Changes for Rnd 8 V Port Adelaide (Luke Parker to debut!)

[SCGonasunnyday]

Looking at the odds, the comments on here, AFL Teams - nobody is giving Port a chance. But Port are unpredictable and the history of recent years is that any team can win anywhere at any time.

We have a lot of young players in the team now and performances can be inconsistent (this is not a complaint, I love the decision to bring in Gordon and Parker - surely under Roos it would be Bevan and Moore in the team).

I think the key will be scoring 100 points - if we do this we will surely win. But if we only kick 60 - 80 as we have in recent games at SCG, then there is always a chance of Port kick 3 or 4 quick goals. I hope we have a forward set up and play positively and put Port out of contention early.

[Hartijon]

Looking at the odds, the comments on here, AFL Teams - nobody is giving Port a chance. But Port are unpredictable and the history of recent years is that any team can win anywhere at any time.

We have a lot of young players in the team now and performances can be inconsistent (this is not a complaint, I love the decision to bring in Gordon and Parker - surely under Roos it would be Bevan and Moore in the team).

I think the key will be scoring 100 points - if we do this we will surely win. But if we only kick 60 - 80 as we have in recent games at SCG, then there is always a chance of Port kick 3 or 4 quick goals. I hope we have a forward set up and play positively and put Port out of contention early.

Well said and agree 100% ! If we had a Bradshaw we would be a sure bet but with such low scoring potential any side that can kick 3 or 4 quick goals is a chance against us.I can't see the defense allowing this but Motlop is a danger.As you say ,this year its not Bevan on him so the likelihood is less.However I favour the proactive way of fixing our problem by having goal scorers like TDL in the team.Lets kick winning scores rather than defend 5 point leads won through blood and sweat. Love the present team but don't love the forward set up. My solution which I admit is a little crazee is Mummy at Full Forward and use Pyke (when he is fit again) and Seaby as ruckmen. To sacrifice a top ruckman is slightly insane but he could be the next Plugger.If not send him back to the ruck and continue to groom Reid

[liz]

To sacrifice a top ruckman is slightly insane

Not sure about the "slightly" bit.

Mummy has shown he has some potential to be a good big target up forward when he is resting from ruck duties, just as almost every decent AFL ruckman has shown the ability to do over the years. To move from there to suggest he has the potential to perform to the level of Lockett is...well, I can't quite find the right phrase to describe it.

Quite apart from that, great ruckmen can be just as instrumental in building a great side as great forwards are. Why anyone would want to find out if a potentially great ruckman might be able to become even a semi-competent forward befuzzles me.

[Big Al]

Well said and agree 100% ! If we had a Bradshaw we would be a sure bet but with such low scoring potential any side that can kick 3 or 4 quick goals is a chance against us.I can't see the defense allowing this but Motlop is a danger.As you say ,this year its not Bevan on him so the likelihood is less.However I favour the proactive way of fixing our problem by having goal scorers like TDL in the team.Lets kick winning scores rather than defend 5 point leads won through blood and sweat. Love the present team but don't love the forward set up. My solution which I admit is a little crazee is Mummy at Full Forward and use Pyke (when he is fit again) and Seaby as ruckmen. To sacrifice a top ruckman is slightly insane but he could be the next Plugger.If not send him back to the ruck and continue to groom Reid

That would be like putting your best defender at FF and no senior coach would do that. (Voss, what were you thinking)

I've always advocated for what Horse did last week and have the resting Ruckman at FF so was a little surprised that Seabs didn't come in for the Pyke. Will be interested to see if Mummy goes forward this week while LRT pinch hits in the ruck.

[Primmy]

no worries ugg, little fluff piece hits today, apparently Horse called him, and he said thank you thank you thank y ou. nice polite boy.

[Captain]

Bevan and TDL should be in the team with both played in the forward line.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I think Everitt has all the potential to be a dangerous play to mark up on up front...............from what Horse saids he rates his speed as a real weapon on the lead

[magic.merkin]

I think a few are selling Roo's short for his so called anti youth policy. When he had kids that earned their spot, and the spot was their they got it. I'm thinking of Bird (21 games first year), Hanners (Hanners being in year 12 ffs). Look at the Geelong team when they were challenging very very few first season kids debuted after Selwood in 2007 in their first year. It's what happens when your team is at it's best and at the point where all the players are matured and in peak career form.

[Hartijon]

That would be like putting your best defender at FF and no senior coach would do that. (Voss, what were you thinking)

I've always advocated for what Horse did last week and have the resting Ruckman at FF so was a little surprised that Seabs didn't come in for the Pyke. Will be interested to see if Mummy goes forward this week while LRT pinch hits in the ruck.

Didn't Sheedy win a GF doing precisely that? And Voss as you rightly note a respected AFL coach did the very same last week. But I tend to agree that the "resting at FF" is the best option right now. I AM impressed by Mumford's Forward sense. This guy is absolute GOLD and part of my suggestion is based on not wearing him out. Running his guts out,overloading him with work and then getting the inevitable injury is not good coaching either. Surprised therefore that Seaby is not in and LRT in his return match might have an overload too.

[Big Al]

Bevan and TDL should be in the team with both played in the forward line.

Who is playing so poorly that Bevan would be an option???

[Hartijon]

Not sure about the "slightly" bit.
.............potentially great ruckman might be able to become even a semi-competent forward befuzzles me.

Befuzzles me too but I can't seem to get the thought out of my head!

[Big Al]

I think a few are selling Roo's short for his so called anti youth policy. When he had kids that earned their spot, and the spot was their they got it. I'm thinking of Bird (21 games first year), Hanners (Hanners being in year 12 ffs). Look at the Geelong team when they were challenging very very few first season kids debuted after Selwood in 2007 in their first year. It's what happens when your team is at it's best and at the point where all the players are matured and in peak career form.

Spot on Magic... The Roos anti youth policy was always a myth that neveer stood up to the facts.

[Big Al]

And Voss as you rightly note a respected AFL coach

[Captain]

Who is playing so poorly that Bevan would be an option???

That is the difficult question. I think it's more of a case of who in the team is playing forward and can't kick goals.

Our team seems to be midfield focussed. This is fine when a Bradshaw is standing at FF but he isn't. Goodes can't be everywhere, Reid is still a baby, Everitt is eratic and a ruckman can't be seriously expected to be our main avenue to goal.

I would take out Bird and Nipper. Not because they are performing poorly but because they aren't as big a threat in the forward line as to what TDL and Bevan would be. Especially when we don't have the big power forwards.

[Scottee]

Like several others on this thread I think we should be stretching Port ot match up on us rather than us selecting the side to nullify them. This game was a great opportunity to experiment with Mummy at FF and give Seaby a much needed run in the seniors. As someone said though, who do yu drop?