Preview St Kilda Saints vs. Fremantle Dockers, Round 1 2023

[Tonga Bob]

serial_thrilla our beautiful Bailey boi is gonna be a super sub, or we riot.

 

[mike91]

We're talking about dropping Ryan not Cox silly

......still time to delete this comment mate.

 

[Wobbly Punt]

OK I thought we only took 24 last year, my bad. I would have thought it's more of an issue early in the year personally to give the guys pushing up from below as much game time as possible, even if it's a WAFL preseason match.
Anyway perhaps as freo_leo said it is because Schultz and maybe someone else is proppy

No we're kind of both right. They only did it a about half a dozen times last year I reckon so mostly it was 24. You're right there. I was just saying they did grab a chance to include guys in trips for the experience when they deemed it worth as much to travel them than play them. Sturt got one of those trips I remember because I got my hopes up that we might see him run out. Same with Ras (twice) and a couple of other times too.

 

[s_wd6]

Ryan does walk into any team though

Who wouldn't pick him?

me

 

[FreoRicci]

Wilson over walker is interesting

Not really. Wilson has been fit, ran hard in the pre season games. Just consistent. The worry is Wilson's defensive fragilities. Walker is the better of defending small forwards then he is. But love the backing of Wilson. On the outer, destined for depth but its a reward for a strong pre season and good form in the games. Have to reward that

 

[Purple Suit]

I'll be more devo for Sturt if Banfield is the sub. That would be a kick in the guts for Sturt after what he has been able to do this offseason.
Walker as sub - no complaints from me, in fact I think that's the most logical choice. Sturt as sub - well deserved. Banfield as sub - don't want to see it.

Edit - what snuff said

Surely the sub is out of Sturt or Walker considering it is now a tactical sub and needs to provide run. We've gone with a taller fowardline and great ruck cover so we can adjust on game day if there is an injury.

Banners is insurance for losing a tall pre game and he still has photos of Jlo.

 

[FreoRicci]

That's a bloody strong team named.
Treacy, Tabs, Fye and Jackson. Can't wait.

 

[Jezzitizle]

Really happy with that side, it’s the one I would have picked.

Wilson being in is better for our forwards because how quickly and aggressively he moves the ball up the field. Walker will recover, he’s young.

I expect Boyd will have sorted out Wilson’s defensive side now, being out of the team was the wake up call he needed.

Sturt super unlucky, but it’s up to him to take his chance when it comes.

I don’t even know if I pick Walter’s if he is fit, and I love that guy.

 

[FreoRicci]

FREMANTLE

B: E.Hughes 15 A.Pearce - C 25 L.Ryan 13
HB: B.Cox 36 H.Young 26 H.Chapman 27
C: J.Clark 6 W.Brodie 17 J.Aish 11
HF: S.Switkowski 39 L.Jackson 9 J.O'Meara 2
F: L.Schultz 5 N.Fyfe 7 M.Taberner 20
Foll: S.Darcy 4 A.Brayshaw 8 C.Serong 3
I/C: J.Treacy 35 L.Henry 23 M.Frederick 32 N.Wilson 14

Emerg: B.Banfield 41 B.Walker 31 M.Johnson 44 S.Sturt 1

New faces: Luke Jackson, Jaeger O'Meara

2

Jaeger O'meara

Age

30

Ht

184cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.9

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

10.6

5star

M

3.7

4star

T

5.5

5star

CL

4.8

5star

D

20.9

5star

K

13.0

5star

HB

7.9

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

5.0

5star

D

19.4

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

8.0

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

4.0

5star

CL

4.6

5star

, Matthew Johnson
Notable absentees: Travis Colyer, Michael Walters

10

Michael Walters

Age

34

Ht

176cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.2

4star

K

11.0

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.9

4star

G

1.7

5star

D

20.9

5star

K

11.8

5star

HB

9.1

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

3.3

4star

G

1.0

4star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

4.4

4star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.8

4star

 

[FreoRicci]

Would love Clark to start wing of the team named. But it ll be Hughes swapping with Clark on the day. JL likes a balanced, play players in their natural positions type but I will continue to push the selection of Clark on the wing.

 

[s_wd6]

FREMANTLE

B: E.Hughes 15 A.Pearce - C 25 L.Ryan 13
HB: B.Cox 36 H.Young 26 H.Chapman 27
C: J.Clark 6 W.Brodie 17 J.Aish 11
HF: S.Switkowski 39 L.Jackson 9 J.O'Meara 2
F: L.Schultz 5 N.Fyfe 7 M.Taberner 20
Foll: S.Darcy 4 A.Brayshaw 8 C.Serong 3
I/C: J.Treacy 35 L.Henry 23 M.Frederick 32 N.Wilson 14

Emerg: B.Banfield 41 B.Walker 31 M.Johnson 44 S.Sturt 1

New faces: Luke Jackson, Jaeger O'Meara, Matthew Johnson
Notable absentees: Travis Colyer, Michael Walters

"Notable absentees: Travis Colyer" ...right.....

 

[FreoRicci]

Really happy with that side, it’s the one I would have picked.

