Preview R14: Changes vs. Sydney Swans

[footy4ever]

Better matchup than last week at least.

Considering Grundy's form I actually think it's worse. The only thing Strachan will have over Grundy is 2cm in height.

 

[Gtowncrow]

I'd like another debutante.
St Kilda rolling out their fifth this weekend.

Never has Matthew Nicks

Matthew Nicks

Age

49

Ht

187cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.6

3star

K

9.4

4star

HB

4.2

3star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.7

4star

G

0.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

6.6

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.2

3star

T

1.4

4star

G

0.4

3star

been more closely examined than his performance this weekend. The fact he named his support from a couple of senior crows (Silvers and Olsen from memory) during the week was interesting. Sounded like he didn't think he had universal support so needed to cherry pick a couple of names.

Without his contract extension and the senior management ownership of this decision, he'd be sacked by now.

There's boardroom dangerous egos riding this lame pony.

 

[SugarShane]

My son (9) is right handed but kicks left footed, its a real struggle with his kicking skills because of the ball drop with what is effectively his opposite hand.

Went to school with a kid who was left handed but played all sport right handed. My brain couldn't comprehend it. Kicked, bowled and batted right handed.

 

[Mutineer]

Considering Grundy's form I actually think it's worse. The only thing Strachan will have over Grundy is 2cm in height.

Much worse, Grundy has a workrate and athleticism that Toby Nankervis can only dream about, not to mention excellent back up in Hayden McLean.

 

[skam85]

You're dreaming if you think Ryan is anywhere near ready for a game against the current Premiership favourites. Not a snowflakes chance in Hades of that happening.

All well and good that your knowledge of the young kids dictates this opinion, but there's players running around in our 23 now that are truly awful, finals hopes are gone so there is literally nothing to lose trying to find out.

 

[1970crow]

Don’t lose hope guys, Nicks may get saved from his own stupidity

Jab him up and get him out there.

 

[footy4ever]

Much worse, Grundy has a workrate and athleticism that Toby Nankervis can only dream about, not to mention excellent back up in Hayden McLean.

Like, love, hate him, ROB is clearly our best ruckman. There's no point in playing Strachan, he's never making it as an AFL ruck and his selection is of no benefit and doesn't even fit into the 'play the kids' mantra. Might as well have someone who will hold their own in a ruck contest at least.

 

[Ham]

It's a bit of a worry when we've come to the point of hanging our hopes on Himmelberg. What a mess.

This is where i feel Toby Murray could be a better option than Burgess cause whether he’s better than his opponent or not - he’s 2m tall


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[Gtowncrow]

You're dreaming if you think Ryan is anywhere near ready for a game against the current Premiership favourites. Not a snowflakes chance in Hades of that happening.

Perhaps so. But it's not a selection for this weekend. Think bigger.

But equally in regard to snowflakes and Hades etc, we know we have seriously underperforming players currently, who Ryan has been recruited to replace at some point. Of course this is a daunting game for us but given where we are at this moment, that tipping point has arrived.
Besides, running around chasing Chad Warner will teach him a great deal he will never learn in the SANFL.

I want aggressive coaching, not a perpetual returning to the players we already know are not our solution. I'd be totally happy for the Crows to treat the last ten games with the same approach as preseason games. Explore bravely seeking new options, experiment wildly without the fear of losing, extend players capabilities and explode the current paradigm. This last one is the final examination of Nicks.

He's probably a great bloke, but that's not the priority just now.

Oscar Ryan in Jones out. Ready or not, it sets a standard which we (Nicks) have revealed as our greatest shortcoming. There's a time for drastic action and that time is now.

 

[Mutineer]

Like, love, hate him, ROB is clearly our best ruckman. There's no point in playing Strachan, he's never making it as an AFL ruck and his selection is of no benefit and doesn't even fit into the 'play the kids' mantra. Might as well have someone who will hold their own in a ruck contest at least.

Imagine Keiran trying to keep up with Grundy around the ground when he was buggered and tonguing it chasing big Toby around early in the 2nd quarter last week.
Grundy likely beats whoever we play against him but at least ROB has the tank to try and negate his influence somewhat, that's without factoring in that Strachan's "tight groin" could flare again under stress.

