Preview Changes v Geelong, Sun 14 April 1:00pm at VicGovFundedKardinia Park [Zurhaar (calf)/Shiels (GS)/KDaws (ankle)/Stevo OUT; Sellers/Big/Laz/Drury IN]

[Themanbun]

Jy or Will need to come into the midfield and be told their main job is to direct the other 2-3.

 

[Merlin007]

The coaching group are trying to build a system and cohesion, so it's not going to be similar to Hardwick at the Suns where he's reading the riot act to an established group and dropping 5 at once.

There were pieces that worked yesterday, Comben obviously, and Greenwood. At a guess there'll be a maximum of 2 changes, and maybe only 1, with Clarkson having rehearsed what he thinks of individual performances with the substitutions he makes - Lazzaro replaced at 3/4 time, then dropped, so my bet is Stephens will be shaking hands with Tom Lynch.

Question is whether it's for a HFF (Sellers) or a mid (Phillips)

Oh, and if Shiels is going to be one of the 23, I'd much prefer he started the game so he can help keep the ship steady rather than plugging holes as we settle below the waterline

 

[Mr north man]

I want to see Colby and Sheez given more cba,
I want to see if Simpkin can run a wing.
I want to see Clarko to send a msg to the group by dropping SENIOR players regardless of leadership status.

Atleast show us something new... stop doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result

In theory you are spot on but won’t happen .
The mentality of all from top to bottom on and off the field of the NMFC is weak and decadent and I truly believe they are frightened to make real hard decisions that may upset the Apple Card and mates within the walls of the NMFC.
To do something to stop the Carnage at this time is a real review by an Independent person in this sport not with any History that ties them to the NMFC to do this review and not some BS review by everyone mate Geoff Walsh which in many ways hasn’t changed our club at all but has made it worse.
Then if by some miracle this review does take place let the supporters know what’s going as if they don’t supporters will get angry and will try and workout what’s going on which will lead to all type of speculation.
But nothing will happen and all the pain will continue.

 

[LB2Snake]

I would only drop 2. Jy and Lmac. I would let them and the wider team know they are dropped today. This has nothing to with trying to get a win at Geelong. This is about setting standards. Our 2 captains are terrible. They stand for nothing and constantly let the team down. Then I would make Harry captain and skip over Larkey. He too has been nothing short of disappointing as a leader (admittedly in a much harder role). Post the Carlton game the team would have reviewed all the undisciplined acts that caused us giving away all those goals. 5 mins into the first our captain gives away a soft 50 leading to a goal. That’s sabotage. We sacked our most talented player for off field mistakes. We need to start holding the same standards to on field ones also.

Can’t drop both captains. That’s disastrous for our young kids aspiring to lead the club.

 

[LB2Snake]

Powell shut Neale down after half time... that's what I was seeing and Clarko confirming in his presser.

I think the commentary was giving credit to Wardlaw, but I think you might be right. Certainly looked more like that on the tv.

 

[cybercrab]

This is where i'm at.

Out: Stephenson, Stephens
In: Sellers, Phillips

FB - McDonald - Comben - Corr
HB - Sheezel - Dawson - McKercher
C - Scott - LDU - Shiels
HF - Simpkin - Greenwood - Zurhaar
FF - Curtis - Larkey - Ford
R - Xerri - Powell - Wardlaw
Int - Tucker, Sellers, Duursma, Fisher
Sub - Phillips

Sucks to have neither Goater nor Bergman to pressure the back pockets. Would love Archer to be putting pressure on too.

Stephenson providing little with plenty of chances, would love to see if Sellers and Larkey can find some chemistry. It feels like a free hit. Stephens, he's had a month to show something. I really like giving a player a bit of time. 4 weeks isn't much time, but Stephens really isn't doing anything to demand more time. If I look at the body language, it seems the players aren't looking to use Stephens either. This bench may seem to lack midfield rotations but all half flankers to rotate through the midfield as required.

Midfield has lost the battle over the last few weeks. Phillips the sub, use it early if the game is going away, a chance to change the midfield mix mid game. If the game is going away, put Phillips in halfway through the second or whatever to experiement, just see how it looks before the heat has gone out. Need a way to tactically change the look if the game starts playing out like the last few weeks. Unlikely to succeed, granted, but potential rewards outweigh the costs.

I agree with this though I'd swap Tucker and Phillips

 

[Nylex]

Outs
Corr
Stephens

Ins
Pink
Phillips

Bailey back to the wing

 

[Possession]

I'm convinced that the first five games of our fixture were designed by the AFL to break our spirit as quickly as possible. The way that Clarko keeps bringing up the prelim finalists makes me wonder if he thinks similar things. Then again, we did win our first two games last year for naught much at all in the end.

