Fritsch was woeful at times and has given me the old "sphincter clench of doom" feeling over the past few weeks when he's had the ball.

Smith doesn't fill me with confidence either especially after his injury but he's a physically strong defender…something we desperately need in this game against the best forward line in the league (our status as the highest scoring team notwithstanding).

23 minutes ago, binman said:

The other option Smith provides is the player who has the speed to come off his man to help frosty and oMac as third man in and the strength and leap to really impact the contest. Strong in the contest as well.

Agree but just worry that JSmith has not been part of the last 4 games of high dare I say extreme intensity football in front of large, sometimes hostile, crowds. Fingers crossed he can come in and perform in front of what will be a cauldron of hostility and intensity after a few runs at VFL level. That said I have always liked Smith as a footballer. 

25 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

Rubbish. Take the emotional side out of it. There's no clear match up for Fritsch, he doesn't really have a clear role, and is at the end of his first preparation.

Smith has a clear match up, which will likely be Darling, he has the ability to push forward if Hurn and McGovern get on top.

While I don't see what the FD see in Smith, he's our best option for playing this role.

I hope he goes well. If he doesn't and we lose, only nuffies will say that this decision cost us the game.

I don’t think it’s rubbish but I agree to take the emotional side out of it. Falling in love with the story is not going to do any favours in selection.

I would have thought Oscar for Darling but Smith makes a bit of sense, good to have the option at least. 

I hope he goes well too, I think he has the potential to. But the decision would be rightly questioned if he has a mare. It’s not a scrutiny free job making these calls. That’s life. 

Well done to Joel making his finals debut in a prelim.

My tip: Joel will have a blinder and this will be seen as the difference in a close win. 

Fritta to play in the GF next week. 

53 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

Do not like this one bit. Fritta has been played out of position for weeks now. Had done a solid job for the team. Replaced by someone with no football skills.

They've panicked.

One thing I don’t think our coaches are doing at this point if the season is panicking... we’re on fire. They are making what they believe is a thought out, reasoned approach.

“We don’t think x is playing well, we’ve told him he needs to do this, this and this over the last few weeks, he missed the KPIs on the weekend. Yea but he could be a match winner.. we think he needs to go back and have a go at it in the 2s. Smith has played they way we want, let’s bring him in.”

Sure some to and froing but no second guessing and no panic merchants, like us on here.. 

There are always bad luck stories in finals, just as there are good luck stories. 

I feel for Fritta. I feel even more for Hogan and Vince. Fritsch has been with us for a year and has done a lot more than I bet he even expected.

Joel Smith is lucky, just as Weids is lucky, that Lever has gone down (and so has Hogan). 

This is the right decision, without the benefit of hindsight. West Coast are very tell, it will be a dry day and we need to try and limit their talls. 

Smith will free up Hibbo who got a nice touch up last week (lucky his opponent couldn’t kick straight hey?!), and that only makes us better. 

Prelims don’t come around often. You gotta make tough calls to win tough games and there are few tougher than a trip to Perth to make a grand final. 

Go Dees!!!

26 minutes ago, rjay said:

I think this is an important point 'bin'...

Also think someone had to take responsibility for Gunston kicking 3.5 last weekend.

Not being at the game I couldn't see the match ups but maybe Bailey was done over by a very good player?

Not sure on match ups over the whole game but he did let that ball through his fingers that Gunston ran onto and kicked into the post that would have put the Dawks within 2 goals in the third quarter. One lapse like that can cost you. 

1 hour ago, Dee tention said:

Smith is going to play second up and intercept... He will be fisting everything! Lol ? 

Bayley is really stiff! He can play wing and go forward and kick goals. Or need be back on the back flank. He has flexibility!

Dom should be counting his lucky chickens! ? He is one dimensional and can only be played on the wing... 

Interesting selection committee next week for the Granny. We are going to beat the Weagles! Haha 

Both the Tigers and Pies have smaller forward lines... So does this mean Bayley comes back in for Joel? Interesting!

Fisting will probably  appeal to Uncle Bitters in Romsey.

7 minutes ago, layzie said:

I don’t think it’s rubbish but I agree to take the emotional side out of it. Falling in love with the story is not going to do any favours in selection.

I would have thought Oscar for Darling but Smith makes a bit of sense, good to have the option at least. 

I hope he goes well too, I think he has the potential to. But the decision would be rightly questioned if he has a mare. It’s not a scrutiny free job making these calls. That’s life. 

So if Smith wasn't picked, how do we match up on Kennedy, Darling and their resting ruck?

3 hours ago, The Swimming Dee said:

Tough call for match committee. Obviously a difficult call to make but this is a preliminary final and match ups are critical - especially with their multi faceted forward line.

I am a big Fritsch fan but as others have mentioned freeing up Hibberd to be the interceptor and using Smith to cover a smaller forward might be the thinking. Smith also provides an option if Kennedy or Darling are getting away from Frost and OMac. Gotta have options in a prelim - especially with two players that could win the game off their own boot.

It might be Tyson who goes out yet but the more I think about it the more I like having Smith in. 

