Prediction Round 10: Changes Vs Geelong + pre-match discussion

[SHill Shall]

I certainly see it as more imperative that Erasmus and Johnson play now ahead of Banners. While the driver is to get games into our elite young talent, at the same time I don’t see it costing us too much in short term performance.

Banners has improved out of sight which makes him a much more valuable squad member than he was, but he still does a few Banners things per game.

Chappy also comes in for Hughes when fit as well.

I hesitate to call this a mid season revival based on who we’ve beaten and being just two wins in a row, but whatever you call it, let’s remember its been based on playing the youth - so please JLo; let’s do more.

 

[Frigate]

Taking a slight different angle here. I still want Freo to play in the 8. I prefer a team that builds and wins later than earlier. St Kilda seem like us last year, and they will drop off, and we are hopefully the team that builds through the year.

Hughes - is anyone seriously asking for him to be dropped? I am flabbergasted by this, and this is a word I have never used, I have saved it for this occasion!

Banfield - I am fairly "meh" here. Coaches like him, team likes him, fans mostly don't. He is not a bad footballer, but he does play a role. I like him as sub personally. He does have more ability than most believe. Some of his awareness and positioning is really high IQ.

Erasmus - his best game by far. Would be ridiculous to drop him or sub him after a good contribution in an amazing win. Have to keep playing him - non negotiable IMO.

Noddy - Keep playing him. He will have a day out at point and kick 3 goals, and he is dynamic, he is a bit lethargic in movement at times - a talent we want in the team. I turn up to watch players like him. Just waiting for him to find the footy more. Not sure who he reminds me of?

Johnson - I like the comment about "don't get suspended" not flying. Stupid rule when players clearly drop their legs to draw a free. He needs to play. Not sure how they do it, but I want Johnson, Erasmus, Noddy, Serong and Brayshaw in the every game from here.

Fyfe - talk about an A grader! He was brilliant. The man that made Kane Cornes retire is still very relevant. If he is fit, I think start him in the mid. I generally do not agree with any Sumich says, but he made the point that he should play midfield. He is a beast, and players just cannot tackle him. I think if he gets the footy and dishes it out...then drifts forward, like poor old Kane 1v1 Fyfe in the goal square.

If you got this far, thanks for reading. Loving the more exciting game style, and 4 points helps. We will beat Geelong this week as we are too fast. Melbourne will beat us the week after though. Season is not dead, it is on a thread!

 

[The Round House Drunk]

I’m tempted by the thought of MJ for Hughes (with Aish moving to the backline) and Sturt for Banners in order to squeeze in our young talent.

But at the same time I think our best chance of beating Geelong is to to keep the same 23 from the past two weeks. Hughes and Banners have been solid in their roles in the new structure.

Win, and at 5-5 the season is getting closer to being back on track.

 

[AFL Nut]

In Johnson , Out ?? On form Aish

I’d expect Johnson to come back through Peel considering he hasn’t played for 2 weeks.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

I’d expect Johnson to come back through Peel considering he hasn’t played for 2 weeks.

Should he need conditioning given he would have been training fully and it’s only two games? Maybe since the team is playing well there’s no spot to kick someone out but I don’t think it’d be a conditioning thing?

 

[dkalphy]

could someone tell me fyfes gym program? trying to get pipes like him

 

[bushchook]

Johnson being a young player and having missed 2 weeks will have to come back through Peel you'd think.

 

[bushchook]

Should he need conditioning given he would have been training fully and it’s only two games? Maybe since the team is playing well there’s no spot to kick someone out but I don’t think it’d be a conditioning thing?

It takes years and years of full AFL preseasons to reach the fitness level needed to be able miss multiple games and still be able to slot straight back in. Johnson only made his WAFL debut last year.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

It takes years and years of full AFL preseasons to reach the fitness level needed to be able miss multiple games and still be able to slot straight back in. Johnson only made his WAFL debut last year.

Hmm, I hadn’t thought about it that way but I don’t think he’d have dropped noticeably from the position he was in two weeks ago, especially since he wasn’t injured, just suspended

 

[sherrif]

Yeh swans were missing a few down back, but only 4 from their gf team. We smoked them all over the field. I think we are a real show Saturday.

Yep totally agree. Plus one of those 4 players Dylan Stephens was available for selection but not picked and they still had Blakey who is a very good defender who plays on talls and smalls. We are missing two players (Tabs and Chapman) from what most would have considered our best 22 at the start of the year and we also used another player in our best 22 (Fyfe) for only a quarter.

