Changes for Essendon

[DeeZee 7,496]

Out Gawn, Salem,Terlich.

In Kent,Blease,Michie

[drdrake 3,203]

Out: Terlich, JKH, Salem

In: Kent, McKenzie, Toumpas

Terlich is a liability, the two young guys need to go back to Casey freshen up

Toumpas of HBF, leave him there for 3 weeks

[P-man 13,367]

Blease has had stacks of opportunity: in the VFL. If he can't do what is required of him in the lower level, I think it's backwards logic to then say he needs an opportunity at the top.

Players like Riley and McKenzie have had to knock the door down to get their opportunities, so based on the VFL reports I've been reading, I doubt Blease is even in Roos' mind, let alone at the front of it.

He has been named amongst the bests several times, and again on the weekend, with Paul Amy writing: "Sam Blease’s run out of defence and the bullocking work of Luke Tapscott, Aiden Riley and Smith were other highlights". He was also leading possession getter.

What to your knowledge has he been asked to do then, and to what extent is he not doing what's been asked of him?

I will agree it is unlikely given Roos minimal changes week to week, but I'd like to see him given his opportunity as he provides assets that we lack, and the fact is he hasn't been as poor as you are making out. At all.

Dunn's name was mud on this site for a very long time. Nev Jetta also. Those people look a bit silly now, by their own admission. Need to be wary of just casting players aside, Nash.

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

The game against the filth was far from the disaster many made it out be. They are serious finals contenders we are not. So, barring as yet unknown injury, I don't reckon there will be many changes. Gawn was exposed a couple of times but generally did OK and will stay. He is a long term prospect so where better for him to learn and improve than the ones? I can see Salem getting a rest but I haven't followed the Scorps closely enough to guess the replacement. Whoever does come in will likely be sub to give JKH a full game. He seems to prefer the opportunity to settle and work into the game.

[binman 44,813]

As others have noted Roos has flagged some changes with his comments in the presser about a coupe of the young players tiring. from that i suspect Salem and JKH might go back.

There are a handful of players that meet the Roos test of having strung 5-6 good games together at Casey. These are Nicholson, Mckenzie, Kent and perhaps Blease (who has had at least 3 good games in a row). Add to that Riley and the Toump who have been in and out of the seniors.

My tip for who they will bring in (as opposed to who i think they should) is Kent (fast, good penetrating kick, attacking and best 22) and ..drumroll... Blease. We really lack speed of the half back flank and if you look at how Sydney play it is a vital element of the Roos game plan. Also we'replaying at the g and will need pace. He has been ok the last few weeks at Casey and is working on his defensive game - and i gather, playing at half back. Also its getting close to the time where Roos will want to see what he's got to offer at senior AFL level before making a call to keep or trade. The VFL player review will tell a tale i reckon.

[SaberFang 7,151]

I couldn't believe how slow and lethargic we looked vs Colonwood. We do need a line breaker type player or two because we just can't get the ball anywhere fast enough and teams are completely swamping us with players across the ground to hurt any smooth passage of play.

I do think Kent is a lock, but we'll be lucky if Roos makes more than one change.

[Satyriconhome 10,880]

He has been named amongst the bests several times, and again on the weekend, with Paul Amy writing: "Sam Blease’s run out of defence and the bullocking work of Luke Tapscott, Aiden Riley and Smith were other highlights". He was also leading possession getter.

What to your knowledge has he been asked to do then, and to what extent is he not doing what's been asked of him?

I will agree it is unlikely given Roos minimal changes week to week, but I'd like to see him given his opportunity as he provides assets that we lack, and the fact is he hasn't been as poor as you are making out. At all.

Dunn's name was mud on this site for a very long time. Nev Jetta also. Those people look a bit silly now, by their own admission. Need to be wary of just casting players aside, Nash.

It is consistency with Blease, I have watched him a couple of times at VFL level, yes the run out of the back half is exciting and I wish I could see it at AFL level but then he goes missing, or he has a really good game followed by another poor one, if he was at all consistent he would have already been named as an emergency.

Not sure whether he has still done enough, but I am not on match committee so it doesn't matter what I think

[rjay 25,424]

It is consistency with Blease, I have watched him a couple of times at VFL level, yes the run out of the back half is exciting and I wish I could see it and AFL level but then he goes missing, or he has a really good game followed by another poor one, if he was at all consistent he would have already been named as an emergency.

Not sure whether he has still done enough, but I am not on match committee so it doesn't matter what I think

Looks like he's had a few good ones now and we could do with his run but as you say the FD will know if he's done enough of what they want.

[jazza 1,323]

Matt Jones dropped? No.

Find a way to get Kent back in, followed by Jordie/Riley/Toump.

Matt Jones has to be dropped,he is working to hard and running the legs off his opponent.

