Jumping the gun perhaps and certainly not conceding a loss tonight to Richmond by any means.  However looking forward towards winning the next game only within a 4 1/2 - 5 day break, recalling that last year's equivalent game was a slow, low skill level, dour affair in which both sides (particularly the Dons) looked cooked and out on their feet.  Win or loose tonight, I think some strategic team rotations to inject some fresh legs could make all the difference to winning or loosing against Essendon.

Here are my entirely speculative thoughts on players to come back in and give us an edge:

1.  Cam Pedersen - resting either Gawn or Hogan.  In the instance that Hogan is rested, the Pedo still spends more ruck time than normal to give Gawn a chop out;

2.  Lewis, Freitch - arguably both rested for this week's game against Richmond.  Lewis for Bernie and Freitch for the most tired forward;

3.  Corey Maynard - potetentially comes in to rest our most tired or out of form on baller, probably Harms at present;

4.  Hannan/Charlie Spargo - potential for Garlett or Patraca;

5.  Consider Frost at the expense of one of our backline talls to play on Joe Daniher.


The following week, we have a suite of fresh players and potentially T Mac to take on St Kilda, who will be no easy beats at Docklands.

Edited April 23, 20187 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Lose both tonight and against the Bombers we may as well start to plan for next season.

We need to go to the bye at around 7 and 4... lose the next two and we will 2-4 which means we would need to win the next 5 straight.

Big couple of weeks on the way.

Hopefully it will only be Lewis and T.McDonald back in maybe at the expense of Melksham and Harmes if we play well. If we don't Weideman, Vince, Hunt, Stretch, Jetta, J.Wagner and Neal-Bullen will also be under the pump.

First time I've ever seen the changes thread appear *before* the game.

Any resting in the short turnaround will come from the more junior players.  There's no way Gawn or Hogan will be rested.  

17 minutes ago, Nasher said:

First time I've ever seen the changes thread appear *before* the game.

Any resting in the short turnaround will come from the more junior players.  There's no way Gawn or Hogan will be rested.  

Or the veteran players such as Vince or Jetta. But I agree regarding the rest.

In - Pedo, Hannan, Fritsch

Out - Weid, Melksham, Harmes

T Mac back for St Kilda.

is it Wednesday .....already !!!

Talk about burying your dead before they have carcked it ??????????

whatever the changes are, just reverse them for the St Kilda game

ps. tried to find the Changes Vs St. Kilda thread but must not be out yet???   

No change;) Why change a winning line up?

Somewhat surprised to see the haste in getting Lewis back into the line-up...

4 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Lewis, Freitch - arguably both rested for this week's game against Richmond

Had a broken hand champ

Out: Lever, Melksham

may as well get in early

5 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Jumping the gun perhaps and certainly not conceding a loss tonight to Richmond by any means.  However looking forward towards winning the next game only within a 4 1/2 - 5 day break, recalling that last year's equivalent game was a slow, low skill level, dour affair in which both sides (particularly the Dons) looked cooked and out on their feet.  Win or loose tonight, I think some strategic team rotations to inject some fresh legs could make all the difference to winning or loosing against Essendon.

Here are my entirely speculative thoughts on players to come back in and give us an edge:

1.  Cam Pedersen - resting either Gawn or Hogan.  In the instance that Hogan is rested, the Pedo still spends more ruck time than normal to give Gawn a chop out;

2.  Lewis, Freitch - arguably both rested for this week's game against Richmond.  Lewis for Bernie and Freitch for the most tired forward;

3.  Corey Maynard - potetentially comes in to rest our most tired or out of form on baller, probably Harms at present;

4.  Hannan/Charlie Spargo - potential for Garlett or Patraca;

5.  Consider Frost at the expense of one of our backline talls to play on Joe Daniher.


The following week, we have a suite of fresh players and potentially T Mac to take on St Kilda, who will be no easy beats at Docklands.

Maynard is a complete potato. He has no football smarts and never will. It was a lovely experiment and he is a gifted athlete, but lacks awareness and football nous. I'd rather Baker be given a one week taste than persisting with Maynard. 

3 hours ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

Had a broken hand champ

Did he really?  I didn't know that (not).

My understanding is that he will probably be available for the Dons game, without having played a game in a fortnight - thus "arguably(/effectively) rested".

Similar for Freitch. I thought his performance against the Hawks was comparably ok and didn’t really warrant an omission on the basis of his performance - thus "arguably(/effectively) rested".

I'll be keeping an eye on anb. A lot like bugg where he runs hard and gets to the right spots but where bugg goes hard at the ball and stuffs it, A.N.B often doesnt attack the ball hard enough waiting for the bounce or for an opponent to grab it to lay the tackle. The change i want to see is anb go for it like last year. 

7 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Lose both tonight and against the Bombers we may as well start to plan for next season.

We need to go to the bye at around 7 and 4... lose the next two and we will 2-4 which means we would need to win the next 5 straight.

Big couple of weeks on the way.

More or less my rationale.

 

7 hours ago, Nasher said:

First time I've ever seen the changes thread appear *before* the game.

Any resting in the short turnaround will come from the more junior players.  There's no way Gawn or Hogan will be rested.  

Whether resting either Gawn or Hogan directly is really the go, I agree it would be a big call, but I do think the inclusion of Pedo to provide either or both of them with a bit of cover in the likely instance they are extremely fatigued would be a sound move.  Weid in the ruck is an unproven quantidy.  Pedo appears to be in pretty good form at present thus I think this provides an good opertunity.

 

3 hours ago, dl4e said:

Talk about burying your dead before they have carcked it ??????????

This would not be about making omissions based on poor performance/result of tonights game.  More about smart fatigue management and gaining an advantage on our opponents on Sunday through having fresher legs.

How can you even respond to this before we’ve played? You need to see where we land with injuries, possible suspensions, form etc.

Out: Goodwin

In: McCartney (even Paul will do)

In.  ...

out. Vince. Melksham. Hunt. Harmes. Lever. Hibberd. Wagner. Garlett. Stretch. 

1 hour ago, Chook said:

Out: Goodwin

In: McCartney (even Paul will do)

You have my membership vote. 

Cant believe how much we have gone backwards

2 hours ago, Chook said:

Out: Goodwin

In: McCartney (even Paul will do)

Help me if you can I’m feeling down....

Out. Neal bullen stretch Kent

In. Fritch Hannan Lewis

Nb is out of form. As a 16-22 fringe player, he needs to go back to case.

Stetch has no stand out quality. Physically weak with no burst pace or booming kick.

Kent injured

what do we do about Garlett ? I would prefer him to play but he’s been garbage for 2 weeks. He did basically win us the game vs lions 

1 minute ago, DaveyJones'sLocker said:

what do we do about Garlett ? I would prefer him to play but he’s been garbage for 2 weeks. He did basically win us the game vs lions 

He's been garbage since mid year last year and feasting on a bad backline when we were moving it in regularly and with ease doesn't change that. Has to go.