24 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

The other change may not eventuate but clearly anyone who was watching the performance of Matt Jones must have been laughing at times last week - especially when he registered a defensive 50 clearance for Fremantle instead of squaring the ball up to the goalsquare. I'm sorry for MJ lovers, but he is in the side because he has pace. Unfortunately he is not using it and appears racked with fear of turnovers, hence invariably going the safe option (usually a handball sideways) - which in turn puts the onus on the next player to take the game on, usually amid more pressure. Like Grimes, his superior fitness helped him get more of the ball in the second half, especially as Freo decided to clamp down on the corridor access. But did Matt Jones actually do anything that justified his spot as a quick outside linkman? I'm sorry but he is 28 and has now played 59 mediocre games - how many more games must we wait for him to dominate a match. It's a failed experiment and given that all our other quick players - Hunt, Vanders, Frost, Jeffy, Watts, Billy, BenKen, Harmes - are all fit and in the side - we just don't need his pace for this game - even if it is the fastest venue outside of Subiaco.

 

If all that were true Roos would not select MJ week in week out. Yet he continues to do so and as you concede is likely to do so again. Unlike four of the players you mention he has not once been dropped this season, only going out of the side when injured and coming aback after only two weeks (unlike several other senoir players).  

What does this tell you? Roos - a premiership coach - rates MJ as a best 22 player and given our low numbers of injured players, clearly rates him as a player. 

Did Matt Jones actually do anything that justified his spot as a quick outside linkman? Well if you look at the goals on the website he was involved in several scoring chains. Again though Roos obviously disagrees with your assessment. Roos had this to say about the game MJ played last week:

"Our wings were really effective today – Matty Jones (30 disposals), Billy Stretch (12 disposals) and 'Grimesy'. Every role is important but I think the wing role has never been more important in football than now."

No offence, but the length of your 'analysis' notwithstanding the opinion of one of the most respected AFL coaches carries more weight with me than yours.  

26 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

 

The big battle for selectors is to decide who replaces Oscar if he proves too great a risk. On one hand Wagner sounds easy as his replacement, but with the Saints having three bigs Riewoldt (T.Mac), Membrey (Frost), the question is whether White or Wagner can be risked manning up Bruce - who can leap.

 

 

Membrey is not a big, only 188cm. White or Wagner will take care of him...

Frost and Tommy Mac to take care of the other 2.

Many seem to have written off Lyndon Dunn, but I'm not sure I'd be so quick to lock that in.  

On the side of the againsts, he didn't seem to me to have the same impact last year as compared to what I think was his best year in 2014, his performances at AFL level in 2016 haven't been particularly convincing and he was pretty poor that last game we played against St Kilda.  Probably the worst thing is that he looks to have slowed.

On the side of the fors, he has shown his best footy can be pretty good, can be solid in defensively (particularly one on one) and has been capable of beating some of the games premiere forwards.  He is a booming, reliable kick out from full back and has that thing which a lot of our list don't - experience.  He did play pretty bad that game against St Kilda, but wasn't Robinson Crusoe there and it was only one game - everyone plays one every so often.

His numbers for Casey last gamewere pretty reasonable, so I'm hoping it's a sign of a return to good form.  Key defenders don't grow on trees.

3 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Many seem to have written off Lyndon Dunn, but I'm not sure I'd be so quick to lock that in.  

On the side of the againsts, he didn't seem to me to have the same impact last year as compared to what I think was his best year in 2014, his performances at AFL level in 2016 haven't been particularly convincing and he was pretty poor that last game we played against St Kilda.  Probably the worst thing is that he looks to have slowed.

On the side of the fors, he has shown his best footy can be pretty good, can be solid in defensively (particularly one on one) and has been capable of beating some of the games premiere forwards.  He is a booming, reliable kick out from full back and has that thing which a lot of our list don't - experience.  He did play pretty bad that game against St Kilda, but wasn't Robinson Crusoe there and it was only one game - everyone plays one every so often.

His numbers for Casey last gamewere pretty reasonable, so I'm hoping it's a sign of a return to good form.  Key defenders don't grow on trees.

He was sidelined for much of the pre-season as well. Something was clearly amiss with the coaches and their instructions not being followed,,,,

 

On 13/07/2016 at 3:19 PM, binman said:

If all that were true Roos would not select MJ week in week out

Roos picked mj again. Go figure. 

Felt Wagner might have been on the sheet to late-replace OMac. But the latter stays in. Fairly remarkable recovery from that nasty hyper(?)extension of the inside of his ankle!

Ah, Youth!