39 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Windsor used the ball and his pace quite well yesterday, but we need more than 10 possessions if that's going to be his permanent position.

The Langdon one doesn't bother me too much. He'd only be getting minimal CBA's, you'd think, and will likely spend his other on field minutes on the wing. Anything to keep Trac and Oliver fresh and firing for the last quarter.

17 of 30 yesterday. Club are screaming from the rooftop that Langdon is playing mid. Not sure why people are ignoring it.

More likely to rotate forward for much needed pace than wing at least until Pickett is back. 

3 minutes ago, ManDee said:

What happened to Petty?

I'm not saying something did happen but he seems to have disappeared without a trace. 

Injured? Sore? Personal? Rested?

Nothing!

I've put him as sub as he can play forward or back. 

theres some he could replace automatically if injury and can also allow team to be shuffled around to accommodate him.

Ie could replace Jefferson or Johnson if they dont get up .

He can also replace Gawn if injured 

4 hours ago, sisso said:

I think we are a decent chance. Without Tom Green they will lack inside ball winners: provided we don’t get absolutely torched on the outside of course.

And they no longer have their grunts in Perryman and Peatling and a further 6 guys missing because of Wacky Wednesday.

Still can't believe all the "experts" in The Age have them finishing top 3 and our beloved Garry predicting them to win the premiership

Edited March 3Mar 3 by dice

32 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

What purpose we he fill up forward alongside Fritsch, Turner and JVR?

I like him, but the answer is he’ll be a big witches hat.

This is what gets me, too. I like AJ, but he isn't playing unless we're dropping one of these three other guys.

We haven't set up all summer with JVR, Turner, AJ and Fritsch. Yesterday AJ would have been on the bench until late but came on early because JVR went off.

If we were going to play all four, we would have done so yesterday.

AJ is priming himself for Turner's spot, IMO. Turner would want to start the year well.

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

17 of 30 yesterday. Club are screaming from the rooftop that Langdon is playing mid. Not sure why people are ignoring it.

More likely to rotate forward for much needed pace than wing at least until Pickett is back. 

Had no idea it was 17/30. That's a fair bit.

4 clearances is ok I suppose. Just as much as Viney had.

Edited March 3Mar 3 by Bring-Back-Powell

My concern with JVR, Turner, Fritsch and no AJ or Campbell is who provides ruck support? Seems even less likely to be JVR with his back concern. 

9 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Had no idea it was 17/30. That's a fair bit.

4 clearances from is ok I suppose. Just a much as Viney had.

There are 8 players at each CBA. So anything over 1 centre clearance per 8 CBAs is above par.

Add to that that not all players are playing the role to get the clearance, some are getting first possession, blocking, etc 

And add to that players can run in off CHF, CHB and the wings and get involved in the contest pre clearance.

4 from 17 CBAs is a pretty decent return.

12 minutes ago, speed demon said:

My concern with JVR, Turner, Fritsch and no AJ or Campbell is who provides ruck support? Seems even less likely to be JVR with his back concern. 

My suggestion is AJ relieves Gawn in the ruck and JVR takes no centre rucks.

When Gawn is rucking, AJ comes on when JVR or Turner needs a spell. Then at minimal times all three play in the same forward line. 

Then AJ gets subbed out for a Melksham like player.

I get that this isn't perfect and AJ would record very little TOG minutes but I love the idea of JVR not being the second ruck.

Or alternatively as others have mentioned, Turner could play himself out of form and AJ comes into the side from round 2 or 3 onwards.

5 hours ago, ManDee said:

What happened to Petty?

I'm not saying something did happen but he seems to have disappeared without a trace. 

Injured? Sore? Personal? Rested?

Nothing!

Is there a secret that I'm not aware of?

Is Petty still on our list?

Why are there no details on his whereabouts?

Did not play for Casey, did not play against Freo and not on the injured list.

What is going on?

XxxxxxxxEdit

Just explained as "personal reasons"

Ok

Edited March 3Mar 3 by ManDee
New info.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

My suggestion is AJ relieves Gawn in the ruck and JVR takes no centre rucks.

When Gawn is rucking, AJ comes on when JVR or Turner needs a spell. Then at minimal times all three play in the same forward line. 

Then AJ gets subbed out for a Melksham like player.

I get that this isn't perfect and AJ would record very little TOG minutes but I love the idea of JVR not being the second ruck.

Or alternatively as others have mentioned, Turner could play himself out of form and AJ comes into the side from round 2 or 3 onwards.

So Fritsch as sub? Don’t mind it.

Edited March 3Mar 3 by DeeSpencer

12 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

So Fritsch as sub? Don’t mind it.

I've no idea what's happened to this player since the infamous Alice Springs game but he's nowhere near an A grader at the moment. A starting sub role in round 1 may light a fire under him to kick start his season.

41 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I've no idea what's happened to this player since the infamous Alice Springs game but he's nowhere near an A grader at the moment. A starting sub role in round 1 may light a fire under him to kick start his season.

I'm not sure that sitting on the pine is the best way for Fritsch to regain form and confidence - better at Casey I think.

 

 

3 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

My suggestion is AJ relieves Gawn in the ruck and JVR takes no centre rucks.

When Gawn is rucking, AJ comes on when JVR or Turner needs a spell. Then at minimal times all three play in the same forward line. 

Then AJ gets subbed out for a Melksham like player.

I get that this isn't perfect and AJ would record very little TOG minutes but I love the idea of JVR not being the second ruck.

Or alternatively as others have mentioned, Turner could play himself out of form and AJ comes into the side from round 2 or 3 onwards.

My setup exactly.

We saw yesterday what can happen when your second ruck is a key position player and gets injured.  