Smith is going to have to come in hard, fast and dangerously to disrupt the Weagles tall forwards - and this is something that Fritta cannot do with his body weight. The alternative was the rest Tyson, keeping Fritta on a wing rather than as a backman; however, Tyson is a possession winner with far more experience and a few more tricks than Fritta at the moment; a risk with such an arm injury but really, he needed to be kept 'handy' for a ball-winning and pass-off role. He can play quickly off the bench and by heavens, he will need to do just that - no warming up in onfield time this week. I feel for Fritta - heaps - but what a great first year with the Dees.

1 hour ago, Dee tention said:

Smith is going to play second up and intercept... He will be fisting everything! Lol ? 

Bayley is really stiff! He can play wing and go forward and kick goals. Or need be back on the back flank. He has flexibility!

Dom should be counting his lucky chickens! ?

Are you talking about the game or the post match party? These guys are kinky.

7 minutes ago, sydneydee said:

Well done to Joel making his finals debut in a prelim.

Well said SD. Let's not lose sight of this. It's a more than solid effort to force his way in to this team, having never played a final.

Edited September 20, 20186 yr by Allus Monk

Changed my mind good move from the club, Tyson very lucky but Smith to Vardy is a good move.

jezz its tuff on fritz    i woulda swapped spots for spargo  fritz in forward 50  spargo out , but who am i to know whats best  GO DEES , RAISE HELL 

It's Fritata's first year, realistically he could never have expected to play as many games as he has, and the whole year should've been about development. He's been played all over the park and the experience he's gained will be invaluable going forward. Look out next year with a full pre-season under the belt and the fire this will no doubt light in him. As disappointing as it is for him, I think it'll be the making of him.

Also excited for what Smith may be ready to show us. He's always picked when he gets fit, with or without reserves form, so the footy department obviously see a lot in him. Given the improvements we've seen across the list this year, I have little doubt he'll be a star, hope he can show it all off this weekend.

33 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

So if Smith wasn't picked, how do we match up on Kennedy, Darling and their resting ruck?

We go with what’s worked pretty well for the last 4 weeks against some quality key forwards.

Moot point now though. Have to back in the FD on this, there is upside to having Smith in. I am starting to see it.

1 hour ago, dee-tox said:

Do not like this one bit. Fritta has been played out of position for weeks now. Had done a solid job for the team. Replaced by someone with no football skills.

They've panicked.

They have panicked??? Are you serious???

complete opposite to panicking in my opinion.

Sound and sensible thoughts to work out match ups I think.

would you prefer the coaches sit there and stick with the same team just to make sure nobody is upset and to keep the fans happy cos they feel bad for bailey?

if the team needs another tall, which we do, someone is going to be unlucky.

it could have been any of Spargo, fritsch or tyson in my opinion, and unfortunately bailey is the one to miss out.

the team setup v the weakest is better with smith, who in my opinion, was playing a super game before he got injured. I am not worried about what he did in the 2s last week, means nothing really. The interesting part will be to see how he copes with the speed and pressure this week.

2 hours ago, The Swimming Dee said:

Poor post

Speak for yourself 

2 hours ago, Danelska said:

so @Wolfturdo, in your view, what is a pass mark from an outcome perspective for smith?

I think less than 3 goals kicked on him and a few good spoils would be something. No margin for error here.

2 hours ago, Nasher said:

There is absolutely zero credibility on the line. Pull the other one. 

Total nonsense. What planet are you people on? You can absolutely lose credibility as a coach at selection if it turns out to be the wrong decision, that’s why they are called gutsy calls, because there is risk attached to it. 

Fritta is the most unluckiest  person in football sense to miss the Preliminary final. He has been used in just about every position on the ground bar Rucking. Played 23 games kicked 17 goals and you cannot ask for more  from a first year player.   Joel Smith IMO hasn't shown me as an observer that he is ready to take his place in the team and no disrespect to him l hope he can help us get over the line.

Joel has played 7 games this year for a total of 10 career games. Well they the FD see something that most of us don't. I hope they have got this right with him and l will be watching his progress with great interest on Saturday.

Fritta hang in there you have been fantastic for us over the year and helped us to where we are at the moment. You are part of our future. Keep your head up champ. We know that you will be back sooner rather than later. With some luck in the GF.   Go Dees!

Would have been great if Smith’s injury against GC kept him out of the season. Bayley would still be in...

1 minute ago, Precard said:

Would have been great if Smith’s injury against GC kept him out of the season. Bayley would still be in...

What a ridiculous and stupid thing to say.

3 minutes ago, layzie said:

What a ridiculous and stupid thing to say.

Second post. Cool strategy to set the bar so low. The only way is up. I hope. 

1 hour ago, layzie said:

I don’t think it’s rubbish but I agree to take the emotional side out of it. Falling in love with the story is not going to do any favours in selection.

I would have thought Oscar for Darling but Smith makes a bit of sense, good to have the option at least. 

I hope he goes well too, I think he has the potential to. But the decision would be rightly questioned if he has a mare. It’s not a scrutiny free job making these calls. That’s life. 

Smith will take who ever is highest up, most notably Darling.

Edited September 20, 20186 yr by Win4theAges