2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

A massive danger game this weekend. West Coast have been alright the last fortnight and lead Essendon by 5 goals at home at one stage. They showed in 3 games last year in Perth (Vs Freo, Melbourne and Richmond) that when they click they can be quite unstoppable with their attacking style of footy and Jake Waterman dominating up front.

We essentially need to be 3 goals in front at 3 qtr time due to our inability to score in 4th quarters. We've kicked a total of 7 goals across all of our last quarters which is seriously concerning and the trend disappointingly continued last Thursday night when we had Richmond on toast early in the last quarter and looked to have killed their spirit.

A loss would be disappointing but from from surprising.

They’ve won 2 quarters in 7 matches.

It’s an equal record low.

Your definition of “alright” is a loose one and I dare say no one on Demonland would use that word to describe us if we had won 2 of 28 quarters.

We need to be switched on, because we’re nowhere near good enough to just bank a routine win, but West Coast are really not a good side so it will be close enough to disastrous if we lose, IMO.

A lot of knowledgeable people think ruck work is overrated

Appearances and often stats do indicate this but I think it’s because most teams have very competitive ruckmen and there is a lot of brake even contests

Play with a non competitive ruckmen and see how quickly things change like we did for two games last season

4 hours ago, Garbo said:

Because Fullerton doesn’t play as a 200cm marking fwd, you would think he was 170cm and 60kg if you watch him. Just get pushed off the mark like he is a child playing against men

If you have ever stood near him you would realise he has the build of an under developed basketball player

Probably one of those people who won’t muscle up until 30 plus all too late

21 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

Can't believe some are suggesting Spargo should be dropped. His tackling and pressure in the forward 50 had been excellent. There's no way Goody is dropping him.

Assuming no injuries, I think it's going to be:

In: JvR, Turner

Out: Fullarton, Sharp

Sub: Tholstrup

I know Melky will be available but there's no doubt our best 23 has Fritsch in it. I think Melksham and Tholstrup are fighting for the same spot.

Spargo has played one more game than he should have!!

6 hours ago, Macca said:

Our best tall forward is Petty but unless we recruit a decent FB, Petty is possibly destined to fill May's role (down the track)

Down the track we also need a replacement for Tom McDonald.

Adams is hopefully one. Then perhaps Turner, as personally I feel for the kind of animated, competitive player he is, Petty is better suited up forward.

The smokey could be Kentfield. Has played as a forward until now and it's waaaayyy to early to be looking him in this context, but has played down back for a couple of Casey games and not been disgraced.

6 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Down the track we also need a replacement for Tom McDonald.

Adams is hopefully one. Then perhaps Turner, as personally I feel for the kind of animated, competitive player he is, Petty is better suited up forward.

The smokey could be Kentfield. Has played as a forward until now and it's waaaayyy to early to be looking him in this context, but has played down back for a couple of Casey games and not been disgraced.

My guess is we will try and get hold of a number of draft picks to get a hold of an experienced KPP (or 2)

Getting 2 might be a stretch but where there's a will, there's a way ... and we might have to give up a bit for the acquisition of those types of players

Following on from drafting a bunch of mids (the 4 draftees in the last 2 off-seasons) as well as the development of other young versatile players such as Rivers, McVee, Sparrow, Bowey & Chandler etc

And we've been there before ... after drafting or using the Draft to acquire Viney, Brayshaw, Petracca, Salem & Oliver we then went after May, Lever & Brown (using draft picks)

We have a real need for a proper KPF & soon enough, we'll need a proper FB (that might be Petty but I'm not sure he could be a top FB, more a 2IC)

We've probably got enough mids for now

But May & T-Mac will be retired in a year or 2 so we need to look to the future post those 2

*And you might be right about Kentfield, he's the smoky

The question is ... who do we use to get the picks?

Anyway, the subject of trading in established talent, is for another day on another thread

And again, it's just a guess on what we might do to improve the list (the club might be happy with our batch of up and coming talls)

Edited April 28Apr 28 by Macca

4 hours ago, M_9 said:

Who has the club got to teach JvR how to play as a forward? Chaplin? Chocco? Mark Jackson?!

TMac.

7 hours ago, D Rev said:

Fullarton (sp?) was serviceable in his first game, which may be his ceiling. Given we have JVR, AJ and Disco all waiting to come back in - and all of whom can probably exceed serviceability (tbc), I don't think we'd lose much by dropping him.

On the other hand, maybe a run of games (similar to what JVR and Fritta were given) could help him?

I have no idea how selection at this club works so wont pretend to try and understand. What I will do is drink 4 fingers of ouzo, spin myself around, then throw an arrow at a dart board.

