31 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I didn't say anything about Gawn being dropped or not being #1 ruck...quite the opposite!!.  I said a 6 year player doesn't need 'resting' from a game, rest him up forward if necessary, and if not injured he should play.

he has a very big workload & this will be his 1st season as a regular player, if he's not injured he's cooked, looks like a cork in the ocean 

Am totally confused about what to do with the back line, I still feel we are undersized and Port has some good marking forwards, I see this as a shootout game, if I remember TIO is fairly large? Anyway I'm keen to see some big bodies preventing opposition marking, with our midfield playing back a little deeper. So Omac out - Pedo or Dawes (whoever is a better defender, with Jetta and Trengove in - I am not sure about Wagner I reckon he's ok, but seems to be a consensus for him to have a rest. Hunt stiff but out as well for a rest. Oliver I think will have a great game, and there will be others that are unlucky not to get a gig.

A f l switched on clearly 

as possible selection in for Melbourne

wait for it.       Salem 

What the ........

6 hours ago, juzzk1d said:

Giving Gawn a rest would be a HUGE mistake. Just because Port have Jackson Trengove rucking for them, doesn't mean we can afford to play Spencer. We need to capitalize on their weakness which is their midfield. The games we have played against the top teams Gawn has had an influence one way or another. We were the leading team in the AFL in clearances for a reason.

We play that diamond defense, were we afford to lose a defender and get more numbers around the ball and stoppages to win a midfield battle. With Gawn rucking against Port, this will allow our structure and game plan to work so much more effectively if he is dominating the hit outs and feeding our midfielders. 

Gawn is not winning ruck contests or getting the ball around the ground - is it tiredness or form? I'd say tiredness.

10 hours ago, old dee said:

Yes and I want it way lower.

So do I (re the rotations) but the AFL may decide to consolidate it at 90 for the time being ... I'm not against that as we need to see how the whole year plays out yet.  So far, the footy has been great but we've still got a bit of a congestion problem (often in the first halves of games though) 

The players are still being asked to do an awful lot of running and that's why players are missing games purely because they need a spell ... we might end up with more fatigue injuries towards the end of the year too and that's why it's so important to manage the loads ... we as a club seem to up with it all too. 

8 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Ok. For the last freaking time!

 

I GOT IT WRONG ABOUT THE FLOGGING WEATHER!!!

 

?

It's always flogging weather Gorg!!

9 hours ago, H_T said:

Gray getting off....that's laughable that is. Since when did force come into a trip? I don't recall any of Fletcher's trips being light on. Rules on the run? One for some, not for others? 

Exactly  Imagine if say Viney did exactly the same thing - 2-3 weeks!  Corrupt or inept, or both?

8 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

We are on the cusp of entering the eight and this week Is another must win. Cant see the match committee experimenting with JT anytime soon.

At most we might see 

- Spencil for Gawn (Managed)

- Tyson for Viv (unlucky but Tyson Is a class above If fit and Viv's disposal/option selections & numbers are still not up to AFL standards)

- Dawes for ANB (we need a 3rd effective tall forward who can also relieve In the ruck/play higher up the ground...certainly shouldn't be left to  Watts to relieve in the ruck even though he was ok).

- Jetta* In for Wagner*. I like Wagner going forward also though. Just needs to clean up his good work a little which will come with experience. 5 clangers on the weekend didn't help his cause.

 

 

7 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Forgot Jetta was out lol.

Swapping Spencil for Gawn as Gawn looks like he is in much need of a freshen up to take us into a solid second half of the season and get him back to his best around the ground. His around the ground work, outside of taps to our advantage which is always a fair way above the likes of Spencil, indicated he is well down on his best and may well be carrying a stack of bruising/general soreness. One week is not going to hurt and the Ruck role can be covered if Spencil works his butt off with assistance from Dawes and 3rd ups. A full game and a half (or so) at Casey should see Spencil reasonably match fit. Not ideal but as i said, if Dawes is in we can rest Spencil up forward also. Spencil can take the odd mark and goal there also. Haven't seen much of that from Gawn last few weeks.