Perhaps dropping him will help the members see the difference gut runners make to the team.

Defensive side of his game has been a tribute to PR.One player who has got it.

[nutbean 8,838]

Nicho's run could have helped us today. His kicking isn't that much worse than a few others getting a game every week.

yes...yes it is.

[DeeZee 7,496]

We need to give Kent and blease more of a run, we are desperate for line breaker goal kickers.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,136]

If ever a game needed us to be "top heavy with talls" it's when playing Essendon. They'll be playing Daniher, Bellchambers, Ryder, Carlisle, Hooker, Hurley and Fletcher (if fit). That's a lot of tall timber to combat and we're playing a very small backline. Our defenders have played exceptionally well but size will be a problem next weekend unless we move one of Pedersen or Frawley back.

So I'd keep all the talls in. Salem looks tired, and Terlich and JKH each played their worst game for the club to date. All have credits in the bank for mine, but if they are tired or injured each could be rested (which doesn't necessarily mean playing with Casey).

Given the need to boost the height in defence, Terlich might find he gives way to allow Frawley to go back and I suspect Salem needs a rest. The ins I suspect would be those with the most compelling form from Casey. I don't know who they are, but suspect based on the way the senior side has been picked to date it's out of Kent, McKenzie, Riley and Toumpas.

[Nasher 33,680]

He has been named amongst the bests several times, and again on the weekend, with Paul Amy writing: "Sam Blease’s run out of defence and the bullocking work of Luke Tapscott, Aiden Riley and Smith were other highlights". He was also leading possession getter.

What to your knowledge has he been asked to do then, and to what extent is he not doing what's been asked of him?

These are his last few VFL player reviews from Brett Allison, rounds 4-7:

Round 4: Sam played wing and half-forward and had 16 possessions. Sam’s focus has been to gain more possessions in the forward half of the ground. He did that the previous week, but was unable to back it up this week. Defensively, he had some major lapses during the game and we know he’s much better than that.

Round 5: Sam played half-back and had 20 possessions. We tried to change things up for Sam this week, playing half-back. He gave good run and drive from that area of the ground. His work rate was much higher than we’ve seen from Sam this season. He just needs to tidy up his decision-making from when he needs to attack or defend. But it was a good starting point for Sam this week.

Round 6: Sam played half-back flank and had 30 possessions. It was easily Sam’s best performance for the season. He gave us plenty of drive and rebound from half-back. The improvement from the previous week in defence was the work of his defensive skills. He kept his man reasonably quiet and was able to gain plenty of the football himself. That’s the area we want to see Sam improving in the most, so it was a big step forward for him this week.

Round 7: Sam played half-back flank and had 23 disposals. He came off a really pleasing performance the week before against the Northern Blues, but this week he was unable to play with the same consistency and intensity, certainly defensively. Sam knows exactly where he’s at and what he needs to do to win his place back in the side. The challenge is for him to do it.

I just don't think a player who has "major lapses" defensively is the sort of player likely to be rushed in to a Roos coached side. I acknowledge that these reports are somewhat old and his most recent game has not been reported on, but I can only go on the information I have.

Compare those reports to these:

Jordie McKenzie (Round 7):

Jordie played on-ball and half-back. He had 30 disposals and Jordie was clearly our best player for the day over the four quarters. His effort and intensity to win the ball, and play his role and use the ball really well, was very good again. He’s in pretty good form at the moment, so he’s just waiting for his opportunity and a role to open up for him in the senior side.

Aidan Riley (Round 6):

Aidan played on ball and half-forward. He had 27 possessions and another strong week. He cleared the ball very well for us on occasions and used it quite well this week. Aidan’s getting quite close to full fitness now and he’ll be really pushing hard for senior selection from this point on.

Mitch Clisby (Round 5):

Mitch played half-back and wing. He had 25 possessions and it was another solid week. He used the ball well and set us up repeatedly during the game. He’s had three weeks of good form and he just needs his opportunity at senior level now.

Those are the sorts of reports I'd expect to be reading for a player pushing hard for senior selection.

I take your point on not writing players off prematurely, but all the players I'd written off (in particular Jetta) put in very strong VFL performances before being picked in the side. They earned their crack at proving everyone wrong. Nobody has been included in our side to date without very strong VFL performances and I'm not reading anything to suggest that Blease has.

[binman 44,813]

These are his last few VFL player reviews from Brett Allison, rounds 4-7:

I just don't think a player who has "major lapses" defensively is the sort of player likely to be rushed in to a Roos coached side. I acknowledge that these reports are somewhat old and his most recent game has not been reported on, but I can only go on the information I have.

Compare those reports to these:

Those are the sorts of reports I'd expect to be reading for a player pushing hard for senior selection.

