Changes for round 9 vs Saints

[GongSwan]

Mitch Morton v Jared Crouch in a "lazy aspect" forum. Hmm.....almost feeling sorry for MM! I am sure Crouchy will sort things out. He has that sort of persona. Uncompromising attention to detail.

I can't see Mitch winning that battle

[DLBIA14]

I heard a great interview from Morton on SEN over summer. At the time I think he accepted he had a lot of work to do. He would benefit from reserves games until he learns pressure skills and tackling. Some of his lazy aspects that you can see need to be coached out of him. I do expect him to break into the side though, we do need a mid sized forward especially with Rohan out for the year

Even better in a recent interview he said that at this club he knew that when he worked hard and improved on the weakness in his game the coaches would reward him fairly. Took at little crack at the Tiges by saying he felt at times in the past he felt he wasn't being treated fairly. I think he admitted he was @@@@house at start of the season too.

I don't know if he's always been able to say the right things, but certainly every time I've heard him being interviewed he's been honest about everything.

[Dosser]

Yep, this occurred to me too RnR - when they touched up the Blues, it was their speedy smalls that did it and being down a ruckman - and with the Tigers precedent vs us as further corroboration - they may choose to go this route again. If so, your suggested switch of Armstrong for Johnson sounds like the right one. Can't see there being any other changes from a top notch effort on Saturday but they will need to get the forward match ups right.

I simply dont think Armstrong is as fast as some people on here would like to think he is.

[msb]

Yeah, Obviously the coaching staff who know the kid decided to play him through the niggles and soreness and get him back in form while still holding down his spot in the A,s. Personally I disagreed with this and while never suggesting he should be dropped I thought he could well claim a leave pass for a game or two through injury then come back into the A's (.ie injured NOT demoted) I personally think this is how young players should be managed. I am happy to be proven wrong and its great to see him hitting some form in the last quarter. The coaching staff obviously think he will be stronger for toughing it out and they seem to be right at this stage. I think Walsh's debut was as expected and I loved TDL in the forwards.He stands out as a forward who knows how to play in the forwards. Pyke was good too.

Yes reid could go back to the reserves for a game or 2 and perhaps he should but I would rather he hit form in the seniors than the reserves. I really dont think he would be playing in the seniors if not fit. Prior to the dees game the forward line was quite dysfunctional that would not have helped his confidence at all. With walsh and TDL in and perhaps even morton, he can get better supported which will help. Time will tell, but I am hoping like mad that he can build on that 2nd half against melbourne and hit good form, so at this stage he should still be in the team IMO to find out.

[BSA5]

I simply dont think Armstrong is as fast as some people on here would like to think he is.

Armstrong isn't particularly quick over the ground at all. He does move the ball quickly though, as he is a low, penetrating and effective kick. Similar to Malceski, they won't always win a running race, but get the ball in their hands and it will end up your end very quickly. I like to think all the talk about him being a speedster comes from that, and not certain assumptions about his skin colour.

[giant]

I simply dont think Armstrong is as fast as some people on here would like to think he is.

I've barely seen the kid play so I have no preconceptions of his speed but if Saints play a forward line consisting mainly of Milne/Saad/Milera (and possibly Schneider!) then there may simply not be a match up for Johnson.

[GongSwan]

I think we should wait for teh team announcement before hooking into matchups. Saints do look short on talls, if that makes sense

[GongSwan]

Armstrong isn't particularly quick over the ground at all. He does move the ball quickly though, as he is a low, penetrating and effective kick. Similar to Malceski, they won't always win a running race, but get the ball in their hands and it will end up your end very quickly. I like to think all the talk about him being a speedster comes from that, and not certain assumptions about his skin colour.

Is Tony Burmese as well?

[BSA5]

Is Tony Burmese as well?

No, but there's a general assumption that indigenous players are quick. Which isn't necessarily unfair, it appears that on average they probably are, but whether true or not in general, such a perception may colour (so to speak) peoples' perception of him as a player.

[Triple B]

No, but there's a general assumption that indigenous players are quick.

Troy Cook say's hi....

[Bazman]

St Kilda's ruck crisis has gone from bad to worse with young hope Rhys Stanley ruled out for up to six weeks.
Saints face rucking hell - Yahoo!7 Sport

[Velour&Ruffles]

I simply dont think Armstrong is as fast as some people on here would like to think he is.

That is correct. Perhaps because of the possible indigenous = greased lightning assumption, officials at the Melbourne loyalty function were open in saying that he is not super quick (although certainly not slow either) - rather, it is his elite disposal skills that make him valuable. They really rate him, but any assumption about warp speed is solely among supporters.

[wolftone57]

No, but there's a general assumption that indigenous players are quick. Which isn't necessarily unfair, it appears that on average they probably are, but whether true or not in general, such a perception may colour (so to speak) peoples' perception of him as a player.

I don't think Derrick Kickett or Byron Pickett were terribly quick but they were extremely clever. The Motlops are not that quick but again clever. I think some people think that if a player is Indigenous then he is quick. You are right to say that is a misconception. Mickey O wasn't quick either but clever. Tony Armstrong is a very good user of the ball. He also knows just what position on the ground to be at the right time. He also directs the movement in the defence. He is very good at evasion and using the ball quickly and that makes up for any lack of speed.

[ernie koala]

Armstrong looked laboured, sore and slow to me.
He plays with such maturity, it's easy to forget how young he is.
He would be well served by a rest I reckon.
I agree with others, bring in another runner.
Gordon, Cunningham or Armstrong for mine.

[Velour&Ruffles]

Armstrong looked laboured, sore and slow to me.
He plays with such maturity, it's easy to forget how young he is.
He would be well served by a rest I reckon.
I agree with others, bring in another runner.
Gordon, Cunningham or Armstrong for mine.

I agree - dropping a labouring plodder like Armstrong to bring in a fresh new runner like Armstrong would be good selection policy.