Hunt straight back in if ready.

Open to Hibberd returning for the Cameron matchup but I'm not convinced that it would actually be a plus for us. 

Gut feel, no change unless necessary

Ins -

Belief

Resilience

Confidence

We've now seen Smith for two weeks and I don't think he has a position in this side to call his own. Petty had the advantage of being able to settle in over a few weeks and now looks rock solid. Unfortunately for him, Smith doesn't get that opportunity because of the time of year. If Hunt is available, I think he comes in for Smith. However, if Hunt's not ready and it becomes a choice of Hibberd of anyone else for Smith, I'd choose Hibberd but I could see why Smith might be retained.   

Other than that, while a swap of Jordon for Sparrow seems tempting, there's not a lot in it either way. I'd probably keep Sparrow because I thought his game last night was quite good.

So, for me the only change is Hunt if ready, or Hibberd if he's not, for Smith. 

16 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Joel Smith is still leaky for me.

I'd have Hibberd come in to do the lock down job on Cameron.

Got it.

4 hours ago, GOLORDIE said:

TMac has a quiet night, but on at least two occasions a team mate popped up and pinched a mark that TMac was going to take. Within range.

Yep Tmac stays ,that joke of a home ground geelong play at is 22m narrower that the G. Makes it harder to find space for forwards, but good for higher number of out of bounds on the full kicks. 

Edited August 22, 20213 yr by Bates Mate

Smith out, for Hibberd or Hunt if fit, he just gets in the way of May, Petty and Lever, and provides zero drive out of defense. 

Also Sparrow out for Jordon perhaps, despite his great marking.

Edited August 22, 20213 yr by TheoX

Over the year Goody and the match committee have been reluctant to make changes which our healthy list assists so expecting a no change. 

Is hunt expected to be fit? I thought he had surgery and was out for 3-4 weeks

Hibbo and Smithy....both a bit flaky...

17 hours ago, Nascent said:

Sparrow has a good mark on him and a bit of pace. Reckon we'll see some serious gains next year and cement a spot in the 22.

How good was his contested marking, last night! He is a beast for his size.

That said, I can still understand people wanting JJ over him. I'm on the fence as JJ has looked very lethargic in his last few performances, so I suspect it's less about who is the better player and more about who can bring the heat.

18 hours ago, Maldonboy38 said:

Hibbo or Jordon for Joel Smith

Brizzy are a mobile team, with lots of runners and outside drive. We will need an athlete to counter, intercept and run on in possession for delivery upfield. Put Smith in the forward line and we are all set. 

Smith had 6 disposals, 4 of which came from marks, along with 0 rebound 50s and 6 metres gained.

If he was in the side to play any sort of rebounding/offensive role, he failed to do it.

If, though, he was in the side to be a defender, that's fine, but my concern is balance-wise we don't need four mid/tall defenders playing a defensive role. We already have May, Lever and Petty. I don't think we also need Smith to be that sort of player. Leaves too much to too few. Either he is freed up to be more aggressive (in the Hunt/Hibberd mould), or we play Hibberd in his place.

I think JJ for Sparrow might happen, Smith is interesting, vs cats he has a better match up than the Lions.

Hibbo has done the job on Cameron before so may get the nod. If not who plays on Cameron? Do they trust Smith or Rivs?

1 minute ago, titan_uranus said:

Smith had 6 disposals, 4 of which came from marks, along with 0 rebound 50s and 6 metres gained.

If he was in the side to play any sort of rebounding/offensive role, he failed to do it.

If, though, he was in the side to be a defender, that's fine, but my concern is balance-wise we don't need four mid/tall defenders playing a defensive role. We already have May, Lever and Petty. I don't think we also need Smith to be that sort of player. Leaves too much to too few. Either he is freed up to be more aggressive (in the Hunt/Hibberd mould), or we play Hibberd in his place.

As a pure defender, I'd rather Smith on Charlie Cameron than Hibberd.

2 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Brizzy are a mobile team, with lots of runners and outside drive. We will need an athlete to counter, intercept and run on in possession for delivery upfield. Put Smith in the forward line and we are all set. 

Goodwin has shown all year that players have played and practised in set positions. Smith has played and practised as a defender. I don't expect he's going to be moved forward now.

