There is an interesting discussion of Round 1 team selection in the Melbourne game thread so let's see who can come closest to the 23 for Round 1. I'm going with:
B Newman McDonald McGovern
HB Williams Weitering Saad
C O'Brien Cripps Docherty
HF Fisher Curnow, C Silvagni
F Owies McKay De Koning
Fol Pittonet Hewett Cerra
Int Kemp, Kennedy, Durdin, Williamson
Sub Setterfield
Emerg Curnow, E, Plowman, Young
interesting team DJC.
I think Ed.Curnow and Plowman will both be in the starting lineup though.
And Durdin's wobbly given the calf injury during the Melb game: 2 weeks is light on for recovery.
Good team but not sure about Williamson.... we can do better. Maybe Jack Martin?? E Curmow as sub??
I think we need to go with 2 rucks especially if teams start copying Gawn and have a ruck man dropping back to take the cheapies in defence. That's where DeKoning was valuable last week rest up forward but contesting against Gawn.
Ed an emergency behind Setterfield as the sub? I hope not. But that's nitpicking with what is a pretty decent lineup
And Durdin's wobbly given the calf injury during the Melb game: 2 weeks is light on for recovery.
I think that it was a knock rather than a strain so I'm considering him ready to go.
Clearly, Jack Martin hasn't been huge in the preseason but I still think he's an important player. Strong mark, knows where the goals are and when he's fit he applies heaps of defensive pressure. Has he had injury problems that have held him back?
I'm happy and hoping for our team selection to be more dynamic for 2022, horses for courses.
I'm not a fan of having a welded on starting 22, and I'm all for playing who is fit first and foremost, with tactics that have some plasticity to suit.
Very hard for teams to plan to play against you when they don't know who they'll be standing next to! It doesn't need to be radical change, provided the team tactic adjusts to suit, for example.
Wing = SoJ vs Wing = Cunningham
HFF = Martin vs HFF = Fisher
HBF = Williams vs HBF = Kemp
Little tweaks here and there that completely change the flavour without vastly affecting capability.
B Newman McDonald McGovern
HB Williams Weitering Saad
C O'Brien Cripps Docherty
HF Fisher Curnow, C Silvagni
F Owies McKay De Koning
Fol Pittonet Hewett Cerra
Int Kemp, Kennedy, Durdin, Williamson
Sub Setterfield
Emerg Curnow, E, Plowman, Young
It's a pretty top heavy side compared to our pre-season running game. I'm not sure you get Williamson and McDonald in the one team, I think they are either / or for D50 and McGovern will have a HBF/CHB stitched up. Similarly, to me the F50 looks one starting tall too many, I can't say who'll get the gig or get the ar5e but somebody will because if you add some run you can't start all those talls on the bench.
Maybe only one of either Kemp or SoJ get a gig from the bench, because if Charlie is in I doubt we have all of BigH, De Koning and Charlie starting in F50. De Koning has enough run to start on the bench and play F50 or D50, I could even see SoJ or De Koning as a wing option for the hit up marking target if they want Charlie to stay in goal range and bring a small / rover inside F50, maybe the resting / rotating mid.
De Koning and Kemp and SoJ jumping at the footy in BigH's absence worked OK, but only because we basically had Durdin, Fisher and Owies at the feet all at once. Take one of the smalls away and the dynamic changes significantly.
McDonald vs Plowman might be one of those horses for courses selections, when we want change the mobility dynamic.
Weather is expected to be warm with showers, not really your ideal tall marking conditions.
I'd have J.Martin and E Curnow in my team for round 1, Obrien didnt impress me during the preseason games even though he got a little bit more ball than usual but IMO still made plenty of mistakes and isnt a player I could rely on.
McGovern gets in my team but again not a player I could put my house on to turn up but with Jones gone and a reliance on either McDonald or Young to fill in the gap maybe McGovern can assist either one of those two as well as be that intercept player. Of course with the teams that have three marking forwards then McGovern will need to play some defense and have to be responsible for a man which I remain still unconvinced he can do. If Balta plays forward then he might get his first test in that part of his new role as a defender.
