Preview St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs @Etihad Sat 2nd 7:25pm. Nick Riewoldt's 300th

[bird_man]

He was named as emergency ahead of Minch or others because he played well in his NAB Challenge game. Presumably good at training as well.
So if he's named you are not going to be happy.

Because suddenly Minch got a heap of disposals against some VFL players who may or may not have been trying hard.
Tom Curren has an AFL history that says that he's able to go out and find the ball more than 20 times on a number of occasions. Minchington has been lucky to get more than 10. Maybe he's improved if he has he will get a chance to prove it. Maybe it will be next week I don't know.

Really not fussed whether you are happy or not.

They are different players though. Curren is an inside mid who finds a lot of the footy.

Minch is more of an outiside player, who often doesn't find as much of the footy but is more damaging by foot.

I don't think either will play to be honest but at the same time, I don't really think they are fighting for the same spot exactly. Curren has probably been unlucky due to the fact that we are full of inside mids.

 

[saintsrfreak]

They are different players though. Curren is an inside mid who finds a lot of the footy.

Minch is more of an outiside player, who often doesn't find as much of the footy but is more damaging by foot.

I don't think either will play to be honest but at the same time, I don't really think they are fighting for the same spot exactly. Curren has probably been unlucky due to the fact that we are full of inside mids.

?? I was under the impression that in the VFL he racks up clearances. It's a big step up to the seniors obviously but that seems to be where he plays best.

 

[Murraj1966]

If Paddy came in and dominated while Boyd had a stinker, that would be a dream.

 

[RoundCubic]

Why do you say Dunstan will only not play if he is injured and I have added the only because that is how I read it. He was very ordinary on Sunday and even though people maybe be able to find stats that show he did some good things, watching the game he really struggled. I think having Ross and him in the side makes our midfield very slow and inside which will completely suit the WB.

As for your comment on Hickey and Longer making a great ruck duo well that may happen but it would need the game to change. I would be interested how you think they could work together because I cant see it. Hickey is a very good around the ground ruckman who becomes and ordinary forward, Longer is strong tap ruckman who cannot play forward.

On Dunstan its a bad message to send to the boys that if you do the hard stuff and cop a hit that limits your game you will get dropped the next week. Dunstan's numbers indicate the hit limited his running but he was going hard as he could at the stoppages if he has a niggle they may rest him otherwise he'll play. I'll put it another way would you have dropped him if he hadn't come back on but was fit by Friday.

 

[plugger66]

On Dunstan its a bad message to send to the boys that if you do the hard stuff and cop a hit that limits your game you will get dropped the next week. Dunstan's numbers indicate the hit limited his running but he was going hard as he could at the stoppages if he has a niggle they may rest him otherwise he'll play. I'll put it another way would you have dropped him if he hadn't come back on but was fit by Friday.

I would drop him because of match ups and ordinary form in the pre season and on Sunday. I honestly don't like him and Seb together and dislike Longer and Hickey together even more. Sometimes who you play dictates who is in and out of the side. Having said that I probably expect Dunstan to hold his spot.

 

[Smoke_Me_AKipper]

It's only round 1 guys. The only reason to drop someone after round 1 of the season is if we as a team had a poor game, (only for a quarter really so that's a no), if certain players were poor, (no-one was poor, Eli/Gresh probably didn't get as much of it as they'd of hoped so I think that is a no), and if its a positional/tactical change which is def a possibility.

So I think the only change may be a tactical one - do we go with one more tall OR do we stick with the extra mid against a small, quick and slick Doggies side. I think Paddy would come in for one of Gresh or Eli. However the brains trust may stick with the existing team, give Paddy, Sinclair et al one more week in the VFL to bang the door down

Likely 0-1 changes, small chance of 2 changes and I'd be really surprised, like jaw dropping to the ground surprised if there are more than 2 changes, (the one caveat being injuries to players of course)....

 

[aussierulesrules]

You guys think Weller goes to bonti? Or just armitage or Steven head to head?

Cheers

As someone else said, I would think Gilbert is pretty comfortably the best or most obvious option we have for Bont.

He was moved into the midfield for the last several games of last year and he was pretty solid and consistent there and that was in spite of the fact it sounds like he basically hadn't done a preseason for a couple of years and wouldn't have had anywhere near the ideal level of midfield fitness.

He's just completed a full preseason for the first time in years though and it's shown with his performances so far, including his 27 possession, 1 goal game on the weekend- which was the most possies he's had since 2010, the year he came 3rd in our B&F (before the whole Kim Duthie thing and then injuries pretty much derailed his career).

