Team Selection: Round 12 v Adelaide

[MattW]

Shall we go again?

OUT: Mills, Wicks, Hamling
IN: McInerney, Melican, Francis

Melican returns in time for the job on Thilthorpe.

Man, the forward stocks are thin. There aren't really any good options. If he has recovered from concussion, Francis should play ahead of Hamling. I think they should give Buller a shot for McLean, but I don't think they will.

Also wonder whether they'd consider bringing Mitchell in, but not sure who he'd come in for. I don't think dropping Bice or Florent for him adds much.

Cunningham and Fox to return through the reserves and press to return next week, with Mills.

[Roadrunner]

Shall we go again?

OUT: Mills, Wicks, Hamling
IN: McInerney, Melican, Francis

Melican returns in time for the job on Thilthorpe.

Man, the forward stocks are thin. There aren't really any good options. If he has recovered from concussion, Francis should play ahead of Hamling. I think they should give Buller a shot for McLean, but I don't think they will.

Also wonder whether they'd consider bringing Mitchell in, but not sure who he'd come in for. I don't think dropping Bice or Florent for him adds much.

Cunningham and Fox to return through the reserves and press to return next week, with Mills.

Agreed Matt. It would be a big call and I don’t think Coxy will make it but how does Lloyd keep his spot? Maybe wait another week when Mills and possibly Fox/ Cunningham could return. He’s been poor recently and against the Dees he practically wasn’t there. It’s a shame but his game has fallen off a cliff now. A tough call is coming!

[liz]

Agreed Matt. It would be a big call and I don’t think Coxy will make it but how does Lloyd keep his spot? Maybe wait another week when Mills and possibly Fox/ Cunningham could return. He’s been poor recently and against the Dees he practically wasn’t there. It’s a shame but his game has fallen off a cliff now. A tough call is coming!

I’m at the point with Lloyd where I don’t want him to get the ball. He’ll hold it up for an age, supposedly look for an option, won’t find a clear target he can hit so will send a long, high kick, with no penetration, towards a crowded area. I know it’s irritating when players good the ball forward without looking, but I’d instruct Lloyd to do it all the time now. If he’s not going to hit (or aim for) a target he might as well do so quickly rather than waiting first for the opposition defence to get their shape perfect.

Cox doesn’t have the cattle available at the moment to replace him. Just needs to limit how much of a liability he is.

[UUaswan]

Agree, we don't have the cattle to be making selection statements apart from the 1 call the coach needs to make on himself with Hamling.

Lloyd has been Lloyd for 3yrs, not just this year. Never had a penetrating kick even in his peak he never was a defender.
One thing he can do is get open and find space, id play him forward, he has kicked as many timely goals against the run of play then anyone by getting open. Same with Ollie.

Play 3 talls in defence Tom, Melican and Francis/Hamling, release Blakey/Ramps to help exit

[Thunder Shaker]

I expect five changes will be made this week as Cox makes a strong statement on form. Another reason for making changes is try out some VFL players in the seniors to see how they go.

Mills (suspension) and Wicks (hamstring) are required changes.

I expect up to three omissions due to form. McLean kicked one goal but otherwise didn't do a lot for eight disposals. Hamling only had five disposals. Florent had 13 disposals which isn't enough for a midfielder.

Who comes in? McInerney and Melican return from suspension. Francis has a fitness test but should be available after a concussion.

In the VFL, Paton had 36 disposals, Mitchell had 29 and Buller kicked two goals from 15 disposals.

Changes:
In: McInerney, Melican, Francis, Paton, Mitchell. If Francis doesn't pass his fitness test, Buller comes in.
Out: Mills (suspension), Wicks (hamstring), McLean, Hamling, Florent (all omitted).

I'm not great at picking teams, but I would be surprised if it's just the usual minimum number of changes this time.

[Thunder Shaker]

I had posted the above team selection before seeing that Fox and Cunningham are listed as "Test" on this week's injury list. I expect both players may play restricted minutes in the VFL.

[Dow]

Agree, we don't have the cattle to be making selection statements apart from the 1 call the coach needs to make on himself with Hamling.

Lloyd has been Lloyd for 3yrs, not just this year. Never had a penetrating kick even in his peak he never was a defender.
One thing he can do is get open and find space, id play him forward, he has kicked as many timely goals against the run of play then anyone by getting open. Same with Ollie.

Play 3 talls in defence Tom, Melican and Francis/Hamling, release Blakey/Ramps to help exit

Thats way too many ordinary players in one part of the ground, I am afraid and not sure Ramps would be much help bringing the ball out of defense

[Kafka's Ghost]

Fox and Cunningham will play in the VFL, alongside Hamling, McLean and Florent. Bice could also do with a spell in the reserves, but not sure it’ll be this week. Would love to see them give Buller a go. He’s at least a forward and has an idea how to play there.

[UUaswan]

Thats way too many ordinary players in one part of the ground, I am afraid and not sure Ramps would be much help bringing the ball out of defense

Ramps needs the Boak treatment, stopping asking the guy to be superman, let him play off and organise the defence without having to lockdown someone 8cm taller

Lloyd and Ollie find space, better they are doing that fwd of the wing then where they are currently doing it.

