Unofficial Preview Round 1, 2024: Bombers v Hawks, MCG 1:10pm Sat 16th March

[Roger Rogerson]

Seems to be fairly strong consensus on here about who the 23 will be for round 1.

Will be interesting to see if the coaches feel the same way or if there will be a surprise.

Phillips to debut or not seems to be the big question.

What are your thoughts on whether Phillips gets the nod based on the practice games?

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Exact same players for me, including Gunston as sub. Though I would swap a few around. I'd love to see Phillips play over Frost, but I doubt that will happen.

Impey - Frost - Weddle
Amon - Sicily - Scrimshaw

Reeves - Worpel - Nash
Ward - Newcombe - D'Ambrosio

Moore - Lewis - MacDonald
Breust - Chol - Ginnivan

Bench: Hardwick, Mackenzie, Hustwaite, Watson
Sub: Gunston

I think Gunston would be a good sub this season, given he can play forward and back and would provide some experience. It also allows some youngsters, like Hustwaite, Watson and Mackenzie, to start games.

I agree with the comments re Gunston, my thought process also, I’d like to see Phillips but it may take Frost not performing and Phillips in the 2s perhaps. Wait and see.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

We need the footskills of Scrim. As many good kicks as possible against this mob.

Ridley out for 3-4 weeks. Ask any Dons fan, and they rate him as their most important player.

I would have thought that was Merrett or even Wright.

 

[Hawk1986]

Impey - Frost - Weddle
Amon - Sicily - Scrimshaw

Reeves - Worpel - Nash
Ward - Newcombe - D'Ambrosio

Hardwick - Lewis - MacDonald
Ginnivan - Chol - Breust

Bench: Mackenzie, Moore, Hustwaite, Watson
Sub: Gunston

Like it. I would have the same 23. Only change is I’m bringing Gunston on, pushing Croc to the wing, and making Ward or D’Ambrosio the sub.

Not in my 23 for R1, but I’m guessing they will play Morrison too.

 

[TylerDurden]

I would have thought that was Merrett or even Wright.

He brings calm to their backline. Looking forward to seeing the ripple effect.

Carved us up last year.

 

[SSSSSS]

I would have thought that was Merrett or even Wright.

Their backline completely falls apart without him.

He's their best defender and best user out of D50. Their organiser at the back as well.

He's their version of Sicily albeit a far inferior version.

 

[cryptor]

What are your thoughts on whether Phillips gets the nod based on the practice games?

I liked what I saw of him. Love that he goes for the marks.

I think the biggest boost for his performances this year will come from building familiarity playing with the others in the backline. And that won't come playing at Box Hill. He's already well proven at VFL level so I think he just needs to play AFL games early to start building that familiarity and cohesion with his teammates.

That said, being round 1 the long term view might go out the window and selection might be purely based on trying to win this particular game to get our season off to a good start. In which case, round 2 debut at the latest.

 

[Roddy]

Baptism of fire for Phillips, no question. He'll make blues, like he did in the praccy match - dropped marks, missed spoils, soft frees given away - but we have to get games into him because there is literally NO ONE ELSE.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Baptism of fire for Phillips, no question. He'll make blues, like he did in the praccy match - dropped marks, missed spoils, soft frees given away - but we have to get games into him because there is literally NO ONE ELSE.

If the midfield can step up and not part like the red sea, then phillips' job becomes a lot easier.

Even in the praccy match. It wasn't until the floodgates opened that he looked out of touch.

 

[cAsEy_18]

We need the footskills of Scrim. As many good kicks as possible against this mob.

Ridley out for 3-4 weeks. Ask any Dons fan, and they rate him as their most important player.

Yeah pretty close.

We're kinda ****ed anytime Merrett doesn't play.

But after that, yeah take your pick of Ridley, Martin and Langford as guys that really hurt.

In the case of Ridley, we just have so many bad-to-meh kicks coming out of defense that we need him with the ball in his hands so much.

