MATCH PREVIEW AND TEAM SELECTION - Round 8

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 11,064]

2 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

weid is there in case hogan's "sickness" doesn't come good. no, i don't know what the sickness is, probably a cold

I'm sorry, but at this point I think we would be just about better off playing a bed ridden Hogan over Weid, particularly  given Weid's write up from the Casey wasn't exactly glowing.  We must be really desperate for KPPs at present.  I would have thought it could be worth giving Hullet or someone a go.

[leave it to deever 17,614]

I seriously think we are a good chance of winning or at least losing another close one.

[picket fence 18,169]

44 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Good lord how can we keep Stretch out yet keep Tom Bugg in?

And Weideman as Emergency on the back of what exactly? 

I like Kent in as common sense prevails but again another week where i shake my head at selections.

A [censored] selection policy which is playing homage to too many average players. Selections for this season have us all scratching heads! 

[Deestroy All 14,266]

12 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

You've developed quite the acid tongue towards my posts of late big fella.  I'm not sure why.  I never said he didn't tackle, nor did I necessarily compare him to JKH.  He was dropped for his defensive efforts this year and, if we're being honest, he's been hot and cold in that area for years.  He can do it, and when he does he's terrific (like the night against the Tigers when he was on fire before doing his hammy), but it's almost as if it's a roll of the dice each week.

As I said, we are a much better side with Kent in it, and I'm hoping he learned his lesson from earlier in the year.

I think your post just happened to be the tipping point. Not necessarily having a go at you. 

Kent is better defensively than JKH, even when he has zero tackles. It's not even a question for me. He could be a lot better (like Garlett this season) but the JKH pressure acts myth got too much for me. 

 

 

As for team selection. Bit late. Kent would've helped get us up in the close ones. 

[watchtheeyes 1,429]

Reckon Bugg has been spared so he can go to Sloane. Want to see him wear Sloane like a glove.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

I just can't see us winning without a recognised ruckman.

We managed against Bellchambers, who is no good.

We got hammered by McEvoy, who is average.

So not looking forward to seeing what Jacobs will do, as he is good.

We just look like opposition talls are going to clunk everything against us atm.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

4 minutes ago, Forest Demon said:

I just can't see us winning without a recognised ruckman.

We managed against Bellchambers, who is no good.

We got hammered by McEvoy, who is average.

So not looking forward to seeing what Jacobs will do, as he is good.

We just look like opposition talls are going to clunk everything against us atm.

We just have to play smarter, for longer.

Look at last week; when we allowed the Hawks to slow it down and kick it long to a contest, they had one of their talls float across and mark unopposed.  They knew we didn't have strength in the air and they used it to their advantage.

When we moved the ball quickly in the third term, we took away that advantage and we were able to dominate.  We just didn't do it for long enough.  The Crows are strong in the air, but if we can take them on and try and run them off their legs then we give ourselves a chance.

[Bates Mate 4,520]

13 minutes ago, watchtheeyes said:

Reckon Bugg has been spared so he can go to Sloane. Want to see him wear Sloane like a glove.

This 100% 

[Sir Why You Little 37,450]

2 minutes ago, Bates Mate said:

This 100% 

Bugg will be on a hard tag

Hiuse on it!!

[Diamond_Jim 12,772]

yawn.... another week... another season .... perhaps next year

[Adam The God 30,714]

25 minutes ago, watchtheeyes said:

Reckon Bugg has been spared so he can go to Sloane. Want to see him wear Sloane like a glove.

It's also his third game in a row. This has been a consistent number of games given to players to perform. Two strikes so far. Be interesting to see how he goes. Reckon he'll cost us a couple of goals from poor ball use.

31 minutes ago, Deestroy All said:

I think your post just happened to be the tipping point. Not necessarily having a go at you. 

Kent is better defensively than JKH, even when he has zero tackles. It's not even a question for me. He could be a lot better (like Garlett this season) but the JKH pressure acts myth got too much for me. 

 

 

As for team selection. Bit late. Kent would've helped get us up in the close ones. 

So you just like his fatty imposing presence when he's not tackling? Don't really understand it, but okay. Each to their own.

22 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

We just have to play smarter, for longer.

Look at last week; when we allowed the Hawks to slow it down and kick it long to a contest, they had one of their talls float across and mark unopposed.  They knew we didn't have strength in the air and they used it to their advantage.

When we moved the ball quickly in the third term, we took away that advantage and we were able to dominate.  We just didn't do it for long enough.  The Crows are strong in the air, but if we can take them on and try and run them off their legs then we give ourselves a chance.

I reckon one of the big reasons we're a chance in this game is that Adelaide will back their own game plan in, rather than try to neutralise ours. Whereas, Hawthorn were a bit like Carlton, in that they looked to stifle and nullify our strengths.

[In Harmes Way 7,869]

Like the team this week. Even down to giving the two SA boys in Stretch and ANB a trip home to see the folks. Holistically looking after the team where possible (and I'd be happy if either had to come in). Good stuff Goody.

[Gorgoroth 13,216]

What I want to see is from the start is our leaders ensuring everyone is in the right spots, I watched Hodge on the weekend and he moved players half a foot to ensure they were in exactly the right spot. 

