PREGAME: Rd 15 vs Geelong

[Lord Travis 10,184]

Talk of dropping Neal-Bullen is always a good laugh. He’s one of the first picked by the coaches every week because he fronts up and does the thankless hard stuff that the general footballer watcher doesn’t appreciate because it’s not flashy etc. 

He was our 8th best overall rated player on the weekend. He was rated the best player on the ground overall defensively. We beat Collingwood because we had applied immense pressure on the ball carrier. Nibbler had 26 pressure acts, the most of anyone on the ground with Viney second at 24. Nibbler had 6 effective tackles, third behind Viney and Trac. He had 5 tackles inside 50, the most of any player on the ground.

He was a key part of our victory and I’d go as far as saying if he didn’t play we would have lost that match. What he brings in pressure and running to link up or block space is immense, and as long as he keeps fronting up and busting his gut he will rightly never be dropped.

[speed demon 689]

48 minutes ago, Stu said:

I’d love to see this structure given a try, as I think it’s very dynamic and could be a challenge for a lot of teams to match up on. 
 

Petty, JVR, Fritsch, Smith, ANB, Kossie, and Chandler. 

 

36 minutes ago, old55 said:

That's all fine for the forward 7, but who goes out for Oliver? Please give me the 22 that this 7 fits in. I think you'll find a midfielder misses out that you want in.

I'm also keen on seeing this forward 7 in action but agree it's hard to do so. If all players are available (and Tomo holds his form), I can't find a spot for Swarrow, let alone Jordon, Bowey and Spargo (all who I like for various reasons) if Smith is in the team. In this unlikely event, Smith may be an excellent sub option given his versatility (though I like JJ in this role too).

Good times! 

[leave it to deever 15,952]

10 minutes ago, speed demon said:

 

I'm also keen on seeing this forward 7 in action but agree it's hard to do so. If all players are available (and Tomo holds his form), I can't find a spot for Swarrow, let alone Jordon, Bowey and Spargo (all who I like for various reasons) if Smith is in the team. In this unlikely event, Smith may be an excellent sub option given his versatility (though I like JJ in this role too).

Good times! 

Bowey will struggle to get back in due to Salo. Tommo was simply excellent,  so you can't drop him. Oliver obviously comes back in.

From Monday's game , Oliver comes back in for Spargo.

As for Petty's return, it's a tough call, if he plays forward. Perhaps Sparrow. It hinges upon Smith playing some even better footy.

Assuming he does and this new combo works then I guess Bowey, Sparrow and Spartacus out seems tough but shows we have players in good nick and some decent depth.

I guess it depends on who we play, if Bowser gets a look in. 

Edited June 14, 2023 by leave it to deever

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,497]

28 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Talk of dropping Neal-Bullen is always a good laugh. He’s one of the first picked by the coaches every week because he fronts up and does the thankless hard stuff that the general footballer watcher doesn’t appreciate because it’s not flashy etc. 

He was our 8th best overall rated player on the weekend. He was rated the best player on the ground overall defensively. We beat Collingwood because we had applied immense pressure on the ball carrier. Nibbler had 26 pressure acts, the most of anyone on the ground with Viney second at 24. Nibbler had 6 effective tackles, third behind Viney and Trac. He had 5 tackles inside 50, the most of any player on the ground.

He was a key part of our victory and I’d go as far as saying if he didn’t play we would have lost that match. What he brings in pressure and running to link up or block space is immense, and as long as he keeps fronting up and busting his gut he will rightly never be dropped.

Agree with everything said here. It's only at the ground that you can see what he does. We probably wouldn't have won against Collingwood without him. He minimised Nick Daicos's influence in the first half. His hard running in the last was rewarded with a goal which was only possible because he outran the Collingwood player to get to the drop of the ball.  

[dazzledavey36 48,955]

Cannot see why we can't play Smith, Petty and JVR in the same forward line? 

You'd just drop the extra small (Spargo).

People forget Smith is one of the quickest players in our list so realistically he does play small and short. Also showed in the weekend that he defensive forward pressure is pretty good for a player his size.

The other aspect is their flexibility. Both Smith or Petty can plug holes down back in case of an inury to one of our tall defender during games.

[Abyssal 259]

14 hours ago, adonski said:

Thought Smith was fine, but Petty is just the better player

Agree, Petty is the better player, but you CAN play both, and forward.

[old55 21,400]

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Cannot see why we can't play Smith, Petty and JVR in the same forward line? 

You'd just drop the extra small (Spargo).

People forget Smith is one of the quickest players in our list so realistically he does play small and short. Also showed in the weekend that he defensive forward pressure is pretty good for a player his size.

The other aspect is their flexibility. Both Smith or Petty can plug holes down back in case of an inury to one of our tall defender during games.

It's an attractive option but the question remains the same with this configuration - what's the total 22?  As @speed demon posted above - you're going to need to leave someone vital out to achieve it - someone like Sparrow or Brayshaw.

There's a lot of Petty in, Bowey in, Oliver in but not a lot of who out.

