Predicted Round 1 Team to play GWS Giants

[DeeSpencer 26,567]

4 hours ago, fr_ap said:

Who do you think is a better defender - Mcvee or Bowey? Now who do you think is a better rebounder - Mcvee or Bowey? 

Judd’s clearly the better back pocket but he was caught in no man’s land a million times as a flanker last year, especially early in the year. Bowey’s defensive strength is he reads the play very well for a young player and can come up and spoil but also drop back to fill gaps. Excellent for his height and overall solid in the air and knows how to use his body.

Attacking wise neither get enough of the footy to be great. Judd currently gets the edge due to his ability to escape congestion and his very efficient ball use. But I do whilst not elite Bowser’s kicking has a different gear with distance and penetration.

Last year was just about a write off for Bowser after a nasty injury. I’m very confident we’ll see a much improved player this year. The only thing holding him back is Windsor and Salem might be the go to rebounders.

[DeeSpencer 26,567]

4 hours ago, fr_ap said:

Sharp is messy. Don't let 4 in a practise game fool you. You'll see. As I said, I'm ok with it as he looks to bring a lot of other attributes to the table. 

Sharp’s field kicking and decision making are both young Nibbla at best! He’s going to burn some chances and upset the same people currently arguing with you.

Will be interesting to see if his finishing in front of goal remains stronger (if he can keep generating chances). The combination of the goals not moving and snaps being easier for guys with shaky kicking techniques are both in his favour. 

[fr_ap 2,553]

8 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Judd’s clearly the better back pocket but he was caught in no man’s land a million times as a flanker last year, especially early in the year. Bowey’s defensive strength is he reads the play very well for a young player and can come up and spoil but also drop back to fill gaps. Excellent for his height and overall solid in the air and knows how to use his body.

Attacking wise neither get enough of the footy to be great. Judd currently gets the edge due to his ability to escape congestion and his very efficient ball use. But I do whilst not elite Bowser’s kicking has a different gear with distance and penetration.

Last year was just about a write off for Bowser after a nasty injury. I’m very confident we’ll see a much improved player this year. The only thing holding him back is Windsor and Salem might be the go to rebounders.

I hope you're right. I'm just ultimately not sure what an elite Bowey looks like. Caleb Daniel at his best? He was ultimately found out as the game moved away from his style. 

Just not sure on what he can become even if it does all work. He's not a ball carrier or a line breaker with his legs, and all the best rebounders can do both whilst being accountable defensively. He can break lines with his kicking, but actually misses a lot of targets. 

He was an ok wing as a junior but you need height and greater defensive presence to be an a grade winger at AFL level. 

Maybe a forward pocket, but we've never seen it tried. Even then - doesn't have the movement or tricks....

[The Jackson FIX 3,442]

3 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

fine, swap him in / out for sharp

B: Howes - May - Lever
HB: Windsor - Petty - Salem
C: Billings - Rivers - Bowey 
HF: Fritsch - Turner - Langdon
FF: Petracca - van Rooyen - Chandler
Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney
Int: Langford - Lindsay - Sharp - Sparrow 
Sub: Woewodin

This feels about right to me. It’s a very Goodwin side.

[640MD 3,517]

28 minutes ago, The Jackson FIX said:

This feels about right to me. It’s a very Goodwin side.

Who helps big max ?  Is my question, 

[jnrmac 20,311]

3 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

fine, swap him in / out for sharp

B: Howes - May - Lever
HB: Windsor - Petty - Salem
C: Billings - Rivers - Bowey 
HF: Fritsch - Turner - Langdon
FF: Petracca - van Rooyen - Chandler
Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney
Int: Langford - Lindsay - Sharp - Sparrow 
Sub: Woewodin

Windsor is underdone. Don't want the situation we had last year with Bowey in Rd 1

[DeeSpencer 26,567]

1 hour ago, fr_ap said:

I hope you're right. I'm just ultimately not sure what an elite Bowey looks like. Caleb Daniel at his best? He was ultimately found out as the game moved away from his style. 