He's the same height as Bont, is very strong for his body shape, can play close-checking if need-be (has tagged Judd and Ablett in the past and is used to playing in defence), has an elite tackle (from his rugby background and long arms), has very good natural fitness and would of course be quicker than Bont and could also follow him if he pushes forward.

We haven't really tagged since about half way through last year though, so we may not assign someone specifically to him.

 

[RoundCubic]

Why do you say Dunstan will only not play if he is injured and I have added the only because that is how I read it. He was very ordinary on Sunday and even though people maybe be able to find stats that show he did some good things, watching the game he really struggled. I think having Ross and him in the side makes our midfield very slow and inside which will completely suit the WB.

As for your comment on Hickey and Longer making a great ruck duo well that may happen but it would need the game to change. I would be interested how you think they could work together because I cant see it. Hickey is a very good around the ground ruckman who becomes and ordinary forward, Longer is strong tap ruckman who cannot play forward.

I agree Dunstan has been flat but the injury and the 9 tackles will probably keep him in for one more week but another flat game and he will be dropped or they will "rest" him.
I wouldn't want to go into another GF with 1 ruck. Longer will spend a lot of his time forward in the VFL especially if McCartin comes into the best 22 and will know what he needs to do to get back into the side same as Hickey last year. I'd be surprised if Hickey plays all 22+ games and we will try to keep both of them for injury cover alone but longer term when Roo retires we will need someone to take saving marks and create contests with lone kicks out of defense and create miss matches forward and back. Longer has great aerobic capacity and is a great tap he just needs to get a couple more marks and goals think this competition between them is fantastic and is pushing them both to become better.

 

[Noidenous]

To be fair, Geary caught Robbie Gray on the jaw with a bump but peep hasn't been made of it either.

Didn't he cop a fine, or was that for something else?

EDIT: Yep, was for the bump.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-28/match-review-panel-full-statement-round-one

 

[RoundCubic]

Didn't he cop a fine, or was that for something else?

EDIT: Yep, was for the bump.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-28/match-review-panel-full-statement-round-one

can't suspend a possible brownlow winner in round 1 that would be like suspending Barry Hall before a grand final

 

[1873 United]

Our forward half was very strong, we strolled to 93 points in three quarters of football. In the last quarter we lacked a bail out option (Paddy). I though Geary was one of Ports best with his insipid kicking and somewhat questionable decision making. Who do you drop for Paddy? tough call but it must come from either Gresham or Eli, and I thought Eli had a profound scoring influence when the ball found its way to him. I think Gresham gets a rest, but only in favour of team balance. Geary on the other hand is on borrowed time, I'd like to think that when DMac is fit, Geary will have to be greatly improved or his career will falter.

I would also like to see Goddard eased back into the fray, it was clear that Fisher isn't a lock down defender, and nor should he be, that's Carlisle's job moving forward.

We can at least be satisfied that out of our current best 22 for 2018 the following didn't play:
Carlisle
Goddard
McCartin
DMac

Plus we will draft again and add more mid field depth. Honestly excited.

 

[plugger66]

I agree Dunstan has been flat but the injury and the 9 tackles will probably keep him in for one more week but another flat game and he will be dropped or they will "rest" him.
I wouldn't want to go into another GF with 1 ruck. Longer will spend a lot of his time forward in the VFL especially if McCartin comes into the best 22 and will know what he needs to do to get back into the side same as Hickey last year. I'd be surprised if Hickey plays all 22+ games and we will try to keep both of them for injury cover alone but longer term when Roo retires we will need someone to take saving marks and create contests with lone kicks out of defense and create miss matches forward and back. Longer has great aerobic capacity and is a great tap he just needs to get a couple more marks and goals think this competition between them is fantastic and is pushing them both to become better.

You will never convince me on Longer and Hickey working together until Longer realises a Mark isn't just the founder of Facebook.

 

[Choomah]

Geary should be dropped is a complete liability coming out of defense

 

[gringo2011]

As someone else said, I would think Gilbert is pretty comfortably the best or most obvious option we have for Bont.

He was moved into the midfield for the last several games of last year and he was pretty solid and consistent there and that was in spite of the fact it sounds like he basically hadn't done a preseason for a couple of years and wouldn't have had anywhere near the ideal level of midfield fitness.

He's just completed a full preseason for the first time in years though and it's shown with his performances so far, including his 27 possession, 1 goal game on the weekend- which was the most possies he's had since 2010, the year he came 3rd in our B&F (before the whole Kim Duthie thing and then injuries pretty much derailed his career).

He's the same height as Bont, is very strong for his body shape, can play close-checking if need-be (has tagged Judd and Ablett in the past and is used to playing in defence), has an elite tackle (from his rugby background and long arms), has very good natural fitness and would of course be quicker than Bont and could also follow him if he pushes forward.

