OUT: Crouch IN: Anyone

[Hazcam]

Vez will play next week, but you can't expect a kid to play straight away after tearing a tendon in his finger and missing 11 weeks.

I am all for playing some of our youth, but Laidlaw is injured again, Merideth has broken his arm, Murphy is coming back from shoulder surgery, Schdmitt from a long term soft tissue injuries, Johnstone a broken foot.

Do I need to go?

Apart from Thornton, Smith and Barlow who all got a run tonight the cupdoard is bare at present.

DST

Farout that's a bad injury run for our youngsters. Just makes this decline all the more painful.

[Legs Akimbo]

I think anyone criticizing Barlow's game tonight is suffering from pre-conceived notions of 'soft' and 'lazy' and a lack of mental flexibility. It was the best game of seniors he has played in a long time chased and tackled hard ran and carried and his disposal was alright. He has been 'soft' and looked disinterested in the past but definitely not tonight. The best of the 3 young guys that came in, he will play again next week because he deserves to

Sorry, that is bull@@@@. I saw at least 3-4 occassions where Barlow was 'soft'. It is the little things like not diving into a mark with an opponent, going up one handed fora mark when under the hammer, weak tackles etc. etc.

I am not saying he didn't do some good things too, but the guy is a SOFT player. He needs to harden up and start playing like the big guy that he is.

[Donners]

Rather telling that Roos found him such a liability, yet kept him on for a substantial part of the game. Collingwood were down a few men - if Roos felt Crouch was doing so badly, he could have simply kept him on the bench. It just highlights our limited options for that role.

[Primmy]

Ouch, looks like Crouch has been told!

I love the guy, has been a super kick, and character, but there are times when dignity has to take precedence. And Crouchy is one for personal dignity. And for stubbornness. So deal with the issue with dignity Crouchy. You may not get many other games in seniors but last night's game was a mistake. XX

[connolly]

Rather telling that Roos found him such a liability, yet kept him on for a substantial part of the game. Collingwood were down a few men - if Roos felt Crouch was doing so badly, he could have simply kept him on the bench. It just highlights our limited options for that role.

Not limited options but limited imagination at the selection table. And a selfish player. Brabazon could not have been worse than the fumbling weak display from Crouch. At least the kid would have learnt something from Didak. When Shaw stuffed up and the coiffured lair had a go at him who flew the flag and backed him up. BEVO. Where was Crouch as a senior player??? Tugging Didaks's shorts. And his own ego.

[10Totti10]

Roos said Crouch was injured and was really dissapointed with his decision to play. Schmidt will return to the ressies next week, Veszpa will prob play against Adelaide seeing as he has had 3 ressies games under his belt.Laidlaw might play even though coming back from an injury.

[UglyDuckling]

Out: Crouch (forever), McVeigh (Injured)

In: Vez, Bolton

[barry fu u]

Shadow of his former self really,shame though. Sometimes players just go on to long,might have burnt his bridges with roos slightly in regards to taking his word on his fitness.I feel their might be a bit of a large cull at seasons end senior and junior alike.Still how much say do the medical staff have on these matters,20 minutes on the track before such a crucial game cant be adequate enough to prove your fitness.

[Midfield]

See, I agree with all that, but I think tonight was an exception. Tonight he DID look interested in getting involved. Previously when he has played, he hasn't shown any interest in chasing his opponent down. If a player gets a break, he just gives up and hopes he can make space and hurt on the rebound. Tonight, I didn't see him give up on a chase ONCE.

I actually thought from the get-go his intent was good, though he still didn't seem quite sure of himself early. He was trying to put in physically, but wasn't sure how to go about it. He laid a good chase and tackle sometime in the first quarter, and I think that got his confidence up, and from then on he started to really improve.

Also, DST, Barlow only picked up Maxwell in the third quarter, and this coincided with the Swans starting to come back. Barlow led hard and strong up the ground and made Maxwell accountable. Eventually, the Pies pulled away in the last quarter, but that was hardly down to Maxwell getting away. More the two goals gifted to Davis, heads going down, perhaps old legs tiring, etc.

I should also say that reading that Crouch was injured, I've changed my mind. He needs next week off, and as many as needed after that, to get himself right. When fit, he's still our best small defender, and we have no other players screaming out for that position.

Hmm, I only watched it on the telly, so could only see the direct play, but there were a couple of efforts that were not good enough for mine. I'll reserve judgment based on some of the mixed posts here.

[Midfield]

Not limited options but limited imagination at the selection table. And a selfish player. Brabazon could not have been worse than the fumbling weak display from Crouch. At least the kid would have learnt something from Didak. When Shaw stuffed up and the coiffured lair had a go at him who flew the flag and backed him up. BEVO. Where was Crouch as a senior player??? Tugging Didaks's shorts. And his own ego.

We are aware of your thoughts on Crouch - old tagger who adds nothing etc. I respect that. But dont respect your call that he is selfish. He has been a great player for the bloods and is not selfish (this is evidenced by his willingness to give up a possession for the good of the team for the last 10 years). He thought he was right to play, he was wrong, but why would he lie to roosey? He would not. Its his last year but he's still in our best 22 when fit.

[Blood]

I've been very critical of the softness of 'Cheese' but he was massive for us last night. Played with heart and intelligence.

The same cannot be said for a few others.

[Lohengrin]

I've been very critical of the softness of 'Cheese' but he was massive for us last night. Played with heart and intelligence.

Seriously?

[goswannie14]

Crouch was poor, but it was his first poor game of the year. Deserves another chance.

What was wrong with Barlow? I was very, very happy with his intensity this game. As I said in the game thread, I thought his intensity was 10X that of his last game. He actually tackled, busted his gut chasing and putting pressure on the Pies ball carriers, and broke a few tackles himself (won 5 contested possessions, not a bad effort). His ball use was also very decent, and he sent it inside 50 4 times. Not sure what people are complaining about. I fear he may become the new LRT, judged by many purely on preconceived notions, no matter how well he plays.

I agree completely, BTW I thought LRT had a really good game too.

[liz]

One thing that seemed apparent about Ed's game last night is that he doesn't anticipate what is going to happen at a contest. He seems to wait until the ball has arrived before deciding what he is going to do. Which means, more often than not, his opponent already has the ball before he's reacted and he's already in chase mode.

The very best players have fantastic anticipation - it's usually what sets them apart. And a lot of it probably can't be taught. But if Cheese can make even modest improvement, he can become a far more effective player.

One thing that should be pretty easy to coach into him is moving one step forward into a marking contest. There were a couple of occasions last night when he had got himself into the perfect position to mark but because he let the ball come onto his chest, rather than take a step forward into the ball, it allowed a player behind to spoil.

[Lohengrin]

I agree completely, BTW I thought LRT had a really good game too.

After a poor first quarter, I thought his last three quarters were really good (except for one error in the second qtr costing a goal).