 

[sherrif]

WA State game this weekend so its a WAFL bye

If Johnson doesn't play then he has been out 3 weekends AKA 4 weeks, nearly a month of no match practice

I'd say match committee don't take that risk so unfortunately he misses out, for atleast a couple of weeks, means he misses playing at the G the next week too

I'm not sure how Johnson missing an extra week is any different to how he wasn't able to play a game of WAFL at the start of the year when he wasn't selected at AFL level and the WAFL season hadn't started yet. I think many here have overrated his performances at AFL level so far this year. I don't think he would have held his spot even if he wasn't suspended to be honest. Erasmus has been better in the last two games than MJ has been in any afl games he's played in my opinion.

 

[kuhni]

Hmm, I hadn’t thought about it that way but I don’t think he’d have dropped noticeably from the position he was in two weeks ago, especially since he wasn’t injured, just suspended

He was only running out like 65% tog wasn't he? Even a slight drop in fitness could make him a bit of a burden.

 

[DQ 4EVER]

Fyfe in
Johnson sub
Brayshaw out

On SM-G960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[MadMundy]

Hughes provided plenty of pressure and has been good since returning to the backline, you can't drop him.

Banfield was great up forward and the reason we got quite a few goals in the second half, you can't drop him.

Give me a good reason why either of them should be dropped, there are players that have been worse that could make way for Johnson.

 

[arsesmart]

It takes years and years of full AFL preseasons to reach the fitness level needed to be able miss multiple games and still be able to slot straight back in. Johnson only made his WAFL debut last year.

No doubt there'd be some individual variance to that though.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Fyfe in
Johnson sub
Brayshaw out

On SM-G960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Say what now?

 

[arsesmart]

Hughes provided plenty of pressure and has been good since returning to the backline, you can't drop him.

Banfield was great up forward and the reason we got quite a few goals in the second half, you can't drop him.

Give me a good reason why either of them should be dropped, there are players that have been worse that could make way for Johnson.

To build more midfield options and depth. Selection isn't always a punishment issue.

 

[arsesmart]

I'm not sure how Johnson missing an extra week is any different to how he wasn't able to play a game of WAFL at the start of the year when he wasn't selected at AFL level and the WAFL season hadn't started yet. I think many here have overrated his performances at AFL level so far this year. I don't think he would have held his spot even if he wasn't suspended to be honest. Erasmus has been better in the last two games than MJ has been in any afl games he's played in my opinion.

Young players are going to be up and down week to week. But Johnson's best game was the Brisbane game, so I doubt he'd get dropped after that. Probably fair to say it was also better than Erasmus' performances so far this year. Both have been pleasing.

 

[s_wd6]

I feel like the only players in the past couple weeks that i havent been thrilled with are Aish and Walters. Sonny stays obviously, but do we get more from Aish than we would from Johnson? At his best yes, but he's been very underwhelming since the wce game.

On the other hand though Geelong are a very experienced midfield. I like fyfe as sub but he'll probably have to come in for a full game.

 

[Rockmelon]

People can be really stiff on Banfield and Hughes. Both were really good and Banfield actually looks up to the level of a solid AFL player.

The only person who should get dropped is Aish. Probably go on unchanged except for swapping Fyfe for Ras or something

 

[s_wd6]

People can be really stiff on Banfield and Hughes. Both were really good and Banfield actually looks up to the level of a solid AFL player.

The only person who should get dropped is Aish. Probably go on unchanged except for swapping Fyfe for Ras or something

Banners has actually been very serviceable all year except for two games, and we just happened to lose them by 50 each, so his inclusion after consecutive games of like 10 touches as 0 goals and tackles obviously pissed off most including his biggest supporters (me <3).

 

[BStaff17]

Well we beat the cats in Geelong last year so i see no reason that we can't give them a shake this week.

Sunny afternoon expected which helps.

Last 2 times at Optus has been wet and they have man-handled us.

 

[freo_leo29]

I'm not sure how Johnson missing an extra week is any different to how he wasn't able to play a game of WAFL at the start of the year when he wasn't selected at AFL level and the WAFL season hadn't started yet. I think many here have overrated his performances at AFL level so far this year. I don't think he would have held his spot even if he wasn't suspended to be honest. Erasmus has been better in the last two games than MJ has been in any afl games he's played in my opinion.

Wafl had preseason games


Also did you not watch the brissy game? Johnson was great, better than Erasmus' games

 

[Fyfster]

Johno for sub.
Aish or Ra's out.

Sturt for banners but that won't happen.
Banners played half decent on the weekend so history tells us he will have 5 weeks of s**t
Prove me wrong banners

Has been o.k for a couple now , Has been good at setting up goals for other players as well.
The over rating of Sturt and the whipping of Banners continues on this board.

 

[Sweetback]

I don’t see Aish getting dropped. He hasn’t been as prominent this year but it’s not like he’s been having any brain fades. I think Fyfe will start this week and either Ras or Johnno wil be sub.