46 minutes ago, samcantstandya said:

Happy 2 c how Grimes & White go. Hope Grimes plays well & gets a 2nd game. I think Vanders is lucky 2 b in team. Wonder if M Jones can get more than 118m with his 20 posses this week if not swap him for Trenners.

Trenners if finished. Let it go.

 

Its been a while since i last saw so many people happy with the changes

3 minutes ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

Its been a while since i last saw so many people happy with the changes

Both no brainers AW they were our two worst players last Sunday.

6 minutes ago, old dee said:

Both no brainers AW they were our two worst players last Sunday.

Oh 100% i think they're fantastic ins I like many rate White pretty high, will be watching closely

1 hour ago, demonattack said:

From the website: "Going out of the side is key forward Christ.........

Wow 

What did HE do to get dropped? I predict he'll be back in the team in 3 days!

9 minutes ago, ArtificialWisdom said:

Its been a while since i last saw so many people happy with the changes

Not everyone...

With Dawes out but no big man in does that men Frost goes forward again? What happens when Watts rucks? 1 tall forward? White and Grimes aren't exactly tough nuts, and we're coming up against a team that has always bullied us, Bugg out is a bit early IMO. BenKen very lucky in my books after mucking up the forward line a fair bit last week.

It's not a disaster, but it could have been better. We're banking on a small quick team with only 2 changes after a 6 day break. Not 100% sold.

 

Just now, ArtificialWisdom said:

Oh 100% i think there fantastic ins I like many rate White pretty high, will be watching closely

I think they've also made the right decision by going in with one extra runner - as we all know the ground will be slippery during the game which means the ball will spend more time on the deck.  Having that extra runner will come in handy.  

Big job for Jesse and Jack up forward, though.  I hope we can use the ball cleanly and quickly enough to give Jesse the chance at winning a few contests as I have no doubt Freo will flood back and make it a 2 or 3 on 1 on a regular basis.

2 minutes ago, Bigred said:

Wow 

What did HE do to get dropped? I predict he'll be back in the team in 3 days!

It isn't Easter 'Bigred'

20 minutes ago, stuie said:

Not everyone...

With Dawes out but no big man in does that men Frost goes forward again? What happens when Watts rucks? 1 tall forward? White and Grimes aren't exactly tough nuts, and we're coming up against a team that has always bullied us, Bugg out is a bit early IMO. BenKen very lucky in my books after mucking up the forward line a fair bit last week.

It's not a disaster, but it could have been better. We're banking on a small quick team with only 2 changes after a 6 day break. Not 100% sold.

 

Bringing a big team to Darwin would've been an absolute disaster. We have to make sure we avoid that period in the 2nd half where we concede about 5 goals in 7 minutes which always seems to happen when we play in NT. 

4 minutes ago, Je Roos Salem said:

We have to make sure we avoid that period in the 2nd half where we concede about 5 goals in 7 minutes which always seems to happen when we play in NT. 

Doesn't just happen in the NT Je!!

4 minutes ago, Je Roos Salem said:

Bringing a big team to Darwin would've been an absolute disaster. We have to make sure we avoid that period in the 2nd half where we concede about 5 goals in 7 minutes which always seems to happen when we play in NT. 

It's more the concern I have about:

1) Frost playing forward

2) What happens when Watts is in the ruck?

 

Just now, stuie said:

It's more the concern I have about:

1) Frost playing forward

2) What happens when Watts is in the ruck?

 

Looking at the Freo backline, they have two pure tall defenders in Dawson and Collins.  Outside of that it's mid to small types.  When Watts rucks I think we leave Hogan forward and have the mosquito fleet buzzing around at his feet.  Once the ball gets slippery it will be difficult to mark, so it's the perfect opportunity to Garlett, Kennedy, Petracca, Harmes, Kent etc to put that pressure on and kick some goals.  

It's a small gamble, but Hogan just needs to provide a contest and stop Freo from picking off easy marks.  I think we're better off, this week at least, playing two talls.

1 minute ago, Wiseblood said:

Looking at the Freo backline, they have two pure tall defenders in Dawson and Collins.  Outside of that it's mid to small types.  When Watts rucks I think we leave Hogan forward and have the mosquito fleet buzzing around at his feet.  Once the ball gets slippery it will be difficult to mark, so it's the perfect opportunity to Garlett, Kennedy, Petracca, Harmes, Kent etc to put that pressure on and kick some goals.  

It's a small gamble, but Hogan just needs to provide a contest and stop Freo from picking off easy marks.  I think we're better off, this week at least, playing two talls.

One concern is that Garlett ain't exactly happy in wet/slippery conditions. 

Hopefully this will be different. 

43 minutes ago, Bigred said:

Wow 

What did HE do to get dropped? I predict he'll be back in the team in 3 days!

Yeah might RISE! ready for a Monday game..... Hang on a minute!!? There aint no Monday game!

