Listening to Pert on SEN he did not confirm it was a strain but it sounds like Smith will miss.

Hibberd is the man for the role and we have good depth in this area.

Hibbert might not be the fastest player on the list, but he knows how to shut down a threat.

32 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Body made out of wet paper unfortunately.  

Sums up his career.

Would gladly trade my cardboard rolls for his 'wet paper' tbh... ;)

13 minutes ago, Lord Nev said:

Would gladly trade my cardboard rolls for his 'wet paper' tbh... ;)

He’s not a piece of meat Nev, jeez. 

Edited September 8, 20213 yr by Ethan Tremblay

Really sucks for Joel, but I think the hope is  Hibbo’s had a good freshen up now and can do a job as required.

The reality is we don’t have perfect match ups for Cameron, Esava and Rohan no matter who got the nod as the 6th and 7th defender. Especially with Duncan, Touhy and Isaac Smith rotating through the forward flanks and demanding attention. Throw in Max Holmes too who can really motor from contest to contest.

Sadly Geelong have moved away from the strategy of loading up with nothing half forward flankers who could be zoned off.

 

18 minutes ago, Tony Tea said:

Hibbert might not be the fastest player on the list, but he knows how to shut down a threat.

So good at is he, he is often known to frequently laugh at his opposition while doing so. 🤓

Just now, Colin B. Flaubert said:

So good at is he, he is often known to frequently laugh at his opposition while doing so. 🤓

My brother and I call Hibbo the doctor because we mistakenly thought his last name was hibbert when he first came over.
We had said it too much by the time we realised haha

2 hours ago, Swooper1987 said:

Rohan is listed at 188 cm, Hibberd 186, Smith 191.  Hibberd to Rohan looks a reasonable match, in the air at least.  Rohan does most for pace.

Hunt is 187-188.

2 hours ago, rufus said:

but Hunt is more experienced and a bit bigger and stronger...i think we have to do it given the stakes.

 Against the slowing snails, Hunt is going to be a great asset across four quarters.

Yes it sucks for Smith, but Hibbo has a lot less time left in his career. Him missing out would be just as sad. He’s been very good for us since coming across from Essendon and I’m sure he will leave no stone unturned, knowing this could be it for him. 

2 hours ago, picket fence said:

Not the end of the world but not Hibbo, too slow

 

2 hours ago, picket fence said:

Not the end of the world but not Hibbo, too slow

We need the Harmes/Hunt show to tag and nullify. Throw in Rivers and an occasional slice of attention from Sparrow - who is starting to look like a free-wheeling gun - and we've got their strenghts covered. 

On recent evidence, seems to me that dealing with Geelong goal scoring rests significantly on preventing the uncontested centre clearances and the out-the-backs. These are team/structural things, which our boys will be well aware of and all well capable of delivering in light of those recent 'learnings'. So, presuming they do deal with them, I'm less concerned about who replaces who individually.

1 hour ago, Demon17 said:

Agree on all of the above and will be amazed if not implemented.

Hunt is the same height as Rohan, got him covered for speed and footy IQ

Hunt will run off him if not careful and feed the forwards . Rohan can't leave him alone.

Hunt is also a good contested mark.  Hibbered will really make me nervous.

Agree with this. Hibberb fumbles a lot as he tires in last quarter

Hibbo's an interesting one, as is Melksham. It just seems like they have a great 1-2 games when they get back in, then drop off. 

Fingers crossed it's the next 2 for Hibbo

Morris throws out that is Hibbo coming in with such certainty that many people, understandably, assume he is correct.

So the options as to how he has come to name Hibbo as the definite replacement might include:

• Hibbo has been told he is in and he, or someone connected to him, has told Moirris
• The players have heard Hibbo is in and one of them, or someone connected to them, has told Morris
• The club has deliberately leaked that info to Morris as an act of subterfuge (eg Hunt comes instead, and for a day the cats mistakenly think it will be Hibberd)
• he is playing big man on campus, my intel is the best in the business and simply guessing it will be Hibberd - and if it turns to be [censored] he will never get called on it (and even if he does he will be all my information was correct at the time, cant reveal my source, blah, blah).

