Rocca's IN.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Final 22.

[Somebody]

Forecast is now dry all Saturday and light rain on Sunday but not until evening.
so most likely no rain during or b4 the game, or at most a bit in the last quarter.

So that means rocca in.

they could try "ignoring" Rocca - ie putting 3rd best defender on him - might be worth a shot and if it worked it could win the game for them. But it won't work, on the 3rd best Rocca would have a picnic in front of goal and they'd have to shift up after his 3 or 4th goal. That would then free up Anthony to kick a bag of goals - or Cloke to kick a similar bag of points! Or maybe Medders to come out of the woodwork.

I reckon they'll put Dawson on him (Ant) and they have developed a rivalry so that will be epic. Hopefully Ant sees him off but then who would they use?

 

[kemosabe]

Rocca? Are you kidding me?

Oh, God.

YES!.... he has been called that before

 

[Fryman]

Forecast is now dry all Saturday and light rain on Sunday but not until evening.
so most likely no rain during or b4 the game, or at most a bit in the last quarter.

So that means rocca in.

they could try "ignoring" Rocca - ie putting 3rd best defender on him - might be worth a shot and if it worked it could win the game for them. But it won't work, on the 3rd best Rocca would have a picnic in front of goal and they'd have to shift up after his 3 or 4th goal. That would then free up Anthony to kick a bag of goals - or Cloke to kick a similar bag of points! Or maybe Medders to come out of the woodwork.

I reckon they'll put Dawson on him (Ant) and they have developed a rivalry so that will be epic. Hopefully Ant sees him off but then who would they use?

I think Fisher might start on Rocca. It stops Fisher being tagged and will exploit Rocca's defensive side.

What do you guys think is the best case scenario for Rocca?
I think if he kicks 3 he has over achieved and it's a good move. But I can't really see that happening against the best defensive side of the year.

 

[Skade]

Oh god, imagine if Reid was played on Kosi! He'd be smashed!

Next year he just might be playing on him. Ben's slowly improving, tall, fast, good spoiler. Be interesting to see how much he's improved.

 

[DJ Black @ White Blood]

What is it with everyone, GET REAL, some posts simply say were idiots. Thats why we are not all coaches or selectors for the Collingwood footy club. There will be reasons for this selection and as allready posted it may be mind games. MM is the master and half of this game is in the head for players and coaches. Half of you will look really stupid if he kicks 5 or 6 goals, but in saying that if he does he may come out in 2 weeks time and play a shocker. Saints are tall and strong body and i think we need someone to knock a few around. Look its a gamble and i honestly think when you enter a final you cant be boring, bring in a predictable team, play the same way make the same moves. FFS the saints have studyed us every day and then at the last minute Pebs is in. There now trying to figure out what the sock is going to happen next. Its a gamble and you need to do it so everyone just picture yourself at the casino and we have just put everything we own on Black or Red.

 

[omen_au]

By 5pm tomorrow MM will be genius
or a fool . I am hoping for genius and as much as i didnt want Rocca in the side there is a part of me hoping for a fairytale

 

[Mudeo]

By 5pm tomorrow MM will be genius
or a fool . I am hoping for genius and as much as i didnt want Rocca in the side there is a part of me hoping for a fairytale

exactly, he is either going to be a hero or a villain.
and i dont think Rocca or anyone that is included in the side this week will not want to let MM down or themselves

 

[Paul.]

...except Josh was far, far worse than Wood, and Wood's been critical to our success over the last 3 months.

It's an insane selection decision (dropping Wood even more so than selecting Rocca), and I can only hope that as long as it's not wet Wood will be a late change in. I opened this thread while eating a pack of Doritos, and now I'm literally spitting chips!

I agree. I don't understand that either.

Fraser is underdone fitness wise.

 

[mattys123]

If the weather looks good, late change;

In: Wood

Out: McCarthy

You have to remember Wood does very little around the ground, although so does Steven King, so it might be a good matchup.

Josh Fraser is a final player though, from the 02 GF through to last years Adelaide Final, he stands up when required, repeatedly.

