Preview Round 1 team

[Cataholic]

Yep.

Seeing as we are playing at Subi I think you are spot on.

They will play Ling in every game that he is fit for though. Even though you may be right about best 22. No way in the world will any coach leave the skipper out.

I hear what you're saying, but do you think Ling was a wise choice for the captaincy, given the game has started to pass him by?

The only way he's in the starting 22 now is if they re-invent him as a forward, and if he proves capable and better in that position than someone else.

Don't get me wrong - as a person and past player I believe Ling makes an excellent captain, but I also think the captain simply has to be in the best 22, and right now I'm not convinced he is any more.

 

[witsend]

It is, but it's the best back six on form (which is how you should pick a side) so unless you jettison Lonergan for another runner then there's not much we can do about it. I considered that option but I found it hard to justify given Lonergan played pretty well this week.

I think Lonergan has to be the VFL backup for Scarlo/Taylor/Milburn/Mackie.
Definitely need a T.Hunt type runner in there. Someone who can run the lines.
Wjo will drift back to some degree, but we have to have some pace back there or we'll just bomb it out and it'll bomb straight back in like last year.
Form is fine but there has to be balance.

 

[witsend]

I'd hand ruck duties to Simpson and West, drop Otten's for Pods and.....after that I'm not sure!

I'd like to fit Moons in there somewhere, but at the expense of who?

And while I've been a great admirer of Ling, I'm not sure he is in the best 22 anymore.

Tom Harley wasn't in our best 22 on form in 2009, but we were an infinitely better team with him leading it.
Same for Ling.
He just needs a tweaking of his role due to the diminishing need for hard tags.
Heart of a champion, stamina of Phar Lap, proven goal kicker and can shut down pretty much anyone except Dane Swan.
Ling is best 22. Bookmark it!

 

[Cataholic]

Tom Harley wasn't in our best 22 on form in 2009, but we were an infinitely better team with him leading it.
Same for Ling.
He just needs a tweaking of his role due to the diminishing need for hard tags.
Heart of a champion, stamina of Phar Lap, proven goal kicker and can shut down pretty much anyone except Dane Swan.
Ling is best 22. Bookmark it!

I agree with your sentiment, but who does he replace in the forward line?

 

[witsend]

I agree with your sentiment, but who does he replace in the forward line?

I don't think he plays forward. He's a MF who "drifts" forward, as opposed to Bartel who has been a MF who "drifts" back.
He will start on an opponent but find space in the F50 at every opportunity. make his opponent accountable by doing what he does so well. Kicking goals.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Yep.

Seeing as we are playing at Subi I think you are spot on.

They will play Ling in every game that he is fit for though. Even though you may be right about best 22. No way in the world will any coach leave the skipper out.

Well that's a pity then.

Selectors should just pick the best 22 skipper or no skipper. I don't see why one should impact on the other. You're right though, they'll pick him.

I hear what you're saying, but do you think Ling was a wise choice for the captaincy, given the game has started to pass him by?

The only way he's in the starting 22 now is if they re-invent him as a forward, and if he proves capable and better in that position than someone else.

Don't get me wrong - as a person and past player I believe Ling makes an excellent captain, but I also think the captain simply has to be in the best 22, and right now I'm not convinced he is any more.

No, I don't. I'm not against Ling playing on per se, but as captain I was. Your captain should be a certain starter/absolute lock, and while many of us will disagree on whether he's in the best 22 or not, we should be able to agree he's not an absolute lock.

I'm guessing they didn't want too much change, and they figured the easiest thing was to just wait until Ling retires at the end of the year, and then pass the baton, but it should have been done now.

Tom Harley wasn't in our best 22 on form in 2009, but we were an infinitely better team with him leading it.
Same for Ling.
He just needs a tweaking of his role due to the diminishing need for hard tags.
Heart of a champion, stamina of Phar Lap, proven goal kicker and can shut down pretty much anyone except Dane Swan.
Ling is best 22. Bookmark it!

The problem is if a guy's body is letting him down, and Ling's is, just like Harley's was (it's deja vu), no matter how big your heart, you can't shut down or beat opponents like you used to. Maybe you do become a better team from the inspiration of having your best leader out there (ala Harley and ala Ling) but it's still a real problem.

 

[Partridge]

Surely Stokes has to be played over Motlop... Stokes was also much better in his couple of games.

But hey, it's popular to bag Stokes at the moment on here.

