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CHANGES: QF vs Sydney

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23 minutes ago, binman said:

Whereas i think i'm right in saying Bowey has only played at HB in the ones and at Casey.

More fervent Casey watchers will know, but I seem to recall Bowey a game (or a fair part thereof) at half forward near the end of the regular season. Kicked a goal or two as well.

 
16 hours ago, BDA said:

 

Didn't realise he got one. 

So you can get one without actually playing in the granny. In this instance i'm not against it

 

I think that' s why many wanted Nate Jones to stay in Perth and maybe get a gig as the sub, he would have got his medal.  Anyway, not to be.

Medi sub being Smith or Tomlinson probably makes more sense as already a tall down with Melksham instead of TMac and we got caught against Freo, Swans and Pies mid season with mixture of May injured/missing, Max injured, Petty injured leaving us 2 talls down in each game for at least a half!

Harsh on Bowey with Salem to come in!

 

Like most DLers I can only see one change with Salem returning for Bowey.

But the sub selection is pretty interesting.

To me it's a toss up between Bowey (the unlucky omission) and Smith (the versatile one).

Given the height of the Swans and the fact that we are playing one tall short up forward, I'd probably go Smith.

Imagine the structural issues if one of our bigs goes down early and has to be subbed.

Smith can cover big and short and if we lost a midfielder early, we have plenty of options of adding players into the rotation. 

As to our back seven match-ups, here my stab at them.

May on Franklin, Petty on Reid, Lever on McDonald - I am confident we have the edge with those three.

Then it's Hibberd on Heaney when he plays near goalsquare and Hunt on Papley, but if Papley plays more from the goalsquare then the switch needs to be made so that Hunt isn't isolated like last time. Rivers gets Hayward, who has been great for them in recent weeks. Salem will be tagged/closely marked by Clarke, who is a negater forward.

Up the other end the Swans have to decide who to play Fox and Blakey on with one having to take Kozzie.

McCartin on Brown, McCartin 2 on Jackson/Gawn, Rampe on Fritsch, Fox on Melksham, Blakey on Kozzie??, Lloyd on Spargo and Florent on ANB.

    • Like 5

    1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

    Really?

    I would thought the guy with finals experience, premiership player and all around better player made more sense..

    Bedford as a sub makes zero sense imo. Whilst you say he's played a little bit of mid at Casey, he has not once been used in that position at AFL and nor will he be given an opportunity especially pressure cooker of finals. 

    And as for having experience of coming on as a sub. Well he's started off as sub in 12 games this and has only ever come on mid way in only 2 games. Would you say that's actually experience enough?

    Between the two, Bowey offers more versatility as he was an elite junior prospect playing as a midfield/half forward.  Not that they will use him in that position anyway if he was to be a sub and come on.

    3 players stick out for me as sub options and they are Adam Tomlinson, Joel Smith and Luke Dunstan.

    If Bedford makes zero sense as a sub why has he, as you point out, been a sub in 12 games?

    I like Smith as a sub because of his athleticism and versatility. 

    Not  keen on Dunstan or Tomo as subs as neither are versatile or athletic enough

    • Like 5

    Tough as always but I think no change.
     

    The obvious one that makes this controversial is Salem for Bowey but Salem has been down on his best the second half of this year and Bowey has more than earned his spot back. That said I wouldn’t be surprised if Salem comes in, his best is outstanding, Bowey being extremely unlucky.

    TMac, Smith or Weid to sub. Given that our team is not tall we have the luxury of throwing Melk, Spargo, Harmes, Sparrow, ANB even Frittata or Kozzie into the mid/wing if a mid goes down, allowing us a tall sub. TMac has ruck, forward and backline experience, making him ideal, obviously the question is fitness. Smith has the forward/backline experience, Weid the ruck/forward. Line ball really. 

    • Like 1
    18 hours ago, Seraph said:

    I guess he did get one last year as an unused sub.

    Not really the same though.

    They should have subbed him on in the last 15. Pay the fine. Or there must have been someone with severe stomach pain..

     
    21 minutes ago, binman said:

    If Bedford makes zero sense as a sub why has he, as you point out, been a sub in 12 games?

    I like Smith as a sub because of his athleticism and versatility. 

    Not  keen on Dunstan or Tomo as subs as neither are versatile or athletic enough

    Can Smith play forward?

    Bedford is like for like for Jj but I feel we are too short so smith may be a good option.

    I'm also inclined to make a bigger call and leave Bowie in at the expense of Salem.

    I can't believe I'm saying that. 

    I understand the calls for Bowey over Salem. But imo Salem’s contest work is elite, and well ahead of Bowey, and that is what will see him in over Bowey. But gosh we need to find a spot for Bowey some time soon… he’s far too good to rot away in the twos. 

    • Like 7

    Salem will probably come in. The problem is that he often takes several games to get back into it after injury.

    • Like 1
    4 minutes ago, DeeMee said:

    Salem will probably come in. The problem is that he often takes several games to get back into it after injury.

    Agreed. And now is not the time. 

    35 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

    Like most DLers I can only see one change with Salem returning for Bowey.

