Preview Rd 15 Geelong V Blues Fri 21 Jun 740 pm @ MCG

[Finknottle]

Man on man? Blicavs to run with TDK all game and SDK to do the same on McKay. Blicavs will have no troubles keeping up with him or standing in him down back.

Blicavs from a couple of years ago maybe, but he has lost a lot of his speed and power. Some say he is playing injured but being 33 years old surely has something to do with it.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't play VFL this week

Why?

 

[OzeSparky]

Underwhelming team selection. Same old same old.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

You're probably right but I get frustrated with the thinking that our best chance is by going with the "known" commodities rather than risking improvement from the unknown. We will try something different once we know our papers are stamped rather than thinking "we might find something in Humphries that improves us". Be bold!

Well at least at long last Parfitts papers look like they have been Stamped , thank goodness

 

[Footy Smarts]

On cuurent form he should be out.

Nonsense. Against GWS he had 24 touches, a goal, 6 clearances and 511 metres gained. He was massive.

He's played 1 game since then and you think he deserves to be dropped?

There's a strong argument for backing in a younger player because Tuohy doesn't move the needle massively but in form he clearly deserves a spot.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Neale clearly not rated here.

Would have liked an injection of "newness" into this out of form and boring team.

Humphries, Closhesy, Mannagh... hell, even Hardie or Knevitt would make it more interesting.

It seems dominating in the VFL is given little reward.

Dissapointing selection IMO.

Tuohy bring selected is a bit uninspiring but outside that Danger was always coming in and Henry is a youth selection

 

[CatToTheFuture]

It wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't play VFL this week

Neale? Why?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

We seem to be setting the bar quite high for VFL players to step into a team who've been setting the bar quite low......

The step up is pretty high though, no one wants Parfitt in the team but in his last 4 vfl games he's had a 34 and a 40 disposal game.

If Parfitts game isn't translating then whose will?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I'd suggest your fourth sentence is already happening.

Tuohy is done, Duncan is done, Cuthrie is done, Stanley is done, Hawkins is done, Blitz is gasping, and Danger is sputtering.

Our young guys are struggling, but with all due respect to our elders - who've performed amazingly over a long journey - they're carrying a lot of near dead weight.

Yes, we need balance, but we haven't got that.

It could get worse. It could very very worse

 

[Kobe Gryant]

The step up is pretty high though, no one wants Parfitt in the team but in his last 4 vfl games he's had a 34 and a 40 disposal game.

If Parfitts game isn't translating then whose will?

The argument would be there's no scope for improvement long term with Parf.

You might get the same results (or worse) playing Knevitt, Stevens, Clohesy, Humphries, COS, etc...but it's an investment in the future.

It's the same reason why Clark is being favoured over Hardie, who'd likely provide the same output, but doesn't have the scope to go much further than that.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

The argument would be there's no scope for improvement long term with Parf.

You might get the same results (or worse) playing Knevitt, Stevens, Clohesy, Humphries, COS, etc...but it's an investment in the future.

It's the same reason why Clark is being favoured over Hardie, who'd likely provide the same output, but doesn't have the scope to go much further than that.

Yeah I'm not arguing to play Parfitt, I'm arguing that you shouldn't be fooled by vfl stats

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Yeah I'm not arguing to play Parfitt, I'm arguing that you shouldn't be fooled by vfl stats

I don't think anyone is though.

For instance, you and I are Humphries fans, and want to see him get a go...but we're not expecting him to come in and average 20-odd touches like he has at VFL level.

We just want to see him play and develop, which is what Cataholic is getting at.

Point is, he - among others - can't be doing much more, regardless of how little VFL stats translate to AFL stats.

 

[Play it Sam]

Close watch on certain players in this same old same old team. Neale was a monty for omission..

Lose and whoever f**** up is going to be replaced with deserving VFL's, book it.

Bruhn out for a stretch, perfect opportunity to blood like for like, playing with Danger's support.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

who isn’t the future.

