Preview AFL Rd 21 - Pies vs Hawks - MCG Friday night - Changes (Pies unchanged) & Prematch Discussion

[SuperSub17]

Jobe also returned against us and was half the player he usually is (may have been another reason for that obviously).

Birchall in, are they mad? Hasn't played anywhere since round 13.

To me that comes across as quite desperate tbh. They obviously wouldn't have done it if they were playing a weaker team.

He did a PCL, they aren't all that easy to recover from. I was sure he would play VFL.

 

[RuFiO]

We have Birchall,Hill, Savage and Puopolo as our interchange.
Not sure if that's good or bad...
http://www.afl.com.au/news/teams.ws

 

[jonesy86]

I think Hudson will come in for Grundy.

Can see them giving him a week off before run to finals instead of pushing him with back to back 6 day breaks.

 

[Nicco_jj]

I'm thinking Caff to Hodge rather than Mitchell.
Thoughts?

 

[jbuch9]

I'm thinking Caff to Hodge rather than Mitchell.
Thoughts?

completely agree!

 

[SuperSub17]

I'm thinking Caff to Hodge rather than Mitchell.
Thoughts?

That's an interesting one. Hodge dominated last time, but has been in poor form. Meanwhile Mitchell was fairly quiet, but is reasonably good form.

Given that I think Mitchell is the key to their midfield, I'd still opt for tagging him. If we can shut him out our midfield is miles better than theirs.

 

[jbuch9]

That's an interesting one. Hodge dominated last time, but has been in poor form. Meanwhile Mitchell was fairly quiet, but is reasonably good form.

Given that I think Mitchell is the key to their midfield, I'd still opt for tagging him. If we can shut him out our midfield is miles better than theirs.

hodges kicks destroy our defence imo. has to be stopped.

 

[mattys123]

I think Hudson will come in for Grundy.

Can see them giving him a week off before run to finals instead of pushing him with back to back 6 day breaks.

I never get this line of thought.

The game is 24 hours away, why would you name a ruckman if he isn't going to play? I can understand if you're bringing a player back from injury and he doesn't quite come up, but I'm pretty sure the club would know by now if Grundy is right to go or not tomorrow.

I may be wrong, but I'd put money on us going in unchanged tomorrow night.

 

[larrikan]

I'm thinking Caff to Hodge rather than Mitchell.
Thoughts?

i doubt Hodge will play...if he does, well, I'm happy for them to bring in players under an injury cloud. Hodges thumb will need a guard for sure. If Buddy plays then it wasn't a hammy. Birchall no VFL? seriously? The Hawks are panicking, bluffing or lack depth through injury.

Doesn't matter, three weeks ago I said we might beat Essendon, lose to Sydney and definitely beat Hawthorn.

IMO The Hawks have been off the boil for a few weeks now and are missing key players that will affect them more toward the end of the season. Their injuries and outs are making their season look more like our 2011.

That being said we don't have a lot to play for the rest of the H & A season. We WILL finish in the eight. We will play our first final in Victoria. At this stage of the year training loads are increased for finals. Of course, we won't mess with winning form but managing game time and structures is more important. Trying a new game plan and positions to make amends for the thrashing last time will be interesting.

Hopefully, it rains as our skill level gets better and theres deteriorates. Go Figure!

 

[SuperSub17]

hodges kicks destroy our defence imo. has to be stopped.

He had 40 touches in round 4 2010 and round 15 2011, didn't stop us from winning by 64 and 41 points in those games. He's underdone and been in poor form. Meanwhile Mitchell has torn us a new one almost each game.

That's my two cents anyway

 

[TheFourPillars]

i doubt Hodge will play...if he does, well, I'm happy for them to bring in players under an injury cloud. Hodges thumb will need a guard for sure. If Buddy plays then it wasn't a hammy. Birchall no VFL? seriously? The Hawks are panicking, bluffing or lack depth through injury.

Doesn't matter, three weeks ago I said we might beat Essendon, lose to Sydney and definitely beat Hawthorn.