Whilst Cleary is doing alot without the ball (something we seem to pride ourselves on) he isn't doing alot as a fwd, same with Corey.

Happy to see Hannily comeback but if they are playing Ollie and Lloyd get them out of D50

[Dow]

Ramps needs the Boak treatment, stopping asking the guy to be superman, let him play off and organise the defence without having to lockdown someone 8cm taller

Lloyd and Ollie find space, better they are doing that fwd of the wing then where they are currently doing it.

Whilst Cleary is doing alot without the ball (something we seem to pride ourselves on) he isn't doing alot as a fwd, same with Corey.

Happy to see Hannily comeback but if they are playing Ollie and Lloyd get them out of D50

At the moment it's like reorganizing the deck chairs on the titanic to be honest, just so many holes to fill and when we try the players are either well past their best or not at the required level. We need a reset, and I think that can't happen till next year now - But I do think next year given a good run with injury we will bounce back hard.

[Nico]

The coach has gone public and said heads will roll. I'll believe it when I see it. I've heard this many times over the years and often nothing materialises.We know that Melican and McInerney will automatically come in and Francis for mine comes in. No idea who else but you can bet your bottom dollar there will be a few who should be dropped but will survive. I think Campbell should go back into defence unless the Cox lightbulb goes off and he puts him in the guts. That brilliant defensive forward, no 9, will survive even though he only had 1 tackle out of a team total of 82. Ollie seems to be on the outer with the coach so will probably get the axe. The "soft" Cory Warner should be flicked. He's more outside than barrier 24 in the Melbourne Cup. What I do know is that whoever plays must have a red hot go otherwise we will be slaughtered.

[Nico]

I’m at the point with Lloyd where I don’t want him to get the ball. He’ll hold it up for an age, supposedly look for an option, won’t find a clear target he can hit so will send a long, high kick, with no penetration, towards a crowded area. I know it’s irritating when players good the ball forward without looking, but I’d instruct Lloyd to do it all the time now. If he’s not going to hit (or aim for) a target he might as well do so quickly rather than waiting first for the opposition defence to get their shape perfect.

Cox doesn’t have the cattle available at the moment to replace him. Just needs to limit how much of a liability he is.

You can add Roberts and McInerney to the list of players who refuse to move the footy on and have no upfield vision skills. Both these blokes look like they are frightened to move the ball quickly lest they stuff it up, then chip it sideways to an opposition player.

[UUaswan]

The coach has gone public and said heads will roll. I'll believe it when I see it. I've heard this many times over the years and often nothing materialises.We know that Melican and McInerney will automatically come in and Francis for mine comes in. No idea who else but you can bet your bottom dollar there will be a few who should be dropped but will survive. I think Campbell should go back into defence unless the Cox lightbulb goes off and he puts him in the guts. That brilliant defensive forward, no 9, will survive even though he only had 1 tackle out of a team total of 82. Ollie seems to be on the outer with the coach so will probably get the axe. The "soft" Cory Warner should be flicked. He's more outside than barrier 24 in the Melbourne Cup. What I do know is that whoever plays must have a red hot go otherwise we will be slaughtered.

We simply don't have the cattle to make a selection statement.

But Ill defend the fwds a bit as all year we have gone in without a 2nd ruck which destroyed out tall setup fwd of the ball or we play a tagger at full fwd, like no one in over 100+ yrs of fotty has ever done.

Imagine being Hayward, play alongside Mclean who has just rucked and is cooked or play alongside Hamling who wouldnt get 5 touches at training. Outside of that, I'd say Heeney and Warner are the only 2 mids capable of spotting up a fwd atm

[BRS328]

The coach has gone public and said heads will roll. I'll believe it when I see it. I've heard this many times over the years and often nothing materialises.We know that Melican and McInerney will automatically come in and Francis for mine comes in. No idea who else but you can bet your bottom dollar there will be a few who should be dropped but will survive. I think Campbell should go back into defence unless the Cox lightbulb goes off and he puts him in the guts. That brilliant defensive forward, no 9, will survive even though he only had 1 tackle out of a team total of 82. Ollie seems to be on the outer with the coach so will probably get the axe. The "soft" Cory Warner should be flicked. He's more outside than barrier 24 in the Melbourne Cup. What I do know is that whoever plays must have a red hot go otherwise we will be slaughtered.

The first one to go based on form has to be McLean. He is looking very slow and cannot take a contested marks which used to be his strength. Ladhams is definitely ahead of him as the relief ruckman. In my opinion Francis, Melican and McInerny will come in. Florent may replace Adams as the sub again.
I hope they do not resort to Paton who just appears to slow at AFL level

[UUaswan]

The first one to go based on form has to be McLean. He is looking very slow and cannot take a contested marks which used to be his strength. Ladhams is definitely ahead of him as the relief ruckman. In my opinion Francis, Melican and McInerny will come in. Florent may replace Adams as the sub again.
I hope they do not resort to Paton who just appears to slow at AFL level

I just can't see how Mclean is in the gun

We have no Amartey, no Logan and Mclean had been bounced around all year as a fwd/ruck.

The match committee is partly to blame for his form.

Tell the guy to start at the top of the square and own the fwd line, See what he can do before Amartey is available.