Should Anthony Rocca play this week?

[Palmer Stoat]

I thought he was pretty ordinary in the first three quarters. But there was a bit of an altercation with a Franger player in the last quarter and that seemed to fire him up. He took a couple of booming marks inside 50 and kicked a goal in the last quarter.

Still think it would be a big mistake to play him, however.

 

[smiddaz123]

My idea is a "farewell" match next week against the Doggies, then we can all move on, including Big Ant, in a respectful manner.

No way imo. There is no room for sentimentality when the third spot is on the line. I could cost us.

I'd ask you to consider what Brian Lake would do against Rocca. It scares me.

 

[mattys123]

No way imo. There is no room for sentimentality when the third spot is on the line. I could cost us.

I'd ask you to consider what Brian Lake would do against Rocca. It scares me.

Lake wouldnt do anymore on Rocca then he did on Anthony, well he couldnt possibly, seeing Jack didnt have a kick and got his arse kicked last time against Lake.

I say play Rocca as a decoy in one last senior match, and let Jack rip the doggies to bits.

 

[smiddaz123]

Disagreed. Anthony at least provided defensive pressure on Lake. Anthony could chase Lake! Rocca won't be able to, Lake would literally stroll off him and act as an even bigger offensive weapon than he did against us earlier in the year. Lake would get over 30 touches and just destroy Rocca.

Is Rocca in our best 22 at the moment? If he isn't, he should not be in the side. It could cost us third spot!!

 

[Pie eyed]

You both have some valid points but you are forgetting that if Rocca walks across that white line we will set-up differently.
Completely differently.

 

[smiddaz123]

If Rocca plays then he'll play deep, obviously. Lake will play on him if he plays deep.

The rest writes itself imo.

 

[Axl the great]

You both have some valid points but you are forgetting that if Rocca walks across that white line we will set-up differently.
Completely differently.

Very true but do we want to set up differently when the last 12 weeks have worked out perfectly?

 

[swiftdog]

I wouldn't start Lake on Rocca. Why would you? I can't remember the last time Rocca played an AFL game and he's now extremely one-dimensional. He's not going to get on to any leads and will simply have to rely on his strength to take pack marks. Easy plan for the Dogs, flood the backline (we're crap at countering this anyway) and third man up on any high and long balls going to Rocca. He's not as good as he used to be and won't beat 2+ opposition players in a marking contest.

It's harsh but Rocca has absolutely 0 place in the team right now and it's crazy to bring him in to a game playing off for third and beyond.

 

[HFF]

Too risky to play Pebs next week, particularly with 3rd spot still up for grabs.

We need to stay focus on the task at hand. Give Sydney a flogging and then just defeat the WB.

 

[the_fresh]

Rocca is not in our best 22 on form or fitness so NO.
At his best he might be in the 22 but not at the moment.

As for talk of a farewell game, when was the last time a player got a farewell game in a side that was playing finals that year. Its a thing the lower placed clubs do because they have nothing else to look forward to that year.

Rocca is gone and as sad as it is unless he can force his way into the 22 with a huge game in the twos and someone in the ones drops their form then we've seen the last of him.

 

[the_fresh]

I wouldn't start Lake on Rocca. Why would you? I can't remember the last time Rocca played an AFL game and he's now extremely one-dimensional. He's not going to get on to any leads and will simply have to rely on his strength to take pack marks. Easy plan for the Dogs, flood the backline (we're crap at countering this anyway) and third man up on any high and long balls going to Rocca. He's not as good as he used to be and won't beat 2+ opposition players in a marking contest.

It's harsh but Rocca has absolutely 0 place in the team right now and it's crazy to bring him in to a game playing off for third and beyond.

The doggies would love it, Lake to run off like his does everytime he plays on Rocca because he knows Rocca to too old, too slow and too unfit to go with him.