 

[Mutineer]

Perhaps so. But it's not a selection for this weekend. Think bigger.

But equally in regard to snowflakes and Hades etc, we know we have seriously underperforming players currently, who Ryan has been recruited to replace at some point. Of course this is a daunting game for us but given where we are at this moment, that tipping point has arrived.
Besides, running around chasing Chad Warner will teach him a great deal he will never learn in the SANFL.

I want aggressive coaching, not a perpetual returning to the players we already know are not our solution. I'd be totally happy for the Crows to treat the last ten games with the same approach as preseason games. Explore bravely seeking new options, experiment wildly without the fear of losing, extend players capabilities and explode the current paradigm. This last one is the final examination of Nicks.

He's probably a great bloke, but that's not the priority just now.

Oscar Ryan in Jones out. Ready or not, it sets a standard which we (Nicks) have revealed as our greatest shortcoming. There's a time for drastic action and that time is now.

Jones is not the player you drop, bad choice.

 

[Gtowncrow]

Considering Grundy's form I actually think it's worse. The only thing Strachan will have over Grundy is 2cm in height.

Agree that it's a hard day incoming for Strachan. But I feel Grundy is less physical than Nankervis. Additionally, Nankervis is in my opinion, greatly underrated. Good player.

 

[SugarShane]

That goal by Tex was GOTY worthy. It might not have been as spectacular as the Eddie style of goals from the pockets but the skill level in Walkers kick is OFF THE CHARTS!! Funny thing is, the better you know football, the more you realise how good that was. My single greatest memory of our 2023 season.

Might not be a popular opinion, but there are 4 or 5 players in the league who could pull off Eddie's goals of the year. Struggling to think of any others that could dob a droppy on their wrong foot from outside 50 and have it split the centre.

 

[jimvic]

You're dreaming if you think Ryan is anywhere near ready for a game against the current Premiership favourites. Not a snowflakes chance in Hades of that happening.

would have thought that guarantees a start for him just to prove the point

 

[footy4ever]

Agree that it's a hard day incoming for Strachan. But I feel Grundy is less physical than Nankervis. Additionally, Nankervis is in my opinion, greatly underrated. Good player.

Grundy has such a low centre of gravity for a big guy. That, and being slightly heavier, I think he's going to be even harder to shift in the contest than Nankervis.

Reckon you're right with Nakervis being underrated though.

 

[Trigger13]

Smith. OUT.

Burgess. OUT.

All I’ve got for now.

 

[crows dude]

Better matchup than last week at least.

Grundy will monster hi,. Might be a week to try the two rucks.

 

[George Kramer]

I also was quite sure they were going to sub Dowling last week and he only got saved by Strachan going down.

Yep and they would have cited first game player was spent, meanwhile he stayed on and had 8 touches in the last….

 

[George Kramer]

Smith. OUT.

Burgess. OUT.

Opinion or hearing it?

Burgess should never play again, Smith can have a farewell game

 

[BACCS]

Smith. OUT.

Burgess. OUT.

Hearing any other names yet? Anything about the Laird injury?

 

[Trigger13]

Hearing any other names yet? Anything about the Laird injury?

That’s all I’ve been told. For now.

 

[BACCS]

Yep and they would have cited first game player was spent, meanwhile he stayed on and had 8 touches in the last….

That extra quarter means he needs to rest this week as the sub

 

[walterhobbs]

Smith. OUT.

Burgess. OUT.

All I’ve got for now.

Smith to injure someone again to get back in?

 

[Trigger13]

Smith to injure someone again to get back in?

If that happens, I’m out. Along with my dwindling reputation for good intel haha

 

[1970crow]

Imagine Keiran trying to keep up with Grundy around the ground when he was buggered and tonguing it chasing big Toby around early in the 2nd quarter last week.
Grundy likely beats whoever we play against him but at least ROB has the tank to try and negate his influence somewhat, that's without factoring in that Strachan's "tight groin" could flare again under stress.

Imagine playing 2s whilst the coaches prefer Kieran.