Preview Round 19: Changes Vs Western Bulldogs + Pre-match Discussion

[Nothing]

Why even name him????

Who should be named instead? Colyer? North? Bennell? We're naming fit players in the 26.

 

[freo_leo29]

If Ballas is in then I assume Ross thinks 2 rucks inthe forward line needs another defensive forward to bring pressure so McCarthy gets dropped.

The rucks still give us the let off kick down the line which McCarthy doesn't provide

 

[mightymouse75]

Ballas = ross has lost the plot

 

[Stronzo]

Who should be named instead? Colyer? North? Bennell? We're naming fit players in the 26.

If that were the case why not name the other fit players?

Those names are possible ins.

 

[PapaJ]

I don't disagree, playing him with 3 rucks is crazy. But playing 3 rucks is crazy! I think we need to stop with the injuries excuse when we then drop our only genuine tall forward threat for the sake of playing 3 ruckmen in the same team, one of which has maybe 3 games left in his career. Very little of what is going on at the club makes sense to me.

That's the thing, McCarthy has so little aerial ability he is not a genuine tall forward thread, that's the point. If he was, then sure, you play CMac, Lobb and a ruck. And if he had other strings to his bow (chase, tackle, pressure fwd, a tank and burst speed to lose his defender), then you could also use him, but he doesn't.

Seems McCarthy needs two other more mobile talls to be targets in the 50 and up the ground as a foil where he has a chance to get off the hook - that's what we had earlier in the year. When we have say Hogan and Lobb or even Tabbs there, they are nimble enough and/or have enough athleticism and a tank to make up for McCarthy's deficiencies but when we don't have that choice and it becomes Sandi and Lobb or Darcy and Lobb, McCarthy becomes dead wood.

Basically we're better playing 2 rucks and Lobb than 1 Ruck and Lobb and McCarthy. Either option reeks of desperation, but that's basically where we're at.

 

[Rion]

Lobb's not a ruckman the way Darcy and Sandilands are.

He crumbed a goal, plucked a mark in the goal square and booted one from outside 50.

Hes a tall agile/mobile forward who works up and down the ground.

We're playing 2 rucks.

I reckon he's done his best work this season in the ruck though. Considering Sandi's age and Darcy just being crap (atm at least) I'd like him to be doing a fair share of the rucking.

A Darcy-Lobb-McCarthy fwd/ruck set-up just works so, so much better on paper. As is one of Sandy or Darcy (or even both if Lobb gets any ruck time) are either on the bench or are offering absolutely zilch up forward. Lobb is more agile but he still provides very little defensive pressure. Daniels/Johanissen are going to kill us and unlike Sydney's crop of defenders the Dogs actually have decent kicking skills.

 

[Freoforever86]

People panicking pretty hard about Ballantyne, he’s not even in the team yet.

Dogs are quick on their feet out of the back half. That’s how they attack. Playing more quick smalls is how we’re going to beat them. When’s the last time you saw McCarthy run someone down.

If Ballantyne plays this week just to pressure the ball out of dogs defense so be it.

 

[dont bowl there]

That's the thing, McCarthy has so little aerial ability he is not a genuine tall forward thread, that's the point. If he was, then sure, you play CMac, Lobb and a ruck. And if he had other strings to his bow (chase, tackle, pressure fwd, a tank and burst speed to lose his defender), then you could also use him, but he doesn't.

Seems McCarthy needs two other more mobile talls to be targets in the 50 and up the ground as a foil where he has a chance to get off the hook - that's what we had earlier in the year. When we have say Hogan and Lobb or even Tabbs there, they are nimble enough and/or have enough athleticism and a tank to make up for McCarthy's deficiencies but when we don't have that choice and it becomes Sandi and Lobb or Darcy and Lobb, McCarthy becomes dead wood.

Basically we're better playing 2 rucks and Lobb than 1 Ruck and Lobb and McCarthy. Either option reeks of desperation, but that's basically where we're at.

Couldn't disagree more, but that's the beauty of a footy forum!

 

[Scham]

Didn't think that re: his performance vs West Coast which was almost a month ago, but both of those games- vs. East Perth and vs. West Coast - the Peel team was smashed in the midfield and the forward entries often went straight to the opposition.

I see he has played WAFL last 6 weeks, but he had injury setback somewhere along the line didn't he. Maybe he's been working back to full fitness through those games because amongst the other things, not keeping his feet, not converting his chances, he also seemed to have lost a lot of zip.

