Prediction Changes: Round 4 Vs Adelaide Crows + prematch discussion.

[wakojako]

Henry should be dropped. Some of you must be playing silly buggers.

Nah mate, I stood up for Treacy when he had a crap game but he got dropped. We can't drop our young players just because they mess up. We have to persist with them so they can grow! I would move him to the sub position though so Johnson can run out a full game.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I have to agree with this. Yes, Henry made many errors but we are seeing a very different player to previous seasons. He is showing signs of delivering on some of the hype of yesteryear so despite the obvious fact that he has a long way to go, I think he is worth persisting with for now.

I've been arguing with peeps all week about Henry looking better the first two games but you and Wizard are being very very generous on his performance yesterday. Ball in hand was an unmitigated disaster

 

[go_the_dockers]

Out: Chapman - injured
In: Walker - good match up for Rankin

Out: Henry - needs to go back to WAFL, hopefully he can find form.
In: Johnson

Sub: Sturt

Question - If Fyfe is fit, who does he come in for?

 

[freo1997]

Nah mate, I stood up for Treacy when he had a crap game but he got dropped. We can't drop our young players just because they mess up. We have to persist with them so they can grow! I would move him to the sub position though so Johnson can run out a full game.

Fourth year. Nah plenty other younger players to give a go to.

Every time he touched it. Turnover.

 

[GingerDocker]

I don't understand the narrative that dropping Henry will be detrimental to his development?

He's young. He's still got a heap to learn and is looking overly laconic, for someone who is not a walk-up best 22 player.

Treacy, Sturt and Amiss have all been dropped recently to work on deficiencies in their game...Liam should be no different.

 

[Mags98]

I've been arguing with peeps all week about Henry looking better the first two games but you and Wizard are being very very generous on his performance yesterday. Ball in hand was an unmitigated disaster

truly just kept getting worse and worse. hopefully doesnt knock his confidence too much, has barely played 30 games and has been mostly in and out, i think worth persisting with to see if he can bounce back

 

[Sweetback]

I agree with keeping Henry. You can see he’s trying things. His pressure and tackling is good. Just needs some more awareness about what’s around him.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I agree with keeping Henry. You can see he’s trying things. His pressure and tackling is good. Just needs some more awareness about what’s around him.

He might be saved by the Chapman injury and if so, that's ok but if it's between him and MJ I dont think you can justify it. That's the type of game that can get you banished for a while

 

[freo1997]

He might be saved by the Chapman injury and if so, that's ok but if it's between him and MJ I dont think you can justify it. That's the type of game that can get you banished for a while

MJ did seem puffed. I would leave as Sub for now.

 

[Alfonz]

I have to agree with this. Yes, Henry made many errors but we are seeing a very different player to previous seasons. He is showing signs of delivering on some of the hype of yesteryear so despite the obvious fact that he has a long way to go, I think he is worth persisting with for now.

I think a lot of the hype was him being painted as the mercurial small forward to partner with and then take over from Walters. And with more speed. It is now evident he is not super quick and not a natural forward, and I'm not sure his attributes are going to work.

The best case scenario is to turn out like Gaff. He is probably the closest I can think of in terms of a small chip kicking winger who isn't that quick. There isn't much hurt factor with what Gaff did in his prime, and it was weight of numbers (plus good decision making and disposal) that made him a useful player. I think Henry's disposal could improve to Gaff levels, but I don't know if he has that natural ability to rack up a heap of possessions.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

MJ did seem puffed. I would leave as Sub for now.

He cant be too gassed after a quarter and a half, has to be just the first game hitting you like a truck surely. At the very least, you'd start him and sub him off if he blows up

 

[Puregold]

Bring Fyfe in as sub when he is ready

 

[Big Animal]

reckon just Walker in for Chappy against the high quality Adelaide small forwards.

Maybe MJ for Henry as people are suggesting, though not sure what Henry brings as a sub. Would rather Henry dropped to get some form/awareness at Peel and Ras given a go coming in as sub. If Brodie and Walker got dropped, then others should be able to be too.

 

[Midnite65]

Doesn’t look fast and looks like he’s lost a step and his agility (which was always poor anyway) has declined. I think you guys defending him are being very generous on what he’s contributing at the moment given he’s supposed to be our number 1 tall. He played a role sure, but if Treacy or Fyfe played that same role today when the forwardline actually got half decent supply, I’m pretty sure they could provide that and more.

Having said all that, today was an improvement on the other weeks and him playing like he did a few years ago is the best way for us to be successful so given Treacy hasn’t played and Fyfe is underdone you just stick him probably and see if he can start to really get back some form

Considering what Treacy served up in the first game Tab is a better option at the moment.

 

[Sweetback]

He might be saved by the Chapman injury and if so, that's ok but if it's between him and MJ I dont think you can justify it. That's the type of game that can get you banished for a while

Yeah, it’s all about management with him, if we have the patience for that

 

[Sweetback]

Bring Fyfe in as sub when he is ready

I like this. He’d be the perfect impact player

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Considering what Treacy served up in the first game Tab is a better option at the moment.

I'd mostly agree with that and I think Taberner getting back to his best (or close to) is really important for us to do anything this year so I'd stick with him ahead of Treacy for now but I'd want to see some signs he can contribute more shortly. If Fyfe is available, it's going to be interesting though.

 

[wakojako]

Considering what Treacy served up in the first game Tab is a better option at the moment.

Treacy is not going to learn anything else outside of the top level. He needs games pumped into him. I am sick of trading in forwards because we can't develop our own.

 

[Quazar]

Treacy is not going to learn anything else outside of the top level. He needs games pumped into him. I am sick of trading in forwards because we can't develop our own.