Interesting selection criteria. Let's go full ball at it then shall we.

Out: Blicavs, Tuohy, Hawkins, Rohan, Duncan, Dangerfield, O'Connor, Atkins.
In: Humphries, Neale, Clohesy, Mannagh, Knevitt, COS, Stevens, Parf, Hardie.

J. Henry COS Kolodjashnij
Humphries Stewart Z.Guthrie
Knevitt Clark Mannagh
Close SDK Miers
Stengle Cameron O.Henry
Neale Bowes Holmes
Hardie Dempsey Mullin Stevens Clohesy
​

Some short term pain there for hopeful long term gain.

 

[Lana]

Neale? Why?

With Carlton's talls if we had a choice De Koning wouldn't be covering 2nd ruck

 

[Kitcat]

Most here are giving us no chance against Carlton. Against Sydney, most said we would get crushed, by up to 10 goals, yet we were 2 goals down with 3 minutes left against the league's only outstanding team.
The selection doesn't look great but if we don't perform, it may be hard to turn the season around with no reinforcements to come, other than hopefully a fit Cam Guthrie.

 

[CHAWKTS]

With Carlton's talls if we had a choice De Koning wouldn't be covering 2nd ruck

I think they have a choice. And made it.

Might not be the right choice…time will tell…but I do understand it. No point putting Stanley or Conway out there (and I love Toby!!) as we know that answer…so mix it up with the next best we have…blitz.

Added bonus is that blitz needs a reset so maybe this does it. Maybe they also think Sam needs a reset so playing 25-30% ruck gives him a different focus given his defensive form is just ok? Kolo has done well against Carlton before and Henry needs to step up. And SDK will be there a lot as well.

In terms of Neale I do wish we could find a way for him to play but I don’t think ruck back up is enough to take a spot…and the three talls just hasn’t worked. Not his fault but he is first out?

 

[CHAWKTS]

So this week I am probably feeling the most negative I have for any game for a while. Not angry just “resigned” to the fact that we feel a long way away from Carlton. Even against Swans, whilst I knew we were not as good, I pinned hope to them being “due” and also maybe being flat post bye - which turned out to be true…for a quarter!

Putting the team lists against each other and overlaying form it just seems impossible to mount a case that we can win.

I understand therefore that the MC has tried something a little bold in terms of rucks…but then bemused that they have been less bold in terms of injecting a little more youth in rather than backing the older guys (Danger excepted).

Looking beyond this game though, it is clear that the MC are going to - at least for the next 4 weeks - not at all give up on winning 2024. Doesn’t matter how many people tell them that we can’t win the flag. In their mind they just need 4 players to get back to their best (Stewart, Jezza, Danger, Blitz). With Guthrie now as an bonus…And I agree that if that happens we are a completely different proposition. Imagine if those 4 played to their best against Swans - we would have won.

Everything else - for 2024 - is frankly largely irrelevant or already in place…. And those 4 players can turn it on at any time (unless of course they are already over the hill!). Until we can’t mathematically make an impact I can’t see our MC giving up. They didnt in 2023 (and of course were wrong)

If I was in charge I would not play 2E, Rohan and would put Blitz now on notice…Maybe even Duncan…I would watch Hawkins to see whether Neale should be going in front in terms of getting games in….but that is because I don’t think we can win in 2024 - but I might be wrong!

Back to this week, our defensive pressure is going to need to be unbelievable I think to give us a shot. Or those 4 players are going to need to turn it on and have the other players go with them

 

[CHAWKTS]

So I do find the BF ruck “discussion” interesting…

Over the course of the year there have been numerous posts about Stanley being terrible and should never play again… just about as many saying Conway is not ready (but great future) and being ragdolled a lot by senior opposition. And that our ruck efforts along with midfield have been B if not C level and cost us games.

Also lots of posts about Blitz being well down and SDK being terrible.


