I think if he fully trains this week he will likely be in.
I don’t think he will do any VFL time.
1 Like
We draw with the reigning Premiers after they smashed Port to smithereens.
We’re not playing more smalls in our forward line because the smalls we have are currently crapola (for AFL standards).
Almost everyone on the site that said we shouldn’t play the 2 Rucks with 2mp universally were saying Draper should make way.
I wonder if they would like to replay the game with Tsatas replacing Draper in the side ?
Personally, I don’t.
5 Likes
The flavour of the season so far has been the constant call by Blitzers to drop Heppell and/or Kelly. Dyson is one of our best performed players this season and will/should not be dropped. Kelly has also been serviceable and done a couple of good lock down jobs. If they are to be dropped we would need to replace them with like for like players, many people are not suggesting those sort of names. Hind for Perkins is an obvious one, and perhaps Guelfi as the sub. While the team is playing well and winning there isn’t a great need to do too much tinkering at the selection table.
22 Likes
How does being tall stop you defending kick-ins?
1 Like
The key to this game will be starting strong and not giving Eagles a look early in the game. Young sides like the Eagles thrive on belief and they will go into the game full of confidence after winning the derby at home 2 weeks ago. We start strong and hold a 5-6 goal lead through the second quarter and their belief will start to dip.
The longer they hang around the more they will think they can win it. If they do we will be looking at a <15 point margin in the last.
If we blow them out of the water we will be more likely to skip away throughout the game if we remained focused.
6 Likes
The coverage that piece of ■■■■ newspaper gives that poor kid is absolutely unhinged. It’s like a crazy ex trying to get you to notice them.
6 Likes
Caldwell is going to murder this kid anyway.
3 Likes
In fairness I think at least this was managed rather than dropped. I do think they might rest Heps just to manage him through the season. Also Goldy at his age even though both actually are performing quite strongly. It all depends if the data show a they need a rest or not. Goldy I think needs it more than Hep.
Whether they bring in another ruck will be interesting but given West Coast have Barass and McGovern they may prefer to have Bryan in for Goldy and keep Draper forward.
I think they might bring in another tall given WC‘s height in their forward line as Redman and Hep/Kelly would need to play tall otherwise.
If Perkins is fit and Guelfi pulled up ok they would both come in but are not replacements for Goldy and Hep/Kelly if we rest these guys.
Interesting selection coming up.
Guarantee one thing come Thursday night when the team is announced most will be complaining.
4 Likes
Firstly, I didn’t say drop them. There is nothing wrong with looking after a guy who is north of 30 by giving him a freshen up when we are making our longest interstate trip for the season, notwithstanding the longer break.
Secondly I have replaced whoever was rested with a like for like player in Lewis Hayes. Like for like in the sense that he’s a defender and in this case the match ups work which brings me to point three.
Thirdly, a good match committee would be looking at not just picking our team in isolation Captain Jack but by looking at the opposition we’re going to be coming up against. Hence why when the Eagles have Jack Williams (198cm), Ryan Maric (196cm), Jake Waterman (192cm + strong), Jack Darling (191cm + strong), I believe there is a clear match-up there for Lewis Hayes to take without the need for both Hepp and Kelly to play. One is fine for this week to help out with their smalls along with Pidge and Redman.
Yes, of course they can try and make it work with the current back 7 like we did against the Dogs when Redman was on Sam Darcy and we’d probably/hopefully still win but there’s nothing wrong with trying to seize an opportunity to introduce someone in good form who would slot in nicely against the opposition at hand.
4 Likes
Flying out Sat morning for pre game BEVS at the VIC then back to Melbourne to watch the game on TV.
24 Likes
I just bought tickets for the game for my son. There was hardly any left. Could be a sell out.
At training today Guelfi trained fully.
Menzie trained but was wearing the ‘non - contact’ cap.
Baldwin was out early having a kick with Duursma.
Didn’t see Duursma participate further, then again I wasn’t there for the whole session so he may have joined later.
Also looked like Langford was having a kick but not involved in the training drills. Similar to last week, so wouldn’t think there was any concern.
Didn’t see Perkins, Ridley, Setterfield, or Reid.
However, as mentioned earlier, I wasn’t there for the whole session.
21 Likes
we should never have delisted Harley from our VFL side & just transitioned him quietly into the afl team.
I think he should at least fly home with our boys to begin his preparation for 2025 in the red 'n black.
8 Likes
Pretty simple, tall and slow, ball goes to ground, smaller quicker players exit with ease.
2 Likes
Roberts in for Hind
Hayes in for Goldy
Tsatas for Alwyn Jnr
The Eagles run three talls up forwards, Lav actually matches up well with Darling.
Hayes is still mobile and nimble enough to go with Waterman or Maric
And Hopefully McKay is mobile or smart enough to take down the remaining forward.
Roberts form warrants a call up (font want him loosing momentum with vfl bye scheduled) and Hinds form warrants a dropping.
Tsatas was impressive in the VFL and the month prior he has had limited game time, so I’m hoping he gets play time this week at AFL level (vfl bye).
Alwyn was decent against Adelaide but registed zero tackles against Collingwood, and shirked afew contests.
Not like for like, but Goldy could avoid the travel West and rest up with WC rucks not exactly elite. Would be comfortable with 2MP helping Draper.
Roberts has goal scoring ability and also able to play half back, a similar skill set to Hind.
And as I mentioned above, Tsatas has just been robbed of game time latelyand just hope to have this corrected
4 Likes
Why is it a given that if you are tall you are slow?
Also, if you are tall with long arms there is more opportunity to intercept.
Longer arms mean more reach to be able to tackle
I don’t get the whole “only small players can put pressure on in F50” thing.
4 Likes
Hope he does a hammy in thre first 10 minutes
we shouldve drafter harley before tsatas! bloody dodoro
6 Likes
Caldwell straight to Ried, rough him up
Durham straight to the 200 gamer