Team: GF Replay

[Kirby]

Good to hear Harry O saying that this week feels much more normal than last week.

Good, because Harry looked out of sorts all last week and played accordingly.

I hope he does feel more normal and consequently give us his more normal output!

 

[daics_35]

If anyone mentions MaCaffer's name as a possible out, they should be shot.

He is exactly what we need, and is one of, if not our best defensive forward, and replacing him with a player like Lockyer or Medhurst is down right football suicide.

I can only see Davis and Blair as the only 2 players who have any chance at all of being "dropped" for the replay, talking about anyone else is fantasy, or in the case of MaCaffer, stupidity.

The "Caff" will be playing, don't you worry about that.

This, If people are calling for Macaffer to be dropped then they might as well want 10 players dropped becuase no way was Macaffer in the bottom 10 players he had a good game he tagged Gilbert and then he had to go forward. What id do with Macaffer for Saturday is if Gilbert goes forward il tell him to follow him and move to the backline becuase he clearly owns Gilbert.

 

[Invigoration]

If anyone mentions MaCaffer's name as a possible out, they should be shot.

He is exactly what we need, and is one of, if not our best defensive forward, and replacing him with a player like Lockyer or Medhurst is down right football suicide.

I can only see Davis and Blair as the only 2 players who have any chance at all of being "dropped" for the replay, talking about anyone else is fantasy, or in the case of MaCaffer, stupidity.

The "Caff" will be playing, don't you worry about that.

Easily our best defensive forward on the weekend, I thought he played really well. Made for the big stage as well, never gets flustered, always composed with his disposal.
Zero chance he'll go out. He is one of very few who seemed capable of taking a mark inside our forward 50 on the weekend as well.

I reckon Blair had a great first half, I've got nothing else to back it up apart from my view at the ground, but he was buzzing around everywhere. I can hardly remember sighting him in the second half though, so I'm not too sure what happened there.
He'll be better for the occasion in all I think, it's been a whirlwind few months for the kid, getting that game out of the way and having another opportunity will only benefit him.
I'd play him exclusively in Davis's spot and give Donuts the flick, he has a decent tank and great speed, make his sole aim to just buzz around the forward line. No need to waste any energy playing higher up the ground, just go nuts when the ball is in our 50. He was infinitely more dangerous around goals than Davis in the first half as well on the weekend, he actually seemed capable of crumbing a pack and snagging a goal (which he did). Davis kept sitting off the sides of packs waiting for an easy ball out, it just had me sitting there wondering where it all went wrong. When did he stop hitting packs front and centre full tilt, taking clean possession and slotting goals/hitting targets?

My only change would be Medhurst for Davis, I think if Davis goes out it needs to be a like for like. I don't go much for all the suggestions of Goldsack for Goddard, it'll end up in tears, trust me. Goddard started in at centre bounces more often than not on the weekend, has Goldy ever ran through the middle in his career? He'll get completely lost in traffic, Goddard reads the ball exceptionally well in congestion.
The main thing we need to do in stemming Goddard's influence is get Luke Ball the **** away from him. He lined up on him way to frequently at bounces. Admittedly we don't have an ideal match up for him, but we've still got better options than Ball, or Goldsack for that matter.

Hopefully this week we'll have a little more faith in Nate to hold his own against Riewoldt leaving Maxwell to push himself a little higher up the ground and affect the lopsided numbers we saw for the most part in our half of the ground.

Keep Leigh Brown away from Sam Fisher and Dawes needs to get his act together, if he lets Gwilt do as he pleases again it'll hurt us. He either needs to play exclusively deep and draw Dawson, or lift his defensive pressure exponentially, his lack of agility might make the latter virtually impossible though. ****ing runs to the same spot as Cloke consistently as well, always means he brings his opponent to the contest and with that, makes Sam Fisher's job as the floating tall considerably easier.
Dawes's form against good outfits is beginning to become a real worry. Be interesting to see if the club would consider reverting back to playing the one genuine KPF as we did earlier in the year and playing Brown (and Macaffer at times) for greater minutes out of the square.

I'm confident Beams will bounce back, hopefully he gets the chance to play a bit higher up the ground than he has been. Get the sense he doesn't like the lack of space we had in our forward line on the weekend.

 

[4#Didak#4]

If Didak is struggling a bit for fitness, I am leaning towards having him exclusively forward replacing Leon. Push Beams into the middle & hope he can do the job, his goal kicking & forward line work has been down a lot lately anyway.

