Have to agree with that. Still his best in one on one in the midfield is hard to beat. He must be injured to some degree and the trouble is he is getting old.
Changes vs Bulldogs
Collapse
X
-
I was a bit harsh on Goodesy last night and wish to apologise for that. I just wish he would jump at the ball, stop trying to do the cute stuff (dinky handballs and kicks) and just beat his opponent like he should.Comment
-
With all the (deserved) negativity about Goodes' game since his injury, we really have no option but to hope that he can play himself into some form. I am assuming here that since there has been nothing mentioned about a current injury, he is just out of sorts.
As good as Pyke and LRT have been, and I do think that they have played quite well over recent weeks, the current setup was exposed yesterday. LRT competed really well, kicked 2 good goals, but is not a marking forward. Hopefully Pyke will learn from the game. I doubt if he has played in such a high intensity contest and looked lost at times when the pressure was on. He performed well enough and took a couple of very good marks. Nonetheless, this forward structure is just not effective. We need to construct a forward line with some additional marking power. With all the talk about errors, Beams, Malthouse, etc., I think the marking of Cloke and Dawes compared to LRT and Goodes was the big difference in the game. A few extra contested marks leading to a few extra goals. We just had no one to kick in the forward line.
TDL has a lot of talent, but the physical side of the game is just beyond him at the moment. I know the stats say he had 7 tackles, but they must have been players falling into his arms by accident. Perhaps he can build himself up in the off season and can be more competitive at senior level.
Injury and form not withstanding, I think we should look to put together a forward line of Reid, Spangher, Goodes and Morton. That would mean Pyke, LRT and TDL go out. I think Goodes should go back to being the 2nd Ruck, and play Mummy most of the game in the ruck where he is most effective. This will give Goodes a spell in the midfield which should be a good setup for us.
I know there will be many who think it's crazy to drop Pyke or LRT. I think both are great backups. If Mummy goes down, Pyke comes in. And LRT would be the first one in if any of our tall defenders or forwards are injured (such as, if Reid doesn't come up, I would leave LRT in). We are lucky to have such competent backups. You need that depth to go the distance.
As for the inclusions, Spangher showed he can play a 2nd forward last year and offers another marking option on the lead. Who knows how Morton will perform if given a chance? But he can mark, he can kick goals, and he's got a bit of agro about him that is missing in TDL.
I think with these suggestions we have a chance at the Premiership. A few things have to go our way, not the least of which is Goodes regaining some form. Otherwise, I can't see us making it. The other top 4 teams all have good defence, midfield and forward lines. We have 2 out of 3 at the moment. Close but no cigar!Comment
-
I didn't and haven't seen the game but I see we just got beat, had more shots and according to everyone had a lot of players down on form - and we only just got done. So there's a lot of upside.
Seems to me we must have had 7 or 8 points in a row at one stage?
What we need is a goal kicker and we've got one playing reserves - Morton. Please bring him in, I don't care about the rest of the game but if he gets the ball in his hands he gets it through the big sticks ....... and often. He's red hot in the ressies and a proven AFL standard player. After last night's pointfest he must play this week!Comment
-
Armstrong's been chased down a couple of times, he needs to be a bit more spatially aware. Really missed Jude out there, he woulda been awesome in the wet. Nick Smith had a few brain fades which was uncharacteristic and Dawes' mouthguard spit was hilarious! Definitely needed help in the forward line, Goodes was a bit of a liability. PS LRT is awesomeComment
-
Agree with a lot of your thoughts however its too late to make that many dramatic changes this late in the season. Forward marking is very important so yes a change is needed. Let's b honest we've been down in contested marks up there most of the year. I like the idea of spanger in , LRT to play back on 2nd forward and Grundy to play loose man in defence. Grundy has struggled for a while one on one with the big men.Comment
-
It the last chance to try out a big forward line before the finals.
please selector we going to win against bulldogs anyway we must see if mortan, spanger, or walsh can play in forward line for the final or we will not have any big forwards to take into the finals if reid go down again it too late to bring spanger for his first games in a final it takes a few games to get fit again.
Option this week please spanger and mortan must be given try. And long term walsh also? Just do for the swans supporters this should have been done in the gws game now bulldogs last. Remember big man win finals football. Remember lockett. And next year let go out and pick a forward this is the missing link the swans need.Comment
-
It the last chance to try out a big forward line before the finals.
please selector we going to win against bulldogs anyway we must see if mortan, spanger, or walsh can play in forward line for the final or we will not have any big forwards to take into the finals if reid go down again it too late to bring spanger for his first games in a final it takes a few games to get fit again.
Option this week please spanger and mortan must be given try. And long term walsh also? Just do for the swans supporters this should have been done in the gws game now bulldogs last. Remember big man win finals football. Remember lockett. And next year let go out and pick a forward this is the missing link the swans need.
Bottom line last night is that for all our useless forays forward (direct kicks to opponents, and poor options mucking about when the ball was in dispute in the F50) we STILL created 7 more scoring shots. Was the better team for long spells in the middle, but the pies were incredibly efficient going forward (or incredibly lucky). The problem was accuracy, pure and simple. Everything else stood up better than people here are giving credit for.
And the umpies gave us nothing, nada, zilch up front. Lewie was carrying pie defenders like backpacks and got SFA from the three blind mice. Hands in the back and holding the ball were the forgotten rules of the week.
Would give anything to get the tame (bordering on biased) treatment the Beagles and Crows get when they play at their home grounds.Comment
-
Less controversially: TDL out, whichever one of Morton or Spangher will kick goals and keep the ball locked in the forward 50, in.
More controversially: McGlynn out, Moore in. It's not meant to be easy to make the best 22 of a top club; and Jarred's travelled a harder road than most.Comment
-
No way in a bazillion years are they going to drop Pyke and nor should they IMHO.Comment
-
Comment
Comment