Preview Round 5: vs Geelong

[Quixote]

Just watching Richo's press conference, no chance of Savage coming. He was also pretty coy on Koby - I have the inkling it will be just the two changes, Billy and Stuv for Hick and Army.

Did hint that there may be some sore boys around, I'm guessing they're the ones in extended bench. I did think Dunstan looked pretty stiff when he was lining up for the set shot last week - might explain why he was so quiet.

Which press conference is this?

 

[lewdogs]

Which press conference is this?

It's on the Saints website

 

[The_Steadier]

This game will be a good measuring stick for both clubs.

Geelong are undefeated but I am in no way 100% convinced they are a contender.
Freo were hopeless round 1, limped over NM after trailing the whole game, beat demons with 2 major outs and gawn going down injured and only ran over them in the 4th because of it, and beat a hopeless Hawks last week.


We haven't beat anyone of worth but a couple more of early conversions would have put Eagles away. We should have won and been 3-1, they should have lost to dees and be 3-1. Game is much more even than it would seem

Precisely my read on it too.
Plus we weren't that bad against melb given we were down to 1 fit man on the bench for large parts of the 2nd half.

I actually think we're tracking pretty well this year.
Sunday will certainly confirm or deny that.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Would really like to see Minch get another crack, but I'm on the fence about it being at Lonie's expense, with Long being named on the ground. Just not sure Jack's done enough to warrant missing.

 

[CHBench]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-04-21/the-bogeymen-whos-coming-to-get-your-team-in-round-five

Is Dinny having a laugh?

Posted on Tuesday:

We're the only team that Danger has never got a Brownlow vote against.

But yes Dinny, bogeyman.

Elite mod

 

[Masquerade]

Would really like to see Minch get another crack, but I'm on the fence about it being at Lonie's expense, with Long being named on the ground. Just not sure Jack's done enough to warrant missing.

Maybe. But if they're willing to drop Hickey based on his performances so far, then Lonie must go too.

And so does Dunstan.

Both of them also have replacements banging the door down on Sandy and you can't have one set of rules for one player and another for the rest.

 

[geelong sajnt]

Some interesting comments by richo. Definitely think that hickey was dropped if he wasn't sore. How good is it to have another afl grade ruckman to jump in when needed. Will be fresh and raring to go.

Have to feel dunstan is sore and might get replaced. Minch close but brings different things to lone.

Kinda feel that the club is reasonably happy with how we are tracking but know there are big areas that have to be improved on.
- Clearances (ruck out, new mids in).
- kick inside 50 to a fwd, needs to kick to advantage. This will come in time with the group playing blocks of games together. See joey to roo as an example.
- kicking for goal. Being ruthless. Putting teams to the sword. Will come.

 

[Periphery]

Maybe. But if they're willing to drop Hickey based on his performances so far, then Lonie must go too.

And so does Dunstan.

Both of them also have replacements banging the door down on Sandy and you can't have one set of rules for one player and another for the rest.

Totally disagree.

Hickey and Dunstan are performing worse than have in the past.

Conversely, Lonie is performing way better than he has before in almost every way. People just don't seem to like Lonie for some stupid reason.

 

[Joffaboy]

I'm really not sure what to tell you but this is not a pisstake, that is in the article.

Fair enough. Still only comes up with the info on Armo even when I refresh.

No worries, thought freebloke was having a lend.
Cheers

 

[SK_MD_#7]

Longer, Steven and Minch for Lonie, Armo and Hick

Incoming all Dunstan posts.. let it begin

 

[aussierulesrules]

Would have to think Dunny has been told he's one more poor game away from being replaced by Koby (if he keeps up his form in the VFL). Not surprised we didn't want to make 4 changes tho. Lonie pretty stiff.

But:

 

[Masquerade]

Totally disagree.

Hickey and Dunstan are performing worse than have in the past.

Conversely, Lonie is performing way better than he has before in almost every way. People just don't seem to like Lonie for some stupid reason.

I don't mind Lonie at all.

But just because he's performing better than usual doesn't mean it's still good enough. I just think Hickey hasn't that far off the boil but he's been dumped the first opportunity the coaches got, whereas other players get much longer ropes with next to no scrutiny or at least not nearly as much pressure as others.

