What should be in our top 22 come finals

[Bart]

Considering Saddo is out for the season, who would you like you see line up in the first week of the finals

My line up is:

B: Crouch, Schauble, C. Bolton
HB: Barry, Goodes, Kennelly
C: Maxfield, Williams, Mathews
HF: O'Keefe, Hall, Davis
F: Schneider, O'Loughlin, Nicks
FOLL: Ball, Kirk, J. Bolton

I/C: Bevan, Doyle, Ablett, Fosdike
EMG: Fixter, James, Buchanan, Roberts-Thomson

No spot for: McVeigh, Thewlis, Meiklejohn, Warfe, Powell, Rogers, Saddington (inj), Sundqvist (inj)

[sharpie]

Fixter for Ablett

[Bart]

Originally posted by sharpie
Fixter for Ablett

If the finals were tomorrow, I'd probably give Ablett the nod. Next 7 weeks though may change my opinion.

[Charlie]

Hall, Mathews, O'Keefe, Bolton, Williams, Maxfield, Doyle, Kennelly, O'Loughlin, Barry, Bolton, Schauble, Ball, Crouch, Kirk, Goods and Bevan are certainties, subject of course to injury.

Probables are Davis, Fosdike, Schneider, James, Nicks. All of these depend on how they return from injuries, or whether they maintain their form.

The rest of your names plus McVeigh and Powell round out who I would expect to be on the radar for the finals.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by Bart
If the finals were tomorrow, I'd probably give Ablett the nod. Next 7 weeks though may change my opinion.

That was pretty much why I would make the change.

I am sure Roosy has brought guys like Schneider and Fixter into the side before they were probably ready with an eye to the finals. While Ablett at the moment may be more useful than a half fit Schneider or Fixter, once these guys get full match fitness back, they become far more important to the side than Ablett for the finals campaign.

[sharp9]

I feel pretty strongly that Buchanan is of more value than Fosdike or Ablett. He is the only player that can break out of the packs cleanly aprt from Kirk and Crouch who are otherwise engaged.

Edwards, McLeod, Judd etc....we need someone who worries the opposition in this regard. Williams should (in theory) be doing this, but, obviously, he is not.

Teams below us are trying to strangle us in the midfield because they know that we are inferior at clean takeaways from congested areas.

If Ablett's midfield positon is essentially an outside run-with role (like on Scotland/Woewodin) then that can be done better by Bevan or C. Bolton or Fixter.

As Roosey said, we have a working class midfield at the moment. Our experienced cream (Willo and Maxi) just don't worry other teams the way the cream from the top four does. This is the main thing that needs to turn araound if we are to challenge for top 4. So whether it be increases in form from those two or increased use of Monty, Fixter and Bevan in the centre, I don't know. But we have to start clearing the ball rather than just getting to it first half the time (which, at least, is better than we were doing earlier in the year).

Weren't 3 of Adelaide's first four goals from classy, clean, fast takeaways from congested ruck contests?

Thankfully we had more grit than them 'cos we definitely have less class at the moment.

[Captain]

Originally posted by sharp9
I feel pretty strongly that Buchanan is of more value than Fosdike or Ablett. He is the only player that can break out of the packs cleanly aprt from Kirk and Crouch who are otherwise engaged.

Agree with that.

My changes would be to add Buchanan and Fixter for Fosdike and Ablett.

[NMWBloods]

Drop Ablett for Fixter (or possibly James depending on who we were playing).

Ablett has had one good game - didn't do much on the weekend. Well short of the best 22 still.

Would also consider Buchanan for Fosdike, but probably not.

[DST]

For team balance at finals time, either James or LRT need to be in the team. We just don't have a plan B for tall forwards if a Schuable or Barry goes down or if the other side loads it's forwards with talls.

Both Fixter & Fosdike go in ahead of Ablett and Bucky if fit and ready to play. While Ablett has improved and Bucky has been fantastic with the one percenters, they both don't get enough of the footy to hurt the oppoisition. With both Kirk and Crouch playing lock down roles when needed, our other small forwards and midfielders need to get more ball to componsate for team structure.

While important, takles and one percenters alone will not win you matches.

DST

[midaro]

IMO, if they all get a solid run into the finals: Fosdike > Bevan > Fixter > McVeigh > Buchanan > Ablett

For extra talls: James >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> lrt

[sfan]

My line up is:

B: Crouch, Schauble, Mathews
HB: Barry, C. Bolton , Kennelly
C: Maxfield, Williams, Goodes
HF: O'Keefe, Hall, Davis
F: Schneider, O'Loughlin, Nicks
FOLL: Ball, Kirk, J. Bolton

I/C: Bevan, Doyle, McVeigh, Fosdike
EMG: Ablett, Fixter, James, Buchanan,

No spot for: Roberts-Thomson, Thewlis, Meiklejohn, Warfe, Powell, Rogers, Saddington (inj), Sundqvist (inj)

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by DST
For team balance at finals time, either James or LRT need to be in the team. We just don't have a plan B for tall forwards if a Schuable or Barry goes down or if the other side loads it's forwards with talls.

I know that LRT is a long-term project, but I cannot understand how he gets a game ahead of James. He is more of a liability than an asset (atm, maybe he will get better) - James adds more down back and up forward when he moves there. I feel that much more confident when James is out there, as opposed to LRT. James should definately get the nod, if another tall is needed, IMO. Talk about the forgotten man.

[monopoly19]

Originally posted by sfan
My line up is:

B: Crouch, Schauble, Mathews
HB: Barry, C. Bolton , Kennelly
C: Maxfield, Williams, Goodes
HF: O'Keefe, Hall, Davis
F: Schneider, O'Loughlin, Nicks
FOLL: Ball, Kirk, J. Bolton

I/C: Bevan, Doyle, McVeigh, Fosdike
EMG: Ablett, Fixter, James, Buchanan,

No spot for: Roberts-Thomson, Thewlis, Meiklejohn, Warfe, Powell, Rogers, Saddington (inj), Sundqvist (inj)

This is just about what I would have as well, though I'm still unsure of Buchanan/Fosdike (Buchanan has better ball winning ability in the packs), but I think the coach would probably go with Fossie in the end.

[barry]

Originally posted by monopoly19
I know that LRT is a long-term project, but I cannot understand how he gets a game ahead of James. He is more of a liability than an asset (atm, maybe he will get better) - James adds more down back and up forward when he moves there. I feel that much more confident when James is out there, as opposed to LRT. James should definately get the nod, if another tall is needed, IMO. Talk about the forgotten man.

But LRT can ruck at a pinch if Doyle or Ball go down.

In finals you need to cover every scenario as there are no second chances.

Thats why LRT would play IMO.

[Bart]

We are really tempting fate here though. We'd be in a great position to have only Saddo out come finals, but we had them dropping like flies last year on the home stretch; Ball, Saddo, Mick.