Preview RD 16 Geelong v Essendon Sat Jun 29 730pm @ MCG

[Cataholic]

If we're going to get killed in the ruck most weeks, why not try something different rather than rolling out the same thing each week...

Maybe they're also trying to build Conway's confidence with some dominant performances in the VFL & then try to bring that to the seniors

Ok, I can see the theory, but not sure how and why that concern arose

And in the meantime, we risk demolishing the confidence of another kid.

 

[Johanpetro]

If we're going to get killed in the ruck most weeks, why not try something different rather than rolling out the same thing each week...

Maybe they're also trying to build Conway's confidence with some dominant performances in the VFL & then try to bring that to the seniors

Conway has played 5 games this year and we have won 3 of those. I think we are a better team with him in atm

 

[BORIS332]

How’s SDK feeling after being bullied in prime time by his brother? I don’t know Conway but I’m gonna assume he’s gonna be just fine if he loses some battles lol bloody hell.

Why, when and how was it threatened?

Conway's a 21 year old ruckman the club wants to protect. Ask Fischer McAsey about being thrown in the deep end.

 

[moond0g]

Yes I’m saying it’s a no brainer to play our actual ruckman , especially Conway. As I said how is it a difficult conundrum? You have the choice to play your young gun ruckman a few games in a row then rest him for the veteran, or randomly throw darts at the selection table with SDK, Henry, blitz etc…

We are gonna get killed most weeks in the ruck so why not play and get experience in Conway?

What if they see SDK as a viable ruck option in the medium/long term?

I'm not disagreeing with most of what you're saying fwiw. I'm just pointing out that Conway would likely have been beaten by TDK just as badly. I would have personally played Blicavs as our number 1, because he has shown an ability to play there at AFL level and is currently out of form as a mid. But agree that considering both SDK and Conway would probably get beaten, Conway would likely benefit from the experience in the ruck more.

 

[And_ROOS]

Yeah fair.

But in those games our ruck has been SDK against Carlton, Stanley against Sydney, and Conway against Richmond and GWS. So, based on that small sample, we've tried 3 different options and they've all been bad. It's not like we've got a world beater in the VFL, what are we supposed to do?

Is that just reading the stats? Conway might have lost the hit outs but he didn't get smashed around the ground and we won the centre and stoppage clearances. Definitely wasn't anywhere near our worst player and thats from a kid with 6 games.

 

[moond0g]

Perhaps the club doesn't want to destroy Conway's confidence.

He'll just get beaten and lose confidence the next time he plays then. A few weeks in the VFL isn't going to change that

 

[Cataholic]

Conway's a 21 year old ruckman the club wants to protect. Ask Fischer McAsey about being thrown in the deep end.

Ok, but we're running a risky strategy with a kid who's gun-shy with physicality atm, and who got ragdolled last week.

 

[Cataholic]

He'll just get beaten and lose confidence the next time he plays then. A few weeks in the VFL isn't going to change that

Conway strikes me as guy with confidence who relishes the challenge.

 

[moond0g]

Is that just reading the stats? Conway might have lost the hit outs but he didn't get smashed around the ground and we won the centre and stoppage clearances. Definitely wasn't anywhere near our worst player and thats from a kid with 6 games.

I wasn't the one that brought up the richmond game as an example. I was just pointing out that the 4 examples of rucks beating us consisted of us playing 3 different rucks.

 

[Hamingja]

The club would have things that they want Conway to work on.

I'd prefer to see him play AFL over the back half of the season because smashing jobbies in the VFL will only take him so far. Copping the beatings at AFL level is all part of the development.

 

[BORIS332]

Ok, but we're running a risky strategy with a kid who's gun-shy with physicality atm, and who got ragdolled last week.

And was the 2nd highest rated player on the ground with 20 disposals (16 contested), 20 hitouts, 5 tackles, 4 clearances and a goal. TDK was outstanding, but SDK's performance was probably the best we've had from a ruckman this season.

