Unofficial Preview Changes for next week vs @Freo

[shintemaster]

A win would be better.

Sounds ridiculous 1 round in to the season but this is actually a big game for us. A win against the odds puts us in the position of actually being in the season and a reasonable chance at going 3-0. I expect that the coaching team and players will be well aware that this could be a season defining chance.

 

[Samsquanch]

I’ve seen enough.

We shouldn’t be playing on that surface.

Get the game moved anywhere else or forfeit.

No sense risking our players

A few years ago, due to a company sponsorship arrangement, we used to have a few meetings in one of the superboxes, and optionally, people could take a tour which included going out onto the ground. That was in the days when players complained of the surface being hard and sand would give way under foot.

I agree that the ground was really solid - it had no give in it like a normal dirt oval as it was pretty much dense sand laid onto a concrete base. To prevent the surface giving way, the sods that were placed on top were held together by a translucent plastic mesh, about the same density of tennis raquet strings. A couple of times when I took the tour I found several small offcuts of the mesh on the ground and where the sods joined there were often pieces sticking up with sharp edges. I was surprised that there weren't more players copping grazes and even cuts from the plastic mesh. I'm not sure if they still use that stuff these days though.

 

[DesertRoo]

To stand a chance, we need to move the ball quickly. Gut running a big priority. Freo want to control and slow the game down. Selection should reflect that.

We gave the eagles an absolute spanking in contested ball. Even in the centre when we didn’t have a recognised ruck. Slowing the game down might play into our hands.

I think they’ll try to run us into the ground with the big expansive space at Optus. But I agree with you we need runners, for a different reason. If we can cover players like Clarke, Aish, Fredrick and Switkowski. I think we’ll win with the advantage in the middle.
Isn’t footy great when you’re optimistic again

 

[KiwiRoo]

Wonder when Thomas will get the tick off from the club?

He can have a good long stint in his room (VFL) until we're sure he's sorry...

he acted like a 4 year old, so may as well treat him as such

 

[Footywizard]

He can have a good long stint in his room (VFL) until we're sure he's sorry...

he acted like a 4 year old, so may as well treat him as such

Yeah ok....1 more week then

 

[The Nostradamus]

Wonder when Thomas will get the tick off from the club?

word is good friday return pending afl integrity ticking it off

round 3 could be a sneaky chance even

 

[Hopper10]

Spoke to TT when he was leaving the ground on Saturday and said we need you back out there playing mate. His reply with a smile was “ hopefully soon?

 

[KiwiRoo]

Yeah ok....1 more week then

It just feels wrong in my opinion to rush him back into the team

a good long stint in the 2's to gain some fitness and hopefully some maturity just seems a better solution than getting a player back who's got some obvious issues

 

[Chadwiko]

Larkey?

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

Had a great game!

 

[The Dougster]

I don’t believe we’ll see TT until a positive outcome can be reached between all parties of his off field dramas. The public perception of him is not great at the minute and the pressure of any backlash against him wouldn’t be a healthy situation for Tarryn to be in.

 

[Rod Stroker]

Oh please, Bonar was good on Saturday apart from 2 errors but he consistently left his man to help others.

I'd prefer he learnt how to properly defend his own man first.

Did you go the game at all?

I don't live in Oz. Watched it twice.

And Corr has had an interrupted preseason which is why he's in the VFL

He's now played 3 straight weeks in the VFL and has been amongst the best. Time to bring him in if he's not injured.

 

[ferball]

Sounds ridiculous 1 round in to the season but this is actually a big game for us. A win against the odds puts us in the position of actually being in the season and a reasonable chance at going 3-0. I expect that the coaching team and players will be well aware that this could be a season defining chance.

Yeah. Freo are vulnerable. Beating them would set some real expectations for this season and I think that's what Clarkson wants - that the players expect to do well.

Their forward line is sposed to be poor and we saw how that can mess things up over recent seasons. Our defense is sposed to be our weakest link. Lets see how they hold up against a poor forward line.