Not sure how it ever became Stokes v Motlop. I always thought it was Stokes v Byrnes. And I'd have Byrnes every time.

But otherwise, the only major change is Mitch Duncan must play.

 

[Ninty]

I'd have Byrnes first too, but I'd also pick them both.

And agreed, Duncan will play.

 

[cynical]

Definately have to have T hunt and Duncan in the side. Whether t hunt is in the best 22 shouldn't matter, our slow backline is not good enough to win a flag so he has to play.

Lonners should be a backup for scarlett. taylor, mackie

In a game where we only have 1 key forward West should be the second ruck.

I think mackie is a good choice for sub because he is fairly versatile.

Don't think menzel and motlop are ready just yet, but id like to see them getting games here and there.

 

[Copernicus]

I'm coming at this with a bit of ignorance - what exactly is the status of our injuries? I see all this talk of Moons, Pods, Ling etc being unavailable for Rd 1, but is this fact or just speculation? I'm not certain that's the case but stand to be corrected.

 

[Cataholic]

From what I've read so far, the general consensus seems to be that the locks for Round 1 are something like this, ignoring the debate over actual starting positions:

J Hunt Scarlett Lonergan
Enright Taylor Milburn
Wojo Kelly Varcoe
Johnson ? Duncan
Byrnes Hawkins Chapman
? Selwood Bartel

Int: Corey, T Hunt, ?

Sub: ?

So it seems the debate revolves around 4 spots - the ruck, CHF, an interchange and the sub.

Is that a fair summary?

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Yep.

Seeing as we are playing at Subi I think you are spot on.

They will play Ling in every game that he is fit for though. Even though you may be right about best 22. No way in the world will any coach leave the skipper out.

To me it comes down to how the interchange reduction will play out. It should mean less interchange overall so players like Ling with huge tanks should benefit as players will be spending more time on the ground. If the new conditions slow the game down so much the better for Lingy.
This is one of the reasons he has trimmed down - hopefully the hammy doesn't become chronic and he has a chance to perform at optimal level. I agree he has the weaponry to drift forward and cause some damage, just hope the body doesn't let him down.

 

[Ninty]

Going by that, I'd place Blake as ruck, Hawkins/Lonergan as CHF/FF, Mackie to replace Lonergan, Stokes and Dawson/West as int, and T Hunt as the sub.

 

[vinum coupe]

But Ninty,

You've put aside all the hate for Blake being in the team. Hawkins kicking ability. Lonergan as a forward. Mackie as a flake, and Stokes as a downhill skier.

It won't wash around these parts buddy.....




Made complete sense though.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I'm coming at this with a bit of ignorance - what exactly is the status of our injuries? I see all this talk of Moons, Pods, Ling etc being unavailable for Rd 1, but is this fact or just speculation? I'm not certain that's the case but stand to be corrected.

Mooney admitted he's still not in full training and has missed a lot of training due to knee soreness. So he's too far back for round one.

Ling was ruled out of NAB then had another hammy setback which puts him another couple of weeks away, so logically it's now gone from round 1 to maybe round 3.

Scott originally said Pods was 2-4 weeks which gets him back round one but then said this week it (the break) was closer to the joint than they'd expected, which put him back another week so round one is now touch and go. Definitely round 2.

 

[Mark25Jackson]

IN light of injuries... this is the team Id LIKE to see. Dont think i will see it,but would like to see it.

B: Mackie, Scarlett, Lonegran
HB:Enright, Taylor, T Hunt
C: Wojo, Bartel, Motlop
HF: S Johnson, Hawkins, Byrnes
FF: Stokes, Ottens, Chappy
R: Simpson, Kelly, Selwood
IB: Corey, Duncan, Milburn, Sub Menzel

I think Josh Hunt was great last year, but i love Taylor Hunts pace, so have T instead of J in. Motlop needs 6 games to show us what he has, as does Duncan. Menzel makes a great sub. Versatile, tall but has some toe. Ottens at full forward covers for Pods and Moonye being out, allows him to continue building fitness, and gives Dawson a crack at the number one spot. West is yet to convince me he'l ever be more than a pinch hitter, and Blake imo is behind all of them (even Vardy from what i hear about his form...)

 

[witsend]

Well that's a pity then.

Selectors should just pick the best 22 skipper or no skipper. I don't see why one should impact on the other. You're right though, they'll pick him.



