Selection conundrum

[joeboy 3,194]

Almost certainly , Riewoldt will be selected by the Saints against us this weekend , after arguably overcoming as debilitating an injury as Liam Jurrah , who almost certainly will not be selected .

The Saints have more to lose than us by rushing in their best and most valuable player , afterall they're in devestatingly good form , whilst we are almost certainly playing for peanuts .

Bailey and his committee are not ones to make courageous selection decisions , but with Jurrah apparently burning the place down at training there seems no reason to hold back the only player on our list who can make a difference .

Some will argue that he didn't exactly burn with Casey in their less than auspicious last hitout , but he could just as easily find form in an underperforming senior team than amongst and against less capable talent at Casey

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Who says Riewoldt is going to play? Just because he's back at training doesn't mean he's ready to go. They'd probably fancy they don't need him either.

[Neita3000 37]

The way our forward line is going at the moment an unfit Liam Jurrah is still probably our best forward.

If he's completely injury free, then why not???

[RalphiusMaximus 6,112]

Jurrah is not even remotely ready to play. He's played one game at Casey and it was a shocker. I want to see him show some of his old brilliance and also a little desire for the ball before we bring him back. Worse for me than his poor form was the lack of interest he showed. As with several of his pre-season games this year, he walked around the ground as if he wanted to be anywhere else and stood there watching the game go by when the ball wasn't coming directly to him. Every person on this board who liked to bag Robbo about his lack of accountability and second efforts should be backing me on this. Robbo was never that bad. Something has changed in Jurrah's attitude since last year and until he gets it back he should be staying at Casey.

[H_T 3,049]

Bailey has stated (at Willi in Jurrah's first game back) that they'll give him a few games before selecting him. Based on that fact, I wouldn't have thought they would select him to play against St.Kilda at Etihad.

No one would select him going on last weekend against his full game at Willi. He needs to regain more touch and confidence.

But let's see what transpires after this coming weekend.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Bailey has stated (at Willi in Jurrah's first game back) that they'll give him a few games before selecting him. Based on that fact, I wouldn't have thought they would select him to play against St.Kilda at Etihad.

No one would select him going on last weekend against his full game at Willi. He needs to regain more touch and confidence.

But let's see what transpires after this coming weekend.

Agree.

I dont think you can draw any conclusion on either Jurrah or Riewoldt. If anything I dont think the Saints will push Riewoldt too early at all. They will (should) only play him when he is 100% cherry ripe. The last thing they want is another ping of the hamstring of theit No 1 players.

As for Jurrah, if his Willi game is the indication then he is still well short (well short of being AFL ready). I know the conditions and the game did not help there....but then again neither did he.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Joeboy, I think IMO, he'll be ready around about the Freo game @ Subi. Bennell could be an option there as well & If we can keep Jetta up on form, we could have some pretty decent runners going around.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

Almost certainly , Riewoldt will be selected by the Saints against us this weekend , after arguably overcoming as debilitating an injury as Liam Jurrah , who almost certainly will not be selected .

The Saints have more to lose than us by rushing in their best and most valuable player , afterall they're in devestatingly good form , whilst we are almost certainly playing for peanuts .

Bailey and his committee are not ones to make courageous selection decisions , but with Jurrah apparently burning the place down at training there seems no reason to hold back the only player on our list who can make a difference .

Some will argue that he didn't exactly burn with Casey in their less than auspicious last hitout , but he could just as easily find form in an underperforming senior team than amongst and against less capable talent at Casey

Yes he had a serious shoulder injury but don't reckon it is in the same league as Reiwoldt. No-one knows yet is he will ever have the same explosive and jumping ability. Jurrah will still have everything he had pre injury.

Let Jurrah get more games at Casey into him to pick up the game again and get a bit of running going. As others have said, a few desperate efforts and a few classy goals would help also.

[bing181 9,475]

Almost certainly , Riewoldt will be selected by the Saints against us this weekend , after arguably overcoming as debilitating an injury as Liam Jurrah , who almost certainly will not be selected .

Bailey and his committee are not ones to make courageous selection decisions , but with Jurrah apparently burning the place down at training there seems no reason to hold back the only player on our list who can make a difference .

FFS. How do you know Bailey and the committe are not prepared to make courageous selection decisions? What a lot of BS. Just because they haven't done what you think they should, they're wimps?

As for comparing Liam's physical condition with a mature (and elite) footballer like Riewoldt .... the mind boggles. LJ hasn't even played a full season, yet alone completed a full pre-season.

People on these boards are the first to start demanding more backbone from the players and club, yet when we have a bad loss or two, they're the first to start running round like headless chickens because the sky is falling. Where's the steely resolve amongst the supporters when the going gets tough??

LJ should play when he's ready. THAT'S the couragous decision.

[Grandson of a gun 276]

FFS. How do you know Bailey and the committe are not prepared to make courageous selection decisions? What a lot of BS. Just because they haven't done what you think they should, they're wimps?

As for comparing Liam's physical condition with a mature (and elite) footballer like Riewoldt .... the mind boggles. LJ hasn't even played a full season, yet alone completed a full pre-season.

People on these boards are the first to start demanding more backbone from the players and club, yet when we have a bad loss or two, they're the first to start running round like headless chickens because the sky is falling. Where's the steely resolve amongst the supporters when the going gets tough??

LJ should play when he's ready. THAT'S the couragous decision.

Spot on Binga.....

[joeboy 3,194]

Jurrah has been training at full speed for a month and wouldn't have been played at Casey if his body wasn't ready !

