It’s hard without seeing any of the 2s games this year, but could Fullarton fill our forward/ruck need? The kid stands at 2m tall. Seems pretty athletic! Could play next to Oscar and relieve some pressure up forward!
Unofficial Preview Changes v Bombers, Metricon Friday night.
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POBT
Brownlow Medallist
Agree. Pressure is much more than tackles.
Not opposed to dropping Tom but his pace and workrate up forward has been pretty valuable and we're about to play a side with the quickest and most attacking half back line in the comp - a side which completely exposed us on the rebound last year. On balance, I would probably still make a change with Tom but I reckon there's a reasonable argument for him to remain in the side to maintain pressure and to almost run with a Saad type if required.
Over the next patch of 3 games i think we need to go Oscar, Archie then Oscar. No point playing both of them when midfield rotations are going to be at a premium off short breaks. We need 80%+ game time from everyone to keep people fresh.
I would give Oscar a rest after the Bombers on Friday night.
I would give Oscar a rest after the Bombers on Friday night.
mpal6
Norm Smith Medallist
Agreed, anyone half done after that wet weather slogging needs to be iced. Bring fresh legs in and pace around the ball would be handy as Bombers are likely to run us off our feet by Q3.
Gadzorks
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We believe we have squad depth but given that we don't use the squad and stick to basically 24 players how do we know?
Sticking by cam has paid off, but would it have been faster if he'd spent time in the twos?
I'd prefer swapping one or two fringe/developing like positioned players during their development. At the very least it would mean that if they are dropped it doesn't become mental 'I'm the only person to be dropped' hurdle. You shouldn't have to play in the ones every week to develop confidence and your game.
And if we never use our depth players they are likely to look elsewhere. Mayes and walker are showing our depth that you can get regular games elsewhere and a few will back themselves and take offers. Yes - they didn't crack our top 22 so we don't 'need' them but they are exactly the sort of players needed for depth.
Sticking by cam has paid off, but would it have been faster if he'd spent time in the twos?
I'd prefer swapping one or two fringe/developing like positioned players during their development. At the very least it would mean that if they are dropped it doesn't become mental 'I'm the only person to be dropped' hurdle. You shouldn't have to play in the ones every week to develop confidence and your game.
And if we never use our depth players they are likely to look elsewhere. Mayes and walker are showing our depth that you can get regular games elsewhere and a few will back themselves and take offers. Yes - they didn't crack our top 22 so we don't 'need' them but they are exactly the sort of players needed for depth.
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David King on McStay using strong statements such as - “millimetres from a wheelchair” and “that’s as bad as it gets”. He is a circus of a media personality and an absolutely ordinary bloke.
Commenting on it as they are watching in slow-mo mind you.
You cannot say that Jetta didn’t play a part in the outcome by leading with his head and launching forward.
The way I see it, he picked up the ball and had a split second where he decided to duck and drive forward trying to draw a free kick.
If McStay met him at the point where he picked it up - sure, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, whatever you want to give him.
There has to be some, not all, but some accountability from the player who has the ball if they are aware of what is coming. Watch the vision. Jetta looks at McStay before he drives forward.
Who knows - might get a life ban at the circus that is the tribunal
Commenting on it as they are watching in slow-mo mind you.
You cannot say that Jetta didn’t play a part in the outcome by leading with his head and launching forward.
The way I see it, he picked up the ball and had a split second where he decided to duck and drive forward trying to draw a free kick.
If McStay met him at the point where he picked it up - sure, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, whatever you want to give him.
There has to be some, not all, but some accountability from the player who has the ball if they are aware of what is coming. Watch the vision. Jetta looks at McStay before he drives forward.
Who knows - might get a life ban at the circus that is the tribunal
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- Oct 13, 2015
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I think McStay is pretty likely to get a week. The old 'he chose to bump', plus high contract should mean that.
Talk of Jetta being millimetres away from a wheelchair is very unhelpful, but Kingy will forget about it once there is a new and very uninteresting champion data stat that he can parrot in every media appearance for the next week.
- Apr 11, 2016
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I'm saying 2 weeks for Mcstay, we can say all we want about leading with the head the problem for McStay is he bumped when he could of tackled.
Outs: Rich (inj) McStay (suspended)
Ins: Witherden , Skinner/Ballenden
Don't think Fages will drop Archie after a win but if he does play Ballenden over Skinner and bring in Christensen
Outs: Rich (inj) McStay (suspended)
Ins: Witherden , Skinner/Ballenden
Don't think Fages will drop Archie after a win but if he does play Ballenden over Skinner and bring in Christensen
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The AFL and the Tribunal definitely react to media narrative, if they are pushing for a suspension he will get one.
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That's the annoying feature about the tribunal. If this was Selwood, Pendlebury, Burgoyne or even Cotchin, it would have been a throwaway article.
But because it's not an A grade player in the AFL, they will try to show off their power.
