Team VS Essendon

[Lucky Knickers]

I really hope they aren't going to mess much with ROK. I really think he is playing awesome footy.
His role seems to be a bit Willo-esque to me. Bit inside, bit outside, bit off hbf, bit on hff. I like it and would hate to see it revert to the earlier rounds.

[ugg]

Ablett played in the forwards in the reserves, and I also believe he did a similar role in in his last seniors game.

[ShockOfHair]

I can see the logic of trying to out-muscle a young fast team like the Dons. But even if he were in form Ablett would be still too slow.

Presumably Roos has in mind a particular match-up. Tim Watson perhaps?

Essendon got busted apart pretty easily by the Pies last week who pushed them wide. They've got Jobe Watson and McVeigh back this week and they've got a pretty reasonable record against us in last couple of years.

[ScottH]

Sigh!

[ugg]

Presumably Roos has in mind a particular match-up. Tim Watson perhaps?

Too fast and agile for Ablett

[Nico]

Ablett played in the forwards in the reserves, and I also believe he did a similar role in in his last seniors game.

Inspired selection. He will be used out of the square to take advantage of his scintillating pace off the mark against the outstanding young full back in Tate Pears, and to ensure we lock the ball in the forward line by running down Essendon's pacy running half backs.

[DST]

God people, hardly surprising that the selectors have choosen not to go with another ruckman against a team that is considered the quickest in the AFL. They were never going to play Pyke this week.

Case in point last week, North played 4 ruckman and run out of puff against us who are not overly quick.

As for Ablett in and no White, a case can be made. But White strikes me as a bloke that needs to handled very closely to get the best out of him for the team. Not surprising that the match committee would be sending him a little message to say, it's up to you big fella earn the spot and it's yours. Far too many teams that play kids just hand games to them on a platter which does nothing for their development ie Richmond is a classic case in point.

Saying all that White would be seriously close to getting a late call up this week.

No issue with Ablett playing, seasoned player and while the finals are a still a chance you play the best team you can that can do the job for you.

As for DOK, please leave him the reserves for an extended period. He has had a horrible run with injuries and he should be left in the reserves to string 12 or so games together, get solid game time and build his confidence. If by round 20 he is still going strong reward him with a game in readiness for next year.

DST

[ShockOfHair]

Inspired selection. He will be used out of the square to take advantage of his scintillating pace off the mark against the outstanding young full back in Tate Pears, and to ensure we lock the ball in the forward line by running down Essendon's pacy running half backs.

I see the thinking. Essendon gave up goals against Collingwood because of players running forward to support. With Ablett we can be sure we have a player who will remain in his half as his man runs up the field.

[annew]

We have 5 very winable games coming up Dons, Blues, Dees, Saints maybe a chance & Tigers before we hit the wall Cats, Wobbles & Lions
Our recent form against the 1st five is pretty good the selectors don't want to take any chances with a young big forward/ruckman.

I'd say that Brisbane is winnable

[sWAns63]

Probably need to win 5 out of the eight games

[connolly]

We have 5 very winable games coming up Dons, Blues, Dees, Saints maybe a chance & Tigers before we hit the wall Cats, Wobbles & Lions
Our recent form against the 1st five is pretty good the selectors don't want to take any chances with a young big forward/ruckman.

So the strategy is to dump a champion big forward but not give a game to a young big forward who starred in the reserves, play a slow out of form defensive midfielder in the forward line to assist a 32 year old forward with bad kness and play a 31 year old slowing small defender against the youngest and fastest small forwards in the comp? Brilliant strategy to win a premiership. Its raining and only a quagmire will bring the young Dons back to speed of Ablett and Crouch. Let us all pray the heavens open up.

[Nico]

God people, hardly surprising that the selectors have choosen not to go with another ruckman against a team that is considered the quickest in the AFL. They were never going to play Pyke this week.

Case in point last week, North played 4 ruckman and run out of puff against us who are not overly quick.

As for Ablett in and no White, a case can be made. But White strikes me as a bloke that needs to handled very closely to get the best out of him for the team. Not surprising that the match committee would be sending him a little message to say, it's up to you big fella earn the spot and it's yours. Far too many teams that play kids just hand games to them on a platter which does nothing for their development ie Richmond is a classic case in point.

Saying all that White would be seriously close to getting a late call up this week.

No issue with Ablett playing, seasoned player and while the finals are a still a chance you play the best team you can that can do the job for you.

As for DOK, please leave him the reserves for an extended period. He has had a horrible run with injuries and he should be left in the reserves to string 12 or so games together, get solid game time and build his confidence. If by round 20 he is still going strong reward him with a game in readiness for next year.

DST

The problem with Ablett playing is that he doesn't have to show form in the Reserves to win back his spot, yet a young player gets dropped for poor form, snags 8 in the 2's and gets overlooked for a member of the "Over The Hill Mob".

Brabazon plays a good game then a poor one, but instead of perservering with him for a few more games he gets turfed out only to be replaced by a bloke who played no better in the 2's. From my observation last week Brabazon was used sparingly and when on the ground was a bit part player in the forward pocket.

Ablett in = weeks of empty rhetoric.

On Crouch - I told you all last week that he was hitting form with 14 possessions, and the club thought he was ready for a blinder. He didn't disappoint, with an absolute rip snorter of a game amounting to 8 possessions.

[Nico]

So the strategy is to dump a champion big forward but not give a game to a young big forward who starred in the reserves, play a slow out of form defensive midfielder in the forward line to assist a 32 year old forward with bad kness and play a 31 year old slowing small defender against the youngest and fastest small forwards in the comp? Brilliant strategy to win a premiership. Its raining and only a quagmire will bring the young Dons back to speed of Ablett and Crouch. Let us all pray the heavens open up.

Now Connells, you know as well as anyone that players with poor skills are even worse in the wet.

[Bloody Hell]

Probably need to win 5 out of the eight games

Six of Eight to be sure.

[Wazza]

Inspired selection. He will be used out of the square to take advantage of his scintillating pace off the mark against the outstanding young full back in Tate Pears, and to ensure we lock the ball in the forward line by running down Essendon's pacy running half backs.

Just what I was thinking!!

All White has done is found himself in the right positon to have 14 odd shots at goal the week he was dropped from the seniors. In the same week we lose one of our best forwards ever and state we need to develop our young forwards.

Here is the perfect oppourtunity to give White plenty of games up forward working and playing with the seniors learning to fit in where and how to lead etc. But we bring back Ablett??

Who really cares if we make the 8, I couldnt give a toss, developing the kids for next season should be our priority.

Some here say White should have kicked 12!! If you have played FF you would appreciate how difficult a position it is - if the delivery is good it makes it less difficult. But timing leads making position reading the play still comes into it.

From what some of you have stated anywon could have played FF and they would have done the same - FFS get a clue!

Come on Roos stop feeding us the we are developing the kids line, your legacy to the club is the condition you leave the squad in, not how it was handed to you.

Cheers

waz