 

[Frank Thring]

I'd prefer he learnt how to properly defend his own man first.

I don't live in Oz. Watched it twice.

He's now played 3 straight weeks in the VFL and has been amongst the best. Time to bring him in if he's not injured.

well because you only watch on TV you don't see his game. Tell me what his opponent did on Saturday?

 

[ChopChopDigDig]

Out; Xerri, Bonar, Turner
In; Goldy, Corr, Ford

Recon Turners first half forward pressure set the tone for the game...

 

[ChopChopDigDig]

I'm just hoping WillPhil gets a start. He was good once brought on, his 18-20 touches are all class and especially needed going I50.

 

[Ashley B]

I would also be keeping Bergman and Goater in . So we have Hall, Corr, Dawson and McKay ready to come in . Bonar is the one many believe is the week link, but I think he shows something and should be backed in.

 

[shinboner magic]

Ziebs to Fyfe- two broken down warriors
Corr must come in for a small or even Greenwood/ cunners as it’s going to be a fast deck
Goldy for X is a given

 

[HTPunter]

Goldstein in for Xerri makes sense.

There’s no way that no other player could offer what Turner does, it’s a mindset thing, but every other player could be an offensive weapon, not a liability like Turner. I really hope we move past him because if we don’t it means our kids aren’t kicking on but I get it if we persist for a while longer.

Stephenson however is a non negotiable drop. I really hope this club wakes up to this fraud. He drops his head, he doesn’t take his opportunities, he doesn’t have non-negotiable effort. He has about 3 good games a year, but they don’t outweigh the 10-12 low confidence, low effort games. I don’t mind if you **** up (hell, Paul Curtis is my favourite and he still misses some simple shots - but he has self-belief and he cracks in, just because he’s skinny doesn’t mean his head isn’t over the ball). A witches hat in for Stephenson, at least it won’t run away.
Failing that, Phillips in to best 22, Ford to sub - we will be more than covered for defenders and mids in the 22.

Also we can’t afford to be small again in defence. Corr in for Bonar who was not settled and made some shocker turnovers. Can’t afford to miss 20m kicks. That has to be a non-negotiable.
Dawson if Corr not fit. Just need that height. Bonar in between and not skilled enough to get away with it.

Corr, Logue, Ziebell (Taberner, Treacy/Sturt, Fyfe)
Bergman, McDonald, Sheezel - Bergman in as the chop out defender for the falls

Goldstein
Starting mids: LDU, Simpkin, Cunnington
Wing: Scott, Powell

Larkey, Comben
Zurhaar, Curtis, Taylor, Greenwood (rotating with Cunnington)

Bench: Turner, Goater, Shiels, Phillips
Sub: Ford

 

[Sphynx]

Goldstein in for Xerri makes sense.

There’s no way that no other player could offer what Turner does, it’s a mindset thing, but every other player could be an offensive weapon, not a liability like Turner. I really hope we move past him because if we don’t it means our kids aren’t kicking on but I get it if we persist for a while longer.

Stephenson however is a non negotiable drop. I really hope this club wakes up to this fraud. He drops his head, he doesn’t take his opportunities, he doesn’t have non-negotiable effort. He has about 3 good games a year, but they don’t outweigh the 10-12 low confidence, low effort games. I don’t mind if you * up (hell, Paul Curtis is my favourite and he still misses some simple shots - but he has self-belief and he cracks in, just because he’s skinny doesn’t mean his head isn’t over the ball). A witches hat in for Stephenson, at least it won’t run away.
Failing that, Phillips in to best 22, Ford to sub - we will be more than covered for defenders and mids in the 22.

Also we can’t afford to be small again in defence. Corr in for Bonar who was not settled and made some shocker turnovers. Can’t afford to miss 20m kicks. That has to be a non-negotiable.
Dawson if Corr not fit. Just need that height. Bonar in between and not skilled enough to get away with it.