8 hours ago, Lil_red_fire_engine said:

As cruel as it might seem Tmac has lost form at the wrong time of year. 7 goals in his last 8 games and his mobility is not what it was in the first half of the year. I would not be surprised to see us revert to the Brown and Jackson set up and bring in another runner in Jordon or Melksham for a defensive job (preferably on Rich). I love Sparrows effort but his kicking is a worry and would prefer Jordon regardless, if he is right to go. Smith stays in in my opinion.  

Don't agree with this for a few reasons.

Firstly, I don't think we're good enough to win finals with just the Brown-Jackson combo. We tried the TMac-Jackson combo post-bye and it didn't work for us. We used it again vs West Coast (wet) and Adelaide (bottom.4 side). IMO we need two tall marking options alongside Jackson and Fritsch, not including them.

Secondly, I don't think your analysis of TMac's form is reasonable. We've seen plenty of players this year struggle in their first game back from injury. Prior to his injury he hit the scoreboard in each of his four most recent games but whilst he didn't kick bags of goals, the games we played included Hawthorn (entire side was off) and the Dogs (it was wet). 

His best games have been big games against good opponents: 3 goals vs Port, 3 goals vs Brisbane, 3 goals vs the Dogs (the first time), 4 goals vs Sydney, 3 goals on ANZAC Eve.

I don't think there's much merit to the argument he should, or even might, be dropped. Not after one game.

2 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

As a pure defender, I'd rather Smith on Charlie Cameron than Hibberd.

It's not a terrible match-up. Smith did a number on Papley last year too.

I'm not convinced he's a better option than Hibberd but equally it's not like Hibberd's been setting the world on fire.

My principal concern with Smith is he still makes mistakes he shouldn't be making, largely through loose positioning, and which we've worked so hard to eradicate from our back-half. I just can't stomach the thought of him spoiling Lever or May in a final.

2 minutes ago, titan_uranus said:

It's not a terrible match-up. Smith did a number on Papley last year too.

I'm not convinced he's a better option than Hibberd but equally it's not like Hibberd's been setting the world on fire.

My principal concern with Smith is he still makes mistakes he shouldn't be making, largely through loose positioning, and which we've worked so hard to eradicate from our back-half. I just can't stomach the thought of him spoiling Lever or May in a final.

Yeah, that's the catch hey? Especially if he's going up into contests where Cameron is staying down to crumb.

I guess the advantage with Smith over Hibberd is if Cameron gets off the chain we can move May to him and put Smith on a tall.

Assuming Hunt isn't ready....

Ins:  Hibberd & Jordan

Outs:  Smith & Sparrow

That would be our best team for the year IMV aside from Tomlinson (for Petty)

Hunt unlucky with his injury.  Bowey just has the nod for mine, albeit they play totally different game styles.  Hunt obviously adds speed / line breaking run off HB and love what he does.  Whereas Bowey is more of a link / quick release / making space for the receive guy and provides some finish / class through the middle.

Edited August 22, 20213 yr by Rusty Nails

No change. Hunt will replace J.Smith when fit but I don't think he is fit enough yet.

Smith was okay, did some good and some bad but imo he was in due to matchups and to allow Lever to play his intercept role.

Brisbane only have two genuine marking talls, it's their small forwards that are dangerous and Smith tends to go up when he doesn't need to.

Smith comes out purely because of matchups. Sparrow for Jordan is the only other one I can imagine happening.

2 hours ago, Lord Nev said:

As a pure defender, I'd rather Smith on Charlie Cameron than Hibberd.

Not for mine. Reckon he would run rings around Smith at ground level.

2 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Goodwin has shown all year that players have played and practised in set positions. Smith has played and practised as a defender. I don't expect he's going to be moved forward now.

That is Goodwin. He played the Weed too often, too expensively. Smith has better skills than the Weed and somewhere in the 22 that might be selected, there should be a spot for the talents of Joel Smith. Settled and existing talents, at that; but these are only ideas, not dictates, so attempt to get over it, will you?

 

19 hours ago, dee-tox said:

I must have missed something with Smith because I thought he was very solid all game. Competed and spoiled well.

TMac's form is a worry. 

Sparrow's field kicking is still a concern although I loved his tackling and pressure.

agree

We will need TMc in form in 4 weeks time, he must stay in to gain form after his injury. If not, he probably doesn't play for the rest of the season.