Dawes in is a better ruck relief / forward option than Pedo for "this week" IF Gawn is rested. Dawes has shown solid form at Casey last 2 weeks and IMO is a slightly better tall forward option for us that we have been crying out for.

Having said all that i don't think the match committee will risk resting Big M this week lol. So yes Pedo could also get a guernsey. Pedo has an advantage over Dawes in that he can play a role down back or up forward (or both). But Dawes is more handy in the ruck IMO (just marginally) and is a slightly better forward (again marginally) than Pedo.

We could play both also with Pedo in for OMac but that would make it 5 changes.

4 would seem the max so the most likely for me would be

- Tyson for Viv

- Pedo for Omac (if fit)

- Dawes for ANB as i think our mid rotations are covered with the inclusion of Tyson; and

- Jetta for Wagner

Rusty......whatever attributes Dawes may have over Pedersen, and I would dispute that he has many at this stage of their respective careers, rucking is not one of them.  IMO Watts is a better ruck option than Dawes, especially a Dawes just returning from a chronic / recurring leg injury. 

1 hour ago, monoccular said:

Exactly  Imagine if say Viney did exactly the same thing - 2-3 weeks!  Corrupt or inept, or both?

 

Rusty......whatever attributes Dawes may have over Pedersen, and I would dispute that he has many at this stage of their respective careers, rucking is not one of them.  IMO Watts is a better ruck option than Dawes, especially a Dawes just returning from a chronic / recurring leg injury. 

You have my vote mono

Rest Gawn and Hogan 

play Oscar first ruck 

rest him in the square 

should snag 5 or 6 

3 hours ago, Macca said:

So do I (re the rotations) but the AFL may decide to consolidate it at 90 for the time being ... I'm not against that as we need to see how the whole year plays out yet.  So far, the footy has been great but we've still got a bit of a congestion problem (often in the first halves of games though) 

The players are still being asked to do an awful lot of running and that's why players are missing games purely because they need a spell ... we might end up with more fatigue injuries towards the end of the year too and that's why it's so important to manage the loads ... we as a club seem to up with it all too. 

I don't think it will change after this year, although they might try less in the preseason or similar. 

Really though if we go too much lower down to something like 40 then you might ruin the benefits that 90 has delivered.

Instead of more one on one footy you might get less as teams will be determined to flood back and hold possession. Instead of tall forwards and defenders playing close to full games they might be taken out of the game in favour of 22 running players of similar build. Instead of some of the good midfielders going up against each other throughout the day the tactics of the 10 fresh changes per quarter could see players multiple players doing short bursts in the midfield before rotating to flanks and pockets. 

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

I don't think it will change after this year, although they might try less in the preseason or similar. 

Really though if we go too much lower down to something like 40 then you might ruin the benefits that 90 has delivered.

Instead of more one on one footy you might get less as teams will be determined to flood back and hold possession. Instead of tall forwards and defenders playing close to full games they might be taken out of the game in favour of 22 running players of similar build. Instead of some of the good midfielders going up against each other throughout the day the tactics of the 10 fresh changes per quarter could see players multiple players doing short bursts in the midfield before rotating to flanks and pockets. 

Maybe ... or the game might end up much as it was before the amount of rotations started changing the sport as a spectacle. 

I feel that tall forwards are always going to be a weapon regardless of the amount of rotations ... we now often have up to 3 or 4 in any given forward line despite all the rotations.  I'd agree that tall forwards need to be far more mobile but that was already happening before the explosion of rotation numbers.  As for flooding, it's always going to remain an issue unless they can find a way to rid the game of it.

The game is much more watchable this season as compared to the recent past - for my satisfaction, the sport has to be fast, continuous and spectacular - that's what drew me to the sport in the first place (that's apart from when I'm at or watching our games - then it's all about winning and improving)

Despite the above comments I'd probably keep the rotations at 90 for another year and then reassess.  We need to find out where 90 rotations takes us.  So it's either/or ... reduce the rotations further and I'd go with it and if they leave it at 90 I can live with it.