We haven't really tagged since about half way through last year though, so we may not assign someone specifically to him.

He's also slimmed down considerably since last year. He looks like he's gone from Skeletor to skeletal. He was seriously muscly the last couple of seasons. I think Gilbert to Bont works too.

 

[aussierulesrules]

Geary should be dropped is a complete liability coming out of defense

His confidence seems to be almost shot at the moment. He's not only missing kicks but also handballs and his decision making just seems really poor as well.

 

[Choomah]

His confidence seems to be almost shot at the moment. He's not only missing kicks but also handballs and his decision making just seems really poor as well.

He usually gives dalhause a bath be interesting to see if he regains his confidence, but his poor decision making and terrible kicking has been going on for a few years

 

[Smoke_Me_AKipper]

Our forward half was very strong, we strolled to 93 points in three quarters of football. In the last quarter we lacked a bail out option (Paddy). I though Geary was one of Ports best with his insipid kicking and somewhat questionable decision making. Who do you drop for Paddy? tough call but it must come from either Gresham or Eli, and I thought Eli had a profound scoring influence when the ball found its way to him. I think Gresham gets a rest, but only in favour of team balance. Geary on the other hand is on borrowed time, I'd like to think that when DMac is fit, Geary will have to be greatly improved or his career will falter.

I would also like to see Goddard eased back into the fray, it was clear that Fisher isn't a lock down defender, and nor should he be, that's Carlisle's job moving forward.

We can at least be satisfied that out of our current best 22 for 2018 the following didn't play:
Carlisle
Goddard
McCartin
DMac

Plus we will draft again and add more mid field depth. Honestly excited.

I'd add Freeman (hopefully) and Sinclair to that 2018 list plus our 1st round draft pick in 2016

 

[Sir Skid]

We need to add pace for this game IMO and most of all stop the New Apple Turnovers!

 

[NarrowMind]

Hoping Dunstan retains his spot due to his efforts when we didn't have the ball last week (9 tackles) and that if Eli retains his spot he looks to add a bit more grunt into his defensive game and find a bit more of the pill.

Paddy for me is a must inclusion as we looked dead lost coming inside 50 at times against Port. Hickey and Bruce can rotate the ruck (something i'm not over the moon about, but looks as though is our only option with capped rotations) and Paddy can have a prolonged crack at playing closer to goal. As has been said may times Paddy and Bruce need to start spending more game time together in an effort to get their relationship to flourish, anyone at the intra club saw it bare early fruit.

Minchington should not come into the side. Others (Curren) are ahead of him imo and he needs to consistently be producing what he did on the weekend to warrant a call up.

Gresh or Eli to make way for Paddy Mac.

 

[stavro#4]

something of interest....most dogs fans think they will destroy us and that we dont stand a chance.

i think we are better then they give us credit for

 

[aussierulesrules]

something of interest....most dogs fans think they will destroy us and that we dont stand a chance.

i think we are better then they give us credit for

Really surprised to see how many "neutrals" are tipping us on the main board. Plenty tipping us to lose by a fair bit, but I reckon it's about 40/60 overall. There was nothing in the two games last year (both under 8 points) and it looks like both teams have improved this year.

Gotta laugh at some of the stuff they're saying on the Dogs board though. The 2009 prelim getting a mention of course, and how we won it because of a free kick that was paid with a full half of footy still to be played after it! You'd think the free kick was paid in the last 30 seconds and that the resultant goal put us in front, but no, there was a whole hour of footy to be played after it and we won the game by more than a goal anyway!

And of course how they "should have won" the first game last year, while conveniently overlooking the fact that we absolutely dominated the first quarter of the 2nd game (when they were barely able to get it out of our forward line), but just didn't put it oh the scoreboard.

 

[Glen Buterol]

We'll win for Nick

 

[FoochPackage]

something of interest....most dogs fans think they will destroy us and that we dont stand a chance.

i think we are better then they give us credit for

That is false. Most dogs fans are actually worried about your mob. Especially after our contests last year. We do believe if we are at our best we win but to say we think we will destroy you and you dont have a chance, well thats lying.

 

[Diehard Saint]

something of interest....most dogs fans think they will destroy us and that we dont stand a chance.

i think we are better then they give us credit for

They've obviously got short memories

 

[stavro#4]

That is false. Most dogs fans are actually worried about your mob. Especially after our contests last year. We do believe if we are at our best we win but to say we think we will destroy you and you dont have a chance, well thats lying.

i just started reading your dogs v saints thread and most think you will smash us and that we wont be able to withstand your style of play