Edited June 14, 2023 by old55

[Engorged Onion 9,392]

49 minutes ago, Lord Travis said:

Talk of dropping Neal-Bullen is always a good laugh. He’s one of the first picked by the coaches every week because he fronts up and does the thankless hard stuff that the general footballer watcher doesn’t appreciate because it’s not flashy etc. 

He was our 8th best overall rated player on the weekend. He was rated the best player on the ground overall defensively. We beat Collingwood because we had applied immense pressure on the ball carrier. Nibbler had 26 pressure acts, the most of anyone on the ground with Viney second at 24. Nibbler had 6 effective tackles, third behind Viney and Trac. He had 5 tackles inside 50, the most of any player on the ground.

He was a key part of our victory and I’d go as far as saying if he didn’t play we would have lost that match. What he brings in pressure and running to link up or block space is immense, and as long as he keeps fronting up and busting his gut he will rightly never be dropped.

Does it get tiring having to explain it bi-weekly? 😍😘

[In Harmes Way 7,586]

17 minutes ago, old55 said:

It's an attractive option but the question remains the same with this configuration - what's the total 22?  As @speed demon posted above - you're going to need to leave someone vital out to achieve it - someone like Sparrow or Brayshaw.

There's a lot of Petty in, Bowey in, Oliver in but not a lot of who out.

I think the makeup of the side could look like this:

Forwards:

Key forwards: Fritta, JVR, Petty, Smith (in place of Spargo)

Smalls: Chandler, Neal-Bullen, Kossie

Resting Ruck

Mids:

Ruck, Clarry, Trac, Viney, Langdon, Hunter, Sparrow

Backs:

Key backs: May, Lever, Tomlinson, Hibbo

Distributors: Salem, McVee, Brayshaw

Emergency: JJ

The forwardline setup can vary with three smalls, or two smalls a resting ruck/Petty and JVR/Smith leading up the ground as linkup options. It's not unreasonable by any stretch to drop Spargo for Smith. I reckon Bowey has to come in for either Brayshaw or Salem, tough call.

Edited June 14, 2023 by In Harmes Way

[speed demon 689]

4 minutes ago, In Harmes Way said:

I think the makeup of the side could look like this:

Forwards:

Key forwards: Fritta, JVR, Petty, Smith (in place of Spargo)

Smalls: Chandler, Neal-Bullen, Kossie

Resting Ruck

Mids:

Ruck, Clarry, Trac, Viney, Langdon, Hunter, Sparrow

Backs:

Key backs: May, Lever, Tomlinson, Hibbo

Distributors: Salem, McVee, Brayshaw

Emergency: JJ

The forwardline setup can vary with three smalls, or two smalls a resting ruck/Petty and JVR/Smith leading up the ground as linkup options. It's not unreasonable by any stretch to drop Spargo for Smith. I reckon Bowey has to come in for either Brayshaw or Salem, tough call.

Cry me a River(s)?! 😱

[old55 21,400]

8 minutes ago, In Harmes Way said:

I think the makeup of the side could look like this:

Forwards:

Key forwards: Fritta, JVR, Petty, Smith (in place of Spargo)

Smalls: Chandler, Neal-Bullen, Kossie

Resting Ruck

Mids:

Ruck, Clarry, Trac, Viney, Langdon, Hunter, Sparrow

Backs:

Key backs: May, Lever, Tomlinson, Hibbo

Distributors: Salem, McVee, Brayshaw

Emergency: JJ

The forwardline setup can vary with three smalls, or two smalls a resting ruck/Petty and JVR/Smith leading up the ground as linkup options. It's not unreasonable by any stretch to drop Spargo for Smith. I reckon Bowey has to come in for either Brayshaw or Salem, tough call.

Rivers can't get a game? Snap @speed demon

Just to be clear - my preferred 23:

B: May Tomlinson Lever Hibberd Salem Rivers McVee

M: Gawn Grundy Oliver Petracca Viney Sparrow Brayshaw Langdon Hunter

F: Petty JVR Fritsch ANB Chandler Pickett

S: Jordon

Look it's bad luck for Bowey, Spargo and Smith, just like it's bad luck for JJ.  Harmes too.

Edited June 14, 2023 by old55

[Jaded No More 58,505]

To be clear, Rivers is not getting dropped. ANB is not getting dropped. Oliver IS playing when fit, as is Petty, as is Bowey.

How you fit 26 players into 22, is of course, the million dollar question.

Glad I am not on match committee. 

[Damo 3,005]

Bowey and Smith > Jordon

[YesitwasaWin4theAges 5,905]

2 hours ago, Stu said:

I’d love to see this structure given a try, as I think it’s very dynamic and could be a challenge for a lot of teams to match up on. 
 

Petty, JVR, Fritsch, Smith, ANB, Kossie, and Chandler. 

Can either play a Spargo or JJ as a sub either way and we will be able to cover if a tall goes down in Defence.

This would release Fritta big time to unleash on the opposition.

The concern with this would be our team balance and pressure zones inside 50.

Edited June 14, 2023 by YesitwasaWin4theAges

[Gawndy the Great 7,623]

2 hours ago, Stu said:

I’d love to see this structure given a try, as I think it’s very dynamic and could be a challenge for a lot of teams to match up on. 
 