Just not sure on what he can become even if it does all work. He's not a ball carrier or a line breaker with his legs, and all the best rebounders can do both whilst being accountable defensively. He can break lines with his kicking, but actually misses a lot of targets. 

He was an ok wing as a junior but you need height and greater defensive presence to be an a grade winger at AFL level. 

Maybe a forward pocket, but we've never seen it tried. Even then - doesn't have the movement or tricks....

Daniel is significantly shorter again than Bowey and lost speed. So whilst his prime was elite he was only ever half a yard from becoming a liability, he can’t win a one on one in the air against anyone. Where as I trust Bowser on most half forwards under 185cm unless they’re gun small foward types.

Zorko is of a similar height, lesser one on one defender and just played a great part in a flag. He’s a brilliant kick of course, but he’s also had 300 games and 15 years to work on that kicking.

I do agree Bowser’s kicking has never reached the heights I was hoping for. But he’s also played the last 3 years in our take no risks, have no flow or run game plan. Let’s see if adding some more guys who want the ball in transition encouragers our kickers to start kicking it to them! 

Maybe Bowser’s ceiling is a B+ zoning half back defender and B+ attacker and that’s ok. It does mean you need someone else to bring the elite kicking and someone else the run as well as the lock down backs but there’s 7 spots down back. 

[The Jackson FIX 3,442]

15 minutes ago, 640MD said:

Who helps big max ?  Is my question, 

Who was helping Campbell before AJ came on the other day? Therein probably lies the answer. 

[BC_1718_DC 1,775]

37 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Windsor is underdone. Don't want the situation we had last year with Bowey in Rd 1

He’s playing in the practice game against Freo barring a setback in training this week. He’ll be fine for Round 1.

[adonski 13,113]

33 minutes ago, The Jackson FIX said:

Who was helping Campbell before AJ came on the other day? Therein probably lies the answer. 

If Harry Mckay helps out TDK in the ruck when they play one ruck, or if Joe Daniher covered Big O, JVR can cover Maxwell

[Roost it far 9,871]

31 minutes ago, adonski said:

If Harry Mckay helps out TDK in the ruck when they play one ruck, or if Joe Daniher covered Big O, JVR can cover Maxwell

I’d prefer Johnson made that step up

[whatwhat say what 23,698]

JVR seems to relish part time ruck work

More power to him

[Farmer 902]

5 hours ago, DeeZone said:

Just posted on MFC website Marty has multiple breaks in his hand requires surgery, AMW has unfortunately copped the trifecta ACL, MCL and PCL…!!! Out for the year….😢😪

Bugger, that’s awful news for AMW and MFC . And not great about Hore  who was in my preferred 22

 

 

 

[Oxdee 526]

6 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

fine, swap him in / out for sharp

B: Howes - May - Lever
HB: Windsor - Petty - Salem
C: Billings - Rivers - Bowey 
HF: Fritsch - Turner - Langdon
FF: Petracca - van Rooyen - Chandler
Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney
Int: Langford - Lindsay - Sharp - Sparrow 
Sub: Woewodin

I’d change tmac for howes and Lindsay for woe. 

[Oxdee 526]

6 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

fine, swap him in / out for sharp

B: Howes - May - Lever
HB: Windsor - Petty - Salem
C: Billings - Rivers - Bowey 
HF: Fritsch - Turner - Langdon
FF: Petracca - van Rooyen - Chandler
Foll: Gawn - Oliver - Viney
Int: Langford - Lindsay - Sharp - Sparrow 
Sub: Woewodin

I’d change tmac for howes and Lindsay for woe. 

[whatwhat say what 23,698]

40 minutes ago, Oxdee said:

I’d change tmac for howes and Lindsay for woe. 

beetlejuice...

39 minutes ago, Oxdee said:

I’d change tmac for howes and Lindsay for woe. 

...beetlejuice...

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 11,043]

I haven't been following the pre-season train threads or really watched the match sim Vs North, but is Billings form good enough for a starting spot on the wing?

