24 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

I think a lot will depend on what happens on Friday night and Saturday. Pies and Lions both win and we have no incentive to win and should rest players. Pies lose and Lions win (or lose!) and suddenly the optics change. 

100%.

Pies are falling off the face of a cliff. THey will have no backline on Friday night and the Bombers, well they have to respond to the mauling... 

They lose, we then must win.

I don't think we have ever rested a player in recent years?

Unless Lions lose too...GO SAINTS!!  Sorry, I am dees through and through but would love to see Saints rip them at the Gabba I think that'd make most people pretty happy.

10 minutes ago, Young Angus said:

Unless Lions lose too...GO SAINTS!!  Sorry, I am dees through and through but would love to see Saints rip them at the Gabba I think that'd make most people pretty happy.

Even if Brisbane lose, Port won't.

10 minutes ago, david_neitz_is_my_dad said:

I don't think we have ever rested a player in recent years?

We rested May against the Crows in the penultimate round of 2021.

But it’s horses for courses and we have to acknowledge the rare circumstance we might find ourselves in. Gawn and anyone who can benefit from the rest should be rested. Play everyone else.

1 hour ago, Jaded No More said:

I think a lot will depend on what happens on Friday night and Saturday. Pies and Lions both win and we have no incentive to win and should rest players. Pies lose and Lions win (or lose!) and suddenly the optics change. 

You have to name your final 22 by 6pm approx on Friday night.

AFL will be all over us if we pull Gawn etc on Sunday due to a dead rubber.

I think we will have to take a chance/calculated risk

There's been a lot of talk about this week's game possibly being a dead rubber.

For anybody who is uncertain what that term actually means, here is a pictorial representation.

 

12 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

You have to name your final 22 by 6pm approx on Friday night.

AFL will be all over us if we pull Gawn etc on Sunday due to a dead rubber.

He might be really unlucky and contract a virus or have "hamstring awareness" flare up over the weekend.

Collingwood will win against Essendon. They need to get some confidence back before finals. If either Lions or Port lose so must we or even better-- draw.

5 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Any ideas why he didn't play for Casey on the weekend? 

Crook. 

Back at the club Monday. 

Port are 2-4

Pies are 1-3

coming into finals 

i’m feeling confident 

11 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Port are 2-4

Pies are 1-3

coming into finals 

i’m feeling confident 

Here is another stat I saw the other day Dub.

No premier in 10 years has lost 2 of their last 4 Home & Away matches. This is why I want to beat Sydney this week. 

3 hours ago, Gawndy the Great said:

100%.

Pies are falling off the face of a cliff. THey will have no backline on Friday night and the Bombers, well they have to respond to the mauling... 

They lose, we then must win.

Not sure the Bombers could get the better of Tyabb at the minute GTG

8 hours ago, David-Demon said:

Not a bad selection. The only change I would make is to dump Smith and bring in McDonald, if only for his experience and a run b4 the finals 

Ridiculous. Smith has been excellent in every role he's been given in the past two months.

8 hours ago, bobby1554 said:

Yes, but if Sydney win they secure a home elimination final

...presuming Brisbane beats St Kilda, which will be known by then.

Rest May and Gawn at least

Goody was pretty clear we won't be resting players and yet it's being touted constantly here. We'll see, I guess.

Updated weather forecast has Sunday having less showers.

Small ground, wet conditions, Sydney in good form.

Swans win this one pretty easily.

When Fox Footy journo's do their research....

On 8/20/2023 at 8:53 PM, Maldonboy38 said:

Exchange TMac for Schache and leave him as the sub. He can play both ends of the ground so can do whatever role is required.

I prefer to leave Fritsch out of a dead rubber, but if they want some match time in his legs, exchange for Laurie. 

I usually like the disposal efficiency and angle changing kicks that Bowey brings, but he has been down on form for a few weeks and is making errors that lead to opposition goals. Exchange him for Hibberd.

Bowey went out of the team in round 18..2022 because his form had dropped off & he didn’t feature again that year. He seems to be following a similar pattern but hopefully he can pick it up against Syd because he is a good kick in a team who isn’t  overly endowed in this area 

 

 

4 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Small ground, wet conditions, Sydney in good form.

Swans win this one pretty easily.

Their form is very ordinary. Other than the Giants, they haven’t beaten a top 8 side since round 11 when they beat Carlton (when Carlton was no good). 

Traccas spending time up fwd is an interesting one for me.

He's been playing midfield mostly which for me is where he belongs but with our struggles with injuries, I get him being moved.

I've noticed but I'm not sure if it's a fact that he seems to start games slowly but roars home. He seems to not have many disposals in the first. 

Also Oliver seems a little underdone so can we afford to move Trac?

Will there be room for him with Fritta back in? Not sure there would be. Also sadly, we are still in a state of flux with our fwd synergy.

I'm also hoping Tmac maybe gets the sub role instead because he's stronger than JS.

 

14 hours ago, Binmans PA said:

Goody was pretty clear we won't be resting players and yet it's being touted constantly here. We'll see, I guess.

What’s the argument for not resting players? Is it the risk of a potential “rustiness” when a rested player returns? If so, isn’t this negated somewhat by all finals teams forced into a supposed rust-onset via the pre-finals bye? Sure, in that regard it’s two weeks vs one week. But we’re talking about elite athletes here. I have trouble accepting that such a break would create any significant drop in form. They’d still be training and keeping their skills sharpened. 
 

But it’s more than merely resting a player. It’s insurance that we have them playing finals. As for any suggestion that the AFL would come down on a club for employing such a tactic - did they “come down” on the Cats last year?

5 minutes ago, Mel Bourne said:

What’s the argument for not resting players? Is it the risk of a potential “rustiness” when a rested player returns? If so, isn’t this negated somewhat by all finals teams forced into a supposed rust-onset via the pre-finals bye? Sure, in that regard it’s two weeks vs one week. But we’re talking about elite athletes here. I have trouble accepting that such a break would create any significant drop in form. They’d still be training and keeping their skills sharpened. 
 

But it’s more than merely resting a player. It’s insurance that we have them playing finals. As for any suggestion that the AFL would come down on a club for employing such a tactic - did they “come down” on the Cats last year?

Form - both the team and individuals are well served by continuity 

Fitness - match fitness is the best fitness and you risk fresh injuries when you back players off then ramp them up fresh

Casey - if we take half the casey side out we are likely ending their season, meaning our depth players no longer have opportunities for match fitness 

North and Richmond have retired players, Geelong have sent half their list in for surgery. Essendon have half a dozen who were fit last week and suddenly aren’t.

If we took a dozen out we’d be questioned but I don’t think the AFL would crack down on us for leaving a couple out.