 

[rose jam]

I think a lot also has to do with the amount of numbers teams are zoning onto Trav Cloke. The Saints at their best will slow our ball movement and zone onto Trav who is the bail out option for the pressure kick and we'll get done. I think MM wants a second option for the relief kick as insurance and also to give Trav or JA more movement up the ground to try and separate their defense.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Pretty much agree with Smiddaz's feelings on this. Think it's a mistake to select Rocca. That said, I'm not convinced he'll play.

 

[MAL FUNCTION]

Can just imagine Rocca's opponents thought's :
...your kidding me right, i'm on Rocca ? - " Well in that case, all i'll have to do is stay low, throw in 1 solitary weave everytime and then i'll lose him - the rest will be my game "

What's actually scary about this, is if Rocca actually does something good ( shock horror) be it by straight out pure luck / flukey day - he'll prob be picked again for the next game, where luck will not play a part this time and prob cost us the game.

Surely this is nothing more than a sentimental move for a player that has been waiting all year by the clubs side, and now this will be his reward game for being totally silly for hanging around still , and won't play next year.

Hope he does well, though i have no real confidence, he's cost us too much in the past and his even freakin older now .

 

[TheBigH]

What is it with everyone, GET REAL, some posts simply say were idiots. Thats why we are not all coaches or selectors for the Collingwood footy club. There will be reasons for this selection and as allready posted it may be mind games. MM is the master and half of this game is in the head for players and coaches. Half of you will look really stupid if he kicks 5 or 6 goals, but in saying that if he does he may come out in 2 weeks time and play a shocker. Saints are tall and strong body and i think we need someone to knock a few around. Look its a gamble and i honestly think when you enter a final you cant be boring, bring in a predictable team, play the same way make the same moves. FFS the saints have studyed us every day and then at the last minute Pebs is in. There now trying to figure out what the sock is going to happen next. Its a gamble and you need to do it so everyone just picture yourself at the casino and we have just put everything we own on Black or Red.

I agree with a few of your comments and one simple reason for his selection is that he is in our best 22! He wins contested footy and I rarely have seen him outmarked. Win 4-5 contested inside fifty and that could hurt the saints! This is the best team we have had all year on paper and with the bonus of Steele, Beams and McCarthy in the side... ITS BLOODY EXCITING

 

[MAL FUNCTION]

The only main thing i can see Rocca doing positively ( and it could be a real positive match winner) - is the spoiling of an oppositional mark in our forward line which could then be picked up by one of our running goal snappers - reckon this will be his best use, and work brilliantly if our running snappers are having a good day as they have most of the last few month's. ( except last week )

Sure, sometimes he can take a strong mark, but his follow through kicking at set goals constantly lets us down, i personally like the running snap at goals idea better once mark has been spoilt.
If his kicking is actually good and accurate, then bonus we have 2 great plans then that could be a match sealer.

 

[GoldyJr]

I would have been Happy with Dawes or Rocca Sunday. Dick has been struggling big time and needed to go and we just shape up better with another tall.
Just a side note. What is it with the VFL? I know Rocca hasn't set the world on fire in there but everytime I watch it I feel like the skill level of all is terrible the games seem really pedestrian at time because of that. Is it gameplan? size of grounds? lack of intensity? our senior player go back and just don't perform like we know they can in the seniors. I find it really hard to judge who is really striking form. I'm glad the coaches know what they have asked for and are looking for cause it can be hard to watch at times the ressies from a pure football point of view.

 

[Dicky_Knee]

Surely Rocca won't play? Mick is just messing with Lyons head? And mine for that matter.

 

[DThomas]

Next year he just might be playing on him. Ben's slowly improving, tall, fast, good spoiler. Be interesting to see how much he's improved.

He has massive potential, but he just needs to bulk up a bit.

 

[jerry springer]

Some very,very strange changes.Changing the formula which has been very sucessful over the past few months is fraught with danger.

Cant see how dropping Wood after a good 2 months is going to help his development and confidence.

Wont even bother commenting on the Rocca inclusion,its been covered enough.

Hopefully there is a few late changes tomorow afternoon and we go in with a more settled side

 

[Greening Magic]

Some very,very strange changes.Changing the formula which has been very sucessful over the past few months is fraught with danger.

Cant see how dropping Wood after a good 2 months is going to help his development and confidence.

Wont even bother commenting on the Rocca inclusion,its been covered enough.

