Great to get a win over the Cats on their home turf in a praccy match but its time for the real stuff now…!! Going off the practice match form Hayes and 2MP the obvious omissions, and not sure Edwards did enough either to hold his spot - he wasn’t bad - leads well and makes good position but 3 disposals not enough so he goes back to the reserves.
Then its out of Hobbs & Setters I think for the last spot - Hobbs 29 disposals gets him the nod. So team I’d have at this stage;-
Prior McKay McGrath
Redman Reid Shiel
Duursma Tsatas Roberts
Jones Martin Perkins
Langford Caddy Kako
Edwards only played 24 minutes, and kicked 4 goals in a half in the VFL. Probably still misses as there aren’t any obvious omissions, but a little unfair to say he didn’t do enough.
Starting to think we will see Setters get picked to do a job on Rowell and Anderson. Then Tsatas/Merrett and co can then focus on winning the ball so the 23 might be;-
Reid McKay McGrath
Redman Ridley Shiel
Durham Tsatas Jones
Perkins Martin Gresham
Langford Caddy Kako
Yeah I think for balance we only really need to play one tall forward (Caddy) and he can get a chop out from Draper.
Our mediums are classy and dangerous- Langford, Martin and Perkins
Kako Gresham & Merrett the smalls
All of a sudden it seems we have a pretty potent forward line!
McGrath Reid Prior
Redman McKay Ridley
Duursma Merrett Jones
Perkins Caddy Martin
Langford Draper Kako
Bryan Caldwell Tsatas
Shiel Durham Gresham Hobbs Sub: Roberts
EMG: Setterfield Wright Edwards
I’ve just gone with Hobbs as I think he did just enough to get in but as others have said Setterfield could come in and do a role against Rowell and ANderson there.
Watching last years GC game some points to note They are tough in Midfield, fast around the ground and max Andrews is a difficult matchup.
Perkins and Hobbs will struggle for pace
If Hobbs plays it will be interesting to see how he goes re Rowell
I’m breaking my rule of only picking 1 of Setterfield/Hobbs for very select games.
This is one such game.
Twilight game at the Gold Coast means dewy conditions and more ground balls.
Therefore, Hobbs needs to play.
We also must find a solution to Rowell, otherwise we can’t win…Setters, here’s your chance.
B. McGrath McKay Ridley
HB. Redman Reid Shiel
C. Martin Setterfield Jones
HF. Durham Caddy Perkins
F. Kako Langford Gresham
Foll. Draper Caldwell Merrett
Int. Bryan Prior Hobbs Tsatas
SUB. Roberts
Duursma makes way to be able to play a specific Tagger.
He’s a good player, and a very important player with his defensive running, I’m not sure I trust his game ATM.
I could have put him SUB in place of Roberts, but I think a VFL practice match is more suitable (assuming the VFL guys will schedule a praccy)
Team almost picks itself for mine, assuming no fresh injuries and Redman fully recovers and Parish is unfit. The only contentions decisions might be:
Hobbs vs Setterfield - almost certain Hobbs will get the nod as he’s played the full four quarters in both practice matches, while Setters has only played halves.
Prior vs Roberts vs Gresham as sub (other two to start) - Roberts to me would be the best in the sub role due to his versatility.
rowell towelled us up and we put caldwell on him when he was really struggling with that hip injury. a fresh caldwell will be a different story and i think they will play setterfield as he is a bigger body to help out.
Setterfield and Hobbs are both limited footballers, but they are made for certain conditions.
Dewy ground ball game against a side with 1 of the very best clearance players in the comp.
I now wish to play them both.
If we need more run, SUB Jones, Bryan, or the worst performing tall defender in the 3rd qtr, and bring Roberts into the game.
That makes too much sense.
So probs won’t happen.
Outside of marquee games and finals, Round 1 is the fastest played for the season (according to my mate who played AFL). It’s very taxing and also sets up players for injury in Rd 2 and 3.
Need an extra running player or 2 to share the load.
To be fair, I’ve had to drop 1 of our best defensive running players in Duursma to make it happen.
I know the coaches are playing Duursma next week but that’s my team to give us the best chance of victory on the day.