 

[Cataholic]

And was the 2nd highest rated player on the ground with 20 disposals (16 contested), 20 hitouts, 5 tackles, 4 clearances and a goal. TDK was outstanding, but SDK's performance was probably the best we've had from a ruckman this season.

He played better in the second half, after a woeful first, I'll give you that.

But his body of work until then has been really ordinary.

He's going to have his work cut out against Essendon, especially as he's not a ruck and they're vastly more experienced in the role.

 

[patience]

Most teachers I know would work for free if they never had to deal with parents.

And students

 

[patience]

What about Mitch...

He didn’t say who would be.

 

[allrighty]

Conway has played 5 games this year and we have won 3 of those. I think we are a better team with him in atm

Agree but the correlation might need some more work

 

[allrighty]

Ok, but we're running a risky strategy with a kid who's gun-shy with physicality atm, and who got ragdolled last week.

I don't think he is physically gun shy. If he was he would not go for the ground ball after the ballup every time he can. He is just learning against some pretty big and strong units.

I have said before that I stood next to Gawn at the Drs 3 or so years ago and he had clouds circling his head it was so high up.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I don't think SDK will ruck - but if he does I expect 2MP to kick a bag - we'll play JH on him and that could get very ugly particularly if the ball comes in quickly.
Blitz to ruck with Neale providing relief , Knevitt to wing.....

 

[cats_09]

I knew before now that Humphries could kick pretty well with both feet, but watching these highlights it seems he preferences the left from kick/mark type play, but when on the run he goes with the right foot

Be interesting to see if that holds true on Saturday night or it's just the way these highlights have been put together

 

[Cataholic]

I don't think he is physically gun shy. If he was he would not go for the ground ball after the ballup every time he can. He is just learning against some pretty big and strong units.

I have said before that I stood next to Gawn at the Drs 3 or so years ago and he had clouds circling his head it was so high up.

I agree he's learning, but I see a kid with some hesitation re: physical contact.

Understandable, and I don't hold it against him. But he needs to overcome it.

He also needs to work hard in the gym, like his brother obviously has, especially if they intend to have him play a part in the ruck going forward.

Personally, I'd prefer they play Conway and leave Sam in defense.

 

[cats_09]

mini Neale with the exact same facial expression when celebrating as fully grown Neale - 6th pairing

 

[The_Koulouriotis_Fan]

SDK in the ruck.

Spare me.

He dropped his head in the first 2 mins V the Blues when he as beaten at the centre bounce and then when TDK pulled a Tomma and kicked that first goal.

I get he's out of form and low on confidence but rucking V Goldy and Draper aint gonna help him.

I get Stanley is shot - but a shot Stanley at least knows the tricks.

I just dont get it

GO Catters

Don’t know what’s hard to get. He started badly but he improved as the game went on. Had 20 disposals, 16 contested possessions, going at 85% disposal efficiency, 4 clearances, 2 contested marks and kicked a goal. Against one of the best and in form rucks in the comp.
2024 Rhys Stanley dreams of those kind of stats.

If he’d dropped his head and had 8 disposals for the game you might be onto something, but the fact that he ended up with those stats shows that he picked himself up and gave it a red hot go.

Personally I’d have Conway in but SDK is such a good ground ball player, I’m not adverse to seeing how he goes in the middle especially since his similarly sized and skilled brother is one of the best in the league in there.

 

[The_Koulouriotis_Fan]

Is that just reading the stats? Conway might have lost the hit outs but he didn't get smashed around the ground and we won the centre and stoppage clearances. Definitely wasn't anywhere near our worst player and thats from a kid with 6 games.

I think people get too hung up on one or two contests where a player is monstered, it happened with Nank a bit in that game, but he did pretty well otherwise

 

[cats_09]

 

[stac]

I see it as the club playing the long game and they know Conway is our best ruck.
If we are to do anything this year we need to get our back line up and firing, and to do that we need SDK in good form. Coaching staff must be wanting to get SDK around the ball and in the bash and crash to get his confidence back. Once he is back in form they can drop him back to the back line and bring Conway into the team

 

[Finknottle]

Conway, SDK, Blicavs? Where's my ouija board.