Preview R4 Sydney vs West Coast "Gather Round"

[The King!]

OK just listened to Horse's post-match presser and I am a bit lost.

He seemed to defend the three-talls forward line by implying it's only under scrutiny because they didn't work today, as they've worked for the rest of the year so far. Makes sense, I agree with that.

He also inferred that it wasn't the talls to blame so much as our lack of defensive efforts off the ball in the forward half that wasn't where it needed to be, which again, makes sense, and is exactly what my observation of the front half was.

Where I'm confused is how Horse thought it was ever going to be different?

He's continually picked only one forward who is elite defensively (either Fox or Wicks) in every game so far, and Heeney - who I also rate as elite in this regard - has been in the mids.

We've loaded up on these hybrid, flanker/wingman types - Hayward, Jordon, Campbell, McInerney, Lloyd, Warner Jr., Mitchell, throw in the guns like Gulden, Papley, Warner.

I'm curious where he thinks the defensive pressure is going to come from picking these types of players. Not saying they're wilting flowers or anything, but elite pressure off the ball they most certainly do not reliably bring, even if some have admirably improved themselves in this aspect.

We were basically Rowbottom or bust when it came to any kind of forward pressure against the Tigers, and he was occupied carrying us in that regard in the midfield as well. He is but one player.

It really feels like we're one extra runner/ball user too many and lacking in at least one harder-edged player who can bring real heat and physicality. As I feared in this comment from all the way back in November:

Will bite my tongue

 

[Wolfgang West]

Personally I have faith in the general path Mcdonald is on. Is he the next Lance Franklin? no but who is. He gets worked off it at times but you can see the bare bones there.

Amartey to me is a guy with talent who shows after several years no increase in fitness, which suggests what he has achieved has been done through talent alone. Yeah he probably will kick 4-5 against the Eagles and what will it do? give us a win then.

Do I back him in a final or when it counts? no, I have seen him give up already early in the year

Mate keep your faith and kudos to you for doing so but we will beg to differ here. He was insipid yesterday with a couple of tackle attempts against a bloke half his size, was pushed off it like rag dole not worked off it and has even when working his opponent under the ball yesterday and a couple of times against the Pies does not have the natural movement to take advantage of it. I have been a critic on the kid and I won't be accused of making him a whipping boy. I just don't see it with him. I hope I'm wrong as It will be advantageous for our fortunes. Also I love all the blokes that pull on the red and white although at times being super hard on them.

 

[The King!]

Mate keep your faith and kudos to you for doing so but we will beg to differ here. He was insipid yesterday with a couple of tackle attempts against a bloke half his size, was pushed off it like rag dole not worked off it and has even when working his opponent under the ball yesterday and a couple of times against the Pies does not have the natural movement to take advantage of it. I have been a critic on the kid and I won't be accused of making him a whipping boy. I just don't see it with him. I hope I'm wrong as It will be advantageous for our fortunes. Also I love all the blokes that pull on the red and white although at time s being super hard on them.

I can see the argument against McDonald and that is where the club are facing a difficult decision because going to have to go all in early here and potentially lose others to pay him.


Right now the less flashy but most reliable is Mclean and mainly because he can ruck.

Mcdonald was no where to be found when we needed him yesterday

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

OK just listened to Horse's post-match presser and I am a bit lost.

He seemed to defend the three-talls forward line by implying it's only under scrutiny because they didn't work today, as they've worked for the rest of the year so far. Makes sense, I agree with that.

He also inferred that it wasn't the talls to blame so much as our lack of defensive efforts off the ball in the forward half that wasn't where it needed to be, which again, makes sense, and is exactly what my observation of the front half was.

Where I'm confused is how Horse thought it was ever going to be different?

He's continually picked only one forward who is elite defensively (either Fox or Wicks) in every game so far, and Heeney - who I also rate as elite in this regard - has been in the mids.

We've loaded up on these hybrid, flanker/wingman types - Hayward, Jordon, Campbell, McInerney, Lloyd, Warner Jr., Mitchell, throw in the guns like Gulden, Papley, Warner.

I'm curious where he thinks the defensive pressure is going to come from picking these types of players. Not saying they're wilting flowers or anything, but elite pressure off the ball they most certainly do not reliably bring, even if some have admirably improved themselves in this aspect.

