Team selection: round 10 v Carlton

[UUaswan]

Cox’s logic is that McLean needs to find consistency. Ok. He hasn’t been in the best form.

But if that’s the case, Ollie, Hayward - let alone Francis and Hamling - are in the same gun.

It’s a strange argument.

I could think of 12 players who haven't been asked to play 2 positions that could have their consistency questioned before Mclean.

Its very hard to comment on Cox as a coach, with a shorthanded team, but as a selector he is shocking.

Francis and Hamling playing, Mclean out, gobsmacked

[royboy42]

How much longer is Wilbur gonna get?. I know he does a lot with his possessions, but he ain't getting any..

[UUaswan]

How much longer is Wilbur gonna get?. I know he does a lot with his possessions, but he ain't getting any..

Maybe play him alongside 2 decent tall Fwds and see how he goes

[Roadrunner]

With regard to Hamling. Maybe it is appropriate to have an indigenous player representing the club in this round

This may be true, but it sounds a bit hollow. I can’t see how Hamling is better value than McLean from what he has shown us so far. Hope I’m wrong and he plays well but our selectors seem to be smoking something strange!

[Roadrunner]

Maybe play him alongside 2 decent tall Fwds and see how he goes

That’s a fair point but he has been around long enough now to be able to get into the game more. I’d like to see his stats average over the 9 games this year to make a proper call but my gut feeling is that it’s not very impressive!

[lwjoyner]

cox getting a bit like Eade and he had got side into a final. Not sure Cox knows what to do ,dropping McLean (maybe he is a bit sore and therefore playning in reserves not good. Mc is the only one in our fwd line capable of taking a pack mark.. Hamling and Francis not sure where they will play qrt to qtr being back one min and fwd the next. Mc is better than either in fwd line and maybe try him atff with amerty chf and ladhams in pkt. where is our young key defenders coming from.

[Dow]

I doubt Mclean gets a rest rucking in the 2s

I would have liked Adams for Lloyd as well

Adams had 14 touches in the 2s and looked really short of a run - needs at least 4 weeks to find form and fitness, Mclean wont ruck in the 2s, I am surprised he was dropped due to the personal we have left in the side, but it hasn't been unwarranted

[mcs]

cox getting a bit like Eade and he had got side into a final. Not sure Cox knows what to do ,dropping McLean (maybe he is a bit sore and therefore playning in reserves not good. Mc is the only one in our fwd line capable of taking a pack mark.. Hamling and Francis not sure where they will play qrt to qtr being back one min and fwd the next. Mc is better than either in fwd line and maybe try him atff with amerty chf and ladhams in pkt. where is our young key defenders coming from.

This immense desire from some for Cox to get it perfect from the get go is a little tiring to be honest. We will need some patience, especially when we've had such a wretched beginning to the year with injuries.

I'm surprised they dropped McLean, but I think there is a fair bit of fiddling around the edges, trying to find a combo that can work. I suspect there is a feeling you can't have both him and Ladhams in the same team (unless Ladhams is playing primary ruck with Grundy out), which I don't think is unfair.

As for young defenders - we have both Snell and Edwards progressing reasonably well in reserves. Edwards has been in the better form but pulled up sore a couple of weeks, and Snell is starting to put a real decent vein of form together.

I'd just stick Hamling down back, leave Francis as the fill in up forward and stop playing change 'em up every 5 seconds like we seem to at the moment.

[UUaswan]

This immense desire from some for Cox to get it perfect from the get go is a little tiring to be honest. We will need some patience, especially when we've had such a wretched beginning to the year with injuries.

I'm surprised they dropped McLean, but I think there is a fair bit of fiddling around the edges, trying to find a combo that can work. I suspect there is a feeling you can't have both him and Ladhams in the same team (unless Ladhams is playing primary ruck with Grundy out), which I don't think is unfair.

As for young defenders - we have both Snell and Edwards progressing reasonably well in reserves. Edwards has been in the better form but pulled up sore a couple of weeks, and Snell is starting to put a real decent vein of form together.

I'd just stick Hamling down back, leave Francis as the fill in up forward and stop playing change 'em up every 5 seconds like we seem to at the moment.

Not sure there is a balance issue when they play Hamling and Francis instead of Mclean, similar heght and all regarded as "talls"

We have won 3 games this year, 2 of them with Amartey, Mclean Fwd and Ladhams Grundy rucking

[UUaswan]

That’s a fair point but he has been around long enough now to be able to get into the game more. I’d like to see his stats average over the 9 games this year to make a proper call but my gut feeling is that it’s not very impressive!

In a depleted fwd line, with 4 HBF, Wingers that cant hit targets.

If a coach sees him have no impact, throw him in the middle for a run ? 10yr player sure we aren't still talking about his tank

[Nico]

How much longer is Wilbur gonna get?. I know he does a lot with his possessions, but he ain't getting any..

These are Hayward's stats for last week. Disposals 14 (career average 11.2), Kicks 9, Handballs 5, marks 2, tackles, 2, Goals 2.1. Turnovers 6 - so that pretty much cancels out everything but his 2 goals. Pressure acts 10 (in the very low range for this category). I have been saying for years he doesn't go where the footy is at. So is he used as a defensive forward? His pressure acts are consistently low so I can't see how that would be the case. Against Gold Coast he had 6 disposals. 6. Pressure acts 10 (very low again)one tackle, 3 frees against, zero goals. In almost any other team he would have been dropped. His best game was against North with 4 goals, but his pressure acts again were very low. So he is hardly a defensive forward. You think I'm cherry picking game? Hardly, have a look at his stats on the AFL app. No wonder teams simply waltz out of our forward line with ball.

Looking at these stats it is not only him who is low on pressure acts. Rowbottom appears to be the only who consistently scores high in this area with occasional cameos from Wicks, Isaac and Chad. To me this looks to be the key area that lets us down. On TV they highlight this nearly every week.

[The Big Cat]

I haven’t seen Snell play, but his stats don’t look anything to write home about. Is he just OK amongst an ordinary team .

[Thunder Shaker]

Cox’s logic is that McLean needs to find consistency. Ok. He hasn’t been in the best form.

But if that’s the case, Ollie, Hayward - let alone Francis and Hamling - are in the same gun.

It’s a strange argument.

Sydney still has a long injury list, and some who have recovered lack match fitness, eg: Adams and Mills. Players are basically being picked because that's all that are available. When that injury list comes down and more first-23 players become available, then is the time to omit or rest underperforming players.

That doesn't mean any such players should keep underperforming until the selection choice is made. The time to lift is now.

[BRS328]

Cox went out of his way to say that McLean is going back to the 2s to find consistency

I'm hoping a late change, nothing makes sense with this match committee

Understand if Hamling is going to Weitering, but Mclean blind folded is a better full time fwd than Francis

Having watched a replay of the Essendon game I can understand why McLean was dropped. In the first half he was playing on Zac Reid who simply ran off from McLean and had 20 disposals to half time.
This is not a good sign for McLean given that he is now 26 and not getting any quicker. The other concern is that he is not taking pack marks which was his strength. Perhaps the run in the reserves will help his confidence

[Dow]

Not sure there is a balance issue when they play Hamling and Francis instead of Mclean, similar heght and all regarded as "talls"

We have won 3 games this year, 2 of them with Amartey, Mclean Fwd and Ladhams Grundy rucking

Mclean is a key forward but has only taken 3 contested marks this season all in the game against Port, he needs to be taking contested marks or what value is he ? his games extremely litmited