Preview Round 7: Essendon vs Collingwood, MCG, Anzac Day, 25/04/24 @ 3:20 PM

[jannissary]

i think wrt to draper; he doesn’t warrant being picked this week beyond the aforementioned “heart & soul”. he gives us some physicality but he gives up the basics - marking, kicking & general clumsiness. is it really worthwhile sacrificing so much on a genuinely important game knowing we have wright coming in.

it’s not an easy choice to make, but i think it’s heavily dependent on what the forecast is, if the weathers shit, i don’t think he’ll end up playing as it stands

 

[Bunk Moreland]

i think wrt to draper; he doesn’t warrant being picked this week beyond the aforementioned “heart & soul”. he gives us some physicality but he gives up the basics - marking, kicking & general clumsiness. is it really worthwhile sacrificing so much on a genuinely important game knowing we have wright coming in.

it’s not an easy choice to make, but i think it’s heavily dependent on what the forecast is, if the weathers s**t, i don’t think he’ll end up playing as it stands

For me it’s about where we’re at. If we don’t win this game in the scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter. It’s been made very clear that we’re on a build and far too often this club deviates from that.

I think it’s fairly clear that Draper is our long-term ruck so we’re best served playing him and building our midfield unit together, rather than Goldstein who, although in better form and a bette player now, will be gone probably after next year at the latest.

 

[TheWeapon]

Obvious change would be Draper for Wright, Wright can play ruck/resting forward role on less minutes without affecting structures
Tempting also to go no changes with Wright having a hitout in the VFL first to regain fitness

 

[mike14]

Just found out I've managed to secure tickets for this one for me and youngest. I struggle with crowds this big, but he's pumped so I am too...
Hopefully we can make it a good contest and the rain stays away

 

[Godzke]

We saw Cox rucking a few minutes vs Adelaide. Wondering if that was Scott trying a few things before ANZAC Day. If we need our #1 ruck to ruck 3qtrs then I'm going with Draper. But if we can get away with two quarters (the other half split between Wright and Cox) then I'd go Goldy.

I'd also prefer to see an extra midfield rotation come in given their running capability. And I've had a gutful of Laverde as well.

I think Kelly would go well against Mihocek but we'll need him to shutdown their smaller fowards. Prepared to give Hayes that opportunity. McKay vs Cox/Cameron the other match up. Hayes can also mark Frampton, as the Pies may switch him forward if our forward line is shorter.

Out: Draper, Laverde, Hind
In: Wright, Hayes, Shiel

Sub: Hind

If it was another game I'd probably select Tsatas but given the occasion and the build up to his return, this is basically Shiel's last chance to show he's still part of our set up going forward.

 

[eth-dog]

We saw Cox rucking a few minutes vs Adelaide. Wondering if that was Scott trying a few things before ANZAC Day. If we need our #1 ruck to ruck 3qtrs then I'm going with Draper. But if we can get away with two quarters (the other half split between Wright and Cox) then I'd go Goldy.

I'd also prefer to see an extra midfield rotation come in given their running capability. And I've had a gutful of Laverde as well.

I think Kelly would go well against Mihocek but we'll need him to shutdown their smaller fowards. Prepared to give Hayes that opportunity. McKay vs Cox/Cameron the other match up. Hayes can also mark Frampton, as the Pies may switch him forward if our forward line is shorter.

Out: Draper, Laverde, Hind
In: Wright, Hayes, Shiel

Sub: Hind

If it was another game I'd probably select Tsatas but given the occasion and the build up to his return, this is basically Shiel's last chance to show he's still part of our set up going forward.

You have picked Tsatas? You didn't omit him at all.

 

[Godzke]

You have picked Tsatas? You didn't omit him at all.

no I haven't.
He was the sub vs Adelaide, no?

 

[eth-dog]

no I haven't.
He was the sub vs Adelaide, no?

Yes. That's still in the side.

 

[outersanctum]

No way I’m dropping Draper like so many others.

He’s our #1 ruck, our ruck for the next 10 years and we need to keep pushing him in that role.

A couple of wins and people get a bit ahead of themselves.

We’re not winning the flag.

Goldstein has been great but he’s a short term player for us, a backup for when we need him. His body will certainly appreciate the rest, let’s keep him in good shape for when he’s needed.

In Wright, Shiel
Out Goldstein, Hind

One of the big anchors that will hold this team back is if we think Draper is a 'lock' to be good enough to be a #1 ruck. At no point has he shown enough effort, consistency, skill and smarts to justify the cult status he has.

I'm not saying you put a line through him.. but exposed form isn't great and he has gone further back this year. He is sloppy, his kicking is beyond deplorable, he gets lost in traffic, his hands aren't great in a marking contest.. he has poor field awareness and positioning.