We were basically Rowbottom or bust when it came to any kind of forward pressure against the Tigers, and he was occupied carrying us in that regard in the midfield as well. He is but one player.

It really feels like we're one extra runner/ball user too many and lacking in at least one harder-edged player who can bring real heat and physicality. As I feared in this comment from all the way back in November:

If only we had a small forward tackling machine who learned his craft as a junior in rugby league ? Oh wait….

 

[Swanssince91]

If only we had a small forward tackling machine who learned his craft as a junior in rugby league ? Oh wait….

Is that Wicks?
We really need to find another pressure player if we're going to go with 3 talls.
Is Moi Moi a decent pressure player? We could look at him mid year

 

[Wolfgang West]

I can see the argument against McDonald and that is where the club are facing a difficult decision because going to have to go all in early here and potentially lose others to pay him.


Right now the less flashy but most reliable is Mclean and mainly because he can ruck.

Mcdonald was no where to be found when we needed him yesterday

We can agree McDonald has a shit load more talent but Hayden has him on Endeavour. Having said that not that it gets it done either. Just trust him more when chips are down.

 

[Punts]

Where nuts if we pay anywhere near 1 mil

Crazy

 

[wills2g]

Where nuts if we pay anywhere near 1 mil

Crazy

Horse and the media can say whatever they like that he's tracking well

King, Amiss etc all had less to work with than Logan and theyre miles ahead of where they are for their teams that where Logan is for us

Pay what he is worth and thats honestly not the #1 fwd role

 

[Swanssince91]

Horse and the media can say whatever they like that he's tracking well

King, Amiss etc all had less to work with than Logan and theyre miles ahead of where they are for their teams that where Logan is for us

Pay what he is worth and thats honestly not the #1 fwd role

He is tracking well

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I have a sense of foreboding about selections this week.

When Reid did not appear after half time in the 2s i thought

1. He had been dragged after an unacceptable effort. Or
2. He had picked up an injury. Or
3. He had ducked off to kfc in Richmond. In the midst of arguing with staff and other health conscious customers, Sam lost track of the time.

Turns out he was being preserved* in case he was needed for a return to the seniors!

 

[Punts]

Didn’t horse say in the presser Reid’s done his quad again?

I could be wrong

 

[caesar88]

Didn’t horse say in the presser Reid’s done his quad again?

I could be wrong

You're correct. Said he felt tightness in his quad so they took him off as a precautionary thing.

 

[The King!]

Where nuts if we pay anywhere near 1 mil

Crazy

Freo would be nuts to pay it too. Guess being tall pays off.

I know someone will pluck a stat and say look at Hawkins at the same age. But Hawkins is built like a brick shithouse

 

[Punts]

You're correct. Said he felt tightness in his quad so they took him off as a precautionary thing.

The bloke is cooked unfortunately

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

You're correct. Said he felt tightness in his quad so they took him off as a precautionary thing.

Thanks 88 and Punts I haven’t watched the presser yet.

 

[The King!]

The bloke is cooked unfortunately

On the rookie list was worth a risk anyway.

If we are waiting for him to come save us we are stuffed

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

On the rookie list was worth a risk anyway.

If we are waiting for him to come save us we are stuffed

Look I accept I am a critic. No way was he worth the risk.

 

[The King!]

Look I accept I am a critic. No way was he worth the risk.

But what was the risk?

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

How’s Pistol going in the 2’s, still pushing for a spot ?

 

[rustycrate]

How’s Pistol going in the 2’s, still pushing for a spot ?

Who?

 

[Swanssince91]

Freo would be nuts to pay it too. Guess being tall pays off.

I know someone will pluck a stat and say look at Hawkins at the same age. But Hawkins is built like a brick shithouse

Logan is actually better than Hawkins at the same age, Hawk was pretty ordinary early on

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Who?

Pistol Pete Ladhams

 

[Donza]

Thread has covered more topics than Wikipedia.

 

[rustycrate]

Pistol Pete Ladhams

Don't know anyone by that name pushing for a spot.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

But what was the risk?

That hed be injury prone and inconsistent when on the ground as he has been his entire career.

The risk is wasting a spot on the list, again.

Ultimately we opted to give him the last spot on the list ahead of players like Rankin and Hugo HK…

both these guys are having good seasons at Port and Sandy. I note with Heeney playing midfield we have only one other specialist medium forward - Hayward.