Probably right. Just a frustrating one if you really break it down and add in because he’s not a Cotchin, Pendlebury etc
Gives some people in here a look at a replacement that they’ve been asking for, for what’s seems 18 months I spose..
Lions99991
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McStay getting suspended would be the best thing to happen to this club. Ballenden and Skinner are all better players and its upsetting that a player getting suspended is the only way they could possibly crack their way into the team
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- #40
If he does get suspended you would expect it would be one of Skinner/Ballenden to replace, I think either will do a good job although IMO some will be surprised how much we will miss McStay, plays a vital role.
- Apr 11, 2016
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I don't agree with what Jetta did, most other players turn the body and brace for impact. The unfortunate thing for McStay is they don't like the bump to the head.
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McStay has been very important this year he plays a massive role around the ground. We underestimate the difference in levels between NEAFL and AFL levels, McStay would look a class above playing NEAFL.
Lions99991
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I actually think the pressure that McStay provides is fantastic, however, he consistently drops marks and he's unimpressive in front of the goals. Give someone else a chance and if they provide the same mistakes, then go back to McStay. You can't just stick with one forward option when others are there to step up. Fagan hypes up our depth a lot, yet he doesn't show that. He's always talking about the players that could step up if someone is out, but he doesn't give those players a chance. Sooner or later they will go to other clubs, and I think they should.
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My first impression was that McStay got caught in a sticky position and there was nothing in it ,but with the media on his back and the slo mo they can easily make a case to make an example of him. Unfortunate because in my view he half tried to pull up when Jetta barrelled into him.
We'll really miss him if he gets rubbed out . Can't see Ballenden or Skinner playing that role as effectively.
We'll really miss him if he gets rubbed out . Can't see Ballenden or Skinner playing that role as effectively.
Ironmonger
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After rewatching the McStay incident I now think he probably should get suspended.
Jetta is moving harder and faster towards the contest with his head down, but there's a late sudden movement by McStay that makes the contact much worse.
I'm sure it wasn't violent or malicious. He just didn't know exactly what to do in that split second.
But it is dangerous and players need to protect the head.
Jetta is moving harder and faster towards the contest with his head down, but there's a late sudden movement by McStay that makes the contact much worse.
I'm sure it wasn't violent or malicious. He just didn't know exactly what to do in that split second.
But it is dangerous and players need to protect the head.
You clearly have no football IQ, McStay has been our best key forward this season.
KissKiss
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- Nov 26, 2012
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I think that's now 2 out of the last 3 games where we have started to look really tired and struggled to run out the game. I really fear for the rest of the season if we dont start to rotate through more players. Either we straight up concede the Richmond game by resting half the team or we start resting a few players each week.
We also had Rich miss half the game, Archie only play 46% game time and the TBerry play not much either. Harris and Gardiner have missed something like 10 minutes of the season so far and I really dont think that is sustainable across a (shortened) full year. We are risking not getting enough rotations through our key players. While mass changes after a win are unlikely we have to look at some
Resting or being conservative with Rich is pretty safe bet at this point. Witherden is probably closest like for like.
Ballenden or Skinner seem like for like for either McStay (if suspended) or Archie (he doesnt offer enough to waste the bench spot on).
Coleman I think could be a good option for Terry. That or Bundy who can play a similar role. Otherwise give a chance to see one of the young mids in Dev or Eli
CEY or Matho could be handy but at the same time Essendon dont have a big midfield so it may not be a requirement this week
We also had Rich miss half the game, Archie only play 46% game time and the TBerry play not much either. Harris and Gardiner have missed something like 10 minutes of the season so far and I really dont think that is sustainable across a (shortened) full year. We are risking not getting enough rotations through our key players. While mass changes after a win are unlikely we have to look at some
Resting or being conservative with Rich is pretty safe bet at this point. Witherden is probably closest like for like.
Ballenden or Skinner seem like for like for either McStay (if suspended) or Archie (he doesnt offer enough to waste the bench spot on).
Coleman I think could be a good option for Terry. That or Bundy who can play a similar role. Otherwise give a chance to see one of the young mids in Dev or Eli
CEY or Matho could be handy but at the same time Essendon dont have a big midfield so it may not be a requirement this week
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Does anybody know when tickets go on sale for this one.... waiting patiently for the email. I'm hoping to get tickets for a footy binge over 9 days from this Friday, Bombers, Tigers and Dogs would be a terrific winning trifecta to witness in person.
I beat up on McStay sometimes for his woeful goalkicking but he's not a bad player, just being misused. In my mind he's clearly not a forward, he's best as a utility playing further down the ground. That would take advantage of his strong marking and field kicking while minimising his weaknesses. I don't want him to get rubbed out at the tribunal but if that's what it takes to get Skinner or Ballenden an opportunity, so be it.
Ellis-Yolmen clearly has to come in for Berry Jr. I probably favour Answerth over Witherden if Rich is injured, because Essendon have a quick forward line and we can't have too many slow defenders. Witherden sounds like he's closer to a spot though.
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