 PM

I obviously was way too harsh on Frawley after the game and should have reserved my judgment until I watched the replay on Fox. Sorry and thank you to all those people who called me out on it. I was certainly wrong about him. But he still had a couple of crucial turnovers that resulted in goals, despite his otherwise fab defensive game. I want to set the record straight and say I think Frawley is an awesome player, and if it weren't for these crucial mistakes today, I would have put him in our best. Such is the nature of being a defender that errors just become so much more costly due simple to where you're playing. I know this from experience.

  On 06/04/2010 at 13:11, Chook said:

Before you lay the boots in, recognise that I've since changed my opinion and apologised for being so wrong. But he did make some crucial errors on the week-end. I'd not drop him now though.As I said above:

Posted 05 April 2010 - 03:12 PM

I obviously was way too harsh on Frawley after the game and should have reserved my judgment until I watched the replay on Fox. Sorry and thank you to all those people who called me out on it. I was certainly wrong about him. But he still had a couple of crucial turnovers that resulted in goals, despite his otherwise fab defensive game. I want to set the record straight and say I think Frawley is an awesome player, and if it weren't for these crucial mistakes today, I would have put him in our best. Such is the nature of being a defender that errors just become so much more costly due simple to where you're playing. I know this from experience.

This one came back to bite you Chook. Recanting was a good move - particularly when you have such a strong reputation as a football commentator!

I had another look at the replay and it was very obvious every time Flash was bursting towards inside 50, he was looking for Bennell.

Either history will continue to repeat itself until he learns to go hard, or Bennell did actually cramp up when he "squibbed" in the 3rd quarter and couldn't compete for the mark. I hope it is the latter.

I was rapt with the games of Bail, Jamar, Petterd and Warnock. And Juice was OK...loved it when he pushed the injured Ball over when he was on his haunches!

So for mine it is:

IN

Sylvia

Rivers

OUT

Bate (groin)

Bartram

  On 06/04/2010 at 13:24, the pearl said:

This one came back to bite you Chook. Recanting was a good move - particularly when you have such a strong reputation as a football commentator!

Why shouldn't I admit when I'm wrong? I don't think it's very good form to make dumb jokes about a guy when he's just said he was a little harsh. I don't have any reputation to save, and have no illusions of that. I'm just a faceless football forum geek - and so are you. So get off your high horse and recognise that it really wouldn't matter if I made good or bad calls on anything, so I don't know where you get this "good move" rubbish from.

Frawley was good on the week-end, but his poor disposal at times cost us goals. That's a fact, but I guess I was too damning of those errors and didn't recognise the other good things he did. Any other smart aleck comments?

Is Sylvia a monty to play this week?

His busted jaw was diagnosed as '4 weeks' and this is week number 4.

I don't see the reasons in playing someone that will almost certainly be off our list at the end of the year, if we have other options available. IMO both Newton and Bartram are just seeing the year out.

So for this week we bring in

Out: Newton, Bartram, Bennell

In: Sylvia, Martin, Maric

We drafted Maric as a forward pocket specialist, I think we need to see him for the next 4 weeks. Bennell will come back in in a few weeks.

Looking at our injury list we will have a few selection head aches over the next month. Who goes out for

Garland

Rivers

Morton

Aussie

Add in Watts, Blease, Jetta all these players will be ready to play some time in the next 4 weeks.