Setterfield.....not for me even as a sub, just not hard enough at the ball and he is a long way down my pecking order list for a senior spot. The Owies, Durdin and potentially Fisher when not onball small setup works for me but I also like the option of Martin down there when its not working . Yep he never plays four quarters and is dubious in durability so he would be on the bench and not a player I expect 100 minutes from but he is does have elite talent that we need even in small bursts and thats how I would use him.
Williamson....looked ok in the preseason but again an iffy player in terms of decision making and one I dont trust down in defense.
Weitering and Saad aside I dont see any of our defenders as truly reliable and Williamson added down there makes me even more nervous.
My team for round 1 but I dont expect the selectors to agree...
B Saad McDonald McGovern
HB Williams Weitering Newman
C Cerra Cripps Docherty
HF Owies C. Curnow Silvagni
F Durdin(if fit) McKay Kennedy
R Pittonet Hewett Fisher
Int DeKoning, E Curnow, Martin,Plowman
Sub Kemp
The biggest question is - do we play pitto, tdk and jsos in the one team?
Next is - Doc?? Is he ready
Then - Martin - been poor preseason, but is obv class, which we need
Finally - Ed? Has ALWAYS been one of our first picked. Maybe a good sign of our depth and talent if he isn’t picked
The biggest question is - do we play pitto, tdk and jsos in the one team?
Next is - Doc?? Is he ready
Then - Martin - been poor preseason, but is obv class, which we need
Finally - Ed? Has ALWAYS been one of our first picked. Maybe a good sign of our depth and talent if he isn’t picked
Yes
Yes
Yes....but only because Durdin is injured
No.
Want to see our recruits having a big impact,
Williams, Saad, Hewitt, Cerra
Like to see Cripps back to his best
Like to see Charlie and Harry starting to gel in forward line like they should gave started to gel five years ago
Pretty much with you on the team EB. For mine Setterfield and Williamson aren't in there.
Tigers have a pretty good midfield with lots of runners....Ed Curnow always an option for one of those roles.
I'm happy with TDK and Pittonet in the same team. They'll more than likely rotate off the bench.
Different roles/positions but it might come down to a question between Ed and O'Brien. I wasn't completely sold on LOB in that game against Melbourne....got a fair bit of it but still some clangers and poor decisions.
One interesting observation - we seem to be at the stage of
'can't fit them all in'
which is a pleasant change from
'how the hell does he get a game?'.
I'm happy with TDK and Pittonet in the same team. They'll more than likely rotate off the bench.
I think that's a given.
The problem seems to be having BigH, Charlie, Cripps, SoJ, McGovern, Weiters, McDonald in the team as well, that's a lot of top end to carry under the current Stand Rule, you'd want to have pretty sticky hands and pinpoint precision kicking so the ball doesn't hit the deck too often!
Pretty much with you on the team EB. For mine Setterfield and Williamson aren't in there.
Tigers have a pretty good midfield with lots of runners....Ed Curnow always an option for one of those roles.
I'm happy with TDK and Pittonet in the same team. They'll more than likely rotate off the bench.
Different roles/positions but it might come down to a question between Ed and O'Brien. I wasn't completely sold on LOB in that game against Melbourne....got a fair bit of it but still some clangers and poor decisions.
Agree Surfie.....Pittonet and TDK compliment each other with JSOS as the Shaun Grigg backup. Nank and Soldo dont take prisoners so its going to need Pittonet to asborb the body on body stuff and like I said before I think TDK can then come into his own and use his athletic abilities late in the game to be an influence.
Dusty, Cotchin, Prestia and Bolton especially the latter will be a handful.......Bolton has gone to the next level and is very dangerous especially when he drifts forward as he kicks goals and is one of the most elusive players in the game.
Dont want Dusty ending up on Williams or Newman either as that will be a slaughter, I think we need Ed Curnow in the team along with Plowman as options for some difficult matchups.
