MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION - Round 5

[jackaub 1,402]

Are we playing for the Colin Sylvia trophy on Sunday?

Thats a great idea!

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Yes a replica crashed car should do nicely for the trophy...

[dees189227 12,453]

rapt to see grimes in and see what he can do. Loved that Brayshaw is not in the 18 and Id bring Pedo in as well.

[titan_uranus 25,174]

I'm assuming it's either Pedersen or Riley for the last spot. Can't see the point of playing McKenzie instead of Riley, and we cannot play any game this year with both Spencer and Jamar in the same side.

The FD has one more day to mull over whether we go in with Pedersen as back up for Jamar or persist with Dawes and get extra run through Riley.

[DeeSpencer 26,266]

I'm leaning towards bringing in Pedersen and probably going with JKH or Newton as sub.

Otherwise Riley comes in and starts as sub.

If Pedersen comes in then as well as keeping Dawes in his up the ground lead up role I'd also bring Hogan up the ground much more and see if he can get involved in general play more. Could be something different for him. Might drag Johnson and McPharlin out of the play a bit as well and maybe isolate Ibbotson deep on Pedersen.

[chook fowler 19,694]

I think Spencil will be preferred - bigger body vs Sandilands and is in good form.

He deserves a crack,

[John Crow Batty 8,880]

I think Spencil will be preferred - bigger body vs Sandilands and is in good form.

He deserves a crack,

Good point. Just bring him in to try to monster Sandilands like Vince with Danger. He can't be beat with classic ruck work. Edited April 30, 2015 by america de cali

[DeeSpencer 26,266]

I think Spencil will be preferred - bigger body vs Sandilands and is in good form.

He deserves a crack,

Both he and Jamar are liabilities forward and are still likely to lose the ruck.

Better off with Pedersen to hopefully provide something forward and around the ground and give Jamar a bit of rest or no 2nd ruck at all and wear the loss at the clearances knowing we aren't going to win them anyway.

If I thought Spencer could actually nullify Sandilands I'd be all for the strategy but I doubt it.

[Coup Cooper 610]

As long as McKenzie doesn't play we have a chance..

[SaberFang 7,151]

Just throw in Spencer, tell him to be as dirty, physical and nasty on-field as possible.

The only way Freo lose this match is if we throw them so far off their natural game it leaves them startled.

[Older demon 2,799]

Consider that Sandilands has always had the wood on Jamar then Roos may play Russian as another tall forward depending on the weather and stretch the Freo backline. Tippet in the second half showed this last week. Spencer may well be given a job of just getting in Sandilands way or shadowing him everywhere

[Nasher 33,617]

As long as McKenzie doesn't play we have a chance..

Jeez that's unfair. You've essentially already blamed him for the loss before he's even been picked.

It never ceases to surprise me how much focus people put on the least important members of our side. The performance of the 22nd player in the side is not the going to be the difference between us having a chance or not. If Jordie is picked and plays out of his skin for a career best performance, does that mean we'll win?

[DeeSpencer 26,266]

Jeez that's unfair. You've essentially already blamed him for the loss before he's even been picked.

It never ceases to surprise me how much focus people put on the least important members of our side. The performance of the 22nd player in the side is not the going to be the difference between us having a chance or not. If Jordie is picked and plays out of his skin for a career best performance, does that mean we'll win?

I got sick of seeing over the last few years the team packed with so many limited players that the chances of them all having 'good' days skill wise and therefore forming good patches of ball movement were very low.

But I certainly agree. Effort is the main thing to give you a chance and McKenzie always brings that. A few nicely skilled players can cover up for one poorly skilled player if they all give effort. 1 player giving poor effort is much harder to cover.

McKenzie might actually have a role to play if we were to tag Hill as well as Fyfe. That's a defensive tactic, but they are such good players it wouldn't shock me. That said I'm not sure where that would leave Crossy. Can he still be an effective player hunting the footy? And if not, if there's not an obvious match up for him to negate on the wing then should he still be in the side? He's done great jobs on Ellis and Brodie Smith these last two weeks, but Hill is a few steps quicker than those guys.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,102]

I have a nasty feeling this is going to go badly for us. I look at the matchups and I don't see enough height in our backline and depth in our midfield to go with them. Pretty sure they'll hurt us this weekend.