And then this week we have the MC leave out both ruckman who, according to BF are not up to it, and then have Blitz and SDK try a different focus…and BF melts into itself about the stupidity of the MC.

Now I am not here to defend the MC - I have no idea whether this is a good or terrible idea - but I expect they have similar feelings to the BF family in that we can’t win with the “standard” ruck so lets try something new. I honestly don’t see how (for this week) leaving those rucks out have damaged our chance of winning.

And I do think Blitz needs a reset and SDK some time doing something a bit more proactive…So I am ok to take this risk as it either works (and gives us a shot) or doesnt (and we are frankly no worse off?)

Now outside of ruck I am happy to melt with my BF family when it comes to not finding a spot for Knevitt, Mannagh and Wilthchire - any or all of them (2E, Duncan, Rohan!)

 

[And_ROOS]

Lose a key midfielder in Bruhn and only bring in a part time mid in Danger?

We are going to get ****ing smashed this weekend and its totally on the MC for this.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Nonsense. Against GWS he had 24 touches, a goal, 6 clearances and 511 metres gained. He was massive.

He's played 1 game since then and you think he deserves to be dropped?

There's a strong argument for backing in a younger player because Tuohy doesn't move the needle massively but in form he clearly deserves a spot.

He had 9 possessions and 166m gained the last time he played for us.

He is flagging fast and at his age that only should result in one thing.

Same with rohan frankly.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

So I do find the BF ruck “discussion” interesting…

Over the course of the year there have been numerous posts about Stanley being terrible and should never play again… just about as many saying Conway is not ready (but great future) and being ragdolled a lot by senior opposition. And that our ruck efforts along with midfield have been B if not C level and cost us games.

Also lots of posts about Blitz being well down and SDK being terrible.


And then this week we have the MC leave out both ruckman who, according to BF are not up to it, and then have Blitz and SDK try a different focus…and BF melts into itself about the stupidity of the MC.

Now I am not here to defend the MC - I have no idea whether this is a good or terrible idea - but I expect they have similar feelings to the BF family in that we can’t win with the “standard” ruck so lets try something new. I honestly don’t see how (for this week) leaving those rucks out have damaged our chance of winning.

And I do think Blitz needs a reset and SDK some time doing something a bit more proactive…So I am ok to take this risk as it either works (and gives us a shot) or doesnt (and we are frankly no worse off?)

Now outside of ruck I am happy to melt with my BF family when it comes to not finding a spot for Knevitt, Mannagh and Wilthchire - any or all of them (2E, Duncan, Rohan!)

Its stupid because blitz is cooked physically so im not sure how more workload helps and this is not a game you want sdk rucking when mckay is up the other end. Surely you play either conway or neale.

This is before you even get me started on picking both henry and rohan, not dropping tuohy and not picking mannagh or another mid.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I think they have a choice. And made it.

Might not be the right choice…time will tell…but I do understand it. No point putting Stanley or Conway out there (and I love Toby!!) as we know that answer…so mix it up with the next best we have…blitz.

Added bonus is that blitz needs a reset so maybe this does it. Maybe they also think Sam needs a reset so playing 25-30% ruck gives him a different focus given his defensive form is just ok? Kolo has done well against Carlton before and Henry needs to step up. And SDK will be there a lot as well.

In terms of Neale I do wish we could find a way for him to play but I don’t think ruck back up is enough to take a spot…and the three talls just hasn’t worked. Not his fault but he is first out?

Conway has been fine as a ruck. Unless he is gassed or injured he should be playing.

 

[Play it Sam]

I wouldn't get too excited about no rucks, Stanley may be a test, and if good to go will go.
Certain the MC have more faith in him than us. Sick of them dicking around with injured labels.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I wouldn't get too excited about no rucks, Stanley may be a test, and if good to go will go.
Certain the MC have more faith in him than us. Sick of them dicking around with injured labels.

Why has he been named injured then?