Just now, Nasher said:

Hmm. Maybe I am underestimating his drive.

Oh well, we’ll see how we go.

We'll have you MFCSSing in no time. 

40 minutes ago, Win4theAges said:

Intercept marking, run and carry 3rd Tall, Pin Point Precision kicking we dont even have no one like that to replace Hibbo . Massive blow. 

Jonesy same injury last year, 6 weeks out thats nearly season over.

Do you actually know that it is the same as Jones injury, or are you speculating?  There are spectra of soft tissue injuries you know.

36 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

Viney, Hibberd and Lever FMD. Probably 3 of our most important 10 out for most of the massive games we have coming up to get to the finals. We're officially hard up against it now. Multiple Injuries happening now at the most crucial time of the season. The footy gods hate us Im sure. Jeez he's a big out. 

So...smith comes in for Hibberd and probably Tyson comes in also. Sigh. We're going backwards. 

As an agnostic I don't believe in gods, or didn't but maybe I will change and believe that there is a god, and not a particularly nice one

20 minutes ago, rpfc said:

We are getting to the point where players are asked to replace those they just can’t replace. 

Our best mid and now our top 2 defenders...

The passage way to September is getting narrower.

???  Oliver and Brayshaw are OK (touch wood).

1 minute ago, Nasher said:

Hmm. Maybe I am underestimating his drive.

Oh well, we’ll see how we go.

Possibly, but it doesn't really say how effective that is - I think it just adds up how far forward he kicks the ball during a game, not how often it hits a target.  It doesn't take points off if that kick is a turnover and goes right back over his head.

Having said that, it still shows that he gives us some drive from half back that someone like Salem is going to need to step up and cover for us over the next few weeks.

Time for Keilty? Or could Balic play half back?

Maybe not Balic for this game but trial him there at Casey.

36 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

darwin strikes again????

daisy - are you suggesting something to do with the poor evolution of the quadriceps?

BLOODY HELL? We can't take a trick.

44 minutes ago, rpfc said:

We are getting to the point where players are asked to replace those they just can’t replace. 

Our best mid and now our top 2 defenders...

The passage way to September is getting narrower.

Viney is not our best mid...just sayin...

Hibberd hasn't been at his best but it's still a big loss.

The ideal backline is 7 defenders who can all kick, intercept (mark or punch), run and defend.

Hibberd's our most well rounded defender at being able to do all 4 of those thing.

Lever might be closest, he can kick, intercept and to an extent defend (the right opponent) and run but he's out as well. Hunt can defend, intercept and run when at his best and he's out too.

Vince does a bit of everything but isn't the same player he once was. Lewis can kick and gets in position to help others intercept and run the ball but can't defend. Jetta a great defender and can intercept and kick but doesn't run the ball out.

A lot really falls on Salem now because he can do a bit of everything but the opposition is going to clamp down on him. Chris Scott will be right on to him.

So do we bring in Joel Smith who can replace Hibberd's athleticism or do we bring in Wagner who has better skills and can find the footy more. That decision probably then alters what we think Vince can do.

The other options:
- Harmes who can probably do a decent poor mans Hibberd replacement but then the midfield is light on for defensive effort and given the loss of Viney that's a bad result
- Fritsch who is a nice intercept, run and skill option across half back but then robs the midfield of some much needed class on the outside

The week and the weekend suddenly has taken a turn for the worse. 

Massive loss. Hibberd brings so much to the team.  

 Quad injuries are difficult to heal. A serious tear could be season ending.  

Please wrap Max up in cotton wool. 

 

35 minutes ago, Nasher said:

It’s probably a controversial opinion but I reckon his ball use when at full tilt (ie creating run and drive) is often sub-par. I’ve seen him kick it directly to the opposition as often as not. I honestly think Smith or Wagner can cover that aspect of his play. 

It’s his contested work and support for his teammates in the back half that I think we will miss.

They are both turnover merchants. I wouldn't put Pig in that category.

I say bring in bugg to tag Selwood and put Harmes in defence. Tyson to replace Hannan.

Fritsch goes back, he looked well at home back there on the weekend. Baker to take the Fritsch role, unless Vanders is fully fit, although that's highly unlikely.

