I personally haven’t been overly concerned with Rivers so far this year, despite acknowledging he has a fair amount of room for improvement.

I’m not quite sure dropping a core player, these days a leader, after two games into a new era at the club is the right move, but then again many spent the last 9 years complaining about Goodwin never dropping players so this approach is a new to us!

Rivers dropped and Sparrow retained…😳

Dropping Rivers 🤔🤔

Is this about sending a message perhaps ?

Rivers getting dropped certainly wasn’t on my bingo card, king must be sending some kind of message as it can’t purely be on form

Can’t see he contributed less than L. Pickett or Swallow. There must be a back story

He has performed well below par so far, missing that critical goal, directly in front, 20 out was not good enough. He has been touted as a future captain but so far hasn’t stood up. Will be interesting to see how he responds.

Edited 11 hours ago11 hr by Pickettup

I have to admit being a bit confused by the selected team.

TMac in for Turner is easy to understand. But I don't understand 3 things:

1. Rivers being dropped.

2. Latrelle holding his spot

3. Cross being selected ahead of Laurie

It marks Laurie harshly, who has never had a run of games but looked OK in the preseason. I know his record so far screams "a player who excels at VFL but struggles at AFL", but I really feel for hum. part from injuries, looks like his papers are signed.

I wonder if that run of unpressured errors versus Freo was too much for the selection committee, because Rivers wasn't great but I felt he was nowhere near our worst. Very interested to watch this space. I thought Rivers might be in the conversation for our next skipper.

Favourites like Sparrow and Lever kept in

Fire up the ‘Is Goody the right guy?’ thread!

Surely rivers getting dropped sends a message to sparrow. It should be. We were commenting on how rivers & sparrow haven't really taken the next step.

I'm sure king would have spoken to trent. I like it & good luck to the debutante cross

I’m slightly dumbfounded tbh, but I guess we just need to trust the process at this point in proceedings.

Just now, Maldonboy38 said:

I have to admit being a bit confused by the selected team.

TMac in for Turner is easy to understand. But I don't understand 3 things:

1. Rivers being dropped.

2. Latrelle holding his spot

3. Cross being selected ahead of Laurie

It marks Laurie harshly, who has never had a run of games but looked OK in the preseason. I know his record so far screams "a player who excels at VFL but struggles at AFL", but I really feel for hum. part from injuries, looks like his papers are signed.

I wonder if that run of unpressured errors versus Freo was too much for the selection committee, because Rivers wasn't great but I felt he was nowhere near our worst. Very interested to watch this space. I thought Rivers might be in the conversation for our next skipper.

He must have broken some team rule, I hope king will elaborate and not dodge the question if asked, his form would not warrant getting dropped over other players

Rivers form has been ok but not great

perhaps he's failing to meet the standards and expectations set for him by Kingy

whether or not this is a good move will ultimately depend on how he responds. we'll have to wait and see

King doesn't mess around by the looks of it which i'm perfectly ok with.

9 minutes ago, Bang Bang Bang said:

Surprised to see Rivers dropped but happy with the message it sends. Nobody is safe.

Besides, his form to start the year has been pretty [censored] poor. Lots of weak tackles over both weeks and fumbly moments over in the west. He's not to blame at all for the loss but that fumble and turnover goal to start the second half last week was as bad as Nate Caddy's miss the next day. Completely demoralising.

“Sending a message” is only really impactful when dropping the guy that deserves to be dropped. It has an opposite effect when perceived as un unfair.

Rivers was far from our worst last week. Another case of training all preseason in the midfield, then asked to play defense and doing a decent job of it.

If you wanted to send a message, Sparrow and Salem were there for the taking. In fact the point that Sparrow still is in the side probably is one of the reasons why so many standards have dropped

2 hours ago, Redleg said:

He has won 2 Brownlows.

Strange back up ruck but why not.

4 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

Surely rivers getting dropped sends a message to sparrow. It should be. We were commenting on how rivers & sparrow haven't really taken the next step.

I'm sure king would have spoken to trent. I like it & good luck to the debutante cross

Why not send the message to Sparrow

How exciting for cross to debut in his captains 250th & tom's to. Thank goodness there's no sub vest

Just now, Deez21 said:

Why not send the message to Sparrow

Just now, Deez21 said:

Why not send the message to Sparrow

He's next. Needs to lift

Just now, Deez21 said:

“Sending a message” is only really impactful when dropping the guy that deserves to be dropped. It has an opposite effect when perceived as un unfair.

Rivers was far from our worst last week. Another case of training all preseason in the midfield, then asked to play defense and doing a decent job of it.

If you wanted to send a message, Sparrow and Salem were there for the taking. In fact the point that Sparrow still is in the side probably is one of the reasons why so many standards have dropped

While I understand the temptation to criticise Sparrow given is apparent lack of possession/impact, I’m also willing to consider that he is doing exactly what is being asked of him in the context of the team.. which maybe Rivers is not

3 minutes ago, watchtheeyes said:

While I understand the temptation to criticise Sparrow given is apparent lack of possession/impact, I’m also willing to consider that he is doing exactly what is being asked of him in the context of the team.. which maybe Rivers is not

In the absence of any real knowledge or explanation about how Rivers comes to be ommitted I can only surmise there is indeed a very good reason. ( we just don't know it )

Fair to say Trent got King hit...

This seems quite sudden. I’ve got a feeling there’s more to it than Riv being dropped based on recent form. Maybe they’re resting his ankle or something. We don’t know.

Edit: I just read Danny Z’s post which referenced Riv’s knee. This makes me more confident that this is the basis on which the decision was made.

Edited 10 hours ago10 hr by Ghostwriter

Match up maybe? I'm sure we'll find out.

Lets hope latrelle lights up the G.

Meanwhile over at Princes Park

There is no doubt that Rivers has been dropped but I can also reveal that he’s been managing a knee injury since December. He was super keen not to de-load and wanted to take his place in Origin but no doubt this has affected his performance.

7 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

This seems quite sudden. I’ve got a feeling there’s more to it than Riv being dropped based on recent form. Maybe they’re resting his ankle or something. We don’t know.

Why not list him as injured then? Very strange selection, far from our worst.

This was Rivers year to step up big time into a high performing mid and hasn't really impressed.

Huge statement to drop him and I don't mind it.