TEAM SELECTION AND MATCH PREVIEW - ROUND 1

[TickleMeTyson 137]

Very pleased we weren't tempted by Spencer and seem to have learnt our lessons from last year. The ball flys around quickly at Etihad and the pace of the game is too fast for a top-heavy forward line. I'd imagine Watts will pinch hit in the ruck. Hogan has worked on his endurance and will push up the ground to give us as a much-needed target coming out of defence. Wouldn't be surprised to see our small forwards playing fairly high and doubling back toward goal if we manage to break through St. Kilda's defence. Ball use out of the back half and hitting targets inside 50 will be crucial, I don't think there is a better side in the comp at killing you on the spread off a turnover than St. Kilda at Etihad. 

Excited to see Hannan and Smith debut, both look genuinely quick, a necessary attribute at Etihad. My doomsday scenario is St. Kilda's tall forwards getting hold of our young backs early. Riewoldt, Bruce, Membrey and McCartin would worry any backline in the league, let alone one decimated by injury, let's hope the Macdonald bro's and Smith can hold them. 

At full strength, I'd give us the edge, but without Kent, Tyson, Hibberd, Frost, or Vandenberg, and with St. Kilda at full strength (sans Joey) I'd have to give the Saints the (minor) edge. Let's hope I'm wrong.

Excited to get down to Etihad tomorrow, Go Dees. 

Edited March 24, 2017 by TickleMeTyson

[bandicoot 1,395]

14 hours ago, Farmer said:

If you are pumped to see this team you are easily pumped ! It is a very weak team, without Tyson, Kent, Hibberd, Frost, VdB.

Bugg and Harnes are needed in R1 rather than a new kid Hannan. Spencer has played all practice matches yet is dropped. Hannan has played none and is picked. . For some reason coaches have lost direction at the last minute. I predict a thrashing . Will be happy with 60 points loss. I'm not bullshitting, I think it's an awful team

ANB essentially took Buggs spot. I believe ANB provides more forward pressure and is likely to score more.

Hannan took Harmes spot beacsue we desperately lack speed. This lack of speed cost us both games last year and Goodwin isn't keen to replicate this mistake. 

Spencer was never going to get selected for etihad as it would have made the side even slower. 

Most teams are missing 3-4 of their starting side including saints. We are unlikely to have a full side again this year so get used to it. 

[loges 6,767]

Big test for the coach first up both with selection and on gameday. Saints have targeted us with turnovers the past 2 years then sliced our defence ( there was even a short tv expose on it). Will be interesting to see how we respond tactically. Worried about Weid's inclusion, he must have some presence in the game otherwise his defender will just zone  off , would have preferred Pedo. Not overly confident but hopeful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bandicoot 1,395]

35 minutes ago, TickleMeTyson said:

Very pleased we weren't tempted by Spencer and seem to have learnt our lessons from last year. The ball flys around quickly at Etihad and the pace of the game is too fast for a top-heavy forward line. I'd imagine Watts will pinch hit in the ruck. Hogan has worked on his endurance and will push up the ground to give us as a much-needed target coming out of defence. Wouldn't be surprised to see our small forwards playing fairly high and doubling back toward goal if we manage to break through St. Kilda's defence. Ball use out of the back half and hitting targets inside 50 will be crucial, I don't think there is a better side in the comp at killing you on the spread off a turnover than St. Kilda at Etihad. 

Excited to see Hannan and Smith debut, both look genuinely quick, a necessary attribute at Etihad. My doomsday scenario is St. Kilda's tall forwards getting hold of our young backs early. Riewoldt, Bruce, Membrey and McCartin would worry any backline in the league, let alone one decimated by injury, let's hope the Macdonald bro's and Smith can hold them. 

At full strength, I'd give us the edge, but without Kent, Tyson, Hibberd, Frost, or Vandenberg, and with St. Kilda at full strength (sans Joey) I'd have to give the Saints the (minor) edge. Let's hope I'm wrong.

Excited to get down to Etihad tomorrow, Go Dees. 

Not too sure you can play all 4 of those tall forwards at once. Reiwoldt plays up the ground but at almost 35 yo he is bound to start slowing down. 