No, I don't. I'm not against Ling playing on per se, but as captain I was. Your captain should be a certain starter/absolute lock, and while many of us will disagree on whether he's in the best 22 or not, we should be able to agree he's not an absolute lock.

I'm guessing they didn't want too much change, and they figured the easiest thing was to just wait until Ling retires at the end of the year, and then pass the baton, but it should have been done now.



The problem is if a guy's body is letting him down, and Ling's is, just like Harley's was (it's deja vu), no matter how big your heart, you can't shut down or beat opponents like you used to. Maybe you do become a better team from the inspiration of having your best leader out there (ala Harley and ala Ling) but it's still a real problem.

I think that's a bit premature!

 

[CatFan79]

I think Josh Hunt was great last year, but i love Taylor Hunts pace

How can you argue with that logic + T Hunt is already a club legend, he will be our no1 midfielder by round 5 you heard it here first..

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

How can you argue with that logic + T Hunt is already a club legend, he will be our no1 midfielder by round 5 you heard it here first..

Hope you are right - if he surpasses Selwood and Bartel we will all be pleased. Agree the kid has potential and needs game time.
On the subject of Josh I really like his time around the middle in NAB round 1. With his tackling technique and 100kg body he has serious potential to do major damage. Get him to do a job on opposition MF's early on and see how they run the game out ? I reckon this could be a Scott tactic.
Added bonus is his leg , if he looks up and starts to spot targets well up the ground he could be deadly over 50M + .

 

[PatrickBateman]

I think Josh Hunt was great last year, but i love Taylor Hunts pace, so have T instead of J in.

Go back and read my posts regarding Josh taking a key defensive role, something that Taylor Hunt to my knowledge has never done at all, let alone at AFL level.

Tip: Learn a bit more about the game. Individual players have jobs to do, it's not just 22 blokes running around and winner is the quickest.

Josh Hunt
-Excellent one on one defender, underrated. Takes the best opposition small forward every week and(last year) beat just about all of them.
-Best field kick in our team. Kicks out. Flat hard kicking is a great way to break the current defensive zones while our ball is in defense(every team is zoning like Collingwood).
-Strong, fast... serviceable overhead.
-150 games
-Played 24 of 25 games in 2010 post knee reco

Taylor Hunt
-Quick?
-7 games
-Unproven. Average NAB cup without 'name' players present.

Like I said earlier, have some respect for the senior players who have built this dynasty. Unless you're happy blooding youngsters and finishing out of the eight? That's exactly what will happen if we do.. I GUARANTEE IT!

 

[JUBJUB]

Josh Hunt
-Excellent one on one defender, underrated. Takes the best opposition small forward every week and(last year) beat just about all of them.

by chance did you go on holidays after round 22 last year ?

 

[maxy87]

You think Motlop's too lean but you don't think Mitch Brown is? There's a contradiction if ever I've heard one.

I recognize the contradiction PO but I did stress that is wasn't the ideal scenario. I just think we might need to play Brown in the cage until Pods and Moons are fit again that's all. A position that Motlop can and will fill in time isn't currently as strong a moot point as FF because we have more options there for Round 1

 

[Copernicus]

Mooney admitted he's still not in full training and has missed a lot of training due to knee soreness. So he's too far back for round one.

Ling was ruled out of NAB then had another hammy setback which puts him another couple of weeks away, so logically it's now gone from round 1 to maybe round 3.

Scott originally said Pods was 2-4 weeks which gets him back round one but then said this week it (the break) was closer to the joint than they'd expected, which put him back another week so round one is now touch and go. Definitely round 2.

Cheers mate, thanks for clearing that up.

Certainly will make the first few weeks harder than it already is.

 

[PatrickBateman]

by chance did you go on holidays after round 22 last year ?

I said 'most'. Hunt had a bad game against Milne.. yes. But, isn't it always the defenders who get scrutinised in a loss no matter how significant the game?
Why not go back and take a look at who else got beaten by their opposition player on that day? Taylor got his arse handed to him by Reiwoldt, both Ablett AND Selwood beaten? Hayes and Dal Santo destroyed us, who's fault is that? Hunt's too?

It's always the simple minded who blame/recall bad performances by defenders in losses. Congratulations for making the list.

 

[CatFan79]

by chance did you go on holidays after round 22 last year ?

Every game we have lost since 2004 can be attributed to Josh Hunt.. I can't believe he still gets a game.