God, we will be such a mess by the time we finally face an opponent on our level. I really hope that the young boys are learning some hard lessons from all of this. I'm trying to focus on the positives as always. Comben has a crack and might be something special back there, he looks dynamic. Dawson is quietly going well. McKercher is daring. Curtis' X-factor is showing up more and more frequently despite our limited F50 entries. Xerri... you could not have convinced me last year that he'd become this hard of a nut in less than a year.

Bring in Sellers. Give Stephens and Stephenson a spell. Corr, McDonald, don't really know what our options are there but they are hurting the side with their efforts. Should I even watch this game?

Footy is well and truly back.

 

[scottywiper]

Playing guys in their natural positions would be nice. As it stands we're generally sticking square pegs in rounds holes because our list is so badly constructed.

 

[kool kangas]

Time to make a statement without going to extreme. Stephenson and Zuurhar out, Sellers and Lazarro or Phillips in.

 

[shinboner spiggs]

I was planning to go, but after yesterday, good luck fellas

 

[Flawed Genius]

Out: Stephenson, Stephens
In: Phillips, Sellers

FB: Corr - KDawson - McDonald
HB: Sheezel - Comben - Fisher
C: McKercher - Wardlaw - Scott
HF: Zurhaar - Sellers - Simpkin
FF: Curtis - Larkey - Duursma
R: Xerri - Davies-Uniacke - Powell
I: Ford - Greenwood - Shiels - Phillips
S: Tucker

McKercher up to a wing. Looked far and away our most dangerous midfielder when he got on his bike and started charging through the corridor.

Stephens out. Useless on a skinny ground. Even more useless when he goes ultracat mode.

Stephenson out. Has had enough chances. Doesn't get enough of the footy and doesn't do enough with it when he does get it. Fully aware this may f*** with his confidence but it's time. Out.

Tucker to sub. Another not doing enough. A better, fitter option for sub than Shiels. Shiels in to tag Bruhn or Holmes, if he isn't playing a full game then he's useless.

With a full list to pick from this would be the last chance for Corr and McDonald. Corr just isn't having an impact either defensively or offensively. McDonald isn't doing or providing the only thing that is keeping him in the team (leading). If Goater were fit, McDonald would be out. If Pink weren't bad, Corr might be in. If Corr gets annihilated again I would replace him with Pink to send a message that you can be on a fat FA contract but if you're not doing your job you can be replaced by the Glenelg fullback.

Phillips has to be in. We do not have enough midfielders that run both ways. And currently we are not doing enough at clearance. LDU doesn't run defensively or is too cooked from trying to carry the team offensively to stay with his man. Wardlaw is doing his utmost but we need someone else at the coalface. Phillips might waddle around but he is a facilitator and tackles. Straight in. It's time.

Every time I saw Curtis or Duursma or Ford or Stephenson get outmarked by genuine gorilla fullbacks in Andrews or Payne, a part of me died. We cannot let Stewart run around taking intercept marks on half forward flankers and third talls. Sellers may or may not be ready, but he is tall enough and if we can get in top in the midfield, maybe he can play enough of a foil to Larkey to stop Souv getting gang banged 25 metres from goal.

 

[DuckYeah]

Out: Stephenson, Stephens
In: Phillips, Sellers

FB: Corr - KDawson - McDonald
HB: Sheezel - Comben - Fisher
C: McKercher - Wardlaw - Scott
HF: Zurhaar - Sellers - Simpkin
FF: Curtis - Larkey - Duursma
R: Xerri - Davies-Uniacke - Powell
I: Ford - Greenwood - Shiels - Phillips
S: Tucker

McKercher up to a wing. Looked far and away our most dangerous midfielder when he got on his bike and started charging through the corridor.

Stephens out. Useless on a skinny ground. Even more useless when he goes ultracat mode.

Stephenson out. Has had enough chances. Doesn't get enough of the footy and doesn't do enough with it when he does get it. Fully aware this may f*** with his confidence but it's time. Out.

Tucker to sub. Another not doing enough. A better, fitter option for sub than Shiels. Shiels in to tag Bruhn or Holmes, if he isn't playing a full game then he's useless.

With a full list to pick from this would be the last chance for Corr and McDonald. Corr just isn't having an impact either defensively or offensively. McDonald isn't doing or providing the only thing that is keeping him in the team (leading). If Goater were fit, McDonald would be out. If Pink weren't bad, Corr might be in. If Corr gets annihilated again I would replace him with Pink to send a message that you can be on a fat FA contract but if you're not doing your job you can be replaced by the Glenelg fullback.

Phillips has to be in. We do not have enough midfielders that run both ways. And currently we are not doing enough at clearance. LDU doesn't run defensively or is too cooked from trying to carry the team offensively to stay with his man. Wardlaw is doing his utmost but we need someone else at the coalface. Phillips might waddle around but he is a facilitator and tackles. Straight in. It's time.