Mcartin, membrey and Bruce can't all play in the forward 50 which means that 1 will be on the bench. 

J smith can cover membrey, o mac can cover Mcartin and t mac can cover Bruce. 

 

[bandicoot 1,395]

16 minutes ago, loges said:

Big test for the coach first up both with selection and on gameday. Saints have targeted us with turnovers the past 2 years then sliced our defence ( there was even a short tv expose on it). Will be interesting to see how we respond tactically. Worried about Weid's inclusion, he must have some presence in the game otherwise his defender will just zone  off , would have preferred Pedo. Not overly confident but hopeful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weideman is 195cm and 95kg. All he needs to do is create a contest and have garlett, ANB, tracca and other mods feed off the loose ball. 

He is big enough imo to do this 

[hells bells 2,023]

24 minutes ago, bandicoot said:

Not too sure you can play all 4 of those tall forwards at once. Reiwoldt plays up the ground but at almost 35 yo he is bound to start slowing down. 

Mcartin, membrey and Bruce can't all play in the forward 50 which means that 1 will be on the bench. 

J smith can cover membrey, o mac can cover Mcartin and t mac can cover Bruce. 

 

I agree bandicoot, I think the defenders will match up ok against their forwards.  

The worry for me is Reiwoldt, he doesn't have an obvious matchup from a height and weight perspective.  Brayshaw is the closest.  Watts is another option but I think he needs to play forward.  Hannan an option but it would be a massive baptism of fire. 

Did anyone see the Saints JLT games? Has Reiwoldt slowed down noticeably?

[loges 6,767]

27 minutes ago, bandicoot said:

Weideman is 195cm and 95kg. All he needs to do is create a contest and have garlett, ANB, tracca and other mods feed off the loose ball. 

He is big enough imo to do this 

Will be happy as long as he does

[Grimes Times 1,278]

1 hour ago, TickleMeTyson said:

Very pleased we weren't tempted by Spencer and seem to have learnt our lessons from last year. The ball flys around quickly at Etihad and the pace of the game is too fast for a top-heavy forward line. I'd imagine Watts will pinch hit in the ruck. Hogan has worked on his endurance and will push up the ground to give us as a much-needed target coming out of defence. Wouldn't be surprised to see our small forwards playing fairly high and doubling back toward goal if we manage to break through St. Kilda's defence. Ball use out of the back half and hitting targets inside 50 will be crucial, I don't think there is a better side in the comp at killing you on the spread off a turnover than St. Kilda at Etihad. 

Excited to see Hannan and Smith debut, both look genuinely quick, a necessary attribute at Etihad. My doomsday scenario is St. Kilda's tall forwards getting hold of our young backs early. Riewoldt, Bruce, Membrey and McCartin would worry any backline in the league, let alone one decimated by injury, let's hope the Macdonald bro's and Smith can hold them. 

At full strength, I'd give us the edge, but without Kent, Tyson, Hibberd, Frost, or Vandenberg, and with St. Kilda at full strength (sans Joey) I'd have to give the Saints the (minor) edge. Let's hope I'm wrong.

Excited to get down to Etihad tomorrow, Go Dees. 

Its all about midfield pressure. It doesnt matter what backman you have playing, if the ball coming into the F50 is delivered clean and without pressure the forward is going to beat the defender 9 times out of 10.

[Redleg 40,219]

2 hours ago, ProDee said:

The bench won't reflect the bench at the beginning of the game.  They never do.

Are we painting it, or changing the wood to aluminium?

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,383]

32 minutes ago, hells bells said:

Has Reiwoldt slowed down noticeably?

No. Looks as good as ever.

Speculation on the Aints Bigfooty that Weller could be a late out for Acres or Lonie.

[Akum 2,660]

19 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

No. Looks as good as ever.

Speculation on the Aints Bigfooty that Weller could be a late out for Acres or Lonie.

Oh good. We made both Acres & Lonie look like superstars last year.

Edited March 24, 2017 by Akum
not fully serious

[bandicoot 1,395]

27 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

No. Looks as good as ever.

Speculation on the Aints Bigfooty that Weller could be a late out for Acres or Lonie.