We would need more run into the side however as Didak would leave a hole in the midfield. I am not sure we have a player outside the 22 who can step in & play a good midfield role. Perhaps its time to give Davis a run on the ball - or is he not fit enough either?

Including Medhurst would be a massive risk. If we change the way we play this week, then maybe it would work - have Medhurst as a leading forward we can hit up instead of bombs in.

 

[Krueger]

Dawes's form against good outfits is beginning to become a real worry. Be interesting to see if the club would consider reverting back to playing the one genuine KPF as we did earlier in the year and playing Brown (and Macaffer at times) for greater minutes out of the square.

Like when we had no 3rd tall up forward and Leon Davis trying to take mark of the year every time the ball went forward against defenders twice his size? ummm no thanks.

Dawes was never going to be a match winner ofr us this year, his job was to give us another marking option and take the pressure off Travis Cloke which he has done quite well. He still has a lot to learn but Ive got no issues with Dawes being in the team.

 

[the woodsmen2010]

IN-goldsack
OUT-blair

Goldy to play on fisher,will make him accountable,can kick,will always bring ball to ground if out of contest,we need someone to take fisher out i think goldy is perfect for this role.....

 

[Rowdy Brown]

I find it very strange to see so many people wanting guys like Lockyer and Medhurst back in the side.

These guys have not played any football whatsoever in a month. They had their chances late in the season but weren't up to it. Guys like Blair and Macaffer came in and made an instant impact.


Everyone wants Davis dropped...yet are demanding the inclusion of guys who couldn't get a kick in a game we smashed the opposition...and haven't played since

Yes Davis was quiet...but he didn't look off the pace. He had very little actual match time...and when he was around the ball he made something happen...including some decent tackles.


If Davis is dropped for Goldsack, then I can understand it because atleast GOldy has played some footy recently and has been good.

As for the others...they have absolutely no form to justify selection. They would get selected based on their name alone. At least Davis has that final quarter goal to hang his hat on. It was a very telling moment of the game.

Totally agree there Dave. After the siren i was thinkng drop Leon. But after i settled down i thiought who then could fill that spot? Leon, Medders or Tarks. As the saying goes, "better the devil you know".
I will just trust the coaches who they want.

 

[Invigoration]

Like when we had no 3rd tall up forward and Leon David trying to take mark of the year every time the ball went forward against defenders twice his size? ummm no thanks.

That's a ball entry thing, it's irrelevant who is on the end of it if we are just going to consistently bomb it to the top of the goal square. Dawes never got on the end of the balls that were put in long on the weekend, so what difference would it make?
And Davis continually chose to call for it to be brought in long, he was the one deciding he wanted to take mark of the year, it had nothing to do with how many KPFs we had because he was still doing it on the weekend and against the Dogs.

Fact is we were no better off in the contested marking stakes with Dawes up there as a target, but we were certainly down on the pressure stakes.

Dawes was never going to be a match winner ofr us this year, his job was to give us another marking option and take the pressure off Travis Cloke which he has done quite well. He still has a lot to learn but Ive got no issues with Dawes being in the team.

I realise that and I don't expect him to be a match winner, but he was closer to a liability than he was a job doer on the weekend.
I don't see how he has taken any pressure of Cloke personally, especially not when he keeps following Cloke to where he runs and bringing his defender and Sam Fisher with him.

Anyway, I can't see any major structural changes taking place this week, but if it was the H&A season I think Dawes would be in some trouble. His form against top 4 sides is a massive concern. Finds himself getting a bit of a reprieve because of our lack of replacements in the end I think, if Anthony had some form in the VFL I think he'd find himself in the gun this week.
Just on that, it's funny that Anthony was consistently berated for his defensive efforts around here yet barely a whisper is made about Dawes. Anyone that thinks Dawes is more athletic and better defensively than JA has rocks in their head.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Out Beams Davis
In Lockyer Goldsack.

Line ball between Beams and Blair but one of them has to go and make room for the experience of Lockyer. I just think Blair's attack on the ball gets him over the line against Beams who has been out of for for quite a few weeks.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Just on that, it's funny that Anthony was consistently berated for his defensive efforts around here yet barely a whisper is made about Dawes. Anyone that thinks Dawes is more athletic and better defensively than JA has rocks in their head.

Their defensive efforts are pretty similar although I think Anthony gets a bit lost in traffic when his opponent wins the ball.

Dawes is in the side over Anthony because he is a better forward than him.