Goody said Selection is based on form..

Kolt, Fullarton back to reserves to get form..like rip a game to bits. When Sparrow went to the twos last year , that's exactly what he did.

Turner in ahead of JVR who has been carried for a long time...needs to prove he can be consistent before returning

Melksham just for experience and proven footy smarts

Not keen on the Kissing Kolt...I'd be telling him See ball, Get ball then think about the celebrations.. Can't help thinking he's over-hyping himself as compensation for not Getting the b@#$ing ball like Lindsey, who is correctly understated.

7 hours ago, Roost it far said:

Ins: Turner, JVR.....I think both are part of our best 22 and need to be back in the side.

Outs: Fullerton, Sharp.......I'm not sure either is best 22 although Sharp as sub is ok.

JVR is still being selected on potential, not form. We had a look at a functioning forward line the last two games and won them with him after five losses with him.Seems like in those figures, he is not in out best 22...yet...potentially, maybe when he proves consistency and can rip a game apart...TheRichmond two are not exactly a good measuring-stick. The Cat Magpies of Lions twos might be a better one.

2 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Forecast for Saturday in Perth 90% chance of heavy showers, drops down to between 40-60% during the game with moderate South Westerly winds

I don't trust the forecast this far out tbh. However a wet deck would suit us more than them I would have thought

57 minutes ago, bing181 said:

Down the track we also need a replacement for Tom McDonald.

Adams is hopefully one. Then perhaps Turner, as personally I feel for the kind of animated, competitive player he is, Petty is better suited up forward.

The smokey could be Kentfield. Has played as a forward until now and it's waaaayyy to early to be looking him in this context, but has played down back for a couple of Casey games and not been disgraced.

I think we're fine for KPBs. I agree on Adams and Turner. We also have Lever for a few more seasons too.

TMac could well play another two years if he keeps playing as he is.

Can't believe some of the criteria here for selection..

They play better at their home town!!

His enthusiasm spurs others on!!

We need to get games into him!!

We could play him there to boost his confidence!!

How about every child wins a prize?

How about more DEI?

How about he has great hair?

How about form??

Sharp was OK with limited time. Kolstrup marginal but up and coming.

Fullerton out.

Verrall. in, mainly as a backup ruck.

Saw Casey struggle as against Giants. I take more notice of when Casey is under pressure. JVR was ordinary unlike Verrall. Laurie, Billings and Sestan got a lot of ball but their disposal was scrappy under pressure.

2 hours ago, redandbluemakepurple said:

TMac.

Ben Brown,always led to the ball carrier

3 hours ago, DemonWA said:

I don't trust the forecast this far out tbh. However a wet deck would suit us more than them I would have thought

As you note a long way out, but the weather looks ok atm on the BOM. Rain will clear by game time:

10 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

He played Round 3 vs Gold Coast too though, so isn’t his average less than a goal a game?

My bad, although I did say 2 goals every three games, so I was right on the money.

11 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Forecast for Saturday in Perth 90% chance of heavy showers, drops down to between 40-60% during the game with moderate South Westerly winds

It will be interesting to see how we play: Transition vs Territory.

On Friday McCrae said something like: when its wet you can't play the transition game, you play a territory game which I read as: reduce risk, don't be cute (ie HB) with the ball and get it forward by any means possible.

That isn't rocket science but knowing when to switch and being able to execute switch in game is the key. Having the very savvy Pendlebury mastering the troops and knowing when to switch is an enormous asset.

If it is wet and we stick to our new transition game we might get trounced.

Edited April 28Apr 28 by Lucifers Hero

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

It will be interesting to see how we play: Transition vs Territory.

On Friday McCrae said something like: when its wet you can't play the transition game, you play a territory game which I read as: reduce risk, don't be cute (ie HB) with the ball and get it forward by any means possible.

That isn't rocket science but knowing when to switch and being able to execute switch in game is the key. Having the very savvy Pendlebury mastering the troops and knowing when to switch is an enormous asset.

If it is wet and we stick to our new transition game we might get trounced.

Agree with McRae, don’t over possess in the wet, move it forward and apply pressure to the opposition. Nothing worse when you’re defending then being under pressure in the wet and the Eagles are vulnerable to the ground ball game in their D50.

Although the forecast is from 5 days out and Optus drains off very well

6 minutes ago, Pennant St Dee said:

Agree with McRae, don’t over possess in the wet, move it forward and apply pressure to the opposition. Nothing worse when you’re defending then being under pressure in the wet and the Eagles are vulnerable to the ground ball game in their D50.

