There’s an exception that teams are allowed to announce debuts early. I don’t know exactly how early, but Matt Flynn’s debuting for the giants on Sunday and they announced it on Monday, so at least 6 days before the game is okay.
6 Likes
no Archie
Huh?
Why on Earth would he be in?
2 Likes
at least 50% of best 22 blitz teams had him selected including nackers, cjohns, etc.
I had him as emergency, but with sub rule would consider him or Waterman for that role.
1 Like
fortunately blitz isn’t the club’s match committee
4 Likes
Congratulations to H.J and the Big Cox. Big future ahead boys.
2 Likes
Id say its a lock that the only change from the practice game is Redman for Stewart based on Trucks presser.
Stringer to play VFL this week which is great news.
Guelfi is not right.
He talked about playing a slightly smaller backline. So not going with Zerk
Emg probably will be Waterman, Perkins, Bryan and Gleeson
1 Like
6 Likes
Where the FK is Perkins?
RUTTEN OUT
4 Likes
Does Truck hate Essendon?
Perkins FREAKSHOW ?
I’d say Gleeson comes in for Stewart. Didn’t hear Redman mentioned at all
Yeah maybe, but reports were that Redman played better than Gleeson in the VFL, so I’m going off that.
Personally I’d go Redman.
1 Like
If key forwards aren’t getting a hold of us this year, it will say a fair bit about how well we are pressuring the ball carrier through the midfield and how we are setting up defensively.
As it stands, our three notional tall defenders are Aaron Francis (192cm), Jordan Ridley (192cm) and Jayden Laverde (191cm). They are all more suited to a third tall role and are going to be giving away a bit of size in their direct match ups most weeks.
One team who had a similar setup last year and with a lot of success too was Port Adelaide. They showed that it can work and can in fact have it’s benefits in the entire back group being more agile and more threatening on the way out.
Pretty much all year they ran with Tom Clurey (193cm), Trent Mckenzie (191cm) and Tom Jonas (188cm).
They also had Hamish Hartlett roll back and help out quite often and I can see Hepp doing a similar job for us.
That backline, held Richmond to 46 points in the prelim. Hopefully we see an ability from us to put pressure on across the whole ground this year, just like Port did, to make the balls coming in to opposition forward line very scrappy and easier for our defenders (in particular Frang, Ridley and Lav) easier to counteract.
P.S. All measurements taken from club websites so take it up with them if it differs from other sources 
10 Likes
VFL practice match on Saturday at 11am at the hangar.
will be interesting who the players held over as emergencies will be.
1 Like
Weird. The EFC app has Francis & Laverde as 193cm and Ridley as 195cm.
But yep I agree with you re pressure further up the field being a crucial development area for us this year.
It’ll be interesting to see whether the new manning the mark rule has an impact on undersized defences.
2 Likes
My guess would be
Laverde 192cm
Francis 193cm - pretty sure same height as Hurley
Ridley 195cm - he had a bit of growth spurt after drafted.
2 Likes
winner keeps their username
2 Likes
Lmao. I knew this would inevitably devolve into a nitpicking thing on height rather than focusing on the general point 
10 Likes