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PREGAME: Rd 24 vs Sydney

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21 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?

I just think it's a mistake to flirt with form. We need to win on Sunday, and win well, to give our club even more confidence and put extra fear into the opposition. A loss could see the exact opposite occur.

If injuries happen, it happens. That's life. Could've happened any time during the year. 

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    Fritta confirmed to play this weekend by Goodwin in his Thursday media conference.

    Excellent news.

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    2 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

    Fritta confirmed to play this weekend by Goodwin in his Thursday media conference.

    Excellent news.

    Get your hair gel ready boys and girls! 

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    We're still trying to polish cohesion and will be making a significant change with Fritsch coming in. We need to use it as a dress rehearsal for the QF and go in with our preferred structure. Maybe use the sub to rest whoever needs it most.

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    8 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

    Updated weather forecast has Sunday having less showers.

    Rain or showers? Surely the Dees wouldn't take to the field if unwashed? It's possible for the Filth, Geelong and Carlton but not the Dees, purveyors of the Palmolive. 

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    46 minutes ago, The heart beats true said:

    Fritta confirmed to play this weekend by Goodwin in his Thursday media conference.

    Excellent news.

    Goodwin also said that TMac is moving better than at any time this year. A mobile and agile TMac could be the difference for us come September.

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    1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

    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.


    Form - true, continuity is important, but all teams are about to have their continuity halted after next weekend (which is why some coaches have come out against it). 
     

    Fitness - the risk of fresh injuries after being rested - is their much evidence of this? Coming off an injury, and being brought back too soon, sure. But getting injured after being rested for a week (while still maintaining peak physical fitness)? I’d need to see the stats on that. 
     

    Again, the Cats employed resting their older players throughout the season last year. And key players, at that (Selwood, Hawkins, Dangerfield and Isaac Smith, who was rested in Rnd 22 and went on to win the Norm Smith). It was all about making sure they had the best team available in the final game of the year, and didn’t see the above issues as much of a threat to that aim  

    Gawn and May would be it. No need to go crazy. 


     

     

    1 hour ago, Fat Tony said:

    Goodwin also said that TMac is moving better than at any time this year. A mobile and agile TMac could be the difference for us come September.

    Yes but as discussed what does that do to other other forward metrics, pressure, running, tackles but to name 3?

     

    I think the Norf game was the time to rest players if we were going to, there was still 3 games left before the bye to get back into it. 

    Resting anyone this week means 2 weeks off, then (pls pls pls) if we win a QF another week off so 1 game in 4 weeks before a prelim. 

    5 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

    I think the Norf game was the time to rest players if we were going to, there was still 3 games left before the bye to get back into it. 

    Resting anyone this week means 2 weeks off, then (pls pls pls) if we win a QF another week off so 1 game in 4 weeks before a prelim. 

    If we rest anyone this week they would've had the best part of 3wks off, not 2 and thats where it is treading a line. 

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    6 minutes ago, Fromgotowoewodin said:

    I think the Norf game was the time to rest players if we were going to, there was still 3 games left before the bye to get back into it. 

    Resting anyone this week means 2 weeks off, then (pls pls pls) if we win a QF another week off so 1 game in 4 weeks before a prelim. 

    I think they’ll do what they did in the roos game, which was to use the bench as a way of minimising injury risk and manage load.

    Tracc, viney and maxy all spent a big chunk of the last quarter on the bench.

    Sure manage any plsyer really needing a spell, but otherwise use the bench to give your A graders and young blokes a decent chop out.

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    2 hours ago, seventyfour said:

    I just think it's a mistake to flirt with form. We need to win on Sunday, and win well, to give our club even more confidence and put extra fear into the opposition. A loss could see the exact opposite occur.

    If injuries happen, it happens. That's life. Could've happened any time during the year. 

    I’m not sure I really buy this. Whoever we play first in the finals is not going to be afraid of us because we beat the Swans. I don’t think any of the top teams would have any of this so-called “fear” going in any direction. Everyone is gettable this year. There are no true monoliths, and it’s made for a great season. 

    really hard to get excited about this game. 

     

    15 days til finals starts!

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    Resting is dangerous IMO. It will mean one game in 5 weeks if (big if) we win our QF - 5 weeks from the Hawthorn game to PF weekend and just the QF played. That’s too risky IMO.

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    4 minutes ago, DubDee said:

    really hard to get excited about this game. 

     

    15 days til finals starts!

    I'm very excited about the game. Assuming we go in with "the Finals team" (I think we will, as this is what Goodwin's philosophy would dictate), this is our first chance to see the side that 23 rounds of football has thrown up as our best chance to win it all.

    Very enticing. Wish it wasn't being played on a postage-stamp of a ground though. Absolutely hate the SCG as a football ground.

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    Sounds like a bug has been going round the club, wouldn’t be surprised if there is a few late changes on Sunday.

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    6 minutes ago, Garbo said:

    Sounds like a bug has been going round the club, wouldn’t be surprised if there is a few late changes on Sunday.

    Thomas has been know to float around the club a bit.

    With the mooted medium sized forward line we should be taking the preferred option of our players lowering their eyes and hitting up targets to our medium forwards

    Our forwards leading their backmen out of the hot spot with others leading into that area for better goal scoring opportunities

    With the long bomb to the pocket becoming way less of an option and less of a decent percentage play

    Of course, the above is easier said than done but if we're going medium, more of a necessity

    The game against Sydney is effectively one where we can practice such methods

    Edited by Macca

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    52 minutes ago, Garbo said:

    Sounds like a bug has been going round the club, wouldn’t be surprised if there is a few late changes on Sunday.

    Perfect reason/excuse to rest players if all other results go our way. We want the Pies at the G in a QF. We'll beat Sydney if it doesn't change this outcome. There's no way we'd risk playing Brisbane in a QF at the Gabba.

    Edited by Roost it far


    I am really hopeful Tom McDonald plays as our second tall forward against Sydney.

    I think structurally it makes sense. Especially as he can also share ruck duties with Jacob van Rooyen in the forward line too.

    Anyway, the selection committee have a lot to ponder this week. đŸ€”

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    2 hours ago, Fat Tony said:

    Goodwin also said that TMac is moving better than at any time this year. A mobile and agile TMac could be the difference for us come September.

    I also think T-mac could be important this week in making sure we give Max a bit of an extra rest leading into finals.

    With T-Mac, JVR, Fritta and Melky in the forward line, i expect T-Mac and JVR will share the ruck load a bit!

    2 minutes ago, Supreme_Demon said:

    I am really hopeful Tom McDonald plays as our second tall forward against Sydney.

    I think structurally it makes sense. Especially as he can also share ruck duties with Jacob van Rooyen in the forward line too.

    Anyway, the selection committee have a lot to ponder this week. đŸ€”

    I hope we select him as the substitute and make that sub relatively early in the game (mid-3rd quarter or along those lines).

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    1 hour ago, binman said:

    I think they’ll do what they did in the roos game, which was to use the bench as a way of minimising injury risk and manage load.

    Tracc, viney and maxy all spent a big chunk of the last quarter on the bench.

    Sure manage any plsyer really needing a spell, but otherwise use the bench to give your A graders and young blokes a decent chop out.

    Tracc has a Brownlow to win!

    Edited by dee-tox

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    I can't keep up with the weather forecast for Sydney on Sunday.

    Last Sunday, we were looking at dry and 21.

    Then Monday, we were looking at torrential rain and 16.

    Now we're back to 21 with a possible shower.

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