You're down two key positions.

IMO (no stats to back this up) but playing in the ruck, particularly if you're undersize, must make you more prone to injury ('collision' injury).

JvR, if he's going to get injured, it'll be if he's forced to ruck.

And as for Max dropping himself in 'the hole' he's going to cop a Petracca-like injury if he doesn't stop.

Had AJ not played yesterday our back-up ruckman would have been ....?

6 hours ago, dpositive said:

OK I've considered the practise matches and looked very uncertainly at comments and GWS proposed team.

Havent read this thread yet just ready to put my thoughts here.

Theres a lot of unfortunate missesbut Im wlling to give a bit of a blend with the tried and true and the new boys.

Happy to receive condemnation or answer any relevant comments.

B:           Salem - May - Lever
HB         Sestan T MAc- Rivers
C            Langdon Petracca - - Windsor

HF:        Fritsch - Turner Chandler

FF:         Johnson van Rooyen - Jefferson

Foll:       Gawn

Mids-    Oliver - Viney
 

Int: -      Langford - Lindsay - Sharp - Sparrow 
Sub:       Petty

 

5 debuts is crazy work for one game

1 hour ago, adonski said:

 

 

4 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

My suggestion is AJ relieves Gawn in the ruck and JVR takes no centre rucks.

When Gawn is rucking, AJ comes on when JVR or Turner needs a spell. Then at minimal times all three play in the same forward line. 

Then AJ gets subbed out for a Melksham like player.

I get that this isn't perfect and AJ would record very little TOG minutes but I love the idea of JVR not being the second ruck.

Or alternatively as others have mentioned, Turner could play himself out of form and AJ comes into the side from round 2 or 3 onwards.

I don't see why we wouldn't play AJ alongside Turner and JVR and then if we look to top heavy your plan would work a treat.

19 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I've never rated him one bit to be honest.

I'm pinging my hope on Henderson becoming a handy little player and maybe Spargo gets back to form so that we see less of Chandler.

Agree!

27 minutes ago, jaydenh10 said:

5 debuts is crazy work for one game

Why not ??? as Blackadder said, " Baldrick your hairbrained scheme with a twist or two might just work"!!

53 minutes ago, M_9 said:

My setup exactly.

We saw yesterday what can happen when your second ruck is a key position player and gets injured.  

You're down two key positions.

IMO (no stats to back this up) but playing in the ruck, particularly if you're undersize, must make you more prone to injury ('collision' injury).

JvR, if he's going to get injured, it'll be if he's forced to ruck.

And as for Max dropping himself in 'the hole' he's going to cop a Petracca-like injury if he doesn't stop.

Had AJ not played yesterday our back-up ruckman would have been ....?

JVR just got injured playing forward and you’ve decided ruck is more dangerous with no stats?

Disco would’ve rucked if not for Aj and we’d have been very small up forward, that’s a risk, but not a risk compared with known outcome of being too slow if we go in too tall.

Max will never stop going back with the flight. It’s up to the other players to protect him by blocking their forwards from getting a clean run and jump. 

Round 1 here we go!

B: Lever      May    Bowey

HB: Rivers  Petty   Windsor 

C: Langdon  Viney  Lindsey 

HF: Sharp   Turner   Chandler

FF: Fritsch   JVR    Johnson

R: Gawn  Trac  Oliver

I/C: Langford Sparrow Salem Howes 

Sub Woewodin 

 

 

39 minutes ago, Demongirl35 said:

Round 1 here we go!

B: Lever      May    Bowey

HB: Rivers  Petty   Windsor 

C: Langdon  Viney  Lindsey 

HF: Sharp   Turner   Chandler

FF: Fritsch   JVR    Johnson

R: Gawn  Trac  Oliver

I/C: Langford Sparrow Salem Howes 

Sub Woewodin 

 

 

IIRC, Tmac played on Hogan most of the game when we last played them. Surely May takes Hogan this time. 

I think with our improved forward handball game, and a dominant stoppage set up, we should ultimately break them. My only concern is the talent of their tall backs. We need big games out of Fritsch and our other smalls as I think JvR and Turner are going to find it difficult.

I am a Jeffo fan, but Johnson is well ahead of him after the Freo game. I am OK with either of them for round 1.

I am so hungry for Spargo to find fitness and form. At his peak he was so important, his delivery and decision making into the F50 was a standout when so many other of our players seem to fail at this too often. Although  Chandler's gut running is a really important quality, and we have other smaller players like Laurie, only Kozzie and Spargo have that small forward touch of class and smarts around and through half forward.

Bowey at his best is a great part of our defense, but his delivery has been iffy for the better part of 18 months now. 

Not convinced Langford or Lindsay are ready for round 1. 

Howes is better than he has shown in preseason. 

Is Fritsch ready for round 1?

2 very important players for season 2025 - Salem and JVR.

Sparrow very solid.

Not sold on Sharp.

I wish Tholstrup was fit and ready.

Howes was terrible, must have got at least 5 goals kicked on him. He's all we have though with Moniz and McVee going down. He and Chandler would be very lucky to make the side.

2 hours ago, jaydenh10 said:

5 debuts is crazy work for one game

Yeah but i think worth  a punt to give em a taste of the big time.

Johnson and Jefferson are both very different styles. if both fail Petty can be bought on to replace one of them.  the other would be rotated off the bench.

Sharp, Langford and Lindsay would  play limited time through mid and HF rotations. All have shown a bit through practise games and  have been training well. We can reward them and find out their capacity. Probably these guys will move in and out of the ones and maybe not all play together often. 

Kozzie of course will come in to the side so we might not get a chance to do such a good comparison.