bing181

There are two things that can go wrong with that. a) you pick players who aren't 100% right. b) the players you pick are right, but don't fulfil their role. You've assumed the former. All the evidence would suggest it's the latter.

If we can't follow plan A, what hope in hell is there that we can follow plan B? I'd also just make the point that changing Game Plan, isn't like changing your jocks. It takes years, or at least, a season. Getting the players to play to a plan that they haven't put serious time into is a recipe for disaster.

Given the way almost the whole team played, laughable to think that a couple of selection changes would have made any real difference, especially given the players who we're talking about, i.e., fringe players. Deck chairs.

If Garland goes out (inj), O'Mac won't as well. We need some semblance of stability. Other outs, Kennedy - inj. or badly needs a rest, plus one or two of Newton, Harmes, Kent, ANB. Can't see us making more than 4 changes unless forced, so ins would be Dawes, Trengove, Oliver, then one of Grimes, White or Vandenberg (if he's ready). Think we might find selections getting a bit more ruthless as we head deeper into the season. Roos has said that we should have selected more experience, but to do that, we needed to drop ANB or Newton (I presume), which tends to go against Roos' "when you bring players in, stick with them for a couple of games".

All down to the players. Not lazy, but as Roos commentated, it's so much more fun playing attacking footy than putting in the hard work that solid defence requires. Perhaps one or two of them could do with a rest, but that's not why we lost. Positives here and there, good to see Max back to a bit of decent form, but otherwise ...

That Ben Kennedy 50 could prove costly.

Making it very easy to bring in Trengove next week. Plus a few others.

Ragged. Just not really clicking. Trengove in for Kent next week. Like his intent, but his disposal ...

Frost is still a work in progress. Even at Casey he's not exactly setting the world on fire. Fitzpatrick mark 2? Needs more time, not really first 22 for the moment.

But who would you have brought in? Dunn isn't even listed as an emergency (and may well have played his last game for the club), which says something of how the coaches rate him. Terlich? Mitch White? When it comes to KPD's, the cup does not runneth over.

In that article, they also mention Saad (Suns) and of course, Hurley being potentially on the move.

Some impressive (and surprising) figures there: Grimes, Dawes and White the three that stand out, though for different reasons.

I didn't mind the Watts-in-the-ruck idea. A bit left field, but it got him up and about and in the play, where he proved damaging. He's also credited with 8 hitouts, so he wasn't completely outplayed. It also allows for a third man up scenario, which once again, isn't as silly as it sounds. Petracca managed 3 hitouts (!!). As an aside, I find some of the comments here interesting. Often enough, Roos and co. are criticised for not trying things, but when they do ...

Agreed, but I don't know that the backline that's currently out there is the one we'd envisaged. An in form H (and he was good/very good for those couple of matches before concussion), plus Melksham - OK, say what you want, but that's what they have planned for him apparently, and if his upside is the same as what we've seen with Kennedy and Bugg, he'll be a solid first 22 - would make a difference, if only in experience. Hunt and Wagner have played 13 matches between them, and at times it shows. Not forgetting an in-form Salem, and we also have White in reserve (worth watching) and even, cough cough, Terlich and who knows, Grimes. It'll sort itself out in time. We have the cattle, but for the moment yes, the backline is lagging behind the rest of the team.

If he's not injured, even if it's not this week, he'll be back. And that'll be the case at least until he's overtaken by Weiderman or Hullet. Like him or not, he straightens us up, and brings experience, leadership and organisation to the forward line. He knows what to do and where to run to, and whatever else, he's agressive and always gives 100%. I don't know that Pedersen or Frost (or anyone else at the moment) do any/all that. I accept that he hasn't always starred for us, but he's had such a rotten run with injuries, he's never really had a settled run at it either. Overall, I've always felt we're a better team with him in it. I could be wrong of course (!!), and we shall see, but sooner or later we're going to find out. Injuries permitting.

Based on reports from Casey, I wouldn't be surprised to see Dawes included (ahead of Pedersen).

FWIW, Jonas (certainly) and Robbie Gray (probably) will miss through suspension. Questions over Hartlett getting back up from a (serious) corkie. Not that any of that changes anything much re our selection.

Ins, either Pedersen or Dawes, probably Tyson, definitely Jetta. Could be Trengove's turn, but who do you drop? Outs, probably Oliver (corkie with short turnaround and he's still in his first year), then ... ???

Will take the 4 points, but lots still to work on. Back line, back line, back line. A better team than the Lions would have taken us apart down there.

You missed "Roos is being out-coached again".

O'Mac ahead of Dunn makes sense. The future over the past, and O'Mac has consistently had good feedback on how he's playing at Casey.

Not sure what you're saying. In round 7 he was concussed. For this, the second match that he's missed, he has been omitted.

Salem concussion? Not what's listed, he's just down as "omitted". On the other hand, he did miss the last quarter or so last week, so could be something in it. Didn't think he was the worst if we're looking at dropping players.

Grimes, Newton, Kent, Neal-Bullen, O McDonald for Jetta, Salem. Salem ... gutsy. Sends a message.

Not got your whims and limbs mixed up?