Yep, good point well made. So perhaps not Blease then - but surely McKenzie doesn't help the pace issue, nor Riley or the toump for that matter. So perhaps only Salem out and Kent in.

[P-man 13,367]

Nash - interesting you read it that way. I read those reviews as that of a player who is slowly building momentum. The "major lapses" reference was back in Round 4.

Sure he needs to work on his defensive game, but even if he isn't the MOST defensively minded player, we have plenty who are. We need a few weapons to break the lines. The lack of them was horribly exposed on the weekend.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,136]

Yep, good point well made. So perhaps not Blease then - but surely McKenzie doesn't help the pace issue, nor Riley or the toump for that matter. So perhaps only Salem out and Kent in.

I don't think pace by leg is the issue. It's pace by ball movement. We take too long to move forward. Primarily between the arcs. By the time we've made a decision it's too late so we go backwards to keep possession.

[P-man 13,367]

I don't think pace by leg is the issue. It's pace by ball movement. We take too long to move forward. Primarily between the arcs. By the time we've made a decision it's too late so we go backwards to keep possession.

It's both. Blease doesn't stuff around with the ball. His first instinct is to get it going forward and by the sounds of it he's using it a lot better.

[Nasher 33,680]

Nash - interesting you read it that way. I read those reviews as that of a player who is slowly building momentum. The "major lapses" reference was back in Round 4.

Sure he needs to work on his defensive game, but even if he isn't the MOST defensively minded player, we have plenty who are. We need a few weapons to break the lines. The lack of them was horribly exposed on the weekend.

Up until round 6 I saw that as steady improvement, but round 7 to me reads as a major setback. I wish we had round 8 to read.

I've made my point so there's not much more I can say, other than I'll never be convinced that Roos will pick a player who can't perform defensively. Reading between the lines, I interpret "doesn't perform defensively" as "lacks intensity and/or doesn't follow instructions" (the latter being a cardinal sin in a well drilled side). Would you agree with that? I'm guessing not, which reflects the key differences in our views.

[P-man 13,367]

Up until round 6 I saw that as steady improvement, but round 7 to me reads as a major setback. I wish we had round 8 to read.

I've made my point so there's not much more I can say, other than I'll never be convinced that Roos will pick a player who can't perform defensively. Reading between the lines, I interpret "doesn't perform defensively" as "lacks intensity and/or doesn't follow instructions" (the latter being a cardinal sin in a well drilled side). Would you agree with that? I'm guessing not, which reflects the key differences in our views.

I would agree to an extent. The week before his defensive game was praised, so it would seem the main basis for your attitude towards him is his performance the following week. Pending on the write up this week, there may well be a consistency issue, but on the whole it would seem that he is building and has put his hand up.

A lot of the post match comments were lamenting the lack of a quality distributor in the back half. We just may have one brewing here. Personally, I'd like to see him given his chance sooner rather than later. You see it differently which is fine, so long as you are keeping an open mind.

[Vipercrunch 2,863]

I think it is time to omit JKH and Salem (Casey or rest them). First year player who have played much more senior footy than most would have expected but it seems to have caught up with them.

Kent is a must to see what he can bring with run and daring. I think Toumpas is the other one to come in.

I'm half expecting to hear Jamar is injured also so there might be a change for him too. Otherwise I still can't work out why he was subbed....

[Coup Cooper 610]

B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta

HB: Jack Grimes, Tom McDonald, Matt Jones

C: Daniel Cross, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince

HF: Dean Kent, Cam Pedersen, Jeremy Howe

F: James Frawley, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts

FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney

I/C: Kennedy Harris, Aiden Riley, Rohan Bail, Salem (sub)

This would be my side.

I thinks its time to unleash howe up forward.. Given

We have three monsters up there now.. He wont get

Double teamed!

I would bring in Kent for some speed and better goal kicking..

Given Terlich a spell.. Been flat, and bring in Riley for some grunt and play Salem as te sub, I just think atm we are too top heavy with Gawn so ive replaced with leg speed! Something we lacked yeaterday..

Thoughts?

[CityDee 738]

Jkh for a rest , no game in 2's just rest and Blease in .

[InVINCEable 358]

Outs- Gawn

Ins- Kent

Salem (Sub)

Give JKH a full game.

[old dee 24,082]

I think it is time to omit JKH and Salem (Casey or rest them). First year player who have played much more senior footy than most would have expected but it seems to have caught up with them.

Kent is a must to see what he can bring with run and daring. I think Toumpas is the other one to come in.

I'm half expecting to hear Jamar is injured also so there might be a change for him too. Otherwise I still can't work out why he was subbed....

Me either S_T.

When JKH came on I spent 5 minutes trying to work out which smaller player was off.

[InVINCEable 358]

If JKH and Salem don't get a game, rest them.