Unfortunately, whenever there's coverage of Peel games lately, the team has played poorly - maybe outside of that, last week vs EF and training he's looked sharper.

I think you’re spot on. His trademark effort stands out at Peel and when the team gets flogged it stands out more which is what I liked in the WC game.

I’m sure his fitness has built over the 6 games of WAFL plus AFL training so he’s ready in that regard. I did get the impression from seeing him after the WC game and talking to a few people from the club (Peel) that he’s mentally checked out though and is cruising to retirement at the end of the year. But he’s contracted to Freo to play AFL and he has obligations to fill in line with that. If he plays I have no doubt he’ll try his guts out as he always does and as I say, will be better value than Switkowski

 

[Nothing]

If that were the case why not name the other fit players?

Those names are possible ins.

Which other fit players? Cupboard is pretty bare.

 

[Scham]

Which other fit players? Cupboard is pretty bare.

Carter? Sturt?

 

[Nothing]

Carter? Sturt?

I had discounted Sturt as I think they will cotton wool him after the concussions (for this year). Carter could have.

 

[PapaJ]

Couldn't disagree more, but that's the beauty of a footy forum!

Yeah, cool. I'm probably trying to convince myself as much as anybody. You can see in the autopsy thread what I thought of the 3 ruck setup, so I'm barely convinced even by my own argument

This all said, there is a chance it will change this afternoon anyway.

 

[Paracleet]

We really had no choice. Lobb is the only thing close to a AFL key forward we have. But with injury clouds over both him and Sandi we couldn't really leave out Darcy as then we're one likely injury anyway from having either no ruckman or no forward line.
Three rucks and an extra small to crumb at their feet or try and get over the back when the dogs turn it over (which they will) makes sense to me as a better of the two (admittedly both 'not ideal') options.
In fact even if Lobb doesn't get up it still makes sense to me. Kicking long to Cam as the primary forward is just giving them a clean R50.

 

[GoFreo4eva]

Bit of drama going on in this thread re Ballas

Yet Switkowski's output as a pressure forward gets lauded on here. Don't get me wrong I like what Switkowski offers but he needs to hit the scoreboard. At least Ballas capable of doing both. Don't know if he still has it but at least worth consideration given Switta's lack of goals....

 

[FreoRicci]

Yet Switkowski's output as a pressure forward gets lauded on here. Don't get me wrong I like what Switkowski offers but he needs to hit the scoreboard. At least Ballas capable of doing both. Don't know if he still has it but at least worth consideration given Switta's lack of goals....

This the 2014 Ballas? This season Ballas is absolutely cooked. He won’t be able to do both. Mentally he’s been preparing for retirement. Feels like Ross named him to give him hope and motivation.

 

[FreoRicci]

When does the squad board for their flight?

 

[stax on the mull]

Ballantyne and Shultz both travelling says Lachy Reid on Twitter.

Also some speculation Nathan Wilson has a foot injury and was going through tests today away from the training group.

 

[Freoforever86]

Adding Ballantyne to the traveling party has Kane Cornes all up and about again

 

[MadMundy]

Ballantyne won't get picked, stop getting your knickers in a twist

 

[stax on the mull]

Switzkowski or Switkowski didn't travel...

 

[FreoRicci]

Switzkowski or Switkoski didn't travel...

Oh the melts for Ballas in.
Rebuilding to tanking.

 

[Scham]

Switzkowski or Switkowski didn't travel...

I like those changes.

Switta and McCarthy out for Fyfe and Balla or Schultz. Rewarding WAFL form and penalising poor AFL form. Dare I say it, play your way in and play your way out. We've done it for once! Yay!


Of course the dampener is that Wilson may not play and Cerra most likely goes back to defence along with Blakely.

 

[mike91]

Oh the melts for Ballas in.
Rebuilding to tanking.

Don't mind the changes, quite like them. Ballas is cooked, but Switta needs to know he has to do more at this level. Wouldn't be playing Ballas for the rest of the season though, see how he and Switta go respectively.

 

[stax on the mull]

Last time we played the Bulldogs, Switkowski turned the game in the last quarter with a couple of amazing run down tackles in our forward 50m which ended up in goals to Matera...and then I think a little later in the game he pressured a Bulldog player running into an open goal and put him off his kick.