 

[Invigoration]

Their defensive efforts are pretty similar although I think Anthony gets a bit lost in traffic when his opponent wins the ball.

Dawes is in the side over Anthony because he is a better forward than him.

Yeah I wasn't really focusing on whether JA was good or not, just the different receptions that a favourite and a non-favourite receive around here. I personally think Anthony is a lot better defensively, tackles don't stick as well but he he quicker, more agile and corrals the ball carrier better. Gwilt was just skipping merrily around Dawes on the weekend, I hadn't really realised how massive Dawes's turning circle is, he lumbered around like Sav Rocca at times.
I agree that Anthony gets lost when his opponent has the ball, I don't think he is a particularly smart footballer. I think he just gets lost at random times in general.

I reckon your last statement is debatable, I certainly think he has had a better year. Whether he is actually a better forward or not is something that'll be better decided down the track, in a year where Anthony has a full pre-season.

To be honest, my opinion is that neither of them will end up being particularly good forwards, role players maybe, but I'd be surprised if they ended up much more than that.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Gwilt was just skipping merrily around Dawes on the weekend, I hadn't really realised how massive Dawes's turning circle is, he lumbered around like Sav Rocca at times.

If he ends up with a career as good as Sav's I wont give a rats clacker if he is a bit lacking in defensive abilities. The beauty of having guys like the Caff in the forward line is they can cover for the likes of Dawes on the defensive side of things. Dawes job is to take marks and kick goals and play decoy for Cloke - and he's done that well this year. Anything else he does like grabbing the ball off the deck and dishing off a handball to Cloke to save our season, is a bonus.

 

[Zahki]

I reckon Blair had a great first half, I've got nothing else to back it up apart from my view at the ground, but he was buzzing around everywhere.
I'd play him exclusively in Davis's spot and give Donuts the flick, he has a decent tank and great speed, make his sole aim to just buzz around the forward line. No need to waste any energy playing higher up the ground, just go nuts when the ball is in our 50.

My only change would be Medhurst for Davis, I think if Davis goes out it needs to be a like for like. I don't go much for all the suggestions of Goldsack for Goddard, it'll end up in tears, trust me.

Wait, who do you want replacing Davis, Blair or Medhurst or both?

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Wait, who do you want replacing Davis, Blair or Medhurst or both?

Blair cant replace Davis because he's already in the 22!!!

 

[soreplums]

Anyone's thoughts on bringing in Steven King to replace Gardiner? How much time on the ground would he get? Do you think that Kosi will take number 1 ruck role and King as a back up mainly playing up forward?

Interesting to see what the saints do. But who would you prefer to replace Gardner? King, McEvoy or Stanley? I think we can exploit all three when they are in the ruck, worries me if Stanley or King sit forward.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

King is unavailable for selection - he retired.

 

[brockbruiser]

One change for me

Out: Davis

In: Goldsack


I watched Davis carefully and he really looked lack luster out there even when putting on defensive pressure. We know with goldsack they he will give it his all.

Goldsack could fill a backline position say Ben Johnson's back pocket role, this could release Ben Johnson to a wing or a run-with/tagging role, thoughts??

 

[Invigoration]

If he ends up with a career as good as Sav's I wont give a rats clacker if he is a bit lacking in defensive abilities. The beauty of having guys like the Caff in the forward line is they can cover for the likes of Dawes on the defensive side of things. Dawes job is to take marks and kick goals and play decoy for Cloke - and he's done that well this year. Anything else he does like grabbing the ball off the deck and dishing off a handball to Cloke to save our season, is a bonus.

Haha, yeah obviously. I'd have no problem with him being poor defensively either if he was as good offensively as Sav, unfortunately he doesn't hold a candle to him as a forward. Sav was smart, lead to the right spots, used his body effectively and had brilliant hands, I'm not particularly sure Dawes has any of those traits, which means he can't really afford to lumber like Sav.

I can't really agree with your comments about having small forwards to do the job for him. The rebounding CHB is a vital part of the modern game, you can no longer just expect that a defenders sole aim will be shutting down his opponent. It's all well and good to have Macaffer and co floating around providing pressure, but they can only do so much.
St.Kilda got way to much quality rebound out of, for the most part, a pretty ****ing average footballer in Gwilt. For the press to work we can't afford to have guys like Gwilt breaking the lines and dancing around their direct opponent.
Gwilt had nearly double the amount of disposals, was one of their most effective by foot and kept his opponent to 1 behind for the day. Dawes's isn't bad dishing out the hands, he has got a fair few GAs this year that way, I agree, but if his job is to take marks, kick goals and provide help for Cloke he failed badly on the weekend (and in every game this year against a top 4 opponent in fact).