Corr, Logue, Ziebell (Taberner, Treacy/Sturt, Fyfe)
Bergman, McDonald, Sheezel - Bergman in as the chop out defender for the falls

Goldstein
Starting mids: LDU, Simpkin, Cunnington
Wing: Scott, Powell

Larkey, Comben
Zurhaar, Curtis, Taylor, Greenwood (rotating with Cunnington)

Bench: Turner, Goater, Shiels, Phillips
Sub: Ford

Simpkin needs to start making a wing his own.

Powell is infinitely more damaging in the middle than he is, continuing with Simpkin in the middle is going to cost the side long term imo.

Especially once Wardlaw comes into the picture.

There's absolutely no scenario I see in the future (2-3 yearS_ where Simpkin should be getting center bounces over Powell, Phillips or Wardlaw.

He needs to start that positional transition now.

 

[HTPunter]

Can’t believe how many good players this team has for a side that has won 8 of its last 60 games.

Guys like Bonar, Stephenson, Turner are clearly not the players they are thought of here. They shouldn’t get “1 last chance”. There’s gotta be other avenues to explore. Surely we start exploring those avenues.

 

[HTPunter]

Simpkin needs to start making a wing his own.

Powell is infinitely more damaging in the middle than he is, continuing with Simpkin in the middle is going to cost the side long term imo.

Especially once Wardlaw comes into the picture.

There's absolutely no scenario I see in the future (2-3 yearS_ where Simpkin should be getting center bounces over Powell, Phillips or Wardlaw.

He needs to start that positional transition now.

Agreed. More so on that Powell needs to be a Center square mid. But Simpkin can’t kick, which is hidden when he’s in congestion as few can kick in that situation. But he doesn’t improve drastically when in space.
I think wings need to work hard defensively, which Powell does well, and kick well, which Powell does well. It’s also the way of many young mids (Walsh, McCluggage) who are gun stoppage mids but just are given time to work into it and protected.
Simpkin can be a midfielder but I’d think needs to develop his forward game rather than wing game. He certainly has the hip moves to get space in the forward line and good vision.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Recon Turners first half forward pressure set the tone for the game...

Turner will get votes in the Syd round 1. Massive effort. There were multiple occasions where he would crash tackle an oppo player, only to go in for an attempted smother or even back up the attempt with another tackle or half-tackle. The guy was like a maniac and we saw a return to the sort of effort that got him picked in his first 1-2 seasons as a 18 (17?) year old.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Turner will get votes in the Syd round 1. Massive effort. There were multiple occasions where he would crash tackle an oppo player, only to go in for an attempted smother or even back up the attempt with another tackle or half-tackle. The guy was like a maniac and we saw a return to the sort of effort that got him picked in his first 1-2 seasons as a 18 (17?) year old.

Sugar led the team for number of tackles with 9.

Pretty significant stat, I would have thought, given the premium we're placing on sustaining pressure on the opposition.

 

[Horizons_00]

Sugar led the team for number of tackles with 9.

Pretty significant stat, I would have thought, given the premium we're placing on sustaining pressure on the opposition.

What I noticed is that we finally had inside 50 pressure

 

[AnEmptyChair]

Simpkin needs to start making a wing his own.

Powell is infinitely more damaging in the middle than he is, continuing with Simpkin in the middle is going to cost the side long term imo.

Especially once Wardlaw comes into the picture.

There's absolutely no scenario I see in the future (2-3 yearS_ where Simpkin should be getting center bounces over Powell, Phillips or Wardlaw.

He needs to start that positional transition now.

playing our captain and back to back syd barker medallist and proven elite centre square mid is going to cost the team

just ****ing lol. you're an absolute goose mate

and for the record i love Powelly and WilPhil and have said so many times, and I hope Wardlaw is a gun, but all of them have a very ****ing long way to go until they're fit to tie Jyza's bootlaces let alone relegate him from a position where he has won back to back Syds