Preview AFL Round 8 - Collingwood v Geelong - Changes & Prematch Discuss

[bucksisbest]

I think Didak isn't good enough anymore to get away with avoiding the physical aspects of the game. Probably still too wide and not stinging enough at VFL level.

 

[Stripes B and W]

You would think Witts very low chance of playing given the conditions.
Didak or Mooney will play I would think.
Lets wait until we know before we are too critical, Russell and Williams have to play.
The logical take is that Mooney plays to get some continuity and games under his belt. If it goes he doesn't play and Witts does, aside from specific match ups and opposition, I'm not a fan of one game out one in etc.
Going to be a very difficult for Mooney and or Dids to impress.

 

[glasseye]

not surprised didak isn't in there we're leaking out of the 50 and didak's defensive game isn't the greatest. Not quick enough or a big enough tank for the middle and not suited for the defensive line - he would be replacing Kennedy Ellliott or Krakouer, unless he's added another string to the old bow he's not in for mine.
All that said I'd love to see him kicking for us.

 

[TheGreatGrundy]

IN: Ball, Russell, Witts, Williams
OUT: Shaw (suspended), D.Thomas (ankle), Clarke (illness), Mooney (omitted
dids is emergency, he's close, surely, how can we have russel in this team and no didak.
I don't know if its a good idea to bring witts in, its going to be so wet, dids will be a late in.

Russell got 33 possessions in the last VFL game. Didak had 22 possessions. When Didak is around the 30 mark and starring at VFL level, he will be selected.

 

[domus]

I think he is Finished at AFL Level

If the coach doesn't like you it tends to bring your career to an end.

 

[jefffff34]

Russell got 33 possessions in the last VFL game.

Exactly what is required. He got dropped (probably after being put on someone who he wasn't a great match up for - Winderlich has great acceleration), and he went back and dominated.

Plus we have lost three players capable of playing the rebounding half back position (Shaw, Clarke, Thomas).

It's a no brainer for me.

I personally would love to see him up the ground a little bit, bombing it into Cloke/Lynch. He's obviously a long kick, but he is also a penetrating kick.

 

[domus]

Russell got 33 possessions in the last VFL game. Didak had 22 possessions. When Didak is around the 30 mark and starring at VFL level, he will be selected.

Nonsense. You don't rate players on possessions alone. Some blokes could gather 30 plus every week and still never get a look in because they don't have the ability to step up to the next level. I'd take 15 Didak possessions inside 50 over 30 McCaffer possessions. Comparing Russell to Didak is also pointless. One plays across half back where it is easy to pick up cheap possessions, another plays forward with a little time in the midfield. Has Witts been starring in the VFL? Of course not. He has been chosen to play a role. Didak is dangerous near goal when he has the pill in his hands. Hopefully he will get at least one opportunity to show us he still has it at the top level

 

[BeechyMagpie]

With the rain that's predicted for next 48 hours I cannot see witts playing! Would be suicide if so.

As much as I do think we need another tall, Geelong is probably the side we could get away without it.

Didak to come in I feel.

Only issue is does he become the sub?

What's the ruling on the sub? Can it be any of the 22 named or have to be someone named in interchange? I've never known official ruling so clarification would be great thanks

 

[JollyRoger]

Go with Witts, too tall and trampoline fwd line. No Witts, mosquito fleet/triple teamed cloke gets beaten in every contest in the air, trampoline fwd line. hmm.

 

[Mateyman]

With the rain that's predicted for next 48 hours I cannot see witts playing! Would be suicide if so.

As much as I do think we need another tall, Geelong is probably the side we could get away without it.

Didak to come in I feel.

Only issue is does he become the sub?

What's the ruling on the sub? Can it be any of the 22 named or have to be someone named in interchange? I've never known official ruling so clarification would be great thanks

Anyone can be sub

 

[BeechyMagpie]

Go with Witts, too tall and trampoline fwd line. No Witts, mosquito fleet/triple teamed cloke gets beaten in every contest in the air, trampoline fwd line. hmm.

Only due to weather do I think he will come out. Otherwise we do need him! But you're gonna get mixed opinions due to it being a forum with a variety of people, opinions etc! Part and parcel.

 

[mattys123]

Those saying Witts will come out because of a few showers over the next few days are kidding themselves.

The selection committee would have looked at the forecast and seen that Saturday is clearing as the day goes on with no rain predicted at night at all.

The MCG drains better than any surface in Australia and if it stops raining even 1 hour before the game starts it will be a dry weather match.

I'm hoping for no changes, I would have liked Didak in for Elliott or Kennedy, but those two are a massive part of our future so I'm not going to argue too much. Didak in for Witts achieves nothing, we drop a tall and bring in a player who is about as fast as Witts is anyway.

 

[BeechyMagpie]

Those saying Witts will come out because of a few showers over the next few days are kidding themselves.

The selection committee would have looked at the forecast and seen that Saturday is clearing as the day goes on with no rain predicted at night at all.

The MCG drains better than any surface in Australia and if it stops raining even 1 hour before the game starts it will be a dry weather match.

I'm hoping for no changes, I would have liked Didak in for Elliott or Kennedy, but those two are a massive part of our future so I'm not going to argue too much. Didak in for Witts achieves nothing, we drop a tall and bring in a player who is about as fast as Witts is anyway.

