Blitz had him out until he proved he good mark one handed, and the splint came off.
But if you want to restart apanic about Fanta who am I to stop you.
**[quote=āKiller_Mike, post:759, topic:14266, full:trueā]
FFS Langford still on the benchš
Put him in the guts
[/quote]
Note is Francis in the guts instead.
Three years of Blitz pessimism is perhaps being overcompensated for this preseason.
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Thanks I had forgotten him.
Iād replace MacNiece with him.
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Been think that with TBC the way that he is and rule changes that heāll defintely need cover. I doubt Daniher will ever cover as a resting ruck, at least not this year and that Smack will be very much in demand.
This article supports how theyāll be an increase in ruck loads.
Big Rhys is no dummy - feathering the old nest with his subtle āanalysisā of the new rules.
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The updated panic merchants Round 1 side
Friday 18th January
B. MacNiece Francis Zerk
HB. Saad Hurley Ridley
C. Zaharakis Langford McGrath
HF. Fanta Brown Tippa
FF. Bags Smack Stringer
R. Draper Shiel Smith
I/C Parish Ambrose Myers Guelfi
Note: Saad, included despite the Blitz reports of āfatnessā
I still assume Blitz is correct in that Laverde will be injured in a pre season game.
Hooker, McKenna and Belly are all obviously carrying undisclosed ailments- again according to Blitz.
Heppell has missed two training sessions in a row
Joey and Fridge are making a late bid for inclusion, depending on whether you believe or disbelieve a fitness department Or Blitz training reports.
Zach- either fine or teaming with Heather Mills.
PS - KillerMike- Langford is now in guts by means of doing a Tonya Harding on Zach.
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Oh baby
bravoā¦ deserved more than a like.
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Pretty close to my best 22 as well. However, the coaches usually go for experience and I suspect they would go for Bags over Guelfi. Bags had a great year after he re-invented himself as a small forward.
Guelfi Hurley Francis
McKenna Hooker Saad
Zaka Heppell McGrath
Smith Daniher Fantasia
Tippa Stringer Baguley
Bellchambers Merrett Shiel
Langford Parish McKernan Myers
Emg (in order of preference) Laverde Brown Gleeson
Donāt rate Gleeks much, or is it the injury?
Itās a bit of both - the injury does hurt him in my team. In the past I have commented about how each year he has improved his stats (as a young player should), but whilst I think he is a nice player, I think I would rather play the extra mid option for which I think Guelfi has the versatility.
I wrote earlier in the thread that I think extra mid depth means that a McGrath/Heppell can rest in the backline if need be. For me Gleesonās is not an automatic inclusion when fit ā¦ i think Francis brings more to the backline than Gleeson, and Guelfi can add something as a mid.
Gleeson has a role to play at the club, but in my team that role is currently depth.
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I tend to agree that I wouldnāt have Gleeson as an automatic selection, even when fit. I think heās got a little over hyped in here over his last game in Sydney.
I went to that game and didnāt listen to or read anything concerning football for about a week afterwards after the disappointment, and was very surprised to hear everyone raving about Gleesonās game. So I put myself through the torture of watching the entire game on replay specifically paying special attention to Gleeson to see if Iād missed anything. And yes he played an OK game and took a couple of nice marks but had no real influence on the game or the result. Someone like Francis on the other hand could have made a huge difference.
Generally speaking most of his intercept marks I think are either uncontested from good reading of the play or a 2 on 1 with him sitting at the side or back, I canāt recall him taking too many marks where he has outmaneuvered a bigger opponent in a 1 on 1, and marking is his main forte.
I think nearly everyone is agreed on a backline with Saad, Hurley, Hooker, Francis and McKenna leaving 2 more spots including the 1 on the interchange.
The players vying for the spots I think are Gleeson, Redman, Ridley, Ambrose, Guelfi, Dea and McNiece (with Hartley and possibly Ambrose only coming in if we are without Hooker or Hurley).
Of that group I would have Redman, Ridley and Guelfi at least level with Gleeson (depending an matchups) and probably just ahead leaving him as depth for me as well
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If itās out of gleeson, redman and ridley itās gleeson every day. Both kids showed real good signs at afl level as back flankers but gleeson is a proven asset. I also think ridley and maybe redman too will end up as classy wingmen
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At the end of the day itās all just a matter of opinion. Personally I would like to see Redman and Ridley get more games
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I think Redman would have overtaken him if it wasnāt for his injury last year. We really have found one in Redman, I just hope the injuries donāt kill his career.
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Itās the aggression mixed with really good skills that make him suited to playing the game at the top level.
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It wasnāt just the Sydney game. He was in great form at the end of 2017 baring maybe the bulldogs game. His disposal is always very clean and he reads the play so well. He also has great chemistry with Hurley. Iām not saying Redman & Ridley wont be as good as Marty, but if Marty is fit i think itās definitely his spot and the others can try to take it from him.
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Yes I agree I was being a little over dramatic saying it was just the Sydney game, he had been in good form before that but after Sydney he seemed to be considered almost irreplaceable.
Iām not saying I donāt like him as a player, he has been good and it wouldnāt particularly worry me if he was given first crack, I just think others could be better and bring more to the team. My main concern with him is not being able to handle bigger players and we already have Saad and McKenna on this smallish side but they compensate with outstanding run.
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Gleeson looks significantly bigger than he did last time he played. Heāll take some time to get back up to speed, but I expect that size alone will make him a better 1:1 player.