 

[Stranglers]

Like it. I would have the same 23. Only change is I’m bringing Gunston on, pushing Croc to the wing, and making Ward or D’Ambrosio the sub.

Not in my 23 for R1, but I’m guessing they will play Morrison too.

I reckon Morrison named on the wing, Ward on the bench, MacKenzie the sub. Gunston to miss.

 

[TylerDurden]

Yeah pretty close.

We're kinda ****ed anytime Merrett doesn't play.

But after that, yeah take your pick of Ridley, Martin and Langford as guys that really hurt.

In the case of Ridley, we just have so many bad-to-meh kicks coming out of defense that we need him with the ball in his hands so much.

Quality player mate.
Dare I say that Hepp replaces him?

 

[TylerDurden]

I reckon Morrison named on the wing, Ward on the bench, MacKenzie the sub. Gunston to miss.

I reckon Gunner is one of the first picked.
We're crying out for experienced cool heads.

 

[cAsEy_18]

Quality player mate.
Dare I say that Hepp replaces him?

We're all hoping not haha. There's no point persisting with Hepp at this point.

Will likely be either Laverde or Cox, possibly both.

My concern is our backline is a little too big given you guys have Ginnivan, Bruest and Watson as a starting point.

 

[TylerDurden]

We're all hoping not haha. There's no point persisting with Hepp at this point.

Will likely be either Laverde or Cox, possibly both.

My concern is our backline is a little too big given you guys have Ginnivan, Bruest and Watson as a starting point.

Lewis, Chol and Gunston should all play. Which gives us some height down there.

 

[thehardway]

Lewis, Chol and Gunston should all play. Which gives us some height down there.

With Chol relieving Reeves in the ruck we need the 3rd tall Gunston in the forward line. Such a smart player and provides invaluable experience.

 

[bindas12]

I mean..are we surprised ? (Afl.com.au “expert” predictions)

Damian Barrett​

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Geelong
Wooden spoon: Hawthorn

 

[Bedi]

Impey - Frost - Weddle
Amon - Sicily - Scrimshaw

Reeves - Worpel - Nash
Ward - Newcombe - D'Ambrosio

Hardwick - Lewis - MacDonald
Ginnivan - Chol - Breust

Bench: Mackenzie, Moore, Hustwaite, Watson
Sub: Gunston

Not sure about Reeves on the wing

 

[threesixpio]

This is true. Remember he had to wear that special head gear afterwards that semi covered his jaw.

Really miss seeing Silk play. He's actually pretty close doppelgänger of my a old man when he was younger. Not too sure how this is because we're coloured South African expats


Pic from Box Hill game and him feeling his mouth
View attachment 1901672

Pic of him wearing the headgear that protected his jaw line
View attachment 1901673

heck I loved Burgers. Sorry not relevant

 

[threesixpio]

I mean..are we surprised ? (Afl.com.au “expert” predictions)

Damian Barrett​

Premier: Brisbane
Runner-up: Geelong
Wooden spoon: Hawthorn

Geelong? WTAF

 

[Sixpence]

Isn't there a rule against mentioning that ****wit? I haven't actually heard his name the last couple of months and seeing it again now irks me.

 

[threesixpio]

Isn't there a rule against mentioning that *******? I haven't actually heard his name the last couple of months and seeing it again now irks me.

Seeing his face make it better or worse?

 

[smish]

View attachment 1920083

Seeing his face make it better or worse?

We're only allowed to use this one

 

[Big Hotdog]

I would have thought that was Merrett or even Wright.

Merrett surely gets the nod but I reckon Ridley is next and on the odd occasion when big Wrighty fires he puts himself in the mix.
Against us Two meter becomes a problem if we dont play Phillips IMO.

 

[threesixpio]

We're only allowed to use this one

View attachment 1920090

He has an extraordinarily small nose. Once I noticed I can’t keep my eyes off it.