If i apply the Occam's razor principle to the above options, i know which one i choose

Given it is really only Hunt and Hibberd in the frame he has a 50% of being right. But given the match committee probably meets today there is no way he could be certain. 

I can play that game. My sources tell me Jordon is going to come into the team and Jones will be medi sub.

Don't recall Rohan taking too many high flying marks despite his medium height.

Either Hibberd or Hunt can handle him ... if Hunt was fit he would be a better 'speed' match up though. 

On the presumption that he misses, Joel Smith will only have played four consecutive AFL matches twice in the six seasons he’s been on our list

If Hunt is fit, then I hope he gets the nod over Hibbert. At least he was in form before he got injured.  Hibbert on the other hand has been dropped twice(?) this year because his form was poor. And with no VFL to get back to form, why would you choose Hibbert if you had the choice? Surely form wins over experience, or N Jones and N Jetta would be picked.

27 minutes ago, binman said:

Morris throws out that is Hibbo coming in with such certainty that many people, understandably, assume he is correct.

So the options as to how he has come to name Hibbo as the definite replacement might include:

• Hibbo has been told he is in and he, or someone connected to him, has told Moirris
• The players have heard Hibbo is in and one of them, or someone connected to them, has told Morris
• The club has deliberately leaked that info to Morris as an act of subterfuge (eg Hunt comes instead, and for a day the cats mistakenly think it will be Hibberd)
• he is playing big man on campus, my intel is the best in the business and simply guessing it will be Hibberd - and if it turns to be [censored] he will never get called on it (and even if he does he will be all my information was correct at the time, cant reveal my source, blah, blah).

If i apply the Occam's razor principle to the above options, i know which one i choose

Given it is really only Hunt and Hibberd in the frame he has a 50% of being right. But given the match committee probably meets today there is no way he could be certain. 

I can play that game. My sources tell me Jordon is going to come into the team and Jones will be medi sub.

You might be right. But it makes perfect sense that Hibbo replaces Smith who was playing a lockdown role. Hunt is much more a replacement for Bowey from a half back attack role perspective. 
I am not sure we can bring Hunt in and cover the defensive role Smith was doing, and Hibbo before him. 

Sad for Smith, but I'm glad this happened at training, not half way through the first quarter on Friday night. It makes me think, that if he is not in the selected team, Hunt is the ideal injury sub. He can play at either end of the ground reasonably well, without being brilliant and could hold down a wing if one of our midfielders went down and Brayshaw was needed in the middle. 

Edited September 8, 20213 yr by Knuckles

My heart goes out to Joel, very disappointing for him.

Coaches must think very highly of smith ,they put him back in as soon as he is fit enough so it is a team balance thing for them to work out now.Either Hunt or Hibb will be good they know the game plan and structures .For me i prefer hunt for his speed and run and carry

Hoping Hunt is fit and comes in. He’s gives us speed to rebound as well as defensive accountability. Had a good year until injured and should be back into the team if fit.

9 minutes ago, forever demons said:

Coaches must think very highly of smith ,they put him back in as soon as he is fit enough so it is a team balance thing for them to work out now.Either Hunt or Hibb will be good they know the game plan and structures .For me i prefer hunt for his speed and run and carry

While I don't doubt they have a high opinion of him, I think its the flexibility it gives our defensive system that is the key

3 hours ago, picket fence said:

Not the end of the world but not Hibbo, too slow

If he can take Dusty to the cleaners, he'll have no problems with Rohan. 

It has thrown up some options in regards to the medi sub opportunity.

Do you go with Hunty if he's completed the recovery work, James Jordon played most of the year, Melk as the extra forward option or Jonesy he'll be chomping at the bit to get into the action.

Deecisions, Deecisions, Deecisions, Deecisions.

Edited September 8, 20213 yr by Win4theAges