Preview Round 2: Sydney vs Essendon, SCG, Saturday 23/03/24 @ 7:30 PM

[ant555]

There were a couple of instances where he could have moved the ball but was overly cautious. Pretty sure at least once it was missing a team mate running past to whom he could have handballed. I don't blame him because maintaining possession is obviously key, but his cautiousness does slow us down IMO.

Was he the only one ? that is my issue . Double standards. There where plenty of others who did it / do it . How many U turns did Merritt make. People see what they want to see and hone in on it. I sit there at the game looking forward of the footy and see that a lot of the time there are no options forward and often he waits and does find someone working. Not saying he is a great kick or he does not miss some options but it is no where near as bad as people say it is.
There where complaints about Martin being off because he played on and turned it over. Same with McGrath. If the players up the ground do not work hard enough then slow and steady is the option rather than continual turnovers.
Give him something to go to and he will take it. No he will never kick it like Merrett and yes a few times he will cost us a fast play but he also defends and plays a role much better than 90% in the side.
Everyone whines when we are getting run over by sides running out of the back half yet they want to dump the bloke who actually can defend because he is not the fastest mover of the footy .
If we find a bloke who plays the role , works hard and defends as well but can also create more then fine bring him in.

 

[ydc55]

This is what I would do not what will happen.

In Draper, Hobbs, Hind
Out Reid, Heppell, Cox

I agree with ant555 jones works incredibly hard but is football dumb and has poor hands. I wonder if he could play as a defender?

McKay on deep forward
Jones on amartey or McLean
Kelly gets third tall

I think Cox’s only hope to make it is as a wingman but he simply lacks competitiveness and physicality for mine.
I really hope I am wrong.

 

[ant555]

This is what I would do not what will happen.

In Draper, Hobbs, Hind
Out Reid, Heppell, Cox

I agree with ant555 jones works incredibly hard but is football dumb and has poor hands. I wonder if he could play as a defender?

McKay on deep forward
Jones on amartey or McLean
Kelly gets third tall

I think Cox’s only hope to make it is as a wingman but he simply lacks competitiveness and physicality for mine.
I really hope I am wrong.

I wonder if Harry will become a defender as well.
I think Cox can play back on a flank but I am with you on him as a competitor and physicality. He is not built for it and he looks like he does not like the physical contact.

 

[Godzke]

How does Hobbs play defensive wing or back ? He is an inside forward / midfielder .
One of Gresham / Caldwell / Menzie / Perkins would have to come out of the side .
Kelly was not great but he was not bad and the fact is watching live he was playing his role early off the wing and when he actually did have a target forward he moved it. Made a couple of mistakes but so did everyone.
If Kelly is out then I am moving Hind to half back and martin to a wing and letting him run from behind but Hobbs is not playing that role.

Horses for courses. Insides mids >>>>>>> wingers at the SCG. Don't let the centre bounce tally from today's game fool you on how important getting additional inside mid coverage is vs Grundy and the Swan midfield.

We can also cover the wing through the abundance of high-half forwards in the team.

 

[ghostdog]

Was he the only one ? that is my issue . Double standards. There where plenty of others who did it / do it . How many U turns did Merritt make. People see what they want to see and hone in on it. I sit there at the game looking forward of the footy and see that a lot of the time there are no options forward and often he waits and does find someone working. Not saying he is a great kick or he does not miss some options but it is no where near as bad as people say it is.
There where complaints about Martin being off because he played on and turned it over. Same with McGrath. If the players up the ground do not work hard enough then slow and steady is the option rather than continual turnovers.
Give him something to go to and he will take it. No he will never kick it like Merrett and yes a few times he will cost us a fast play but he also defends and plays a role much better than 90% in the side.
Everyone whines when we are getting run over by sides running out of the back half yet they want to dump the bloke who actually can defend because he is not the fastest mover of the footy .
If we find a bloke who plays the role , works hard and defends as well but can also create more then fine bring him in.

I'll admit I probably notice it more with guys like Kelly than Martin or Merrett because the latter two land more of the money shots without stifling the play as much. It's less likely and less characteristic of those guys than Kelly. So no, not the only one but probably more noticeable to me.

 

[ant555]

I'll admit I probably notice it more with guys like Kelly than Martin or Merrett because the latter two land more of the money shots without stifling the play as much. It's less likely and less characteristic of those guys than Kelly. So no, not the only one but probably more noticeable to me.

People will think I am some sort of Kelly fan . I am not sold on him 100% but there are a mountain of issues out there and him missing 3 or 4 opportunities to play fast footy a week is not high on my list. That part does not outweigh the other parts of his game. It is like always. Give me someone who can play the roles. Be hard at the footy and run hard and defend but can create better and I am happy to play them.

 

[ant555]

Horses for courses. Insides mids >>>>>>> wingers at the SCG. Don't let the centre bounce tally from today's game fool you on how important getting additional inside mid coverage is vs Grundy and the Swan midfield.

We can also cover the wing through the abundance of high-half forwards in the team.

