Fark! Been to two games this year....Freo over here and flew over for yesterday....and we've lost them both. Been to two Freo games this year, including Saturday, and they've won them both.
My first Blues v Pies experience live and despite the result, it was worth the trip. Like most, when Weitering went down I thought we'd be hammered. But we rallied in both the second and last quarters and nearly pinched it. It came of the back of superb games from Walsh, Cerra, Hewett and Saad...and a lift from Crippa in the last quarter and a bit too. Saad was magnificent IMO and just love the way he backs himself in.
Few points from observations at the game:
1. Not sure who was on Sidebottom in the 3rd quarter but nobody would go near him. At one point I saw Cottrell screaming at team mates to man up so could only assume he wasn't on him at that point but might've gone onto him in the last and definitely quelled his influence. But he did all the damage in the 3rd. 2. Jack Carroll had a stinker for sure but it's his 4th game and doubt he's played a game like that before with the speed, pressure and crowd noise. He got caught a couple of times and panicked. He's normally got a good kick on him but just couldn't find it yesterday. 3. Saw a couple of times just off the ball where Motlop just stopped and didn't chase when he could've....it was one of the reasons he was recruited...his offensive pressure....he'll need to get onto that before it becomes a bad habit. 4. Owies was quiet for most of the day but, like Durdin, they bring the forward pressure and chipped in for handy goals. Durdin's pace is fantastic. 5. Sitting behind the goals and saw Stocker give it to Ginnivan quite a few times....love the way he goes about it. His kicking can let him down at times but he's got that mongrel in him that we don't really have from any other small/medium defenders. Ginnivan got one of those soft high tackle frees early on but he looked a bit gun-shy knowing Stocker was trying to line him up. 6. Dow got quite a bit of the footy but there must be a distinct difference between VFL and AFL because he didn't get any time and decision making and kicking were poor. If Kennedy is right in a couple of weeks, I'm not sure he holds his spot.
We are truly cursed on the injury front. As others have suggested, we can only hope to pinch a few games in the next 5-6 weeks to try and shore up a spot in the finals and then hope like hell that the likes of McKay, Weitering, Pittonet, Marchbank/McGovern, Williams etc are back in the last few weeks of the season.
Unless there's an injury we don't know about, I think Motlop might be the unlucky one. Caroll was a bit quiet last week but just has that little bit of extra size and can play up the field.....but if they're bringing Newnes in, then like for like (wing)?
Travelling over from WA for the game this weekend.....anyone know by chance if there's a training session at Princess Park on Saturday and, if so, time and if it's open to the public?
If it's purely a choice for sub, then Kemp probably gets the nod for no other reason than he could fill a few more different holes than Dow depending on who was getting subbed out. Dow's VFL form has been very consistent but if he's predominantly an inside mid, then he's not getting past the Cripps, Walsh, Kennedy, Hewett, Cerra lineup at the moment.
Baggers...unfortunately Setterfield does that at AFL level far too often as well....he's been overtaken now by the likes of Carroll, O'Brien, Cottrell. Read somewhere the club is still looking at an outside mid in the trade period which would spell the end for Setterfield.
Agree with the sentiments especially some of the lesser lights in the team in the wake of quieter games from Cripps, Cerra, JSOS.
Reckon Fisher's last month is the best footy he's played for us. Continually hitting the scoreboard but not just as a small forward...getting up and down the ground and his precise field kicking has been a feature.
Cottrell looking more and more like he'll make it.
Thought Plowman was pretty solid too tonight...as were most of the defenders. On paper they have a lot of firepower and we quelled most of it. Heeney got off the chain after half time but he was more midfield at that stage.
Stoker only just back from injury/suspension but was the first one into the scuffle after Docherty was flattened....he can be untidy at times with sloppy kicking but he can play that lockdown defensive role.
Agree on Kemp....ideal sub, if there is such a thing...he's got a bit of flexibility. And Cottrell's last few weeks have been pretty good and definitely deserves a spot. If Dow misses out again and goes back to the VFL and plays another good one he'll be hard to keep out of the side for any longer.
Tend to agree EB....liked him when he first came in...had a bit of mongrel about him but he's not the most skilful bloke. Kemp probably struggling a bit with having to find a role at the moment. Sounds like in the VFL he's getting bounced around a bit. From memory he was recruited more as a tall midfielder with a good bit of speed.
DJC....reckon he looked lost early in the game but definitely got better. For now he's probably our only option as a 3rd tall with Parks also sidelined. Reckon he holds his spot this week regardless of whether Young comes back in...might even be thrown forward as a taller option down there at times during the game.
Parker is another dangerous player when he goes forward....like Heeney, strong in the air and knows where the goals are. Like any other week, our midfield can match it with anyone but it's having the defenders to defend. Stocker might come back in this week?
Heeney is an out and out star and hard to see who we match up on him as he's so strong in the air....I wonder if they've given even the remotest thought to pulling the trigger on Marchbank for this week?
