Tom Williams - Yes, No, and Why?

[Bodicifer]

I say yes...horses for courses. At least if it doesn't work we can then try Morro or Ricki as a back up plan. I think it would give more dimensions to the side. I think Timmy C certainly deserves his spot but I also think we need to pick the best 22 to take on the opposition and in that 22 is Tommy Williams IMO.

 

[Optimus]

No..He usually takes 2 or 3 games to get some momentum..although he may give away size, I think Timmy will be harder at it..at that's comes in handy with the saints..

 

[Kelvin31]

Yes....just.

Why?
We know he has it in him to beat KPP opponents (Buddy last year?) he just has to believe it himself.

Out: Welsh.....will be stiff.

 

[LardDog]

No, you never know what you'll get with Tom, and he has a pretty poor football brain, it's a big risk. At least with Callan he's consistent and reliable.

 

[Bodicifer]

No, you never know what you'll get with Tom, and he has a pretty poor football brain, it's a big risk. At least with Callan he's consistent and reliable.

I agree with everything above but I think it's the risk we have to take. St Kilda could at times have Riewoldt, Kosi and Gardiner or King in their forward line against Morro, Lake and Shaggy. I think we need to roll the dice. We could be sitting at the G at quarter time and Riewoldt has 3 on the board from marking contests.

 

[Turtle]

I'm thinking probably yes, if we get through and play the Cats he would also be required, probably wouldn't play him against the Pies if we meet again.
Who goes to make way is extremely tough, maybe with Hargrave/Gilbee/Harbrow they can cover Milne & Schneider so might have to be Callan. I thought Callan was excellent last week though.
Possibly Welsh, also think he's been reasonably good, but spent most of last game in defence, once again would be extremely unlucky.

Williams in gives the option of Morris playing on a small/mid or even the option of throwing Lake forward if need be.
Against the Cats Williams would be the option for Ottens/Hawkins if Hawkins/Ottens/Mooney are all forward at the same time.
Think Callan would be the better option for the Pies with their smaller forwards Davis/Medhurst/Thomas/Davis

 

[Gridlock'd]

No. He may be tall, but at times he can be a liability with his poor skills and judgement and I see foresee this occuring in a finals game.

 

[bulldogsman]

No, he's not fit enough to play. He only played 75% in the VFL and had a poor last quarter which suggests to me he was stuffed. AFL requires a lot more fitness especially in finals football.

 

[Dazb86]

No. Still can't read the game properly.

 

[Boof09]

Has to be a yes, what other options are there if Riewoldt, Kosi or one of the ruckman get on top in the forward line? None I would have thought.

He played one of his best games of the season before getting his foot stomped on, and still would have been in the side if it had not have been for that. Although Morris tries hard unfortunately he is just not tall enough for the big forwards, that has been shown in the last couple of weeks. He can play small if required. I would have thought Callan has to go, all this talk about offering so much to the side is a little amusing from my point of view. He has played two games for the year, yes was injured for some of it but more often than not he was at Willy and couldn't get a game. His skills aren't up to it, he didn't do that much on Friday night to say he is a must have. If it is because of hardness, I don't think Williams side steps too many contests.

At the end of the day I think the match commitee will decide and we know that Rocket at least loves Williams!

 

[Leon]

No for me.

Too big a risk and besides, who makes way for him?

 

[josh the gent]

No, don't change the team. Callan gives us more options in the midfield as he can cover smaller forwards - freeing Gilbee, or Harbrow for rebound, or go with Riewoldt up the ground sometimes - freeing up Morris for a rest on occassions.

This game will be won in the middle, so do everything to strengthen that, having Tom back won't help - if the Saints win the middle, NOBODY will be able to stop Riewoldt.

Besides, bugger the Saints, we should just play our best, form 22 and let them worry bout us - that means no changes from last week.

 

[bigdog54]

YES - Structure: He play key back/ forward
YES - Flexibilty: morris can take roo/smalls, releases lake
YES - our backs are too short, particularly againts the saints (kosi,roo, gardiner,king)

NO - Doesnt read the game blah blah - Hes simply a tall defender atm, he will give a contest. kosi's no the smartest footballer either.

We need to try something different to win this game. He wasnt in bad form pre injury.
Welsh should go out, hes useless against good defenders, has been ineffective downback and butchers the ball. For those reasons against williams, welsh is no better... and Williams about 10 cm taller

 

[Ray Huppatz]

If Williams comes in I hope Welsh is not the player that makes way for him.

I can see Welsh taking a strong contested mark and kicking a goal from 40m out, with the game in the balance, during the last quarter.

 

[doggiesin08]

On On The Couch the other night it showed the stats for Riewoldt in our last match playing St Kilda divided between the time spent on Lake and Williams.

May not be the exact figures but was something like this

[B]Opponent    Minutes        Touches        Goals[/B]
Lake        57               14              2
Williams    44               5               3

Pretty good effort by Williams to keep him to only 5 touches but obviously the goals there is a worry. Maybe needs just an extra little chop out from someone like Tim Callan and he could work a treat.

 

[ivan rassmussen]

Welsh should go out, hes useless against good defenders, has been ineffective downback and butchers the ball. For those reasons against williams, welsh is no better... and Williams about 10 cm taller

Welsh coming out of defence rarely misses a target, and chooses options well, and has 200 games of experience. He struggles against good defenders because he gets guys like Scarlett. In reality, he should be a pocket playing alongside a KPP, but we try and use him as a KPP. He is a good reader of the ball at both ends, can take a strong grab, and has an exceptional strike rate when kicking for goal. Williams has kicked one goal in his career, and often makes a poor disposal decision after strong play to get clear in defence. And smaller players can beat taller players with better reading of the ball - Leo Barry, Mark Harvey, Josh Gibson, Michael Firrito, Steven Kretiuk.

 

[bigdog54]

Welsh coming out of defence rarely misses a target, and chooses options well,

You must have missed last weeks game...and the previous games against the saints... and the pies game...
Hes very little value atm and therefore dispensable

 

[Ghost of '85]

No....Tom has not played great footy all year and on top of that only came back to Willi last week and he played ok but didn't set the world on fire.

I would leave Welsh in because he can play either end, and has X factor when deep in the forward line.

Tim Callan was ok last week and allows Picken to play as a stopper in the midfield, otherwise we have to use him in defense, or drag Gilli back there.

Game will be won in the midfield as usual, we loose it there and it won't matter who is down back.

 

[staphy]

No we don't need someone running around with his head lost in a prelim

 

[Cookie]

Why Williams?

Why not Everitt? He has the height and considerable more ability.

 

[staphy]

Agree would rather have Everitt

 

[SPower]

Everitt will never ever play in the backline again as long as his arse points to the ground.
This man will play forward from now on!!

 

[always right]

Yes...be bold.

 

[WWWombat]

No! Back ourselves and our ability. If we are going to take risks let's take them to win the game, not to stop them winning. Our structure operating at its best is good enough to beat their structure. If our boys play at their optimum, in a positive manner the outcome will be similar to last week. Big forwards can't kick too many goals unless they have a successful midfield delivering it to them in a satisfactory manner.

Sorry TW, you get to watch for the next two weeks.

 

[maddog37]

Our structure this year has looked at its best whenever Williams is in the side.

If we win this week we will need him next week for Ottens etc.

Not sure who goes though........glad I am not on selection.