We still have multiple people pointing to different spots. Our leaders need to take charge from the first bounce to the last. We need to be organised to the fullest.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

9 minutes ago, A F said:

 

So you just like his fatty imposing presence when he's not tackling? Don't really understand it, but okay. Each to their own.

lol yes. His girth is much harder to get around than any JKH corralling effort. Also he can run anyone down and they know it. And his opponents have to actually worry about Kent being on the field. JKH had zero tackles last week. A Kent zero tackle game is better every day of the week. 

[Forest Demon 4,681]

I don't think Bugg is as good a tagger as he is made out on here sometimes. Yes, he is a pest, but I think our best actual shutdown jobs against gun mids over the last couple of years were done by both Vince and Viney when Roos gave them more defensive roles.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

7 minutes ago, Forest Demon said:

I don't think Bugg is as good a tagger as he is made out on here sometimes. Yes, he is a pest, but I think our best actual shutdown jobs against gun mids over the last couple of years were done by both Vince and Viney when Roos gave them more defensive roles.

How often has he actually played a tagging role for the club?  I wouldn't have thought it was that often.  In fact, these days we rarely tag a player at all.

[Young Blood 2,642]

I can only really remember Bugg doing a great job on Sidebottom one game against collingwood. Only hard tag that I can remember for Melbourne where he was quite successful in shutting his opponent down.

Had quite a few tagging assignments with GWS (including shutting Garlett down a few times funnily enough)

He did OK tagging Sloane last year but it wasn't a hard tag. i think it's definitely worth having him in for the option. He is a similar size to Sloane and has a good tank and could run with him through parts of the game.

[Adam The God 30,714]

26 minutes ago, Deestroy All said:

lol yes. His girth is much harder to get around than any JKH corralling effort. Also he can run anyone down and they know it. And his opponents have to actually worry about Kent being on the field. JKH had zero tackles last week. A Kent zero tackle game is better every day of the week. 

Well, obviously a zero tackle Kent game is probably similar to a JKH zero tackle game, although I'd agree Kent might get involved more offensively. 

[Wiseblood 24,637]

13 minutes ago, A F said:

Well, obviously a zero tackle Kent game is probably similar to a JKH zero tackle game, although I'd agree Kent might get involved more offensively. 

Not really.  Looking at Kent's game against Geelong, where admittedly he had one tackle, he still had 22 touches and kicked 2.3.  He had to work on the defensive part of his game for sure, but JKH gave us no better on that end and he didn't kick a goal in all 3 games.  It puts Kent ahead by quite a way for me.

And you're right on your earlier comment.  We are certainly having to adjust to the fact that teams are setting up to counteract our gameplan, rather than it being the other way around.  For the first time in a very long time, we are finding ourselves being hunted and we don't quite know how to handle it just yet.

[Demons11 7,136]

2 hours ago, Redleg said:

If Billy is the designated emergency that is no game for a month. That is crazy. 

Stretch played for Casey last week

[Vogon Poetry 2,095]

Reckon Stretch played last week Red. 

[What 18,810]

Just now, Wiseblood said:

Not really.  Looking at Kent's game against Geelong, where admittedly he had one tackle, he still had 22 touches and kicked 2.3.

If JKH had 22 touches and 2.3  we would be hailing it a breakout game and saying he has arrived, especially if it was in a  close game we should have won against  a current top 4 team a la Kent vs Geelong.

Dean was stiff to be dropped.

[Adam The God 30,714]

9 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

Not really.  Looking at Kent's game against Geelong, where admittedly he had one tackle, he still had 22 touches and kicked 2.3.  He had to work on the defensive part of his game for sure, but JKH gave us no better on that end and he didn't kick a goal in all 3 games.  It puts Kent ahead by quite a way for me.

And you're right on your earlier comment.  We are certainly having to adjust to the fact that teams are setting up to counteract our gameplan, rather than it being the other way around.  For the first time in a very long time, we are finding ourselves being hunted and we don't quite know how to handle it just yet.

JKH had 7 tackles in his first game and struggled in his second game (1 tackle) and was pathetic in his third. He certainly gave us better forward pressure than Kent against Richmond though.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

1 minute ago, Petraccattack said:

If JKH had 22 touches and 2.3  we would be hailing it a breakout game and saying he has arrived, especially if it was in a  close game we should have won against  a current top 4 team a la Kent vs Geelong.

Dean was stiff to be dropped.

That's true, HH.  But then Kent should be held to a higher standard these days.  JKH got 3 weeks, coming off some serious injuries, to prove himself and he fell well short.  We may not see him again.  We know Kent can do it though and he deserves a second chance.

[Adam The God 30,714]

9 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

If JKH had 22 touches and 2.3  we would be hailing it a breakout game and saying he has arrived, especially if it was in a  close game we should have won against  a current top 4 team a la Kent vs Geelong.

Dean was stiff to be dropped.

Maybe, although he's been coasting for a while IMO. He may have kicked goals last year, but his defensive pressure was very up and down.

I think the FD see how important he could be to our side and wanted to demand a greater output. That's good coaching and selection for mine.