PREGAME: Rd 05 vs St. Kilda

[chook fowler 19,459]

Really concerned about our lack of pace all over the ground. I think the Saints may run ringsaround us.

[Radar Detector 1,347]

15 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Really concerned about our lack of pace all over the ground. I think the Saints may run ringsaround us.

Pace is an overrated attribute. It only matters if you get hands on the ball. When we lose to quick teams it’s generally because we lose clearances / contested possession or turn it over.

If we bring our best game, nobody makes us look slow.

[loges 6,767]

14 hours ago, picket fence said:

Spargo will NEVER win us a Flag.....

Spargo is still chasing Jeffys dust. Spargo is small, but he’s got poor-average pace and doesn’t hit the scoreboard. He’s more of a natural midfielder and isn’t suited to the small forward role.

We need Jeff in the team. He’s the most proven goal kicker on our list and offers elite speed.

Poor Poor reasoning and rationale but sadly FD agree.

Watch this come back and bite us on the ARRRRRRRRRRZE

Unfortunately Jeffy's dust settled a long time ago.

[Dee Zephyr 19,267]

Any news on Preuss from today’s session? It was mentioned that he might be put through a test. 

[Dr. Gonzo 24,222]

23 hours ago, praha said:

May seem like a stretch but I'm in desperate need of two additional AFL Members barcodes. Have a bunch of people in from interstate and have used up mine plus all family and friends, and want to avoid slugging them for a guest pass.

Anyone have a spare barcode they won't be using that I can reserve some seats with?

Just get them to go in through GA and then meet them inside the ground with 3 AFL members tickets. They can then walk through to the AFL members area by just showing the card and walking through.

Edited April 19, 2019 by Dr. Gonzo

[Dr. Gonzo 24,222]

18 hours ago, DemonOX said:

Great to see Omac finally dropped. 

He needs to work on his game but needs to do it in the seconds not the senior side. 

Hopefully he gets into form and comes back but only when he is well and truely in form. 

He'll probably get another run in the seniors but with May, Lever (when fit) ahead of him and Petty and Keilty breathing down his neck it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't play in the red and blue again this year.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,222]

17 hours ago, Billy said:

Cut us to ribbons? They lost by 2 points!!

On the back of 4 or 5 dubious 50m penalties that handed them goals.

[Storm Boy 376]

45 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Any news on Preuss from today’s session? It was mentioned that he might be put through a test. 

I don't think he will be playing. That is just a hunch 

[Willmoy1947 4,091]

16 hours ago, picket fence said:

Spargo will NEVER win us a Flag.....

Spargo is still chasing Jeffys dust. Spargo is small, but he’s got poor-average pace and doesn’t hit the scoreboard. He’s more of a natural midfielder and isn’t suited to the small forward role.

We need Jeff in the team. He’s the most proven goal kicker on our list and offers elite speed.

Poor Poor reasoning and rationale but sadly FD agree.

Watch this come back and bite us on the ARRRRRRRRRRZE

Picket i reckon they rushed Jeff back in too early last time and i also think he like Lewis would say if he's ready.

[Wiseblood 24,637]

I'm stoked Lewis is back.  Same for Jetta.  Bags of experience, footy nous, courage, skill... you name it, these guys can both bring it to the table.  Lewis isn't winning any 100 metre sprints for the rest of his career, but his footy brain more than makes up for it.

And we've seen both ANB and Oscar dropped over the past fortnight.  Maybe Goodwin is finally running out of patience with these guys as well?  I think it's a good sign, though.  As fans we have seen it, and it's nice to know that the coaches see it as well.

[DV8 2,271]

14 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

The last time we played the Aints we had an extra slow mid field rotation running with Tyson in.  While not super fast this time around either we have a mid field that is more settled now without those constant Tyson ins/outs every once in a while which made us extra slow in the middle IMO and drew more attention / tackles / pressure from the opp mids making it even harder for all concerned to clear the congestion to our advantage as often as we usually would (with Tyson out).

