bing181

Wonder if this is what we're going to see all season ... pressure, pressure, pressure, lots of inside 50's, but not hitting the scoreboard, then they get easy goals down the other end. Feels like a repeat of a lot of the last few weeks.

I think it's a big ask - simply because the team is so unsettled. Just a fact of life at the moment, but we really need some continuity. But suspect that it might come down to who is the freshest. Our players have had an extra night's sleep, which counts for a lot in terms of recovery.

Ability?

The club never denied he was concussed.

Different roles. Dear lord.

So, not laying a tackle isn't a performance criteria independent of other KPI's.

Hibberd managed to get maximum coaches votes of the Dees players, plus a place in team of the round as a half-back. Tackles? Zero. Nil. None. Zilch.

That's true of every player in the team. But careful with "better": can be a vague term for those of us not on the inside. Which is why I didn't use it.

I was going on what we know definitely re unforced outs. Apart from that, I'm not confident anyone will play. We never really know who's carrying injuries, or whose "slight knock" is something more.

If Melksham's in the team, it's because the coaches believe he can bring more to his role than anyone else currently available.

In: Pedersen, Weideman or Oscar Mac, Lewis. Ideally, should be like for like, and with 3 talls out, Lewis as a definite in, at least 2 of the other forced changes would have to be talls. 3 changes is already a lot for a team that did a lot right last weekend, don't believe there'll be any unforced ones.

So equal highest number of I50's has nothing to do with it then?

There is no win-win here, whatever we do is just shuffling the deck chairs. Without an AFL-quality ruck, we're going to be playing without an AFL-quality ruck, and everything that goes with it. The one advantage of Watts/Frost is that they become an extra mid once the ball hits the ground. But if opposition rucks are directing the ball where they want (and they will), then even this becomes moot. The football gods giveth, and the football gods taketh away, and in this case, we'll just have to suck it up.

Or not.

Getting the intensity and structures right. Now we just need a couple of seasons to get some experience, nouse, and composure. Enjoy the ride.

Not disagreeing with you either (you go first, no you go first, no I insist, you go first, etc.), but surely the same could be said of Trengove.

Having some consistency in team selection in the forward line would be a start. Have we had the same forward 6 for any consecutive games this year? Don't think so.

JKH laid more tackles in a half of footy than Kent has laid all year.

If they're the criteria, then JKH keeps his place. 7 tackles, only beaten by two others (who plenty here also question as to why they're in the team in the first place): Harmes and ANB.

He also managed equal most I50's.

You see what you want to see I guess. Love Nev as much as the next wo/man, but is he damaging enough once he gets it? You look at what Hibberd and Hunt did tonight and wonder if the modern game hasn't gone past the role of a primarily defensive HBF.

I think they'll try and minimise changes. Still: Need to cover KPF: Weideman or Pedersen. Hard to see who else it could be. Unless Frost gets another run forward, and we bring Oscar back in. Vandenberg and Smith both out are hurting us here. Need to cover ruck: Pedersen or King. Also see above (Frost to ruck, Oscar back). Lewis in: One of the HB out. Jetta or Melsham, but depends on other injuries, as Lewis could cover Viney or Petracca. With those enforced changes, I don't know that JKH won't get to fight another day. If he goes out the only real like-for-like replacement would be Kennedy. Thought JKH improved in the second half as he got up to speed, managed to lay 7 tackles and take a few marks. I wouldn't assume that Bugg automatically gets a call-up.

Proud of the players. Couldn't have asked much more in terms of effort.

Running out of steam here. Hard to keep that pressure up for 4 quarters, especially with 2 interchange down. Hurting down back as well, with Frost having to go into the ruck.

Can't fault the endeavour.