Underdone or below full strength round 1?

[INSIGHT]

I not sure what way we will go round 1 if most players are available it seems that

cooney Knee/groin
murphy knee
williams probably everything from the top of his head to the tip of his toes
hahn unsure of injuries
everitt glandular fever
aka calf
lake hip

not sure if I have left anyone out

All have had interrupted preparations and most if not all of this list would be picked for round 1. So do they go with the best team or do they pick a team to balance the lack preparation all some of the above list and only include a couple of the above. With the probability of it being hot iin Perth I think the latter would be a better option.

 

[Sween54]

I Think we should go in with 22 fit blokes, even if its not are best on paper, its a long season

 

[Dogs Rule]

We'll be right...we're playing Freo

 

[Pigdog]

At this stage I think the only ones who might struggle to play rd 1 are Cooney & Williams.

I heard Leon Cameron on SEN today who mentioned that Cooney will play a small part in this weeks game vs Sydney and Williams will play the week after vs Melbourne.

It will be decided after these games if they press on towards rd 1 or play a few games at Willi. Leon mentioned that it is a long season and that they will not be playing guys who are underdone.

 

[Lightning_Mcqueen95]

Only bloke to miss will be Williams.

Cooney and gang will all play round one unless injured.

Even if Cooney is not Midfield fit he surely adds something to the forward line.

 

[Bulldogs Roar]

Im sure alot of these guys are not playing the lead up games because the coaching and fitness staff are being over cautions rather than not cautious. Having said that though people who actually see these bloke train (or not train) might have a better idea of where they are at.

Has anyone been down to training and seen Cooney, Williams, Murphy, Lake out on the training track recentley. Are they really that bad or am i right about the cautious approach.

 

[Bulldog Joe]

Obviously we hope to field close to full strength in round 1, but we also need to be mindful about the need for players to come up in the ensuing weeks.

Why do we again play North on the week after a significant travelling assignment likely to be played in hotter conditions.

I believe we need to rest players like Hudson, Akermanis, Johnson and Welsh from at least one of the two Perth games we cop in the first 4 rounds. It would seem futile to get them up for round 1 only to flatten them for round 2.

I would see an opportunity to give senior exposure to some younger players with Wood and Grant to maybe get a round 1 chance.

 

[The Original Swooper]

Williams will miss, Cooney likely to miss R1. The rest will play. I'd rather get them right (if that's at all possible with Tommy Gun) 'cos 26 weeks is a long haul.

hooroo...

 

[bulldogsman]

Possible round one team without Cooney and Williams

FB Callan Lake Morris
CHB Gilbee Tiller Hargrave
C Eagleton Cross Griffen
HF Gia Hahn Murphy
FF Johnson Minson Welsh
R Hudson Boyd Higgins
I Addison Harbrow Aker Ward/Hill

I heard both Wood and Grant are big chances to play round 1, but i'm really not sure who they could replace

 

[TedDougChris]

It would also depend heavily on who from the opposition will be playing. Given Freo's axing's late last year, it will probably a young side. This may influence who plays and who is given the extra weeks rest.

 

[Before I Die]

Possible round one team without Cooney and Williams

FB Callan Lake Morris
CHB Gilbee Tiller Hargrave
C Eagleton Cross Griffen
HF Gia Hahn Murphy
FF Johnson Minson Welsh
R Hudson Boyd Higgins
I Addison Harbrow Aker Ward/Hill

I heard both Wood and Grant are big chances to play round 1, but i'm really not sure who they could replace

If all the above players were available and Wood and Grant won selection over any of them for round 1, then I would be extremely excited about our prospects for 2009.

 

[Butane]

If all the above players were available and Wood and Grant won selection over any of them for round 1, then I would be extremely excited about our prospects for 2009.

I know the angle your coming from but in all honesty I'd be more then worried if we were resting our premiership tilt on two players who have never even played AFL.

 

[mighty seagulls]

I know the angle your coming from but in all honesty I'd be more then worried if we were resting our premiership tilt on two players who have never even played AFL.

I think he meant that they had a big enough preseason to get ahead of regular/proven player (which i don't think would happen) but would be good for them if they could.

 

[Before I Die]

I think he meant that they had a big enough preseason to get ahead of regular/proven player (which i don't think would happen) but would be good for them if they could.

Yep exactly. My point was that Wood and Grant would not have been considered by most supporters to be in our best 30. If their pre-seasons have catapulted them into our best 22 (in the coaches' eyes) when we have almost the full list available, then our depth has suddenly grown significantly. This is what excites me because I think depth is an extremely important ingredient in the premiership recipe.

 

[doggiesin08]

What's going to be really scary is Williamstowns team when everyone is fit. They could have people in the team who we're saying at the moment 'oh surely they'll pick him for the dogs'.

 

[Dyslexic Emo]

The players that are in doubt for tround 1 for us are

Headland: (won't play due to ankle/leg/something in that department injury),

Ballantyne: (never played an AFL but looking ot be placed in for forward pocket when fit as he's recovering from taking screws out of a broken wrist

Solomon: Suspended from the hit on Ling, will be back round 2

Possibly Mayne: Rolled ankle a few weeks ago

Kiwi Campbell: Did something with his knee a few weeks ago so will be out for round 1

Foster: Sore back from last year, looking more and more likely that he will never play AFL again

Browne: Always injured, and got injured again during the Derby game

DeBoer: Has hot spots in his leg/foot, will be monitored but may play

Pearce: Same as DeBoer

Of course not all of these are best 22, but I'd say that 4 are and 1 (Ballantyne) would be considered vital for th team since we have no small forward and that's the sole reason we went for him instead of another tall forward.

Good luck, can't wait for the game

 

[kookadog]

I have heard that we are expecting a slow start to the season. We aren't training to be ready for round 1 we are looking at the bigger picture and aim to be up and going 6 weeks in. If we win the first couple underdone we'll be off to a flyer.