The heat this week should be on Dawes, not Cloke.

Wait, who do you want replacing Davis, Blair or Medhurst or both?

Yeah probably didn't outline that as well as I could have. I obviously want Medhurst to replace Davis in the side, but not necessarily replace him in position. Medhurst is a bit more of a lead up forward as opposed to Davis who crumbs mercurial goals, so while they are like for like in terms of being small goal kicking forwards they aren't exactly the same players.
I'd slot Blair straight into Davis's vacated spot in the forward line, he pushed up the ground too much on the weekend I thought when his best work is done inside the 50.
Bring Medhurst into the forward line as well, but push Beams up the ground a bit more.

 

[Invigoration]

King is unavailable for selection - he retired.

Not true, he is training with their squad of 28 this week and put his hand up to play.

 

[Smoky]

I think Davis looked extremely dangerous in the last quarter... If the ball had bounced out of bounds instead of through for a point affecting the draw we would have been hailing Davis goal as the grand final winner.

I watched Davis closely in the last... he was up and made the most of a very, very small opportunity.

Davis stays in for me.

As for the ins and outs...

I think Blair looks spent. I it were the H and A series he would get a rest this week...

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Not true, he is training with their squad of 28 this week and put his hand up to play.

I stand corrected. Would be a massive lack of faith in McEvoy to select King, though.

 

[Art Corvelay]

If they selected King over McEvoy I'd be asked for a trade if I was Ben.

 

[Sasuke]

Just reading back through a lot of this thread. I think changes need to be made to change the structure more so than the game plan. Can we carry all of davis, blair, beams, macaffer and sidey on our half forward flank? Most weeks we can, but against st kilder it doesnt work. There defensive structure hold up well to it.

My two cents for what its worth. Blair was great on Saturday, not in the top 5 players but played his role well. Did the hard stuff. On another day would have kicked three (he put one through early which was taken back for the brown free kick). Caff was fantastic for us and i would say in our top 5. His hands were great, pressure on and had poise. Sidey Ditto, though i feel his left foot failed him and is one reason we are not premiers.

Two spots for Davis, Beams and Gold sack for mine. Now one thing i've noticed alot of people on here go on about is changing players in order to change the game plan. THe brilliant thing about collingwood is we have very versatile players. I do like Goldsack in as a defensive forward. But at the same time i feel that our midfield let us down, and with better delivery we would have won. Watch the first 10 mins of the last quarter, we were on top and missed our targets. Davis for mine can help here. I say play him higher up the ground and allow blair and sidey to do the hardwork in the forward line. They will both attack with their all and scrap the ball. Sidey is a bigger xfactor in front of goals than davis in my opinion anyway. Beams is a solid unit. I say give him some time in the middle, and also to play a defensive role in our forward line. He probly doesnt have the height, but he does have the tenacity to hit them when the ball hits the ground. St kilda attacked us and intimidated us when they had the chance (ala didak). Whilst we were good with the tackles we didnt repay them enough. We need to hit gilber fisher and gwilt with some hard fair team pressure early on.

No changes for mine. different game plan though.

 

[Breakthelines]

My two cents for what its worth. Blair was great on Saturday, not in the top 5 players but played his role well. Did the hard stuff. On another day would have kicked three (he put one through early which was taken back for the brown free kick). Caff was fantastic for us and i would say in our top 5. His hands were great, pressure on and had poise. Sidey Ditto, though i feel his left foot failed him and is one reason we are not premiers.

Your not serious? The young bloke kicked a nice goal in the 1st. But i forgot he was on the ground until thomas set him up for that set shot.

Beams is a gun, he has averaged 20 p's and 1 goal this year! Would love him in the midfield rotation!

Leon or Blair out for Goldsack is most likely.

 

[Sasuke]

The thing is, i dont expect blair to be a superstar player who is going to kick you 5 goals in the forward line. Lets face it, if someone asked you before the game, blair lays 5 tackles, kicks a goal and creates pressure in the forward 50, you take it. I know what ifs are one of the more annoying things, but you cant blame blair for leroys free and he slotted that goal from 40 out too.

I also remember him amongst the packs in the last quarter doing his all. Like i said, he played his role, and if others had of played theirs, we would have won.