So Hobbs can cover in defense then ?
It is not really horses for courses taking the bloke who plays cover defense on the wing or gives you coverage in the back half out for an inside attacking player.
Horses for courses would be leaving out Menzie for the extra forward / midfield coverage .
Find me another defender who can play the Kelly role and give us some more kick out of defense and I am happy to replace him.

 

[Bombermania]

I'm sorry but who is running AFL.com, putting McGrath amongst the best and not Durham. I had Durham second best up to halftime behind Jakey.

I would give Harrison another game, but only because he is the sort of player that gets better with games, but if there's no improvement then he will have to be dropped.

 

[jannissary]

sydney in sydney is always a dreadful nightmare.

i think we're lucky to be versing them early in the season though, no mills and no parker will be good for us

 

[Vindicater]

First thoughts.

In: Hobbs, Ridley, Draper

Out: Reid (inj), Heppell, Jones

 

[bombreys]

People will think I am some sort of Kelly fan . I am not sold on him 100% but there are a mountain of issues out there and him missing 3 or 4 opportunities to play fast footy a week is not high on my list. That part does not outweigh the other parts of his game. It is like always. Give me someone who can play the roles. Be hard at the footy and run hard and defend but can create better and I am happy to play them.

Agree it often doesn’t, but today the bad did outweigh the good. His first half was seriously crap. He is nowhere near the wing defender that Durham is, for example - granted it was his first game there. It may have just been an off game, but if that’s how he’s going to defend the wing all season he should be nowhere near the 22/23.

 

[Blind Turn]

There were a couple of instances where he could have moved the ball but was overly cautious. Pretty sure at least once it was missing a team mate running past to whom he could have handballed. I don't blame him because maintaining possession is obviously key, but his cautiousness does slow us down IMO.

He’s slow but he won’t get dropped.
He’s not in my preferred 23 but he won’t get dropped.
He reads the play well and organises the defense so he won’t get dropped.

I don’t necessarily disagree with your feeling that the game has passed him by in many respects but he was important today.

 

[Blind Turn]

Agree it often doesn’t, but today the bad did outweigh the good. His first half was seriously crap. He is nowhere near the wing defender that Durham is, for example - granted it was his first game there. It may have just been an off game, but if that’s how he’s going to defend the wing all season he should be nowhere near the 22/23.

I can envisage Kelly playing a role on Heeney when he goes forward.

 

[MiguelM]

There were a couple of instances where he could have moved the ball but was overly cautious. Pretty sure at least once it was missing a team mate running past to whom he could have handballed. I don't blame him because maintaining possession is obviously key, but his cautiousness does slow us down IMO.

Didn't mind this today. Hawks were beating us at ground level and faster on the wings. There were a few times Kelly slowed it down when we needed to. He was able to kick to advantage without risking a turnover.

Also, 1 on 1 he is very good.

 

[MiguelM]

Anyone know how the Davey boys went in VFL practice match?

 

[justlookingaround]

Could Redman miss a week for his hit on Newcombe?

 

[Happyskeret]

Could Redman miss a week for his hit on Newcombe?

If he does it’s a shame he didn’t hit Ginnivan

 

[Beerfish]

I tipped Sydney in the knockout comp this week.

Prove me wrong campaigners

 

[Beerfish]

Could Redman miss a week for his hit on Newcombe?

Omg absolutely he could. Absolutely. Have you watched this sports entertainment product before?

 

[cAsEy_18]

Could Redman miss a week for his hit on Newcombe?

I wouldn’t have thought so.

But I think Caldwell might for his tackle.

 

[Howard Moon]

Because he will not kick it forward to a one on three contest ?

From my vantage point of row zz of the 4th deck I could see plenty of short options for somebody to take if they had a sliver of an urge to move it on before hatching it.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

i hate the SCG

 

[fairbump_playon]

Could Redman miss a week for his hit on Newcombe?

Nah boys will be boys it’s not a game for the faint hearted just let ‘em crack in and put the whistle away

… yes he will get a week and a lecture from a Garry Lyon type on Monday night AFL shows because “the head is sacrosanct and honestly how stupid are players”

Didn’t watch the cats game but Danger will probably simultaneously get a hand job and a bacon sandwich from the panel for elbowing someone off the ball because it shows passion

 

[Bombers36]

Early thoughts are;-

OUT: Reid, Kelly, Menzie
IN: Lav, Hind, Hobbs

Team;-

Cox McKay McGrath
Redman Lav Martin
Merrett Setterfield Durham
Stringer Jones Gresham
2MP Langford Guelfi

Goldy Perkins Hobbs

Bench: Tsatas, Caldwell, Hind, Heppell
SUB: Duursma

 

[ant555]

From my vantage point of row zz of the 4th deck I could see plenty of short options for somebody to take if they had a sliver of an urge to move it on before hatching it.

From my vantage point on row A of the 4th deck I saw him not take some he should have and smartly not take some that where not an option. Saw the same from maybe 12 others.