This could be the only Thursday night game I get to this year.
We should have some decent soldiers back.
My apologies for stuffing that up.
Collingwood not going great.
Home game.
Weitering, Dean and hopefully Saad back in and we might be a chance.
Agree with MBB, Probably our best chance of a win looking forward, Pies are banged up with injuries and sore players and dont have any depth to cover with. I dont rate them as a top 8 team either and have them as a mid pack struggler, they dont score heavily and as we all know rely on rebound goals by punishing mistakes so we need to keep the errors minimal and look after their prime movers. Id bring Hewett back in as I think the game will be a bit more of a grind and give Cripps some relief so he is a bit fresher for later. Pies have two rucks with Cameron and newbie Steene so we may stick with Okeefe, be happy to break even given Cameron usually BOG's against us.
Saad might have to comeback despite having a very old looking backline with him Newman and Haynes down there as he isnt a bad ball user and I believe the stats were two scores from 80 opportunities generated from the back half. Some of these stats are mind boggling given how the modern game operates but we operate with no method still and dont have the talent so its all about grinding out wins with our contested players leading the way.
In his press conference, Voss said that Saad has been below his best, and needs to lift his game because there's a couple who have earned their spots ahead of him. Also mentioned that because of Gather Round, the other competitions (i.e VFL) have the weekend off.
Saad looked cooked at the end of last year, this will be his last year IMO.
Sigh, that exact equation is what we seem to have no answer for.
It's hard to know from the outside. Judged by last year, most of our players appeared, if not cooked, then certainly out of form.
Saad is 31 at this writing, so if he is cooked, it would not be related to age IMO.
FYI guys,
This is the post game for a game that hasn't started yet.
For me:
In Weitering Saad Acres or Hayward F Young Hewett
Out Derksen L Young Byrne Boyd Cerra
FB Florent Weitering Saad
HB Newman Haynes Cowan
C Acres Cripps Carroll
HF Ainsworth McGovern Kemp
FF F Young McKay E Hollands
Foll Pittonet Hewett Walsh
Int Evans O'Keefe Smith O Hollands Williams (or Hayward if no Acres)
Last legs before a spell:
Kemp Evans Smith (young fella struggled the last 2 games)
I'm bringing in some experience and endurance in Saad and Acres. I'd also swap George and Cerra (as I gave said we cant have the 3 slow pokes in the midfield at the same time. George is classier than Cerra.
Happy to give Haynes another crack as we saw last year he gets better as he plays more, let Dean have a run in the twos.
My obvious question: are we going to allow Daicos, Sidebottom, etc, to run around with nobody near them?
I'd be tempted to have Wilson play a negative role on Nick Daicos. But will our match committee use their brains?
our GF revenge for that 1 point lose in final, win this game and derail feral season .Whatabout Derkson in the forward line and drop kemp .
That would be a massive assignment for the young fella. Is he up to it?
It would be a huge ask in his first game for the year.
I see him as more an attacking defender.
He has the pace...match fitness and defensive ability may be an issue.
Daicos would take him where the ball is though :D :D
Could be a good education for him.
Pity it will be a couple of minutes later than Daicos did, that move would last about 15 mins...
It may not, but Wilson isn't slow. Staying with him wouldn't be the issue
And Billy would hold Nick accountability through his own ability to get aggott and run forward with it. That's another aspect about such a creative move.
However, we are making an assumption about our conservative, stick with tried & true and safe MC. When they think they're being bold, they're often perplexing... eg Hewett demoted on a wet night, out of form HOK in for a small, quickish forward...
Crash, was thinking the exact same thing. Has the pace. Would commit to the task IMO. Left field sort of move so no chance our selectors would go for it.
He will get slaughtered.....Nick would have 40 plus on him....Wilson is barely VFL standard.
I personally wouldn't do it.
He's more an attacking half back and probably lacking a bit in terms of match fitness following an interupted pre-season
But seriously...."barely VFL standard."
The "barely VFL standard" player had our second most possessions in the VFL last week.
I wouldn't be the least surprise if the "barely VFL standard" player is in the side against Collingwood.
But I'm not sure Daicos is the match-up.
Boyd is barely VFL standard, Wilson is more than VFL, almost ready for AFL. Has the tools, decision making is the issue as far as I can see.
Sorry but Wilson would be delist material if I was list Manager, wouldn't get a game at any other club imo.
Getting cheap possessions in the VFL and then picking him and playing on the best player in the comp would be the type of lunacy our MC and coaching staff specialize in...
We'll bookmark this one and see how it pans out. ;) :D
A few of Billy's cheap possessions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjwNY25eJnA
Nicks 100th so he will be extra up for this. Good chance he will rip us apart as we wont put any planning into him and will likely allow him to roam around by himself.