Hopefully there is a few late changes tomorow afternoon and we go in with a more settled side

Strange? I think it's quite obvious what the match committee was thinking. We have played 1 ruckman for most of the year which has given us an extra midfielder most weeks. Both Josh and Wood got flogged by Minson last week so we were basically 1 short. By dropping 1 you get to choose an extra back, mid or forward. They picked Roc because that means Fisher or Gilbert (One usually plays loose man) will have to pick up Jack and therefore the other or Raff Clarke have to get Medders. If it's Gilbert then Clarke probably plays loose which is better for us and if Clarke goes to Medders then its better for him. Either way it makes their back half more accountable.

Dick and Welly go because they think Sidey and Mac and can play mid and forward while the Dick can't play mid and Welly rarely goes forward.

I think they have picked the right side, it's just a matter of the boys playing out of their skins.

As usual, the Roc will get the blame if we lose and MM will cop a bagging but it won't be coming from me.

Go PIES !!!!

 

[Mental Magpie]

Strange? I think it's quite obvious what the match committee was thinking. We have played 1 ruckman for most of the year which has given us an extra midfielder most weeks. Both Josh and Wood got flogged by Minson last week so we were basically 1 short. By dropping 1 you get to choose an extra back, mid or forward. They picked Roc because that means Fisher or Gilbert (One usually plays loose man) will have to pick up Jack and therefore the other or Raff Clarke have to get Medders. If it's Gilbert then Clarke probably plays loose which is better for us and if Clarke goes to Medders then its better for him. Either way it makes their back half more accountable.

Dick and Welly go because they think Sidey and Mac and can play mid and forward while the Dick can't play mid and Welly rarely goes forward.

I think they have picked the right side, it's just a matter of the boys playing out of their skins.

As usual, the Roc will get the blame if we lose and MM will cop a bagging but it won't be coming from me.

Go PIES !!!!

THIS ^^^^^^^

It is pretty much the most solid (physically) and flexible side we've picked all year.

I have full faith in the coaching staff!

GO PIES!
SIDE BY SIDE!​

 

[frantelle]

I am thinking its a horses for courses selection. Basically you would imagine a Dawson or Hudghton would go to Rocca, with the remainder + Fisher taking Cloke and Anthony. By doing this it would mean that the Saints will have Hudghton/Blake, Dawson and Fisher responsible for a dangerous big forward each, effectively meaning they have less run out of the backline (half their backline), which has been one of their major strengths all year. Unless Fisher goes to Rocca I see it as a winning move, because if a Hudghton or Dawson run off Rocca, I would let them go and force them into having to do the pivotal kick out of the backline instead of a releasing handball, as everyone knows they aren't the greatest of playmakers.

Wouldn't mind seeing him in the Ruck and just tell him to run his backside off the entire time he is in the midfield because I am not sure about Gardiner and King defensively, remember, both of these guys are recycled ruckmen for a reason.

 

[Pies_10]

OMG!!!
MM is giving Rocca a farewell game in a qualifying final !!! LOL

 

[hellfire]

Pros: Added presence in the forward line; contested marking; frees up Anthony from best defender; frees up Medhurst from most likely Fisher; can crash packs and avoid a Lake-esque dominance which hurts on the rebound.

Cons: Defensive pressure is severely diminished in the forward half; more wayward goal kickers.

I'd say Rocca has gone to Mick and said, "if you play me, I will turn this game on its head, or die trying!" He knows it's his last year, and possibly his last game. He is going to go out there [if he plays] and smash packs like we've never seen, and really shake up the Saints back half.

Either that, or he'll be parked in the square and given a paddock against Dawson, and I'd back him every time in the air. One last hurrah Pebs, go the Pies!!!!!

 

[OniAu]

if hes played in the goal square or used as a decoy then thats ok.

If we start playign thru him more than anthony then ill be really angry. Rocca has never been a good kick in his career, weve got one in Anthony. If i see more forward entrys towards rocca than Jack then its a joke.


Got a bad feeling its really going to backfire on us, would love to be proven wrong

 

[Smoky]

I really hope they play Rocca and Anthony out of the goalsquare. Both lead in different directions therefore nullifying the loose man in defence, with our team of running mids crumbing from either genuine contest.

All of my feelings from playing Rocca are positive...

Enter September...

Enter new dimension...

Enter X Factor!