One of the big reasons why we have won some games this year is that Goldy has been serviceable. IF Draper was half as good as some seem to think.. then Goldy should be nowhere near selected if Draper is fit.

I'd be addressing our ruck situation sooner rather than later.

 

[JayJ20]

No way I’m dropping Draper like so many others.

He’s our #1 ruck, our ruck for the next 10 years and we need to keep pushing him in that role.

A couple of wins and people get a bit ahead of themselves.

We’re not winning the flag.

Goldstein has been great but he’s a short term player for us, a backup for when we need him. His body will certainly appreciate the rest, let’s keep him in good shape for when he’s needed.

In Wright, Shiel
Out Goldstein, Hind

Sorry but he has to be outperforming Goldstein to be selected over him. If he wants to be the number 1 ruck, he can't be giving 50s, diving on balls with 5 seconds to go, missing goals from 20 metres out, mis-kicking ground balls to turn it over, getting caught holding the ball because he believes he is as agile as a 5'9 small forward etc.

He isn't doing enough to benefit the side to outweigh how much he unnecessarily hurts us. Dropping him after the Adelaide game for the biggest home and away game would send him a message that he can't do whatever he wants without repercussion. Lucky he didn't cost us the game. Maybe he'll mature then.

I'd rather keep Goldstein in the side.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

One of the big anchors that will hold this team back is if we think Draper is a 'lock' to be good enough to be a #1 ruck. At no point has he shown enough effort, consistency, skill and smarts to justify the cult status he has.

I'm not saying you put a line through him.. but exposed form isn't great and he has gone further back this year. He is sloppy, his kicking is beyond deplorable, he gets lost in traffic, his hands aren't great in a marking contest.. he has poor field awareness and positioning.

One of the big reasons why we have won some games this year is that Goldy has been serviceable. IF Draper was half as good as some seem to think.. then Goldy should be nowhere near selected if Draper is fit.

I'd be addressing our ruck situation sooner rather than later.

Get your argument but for what the club has done, I don’t really think it’s up for debate re the long term. He came into the side halfway through 2021 and apart from a period of injury last year, he’s been our #1 ruck.

I don’t see how we put four years of work into a player and play him constantly in a single important position, only to one day decide he’s actually not good enough. Unless he’s suddenly gone backwards at a huge rate.

If we’re now going to play Goldstein ahead of him then I doubt he’ll be at the club much longer.

 

[ant555]

For me it’s about where we’re at. If we don’t win this game in the scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter. It’s been made very clear that we’re on a build and far too often this club deviates from that.

I think it’s fairly clear that Draper is our long-term ruck so we’re best served playing him and building our midfield unit together, rather than Goldstein who, although in better form and a bette player now, will be gone probably after next year at the latest.

I would consider playing the other future ruck for a bit and give Sammy some VFL time for a few weeks to get back to the level he was at . He is clearly showing the effects of not being in any of the match sim and practice games .
Where we are at is a bit irrelevant IMO.
Sam may be the future but sometimes the future needs a step back for a bit.
I would play Bryan or Wright personally.


Now watch Sam win the Anzac medal now I have posted this

 

[Bunk Moreland]

I would consider playing the other future ruck for a bit and give Sammy some VFL time for a few weeks to get back to the level he was at . He is clearly showing the effects of not being in any of the match sim and practice games .
Where we are at is a bit irrelevant IMO.
Sam may be the future but sometimes the future needs a step back for a bit.
I would play Bryan or Wright personally.


Now watch Sam win the Anzac medal now I have posted this

Yeah I would prefer Bryan if not Draper.

I just reckon playing Goldstein as #1 ruck now (unless injury demands it) would be totally against everything Scott and the club have been talking about for ages.

 

[Petrify]

We saw Cox rucking a few minutes vs Adelaide. Wondering if that was Scott trying a few things before ANZAC Day. If we need our #1 ruck to ruck 3qtrs then I'm going with Draper. But if we can get away with two quarters (the other half split between Wright and Cox) then I'd go Goldy.

Cox got absolutely monstered when in the ruck. It was awful

 

[gillon]

Sorry but he has to be outperforming Goldstein to be selected over him. If he wants to be the number 1 ruck, he can't be giving 50s, diving on balls with 5 seconds to go, missing goals from 20 metres out, mis-kicking ground balls to turn it over, getting caught holding the ball because he believes he is as agile as a 5'9 small forward etc.

He isn't doing enough to benefit the side to outweigh how much he unnecessarily hurts us. Dropping him after the Adelaide game for the biggest home and away game would send him a message that he can't do whatever he wants without repercussion. Lucky he didn't cost us the game. Maybe he'll mature then.

I'd rather keep Goldstein in the side.

Agreed. I feel like it could send the team a message as well. As others have mentioned, the ‘loveable goof’ gimmick has run its course.