Every time I saw Curtis or Duursma or Ford or Stephenson get outmarked by genuine gorilla fullbacks in Andrews or Payne, a part of me died. We cannot let Stewart run around taking intercept marks on half forward flankers and third talls. Sellers may or may not be ready, but he is tall enough and if we can get in top in the midfield, maybe he can play enough of a foil to Larkey to stop Souv getting gang banged 25 metres from goal.

Duck approves.

 

[Mute Point]

Let's be honest, there's blokes getting a game ATM purely based on their age. It's the real dilemma, we need to "protect" the young players with having some of these older bodies around them but the problem is our older players just aren't up to it.

My concern is the example these older players are setting.

Off the top of my head LMac, Tucker, Stevo, Fisher don't deserve to be playing. Corr, Jy and a few more probably touch & go.

I think back to the GC game with the run, energy & excitement the younger players generated.

I wouldn't be against loading up on the kids in games against WCE, Hawthorn & GC to both give them a taste & see how it looks.

Would also send a message to the senior type players that you're not guaranteed a game just because you're 25+

 

[Supreme_Chancellor]

Swing the Axe Clarko! No more kiddy gloves with these senior players.

• Drop the Co-Captains who couldn't lead a Frenchman to a Brothel
• Play McKercher, Scott, Greenwood etc in their right positions
• Bring in either Maley or Sellers, Larkey clearly needs help
• Corr, Stephenson, Stephens, Fisher, Tucker can GAGF, bunch of mercenaries who are just here for a salary!

 

[desie]

Can’t drop both captains. That’s disastrous for our young kids aspiring to lead the club.

Is it really?

Perhaps it might be beneficial to demonstrate that consistently substandard performances have consequences, regardless of title.

 

[Sticksphat]

Out: The cancers. The ones who came to the club expecting an easy ride and getting one. The ones who are expected to provide leadership to the next generation but give nothing. The ones who have been at the club too long and play like they don't give a * anymore. The ones who have driven the club into being an on field irrelevance and laughing stock.

In: Something else.

Yep, I'd rather have someone in that tries and is unable rather than continue to watch those that are unwilling.

 

[shintemaster]

The coaching group are trying to build a system and cohesion, so it's not going to be similar to Hardwick at the Suns where he's reading the riot act to an established group and dropping 5 at once.

There were pieces that worked yesterday, Comben obviously, and Greenwood. At a guess there'll be a maximum of 2 changes, and maybe only 1, with Clarkson having rehearsed what he thinks of individual performances with the substitutions he makes - Lazzaro replaced at 3/4 time, then dropped, so my bet is Stephens will be shaking hands with Tom Lynch.

Question is whether it's for a HFF (Sellers) or a mid (Phillips)

Oh, and if Shiels is going to be one of the 23, I'd much prefer he started the game so he can help keep the ship steady rather than plugging holes as we settle below the waterline

I think has to be 2 minimum. Sellers is - and was this week - a no brainer. Need some defensive mentality around the ball and if we could squeeze a faster bloke as a defensive style forward I’d take that. I wouldn’t mind pushing Jy up more.

 

[DuckYeah]

Whoever said Jy was sooking because he isn’t in the midfield, I believe is spot on. Nail head.

 

[kool kangas]

While we definately need help on the forward line for Larkey the other player that needs help is LDU. While we have Wardlaw doing his best to help l'm thinking Simpkin needs to get back in the mid to help also. LDU is getting possessions under pressure and is not that damaging with the atm. having 2 more in and under players in the midfield might free him up. Then with Simpkin going into the midfield bring in Sellers to help Larkey as Stephenson, Zuurhar, Curtis seem to go missing to often when needed..

 

[domiroo]

I think we need to drop stephens.

Not sure he suits the gp, fine as an outside outside player but ground is too small for him this week.

Bring in Laz.

You reckon he’s the problem there’s another 10 campaigners out there collecting their pay check for doing SFA .

 

[domiroo]

Can’t drop both captains. That’s disastrous for our young kids aspiring to lead the club.

Why not both a spudding it up MacDonald the worst out of the 2 .

 

[JGreezy]

You reckon he’s the problem there’s another 10 campaigners out there collecting their pay check for doing SFA .

He's definitely one of the problems. There's more than one.

 

[JGreezy]

Lots of media talk about our backline but problem #1 is our complete lack of a half forward line.

We're focused on this "Northball" but when we're not running over the top we have no ability to move it forward.

No half forwards move or lead or push up the ground. None have any presence. It's extremely important and basic stuff.

Zurhaar/Simpkin, CCJ/Greenwood, Stevo

That's weak.
(Greenwood was okay but not a CHF)

Do you put Sheezel there, just so that we have something?
We definitely need Sellers or Maley to take some marks.

 

[FlyHigh18]

Why is our draw so ******* hard to start off with? Wtf

All the more easier after the Geelong game.