I still tipped us though.

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Jeez that's unfair. You've essentially already blamed him for the loss before he's even been picked.

It never ceases to surprise me how much focus people put on the least important members of our side. The performance of the 22nd player in the side is not the going to be the difference between us having a chance or not. If Jordie is picked and plays out of his skin for a career best performance, does that mean we'll win?

C'mon Nash, it's Demonland, why are you even surprised, McKenzie did a good job on Brett Goodes,(I know he is not a Fyfe or Hill, but he was influencing the game) in the second half last week, if Roos just wants a shut down player, Jordie may get a gig

[rjay 25,301]

McKenzie could well come in and play a defensive forward role with Kent out.

[Undeeterred 3,127]

I have a nasty feeling this is going to go badly for us. I look at the matchups and I don't see enough height in our backline and depth in our midfield to go with them. Pretty sure they'll hurt us this weekend.

I still tipped us though.

Classic head versus heart dilemma, that one.

[Nasher 33,617]

C'mon Nash, it's Demonland, why are you even surprised, McKenzie did a good job on Brett Goodes,(I know he is not a Fyfe or Hill, but he was influencing the game) in the second half last week, if Roos just wants a shut down player, Jordie may get a gig

Roos' "tagger" this year was Jack Viney, then Bernie Vince - fundamentally aggressive, attacking players. I don't think there's room in this side for a purely defensive midfielder, so I think if McKenzie is in it's as an inside mid, or to play Kent's role as the defensive forward.

Pretty hard to say who the second 'in' will be (Grimes as the first is a given IMO). No player sticks out to sustain the hardness in the forward line that Kent offered. He will be missed I think.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,477]

Jeez that's unfair. You've essentially already blamed him for the loss before he's even been picked.

It never ceases to surprise me how much focus people put on the least important members of our side. The performance of the 22nd player in the side is not the going to be the difference between us having a chance or not. If Jordie is picked and plays out of his skin for a career best performance, does that mean we'll win?

The top 4 sides all have star players but it's their bottom 5-6 which can often prove the difference. Not talking about getting themselves up for a one off cameo but being able to play at a consistent level, stepping straight in and playing their role. But as we know we have next to no depth, we are still 1-2 years away from that.

[beelzebub 23,390]

Roos' "tagger" this year was Jack Viney, then Bernie Vince - fundamentally aggressive, attacking players. I don't think there's room in this side for a purely defensive midfielder, so I think if McKenzie is in it's as an inside mid, or to play Kent's role as the defensive forward.

Pretty hard to say who the second 'in' will be (Grimes as the first is a given IMO). No player sticks out to sustain the hardness in the forward line that Kent offered. He will be missed I think.

Roos will know he has to limit Freos freedom to play 'their' game. Jordie whilst not being given an exclusive shutdown role might well end up doing it simply because the day's play as it unfolds dictates it.

I don't like our chances of winning but if we can stick to them and negate a blow out it could be anyones.

[old55 23,833]

I can't see how Pedersen is a meaningful 2nd ruck upgrade over Dawes vs Sandilands and Clarke, if you want that it's gotta be Spencer - but I struggle with Jamar and Spencer in the 22. I'd go with Jordie in defence and ruck Dawes again.

[What 18,810]

Do Freo have any injuries? Their team look as full strength as you can get. if we win this it will be a defining moment

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,009]

Just throw in Spencer, tell him to be as dirty, physical and nasty on-field as possible.

The only way Freo lose this match is if we throw them so far off their natural game it leaves them startled.

So you're thinking Spencer comes in for Jetta and plays on Ballantyne?

[Vagg 2,449]

Are we playing for the Colin Sylvia trophy on Sunday?

Nah! How about the "Mitchie Mug"...??

(With Viv playing a blinder and being named BOG, just to show Lyons which of the Clubs was the smartest in recruiting a player from the other Club...!)

[Coup Cooper 610]

Jeez that's unfair. You've essentially already blamed him for the loss before he's even been picked.

It never ceases to surprise me how much focus people put on the least important members of our side. The performance of the 22nd player in the side is not the going to be the difference between us having a chance or not. If Jordie is picked and plays out of his skin for a career best performance, does that mean we'll win?

Never heard of the expression your only as good as your weakest link?