In McKernan, some hard two way runners.
Out anyone who is cooked
In: McKernan, Baguley, Myers, Long
Out: hartley, Parish (concussion), Langford, Saad (hamstring)
B: Redman Hooker Francis
Hb: Gleeson Ambrose #Guelfi
C: Long McGrath #McKenna
Hf: Fantasia Brown Stringer
F: Baguley McKernan Tippa
R: Z Clarke Shiel Zerrett
Int: Myers D Clarke, Zaharakis, Snelling
EMG; Ridley, Mynott, Hartley
McGrath might be needed in defence to cover saad if saad is out with hammy? might use this through game but with parish and Langford out, possibly need him in midfield too
Hooker back to defence - didnt work forward, so Hartley out was worth a try.
Baguley and Myers in - heading back to the well with these guys, but are desperate and have VFL form.
Not sure how we are going to stop the dogs midfield
Macrae, Dunkley, etc, just need to hope Shiel and Zerrett each have good games and Clarke can shut the Bontempelli down. Could we give McGrath a tight role inside midfield?
Zaharakis given more midfield minutes this week too.
Would be nice for Long, Baguley and Mers to get a farewell game.
Aiming for a smaller forwardline, with Snelling/tippa/baguley and fantasia all there
Guelfi/mckenna to share a wing/half back.
All reasonable changes in theory but canât see us beating the dogs with that line up. We need to put our best possible side on the park and lock in the finals berth then make changes like this for the Perth trip.
UJok and Smack as a mobile ruck double header.
Reasoning, our pressure out of the middle isnât up to scratch. Letâs play some guys who can at least mix it up and provide use on the deck and around the ground.
Vs. the Dogs - perfect time to try it. Mobile setup vs mobile setup.
Vs. Freo - Sandilands and Darcy will dominate no matter who we put in, might as well mix it up
Vs. Pies - see above. Should be regarded as tagging Grundy really. Apparently Jok is a super athlete? Sounds like a job to me.
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Werenât you saying Zed Clarke had gone well past TBC about a week ago?
And now weâre dropping him for a 85kg flanker?
LOL
Iâd probably call Jok a Utility than a flanker.
positions are probably Wing/relief ruck.
May not be the worst week to try it.
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Effort wise, he has. TBCs effort level makes Langfordâs look like a mentos in a bottle of coke.
Bellchambers is the laziest footballer Iâve seen in 40 years
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English giving the Dogs mids first use is going to be pivotal, if Clark plays he needs to fire the hell up and get physical with the kid otherwise he will get a bath.
I think we match up really well against the Dogs. Their forward line of Naughton and Schache with some mid sized guys like Dickson, Lloyd and Dale is dangerous on their day but not littered with tall powerful guys. They get a heap of inside 50âs but also get heavily rebounded against which works well for us.
Their back line is absolutely horrendous too - 5th worst in the competition - averaging around 85 points against per game. A few forwards have got hold of them throughout the year too with lots of bags of 4-6 goals, and lots of small forwards popping up.
Smack, Tippa and Fantasia wonât get a better chance again this season to get some form together.
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Laycock says hi.
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Darcy Parish will be assessed for concussion during the week. Picture: Getty Images
ESSENDON
The weekend result was disappointing, the final margin perhaps more alarming.
John Worsfold acknowledged his side had an off day against Port but he did highlight some pressing issues.
Those issues had been present the previous week but were masked as his side snatched the four points on the Gold Coast.
The Bombersâ structure took a hit before the first bounce against the Power with Shaun McKernanâs withdrawal.
Heâll return from illness and strengthen the big-man department against the Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Dyson Heppell is holding off on surgery in the hope of being able to manage the injury until seasonâs end. Hopefully heâs capable of playing this week.
Darcy Parish copped a heavy hit and was ruled out with concussion, so all eyes will be on the team sheet on Thursday.
Adam Saad was taken off late but Worsfold said hat was precautionary as he got through despite hamstring tightness. Tom Bellchambers is still a few weeks off but gee his team needs him.
The Bombers should make the eight but after Saturdayâs horror show their remaining matches against the Dogs, Freo (away) and Collingwood suddenly seem far less winnable.
âBen Broad
INJURIES
Tom Bellchambers (calf) 1-2 weeks
Joe Daniher (groin) season
Sam Draper (knee) season
Dyson Heppell (foot) test
Michael Hurley (shoulder) 3-4 weeks
Shaun McKernan (illness) test
Irving Mosquito (hamstring) 1 week
Kobe Mutch (knee) TBC
Darcy Parish (concussion) test
Devon Smith (knee) season
James Stewart (groin) TBC
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TBC available in 1-2 weeks. Good news.
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Guess work by the HS writer against standard calf injury I assume.
Heâs only just started running so I doubt itâs happening that quickly
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âJust started runningâ means he is well in front of Zlarke
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Running is ok, but can he push off on that leg and jump?
Yeah K.
I reckon I could name about 30 worse in the past 15 years, just from Essendon, including 3-4 on the current list.
The lazy ones rarely get 10 year careers.
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TBC doesnât matter. He is not playing this week. This is the game we need to win - then can loose next 2 and concentrate on getting best team on park for Final 1.
Clarke stays in, Smack to CHFâŚwould not mind Lav or Begley back in for a bit more mongrel in the forward line either and to test the doggies defensive height.
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