The problem with resting Murphy until the end of the season, or finals if we get there by default, is that we don't have anyone who can provide the same contribution as Murphy - on one leg, let alone two. It's all well and good to suggest that Graham or Buckley should come into the side but neither has set the world on fire in the NBs.
Murphy's knee may be hampering his running ability but his biggest problem is dealing with a hard tag. As others have pointed out, the team doesn't do much to help but there doesn't seem to be a plan in place for Murphy himself. Surely the coaches will have thought about who is tagger will be and developed a plan for neutralising and exploiting the tagger. At one stage against Freo, he lost Crowley in the forward line and Crowley ended contesting a mark with Kreuzer (I think). That should be a regular tactic.
Part of the plan must be encouraging Murphy to be more physical with his tagger. Rather than doubling over when hit in the guts, he should tough it out and give it back harder. Even if he gets done for striking, it will blunt one of the tagger's weapons. And the week off could help his knee
As discussed earlier, it was difficult to identify anyone to omit and I think that it is a good thing that the MC has confidence in the 22 that did well last game.
I was half expecting to see Bell and Warnock come in. However, to have made those changes would have been a sign that we trying to counter Freo. No change implies that we're not that concerned about matching up with Freo and they should be concerned about us.
We are fortunate that Freo have a couple of key players out. The mighty Blues by 3 goals.
I think the forward line is functioning better now than it has all season and Malthouse would be reluctant to go back to his earlier structures that didn't work as well. That means that we have to have one key forward who can spell Kreuzer from time to time and that has to be one of Rowe, Hampson or Casboult (with Rowein favour at the moment).
I suspect Waite will be used as a swingman when he comes back. That will provide more flexibility and more options for Malthouse and, hopefully, headaches for the opposition.
I thought Carrazzo improved as the game went on and he's not going to get his touch back in the magoos so I wouldn't drop him. Cachia did OK when he came on so he probably deserves another run. Bootsma was stiff to be ill but Cachia has his spot. That leaves Lucas who barely contributed before and after he took a hit.
Lucas has been good but his form has dropped off and may need to be 'managed', particularly if the hit shook him up as much as it seemed to.
To be honest, if I was on the MC, I'd be looking for an injury to make space for Bell.
I will bet money that either Bell or Graham comes in this week. I doubt both will against Freo. Bell is the hardened body, graham may get a chance against the bulldogs.
I've mentioned this before somewhere, Bell doesn't seem to be MM's fav and has hardly set the world alight in the chances he's been given. I reckon we give Graham a shot for sure but I can't see him getting a game ahead of Lucas or Robbo. He may need to wait for an injury to have his turn.
Malthouse singled Bell out for his performance on Sunday and, unless he's laying a smokescreen, I expect Bell will be in the 22 for the Freo game.
Interesting to hear Cam Mooney saying that they always were told when playing against Carlton that if you beat them in one-on-one contests, their mids won't run back into defence with much vigour. That's an area he says MM is working on, but it is still an issue. More specifically on Bryce Gibbs, he notes that he has to get far more ball on his own.
Not sure that I agree with that Mav; Malthouse seems to be using Gibbs more in a defensive, shut down role.
Seeing as we're going down memory lane, I bought my first cassette player in Papua New Guinea in 1972 and one of the few decent cassettes I could buy was Chain's "Towards the Blues".
While I was out scrambling up and down the highlands, one of my comrades, who had been 'casevacced' with a 'sore ankle', was lazing in the Lae barracks and playing 'Black and Blue' over and over until he wore out my cassette. Every time I hear 'Black and Blue' I think about humping a 25 set radio through the New Guinea highlands
Rowe out, Casboult in, is a must. Rowe, unless he is on his own, can't take a mark, and even when on his own there is no guarantee. He also lacks in the area of a second effort. There is no second effort from Rowe at all. Casboult can mark and has no hesitation in crashing a pack when going for a mark. He is also a much better ruckman. Two things are holding him back.
His kicking for goal is atrocious, and he lacks fitness to run out a full game. If you have a look at his performances when he's played, he's virtually disappeared out of a game after half time. It's an are that demands he work on or his days at Senior level are numbered. But for the rest of the season, he is a far better bet than Sam.
Don't agree. Rowe has shown a lot more than Casboult this season and his game against the Suns wasn't bad.
Casboult has potential but that's not enough to earn a place in the 22.
