17 minutes ago, Demons11 said:

There is also going to be 10-20ml of rain in Perth on Monday 

Wonderful. Helps nullify their 3 talks in attack. Our small defenders will need to be switched on.

1 hour ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Fair Thucked. 

And we’re hit-shot! 

Can we leave Joel Smith in Perth with a note 'Free to any home, otherwise throw out' 

22 minutes ago, Port Demons said:

Can we leave Joel Smith in Perth with a note 'Free to any home, otherwise throw out' 

That’s a pretty ordinary post, friend. 

The wet conditions concern me, we have looked our most vulnerable when our marking defenders are having to deal with the wet ball. The fact that they are tall helps but this will be a game that Bowey and Salem will have to be really switched on. I would also love to see our midfield actually win some centre clearances to give our forwards first use. 

I don’t know why but I have this feeling that Melksham will come in. We all know that he’s a favourite of the selection committee and it would be nice to have a good ball user going inside 50, but then we also need to bring high pressure and that is not Melks game. 

41 minutes ago, Port Demons said:

Can we leave Joel Smith in Perth with a note 'Free to any home, otherwise throw out' 

As long as they put the note on yourself also 

So prior to Dland's version of a lockdown, HD posted about using Spargo through the middle as an alternate mid option to which i thought i had responded (prior to the Mods locking down 😄)...

...."Worth a try HD.  As you say he is one of our better decision makers / users with ball in hand.

Certainly not in a full time role but would like to see him, Viney and, to a lessor degree Kozzie, in a three way playing the middle / HF positions.

Kozzie in a very minor cameo only playing roughly 10% game time in middle (i suspect he might be playing this sort of time now anyway) and the other 90% up forward.

Kozzie obviously a more serious threat up forward vs Spargo and also brings more heat inside 50 being our No.1 tackler here.  Viney no.2 , just a smidgen behind and must play more time here IMV.  Say about 60%/70%?

Spargo the reverse.... roughly 60% middle and 30% HF.  His decision making and delivery coming inside would offer us more value vs playing more minutes at HF where he is less likely to impact In a crowded 50 and who also rarely scores anyway.

Having said that it's more than likely too late to see Spargo playing significant mid field minutes.  Maybe next year after a solid pre-season training for this role?

Edited August 5, 20213 yr by Rusty Nails

14 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

No Hibberd named. I'm telling you titan, it's going to happen ??

Salem's all good, we're all good, it's fine.

I just can't stomach the thought of seeing Smith flying up unnecessarily in front of May, Lever and Petty repeatedly.

I don't mind it being wet. 

Eagles play a kick/mark/control game so need to be accurate by foot.  It will be a heavier ball, harder for their players to quickly get to positions and us scrambling to intercept and bring the ball to ground.  Of late, Eagles players don't seem to want to get down and dirty; figuratively and physically..  

Bring the pressure and they will fold, especially without Shuey in the middle to harass us.

Let it pour!!

Edited August 6, 20213 yr by Lucifer's Hero

15 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

I’m happy to see Melks in ❤️?

Whoa, something funny’s going on. I DID NOT put a question mark in that post. I wouldn’t end a (very emphatic) statement with a question mark. I’m not Bruce McAvaney, am I? He does that, doesn’t he? Annoying af, isn’t it.  😆 

Seriously though, my original post ended with a blue heart, to wit, 💙

Edited August 6, 20213 yr by WalkingCivilWar

Jordon to start, Melk the sub 

Hopefully LJ and Kozzi get to play in front of some family and friends and show WC how its done

13 hours ago, Pates said:

The wet conditions concern me, we have looked our most vulnerable when our marking defenders are having to deal with the wet ball. The fact that they are tall helps but this will be a game that Bowey and Salem will have to be really switched on. I would also love to see our midfield actually win some centre clearances to give our forwards first use. 

I don’t know why but I have this feeling that Melksham will come in. We all know that he’s a favourite of the selection committee and it would be nice to have a good ball user going inside 50, but then we also need to bring high pressure and that is not Melks game. 

Yeah I’d rather it dry as well. The last few games we’ve been unable to hold marks, and when the ball is on the ground we’ve ran over the top of it or fumbled. We’re most dangerous when we score from turnover and with a wet ball/surface it’s harder to do.

50 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I don't mind it being wet. 

Eagles play a kick/mark/control game so need to be accurate by foot.  It will be a heavier ball, harder for their players to quickly get to positions and us scrambling to intercept and bring the ball to ground.  Of late, Eagles players don't seem to want to get down and dirty; figuratively and physically..  

Bring the pressure and they will fold, especially without Shuey in the middle to harass us.

Let it pour!!

I would agree with this if I had more confidence in our ability to bring our best football in the wet.

But having seen how we've played of late in wet weather, whilst West Coast certainly might be impacted, I'm equally worried we will be too.

54 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

I don't mind it being wet. 

Eagles play a kick/mark/control game so need to be accurate by foot.  It will be a heavier ball, harder for their players to quickly get to positions and us scrambling to intercept and bring the ball to ground.  Of late, Eagles players don't seem to want to get down and dirty; figuratively and physically..  

Bring the pressure and they will fold, especially without Shuey in the middle to harass us.

Let it pour!!

Def.  If not that ground drains/dries very quickly and they'll get back on their kick/mark game pretty easily.  We don't pressure too well in our 50 either so they would have a field day coming out of defence and then hitting up their two KFs.

Unless we suddenly changed tack last week and we're pressuring big time inside 50 from now through finals?

45 minutes ago, Megatron said:

Yeah I’d rather it dry as well. The last few games we’ve been unable to hold marks, and when the ball is on the ground we’ve ran over the top of it or fumbled. We’re most dangerous when we score from turnover and with a wet ball/surface it’s harder to do.

Yes it would seem we are about the only team that continues to try and play dry weather football in the wet.  Surely we train this?  Knocking / kicking / slapping the ball forward then running on to it and doing it again if necessary till someone has enough space / time to pick it up etc.

Yardage is critical in wet weather footy.

Clarry & Kozzie probably one of the few that are capable of picking up cleanly sometimes and have earned a bit more licence to play their usual game.

Talk of the Grand final being played in Perf.

 

Watch the Eagles suddenly find the desire they abandoned mid season....

I can’t be the only one that wants to see Jones back in the side

16 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

And we’re hit-shot! 

'Ken oath!

43 minutes ago, elton_jog_on said:

I can’t be the only one that wants to see Jones back in the side

Who would you see him replacing in this squad?

2 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Salem's all good, we're all good, it's fine.

I just can't stomach the thought of seeing Smith flying up unnecessarily in front of May, Lever and Petty repeatedly.

Blame Goodwin. Smith is a forward (F-O-R-W-A-R-D) not a stop-gap, lucky-to-get-a-game backman. 

3 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Who would you see him replacing in this squad?

Goofwin.

I don't know if anyone else here saw the game they played in Perth against the dogs in the wet, but they were absolutely awful. Tried their chip/possession game and got pulled apart. Hopefully same happens against us. If that is anything to go off, we should win comfortably.  

9 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Blame Goodwin. Smith is a forward (F-O-R-W-A-R-D) not a stop-gap, lucky-to-get-a-game backman. 

110% AGREE FORWARD DEFINATELY

Some self righteous commentary about young Smith here - glass houses and all that.....?

Wet weather didn't hurt when we beat Geelong, Richmond and Sydney earlier this year.