 

Edited May 24, 20169 yr by Macca

No way ANB goes out. I think Newton will make way though for Tyson.

ANB will get a couple of games to cement his spot. That's the MO of the FD these days. They allow players some continuity at the top level and eventually, the FD's persistence pays off. I didn't think ANB did a lot on the weekend, but he didn't look out of his depth either. I'd expect at least another two or three weeks at that level. I think he'll be better for the run last week though. Looking forward to seeing him give us a selection 'headache' by cementing his spot in the midfield in the coming weeks.

I'd also bring Spencer in, but I can't see who for at this stage. Jetta will also be back, so does Omac miss or does Wagner have a rest?

Edited May 24, 20169 yr by AdamFarr

Port are going to have a running team. We cant afford to take two ruckmen. We will get out ran all day long.

Ins: Tyson - Pedo - Jetta

Outs: Garland - Michie - Oliver (if injured)/Wagner (rest)

------

B: Hunt - TMac - Jetta

HB: Stretch - OMac - Bugg

C: Harmes - N.Jones - Vince

HF: Watts - Hogan - Trac

FF: Kennedy - Pedo - Garlett

R: Gawn - Tyson - Viney

I: Oliver(wagner) - Kent - Bugg - ANB

52 minutes ago, GawnWithTheWind said:

Ins: Tyson - Pedo - Jetta

Outs: Garland - Michie - Oliver (if injured)/Wagner (rest)

------

B: Hunt - TMac - Jetta

HB: Stretch - OMac - Bugg

C: Harmes - N.Jones - Vince

HF: Watts - Hogan - Trac

FF: Kennedy - Pedo - Garlett

R: Gawn - Tyson - Viney

I: Oliver(wagner) - Kent - Bugg - ANB

Neither Garland or michie will get dropped

33 minutes ago, binman said:

Neither Garland or michie will get dropped

So Jetta and Tyson are automatic.

Pedo is required for ruck, so automatic.

Who goes out?

Anyone know who's playing back-up ruck for Port? Obviously Trengrove is playing 1st ruck. But I thought Watts was pretty good as a back-up on Sunday. I actually thought it brought him into the game and led to an increased involvement.  If he is having a poor game in the future I'd use the tactic again to try and get him going.

I though Garland we pretty good on Sunday albeit against poor opposition.

2 hours ago, Gorgoroth said:

Port are going to have a running team. We cant afford to take two ruckmen. We will get out ran all day long.

Because of the hot weather??

(duck and run for cover)

I would love to see Frosty come in and play in defence 

10 minutes ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

Because of the hot weather??

(duck and run for cover)

1 hour ago, Devil is in the Detail said:

Because of the hot weather??

(duck and run for cover)

I. AM. THE. WEATHER. GURU!!!

Robbie Gray given a let off (amazingly) no doubt changes selection priorities.

4 hours ago, hells bells said:

Anyone know who's playing back-up ruck for Port? Obviously Trengrove is playing 1st ruck. But I thought Watts was pretty good as a back-up on Sunday. I actually thought it brought him into the game and led to an increased involvement.  If he is having a poor game in the future I'd use the tactic again to try and get him going.

Westhoff at the moment but they could throw it to Dixon if they wanted to.

Out: Wagner, Hunt (resting) and Oliver (no risking/rest)
In: Tyson, Jetta (for obvious reasons) and one of Pedo/Dawes depending on match fitness etc (most likely Pedo)
Note: I actually think we could go without the extra tall against port with their smaller lineup and the humidity making it slippery for talls so a bit wait and see with that one. I was pretty pleased with Watts in the ruck so they could go that again, who knows.

Big game for the following:
Michie, ANB, Newton, Omac and Garland depending on form and/or match ups they will be most vulnerable to be replaced by the 3 resters. 

Personaly I think both ANB and Newton deserve an extended run in the seniors but unfortunatly they just dont seem to fit for now. Not to mention a nr 2 pick who has put his hand up for a game in the coming weeks