Match Preview and Team Selection - Preliminary Final

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,722]

13 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Rumour gaining media traction.

 

No real story, just "Melbourne is considering making a change" - of course they are,  it's called selection committee

No source provided, just "Sam Landsberger understands". Wonder if Sam spends his time searching fan blogs or Facebook...

Way to create your own news on a slow news day

Has anyone managed to get more substance on this rumour?

Edited September 20, 2018 by Graeme Yeats' Mullet

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

If we drop Fritsch I'll spew up.

I'm all for bringing Smith in but doing so it will allow Fritsch to move to the wing.

[rpfc 28,052]

I would understand it - Tyson is more suited to the style of game we wish to play if Smith is to come in for a player - it would make sense to be Fritsch.

I wouldn’t do it, because I think escaping the backline is more important than whatever small improvement Smith would have on playing on one of the smalls. 

*However, if this is to put Smith on Darling and OMac onto Vardy/Lycett then I understand it even more; it releases Hibberd a bit more.

 

[Wollongong Demon 182]

 

[Mondê 525]

19 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

If we drop Fritsch I'll spew up.

I'm all for bringing Smith in but doing so it will allow Fritsch to move to the wing.

I like it. Smith is good, my only concern is his ability to immediately step in to the finals cauldron of pressure. Fritta has looked a bit fatigued over the past couple of weeks

[Clintosaurus 7,565]

8 minutes ago, rpfc said:

However, if this is to put Smith on Darling and OMac onto Vardy/Lycett then I understand it even more; it releases Hibberd a bit more.

That is what I was thinking. Smith totally suits that setup. Still prefer no change.

Edited September 20, 2018 by Clintosaurus

[At the break of Gawn 4,419]

Smith absolutely butchered the ball against Adelaide so as long as he lets Lewis or Salem do the kicking, then I’m ok with this change.

[Brownie 5,870]

Just play 19 men. That seems to work allright

[scarlett 247]

1 minute ago, Brownie said:

Just play 19 men. That seems to work allright

The trick is to have 23 men, that way when they look at the bench theres still 4 players. 

[DSP 1,488]

45 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

If we drop Fritsch I'll spew up.

I'm all for bringing Smith in but doing so it will allow Fritsch to move to the wing.

Id have a sick bag ready...

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

8 minutes ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Smith absolutely butchered the ball against Adelaide so as long as he lets Lewis or Salem do the kicking, then I’m ok with this change.

Plus Tyson is a below average kick and Fritsch is one of our best kicks.

[beelzebub 23,200]

My only real thinking re Fritsch is he's been, like most the team adjusting quite well to the tempo and pressure of finals footy.

We bring in someone else who isn't ? Bit odd to me.

[Lucifers Hero 38,985]

If Smith comes in, I prefer Baley to go forward for Spargo. 

Bayley does most things better than Spargo (sorry Charlie).

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,722]

In light of the rumour, this Tuesday footage from Sam and Superfooty looks ominous for the Fritter

 

[Wiseblood 24,637]

No change, to me, makes the most sense.

However, if the selection committee feel that Joel Smith is the right choice for this weekend's game, and Fritsch is the one to miss out, I'm not sure I could argue with them based on the decisions that have been made recently.  They know what they are doing, and while I'll be shattered for Fritsch, he might get a run in the GF if they feel he is better suited to the match ups in that game.

[Demon Disciple 11,680]

If we swap Smith for Fritsch it would be a huge blunder IMO.

I do not rate Smith at all. When he was fit and playing in the team he practically did SFA. Fritsch is a much better decision-maker and disposer of the ball, plus he gets to way more contests than Smith could ever dream to. Throw in Bailey's versatility and it should be a no-brainer.

[dees189227 12,158]

Well it may be a matchup that Fritsch is dropped but gee I will be disappointed if he is dropped. He has a great set of hands and Id feel more confident with him down the back than Smith. Im sorry, Smith in his past few games got in the way of some of our players when they were trying to get the ball. 1 game gawn was about to take the mark and smith got in his way. 

Fritsch is also really good with the ball. 

I just don't think we should change a winning team. The last 2 weeks have been great. Don't mess with it. 

[layzie 32,938]

Ready to spew.

If Smith comes in it should be for Tyson, if at all.

[Demonland 70,312]

 

[Brownie 5,870]

6 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

Well it may be a matchup that Fritsch is dropped but gee I will be disappointed if he is dropped. He has a great set of hands and Id feel more confident with him down the back than Smith. Im sorry, Smith in his past few games got in the way of some of our players when they were trying to get the ball. 1 game gawn was about to take the mark and smith got in his way. 

Fritsch is also really good with the ball. 

I just don't think we should change a winning team. The last 2 weeks have been great. Don't mess with it. 

If they drop Fritsch and win, Bayley is going to tear that vfl grand final apart on Sunday.

Gotta go with the wisdom of the coaches but geez he's been pretty good playing out of position.

I guess it would be more about match ups than form if he's dropped.

[Redleg 40,219]

1 minute ago, Demonland said:

 

Given he can play forward as well as back or mid and take a grab too, I would not be dropping him. 

[beelzebub 23,200]

Just now, Redleg said:

Given he can play forward as well as back or mid and take a grab too, I would not be dropping him. 

Totally agree. He seems quite at home in finals. Some saying fumbly but a lot of players have difficulties at times with ball zipping around. He still is quite calm...still taking excellent grabs...and when you NEED to !!

Maybe me...just don't see that Smith is BETTER just atm...and in context of finals. 

[Smokey 4,357]

I will struggle to understand Fritsch being dropped for Smith. Although I have a tremendous amount of faith in our club as a whole these days so perhaps we are missing some crucial circumstances that we demonlanders are not acquainted with at this stage. 

My logic is telling me Smith for Tyson and push Fritsch up to the wing. Time will tell.  

[Superunknown 4,062]

This is all speculation, mind.

Could just be lairising with the Eagles. To what end I don't know, so perhaps it is not baseless at all.

I'll spew but. But then I'm not working in a FD in a prelimary final-playing team.

[Graeme Yeats' Mullet 6,722]

I understand the need for match ups, particularly against the WCE tall forwards but J Smith hasn't impressed me for form just yet

Having said that, the Weid made a mark in Perth against my expectations - here's hoping J Smith can do the same