Unofficial Preview Round 1, 2024: Bombers v Hawks, MCG 1:10pm Sat 16th March

[extractasam]

After all the pre-draft and preseason talk about Watson being too small, he will be thrilled to even be in the conversation for the 3rd tall spot!

Ironically he’s probably the best overhead mark of all 3

 

[cryptor]

FB: Scrimshaw Blanck Sicily
HB: Amon Weddle Impey

C: D'Ambrosio Worpel Jiath
R: Reeves Newcombe Nash

HF: Ginnivan Lewis Moore
FF: Watson Chol Breust

Int: Hardwick (fwd/def) Macdonald (fwd/mid) Ward (wing/mid/hb) Maginness/Mackenzie/DGB/Meek (last spot + sub based on needs)

Assuming Day isn't back.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

But can Weddle play as a winger? Amon is our by far our best wing, not sure why we wouldn’t play him in that position.

Amon is our best wingman and Hardwick is our best small defender, I don't like the idea of these changes at this point in time - but there must be some reason for Mitchell to want to make these moves.

It will be exciting to see how it turns out, and I suppose if they both struggle (Amon defensively and Hardwick finding a role that synergises with Watson, Breust, Moore and Ginnivan, etc.) then they can always go back to their previous positions.

 

[Slainte]

Amon is our best wingman and Hardwick is our best small defender, I don't like the idea of these changes at this point in time - but there must be some reason for Mitchell to want to make these moves.

It will be exciting to see how it turns out, and I suppose if they both struggle (Amon defensively and Hardwick finding a role that synergises with Watson, Breust, Moore and Ginnivan, etc.) then they can always go back to their previous positions.

I think that Amon is going to the backline because we want another Grant Birchall. Birchall had two elite attributes, neither of which was defensive. He could find the ball, mostly by reading the play but also by finding space as a receiver. He was elite by foot and could break lines and set up scoring opportunities with his penetrating and accurate left boot.

Hardwick is going forward because we want to get more value from our forward entries, which are on the rise because of our growing midfield strength. We need to capitalise on the entries - Hardwick is very good overhead for his size and could almost play third tall.

 

[Tony3163]

Amon is our best wingman and Hardwick is our best small defender, I don't like the idea of these changes at this point in time - but there must be some reason for Mitchell to want to make these moves.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

But can Weddle play as a winger? Amon is our by far our best wing, not sure why we wouldn’t play him in that position.

Kiddy Coleman GF

Thats why

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

Amom played HB for the last few months of 2023 anyway and was superb. His raw stats improved significantly too.

 

[Big Hotdog]

Amom played HB for the last few months of 2023 anyway and was superb. His raw stats improved significantly too.

His use of the ball is three peat like.

 

[grumbleguts]

Can we please put an end to these outdated medieval ideas? We need to embrace rational science here...



I recommend a homeopathic dilution of St John's Wort, diluted 100 times.

If that doesn't work...dilute it 100 more times for extra strength...

It's alright, I prayed to Zeus.

 

[Randy Campbell]

It's alright, I prayed to Zeus.

I pray to his son, Dionysus.

 

[toomanysquibs]

I pray to his son, Dionysus.

Quite the social life for young Dionysus!

 

[The hands of stone]

Its great having Gunners back , I think his value may come more off field then on field for us from here .

Positive to see sides posted with some very good players missing . We are building nice depth now .

 

[peetoo]

Its great having Gunners back , I think his value may come more off field then on field for us from here .

Positive to see sides posted with some very good players missing . We are building nice depth now .

Hale, Gunston, Bruest, Wingard. No shortage of forward craft coaching there

 

[kazzooka]

Its great having Gunners back , I think his value may come more off field then on field for us from here .

Positive to see sides posted with some very good players missing . We are building nice depth now .