Also watch us get Elliott back to his best - out of form but loves dining out on us.
Pies comfortably
I think Billy is a lot better value than you make out EB, at least he has pace, something out list has very little of. That puts him ahead of plonker like Boyd et al
Wilson is a VFL player and regardless how fast he can run you cant put that calibre of player on the best player in the comp and expect to get a reasonable result.
His attributes are exactly what we need, is he ready to go? If so, get him in.
Thats fair enough Prof, each to there own with opinions on players, Im probably swimming against the tide with regards my views on Billy but we will see how he works out for the season.
That's right, we often see things differently.
We have set ideas about what we look for in players and sometimes their good is maginfied as is the bad depending on those perceptions.
I'm finding that seems to be magnified for some reasons this year...and there is a lot of difference of opinion over individuals.
Agree on the magnification of opinions this season, think its such a crunch year for the club, players and coach that hardcore fans in particular are more critical and less forgiving about failure and impatient about where the direction of the club is going.
I know I am ....
You think every player is better than people make out.
Every player that gets delisted at seasons end was a good player that year in your eyes.
How come all these players are playing vfl and our afl and vfl teams are largely crap?
There's the counterview though, which some seem to hold, that unless you play like Koutoufides then you don't 'cut the mustard'.
At the moment there would be players throughout the league, on the fringe of AFL or playing VFL that we wouldn't know from a bar of soap. Every team would have them. They're the footsoldiers and role players who, when given the opportunity, allow the elite to perform at their best. We don't know much about them now but we may by the end of the season.
That kid languishing in the VFL at the moment may be winning you games by the end of the year and some will even be premiership players.
They won't all be newbies either. Some will have spent a couple of years on a list before being given real opportunities. You don't always walk from the draft and straight into a side
So why are some of our guys playing VFL rather than AFL?
Well there are a few there who've had injury concerns.
They've had an interupted end to their pre-season and start to the regular season, plus....
The ridiculous and interrupted scheduling of the VFL this year has meant that players have had limited opportunities to push a case for senior selection. It's an almost certainty that we have players there that will be playing regular senior football by the end of the season. While the senior team has played 5 games the VFL team has played 2.
It's pretty hard to press a claim if you aren't playing.
Because I'm right in my calls more often than not when it comes to young players and I'll back my own judgement over yours. Anyone who pumped up Jack Martin's tyres has very little credibility in my eyes.
I'll agree to disagree on how often you are right.
I'll also point out that malcolm blight said jack martin had the best highlights package he has ever seen. Ignoring where he was drafted, and traded to us, the all conquering cats who are very shrewd at the draft/trade game and are the gold standard IMO saw enough in Jack Martin to waste a list spot on him.
If that is you claiming a victory them in not surprised you think you get it right now often than you actually do.
All im saying is that you don't have a bad thing to say about any of our kids, which simply isn't realistic. So when you pump up an individuals tyres, you need to take off the prof pump up tax to get to the actual value.
Wouldn't mind seeing Derksen staying in and playing forward this week.
Collingwood have won 19 of our last 23 matches.
No Sidebottom for the Pies joining DeGoey on the injured list, Nick Daicos and Pendlebury are still sore too so we really dont have any excuses and should win this week and not just fall in either.
scares me no sidey no Degoey unfortunately i have seen this all before
Which player do we turn into a superstar this week is always my question in these ones
Elliot hasnt had a kick in weeks, Hold My Beer.
Yep
Elliott....Have a shilling on him ;)
When i started doing the [coach] objectives i included our record against individual teams. We used to be in front of Collingwood head to head over our history. Recent history has flipped that.
The only other teams we have a poor all-time record against are the interstate teams (excluding Sydney and Gold Coast which we have a winning record against)
We need to rectify that against collingwood ASAP.
So, we'll have
[1] Weitering back to play on McStay.
[2] Harry Dean back to play on their talls or on Membury. I'd almost give him Membury and leave any other tall they might have to Young.
[3] Lord is available. He and George Hewett will be an interesting conundrum, give we're trying to speed up our midfield.
It will probably be wet, so do we go with another mature body?
[4] Collingwood are playing two rucks at the moment, so do we bring in Reidy, or give O'Keefe another chance? O'Keefe is so out of form at the moment that I barely recognize him. The changes to the ruck rules haven't helped him as he isn't a guy with a huge leap. But Reidy? Reidy was good against North's 2's: he thrashed Goad, who is an up and coming leaper. He also has been getting a fair bit of the ball.
