- Nov 23, 2015
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- AFL Club
- GWS
- Moderator
- #1
The good thing about the last 3 games is that we've won them, notwithstanding some questions over how we've won them. Which sees us in 5th place on the ladder. But it's a very tenuous 5th place, with just 2 games between 2nd and 10th, so 1 loss can see us tumble out of finals. This round's results really didn't help us too much - at least not in putting any buffer between us and the chasing pack - so it remains for us to keep winning. The next 5 rounds will be a tough test for our boys, as they are all against finals contenders, and it starts next Saturday under lights at the G against Melbourne.
The very good thing about the wins has been our efficiency in F50, kicking straight and winning despite the lack of I50s. However, that could prove a weakness against other teams who are capable of squeezing our I50 count even further, or defending better. Melbourne at the G will be an interesting test. Their backline is definitely one that is capable of disrupting our forwards, but with injuries in their midfield, our misfiring midfield may not be so much on the backfoot. The loss of Christian Petracca, and Clayton Oliver's loss of form recently have been partly behind recent losses, as well as Max Gawn's absence over the last couple of games. He was originally meant to miss 3 games, but was listed as a test before the Freo game, but ultimately didn't play. If he is on the field next weekend, it will be a different Demons team.
For the Giants, Sam Taylor has been champing at the bit to get back on the field, and hopefully will do so next weekend. While Jack Buckley has done an excellent job for the most part in Sam's absence, Sam is such the backline general out there, that he'll help marshal the troops on top of his KPD role. Ironically, Melbourne is a team that we could actually go in one short on KPDs, given that they only have Van Rooyen and Fritsch, unless Gawn does return and they push Petty forward (or Petty back and MacDonald forward). Whoever makes way for Sam will be damned unlucky, as the whole defensive group has played well collectively. You would have to think that Joe Fonti might be that guy, unless they push him up onto a wing, and pushed someone else out.
The other possible returnee for GWS would be Cogs, but I guess it's likely to be a week-by-week proposition from now to see how his shoulder is. If not, I thought Peatling had a solid game, especially in the contest and presumably would retain his place. You would think that Bedford would tag Jack Viney initially - if we can stifle one of the two top-line mids in the contest, then our running game should be able to come into effect. We do need to have a plan to counter May & Lever though, rather than just bombing it in for them to intercept. If we do that, we'll court disaster. One of the best pieces of individual brilliance against the Suns was Darcy Jones' bullet pass to Jesse Hogan - we need more of those, plus KPFs leading out to receive the ball in the protected space in front of them.
I can't see too many changes other than players coming back from injury; Kingers will want to reward the team that's had wins on the trot.
Finally, it's the G, it's Saturday night primetime. We need to take advantage of this and play well, get another win at the grand final venue, knock a finals rival down another slot, and get some more confidence for the remaining home & away challenge.
The very good thing about the wins has been our efficiency in F50, kicking straight and winning despite the lack of I50s. However, that could prove a weakness against other teams who are capable of squeezing our I50 count even further, or defending better. Melbourne at the G will be an interesting test. Their backline is definitely one that is capable of disrupting our forwards, but with injuries in their midfield, our misfiring midfield may not be so much on the backfoot. The loss of Christian Petracca, and Clayton Oliver's loss of form recently have been partly behind recent losses, as well as Max Gawn's absence over the last couple of games. He was originally meant to miss 3 games, but was listed as a test before the Freo game, but ultimately didn't play. If he is on the field next weekend, it will be a different Demons team.
For the Giants, Sam Taylor has been champing at the bit to get back on the field, and hopefully will do so next weekend. While Jack Buckley has done an excellent job for the most part in Sam's absence, Sam is such the backline general out there, that he'll help marshal the troops on top of his KPD role. Ironically, Melbourne is a team that we could actually go in one short on KPDs, given that they only have Van Rooyen and Fritsch, unless Gawn does return and they push Petty forward (or Petty back and MacDonald forward). Whoever makes way for Sam will be damned unlucky, as the whole defensive group has played well collectively. You would have to think that Joe Fonti might be that guy, unless they push him up onto a wing, and pushed someone else out.
The other possible returnee for GWS would be Cogs, but I guess it's likely to be a week-by-week proposition from now to see how his shoulder is. If not, I thought Peatling had a solid game, especially in the contest and presumably would retain his place. You would think that Bedford would tag Jack Viney initially - if we can stifle one of the two top-line mids in the contest, then our running game should be able to come into effect. We do need to have a plan to counter May & Lever though, rather than just bombing it in for them to intercept. If we do that, we'll court disaster. One of the best pieces of individual brilliance against the Suns was Darcy Jones' bullet pass to Jesse Hogan - we need more of those, plus KPFs leading out to receive the ball in the protected space in front of them.
I can't see too many changes other than players coming back from injury; Kingers will want to reward the team that's had wins on the trot.
Finally, it's the G, it's Saturday night primetime. We need to take advantage of this and play well, get another win at the grand final venue, knock a finals rival down another slot, and get some more confidence for the remaining home & away challenge.