 

[DallasCrane316]

Sorry but he has to be outperforming Goldstein to be selected over him. If he wants to be the number 1 ruck, he can't be giving 50s, diving on balls with 5 seconds to go, missing goals from 20 metres out, mis-kicking ground balls to turn it over, getting caught holding the ball because he believes he is as agile as a 5'9 small forward etc.

He isn't doing enough to benefit the side to outweigh how much he unnecessarily hurts us. Dropping him after the Adelaide game for the biggest home and away game would send him a message that he can't do whatever he wants without repercussion. Lucky he didn't cost us the game. Maybe he'll mature then.

I'd rather keep Goldstein in the side.

FWIW a number of footy shows seem to be predicting Draper will be dropped this week. So it’s not just our internal view of him.

Also, from a few comments from the players after the game, you could tell they were concerned with what Draper had done in those last few seconds of the game.

 

[justlookingaround]

Draper isn't in good form right now. Thankfully he still brings something to the side while out of form in physicality, effort, general 'edge'. He's had a few almost moments over the last few weeks with stoppage goals. If he can reliably add that to his game like Tex and Hawkins do ~once per match then his upside goes way up.

I feel like he will always do stuff like give away dumb 50s and spray set shots from directly in front, he's just that sort of player. He'll also kick goals on the run from 55m out or nab a 30m soccer a few times a year. If he can get the fundamentals in between those extremes worked out then it'd be fine.

Yes Goldstein is nearly 36, but no one should be getting gifted games and Goldy is much, much more reliable than Draper right now in just about every metric outside speed. But I'm not sure Draper gets dropped. You just get the feeling Scott won't want to. But surely we don't play all of Draper, Goldy, Jones and Wright in the wet. May as well bring Weideman in at that point too

 

[Cup_o_Jobe]

Kelly's been good.

He's been OK (better than his 2023 form at least), but not clear to me who else we're dropping from the back 7 to make way for Reid and Ridley. Laverde is the easy out, but after that, it is probably Hepp or Kelly, and Hepp's form has simply been better over the first 6 games.

 

[brain taylor]

He's been OK (better than his 2023 form at least), but not clear to me who else we're dropping from the back 7 to make way for Reid and Ridley. Laverde is the easy out, but after that, it is probably Hepp or Kelly, and Hepp's form has simply been better over the first 6 games.

kelly lines up on the wing a lot and rolls back to cover for marto, so he’s not really in ridley or reid’s spot

 

[Bombers36]

Draper more likely than not to get ‘rested’ - he can still be a great player but right now he’s a liability
Tsatas back to the reserves for a full game to hone his craft.
Bring in the experienced Shiel to play forward & some mid minutes
2MP also to play forward/ruck minutes

Team;-

Kelly McKay McGrath
Redman Lav Martin
Cox Caldwell Duursma
Gresham Stringer Shiel
2MP Langford ADavey

Goldy Durham Merrett

Bench: Parish Hobbs Heppell Jones
SUB: Hind

 

[Godzke]

Yes. That's still in the side.

semantics
3 go out of the starting 22 - Draper, Laverde, Hind
3 come in - Wright, Hayes, Shiel
Hind the sub

 

[eth-dog]

semantics
3 go out of the starting 22 - Draper, Laverde, Hind
3 come in - Wright, Hayes, Shiel
Hind the sub

No it isn't. You're not dropping Hind at all. You're dropping Tsatas. One is playing, the other isn't.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

I wouldnt rush Wright in. He wasnt offering much before the suspension other than accurate goal kicking.
Jones is taking marks and also following up once it hits the deck. Wright was doing neither.
Draper has too many brain farts but is more dynamic than Wright and has more upside.

He’s only played 2 games and one of them the bump clearly was playing on hos mind for most of the game. 8 marks and 4 goals so far. No chance you could leave him out. No way they’re dropping Jones either

 

[joey_jo_jo]

He’s only played 2 games and one of them the bump clearly was playing on hos mind for most of the game. 8 marks and 4 goals so far. No chance you could leave him out. No way they’re dropping Jones either

Im thinking about last year too, i have a worrying suspicion that 2022 wright is the aberration and back half of 23 and first 2 games this year is him reverting to type.
He just doesnt seem like a contested mark/bash & crash type key forward and I think we really need that with the forward pressure game we are implementing.

 

[Vindicater]

Im thinking about last year too, i have a worrying suspicion that 2022 wright is the aberration and back half of 23 and first 2 games this year is him reverting to type.
He just doesnt seem like a contested mark/bash & crash type key forward and I think we really need that with the forward pressure game we are implementing.

I also have this concern. Wright and Jones as KPF are both run and leaper types.

We need a more physical specimen but ai am not sure Draper is that either.