To be honest, I'm neither for or against his inclusion as I've seen him do some good things at times, but will admit that his season last year was quite disappointing over all as he seemed very frindge depth type, even once our depth got really depleted, I recall him often starting as sub and having minimal impact once he got on.

Perhaps a great pre-season and more oppertunity to learn our systems and maybe better buy-in and ability to play the more attacking game style we are trying to implement?  A big part of me would like to see him do well and really impact as I love a good redemption story and really hate it when we burn list spots with mature/recycled players that go nowhere and just frustrate.

Genuinely interested in others thoughts.

[640MD 3,517]

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

A big part of me would like to see him do well and really impact as I love a good redemption story and really hate it when we burn list spots with mature/recycled players that go nowhere and just frustrate.

Genuinely interested in others thoughts.

If he did become best 22   I would also be very pleased .  I thought Hunter was only rarely the player he had been at the dogs. They got the better end of that deal.  And others have not measured up yet . 
so to have another win,  just nice. 
Hope the two “boys” from Werribee push hard , a bit older, a rougher comp more robust i mean.  One last chance for both take it and run and see how far they go, 

[M_9 2,186]

14 hours ago, Oxdee said:

I’d change tmac for howes and Lindsay for woe. 

Agree. No way will Goody leave TMac out.

He runs all day, offers ruck relief and can move forward if the need arises.

Edited Monday at 02:20 by M_9

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,401]

I’m concerned about our small defence and small forward depth coming into the early rounds.

However I reckon our key defensive stocks would be the envy of a lot of clubs. Having to leave one of May, Lever, Petty or T Mac out of the round 1 defensive line up is a good problem to have (obviously the first two guys are a lock)

[WERRIDEE 5,606]

1 hour ago, M_9 said:

Agree. No way will Goody leave TMac out.

He runs all day, offers ruck relief and can move forward if the need arises.

I think you are wrong. He was in the white jumper. When May, Lever and Petty were playing. The backline will be too big can't have key position players in the one side.

[Adam The God 30,646]

On 22/02/2025 at 13:24, DeeSpencer said:

FB: Petty May Howes
HB: Salem Lever Bowey 
C; Billings Rivers Lindsay/Woey
HF: Sharp Turner Langford
FF: Chandler JVR Fritsch
Foll: Gawn Oliver Langdon
Int: Windsor, Viney, Tracc, Sparrow

S: Lindsay/Woey

Smokies: AJ, Henderson, AMW (if healthy), Jeffo, T Mc, Brown, Laurie 

Out: T Mc In: May 
Out: AMW In: Windsor 
Out: Hore/Adams In: Salem
Out: Pickett In: Langdon 
Out: Jeffo In: Fritsch
Out: Woey/Lindsay In: Tracc
Out: Laurie In: Viney 
Out: Campbell In: Gawn

That's a bloody good team. 👏

[BangBnagBang 767]

2 hours ago, M_9 said:

Agree. No way will Goody leave TMac out.

He runs all day, offers ruck relief and can move forward if the need arises.

The only way Tmac plays this year is if May, Lever or Petty dont.

[M_9 2,186]

2 hours ago, BangBnagBang said:

The only way Tmac plays this year is if May, Lever or Petty dont.

Last year TMac finished 10th in the Bluey Truscott (301 votes). May was 9th with 316 votes.

Petty would have been lucky to place in the top 20. He's overrated IMO. Three good games in last two years.

TMac will play at least 15 games. He may be getting on but he's proud, fit and skilled.

Edited Monday at 07:42 by M_9

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 11,043]

58 minutes ago, M_9 said:

Last year TMac finished 10th in the Bluey Truscott (301 votes). May was 9th with 316 votes.

Petty would have been lucky to place in the top 20. He's overrated IMO. Three good games in last two years.

TMac will play at least 15 games. He may be getting on but he's proud, fit and skilled.

Agreed, but gee we need Petty to return to 2021 form as a backman as our succession plan for Maysie.  I think he's got it in him to step back up and play at the level, not that I'm sure that's quite a full equivalent to what Steve brings though.