Petty, JVR, Fritsch, Smith, ANB, Kossie, and Chandler. 

Agreed - but with our long kicks into the hot spot, its easily defendable. Would need to move the ball much faster and have better inside 50 delivery to exploit the benefits of this line-up.

[Dee*ceiving 954]

Re: Brayshaw maybe he'd benefit from a week off?  With Bowey and Oliver due to return perhaps now is a good time for him to have an extended freshen up?

[Jaded No More 58,505]

Spargo isn't versatile enough to be sub IMO.

JJ can play mid, wing and half back. He is a far better choice for sub, and also deserves to be in the best 22. But it's a hard team to break into.

[DistrACTION Jackson 6,486]

Got a ticket with my mate, first time going down to the Cattery for a Dees game.... hope we can somehow get the win!

[drysdale demon 4,184]

1 hour ago, In Harmes Way said:

I reckon Bowey has to come in for either Brayshaw or Salem, tough call.

That is simply not going to happen.

[titan_uranus 22,566]

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Cannot see why we can't play Smith, Petty and JVR in the same forward line? 

You'd just drop the extra small (Spargo).

People forget Smith is one of the quickest players in our list so realistically he does play small and short. Also showed in the weekend that he defensive forward pressure is pretty good for a player his size.

The other aspect is their flexibility. Both Smith or Petty can plug holes down back in case of an inury to one of our tall defender during games.

Smith had 11 pressure acts on the weekend. JVR had 17. Spargo had 10 despite being subbed off halfway into the third.

Also, as has been mentioned already, from this week's 22 if you are dropping Spargo for Petty you have to drop someone else for Oliver. We need Oliver more than we need Petty alongside JVR/Smith, which increases the pressure on Smith to be dropped if/when Petty's back.

[Diamond_Jim 11,933]

2 hours ago, Altona-demon said:

I think it's pretty hard to argue that Kosi had a good game against Collingwood. Spargo obvs. got subbed, and Chandler was only a bit better.

Nibbler really plays as a hybrid mid-fielder anyway - and all our smalls have room to improve.  But suggesting that Smith can play as a small forward ignores the fact that he is 1.91 m tall and clearly a third tall option.  

Fwiw I quite like the look of Petty, Van Rooyen, Smith - and I hope they give it a crack at some stage.

In simple terms we need 4-5 goals a week out of the three small fowards. This weekend we got 4 behinds which probably should have been 3 goals. As a group they are not contributing anything near what they did in the early rounds when it was probably around 6 goals.

There's no one at Casey to come in.

I'm prepared to give Smith a 3 week run with Petty at the expense of Spargo or Chandler but I'm not confident

[Altona-demon 318]

53 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

In simple terms we need 4-5 goals a week out of the three small fowards. This weekend we got 4 behinds which probably should have been 3 goals. As a group they are not contributing anything near what they did in the early rounds when it was probably around 6 goals.

There's no one at Casey to come in.

I'm prepared to give Smith a 3 week run with Petty at the expense of Spargo or Chandler but I'm not confident

Chandler two misses hurt (and they were both very close).  Most times Kosi kicks his two as well (that first set shot was abysmal).  So that's four on my count.  Plus Nibbler's goal (and set shot miss) - that's potentially six.  Finally Petracca when resting forward managed to get two goal scoring shots.  That means eight opportunities from smaller forwards in our line.  I think that puts the team in a pretty good position.

I think one dynamic we need to explore more once Clayton returns, is the impact of Petracca resting forward and what it does for defensive / stoppage / forward structure.  He's really like another athletic mid-forward - and a pretty impossible match-up if we can get him one on one or near a groundball.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,321]

In the corresponding game last year we had a 5 day break coming back from Adelaide against a Geelong that had just come off a 120 point training drill against North at the same venue. We faded badly in the last 15 minutes of the game.

This year, we'll have a 10 day break against a Geelong that will be coming back from Adelaide (albeit a 7 day break) so heavy legs/fatigue shouldn't be an issue in this one.

[Wodjathefirst 2,367]

4 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

To be clear, Rivers is not getting dropped. ANB is not getting dropped. Oliver IS playing when fit, as is Petty, as is Bowey.

How you fit 26 players into 22, is of course, the million dollar question.

Glad I am not on match committee. 

I’ll take a punt that the answer to the question will in part include strategic considerations being given to resting / rotating players as well as refining / testing systems over the next few rounds. Can’t wait to see the team they choose for the Geelong game.

Come September the 66 million dollar question will be selecting the starting 22 hopefully from a full, fit list. I’m guessing this will also be influenced by whom we are fronting up against.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,321]

In - Oliver

Out - Spargo, JJ.

Spargo or JJ to be sub. JJ would have to be one of the unluckiest player in the AFL. He stood up during his game time.

Bowey misses out in favour of the excellent defensive unit of last week. I could be wrong but historically Goodwin doesn't like to make unforced changes after a watershed win, and last Monday you could sense was one of those wins judging by his post game reaction.

Petty was quoted as many as 6 weeks and the Geelong game will be just under 6 weeks. Therefore I think they'll be conservative with Petty.

 

Edited June 14, 2023 by Bring-Back-Powell