While Plowman isnt everyones fav player and can make errors he is on his day capable of playing a good game on those mid sized strongly built players who worry us and IMHO is needed as cover.
Everyone has gotten loved up with Lachie Obrien this season but IMO Paddy Dow is a much better player but it looks like Obrien will be a starter in Round1 but he still gives me an insecure feeling. Like you I thought he made as many errors as he did positive pieces of play preseason and the thought of him picking up the likes of Shane Edwards or Liam Baker would keep me awake at night if I was Voss.
Nank and Soldo dont take prisoners so its going to need Pittonet to asborb the body on body stuff and like I said before I think TDK can then come into his own and use his athletic abilities late in the game to be an influence.
I'd heard that one of Nankervis or Soldo is under an injury cloud, if so they'll probably ruck Lynch or Riewoldt inside F50.
I think if Pittonet and De Koning both play BigH makes SoJ redundant inside F50, because in a crunch we'll have BigH and Charlie in F50 and Weiters and McGovern in D50. We can basically run a ruck just between the arcs and run opposition rucks into the ground. And that is ignoring using Cripps or McDonald at the odd stoppage. McGovern has extendable arms and can go body on body against anyone.
With all that spare height on hand you want to have a very good argument for going in short of some run.
PS; What's the weather report?
(Humid. Partly cloudy. Medium (60%) chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. )
Here's mine:
FB Newman Weitering McDonald
HB Williams McGovern Saad
C O'Brien Cripps Fisher
HF Martin C.Curnow Kennedy
FF Silvagni McKay Owies or Durdin (If fit)
R Pittonet
RR Hewett
Rov Cerra
Int De Koning Docherty E. Curnow Kemp
Rocky...I reckon both Owies and Durdin play if Durdin is fit. They seemed to gel pretty well in that practice game against Melbourne.
I'd leave Kemp out...might be one too many tall options with him in.
Tigers small forwards are smart crafty goal scorers and when you add Dusty resting deep this is the main danger for us IMO as I doubt they can rely on their 2 big forwards kicking a bag.
Going to be very interesting to see if a new coaching panel will allow Dusty to run his own race and if again small forwards inflict pain like they have over so many years.
Still its our best chance to take the points in a season opener for a long time - if their smalls don't cause us too many headaches on the scoreboard I think we have enough power forward to kick a winning score.
Blues by 12.
If Nankervis plays after recently having COVID, and Pittonet or De Koning catch COVID, is there a potential pathway to making a civil claim for compensation against the Ferals or it's players?
Is there any potential liability?
Rocky...I reckon both Owies and Durdin play if Durdin is fit. They seemed to gel pretty well in that practice game against Melbourne.
I'd leave Kemp out...might be one too many tall options with him in.
Tend to agree Surfie, need as much speed and chaos in the fwd 50 as possible. Durds will be the next big thing I reckon (there a lock if fit) and Owies is smart and a reliable kick for goal.
I think that's a given.
The problem seems to be having BigH, Charlie, Cripps, SoJ, McGovern, Weiters, McDonald in the team as well, that's a lot of top end to carry under the current Stand Rule, you'd want to have pretty sticky hands and pinpoint precision kicking so the ball doesn't hit the deck too often!
Most of the players you mentioned are pretty handy when the ball hits the ground LP.
It seems like Richmond will go with Nankervis, Soldo, Grimes, Tarrant, Gibcus, Broad, Riewoldt, Lynch and Balta so there's a bit of height on both sides. De Koning and, (hopefully) to a lesser extent, Silvagni provide points of difference as rucks and I suspect that our talls would have a slight edge in athleticism and agility.
The key to the game seems to me to be getting the right match up for Dusty when he goes forward. The other side of the coin is whether Richmond will have the right match up for Cripps when he goes forward.
One interesting observation - we seem to be at the stage of
'can't fit them all in'
which is a pleasant change from
'how the hell does he get a game?'.
Agree.
But...at this time of the year we are generally saying the same thing each year.