In your mind he needs to kick 6 goals against weak opposition in the VFL to prove he is ready , but most people understand that high performances in this lower grade do not necessarily translate to success in the AFL .

Just look at the regularly strong performances for the Scorpions by Newton ,Spencer, Johnson , Miller and Martin , all of whom were 'ready' to make the transition but failed miserably when given their chances on the big stage .

Jurrah is fit and his shoulder is sound - play him !

Repeating my line from the first thread for emphasis - Jurrah is the only player on our list who can make a difference .

[dee-luded 2,959]

LJ should play when he's ready. THAT'S the couragous decision.

Well said 'bing'.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Jurrah has been training at full speed for a month and wouldn't have been played at Casey if his body wasn't ready !

In your mind he needs to kick 6 goals against weak opposition in the VFL to prove he is ready , but most people understand that high performances in this lower grade do not necessarily translate to success in the AFL .

Just look at the regularly strong performances for the Scorpions by Newton ,Spencer, Johnson , Miller and Martin , all of whom were 'ready' to make the transition but failed miserably when given their chances on the big stage .

Jurrah is fit and his shoulder is sound - play him !

Repeating my line from the first thread for emphasis - Jurrah is the only player on our list who can make a difference .

Its a pity he is not playing at full speed. He isnt match fit and barely made a contest at Willy. He has had little or no football for 16 months. Its got little to do with kicking a bag in the VFL. Although that would indicate that he is getting to contests and impact contests and showing he is fit to play.

As for the others none of the players you mention were coming back from serious injury and were/are played due to lack of better options. When fit, Jurrah should play AFL...when match fit.

[Redleg 42,194]

Its a pity he is not playing at full speed. He isnt match fit and barely made a contest at Willy. He has had little or no football for 16 months. Its got little to do with kicking a bag in the VFL. Although that would indicate that he is getting to contests and impact contests and showing he is fit to play.

As for the others none of the players you mention were coming back from serious injury and were/are played due to lack of better options. When fit, Jurrah should play AFL...when match fit.

Agree.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,577]

I wouldn't mind seeing him live on Sunday night - fit or not fit.

[jnrmac 20,392]

LJ has been running full pelt for a while. He hasn't had much contact work because he had a shoulder injury......

Nick R hasn't been running for as long as he had a hamstring injury...

Pick Nick in a meaningless games v Melb or make sure he's safe and sound for the latter part of the season and finals...

Hmmm let me think about that for a minute...

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Its a pity he is not playing at full speed. He isnt match fit and barely made a contest at Willy. He has had little or no football for 16 months. Its got little to do with kicking a bag in the VFL. Although that would indicate that he is getting to contests and impact contests and showing he is fit to play.

As for the others none of the players you mention were coming back from serious injury and were/are played due to lack of better options. When fit, Jurrah should play AFL...when match fit.

My one big hope with him is how he played last year with very little match fitness. He was able to affect games in a big way with only a few games at the end of the year. Add to that the fact he's not expected to play 90 minutes in the midfield. Oh, and our forward line is a void at the moment. I think the landscape is set for him in a few weeks.

[Hannabal 4]

The way our forward line is going at the moment an unfit Liam Jurrah is still probably our best forward.

If he's completely injury free, then why not???

Seeing as you want Ben Cousins to Melb, as depicted in your profile, I fear my words are wasted.

Whilst our forward-line is most certainly struggling, it's the midfield where we've been losing matches.

Jurrah needs match fitness and he'll get it where he needs to - Casey.

[Hannabal 4]

My one big hope with him is how he played last year with very little match fitness.

He'd had about 2 months at Casey. I'd hardly call that "little match fitness".

[Dinosaur Rover 197]

The way our forward line is going at the moment an unfit Liam Jurrah is still probably our best forward.

If he's completely injury free, then why not???

Last week the problem was the mid field and defence not the forward line.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

He'd had about 2 months at Casey. I'd hardly call that "little match fitness".

Correct. He is more underdone than last year. I am surprised people cant see that.

[Goodvibes 3,596]

Would the club select him if we were playing in Darwin this week?

[jnrmac 20,392]

As predicted will not play this weekend.

Roo gets one more week

[old dee 24,092]

Jurrah is not even remotely ready to play. He's played one game at Casey and it was a shocker. I want to see him show some of his old brilliance and also a little desire for the ball before we bring him back. Worse for me than his poor form was the lack of interest he showed. As with several of his pre-season games this year, he walked around the ground as if he wanted to be anywhere else and stood there watching the game go by when the ball wasn't coming directly to him. Every person on this board who liked to bag Robbo about his lack of accountability and second efforts should be backing me on this. Robbo was never that bad. Something has changed in Jurrah's attitude since last year and until he gets it back he should be staying at Casey.

I went to the game at Willy however I must have been at a different game to you as I though he was ok for a guy who had not played since february and was his first game back from a very serious injury.

He was played well forward in the first half and the ball did not get up there much.

He looked to be having a red hot go to me, his touch was not there but I saw nothing that suggested poor attitude.

There was no Casey game last week so to select him this week seems a little early to me.

At least two mor weeks at Casey for mine.

[DemonDave 1,099]

If Jurrah was to be picked, you'd think realistically he wouldnt get any more than ten touches for the game.

The way they're playing neither Jetta nor Miller would contribute more possessions than Jurrah. So do you play

him hoping his possies would provide more of an intangible 'x factor' than Millers mark and dish offs up the wing,

or Jettas cheap handballs around packs on the half forward line?