Wilson being in is better for our forwards because how quickly and aggressively he moves the ball up the field. Walker will recover, he’s young.

I expect Boyd will have sorted out Wilson’s defensive side now, being out of the team was the wake up call he needed.

Sturt super unlucky, but it’s up to him to take his chance when it comes.

I don’t even know if I pick Walter’s if he is fit, and I love that guy.

He is B22, Walters. We need his small forward craft and presence. Regardless of his strength and pace, he still gets in good spots and kick goals. The worry is the small forward and their ability to score around the packs- particularly Switkowski. Switta has great intensity and smarts but should be more emphasis of his to be more damaging on the scoreboard. Switter, Schulz and Frederick doesn't inspire hope of multiple goals- its workmanlike. Adding Walters would be more unpredictable in the coming weeks.

 

[FreoRicci]

"Notable absentees: Travis Colyer" ...right.....

AFL reporter so confused and shocked at the injury list that he just had to find one.

 

[Wobbly Punt]

I'm a bit surprised and worried that Walker is out but as I've said elsewhere, Wilson definitely earned a shot with his preseason so good for him. And good on the coaches for rewarding it. That's a pleasant change from last year when form wasn't the thing being rewarded. Great to see it being the theme already this year in a number of calls.

Saints smalls in Butler and Higgins worry me a bit without Walker but happy to back our backline in given their record.

So happy for Treacy, can't wait to see him and now just hope they give him more than 1-2 weeks. Happy for Henry too and he'll get a good chance at it. He should watch Hill very closely and learn live from that.

As snuff said, it'll be SUPER interesting when Sonny is fit again.

As far as the sub goes I am clearly not a Bailey fan but if he gets the vest then it's not a bad call. Noone on that bench is. I'd go Walker just in case one of their smalls gets off the chain. If not him then Sturt for me. He's earned a crack. I'd definitely go Banfield ahead of Johnson. I don't want us to ever debut a guy in the vest again. Terrible thing to do, even with the new rules. Let the kid debut properly.

Also with Banfield as sub he can rack up games and secure a father-son status. He won't be the first below average player to spawn a gun kid so we should rack up games for him but not put him out there - win/win

 

[freo84]

"Notable absentees: Travis Colyer" ...right.....

I didnt mind Col to be honest. He played some good games for Freo. He's depth now and he probably knows that.

 

[FreoRicci]

I must say I'm very surprised Walker has been dropped, especially against a team with Higgins and Butler, but I'm also thrilled about it.

Sturt and Johnson being emergencies means they're close

That's the worry. Ryan has to go on either Butler or Higgins due to their lack of tall forwards. Higgins is always bloody unpredictable for Fremantle to defend.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

He is B22, Walters. We need his small forward craft and presence. Regardless of his strength and pace, he still gets in good spots and kick goals. The worry is the small forward and their ability to score around the packs- particularly Switkowski. Switta has great intensity and smarts but should be more emphasis of his to be more damaging on the scoreboard. Switter, Schulz and Frederick doesn't inspire hope of multiple goals- its workmanlike. Adding Walters would be more unpredictable in the coming weeks.

Selling Freddy short there I reckon, if he doesnt kick mutiple goals himself, he does a good job setting them up.

Walters also cant pressure like Switta and Schultz at his age so if the forwardline looks good and we win, a very very hard decision is going to have to be made

 

[freo84]

I like the team as its named.

Powerful forward line. Great looking midfield and a settled strong back 6.

If Shultz is out then Sturt comes in. Cant complain with that.

 

[freo84]

Selling Freddy short their I reckon, if he doesnt kick mutiple goals himself, he does a good job setting them up.

Walters also cant pressure like Switta and Schultz at his age so if the forwardline looks good and we win, a very very hard decision is going to have to be made

Walters feeds off the pressure of the others now. He watched Freddy in that run down tackle and went to the perfect spot to get the ball and kick a snag.

 

[s_wd6]

I'd advocated for Wilson all month leading up to this game, but I am really worried saints smalls will overrun us.

 

[poshman]

Banfield would be position A for the sub. I don't have too much issue with it given he can play multiple positions.

Walker out is interesting but Willo has been in form. Will be interesting to see who ends up playing on the wing.

 

[Purple Jesus]

I'd advocated for Wilson all month leading up to this game, but I am really worried saints smalls will overrun us.

They have to get it to them first.

 

[Superkoops]

That's the worry. Ryan has to go on either Butler or Higgins due to their lack of tall forwards. Higgins is always bloody unpredictable for Fremantle to defend.

Chapman will play on a small. Like ole Antoni Grover and Shane Parker (he has more talent than both) can play on the smalls, mediums and developing his body to play on some talls.

Butler is quick - I’d say he will be a handful potentially. Perhaps that is why Hughes is listed back pocket. I’m thinking he and Jordi Clark will rotate.

 

[Retzlaff]

"Notable absentees: Travis Colyer" ...right.....

No sign of Clinton Wolf either

 

[Purple Suit]

They have to get it to them first.

It's the Freo curse. The knight is hoping around on one leg and we're worried he's going to kick us.