Re: Pre game postulations: AFL 2021 Rd 5: Carlton vs Port Adelaide at the MCG
Reply #138 –
Absolutely stiff to be dropped!
Setterfield was one of our better players in the pre-season games and he did well against the Tigers. With a bit of luck, he could have kicked 2 goals and the result may have been quite different. He had a poor game against Collingwood, but he wasn't Robinson Crusoe. He then missed the game against Freo and prudent team selection would have had him coming back through the twos. Of course, he was rushed straight back for the Gold Coast game and, although he played a reasonable game, someone has to make way for Williams.
Dow is another one who played well in the pre-season games and did well against the Tigers and was unlucky not to add to his one goal. His form in the next three games wasn't great but he has laid more tackles than most of his teammates.
Williams had to come into the side and one of Dow and Setterfield are the obvious ones to make way for him. That doesn't mean that they're not stiff to miss out.
I'm not convinced that Kennedy is an improvement over Dow or Setterfield. He has done well in his cameo appearances as a lead up forward but disappoints as a midfielder. He probably deserves a game but we can't afford a low possession game from him.
Im all about rewarding effort.
Kennedy has been through a bit of a tough ride with us. He has hurt himself a few times, and come back, put his head down and been made to earn an opportunity and has done so with some very eyebrow raising performances that mean he can't be ignored.
He is not that limited, and he didn't earn the nickname bam bam for nothing and our team is going to need a bit of that tonight.
Dow is trying but is not really in good form. There is nothing wrong with getting back to build some form and confidence. Matt has been having a red hot go in the vfl. Two wrongs don't make a right. Setters and Dow got nowhere near the footy, and Levi is another who's fortunate to keep his spot. We need to really expose Kennedy now that his body is right and reward his VFL form and find out who out of settefield, Kennedy, and Dow are more likely to become 100 game players for us.