    But the sub selection is pretty interesting.

    To me it's a toss up between Bowey (the unlucky omission) and Smith (the versatile one).

    Given the height of the Swans and the fact that we are playing one tall short up forward, I'd probably go Smith.

    Imagine the structural issues if one of our bigs goes down early and has to be subbed.

    Smith can cover big and short and if we lost a midfielder early, we have plenty of options of adding players into the rotation. 

    As to our back seven match-ups, here my stab at them.

    May on Franklin, Petty on Reid, Lever on McDonald - I am confident we have the edge with those three.

    Then it's Hibberd on Heaney when he plays near goalsquare and Hunt on Papley, but if Papley plays more from the goalsquare then the switch needs to be made so that Hunt isn't isolated like last time. Rivers gets Hayward, who has been great for them in recent weeks. Salem will be tagged/closely marked by Clarke, who is a negater forward.

    Up the other end the Swans have to decide who to play Fox and Blakey on with one having to take Kozzie.

    McCartin on Brown, McCartin 2 on Jackson/Gawn, Rampe on Fritsch, Fox on Melksham, Blakey on Kozzie??, Lloyd on Spargo and Florent on ANB.

    Great post.

    30 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

    They should have subbed him on in the last 15. Pay the fine. Or there must have been someone with severe stomach pain..

    there were certainly many with bursting hearts

    • Like 1
    13 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

    there were certainly many with bursting hearts

    Finding a volunteer to come off was the problem.


    The Weed will be sub, can play ruck, forward and back.

     

    6 minutes ago, bluey said:

    Finding a volunteer to come off was the problem.

    Someone in a post match interview mentioned that Harmes had volunteered to have a major cramp.

    • Like 2

    I like the versatility that Smith offers as sub, my only concern is that his kicking for goal isn't great (admittedly based only on the last VFL final game v Sydney). 

    54 minutes ago, deejammin' said:

    The obvious one that makes this controversial is Salem for Bowey but Salem has been down on his best the second half of this year and Bowey has more than earned his spot back. That said I wouldn’t be surprised if Salem comes in, his best is outstanding, Bowey being extremely unlucky.

    I agree

    Bowey missed 5 games until he returned v the Lions. Struggled for a period before being dropped. Played well against the Lions but I wouldn't say he has more than earned his spot. 

    Salem was excellent during last years finals campaign. If he can get near that form again then he's in our Top 5 performers. Beautiful composure and use of the ball. He had a long injury lay off though and hasn't hit the heights since his return. I'd include him against the Swans and hope he plays himself back into form. He has greater upside than Bowey imv

    • Like 1
    13 minutes ago, bluey said:

    Finding a volunteer to come off was the problem.

    iirc harmsey volunteered

    • Like 1

    3 minutes ago, BDA said:

    I agree

    Bowey missed 5 games until he returned v the Lions. Struggled for a period before being dropped. Played well against the Lions but I wouldn't say he has more than earned his spot. 

    Salem was excellent during last years finals campaign. If he can get near that form again then he's in our Top 5 performers. Beautiful composure and use of the ball. He had a long injury lay off though and hasn't hit the heights since his return. I'd include him against the Swans and hope he plays himself back into form. He has greater upside than Bowey imv

    I’m a big Salem fan, but after watching the replay I though Bowey was fierce with his tackling. I recon we lose a bit if we drop him, just my opinion.

    Id make Salem sub 

    • Like 1

    How often is a key position player the medi sub though?

    I'd prefer it to be Smith but even then it could be unlikely. 

    1 hour ago, homsar said:

    I understand the calls for Bowey over Salem. But imo Salem’s contest work is elite, and well ahead of Bowey, and that is what will see him in over Bowey. But gosh we need to find a spot for Bowey some time soon… he’s far too good to rot away in the twos. 

    Tend to agree, and I've been a bit down on Salem's output this year, but just a bit harder and seasoned. Bowey is best 24. Sadly though, this year it might be Hunts turn. 

     
    24 minutes ago, SPC said:

    I’m a big Salem fan, but after watching the replay I though Bowey was fierce with his tackling. I recon we lose a bit if we drop him, just my opinion.

    Id make Salem sub 

    I think that is a really good point regarding Bowey and his tackling.. lets hope its not in thier fwd half much anyway.

    2 hours ago, D4Life said:

    Medi sub being Smith or Tomlinson probably makes more sense as already a tall down with Melksham instead of TMac and we got caught against Freo, Swans and Pies mid season with mixture of May injured/missing, Max injured, Petty injured leaving us 2 talls down in each game for at least a half!

    Harsh on Bowey with Salem to come in!

    Smith has a variety of versatile assets, up back, down front, spoiling in packs from the side. His height is important to us, his leap and his aggression (from backline experience, mainly) and his rather pacey mobility would mean many useful things in a fluent and less-congested game than those played recently in the VFL (where entire games are congested and disarrayed). At AFL level, there is more open space to exploit his manoeuvrability and opponent coverage skills when the going gets 'thick'.  At the least, he may well be able to cover, spoil and occupy a feathered Swan defender - and Smith is known for his tap-ons to smalls and other teammates. 


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