Rain is the question, and I don't have an answer yet. But even with Pittonet playing well, it is a hard ask to go up against 2 on his won. Collingwood's rucks usually play well against us.
[5] Who do we play on Daicos? We really need a guy to shadow him into oblivion. Letting him run around on his own, and we're doomed. Who?
We miss Cincotta, but his injuries really robbed him of his pace.
[6] Much as I see Byrne as the future, I think he needs to go back to the 2's for a while. He hasn't got much of it in the last couple of weeks.
Derksen probably goes back for Weitering. I wouldn't mind giving him some time up forward, but McGovern is actually playing decently at the moment. Kemp? Hasn't done much so far, although he was decent against North.
[7] Hayward I would bring back via the 2's.
Lord before Hewett
Reidy before O'Keefe
Derksen forward-Kemp back
Flynn Young in- Byrne a few games in the 'reserves'
Yep Hayward -VFL...he needs to find his mojo
Daicos????
J Daicos needs manning up too, have this funny feeling your boy Billy Wilson might get picked this week...
He might, but I'm not sure he's a 'minder'..he's more of a Saad type of half back
I wonder whether they might try something really outrageous with the brothers like Frank... at least on Josh.
Problem is, I'm not sure Frank has the 'tank.'
Everyone who can be available are available. Big test for the firsts and seconds.
They are so well coached EB and are system based where they dont fall to bits like we do with injuries. Howe will blanket Harry and our small and medium forwards will need to have big nights which against the likes of Maynaud, Quaynor is unlikely.
Cameron will make Pits life hard and give there mids a decent run at it and up forward despite all the negative media you watch us make the likes of Membrey, Elliott and Schutz look like superstars AGAIN!
The irony is the footballing ability of the fielded teams in this game is very even IMO however the mental toughness, game plan levers, structures and overall preparation and match day coaching is worlds apart.
:D 8) Agree on Frank, think we might need him down forward.
I think they will only play 2 talls in McStay and Membrey so with Weitering and Dean in, can we finally get rid of Young? Probably be Derksen though and fair enough he didn't have a great game. However, I remain in hope re Young.
I'd give Kemp a kick up the arse and drop him. Hasn't played well all year and seriously annoyed me last week with his long range shot in the last which was never going to get there and burned about 3 mins off the clock. Idiot. Bring in Flynn young.
O'Keeffe out. We're actually destroying this kid's confidence by playing him when he's out of form. Stupid. Don't need a tall in. It's going to be wet again. Just rest Pitto with Harry when required (I know this will never happen, but I live in hope, again)
Lord may be a bit left field so don't think they'll pull the trigger.
Think Hayward will definitely come back. They'll want to pump up one of the recruits (a club success story kind of thing IMO)
Hopefully George is back maybe at the expense of Cerra?
Still think B Wilson is a great option for project Daicos, but know in my heart of hearts our MC have no gumption in these matters. I'll be happy if they have some sort of plan.
Plenty of options.
Wish we would've whinged about the umpires last game, in the media this week. We need all the help we can get.
I've also backed the filth on Sportsbet in desperation
I know he's short of a run, but i'd love to see Cottrell get a gig and tag Nick.
Cottrell likes it rough.....Nick doesn't.
Cottrell (when match fit) can run all day and match anyone.
With a bit of luck, Cottrell could hurt him by drifting forward too.
I doubt we'd be so bold, but i think he's played 2 games now.
I'm tipping it would catch Nick by surprise to say the least.
Pies $1.52 on TAB - that's way overs IMO.
Too mentally strong for us and big reason why they have beaten us 19 out of the last 23 times.
McCrae will outcoach our man and will come up with a system to beat us regardless who they field. They got within a goal of Freo who are a top 4 team by trying to strangle them and it will be like shelling peas for him to come up with tactics for the 16th placed team to get the job done. As usual Voss will have no answers to counter it on match day.
Add in Nicks 100 game and they will get the 4 points.
I’m tipping the Pies, just hoping I’ve got it wrong.
Cookie, Won't get a better chance of beating the Pies with their average form and key players missing or sore. We have to win this one or else I can see the pressure on the club ramping up both internal and external.
Agree EB, time to stand up and be counted and buck the trend.
Just had another look at the ins and outs. Thinking about it you are right. With Moore, DeGoey and Sidebottom all out this certainly lifts our chances. We must dominate the stoppages and stop their ball movement. Not sure we can do this all game. Let’s see what we can do with our best 22 available so I’ll go for a roughie and change my tip.
Im tipping us by 7-10 points, wont be pretty football and the Pies will come home well like they usually do but I think we can defend the fort a bit better in this game considering they are not a high scoring team and we have Weitering back to General the back half troops.
