12 hours ago, picket fence said:

I know I wouldnt say anything about a certain player so I won't

But HTF a slow,no skilled player,that plods gets a game and others with REAL TALENT miss out is perplexing! To say the least.

We will go nowhere whilst he is in the team IMV

Although I have absolutely no idea to whom you are referring, PF, I hold similar views for the same reasons and performance demonstrations of just one player (in the team each week for no substantiated reason. so could it be the same one?) at the cost of greater talent and workrate than such a blessed one. Are we serious about winning games by restricting avenues for opposition goals?

1 minute ago, Damo said:

I need to watch Spargo with a less subjective eye. I find it difficult to understand why he is in front of Lockhart. But Im really glad we bat so deep this year.

I think Lockhart plays this weekend given Salem's out. 

With the announcement that Pickett and Bedford are both playing, and they are both listed on the extended interchange, given one of our opponent's great strengths - their backline, I wouldn't be surprised to see Weed and Brown coming in.

But as soon as I started thinking that, I remembered back to the game that we won against them to get us in to the finals in 2018, and from memory Melksham played as a defensive forward on McGovern and that was a crucial match up.

So with that in mind, I can possibly see Melk tagging McGovern again, meaning that Brown misses out, and I have NFI about who else plays!  I like Lockhart, so I will go with him.

I think it will be a good game.  Don't think we will win, but we often play well against them (other than in '18 PF).

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Emergencies for when we're Running on Empty.

As long as it's not Taking it Easy. Maybe they're Standing in the Breach?

we will win, no crowd advantage 

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I think people need to accept the reality that Spargo is going to get a lot of games this year. He tackle, harrasses, and links up well between mid and forward. His Marsh series was actually quite. I would have ahead ANB who is as sloppy as they come, and plays wet weather football every week.

Weideman and Lockhart get the last 2 gigs. In fact, i would be immensely surprised if Lockhart misses out.

I think people are very quick to forget Spargo's 2018 season and base a lot of their views on his lack luster 2019 in which he was probably playing injured for the most part.

Not only is he a competitive animal, but his positioning himself to win the footy and use it in dangerous ways is also pretty good.  I've got no issues with him being in the side with the form he showed over the preseason.

Edited March 19, 20205 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Just now, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I think people are very quick to forget Spargo's 2018 season and base a lot of their views on his lack luster 2019 in which he was probably playing injured for the most part.

Not only is he a competitive animal, but his positioning himself to win the footy and use it in dangerous was is also pretty good.  I've got no issues with him being in the side with the form he showed over the preseason.

2nd year blues for Spargs in 2019, Gawny backed him in on one of the episodes of To Hell and Back.

Good enough for me, hopefully he learnt plenty from last season.

Has anyone got an insight on Rivers? Slot of supercoahers (myself included) thought he was going to get early games but nothing. Is he not meeting some standard at training? With Salem and Jones out and still no spot on the HBF it's hard to see him cracking onto the side this year?

Eagles backs are a worry for me. 

Shep, Gov, Hurn, Barrass, Jetta - all very very good players. 

We will have to make sure we're bringing it to ground at all costs. I don't care if Weed kicks any goals but he can't be outmarked. Especially at OS. Eagles love to spread from intercept marks. 

I was pretty optimistic we could get a win here with no crowd and Eagles a little banged up (JK, Darling, Gov, Barrass all had interrupted preseasons) but looking at their line-up it's very strong. 

I've said it before but I think if we're super physical early and manage to jump them we could be in with a chance. Heart says we get over the line. Head says we go down by 3 goals. 

West Coast are apparently considering what they do with their ruck lineup given the short quarters.

That could potentially signal for us that a secondary ruck is a lot less important meaning very little chance we see both Weid and Brown surely? We may even see Tomlinson as backup ruck and neither of Weid or Brown (and Jackson) play. IMO one of the three will be on the bench, but could we see the more versatile Jackson get a call up given the unique circumstances?

 

Bench selected from listed players will be Pickett, Bedford, Lockhart, Weid/Brown. 

Mostlt shorter players, the first two already confirmed playing. Lockhart has been one of our best over preseason so gets a game. Toss up between Weid and Brown. Weid will get the nod if he’s fit, otherwise Brown.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Will we miss Salem greatly or is he just a handy player at best who is probably our best kick over a short distance?

Jones will be missed if his Marsh Series was anything to go by. Looked like he turned the clock back 3 or so years.

I thought Spargo was OK in the Marsh Series and praccy match V North. Not as upset as others he got a gig.

A bit baffled ANB got an automatic ticket into the 18. Played 1 good quarter and 7 average to woeful ones in the 2 Marsh games. His skill level seems to be going backwards by the year.

How would you know?! Have you asked him?! Have you asked his skill levels anything?! You don't know what role Goody has for him (why haven't you asked Goody?! I have!) so just shut up and watch it without any input that "denigrates" the players, club, sponsors or history of our great club!!*

*please note this is just a gag relating to a certain poster who hates any comment on players, coaches or the club becuase we just don't know because we don't ask them.