Fritsch can cover for Hibberd

36 minutes ago, monoccular said:

Do you actually know that it is the same as Jones injury, or are you speculating?  There are spectra of soft tissue injuries you know.

As an agnostic I don't believe in gods, or didn't but maybe I will change and believe that there is a god, and not a particularly nice one

???  Oliver and Brayshaw are OK (touch wood).

Jones had a quad injury he was out for 6, I hope its not as severe as that.

Edited July 18, 20186 yr by Win4theAges

43 minutes ago, monoccular said:

daisy - are you suggesting something to do with the poor evolution of the quadriceps?

just drawing a long bow

Viney and Hibberd both out shortly after Darwin trip.

Lever injured shortly after Alice.

You simply can't ignore that. Conditioning and fatigue has an affect on the body, you become unintentionally lazy and your body and mind cut corners to battle the physical and mental fatigue.

Get rid of these damn games.

Edited July 18, 20186 yr by praha

20 minutes ago, FireInTheBelly said:

Fritsch goes back, he looked well at home back there on the weekend. Baker to take the Fritsch role, unless Vanders is fully fit, although that's highly unlikely.

Goodwin said that Vanders is 2-3 before he can play in the side.?

3 minutes ago, praha said:

Viney and Hibberd both out shortly after Darwin trip.

Lever injured shortly after Alice.

You simply can't ignore that. Conditioning and fatigue has an affect on the body, you become unintentionally lazy and your body and mind cut corners to battle the physical and mental fatigue.

Get rid of these damn games.

A bloke doing his knee has nothing to do with playing in Alice.  The Alice springs game was also played in 22 degree weather, wouldn’t call this extreme.  

Bloody hell. This has compelled me to break my own Demonland embargo (brought about by fear of catching a severe case of sky-is-falling-in-itis).

Massive loss, but they shouldn't get cute by moving Fritsch or Harmes around. Robbing Peter to pay Paul and all that.

Wagner would be the choice for me. Not ideal, but he does have the ability to rebound and you know he will be up for it in the cauldron of Kardinia.

We basically need to do the third quarter v Bulldogs again, to all future opponents... so the defence is not needed.

Edited July 18, 20186 yr by John Demonic

27 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

A bloke doing his knee has nothing to do with playing in Alice.  The Alice springs game was also played in 22 degree weather, wouldn’t call this extreme.  

28 in Alice. But dry heat.

WHAT THE !....No Hibbo ? Josh Wagner has been in good form  he has go and  Quick as well, can play. Please Goody no Joel Smith! UNTIL HE FINDS CONSISTENT FORM AT CASEY.     Anymore surprises ? 

47 minutes ago, praha said:

Viney and Hibberd both out shortly after Darwin trip.

Lever injured shortly after Alice.

You simply can't ignore that. Conditioning and fatigue has an affect on the body, you become unintentionally lazy and your body and mind cut corners to battle the physical and mental fatigue.

Get rid of these damn games.

Of course you can. Impossible to draw the conclusion that the Darwin game is the cause of the injuries to Viney and Hibberd.

 

If you are ever going to do without Hibberd, this is probably the week. Geelong have Hawkins, Menzel and a bunch of quick, small types. Yes, we lose Hibberd's run and carry, so I like the idea of Fritsch playing back, but we can cover him defensively. 

More of an issue is whether Lewis and Vince can keep up with their opponents.

2 hours ago, rpfc said:

We are getting to the point where players are asked to replace those they just can’t replace. 

Our best mid and now our top 2 defenders...

The passage way to September is getting narrower.

I would argue Clarry is our best mid and arguably our best player alongside Maxy RP.  Viney definitely right behind alongside Gus.

Without an in form Hunt i can't think of anyone that will handle the role Hibberd plays to a similar level.  His reading of the play, work rate to get to the contest and run off and across HB (on the switch) will leave a gaping hole.

Could we switch Melk back there till he returns (hopefully before finals)??  Hasn't really threatened up forward for 6 weeks now and we've won our last 2 without him playing anywhere near his best or hitting the scoreboard as often as his purple patch around the time we smashed the Crows.