In
Jacob Weitering, Will Hayward, Harry Dean
Out
Wade Derksen (Omitted), Jordan Boyd (Omitted), Hudson O'Keeffe (Omitted)
All three were terrible so fair enough. Still no George.
Unsurprising. Fair enough.
The Magoos match the following night will also be interesting... to see who improves and is pressing for selection... Coops, Flynn, Cotts? Also be interesting to see how the Campos, Chesser, HOK, Billy, Fog, Reidy, Ison, Moir, Derks and Hewey do. Be interesting to see if Hewey fronts up for the Magoos?
No Flynn Young either...not sure what he has to do to get a game given we are not exactly blowing the scoreboard up each week..
I knew Hewett wouldnt be picked, the commentary about our midfield being better last week was a bit exaggerated imho and I would have picked him vs Collingwood who will make it a hard grind around the stoppages.
Thanks to the stupid fixture the guys pressing for selection have played a grand total of what 3 matches? Its a joke.
Weeters
Young
Haynes
Dean.
That's very tall, I assume Young will play forward/ruck and Haynes to a wing?
Wouldn't be surprised if there's another out.
I think it's only two...Williamstown and North.
Agree, Going to be a wet evening according to the BOM so wouldnt want to be caught being over tall especially given they are a very small mobile forward line.
Good to see we learnt the lesson last week. ::)
We did drop a ruckman and a 197cm tall.
Harry dean isnt a giant either at 193, and weitering was a no brainer. Young needs to swing forward imho and be relief ruck for pitto.
Boyd out dowsnt make sense but he isnt going that well really.
Our line-up:
B: 2 Lachlan Cowan 23 Jacob Weitering 26 Nick Haynes
HB: 14 Oliver Florent 11 Mitch McGovern 24 Nic Newman
C: 4 Oliver Hollands 9 Patrick Cripps 32 Matthew Carroll
HF: 7 Jagga Smith 20 Elijah Hollands 12 Ben Ainsworth
F: 19 Will Hayward 10 Harry McKay 17 Brodie Kemp
R: 27 Marc Pittonet 6 Zac Williams 18 Sam Walsh
Int: 35 Harry Dean 44 Francis Evans 39 Talor Byrne 33 Lewis Young 5 Adam Cerra
Em: 25 Liam Reidy 45 Flynn Young 37 Jordan Boyd
[1] How did Hayward get back in? His for has been poor and his decision making questionable.
[2] Ruck? Young as 2nd ruck?
[3] Who is the matchup on Nick Daicos? That isn't clear to me.
[4] Flynn Young: what is he doing wrong? He couldn't have done much more.
[5] Are we prepared for the rain?
We have struggled against Collingwood recently, but I don't see the signs on the selection table that suggest we're ready to deal with their strengths.
Derksen should've gone forward.
Kemp back
Kemp back to the seconds
Are we hiding some injury / fitness issues?
Given we only have 2 players on our injury list, and both are out for 12 months with a knee injury, i think its almost certain there are a few injured players running around.
Either that or we've gone taller and slower in the wet because the Filth are up to their old bribery tricks and we've taken the bait to throw Daics 100th! ;D
Would Carlton billionaires really sell the farm for a quick profit? :o
hayward 6 possies against north gets suspended and straight in the seniors ,every player should earn his way into seniors side like i said in the past FORGET THE SURNAME ,play the person who deserves senior selection
One of my mates told me there was is a bet between Gorringe and Daicos on the outcome of this game.
Apparantly if we beat the pies, Daicos gets his head shaved.
If Pies beat us, Gorringe gets a 'collingwood tattoo'.
Not sure how true it is, but interesting outcome either way.
Yep saw that on socials, it wasnt a pies tatoo, it was a tatoo of Nicks choosing so he has some wiggle room if they make an agreement, but yeah.
Spot on. Selection on reputation again. I wonder how many of us vividly recall Vossy saying that selection is based on earning your spot!
Well I checked out the BOM radar to see if any rain is heading for the MCG... Then I noticed that according to the radar there was not a cloud for more 70kms where we are in West Gippy... I looked out the window - hosing down, thunder, lightning and (obviously) dark clouds filled the skies! ::)
Any danger one of our fwds can get a hold of one of their defenders and kick a bag for a farken change? Harry? Kemp? Bueller? Please? Pretty please?
Thry, Collingwood don't need us to throw the game for Daicos, I think we're quite capable of being sh1t when it counts without any assistance.
Sh1t when it counts. What a great slogan for us. Youre a marketting guru Prof
Watch Elliott rip us a new one
Cameron, Elliott, Membrey, Lipinski, Daicos x2
I dont think i mentioned throwing the game.