In addition Petty came in for his one and only game and was severely exposed and out of sorts down back.  It was his first game but it was a horror and unfortunately for him and us it effectively left us a man short down back.  Saints saw this and confidence went through the roof.  They new if they could get it down there quickly enough they would have a great chance of converting.  They also new Oscar and Louis weren't quick enough to cover off for Petty if the ball came in quickly.  Hore seems like a much more likely prospect so far and less likely to be severely exposed.

We also have a different look with the twin towers in plus Frosty able to run lines off HB, close down on his opponent quickly and Hunt providing some zip leading into space up forward along with some chase down pressure.

My biggest concern is Spargo over Jeffy.  With Pruess in we need someone to play a specialist crumbing role off the big man (as well as Big M if resting there) as well as pressuring and running down opponents to lock the ball in.  This is a perfect Jeffy cameo role in the offing.  He knows where the goals are and loves to kick em.  He has big men to feed off....the incentive is there and the rewards very enticing if he works hard enough.

Hopefully we don't look back and regret this decision and we are running away with it well nearing the final siren.  If it comes down to a few points, like the last time we played them, this might end up being a significant error by Goody & the FD.  Spargo will need to play a very special game to justify being picked in front of Jeffy.  Finger's and toes crossed he brings it.

It's not Spargo keeping Jeffy out, more likely cWagner.   Spargo is our  half forward, point guard  type. 

We need him to feed the ball off, to good scoring options.

 

Jeffy is more opportunist than rover...  I expect him in for Tigers, at expence of cWagner.

Jeffy, IMO,  is going to become a substitute game specialist.   Unless he starts to dominate again, and really pressure, and tackle.

[Engorged Onion 10,215]

"Squiggles" - Aggregate of all predictor Engines.

Looks pretty healthy to me.

 

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

41 minutes ago, DV8 said:

It's not Spargo keeping Jeffy out, more likely cWagner.   Spargo is our  half forward, point guard  type. 

We need him to feed the ball off, to good scoring options.

 

Jeffy is more opportunist than rover...  I expect him in for Tigers, at expence of cWagner.

Jeffy, IMO,  is going to become a substitute game specialist.   Unless he starts to dominate again, and really pressure, and tackle.

There is no better game than this week for Jeffy to play that specialist role DV assuming Pruess is in.  I agree re: point guard vs Jeffy playing a different role.  no arguments there.  But someone would have had to make way for Jeffy and Spargo seems to me to play a bit more forward at this point than Corey from what i witnessed last week (might have been looking through beer goggle eyes however so might be totally off the mark on that!).

I don't think we can afford both of Spargo & C Wagner in the team at the expense of an in form Jeffy.  Jeffy's ability to bring it though is often circumspect lately which is probably why the FD thought twice about rushing him back in.  Either that or they decided to hold him off for the Toiges.

[What 18,810]

18 hours ago, picket fence said:

Spargo will NEVER win us a Flag.....

 

  I bet if we do win one he will be a key part of it.

[Engorged Onion 10,215]

Help me understand why people are all of a sudden insistent that a player (Garlett) who didn't make the cut to play finals for us last year, is now an important cog in the wheel of how this team plays, when all evidence points to his lack of forward pressure when the chips are down... He jagged some goals against a putrid VFL side...surely he needs more than 1 game?

What he potentially brings is not enough to what he has shown on numerous occasions that he cannot bring. 

[Sydee 4,444]

31 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

"Squiggles" - Aggregate of all predictor Engines.

Looks pretty healthy to me.

 

waste of time is Squiggle - had us beating PA and Ess too - we all know how that played out !

No idea how they come up with this prediction last time I checked we have been crud in three games and won one game while they are 3-1 - go figure - or just Squiggle

[jnrmac 20,090]

5 hours ago, rjay said:

Yep, and that's ok in a team like Brisbane...

We should be well past that stage if we are to be a legitimate flag contender.

Are we still developing like Brisbane, GC & Carlton or are we ahead of them?

Carlton will move quickly once they learn to win...if Clarkson had that list they would be a finals contender this season.

If we are a legitimate flag contender then Lewis' job is done here.

I've run another thread where I asked whether "The Writing was/is on the Wall"

I'm not sure our list is good enough yet and think we're still in rebuild, the window many not yet be open for us.

If you're telling me we still need Lewis then it answers that question.