Just now, Wiseblood said:

Looking at the Freo backline, they have two pure tall defenders in Dawson and Collins.  Outside of that it's mid to small types.  When Watts rucks I think we leave Hogan forward and have the mosquito fleet buzzing around at his feet.  Once the ball gets slippery it will be difficult to mark, so it's the perfect opportunity to Garlett, Kennedy, Petracca, Harmes, Kent etc to put that pressure on and kick some goals.  

It's a small gamble, but Hogan just needs to provide a contest and stop Freo from picking off easy marks.  I think we're better off, this week at least, playing two talls.

I'm really worried about that 6-8 minutes a quarter where Watts is in the ruck and we have 1 tall forward who isn't particularly good at forward pressure alongside a bunch of small blokes who, for the most part, aren't either. They'll then rebound hard (a weakness of ours) into a backline where guys like Hunt, OMac, White, Grimes, M.Jones are all more rebounders than defenders.

We say it every week, but it's all about the midfield pressure this week, so guys like Vince, Tyson, Viney, vB and Petracca are going to need to considerably improve their pressure over last week.

That's why I'm nervous. We seem to fail often in this scenario.

 

Just now, DemonOX said:

One concern is that Garlett ain't exactly happy in wet/slippery conditions. 

Hopefully this will be different. 

True.  His confidence is up at the minute and I'd like to back him in to do better.  I can see the ball slipping through to the back of packs and Garlett pouncing on many of these.

My theory on using Watts as a backup ruckman..

1) he is ultra efficient when he wins the tap 

2) by forcing him into a ruck contest, he becomes more confident and aggressive around the ground

3) point 1 is made up but seems legit

Carn Dees!

Just now, stuie said:

I'm really worried about that 6-8 minutes a quarter where Watts is in the ruck and we have 1 tall forward who isn't particularly good at forward pressure alongside a bunch of small blokes who, for the most part, aren't either. They'll then rebound hard (a weakness of ours) into a backline where guys like Hunt, OMac, White, Grimes, M.Jones are all more rebounders than defenders.

We say it every week, but it's all about the midfield pressure this week, so guys like Vince, Tyson, Viney, vB and Petracca are going to need to considerably improve their pressure over last week.

That's why I'm nervous. We seem to fail often in this scenario.

 

I see a big opportunity this week for Gawny to exert some real influence, and our midfield is better.  As long as we work hard and get first use then we will be more than okay during the game.

You are right about the opportunity for them to rebound, but that's on our midfield and forwards to work harder than them and put some pressure on.  We can do it.

id be feeling close to 100% confident if this game was played at the G... But coming off a 6 day break & up at the NT where we clearly struggle. I'm extremely nervous! 

1 minute ago, Wiseblood said:

I see a big opportunity this week for Gawny to exert some real influence, and our midfield is better.  As long as we work hard and get first use then we will be more than okay during the game.

You are right about the opportunity for them to rebound, but that's on our midfield and forwards to work harder than them and put some pressure on.  We can do it.

I'm not sure if I'm suspicious of Spencer going up as an emergency or not....

 

Just now, stuie said:

It's more the concern I have about:

1) Frost playing forward

2) What happens when Watts is in the ruck?

 

I think TMac would be better, Freo barely have one tall in their forward line.

9 minutes ago, Je Roos Salem said:

I think TMac would be better, Freo barely have one tall in their forward line.

Not sure I would take TMac out of the backline and leave all the toddlers there unattended...

 

1 hour ago, Wiseblood said:

Big job for Jesse and Jack up forward, though.  

VDB plays "tall" kind of, perhaps he'll be made more of a focus. 

Just now, bing181 said:

VDB plays "tall" kind of, perhaps he'll be made more of a focus. 

Very true.  I can see he and Petracca rotating through that high half forward position with stints in the middle.  Both are strong above their head and clever with their possessions.

 

29 minutes ago, stuie said:

I'm really worried about that 6-8 minutes a quarter where Watts is in the ruck and we have 1 tall forward who isn't particularly good at forward pressure alongside a bunch of small blokes who, for the most part, aren't either. They'll then rebound hard (a weakness of ours) into a backline where guys like Hunt, OMac, White, Grimes, M.Jones are all more rebounders than defenders.

We say it every week, but it's all about the midfield pressure this week, so guys like Vince, Tyson, Viney, vB and Petracca are going to need to considerably improve their pressure over last week.

That's why I'm nervous. We seem to fail often in this scenario.

 

I reckon his is why the are bringing Spencer up mate, could be a late change? No idea who would come out for him, could be nothing but could be something....

“We’re taking Spence up, just with the ruck, because it’s pretty hard to fly [another one up quickly]. We expect Max to play, but we can’t fly one up in half-an-hour, and we’re taking Alex Neal-Bullen up as well,” he said.