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

[ShockOfHair]

Feeling for Pyke, Seaby and LJ right now. After all the work Pyke put into learning Aussie Rules, the interchange rule came in and has killed off the specialist second ruck. Likewise Seaby, though he didn't fly across the world to punt on a new sport.

Agree with 3B about LJ - what's a guy gotta do to get a game? Admittedly I don't see an obvious position for him, but he's got a great pair of a hands and is the best kick in the club (says Roos). Is his problem that the guys he's competing with are either taller, faster or have a bigger tank?

[IrishSwanPerth]

Where is Tadhg?

[Nico]

Got to love Melbourne Media. 7pm Thursday, Mark Fyne and Nathan Thompson do the teams. Rattled on about West Coast and their subs etc etc. Didn't hear our team read out and no mention of Alex Johnson. Talked adnausium about Gaff. Fair dinkum, Thompson didn't stop to take a breath when talking about WCE.

Well, well, good on them. They read out my text message alerting them to their omission and gave him a mention, and Thompson even said he must have been rattling on.

[Bas]

I can't wait to see the battle of the emergencies - their Hams against our Lamb.

Tony Shaw on League Teams tonight has said that Sam Reid will, in the next 3 years, be one of the best 6 players in the WHOLE of the AFL.

Hopefully as CHF.

LT team is giving it to Razor Ray for not being able to bounce the ball above his head.

[stellation]

I can't wait to see the battle of the emergencies - their Hams against our Lamb.

You have to look at how they perform the next day- ham and eggs vs. lamb sandwich. Line ball decision, IMO.

[Melbournehammer]

I agree. I feel really sorry for seabs because i thought he started last season really well before getting injured and showed he could rest in the forward line but also be damaging there. I think if he can't get a run over there in this game i can't think of where else he will get a run. The only obvious time to pick two rucks is against those team with two rucks - and essendon and west coast are those teams. How would he get a run against a collingwood who play brown there or geelong who play hawkins there ?

Pyke I think will simply continue to get better and we are going to need some big bodies. and if he continues to improve in the twos he will get a run again.

Am really worried about and for LJ. I watched him preseason and thought he struggled to get enough separation on his defenders so i was worried about him as a forward this season. But given that he has been playing as a kpd this year i would have thought he must be about ready for a run in the ones. Maybe they really want to groom him into those positions but i would think hes behind lrt and maybe even spangher to play as a defender. For him to play anywhere else his work is cut out i reckon because i think meredith will be back in next week after he has a full game in the magoos. i just hope that the coaching staff make it clear that he is in the plans and on what basis and that the senior players also make sure he is helped along. It would be pretty disappointing to lose him becvause from what i have seen of him he can play.

[Bas]

You have to look at how they perform the next day- ham and eggs vs. lamb sandwich. Line ball decision, IMO.

You're right. I didn't think of it that way. However, only one of them goes well with Currie.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Feeling for Pyke, Seaby and LJ right now. After all the work Pyke put into learning Aussie Rules, the interchange rule came in and has killed off the specialist second ruck. Likewise Seaby, though he didn't fly across the world to punt on a new sport.

Agree with 3B about LJ - what's a guy gotta do to get a game? Admittedly I don't see an obvious position for him, but he's got a great pair of a hands and is the best kick in the club (says Roos). Is his problem that the guys he's competing with are either taller, faster or have a bigger tank?

I think LJ could become a flanker defender if he puts his mind to it....................but the reality is that he hasnt filled out yet and doesnt have the endurance for a light weight tall !

he has plenty of time...................remember Grundy didnt play till 21/22 yrs of age................LJ just turned 20 last month.............he has so much time and so do we with Reidy killing it up front and enough back covering and competing for spots............AJ is worth the risk this week, because if it comes off and he can handle a shut down role we suddenly have more options then you can poke a stick at in the backs !!

[Primmy]

Look, there appears to be a fair bit of angst about LJ but lets put this in perspective. He was drafted 2.5 years ago yes, but spent the whole of the first year recovering from an operation to a foot which the club knew was going to happen. He has in fact had only one year in ressies! That's all. Its not his fifth on the list! Lets not put him out to pasture just yet. He is still a work in progress as a KPP, and as Aunty pointed out, he has just turned 20

[swansrule100]

its nice we have all these players to argue over wether they should play or not, the club is building some good depth in youth.

[Lucky Knickers]

I'm really excited after watching AJs snippet. Puts a bit smile on your face to see him so happy!
Also love a guy who uses "intimated" in a sentence.
He was very good on the weekend I thought.

[The Big Cat]

its nice we have all these players to argue over wether they should play or not, the club is building some good depth in youth.

Good one. It fits in nicely with the lamb jokes above!

[ugg]

Look, there appears to be a fair bit of angst about LJ but lets put this in perspective. He was drafted 2.5 years ago yes, but spent the whole of the first year recovering from an operation to a foot which the club knew was going to happen. He has in fact had only one year in ressies! That's all. Its not his fifth on the list! Lets not put him out to pasture just yet. He is still a work in progress as a KPP, and as Aunty pointed out, he has just turned 20

Well said. In addition, I don't remember a reserves game where I've sat up and concluded that Johnston deserves a place for next week. Just because he was selected at pick 12 in the draft doesn't give him a bonus ride into the seniors. Johnston still has a lot of work to do, especially with regards to his consistency.

I also wouldn't put him in as a defender, I think his bodywork is actually the worst part of his game and he would struggle in that regard.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Its brilliant to have such a competitive and hungry bunch who are 22 yrs of age or under with 8 or so 20 or under and all ready to rumble if needed !!!

i) Hannes - 20
ii) Reid - 19
iii) Rohan - 19
iv) Sumner - 19
v) AJ - 19
vi) LJ - 20
vii) Parker - 18
viii) Lamby - 18
ix) Incy - 21
x) Jetta - 21
xi) Kennedy - 22
xii) Smithy - 22
xiii) Birdy - only just turned 22

[ShockOfHair]

Well said. In addition, I don't remember a reserves game where I've sat up and concluded that Johnston deserves a place for next week. Just because he was selected at pick 12 in the draft doesn't give him a bonus ride into the seniors. Johnston still has a lot of work to do, especially with regards to his consistency.

I also wouldn't put him in as a defender, I think his bodywork is actually the worst part of his game and he would struggle in that regard.

I admit I'm only wondering about LJ because he's been displaced by someone a year younger and with one less letter in his name.

It's the support rucks I feel sorry for. Their best hope is that the League will introduce a 'second ruck' rule to make sure the game maintains its ability to attract young basketballers.



(That was meant as a joke but under AFL logic it seems almost sensible.)