I agree, but we need a balance. You drop Tabs and our age experience demographic goes down immeasurably. Treacy performed poorly in the Saints game, doesn't really deserve a recall yet. We need a good combination of experience and youth to persist, we're in a window despite the shoddiness of the opening 2 rounds...a win would always steady us, we now have a 2023 foundation to build upon.....still 20 games to play! I hope Treacy will get his time to shine, but needs to earn it. His display against the Saints didn't do his cause any favours.

Tabs yesterday, whilst not nailing goals was critical in certain passages in helping create opportunites and some led to goals for us. His handball at the boundary line to Freddy helped set up Switta's late 2nd goal for example. I'd be careful about dislodging him just yet...but also agree with others critical of him, he needs to also hit the scoreboard again. if he adds that part back to his game he could be a handy weapon despite the fact he's aging...let's not forget he might be get his obligatory injury anyway (!!).

 

[Eski3]

Tabs didn't impact the scoreboard but was quite important structurally and Longmuir was happy with his off the ball work, he's not gonna be dropped.

If Chappy has done a minor calf I expect Hughes to drop back into that role and Johnson to come in to the 22 as a wing/mid rotation. Wouldn't mind Fyfe as a super sub. That's the only change I can see

 

[FreoRicci]

Nah mate, I stood up for Treacy when he had a crap game but he got dropped. We can't drop our young players just because they mess up. We have to persist with them so they can grow! I would move him to the sub position though so Johnson can run out a full game.

Can’t reward youth and development, and drop experiencd players. In order to grow, sometimes dropping a player like Henry helps. His past 3 weeks has been poor. There’s others that deserve a chance. Walker is one.

 

[Quazar]

this will be a much stiffer test despite Adelaide also not having a good start to their year. Simply because they're home, for starters. Bouncing off a Showdown win doesn't hurt their confidence either. I think they're a better team than West Toads, so we're going to have be wary of either slow starting, or getting caught in the clearance traps. I hope we keep with the formula of mixing up mid rotations, it felt like worked against the burnt Toast, despite Shuey's early dominance. I always thought we might take some time to settle into the game, as it turns out it was a bit of a shoot out in the opening term but they had some good play out of Allen, who was their dominant forward....whereas, we felt like we had a wider spread once we got going. A better variety of options.

Crows have dangerous forwards as possibly their main strength, so defensively we're gonna have to be on our toes and then some. The middle battle is where it's going to be critical to try and gain dominance again. Serong is hitting form at the right time now, off the back of the putrid losses. I really hope he can bring that A game, and if Andy isn't carrying something - hopefully he's about to hit some straps too. 1 win doesn't change much, it's 4 points and a platform, we have to be able to back it up now and the South Australia trip is never an easy one. We under-estimate the Crows at our peril.

I liked the fact Walters, Switta, Freddy, Jackson and Amiss all kicked multiple goals. That's 4 or 5 of your forwards when that's been the worst area or the biggest area of concern for this club, for some time. When we're on, this is what we do well. Walters, in particular looks far more dangerous this time this year, than this time last year! Hope he can keep this form going, as it's still a crucial piece of the cog in the machine. The movement in the forwardline was much better - this had to be a directive, and it created spaces for Amiss and a few others. We stretched them and then created lanes, Amiss first goal's 'old skool' leading was lovely, I think it was Aish that picked him out (?). It shows when we have composure and think it through, we can deliver.

We will need more of the same against Adelaide. I hope we can repeat it, although it should be a much stiffer contest as they go hard. I'm not sure what changes we should make, but I would certainly consider Walker as a lock-down defender on someone, Rankine maybe?

 

[wakojako]

Can’t reward youth and development, and drop experiencd players. In order to grow, sometimes dropping a player like Henry helps. His past 3 weeks has been poor. There’s others that deserve a chance. Walker is one.

You got to think long term. Will Tabs be in a premiership side? No he won't so we have two two options, we either develop a second KPF to backup Amiss or we trade one in. I would rather find out sooner rather than later if Treacy is going to make it or not. I'm not saying now but later during the season I would love to see him get a patch of games.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

When I saw how good JVR looked yesterday , I couldnt help but think what a shame we couldnt have given Treacy say at least half a season in the WAFL..when he consistently smashes the opposition then put him into the first team

 

[Frigate]

You got to think long term. Will Tabs be in a premiership side? No he won't so we have two two options, we either develop a second KPF to backup Amiss or we trade one in. I would rather find out sooner rather than later if Treacy is going to make it or not. I'm not saying now but later during the season I would love to see him get a patch of games.

This does not make any sense. JL has said he wants the team to be a top 4 team this year. So we should be heading into a premiership window. I know it seems a long way off after the first 2 games, but it is a crazy year with unexpected results. With Tabs you can expect 5 marks, 10 disposals and 2 goals per game. Treacy you are looking at 3 marks, and 1 goal every 2 matches. Tabs is a better contested mark, provides more score involvements. Treacy is good at hitting packs, which is not what will win you games in 2023. Tabs is also capable of scoring big, he kicked 7 last year v the Bombers.

So if I am picking a team to make finals this year. I would be picking Tabs every week ahead of Treacy. Tabs has not turned the world on fire in 2023, but his game was decent as a key forward. Treacy in round 1 took no marks and had 2 kicks, one which was a generous free kick resulting in a goal. Tabs is going to take the number one defender. Treacy would probably take the 3rd or 4th best defender. I would love for Treacy to make it. I like him, but he needs to be taking 10 marks, and kicking 3 goals per match in the magoos to get in the team.