Swooper1987

GWS have some genuine A graders.  They are a very good team.  Kingsley has done a fantastic job.  Whoever they get next week will know they have played a game.

We played half a season without Oliver and finished top 4.  Brayshaw covered Oliver, now Oliver covers Brayshaw.  We go back to basically the same midfield we've had for half a season.  Our key forwards have been non existent all season - other than a very brief cameo from Petty.  Still most weeks we've found a way.  Wholesale change and panic moves at this time of the year almost never work. Our best bet is to play McDonald and Smith along with Fritsch, Petracca and the smalls - Pickett, ANB and Chandler/Spargo and then have Gawn and Grundy moving through there in short bursts each quarter - probably when McDonald comes off.  Nothing too radical - the catastophizing can come after the game if it needs to.  I still believe our best is more than good enough to beat everyone left in it.  And after tonight, everyone is down to their last chance, including Collingwood.  

No McKay means the backline stays unchanged.  I'd expect Silvagni might come in and Motlop will replace Martin. Those Carlton smalls are their biggest weapon.  Need to pay Acres some respect as well.  He's a very decent footballer. Hunter probably plays his wing.  Langdon really struggled on Sidebottom.  I'd go something like this:

McVee May Hibberd

Salem Lever Rivers

Langdon Oliver Hunter

Neal-Bullen Petracca Chandler

Pickett McDonald Fritsch

Gawn Viney Sparrow

Grundy Jordon Bowey Smith

Spargo sub

Whilst Grundy was pretty poor last time we played Carlton, the conditions weren't great for big men.  Weather is supposed to be completely different come Friday night and good big men stand up in September. Pittonet and De Koning are a better pairing than the Collingwood spud rucks.  Gives us midfield rotation not dissimilar to when Oliver was out.  I reckon we have them covered.  

No McKay, no Martin.  Tomlinson no chance now.  Need to plan for the small forwards.  That's the danger. And not spend all night bombing it to Weitering.

Just now, YearOfTheDees said:

Interesting to see if Melbourne fight Roos charge. I'd say he got off light and let it ride.

Agree.  Take the 1 week and be grateful.

We aren't making a heap of changes.  We played three quarters and nearly won the game. Likely that Grundy or Brown come in for JVR and Jordon or Harmes for Gus and the one who misses out will take Laurie's sub spot.  It is possible if we play Carlton that Tomlinson might come in for McKay, in which case Hibbo or Salem comes out.

2 minutes ago, ElDiablo14 said:

Will Fritsch be Ok in time though? He's clearly hampered by his foot injury.

Can Kozzy be consistent in his performances?

We will be missing JVR at least for one week.

Who else can kick a score?

Petraca maybe... then?

Fritsch is fine. He just missed a sitter.  He kicked 5 straight last week - three after he came back on from his foot interlude.

Kozzy is Kozzy - take the good with the bad.

Tracc needs more time forward and that is where the Brayshaw KO hurt us the most. Sparrow, Oliver and Viney need to make sure that happens next week.  Clearly Jordon or Harmes will return for Gus.

JVR is in strife but in reality he was largely a non-event tonight anyway. Options are Smith, Fritsch, TMac and the smalls or Grundy/Gawn combo, or Brown if the knee holds up this week.  There are possibilities there.

We'll be right.  I reckon we still win the whole thing.  +22 on expected score tonight.  In every way but the most important we won tonight.  We won't go out in straight sets - we'll take whichever of Carlton or Sydney win tomorrow comfortably.

And from there an interstate prelim holds no fears.  As recently as 2020 the side that lost the qualifying final won the flag.  Happened in 2015 as well.  Even the great Brisbane side of 2003 did it that way too. 

On tonight's game, we were fantastic for three quarters.  We played a prime mover down and our accuracy was horrible.  Gawn played a game for the ages.  Most of the others can (and will) play better.  Stay optimistic, the best is still to come.  And it'll be a flag won the hard way and they are always the most cherished!