Maybe he can do what his predecessor did in 2007. Ben Dixon went from less of a focal point and more just making sure Buddy, Roughead, Boyle new their running patterns and helped them timing and directing leads. He ended up playing a bit at HBF that year too I think, then once he was gone and the key forwards new how to draw the ball and create opportunities and we fixed the forward pressure and crumbing issue (partly due to dixon) with Cyril, Stokes and eventually Campbell Brown.

I see a lot of similarities with Brown's switch forward and Hardwicks. Helps to have a bit of an enforcer down there to bash in at boundary throw ins.

2007 was a real interesting year that showed up improving and clearly highlighted what was needed to make the next step. Hopefully this year can do the same and we can establish a more obvious best 22 and answer the questions over some of our developing players.

 

[MasterSamurai]

Maybe he can do what his predecessor did in 2007. Ben Dixon went from less of a focal point and more just making sure Buddy, Roughead, Boyle new their running patterns and helped them timing and directing leads. He ended up playing a bit at HBF that year too I think, then once he was gone and the key forwards new how to draw the ball and create opportunities and we fixed the forward pressure and crumbing issue (partly due to dixon) with Cyril, Stokes and eventually Campbell Brown.

I see a lot of similarities with Brown's switch forward and Hardwicks. Helps to have a bit of an enforcer down there to bash in at boundary throw ins.

2007 was a real interesting year that showed up improving and clearly highlighted what was needed to make the next step. Hopefully this year can do the same and we can establish a more obvious best 22 and answer the questions over some of our developing players.

Yep, I remember in 2006 Dicko had a very good year playing the third foil. Kicked nearly 40 goals with a bung knee that season, it helped him having Bud and rough taking the prime frwd roles all the while Dicko having a bit of a career renaissance. Could work with gunners as well.

 

[offtherails9]

Will this be a replacement game?

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Maybe he can do what his predecessor did in 2007. Ben Dixon went from less of a focal point and more just making sure Buddy, Roughead, Boyle new their running patterns and helped them timing and directing leads. He ended up playing a bit at HBF that year too I think, then once he was gone and the key forwards new how to draw the ball and create opportunities and we fixed the forward pressure and crumbing issue (partly due to dixon) with Cyril, Stokes and eventually Campbell Brown.

I see a lot of similarities with Brown's switch forward and Hardwicks. Helps to have a bit of an enforcer down there to bash in at boundary throw ins.

2007 was a real interesting year that showed up improving and clearly highlighted what was needed to make the next step. Hopefully this year can do the same and we can establish a more obvious best 22 and answer the questions over some of our developing players.

That is what I was saying when we lost him and people said he was cooked. It wasn't about what he was offering on the scoreboard, it was about how he could help develop the next generation of forwards

 

[Bugs1977]

That is what I was saying when we lost him and people said he was cooked. It wasn't about what he was offering on the scoreboard, it was about how he could help develop the next generation of forwards

Dicko's set shot for goal was beautiful. Always felt confident that he would slot it home.

 

[Rimsy]

Will this be a replacement game?

It is.

 

[Roddy]

Do we think Mitchy L will be up for rd one?

 

[eldorado]

Do we think Mitchy L will be up for rd one?

Depends on whether he spontaneously combusts between now and then...

 

[Roddy]

Depends on whether he spontaneously combusts between now and then...

 

[Slainte]

Do we think Mitchy L will be up for rd one?

New AFL rules allow one zombie player in each team. I understand we have nominated ML.

 

[eldorado]

New AFL rules allow one zombie player in each team. I understand we have nominated ML.

Goals!

MORE GOALS!!!!

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Dicko's set shot for goal was beautiful. Always felt confident that he would slot it home.

Funny to think that it wasn't that long ago that we still had specialist lead and mark full forwards who were 185cm and under like Ben Dixon and Mark Williams.

That type of player basically doesn't exist anymore? Now it's all six foot six power forwards and ultra quick small forwards.

That "mid sized" marking forward has basically all but died out across the league from what I can see.