Weller is a loss as we will then be noticeably better at the contested game. They might not be able to get it out to the outside runners... 

[xarronn 380]

1 hour ago, bandicoot said:

Not too sure you can play all 4 of those tall forwards at once. Reiwoldt plays up the ground but at almost 35 yo he is bound to start slowing down. 

Mcartin, membrey and Bruce can't all play in the forward 50 which means that 1 will be on the bench. 

J smith can cover membrey, o mac can cover Mcartin and t mac can cover Bruce. 

 

For sure he is bound to start slowing down, but are you predicting it will be this game. What's more who will even bet that it will be this season, or even this decade! When did Boomer slow down? he was a lot older.

[McQueen 17,864]

8 minutes ago, bandicoot said:

Weller is a loss as we will then be noticeably better at the contested game. They might not be able to get it out to the outside runners... 

Apart from Viney applying one of the best tackles on him, Weller usually plays well against us. If he's out then it's a good thing based on history.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,383]

7 minutes ago, bandicoot said:

Weller is a loss as we will then be noticeably better at the contested game. They might not be able to get it out to the outside runners... 

Weller seems to always kick his 2 or 3 against us as well. I would like Tommy Bugg to be our 'Mav Weller', but he's not playing.

It could be false speculation and he ends up playing but I thought it would be worthwhile sharing.  

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,383]

1 minute ago, McQueen said:

Apart from Viney applying one of the best tackles on him, Weller usually plays well against us. If he's out then it's a good thing based on history.

Dempster, Montagna and Acres always [censored] us as well.

[ArtificialWisdom 4,044]

I love how people always say "X St Kilda player always plays well against us." We have lost 14 in a row! they all play well against us!!

[Wiseblood 24,637]

6 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Dempster, Montagna and Acres always [censored] us as well.

I'm assuming you brought it up for this reason, but all 3 won't be playing on Saturday which will be handy.

[bandicoot 1,395]

16 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Dempster, Montagna and Acres always [censored] us as well.

Montagna, Stevens, hickey and membrey were best afield last time.

monti is out and I think we have developed as a back unit since last year so membrey will find it harder to score 4. 

 

 

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,383]

5 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I'm assuming you brought it up for this reason, but all 3 won't be playing on Saturday which will be handy.

Yep spot on, but as Artificial Wisdom pointed out, they all play well against us.

[Its Time for Another 4,088]

Watts on Riewoldt could be a very interesting choice. Has the height and pace and would be deadly on the rebound which would make Riewoldt more accountable and less likely to keep streaming into forward 50 with no defenders within 30 metres

[Wormburner 674]

I like the team.

However, I am somewhat worried about the disposals of 3 of our backline under pressure - Mc brothers and Smith. The game at Etihad and against the Saints is so quick, a turnover results in a goal very quickly.

I'd prefer if Smith had more of a run in the VFL beforehand. Unfortunately, given our injuries, I don't think we have too many options than to give Smith a run. I just hope his disposals are better than they were against the Dogs.

 

[Jaded No More 67,772]

9 hours ago, ProDee said:

This is one of those ill-considered Chinese whispers type posts.

I don't think anyone said he wouldn't get games, but some, like me, can see him having real pressure on his spot in 2017 due to a lack of run and offence to his game. 

I don't necessarily disagree, and while it's all about offence from defence these days, you still need players down back who can actually defend, and Jetta is an exceptional defender. 

Between Hunt, Melksham, Hibberd and Vince, we have 4 players down back who are so so defenders and will give up their share of goals. This is where Jetta comes into his own, as he can successfully reduce the influence of guys like Betts, who we know can turn a game. His spot is only going to come into question if we are playing a team who doesn't have strong small forwards in their mix. 

[P-man 13,366]

Acres being listed as an emergency is interesting. He's one of the players Saints fans tend to be most bullish about.

I have a good feeling about tomorrow. Instincts served me okay last year, most telling examples being my bad feeling going into the Essendon game and my good feeling going into the Hawks game. Let's see how they serve me this season.

[Members' Wing 1,106]

I assume those continually calling it "Shitihad" and "Etishit" throughout this thread are 12 years old.