Game Day Pre-Season - West Coast vs Adelaide (Fri)

[FR0GGY]

Didn't know his opponent affected his movement and follow up effort around the ground or ability to mark but he was also good against Gawn last year. Maybe he is rediscovering his 2020 form but then he did show the same in a few games last year against Richmond and Bulldogs.

Of course it does, if you play on someone you don’t have to worry about you can do what you like. #b#basicknowlege

 

[FR0GGY]

-Fog getting the best defender each week will really help Tex

Fog had McGovern and Barass plenty last night.
Tex hasn’t had the 2nd best defender since Tippett was here.

 

[martyparty]

Despite the fact our internal trial provided better opposition, a good win.

What happened to Thilthorpe?

On TV news prior to trial, Rahilly vaguely gave a bit of a hint that if Tex was in, then Thilthorpe wouldn’t be. Not sure how long they intend to stick with this but it may depend on injuries and Tex being rested.

 

[FR0GGY]

On TV news prior to trial, Rahilly vaguely gave a bit of a hint that if Tex was in, then Thilthorpe wouldn’t be. Not sure how long they intend to stick with this but it may depend on injuries and Tex being rested.
View attachment 1621000

What’s going on with the hair

 

[Vader]

To be fair, Himmelberg has significantly outperformed Thilthorpe so far this pre-season, in both the intra-club and match-sim. He's earned his place in the team for now. We all know that Himmelberg is prone to having purple patches, followed by runs of horrendous form, so I doubt this is a permanent situation - but he's earned incumbency for now.

With ROB seemingly a permanent fixture as #1 ruck, and Tex & Fog locked in as 2 of the 3x KPFs, there's only room for 1x ruck/fwd - and for now, that's Himmelberg.

 

[ABAB]

Of course it does, if you play on someone you don’t have to worry about you can do what you like. #b#basicknowlege

So AFL players can't even follow the basic coaching advice of defending against you around the ground. Ruckmen aren't KPD #BasicFootballKnowledge.

 

[Burtonsgottago]

Just look so much better without McHenry and Murphy. If Thilthorpe can jump ahead of ROB we’re on our way.

 

[Scorpus]

To be fair, Himmelberg has significantly outperformed Thilthorpe so far this pre-season, in both the intra-club and match-sim. He's earned his place in the team for now. We all know that Himmelberg is prone to having purple patches, followed by runs of horrendous form, so I doubt this is a permanent situation - but he's earned incumbency for now.

With ROB seemingly a permanent fixture as #1 ruck, and Tex & Fog locked in as 2 of the 3x KPFs, there's only room for 1x ruck/fwd - and for now, that's Himmelberg.

Significantly outperformed?

Both have been poor. Based on form it's hard to justify playing either

 

[George Kramer]

Yes, George Kramer has, earlier in the thread.

Yes the positive poster known as GK

 

[Golumless]

Eh, I doubt there is anything to worry about with Thilthorpe. Outside of we're going through the same outsmarting ourselves as we did with Fog (of course that's not a complete negative as it probably did round out parts of his game that wouldn't have otherwise,).

He'll get to the point the penny will drop and will end up an elite CHF not long after.

 

[Vader]

Significantly outperformed?

Both have been poor. Based on form it's hard to justify playing either

Thilthorpe has been close to invisible. EH has massively outperformed him. It's not even close.

Thilthorpe is still young, inexperienced, and still has the physique of a beanpole rather than an AFL footballer. He's extremely talented, and I'm certainly not writing him off in the longer term. But in the short term, right now, EH has him covered by the length of the Flemington Straight.

 

[Scorpus]

Thilthorpe has been close to invisible. EH has massively outperformed him. It's not even close.

Thilthorpe is still young, inexperienced, and still has the physique of a beanpole rather than an AFL footballer. He's extremely talented, and I'm certainly not writing him off in the longer term. But in the short term, right now, EH has him covered by the length of the Flemington Straight.

He was certainly invisible yesterday, because he didn't play.

Nothing about Himmelberg's pre season form warrants AFL selection. Especially yesterday he played exactly like he has at AFL level so far, which is to say below an acceptable standard.

But it seems like we're set to repeat the mistakes of prior years where we pick on "form" in meaningless games and at training over talent.

Luckily the rest of the side is being selected well at the moment

 

[ams4crows]

Soligo is already a star. I look forward to him getting the ball because I really enjoy watching him dispose of it. This contrasts with many others where I just grit my teeth and shut my eyes. He is good at everything and makes very, very few mistakes. We should extend his contract again right now.

I agree with this as soon as he gets the ball I know he's gonna deliver, it's so refreshing

 

[ABAB]

Himmelberg has shown he can play at a high level but is still very inconsistent, if he had kick 2 of those 3 set shots then he would have had a good game. Will be an adequate replacement when Walker retire if he can improve on his consistency, him and Gollant will be competing for this tall forward position.

 

[StonesThrow]

Can't say I agree that Himm had a poor pre season. Thought he was pretty handy around the ground. He uses it well and makes good decisions.

 

[Vader]

Himmelberg has shown he can play at a high level but is still very inconsistent, if he had kick 2 of those 3 set shots then he would have had a good game. Will be an adequate replacement when Walker retire if he can improve on his consistency, him and Gollant will be competing for this tall forward position.

There could be a few players competing for Walker's vacancy, when he everntually rides off into the sunset.