14 hours ago, picket fence said:

I know I wouldnt say anything about a certain player so I won't

But HTF a slow,no skilled player,that plods gets a game and others with REAL TALENT miss out is perplexing! To say the least.

We will go nowhere whilst he is in the team IMV

"Oh Picket"; said in Gawny's "Google" ad style.

2 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

I think people are very quick to forget Spargo's 2018 season and base a lot of their views on his lack luster 2019 in which he was probably playing injured for the most part.

Not only is he a competitive animal, but his positioning himself to win the footy and use it in dangerous ways is also pretty good.  I've got no issues with him being in the side with the form he showed over the preseason.

I like his decision-making and tap-ons to teammates to create plays. He has played this role well in the pre-season and last season - he was asked/left to do onfield things for varied in/out teammates who were not ready for his quick thoughts and actions. I'd suggest that he is an ideal link man off the bench, when the talls are not taking their grabs due to their static preferences where there is no space. Who is going to tell these talls that the game has changed ... static height doesn't get you the pill against a manned-up bank of defenders. Spargo, therefore, could be a remedy to their poor habits, including the abundant other 'smalls' - just like the Tigers' team.

1 hour ago, Lord Nev said:

West Coast are apparently considering what they do with their ruck lineup given the short quarters.

That could potentially signal for us that a secondary ruck is a lot less important meaning very little chance we see both Weid and Brown surely? We may even see Tomlinson as backup ruck and neither of Weid or Brown (and Jackson) play. IMO one of the three will be on the bench, but could we see the more versatile Jackson get a call up given the unique circumstances?

 

Where have you heard this?  Would've thought Marsh games were for experiments.

Personally, I don't want Tomlinson in the ruck at all unless it's due to in-game injuries to others.  We recruited him to be a wing.  He showed against Hawthorn how valuable he will be.  Let's not have to take him out of his best position.

I'd still be playing Weid, regardless of what the opposition might or might not be trialling in the ruck.

1 minute ago, The Chazz said:

Where have you heard this?  Would've thought Marsh games were for experiments.

Personally, I don't want Tomlinson in the ruck at all unless it's due to in-game injuries to others.  We recruited him to be a wing.  He showed against Hawthorn how valuable he will be.  Let's not have to take him out of his best position.

I'd still be playing Weid, regardless of what the opposition might or might not be trialling in the ruck.

Yeah, gut feel is Weid will play and Brown and Jackson won't, but you never know given the changes, which is why I was just putting it out there.

From the Daily Blog on the AFL website:

WEST Coast will decide who supports Nic Naitanui in the ruck on Friday after the reduction in quarters to 16 minutes forced a re-think on team selection and how players are used.

Potential debutant Bailey Williams will jockey with experienced big man Tom Hickey for the Eagles' second ruck spot, with both named in the 25-man squad released on Thursday, overtaking premiership big man Nathan Vardy.

Simpson said the reduction in quarter lengths provided an opportunity to formulate new strategies and use players in different ways, particularly in the ruck.

"It's 90 rotations as well, so what does that mean? Can you play your better players longer? That's probably the first question everyone is looking at," Simpson said in a teleconference on Thursday afternoon.

"Does Luke Shuey need to come off the ground. If a quarter goes for 30-35 minutes he might need three or four breaks. If it goes for 20-25 minutes then maybe he can stay on a bit longer.

"So I think that would be across the board what people are looking at. We've got a few compromised athletes who can't play every minute, so what does (Jeremy) McGovern's game look like? What does Nic Naitanui's game look like?"

Simpson said the change, which will be in place for the entire season, could see team's playing a sole ruckman.

 

I just have this terrible feeling we'll be in a position to win but still get stitched up by an umpiring decision late in the game. We're bound to get the WA umpires with all the travel restrictions.

1 minute ago, loges said:

I just have this terrible feeling we'll be in a position to win but still get stitched up by an umpiring decision late in the game. We're bound to get the WA umpires with all the travel restrictions.

But zero crowd  impact.  Surely they don't consciously favor the home team. Crowd is the issue.

18 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Yeah, gut feel is Weid will play and Brown and Jackson won't, but you never know given the changes, which is why I was just putting it out there.

From the Daily Blog on the AFL website:

WEST Coast will decide who supports Nic Naitanui in the ruck on Friday after the reduction in quarters to 16 minutes forced a re-think on team selection and how players are used.

Potential debutant Bailey Williams will jockey with experienced big man Tom Hickey for the Eagles' second ruck spot, with both named in the 25-man squad released on Thursday, overtaking premiership big man Nathan Vardy.

Simpson said the reduction in quarter lengths provided an opportunity to formulate new strategies and use players in different ways, particularly in the ruck.

"It's 90 rotations as well, so what does that mean? Can you play your better players longer? That's probably the first question everyone is looking at," Simpson said in a teleconference on Thursday afternoon.