6. Gawn - easily the best player on the ground.  I still believe he'll lead this team to the 2023 flag.

5. Sparrow - this guy is a true warrior.  His second half was excellent and he stepped up in Brayshaw's absence

4. May - controlled the back half along with...

3. Bowey - a really good rebound game.

2. Petracca - a frustrating game I thought.  Lacked intensity early but came rattling home.

1. Oliver - just on weight of numbers.  I'm not sure why he has reintroduced the 2017 circle work back into his game. Needs to drive hard forward.

It all comes down to duty of care - he showed none and head high plus high impact makes everything else redundant.  That's 2 weeks and that's all he needs to finish his season. 

44 minutes ago, DubDee said:

he would be number 1 for the second half of the season i reckon

the silver lining to the Oliver injury.  

2 hours ago, dice said:

The torpedo bump. To his credit, Smith shrugged it off

Massive kudos to Smith for how he took that.  He went right up in my estimation after that.  He would've fitted in perfectly in the 1980's.  Win 'em and wear 'em.

N55 - happy days

The Tigers never had more than 2 selected in any of their flag years. 2017 Rance and Martin, 2019 Grimes and Houli and 2020 only Martin.  The AA team is not always a good indicator of who is the best team in club land.

1 minute ago, In Harmes Way said:

Bit tough on Bill Laurie who came on late in the third and had 9 touches (4 contested), 2 inside 50's and 4 score assists.

He was great.  Right man at the right time

5 minutes ago, layzie said:

Laurie played the best 28 min game I've seen 

He's an excellent footballer.  When the game was at it's hottest he looked very comfortable.  Great skills under pressure and a great footy brain.  

Ryan Clarke in for Papley.  Looks like Oliver will have more company.

Fantastic news.  He's doing a great job.

McCartin - very bloody lucky

18 minutes ago, bobby1554 said:

And they still lost. It is an outdated play. Which is why Goody doesn’t employ it. And Clarrie still managed to kick what I believe was the clincher. And was involved in three other scoring involvements in the last quarter. If Mitchell wants to waste a player like that, then he will never achieve the ultimate. 

He was moved off Oliver in the last and on to Rivers.  And as to winning, he cleaned up Daicos and Liberatore before he went off and they won both of those.  Face it, like everything there is a time and a place for a good tagger.

8 hours ago, bobby1554 said:

Rubbish. I am glad Goodwin said what he said. There is no special skill involved in making it your sole objective to stop a player getting possessions. 

Clearly there is because Oliver was largely an irrelevant factor in the game for probably the first time in his career.  Nobody else has managed to achieve that.

A good win against a team that has improved markedly over the season.  Mitchell is an outstanding young coach.  Hawthorn have some excellent players and as maddening as it is, they will become a very good team quite quickly.  We did what we needed to do.  Our defence, in particular Lever, Rivers and McVee were outstanding.  No great influence from Petracca and Oliver and nothing at all from Pickett only enhances the win.  I wish Goodwin had let the Maginess question go through to the keeper.  His response was churlish.  The game has a place for everyone and taggers have been around for a long time.  Oliver was beaten, accept it and be better next time.  Nicks' presser last night was the template for class under pressure.

Bombers have been lame ducks for a while now.  Scraped over the line against two of the worst sides in VFL/AFL history.  Their form is putrid.  Collingwood would need another 6 of their best dozen out to lose to these guys next week. Hard to judge the Giants when they are playing witches hats, but I do hope they belt Carlton next week.

13 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

Hi EO. Yeah, he was really good. Reminds me of Maysie a little actually. Will always remember him for his speech after winning that night grand final at Waverley. "Well, it was bloody good to win anyway"....

Here it is:

He's become a very important player.  Our most improved and top half dozen in the Bluey I'd say.  I always feel confident when he's near the ball - that he'll win it if it's in dispute and that he'll use it well when he get possession.  Fast becoming my favourite player.