I can see this is going to open a can of worms so I'm going to stop here. Ultimately, I'm sure the coaches know a lot lot more than I do, so I trust them

EDIT: And there we go. Minch in, Lonie out. The order of the universe has been restored.

 

[JG22]

Lonie bloody stiff seeing he did more than Long.

 

[Mowman]

Longer, Steven and Minch for Lonie, Armo and Hick

Incoming all Dunstan posts.. let it begin

And rightly so he has been gifted games for way to long, 3 kicks 3 handballs 1st half 2 kicks 3 handballs in 2nd half last week as a mid thats rubbish

 

[aussierulesrules]

Lonie bloody stiff seeing he did more than Long.

True, that said, it wasn't much more.

 

[SK_MD_#7]

And rightly so he has been gifted games for way to long, 3 kicks 3 handballs 1st half 2 kicks 3 handballs in 2nd half last week as a mid thats rubbish

Obviously doing the role coaches want of him?

 

[Smoke_Me_AKipper]

Good to see VFL form being rewarded.....hope Minch can kill it on Sunday

 

[Mowman]

Obviously doing the role coaches want of him?

Lucky coaches never get it wrong then

 

[aussierulesrules]

Obviously doing the role coaches want of him?

7 tackles probably saved his ass along with how good he was the week before (in the 2nd half in particular). Would be on thin ice though, as Koby can do all Luke is doing and more.

 

[Murraj1966]

Let this be a lesson to you Dunstan, you can only get away with playing badly for 3 or 4 weeks maybe 5 if we can't be bothered changing the sheet template.

Meatball still hanging on the balance of the plate of spaghetti that is AFL and the white trousers of VFL football. Hopefully he finally settles in the plate.

 

[pebblesofsand]

Well its all up to Minch now - he's been given the opportunity - he now needs to perform if he wants to hold a spot in the team.

Up to him to perform and therefore get a better chance to display his midfield smarts.

PS Surprised - I'd thought we'd go with Koby rather than Dunstan.

 

[Periphery]

I don't mind Lonie at all.

But just because he's performing better than usual doesn't mean it's still good enough. I just think Hickey hasn't that far off the boil but he's been dumped the first opportunity the coaches got, whereas other players get much longer ropes with next to no scrutiny or at least not nearly as much pressure as others.

I can see this is going to open a can of worms so I'm going to stop here. Ultimately, I'm sure the coaches know a lot lot more than I do, so I trust them

EDIT: And there we go. Minch in, Lonie out. The order of the universe has been restored.

Oh, I agree. Just because Lonie has been better doesn't mean he's been fulfilling his role. But based on his performances so far I would have thought it would have been enough, but it doesn't appear to have been. Of course, they might not think having all 3 of Lonie, Long and Gresh is good for team balance - but unless they plan on playing Minch through the middle more then I'm not sure how he brings anything different.

I'm also not sure how Dunstan keeps his spot as he clearly (as far as we can tell) hasn't been fulfilling his role as an inside mid. But maybe he has been doing what the coaches want?

 

[PrinceofSeaford]

I don't understand why Hickey is listed as 'managed' if it turns out he would have been dropped anyway. Why not just say omitted?

Trade value

 

[gringo2011]

And rightly so he has been gifted games for way to long, 3 kicks 3 handballs 1st half 2 kicks 3 handballs in 2nd half last week as a mid thats rubbish

I had a bit of an epiphany watching last week, we really don't care about stats it seems, Luke's best qualities are his pressure acts, constant defensive mindedness and his ability to stay in most contests. He's doing his role and I reckon he's getting praised in the reviews even if we look at his output and define it by traditional stats.

 

[NarklesHelmet]

That set-shot goal Lonie missed last week was horrendous. Granted he isn't Robinson Crusoe when it comes to missing shots at goal this year but as a small goal-kicking forward, if he isn't nailing shots like that he should be made an example of and Minch given a crack because Minch is just as good with his pressure acts and can/will hopefully put the ball through the big sticks when given the chance.