IMO The Hawks have been off the boil for a few weeks now and are missing key players that will affect them more toward the end of the season. Their injuries and outs are making their season look more like our 2011.

That being said we don't have a lot to play for the rest of the H & A season. We WILL finish in the eight. We will play our first final in Victoria. At this stage of the year training loads are increased for finals. Of course, we won't mess with winning form but managing game time and structures is more important. Trying a new game plan and positions to make amends for the thrashing last time will be interesting.

Hopefully, it rains as our skill level gets better and theres deteriorates. Go Figure!

I don't think our ins have panic written over rather that birch and others need time in the seniors to get match hardened. The selections not necessarily about tomorrow but september. This gives Birchall especially 3 weeks to acclimatise himself to tough hard football before the finals.

 

[Tbone McGraw]

Surely birchall wont play and hodge is a massive risk.

They are desperate.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

We have Birchall,Hill, Savage and Puopolo as our interchange.
Not sure if that's good or bad...
http://www.afl.com.au/news/teams.ws

I saw that on the AFL teams' site!

 

[Bay Pie]

I don't think our ins have panic written over rather that birch and others need time in the seniors to get match hardened. The selections not necessarily about tomorrow but september. This gives Birchall especially 3 weeks to acclimatise himself to tough hard football before the finals.

That is my take on Birchall. No doubt underdone but what better way to bring him p to speed quickly. Won't be at his best this game though, but Hawthorn would concede that for the greater good.

Franklin was likely a rest last week but Hodge is an odd decision.

 

[TheFasoloShow]

This from the hawthorn board!

Mark Robinson on 360 just said that David Schwarz said on the radio this afternoon that Hodge will be a late out. Thumb still not ready.

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

Grundiful news for our young ruckman who is still managing to hold out the older boys. Great start to his career, however I hope we aren't overloading him.

Caff is well suited to Hodge or Mitchell, but I think he starts on Mitchell, this guy likes to play against us. We can always make the move if it looks like Hodge is going to be more of a worry.

 

[SuperSub17]

This game is being played for the Beyondblue cup, which used to be played between Geelong and Hawthorn.

So Hawthorn haven't won this thing in a long time

 

[Chilli Con Incarnate]

I

This game is being played for the Beyondblue cup, which used to be played between Geelong and Hawthorn.

So Hawthorn haven't won this thing in a long time

It was obviously too depressing to keep playing against Geelong!

 

[eldorado]

Birchall in, are they mad? Hasn't played anywhere since round 13.

Probably not ideal for us, but I guess they want as much hard mileage into him before the finals as possible...

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

They are desperate.

I bloody hope so!

I would hope my team is desperate to win EVERY week, let alone 3 weeks from finals.

Strange comment

 

[hellfire]

I don't see how that is an act of desperation for this week. They are a win clear on top of the ladder. It might be a desperate act to get game time into them.... not much else.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Pretty certain Bailey will come in for someone. Clarko reckons he's in our best ruck and if he's fit he wouldn't be an emergency. We have a number of underdone players so who know who will be the late out. My guess would be Hodge but I wouldn't be surprised if it's Birch, Buddy or Gunners

 

[Scodog10]

Jeez there's a bit of swagger in this thread. I haven't seen the likes of it since mid 2011. Even if it may be slightly misguided with the Hawks sitting at the top of the table for a reason.

One thing's for sure I am enjoying the quiet confidence emanating from the group with such a settled line up!

 

[drummoyne]

Jeez there's a bit of swagger in this thread. I haven't seen the likes of it since mid 2011. Even if it may be slightly misguided with the Hawks sitting at the top of the table for a reason.

One thing's for sure I am enjoying the quiet confidence emanating from the group with such a settled line up!

And to think there were some calling for us to tank 3 weeks ago...

 

[Hawkas1988]

I believe Hodge will be a late out for Bailey but it may also come down to the weather

Also as people have stated, it aint desperate bringing Birch back in, 3 weeks at least is needed before a big finals series, one of our most important players