Its only until they play that we realise they are not as good as advertised.
But.....
THIS year is different.....
*prays*
The key to the game seems to me to be getting the right match up for Dusty when he goes forward. The other side of the coin is whether Richmond will have the right match up for Cripps when he goes forward.
George will likely get Dusty when on the ball and Newman when he rests up forward.
Like your side, Rocky. If his calf is okay, Durdin is a certainty, along with Owies. Ed might end up the emergency in this case.
Tend to agree Baggers....if they use Hewett as you've suggested, Ed might not be in the starting 22.
Hewett, from what I remember, played as an inside player at Sydney, backing up Kennedy.to win the ball. Dusty tends to roam far and wide so he may prove a bit elusive for George, but we'll see I guess.
He was used as a stopper but that wasn't his only role at Sydney. He believes he is a capable ball-getter too. But if he's given the job of tagging Dusty, he'll be happy to be a lockdown mid.
I think that George will go to Dusty when he's in the midfield (and that could mean Ed Curnow's no longer a walk-up start). However, I would prefer to see Fisher on Dusty; he has perfected tackling the fend-off arm, has the speed and agility to keep him under pressure, and would be able to run off him.
Cant see any of our backman being able to stop Dusty if he is on, just have to hope the ball doesnt get down there too often and he is having an off night. Preseason reports have him keen and fit which doesnt bode well...
Setterfield named ahead of Ed Curnow.
Otherwise as expected.
Ed doesn't get a game but Setterfield does? Can't understand it but I guess there's always a few surprises round 1. Wrapped Durdin is playing
I had Williamson and Kemp in ahead of Setterfield and Martin but I will concede to the MC ... just this once :)
Rocky got 20 out of 22 too, missing out on Kemp and Ed Curnow.
Think I had Ed ahead of Setters and that was about it.....wonder how many chances Setterfield will get. Ed has been Mr Reliable over a number of years.
Cant see any of our backman being able to stop Dusty if he is on, just have to hope the ball doesnt get down there too often and he is having an off night. Preseason reports have him keen and fit which doesnt bode well...
To a certain extent, it doesn't matter who picks up Dusty when he goes forward ... if our team defence is working.
I'd like to see us mix it up a bit with McGovern, Williams, Saad, Docherty and Weitering all having a crack at him.
Think I had Ed ahead of Setters and that was about it.....wonder how many chances Setterfield will get. Ed has been Mr Reliable over a number of years.
Different roles though Surfie. Hewett seems to have taken Ed's run with and in and under role while Setters is the defensive winger. Setters has a bit of competition for that role ... and that's great.
Agree DJC....but didn't think Setterfield's form in the practice games warranted a spot in the 22....rather another run-with player like Curnow and maybe plonk Doc on the wing at stages.
Think I had Ed ahead of Setters and that was about it.....wonder how many chances Setterfield will get. Ed has been Mr Reliable over a number of years.
Hope he comes under
HARD scrutiny
While there was general agreement about most of the team, the fact that we have several players who were genuinely stiff to miss out on a spot is a very good sign.
While there was general agreement about most of the team, the fact that we have several players who were genuinely stiff to miss out on a spot is a very good sign.
Or some who may be dead lucky to still be getting a game!
Willo was the sub so I only missed out on Jack Martin for Kemp.
Is there an opening on the MC? :))
Willo was the sub so I only missed out on Jack Martin for Kemp.
Is there an opening on the MC? :))
Now be honest, what were your thoughts at Qtr time, was it sack the MC?
Now be honest, what were your thoughts at Qtr time, was it sack the MC?
I thought that they should have had Kemp in the team :)
No, to be honest I thought that we were unlucky to be behind and basically had the Tigers covered. Jack Martin improved as the game wore on and I have to concede that the MC got that one right.
It's such a change to be struggling to find places for all of the players who deserve to be in the 23.
It's such a change to be struggling to find places for all of the players who deserve to be in the 23.
Sounds like as of today we must not speak too soon!