"Does Luke Shuey need to come off the ground. If a quarter goes for 30-35 minutes he might need three or four breaks. If it goes for 20-25 minutes then maybe he can stay on a bit longer.

"So I think that would be across the board what people are looking at. We've got a few compromised athletes who can't play every minute, so what does (Jeremy) McGovern's game look like? What does Nic Naitanui's game look like?"

Simpson said the change, which will be in place for the entire season, could see team's playing a sole ruckman.

 

I see Richmond went in with two rucks last night, didn't impact them.

And you only need to look at how long it took Carlton to adjust after Kreuzer went down last night to realise you need to have a suitable back-up ruck.  For me, Tomlinson isn't that - he's of far greater value to play all game on the wing.  Weid, first and foremost, is a key forward.  He can play extended minutes in the ruck if need be, and moving him out of the key forward role can be relatively easily covered given our other scoring options.  Dragging Tomlinson off the wing to play an extended amount of time in the ruck (if needed), clearly has the greatest impact on our structures.

 

6 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

I see Richmond went in with two rucks last night, didn't impact them.

And you only need to look at how long it took Carlton to adjust after Kreuzer went down last night to realise you need to have a suitable back-up ruck.  For me, Tomlinson isn't that - he's of far greater value to play all game on the wing.  Weid, first and foremost, is a key forward.  He can play extended minutes in the ruck if need be, and moving him out of the key forward role can be relatively easily covered given our other scoring options.  Dragging Tomlinson off the wing to play an extended amount of time in the ruck (if needed), clearly has the greatest impact on our structures.

 

I'm not necessarily advocating it, just reporting facts, and if you read what was said, the implication is that backup rucks would barely be needed.

Not sure the reigning premiers vs a struggling team is the best example for the reasoning, but didn't Carlton start their comeback once Kreuzer went off?

Edited March 20, 20205 yr by Lord Nev

57 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Yeah, gut feel is Weid will play and Brown and Jackson won't, but you never know given the changes, which is why I was just putting it out there.

From the Daily Blog on the AFL website:

WEST Coast will decide who supports Nic Naitanui in the ruck on Friday after the reduction in quarters to 16 minutes forced a re-think on team selection and how players are used.

Potential debutant Bailey Williams will jockey with experienced big man Tom Hickey for the Eagles' second ruck spot, with both named in the 25-man squad released on Thursday, overtaking premiership big man Nathan Vardy.

Simpson said the reduction in quarter lengths provided an opportunity to formulate new strategies and use players in different ways, particularly in the ruck.

"It's 90 rotations as well, so what does that mean? Can you play your better players longer? That's probably the first question everyone is looking at," Simpson said in a teleconference on Thursday afternoon.

"Does Luke Shuey need to come off the ground. If a quarter goes for 30-35 minutes he might need three or four breaks. If it goes for 20-25 minutes then maybe he can stay on a bit longer.

"So I think that would be across the board what people are looking at. We've got a few compromised athletes who can't play every minute, so what does (Jeremy) McGovern's game look like? What does Nic Naitanui's game look like?"

Simpson said the change, which will be in place for the entire season, could see team's playing a sole ruckman.

 

It will be interesting, the other scenario for us is; Max doesn't need the same rest because of the shortened quarters . He will need some rest but why can't he switch with TMac as he has in the past. This also gets TMac more involved in the game. The biggest issue I have with the interchange at the moment is Mids. I think we have to include Sparrow for that to work. The bench would be made up of 3 forwards if we go down the path being suggested.

1 hour ago, binman said:

But zero crowd  impact.  Surely they don't consciously favor the home team. Crowd is the issue.

You would hope so, but isn't Margetts mates with all the players?

1 hour ago, Lord Nev said:

I'm not necessarily advocating it, just reporting facts, and if you read what was said, the implication is that backup rucks would barely be needed.

Not sure the reigning premiers vs a struggling team is the best example for the reasoning, but didn't Carlton start their comeback once Kreuzer went off?

Kreuzer went off a long time before Carlton started being more competitive in the middle.

Point is that one team went in with two rucks.  The other team went in with one ruck and a couple of "if needed" players.  The team that went in with one had it bite them on the [censored] because their main man went down.

 

3 minutes ago, The Chazz said:

Kreuzer went off a long time before Carlton started being more competitive in the middle.

Point is that one team went in with two rucks.  The other team went in with one ruck and a couple of "if needed" players.  The team that went in with one had it bite them on the [censored] because their main man went down.

You realize you just contradicted yourself yeah?

4 hours ago, Josh said:

Has anyone got an insight on Rivers? Slot of supercoahers (myself included) thought he was going to get early games but nothing. Is he not meeting some standard at training? With Salem and Jones out and still no spot on the HBF it's hard to see him cracking onto the side this year?

Not every draftee can play this week.

He is going well and will become a regular IMO, but there is no hurry.

Bit harder though if Casey isn't playing.