Rd 3 team discussion - Alex Johnson to debut. Meredith out.

[RogueSwan]

Surely we will play two ruck men this week, Mummy against Cox and White against Natanui will be asking for trouble.
I am guessing that Seaby would be the one to come in, especially seeing it against his old team which would probably give him an extra lift, but from the Ressie's posts it seems Pyke is playing pretty good footy. Still they would go for Seaby over Pyke for this game, surely.

So who comes out?

You can't really mess with the defence. By this I mean that even though he wasn't great the last couple of weeks we still need Everitt and his height down back.
Reid and White are looking good up forward, along with Bevo,so you wouldn't want to mess with that ATM so it would probably have to be a midfielder.
Bird or Meredith?

Tough because neither has done anything wrong except be the last one picked.
Maybe Bird stays behind this time as Meredith should be a little fresher after being the sub last week?? I prefer Bird playing over Meredith, but that is just personal preference.
We really wouldn't be down a midfielder either as Goodes can still play there if required.

[Triple B]

There wasn't much between them at all in the ressies, imo, but I think at this stage Seaby probably offers us slightly more up forward and with the added incentive of playing against his old club will probably see him get the nod.

[Bas]

Seaby in for White. As Triple B said - he knows the team and the ground well.

[ugg]

White doesn't necessarily have to be the one to give way. They could shift Goodes to be a midfielder primarily and drop a smaller player like Meredith, Jetta, Bird, Rohan etc. I think White's versatility is very important just in case one of the rucks or tall defenders (I shudder to think what would happen if we lost Ted or Reg during a game) goes down injured.

I also think that if we weren't playing West Coast at Subi, Pyke would have gotten the nod.

[Bas]

I said that because I thought he was very lazy last weekend.

[ugg]

Thanks to Scott's stats, we can see for the 2nd week in a row Rohan played less than 70% game time, and this week even spent less time on ground than the man who was substituted Craig Bird.

RedandWhiteOnline (RWO) Messageboard

[stellation]

I said that because I thought he was very lazy last weekend.

You thought White was lazy? I thought his first half of footy was good but he faded through the day- and I think that's be expected given the role he was playing, I'm reluctant to call anyone who switches between playing as a leading forward and playing as an undersized ruckman on a warm day too lazy. I know his numbers aren't huge in either category (obviously should have had 3 goals) but I think overall not a bad return for 73% game time- I haven't watched a replay yet, but sitting there live I'd say the split was probably 23% ruck/50% forward? maybe 20%/53%? I daresay the coaching staff were happy with his performance given that split of time.

That said, I imagine he'd be the one to make way if Reid's shoulder's okay and they don't want to commit to Goodesy spending too much time in the midfield. If so I do think it's a shame, I think he and Reid actually work quite well together in the forward line- I'd like to see them play a full game together there without White swapping in/out of the ruck.

[Bas]

You thought White was lazy? I thought his first half of footy was good but he faded through the day- and I think that's be expected given the role he was playing, .

I noticed him miss a few important things in the last quarter. It may have been fatigue as he didn't seem to have the energy to jump to a contest. I am a Jesse fan though and would rather not see him play as a ruckman.

[stellation]

I noticed him miss a few important things in the last quarter. It may have been fatigue as he didn't seem to have the energy to jump to a contest. I am a Jesse fan though and would rather not see him play as a ruckman.

Ahhh, gotcha. I thought he looked quite fatigued towards the end of the game.

[Nich]

Seaby in for Meredith with Rohan/Bird to sub. They'll probably want run from Jetta/Rohan for speed on the big ground but Gaz could have great impact coming late into the match if they were to take someone like White off.

Without Mal/Tadhg though they've needed Gary down back but he would make a damn fine impact/utility player on the big grounds of Subi heading into the 4th qtr.

[swansrob]

Seaby in for Meredith with Rohan/Bird to sub. They'll probably want run from Jetta/Rohan for speed on the big ground but Gaz could have great impact coming late into the match if they were to take someone like White off.

Without Mal/Tadhg though they've needed Gary down back but he would make a damn fine impact/utility player on the big grounds of Subi heading into the 4th qtr.

This sounds pretty good to me. It's unlikely Meredith will play this week after only playing the last quarter last week - just like Seaby the week before him.

[Captain]

I would make no change. Bird the sub.

[Plugger46]

In: Pyke
Out: Meredith

Sub: Rohan.

[swansrule100]

i wouldnt worry about the 2nd ruck, might help with cox and natanui, but leaves us short a runner, and means we either have a 2nd ruck parked on the bench all the time, or a useless pyke or seaby offering nothing up forward.

[Primmy]

i wouldnt worry about the 2nd ruck, might help with cox and natanui, but leaves us short a runner, and means we either have a 2nd ruck parked on the bench all the time, or a useless pyke or seaby offering nothing up forward.

Actually I would bring in Pyke, because as we have observed in practice matches etc that one of the things he can do is run.....a lot.....and fast....you haven't had a chance to see him yet but he actually quite an athlete and he has a bit motor. I'd play him. Sub Rohan, maybe.