Although the forecast is from 5 days out and Optus drains off very well

If the forecast holds it won't be raining and as you say optus drains well (too well?) and its going to be 22 so hopefully conditions will be pretty good come game time.

Are you going PSD?

3 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

It will be interesting to see how we play: Transition vs Territory.

On Friday McCrae said something like: when its wet you can't play the transition game, you play a territory game which I read as: reduce risk, don't be cute (ie HB) with the ball and get it forward by any means possible.

That isn't rocket science but knowing when to switch and being able to execute switch in game is the key. Having the very savvy Pendlebury mastering the troops and knowing when to switch is an enormous asset.

If it is wet and we stick to our new transition game we might get trounced.

We tried this in Geelong in 2022 or 2023. It was raining and kept trying to chain via handball off half back and through the corridor. We weren't trying to play that style strictly throughout the year, but we did show glimpses. Geelong's pressure was good and our decision making poor. It didn't work that day.

It depends how wet it is, but the GWS was wet in Round 1 from memory, so we can play it, but I think it's situational, as you imply with Pendlebury. I'd much prefer we use more short kicks than handballs.

I'd be trying to play the same way in most situations and if West Coast manage to ratchet up the pressure, then go for territory.

Edited April 29Apr 29 by Adam The God

14 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

They’ve won 2 quarters in 7 matches.

It’s an equal record low.

Your definition of “alright” is a loose one and I dare say no one on Demonland would use that word to describe us if we had won 2 of 28 quarters.

We need to be switched on, because we’re nowhere near good enough to just bank a routine win, but West Coast are really not a good side so it will be close enough to disastrous if we lose, IMO.

I mentioned in my post that they've been "alright" the last fortnight (not the entire season), but deplorable in their first five games.

They're close to a win IMO based on their last 2 weeks (arguably could've beaten Essendon as they lead for 75% of the game) and as you said we need to be switched on if we're to get the 4 points.

21 hours ago, Dees1911 said:

If we are playing Petty forward, why cant he and JVR share the 2nd ruck duties, so as not to put too much pressure on JVR.

I agree with this and I don't know why clubs don't share the second ruck duties to multiple players to ease the burden and provide a bit of unpredictability.

Whilst Petty is poor in the ruck it would give JVR a bit more relief.

I doubt they do it, but give Petty and JVR 5 minutes each a quarter as the second ruck.

20 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I agree with this and I don't know why clubs don't share the second ruck duties to multiple players to ease the burden and provide a bit of unpredictability.

Whilst Petty is poor in the ruck it would give JVR a bit more relief.

I doubt they do it, but give Petty and JVR 5 minutes each a quarter as the second ruck.

If JVR's KPIs are keeping the momentum up with our stoppages in the ruck whilst Max is off the ground, and perhaps a goal a game, that is far more manageable than having him as the number one key tall that is expected to carry the forwardline.

The psychology is different.

IMO JVR's go is KPF/second ruck and I think he could flourish in the role.

Edited April 29Apr 29 by Adam The God

26 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

We tried this in Geelong in 2022 or 2023. It was raining and kept trying to chain via handball off half back and through the corridor. We weren't trying to play that style strictly throughout the year, but we did show glimpses. Geelong's pressure was good and our decision making poor. It didn't work that day.

It depends how wet it is, but the GWS was wet in Round 1 from memory, so we can play it, but I think it's situational, as you imply with Pendlebury. I'd much prefer we use more short kicks than handballs.

I'd be trying to play the same way in most situations and if West Coast manage to ratchet up the pressure, then go for territory.

Agree with comments about pressure. The transition game is more susceptible to pressure. We rarely play well in wet conditions.

My point was the leader's ability to recognise the need to switch styles with weather/ground changes and to execute effectively during the game.

All players needed to know and quickly adapt style, in game. I was very impressed with how they did that. It wasn't particularly noticeable at the time.

I doubt many teams are mature enough and drilled enough to do that. Don't think we are. So will be watching what we do if there are weather/ground changes.

Edited April 29Apr 29 by Lucifers Hero

1 hour ago, binman said:

If the forecast holds it won't be raining and as you say optus drains well (too well?) and its going to be 22 so hopefully conditions will be pretty good come game time.

Are you going PSD?

I hope the rain is gone and we get another opportunity to continue with the implementation of the game plan. I think if we continue with the quick ball movement and high pressure we will get the win, but they are a different side at home and we don’t want to give them a sniff because they are hungry for their first win under Mini.

I won’t be going we have a late game Saturday so coaching duties for me, and with start times for both games meaning I won’t see any of it until watching the replay