So if its pissing down with rain you would still play him?

 

[rustyg70]

Geez.
You would be damned if you do and damned if you don't with you guys.
Last week we lost to another top four hopeful, after travelling interstate and playing at their home ground, yet you guys are calling for Buckleys and Butters head.
Now when the team comes out,you bitch and moan more than your mums.
For god sake, lets just trust the guys in charge of our club.
We can't win every game.
I'm sure they have made the changes for a reason.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

The key to beating us is stopping our run from the back half. Play your best stopper on Enright and make the rest of our defense accountable and you're more than a good chance of winning. Our midfield push back, help out the defense, then surge forward.

I'm not sure why opposition coaches haven't worked this out yet.

 

[mattys123]

So if its pissing down with rain you would still play him?

But it's not going to be pissing down, that's what I'm saying. An early shower or too clearing with northeasterly winds at night bodes for a dry night.

If a miracle storm pops up from nowhere late Saturday arvo and it looks as if it's going to piss down all night I'd bring in Sinclair for Witts.

 

[BeechyMagpie]

But it's not going to be pissing down, that's what I'm saying. An early shower or too clearing with northeasterly winds at night bodes for a dry night.

If a miracle storm pops up from nowhere late Saturday arvo and it looks as if it's going to piss down all night I'd bring in Sinclair for Witts.

I'm with you on that! No issue with witts if dry.

 

[Hardas]

The key to beating us is stopping our run from the back half. Play your best stopper on Enright and make the rest of our defense accountable and you're more than a good chance of winning. Our midfield push back, help out the defense, then surge forward.

I'm not sure why opposition coaches haven't worked this out yet.

Easier said than done, as they say. Particularly the midfield ball movement.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Easier said than done, as they say. Particularly the midfield ball movement.

It is, but you're half way there if you start negating our influence from defense, particularly as they set up that outside run and carry through the corridor.

If I was Buckley, I'd be playing Maxwell as a negating forward on Enright, and playing a smaller defensive setup.

 

[Shade]

the days of changing a selection based on the weather are long gone.

 

[MeisterBot]

It is, but you're half way there if you start negating our influence from defense, particularly as they set up that outside run and carry through the corridor.

If I was Buckley, I'd be playing Maxwell as a negating forward on Enright, and playing a smaller defensive setup.

Haha, was just thinking that. I was about to ask whether Geelong carry any third tall forwards because on paper, it's only the resting ruckman and Mitch Duncan who seem to have the height for it. So it puts a question on who Maxwell lines up on.

With Goldsack and Daisy injured, and Macaffer likely to take another match up (Johnson/Selwood/Bartel), the only real option for a defensive forward is Blair and I would rather have him on Mackie after the hackjob he did on Hurn in the semi last year.

 

[Scodog10]

Geez.
You would be damned if you do and damned if you don't with you guys.
Last week we lost to another top four hopeful, after travelling interstate and playing at their home ground, yet you guys are calling for Buckleys and Butters head.
Now when the team comes out,you bitch and moan more than your mums.
For god sake, lets just trust the guys in charge of our club.
We can't win every game.
I'm sure they have made the changes for a reason.

I'm trying to think of a way to agree with you but I just can't. We are still playing for victories are we not. With that being the case what does the selected side suggest about our proposed method of winning?

I realise that its slim pickings in the two's ATM and that Martin's injury could not have come at a worse time, however what edge does picking Witts give us over someone like Paine (who can at least have some impact up forward)? Or the treacle slow Russell against the likes of Motlop, Stokes, Christensen and Smedts? What do we gain from dropping Mooney after playing him for one match as the sub?

Normally I'm not one to question the club because they do so many things correctly, however IMO on this occasion they have not provided us with the best possible chance of winning. Of course I hope to be proved horribly horribly wrong, but I just don't see it happening with the side selected....

 

[half_back_flank]

Haha, was just thinking that. I was about to ask whether Geelong carry any third tall forwards because on paper, it's only the resting ruckman and Mitch Duncan who seem to have the height for it. So it puts a question on who Maxwell lines up on.

With Goldsack and Daisy injured, and Macaffer likely to take another match up (Johnson/Selwood/Bartel), the only real option for a defensive forward is Blair and I would rather have him on Mackie after the hackjob he did on Hurn in the semi last year.

Bartel rarely lines up in the middle anymore and Selwood is too hard to tag imo, he'll go inside and exploit Caff.

Johnson is the man, if Caff goes to him he'll beat him imo. Last week he was left to do what he pleased with Heppell paying him no attention, this week should be different.

 

[blaze036]

Hope for a Witts - Mooney late change.

 

[T_2333]

Not quiet sure if pains form warrants selection as evident by the coaching staff. However playing him in the side should be an option as that second tall with cloke being the dominant tall and q stick being the second relief ruck. I always gathered we played our best football 2010/2011 when we had cloke Dawes and Leigh brown as that set up. With witts time probably being after the two big games coming up. Times have change but should be something for the coaching staff to consider ahead of further selection. First time poster, long time follower, good ins and hopefully we can pull one out of the hat.. Go pies!