Changes for Rnd 2 v Dockers

[S120]

With no TipRat version 2.0 playing, I'd be sending Nick Smith to Nat Fyfe. A potentially great match up there. He's the man we need to shut down first and foremost IMO. Richards can go toe-to-toe with Pav in the forward line and Mummy will work tirelessly to break even with 211 but Fyfe is the game breaker for Freo right now.

Smith on Fyfe. Make it happen.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I think Fyfes too good overhead For Smith to be able to play on him without his lack of height being exposed . Maybe AJ would be a better match up, assuming he has the tank.

[DLBIA14]

I think Fyfes too good overhead For Smith to be able to play on him without his lack of height being exposed . Maybe AJ would be a better match up, assuming he has the tank.

Your absolutely right about Smith, but AJ isn't a better option. Fyfe is a genuine mid who is winning clearances and contested ball. AJ would be out of his depth. I wouldn't mind Bird having a run with him or even KJ/Adam Goodes at times (read: when we're in the @@@@). I don't want to rob Peter to pay Paul, but he needs to be held accountable. He's got form against Sydney and he is in ripping form as it is. If we don't take him out of the game, he will be the difference.

ROK out of our list is the natural match up (in terms of strengths and abilities), but last year he was blown away. This year we don't even have the option of playing him.

Just in general Freo does seem to match up on us particularly well. If we win this game, I will be pretty proud, but I won't be surprised if we don't. This is a hard game.

[giant]

Fyfe murdered us last time, just being pipped to the three votes by Razor Ray - need to get that match up right, he's a match winner.

[Auntie.Gerald]

hhhmmm.........cant wait to reassess them comp in 8 to 10 games but Freeo under rossy Lyons are looking dangerous to match up on !

[Melbourne_Blood]

Yeah I think Bird and Jack are at a similar disadvantage to Smith though. I know AJ is a defender not a Mid but I couldn't really think of anyone else who may be fit enough to cover the ground, but also have some height / aerial ability to compete with Fyfe . Mattner perhaps ? Again not a mid but has performed some decent run with roles In the past. I didn't mind your suggestion of him and Goodes going head to head but can't see it happening.

[cherub]

?Rohan-for at least some of the time-great leap, great closing speed. Who will we put on Barlow-he is the midfield ball magnet Freo missed. Had a great impact when he came on against Geelong. I think Bird or Jack there. some talk of Mundy being the sub.

Yeah I think Bird and Jack are at a similar disadvantage to Smith though. I know AJ is a defender not a Mid but I couldn't really think of anyone else who may be fit enough to cover the ground, but also have some height / aerial ability to compete with Fyfe . Mattner perhaps ? Again not a mid but has performed some decent run with roles In the past. I didn't mind your suggestion of him and Goodes going head to head but can't see it happening.

[Triple B]

Smooch will likely run with Hill again, he has form there, Hill barely getting a sniff last time Smooch played on him.

Bird to Fyfe.

[Plugger46]

Smith has done a good job on Steve Johnson in the past. Fyfe would be superior in the air obviously and is more of a midfielder than Johnson but I still think he's a chance to line up on him.

[Nico]

I thought Fyfe was predominately playing midfield now and that Hill was playing off half back, so that puts Smith out of the question on both cases.

[liz]

I'd be inclined to try McGlynn on Hill as a relatively hard tag, particuarly if Hill lines up on the HBF. I thought McGlynn was one of the less impressive players against GWS so giving him a run-with role to get him to kick start his season might be a good thing. Plus we know that McGlynn can be dangerous around goal, so Hill can't ignore his defensive role on a player like Benny.

Fyfe is a tough one, and a few players will probably get a go at stages. I'd like to see them try Mattner. He has played midfield tagging roles in the past and might be able to negate Fyfe in the air. Whether he is nimble enough is another question but there aren't many obvious options. I reckon for this game I'd move LRT back to defence because we need his height. AJ can play the defensive utility type role that Mattner normally plays. Which then means we need to bring in another ruck-cum-forward (either White or Seaby), at least for this game.

Mind you, if it starts raining this week (as predicted), it might be worth going smaller.

[wolftone57]

I am of the opinion that Rohan would be the guy for Fyfe. He was good on the couple of occasions he got that role and ran off too and kicked a couple himself. I think he has the height, pace and skillt to match Fyfe.

[Auntie.Gerald]

geese from the footage I saw of Freeo against the cats - Freeo really used wide plays with tall matchups one on one very very very well in the first 2 qtrs.

There first qtr on their big home ground was simply explosive !

[Triple B]

I am of the opinion that Rohan would be the guy for Fyfe. He was good on the couple of occasions he got that role ......

Help me out here, I'm struggling trying to remember a single time Rohan has been asked to put a tag on anyone.

Please jog my memory...

[jono2707]

Fyfe is to Freo what Goodsey is for us - a match-up nightmare. Not really taggable IMHO although I'd want someone to run with him when he moves forward - Marty would probably be the guy although AJ might also help out there...