I think we are developing still. We made a prelim but so what. We can't yet put weaker sides away regularly. That will come. I am not buying the flag favourite tag, that's complete BS. 

We could move on pretty rapidly though and I get your point about having a Hodge or Lewis when we get there.

[jnrmac 20,090]

3 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

He'll probably get another run in the seniors but with May, Lever (when fit) ahead of him and Petty and Keilty breathing down his neck it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't play in the red and blue again this year.

But Mrs MacDonald (aka @binman) told us that Oscar would never be dropped again.....

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

49 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

Help me understand why people are all of a sudden insistent that a player (Garlett) who didn't make the cut to play finals for us last year, is now an important cog in the wheel of how this team plays, when all evidence points to his lack of forward pressure when the chips are down... He jagged some goals against a putrid VFL side...surely he needs more than 1 game?

What he potentially brings is not enough to what he has shown on numerous occasions that he cannot bring. 

EO you may well be correct but the likes of Corey and Spargo aren't setting the world on fire either at the moment.  Jeffy is an established AFL player and doesn't need "more time"at a lower level to improve if he has shown he is bringing it in at least one game.  The only caveat to that might be that he does need more miles under his belt given he was injured for a bit.

All evidence doesn't necessarily support what you are saying on defence EO.  Statistically on average he brings as many pressure acts or more (and 1 more tackle per match inside 50) vs say a Spargo or a Melksham.  He also averages more tackles per game.

On the offensive side he also averages 1 more goal per game than those two.  I am comparing them as they are about the only two (available) smallish forward players who presently play a role that might keep Jeffy out.  He also has slightly more score involvements (on average) than Spargo or Melk to this point.

Edited April 19, 2019 by Rusty Nails

[jnrmac 20,090]

18 hours ago, binman said:

Omac dropped. I didn't see that coming. I got it wrong on him not being dropped this year.

He'll be back soon enough. Probably come in as an emergency this week.

You should take off your rose coloured glasses. You have been a joke on this player. Totally blind to his obvious weaknesses.

[bing181 9,240]

21 hours ago, DeeZee said:

Oscar seemed devoid of confidence so needs to go back and learn to be aggressive.

Yes. First couple of rounds where the breakdowns were happening further up the field leaving the backline under the pump the whole time couldn't have helped.

He'll be back, just needs to find his mojo.

[DemonOX 8,791]

3 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

I'm stoked Lewis is back.  Same for Jetta.  Bags of experience, footy nous, courage, skill... you name it, these guys can both bring it to the table.  Lewis isn't winning any 100 metre sprints for the rest of his career, but his footy brain more than makes up for it.

And we've seen both ANB and Oscar dropped over the past fortnight.  Maybe Goodwin is finally running out of patience with these guys as well?  I think it's a good sign, though.  As fans we have seen it, and it's nice to know that the coaches see it as well.

Agree and as long as Lewis footy brain doesn’t have a brain fart and he smacks someone and gets suspended!!

[DemonOX 8,791]

20 hours ago, picket fence said:

Spargo will NEVER win us a Flag.....

I don’t care who is part of the team when we win a flag. 

I just want to be alive to see it!

[DV8 2,271]

2 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

There is no better game than this week for Jeffy to play that specialist role DV assuming Pruess is in.  I agree re: point guard vs Jeffy playing a different role.  no arguments there.  But someone would have had to make way for Jeffy and Spargo seems to me to play a bit more forward at this point than Corey from what i witnessed last week (might have been looking through beer goggle eyes however so might be totally off the mark on that!).

I don't think we can afford both of Spargo & C Wagner in the team at the expense of an in form Jeffy.  Jeffy's ability to bring it though is often circumspect lately which is probably why the FD thought twice about rushing him back in.  Either that or they decided to hold him off for the Toiges.

I think Spargo is more important to our setting up forward play, than Jeffy.   Jeffy is a finisher...  but not so much a setter upper.

He aids or transition, operating around 40 - 55 Mtrs out

 

I think it would be Corey for Jeffy.  Corey plays a similar role to Melk...  who is a lock.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

20 minutes ago, DemonOX said:

Agree and as long as Lewis footy brain doesn’t have a brain fart and he smacks someone and gets suspended!!

As long as we win Ox i really don't care what he does