Looking forward to our first game - I think our lineup will be something like;-
Reid McKay McGrath
Redman Ridley Shiel
Martin Tsatas Duursma
Merrett Caddy Perkins
Langford Draper Kako
Bryan Durham Caldwell
Bench: Hobbs Gresham Prior Jones
SUB: Roberts
That team should be competitive with the Hawks
Hawthorn have selected only one key forward for R0. There’s no second ruck or Gunston either. Not sure how we can go into the match with McKay, Reid and Ridley. Two of them would be forced to play on smalls.
Clever by Hawthorne, Rids and Reid in for mine and McKay can have a run in the Vfl.
Perfect opportunity for Roberts to come in and take one of their small forwards.
They are certainly very mobile and smaller than most teams but there will at least be a second tall forward. Of sorts anyway.
Ok, Sicily is only 188cm but for all intents and purposes we’d defend him like a genuine tall due to his marking strength. He’s listed on a wing on the team sheet but with Barrass, Battle and Frost as key backs you’d assume he’ll start forward.
In fact, with Scrimshaw (194cm defender) and Weddle providing flexibility to play on tall forwards, it’s not outside the realms of possibility that they could even send ol’ Frosty forward as well should they feel they need more size.
Key forward/relief ruck = Chol
Key forward(s) = Sicily (+Frost?)
Oh I thought this was going to be a Saturday arvo match.
I am not at all religious but l am prepared to pray that super spud Frost plays. If they send him forward even better, that would increase our chances of a win dramatically.
Tickets selling very well. Selling top deck of Ponsford as well as top decks of Warne / Olympic Stands. Promises to be a big crowd.
Hey I never said anything about him being good (especially with ball in hand) but he is certainly key position size and an honest competitor.
Agree that Sicily plays forward, and Ridley is the most obvious matchup for him. That leaves McKay for Chol, and Reid to miss.
There is no way Reid doesn’t play if fit.
I know horses for courses - but I’d be more inclined to play Reid over McKay in round 1.
I actually think McKay to take Chol/Resting Ruck
Reid to take Sicily/Frost
Ridley can play on anyone
Redman/McGrath/Shiel/Roberts or Prior to cover the smalls
Reid will play just about every week if he’s fit. He needs games pumped into him.
If it screws up match ups, so be it. That’s the cost of development.
I think the media really overrates this hawthorn list and they’re drinking their own bathwater. Really think they’re gettable and we can win this game.
They don’t need more than one. Their small brigade are top 3 in the comp.
I reckon that’s the way they’d view things also.
At any given point in time there is likely to be a Connor Nash, Finn Maginness or Will Day in a resting rotation forward who Ridley could easily match up on well.
In fact there’s an argument that when a team has crumbers as dangerous as the Hawks do, that intercept marking and keeping the ball off the deck is a key way to limiting their impact.
Good, bad or indifferent their year may be… They will experience growing pains in the form of more opponent focus and attention etc.
I would rest McKay if knee still an issue.
Confidence is a very powerful tool. It can carry you a long way. I’d like to see us develop more as the season progresses as Hawthorn did last year.
This could get ugly.
Hawks are one of the fittest teams/best at ground ball gets - us one of the worst.
They will also have a game’s worth of match fitness/sharpness under their belt.
They love getting out the back.
Last year we defended high up the ground leaving plenty of room. It appears that we won’t be defending as high up the ground this year which is good.
Hopefully it a wet and scrubby game against the swans that knocks them around.
We will be fresh and should run over them.
have they got anyone that can stop KAKO?
I had assumed the same.