Himmelberg, Thilthorpe, Gollant - and possibly Welsh jnr (2024 F/S selection).

Walker & Fog both appear significantly slimmed down, relative to the muscle bulk they were carrying in recent years. Fingers crossed this will help extend Walker's career, though age eventually catches up with everyone.

 

[glengowan]

I like Berry and Pedlar in the side. They don’t miss tackles. To me, that is the biggest indicator of when the Crows mean business. It was significant when Walsh took over. It has been missing, but these two make sure they stick. Every player, from O’Brien down to Parnell need to follow and we’ll win more games than we lose.

 

[Vader]

He was certainly invisible yesterday, because he didn't play.

He did, however, play in the intra-club and match-sim games, and was almost completely invisible in both.

Nothing about Himmelberg's pre season form warrants AFL selection. Especially yesterday he played exactly like he has at AFL level so far, which is to say below an acceptable standard.

Yeah, that's garbage. He missed a couple of set shots, but was pretty good in general play - certainly better than anything TT has shown so far this year.

But it seems like we're set to repeat the mistakes of prior years where we pick on "form" in meaningless games and at training over talent.

Luckily the rest of the side is being selected well at the moment

No argument that Thilthorpe has more talent, but he's miles off the required standard right now - if the intra-club and match-sim games are anything to go by. I want him in the AFL team too, but right now he's not even close to justifying selection.

 

[FR0GGY]

I like Berry and Pedlar in the side. They don’t miss tackles. To me, that is the biggest indicator of when the Crows mean business. It was significant when Walsh took over. It has been missing, but these two make sure they stick. Every player, from O’Brien down to Parnell need to follow and we’ll win more games than we lose.

Mcadam and and Rankine also underrated tacklers.

 

[ABAB]

There could be a few players competing for Walker's vacancy, when he everntually rides off into the sunset.

Himmelberg, Thilthorpe, Gollant - and possibly Welsh jnr (2024 F/S selection).

Walker & Fog both appear significantly slimmed down, relative to the muscle bulk they were carrying in recent years. Fingers crossed this will help extend Walker's career, though age eventually catches up with everyone.

I see Thilthorpe taking Himmelberg spot when his form improve and Welsh will be 3-4 years away, don't see Walker playing for that long.

 

[Golumless]

He was certainly invisible yesterday, because he didn't play.

Nothing about Himmelberg's pre season form warrants AFL selection. Especially yesterday he played exactly like he has at AFL level so far, which is to say below an acceptable standard.

But it seems like we're set to repeat the mistakes of prior years where we pick on "form" in meaningless games and at training over talent.

Luckily the rest of the side is being selected well at the moment

Seems a tad harsh, considering. 14 disposals/4 marks/3 clearances (6 HO)/5 score involvements/0 goals, 2 behinds is a pretty solid outing. Even last year, 9.8 disposals/1.3 goals a game is a solid season.

That said, it seems like Elliot really needs to seek a trade. He's good enough to be a starter and it's hard to see where he ends up at Adelaide, unless we are giving up on Thilthorpe rucking and think this is it for Tex. Because we know how this story goes. Put Thilly in the 2s and he wrecks worlds.

 

[BACCS]

Our willingness to take the game on down the middle out of our D50 was beautiful to watch last night. ROB even got involved in good handball chains a couple of times.

Fog is just so damn fit now, works up and down the ground and is also applying defensive pressure when required.

Pedlar was also working his arse off and kept involved with the game, he’s building. That goal he kicked from a Sloane pass involved sprinting from the contest that he and Sloane were involved with together 50 metres up the field.

Schoenberg, Berry and Soligo all looking slick through the middle and Laird just being Laird.

Cannot ask for anymore than that performance heading into round one!

 

[BACCS]

Now with mchenry and murphy out, murray is now our weakest link.

Milera to replace parnell i suspect. doesnt look like thilthorpe will be in round 1.

Murray a weak link? I loved his game last night. Killed a few marking contests with good spoils and was involved in a few of our attacking plays. Butts much better than last week too.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

So, we won, who gives a s**t.
Kane?
This form is walk over.
Sure press is high but it needs to be 24/8

Yeah, I give a shit that we are playing a far better game style with a higher skilled & fitter team if you are asking...

 

[Scorpus]

Seems a tad harsh, considering. 14 disposals/4 marks/3 clearances (6 HO)/5 score involvements/0 goals, 2 behinds is a pretty solid outing. Even last year, 9.8 disposals/1.3 goals a game is a solid season.

That said, it seems like Elliot really needs to seek a trade. He's good enough to be a starter and it's hard to see where he ends up at Adelaide, unless we are giving up on Thilthorpe rucking and think this is it for Tex. Because we know how this story goes. Put Thilly in the 2s and he wrecks worlds.

It's the same story as always with Himmelberg. He's always been serviceable around the ground. He's a good user and does okay when he can get it uncontested.

What he's not that good at is being a ruckman. He was towelled up by O'Brien in the intraclub and while he's okay as a pinch hitter, if he's getting beaten by a fairly average ruck at training he's never going to be our #1.

As for his role, he's a key position forward, not a wingman or half forward where he plays his best football. In the Fremantle match he was pretty similar to TT as a forward and against West Coast he was the same he's always been. When he's outside 50 he does okay but inside 50 he's a poor mark (unless he gets it under no pressure) and poor shot at goal. Nothing I saw yesterday or previously changed my opinion on that and his form isn't strong enough to warrant automatic selection based on form alone