2014 round 1 team vs GWS

[Reggi]

Longmire on Sen
Goodes 3-4 weeks
Tippett possible for round 2 not far off
AJ might play a half this week in the reserves. Will be at least a month away
Zac jones and Nankervis a good chance to play this year

[Matt80]

Longmire on Sen
Goodes 3-4 weeks
Tippett possible for round 2 not far off
AJ might play a half this week in the reserves. Will be at least a month away
Zac jones and Nankervis a good chance to play this year

e

I would love to see a couple of games where we see Tippett, Franklin, Goodes, Rohan and Jetta running around that same forward line. As a supporter it would be interesting to see how well they work together and what opposition defences do to try and stop them!

[Meg]

e

I would love to see a couple of games where we see Tippett, Franklin, Goodes, Rohan and Jetta running around that same forward line. As a supporter it would be interesting to see how well they work together and what opposition defences do to try and stop them!

Yes please footy gods let this happen - at least for a few matches.

[bloodsbigot]

I hope Tippet comes back not only to help the team but for publicity purposes.

[O'Reilly Boy]

Derrickz has to play; Pyke will get worked over. I have nothing but the highest regard for him, but to play a sole hand against Mumford et al i asking too much. Therefore no room for Laidler.

Seven back: Reg, Ted, Smith, Mal, Dane and Shaw, with RLT on the bench and swinging forward if need be.
Pyke, Jack, Macca, Hanners, Kennedy and ROK in middle
Bird, Buddy, Mitchell, Rohan, Reid, Parker in front of the ball.

Derrickz, McGlynn on bench (plus RLT); Jetta sub

[DK_]

One thing is certain, neither Laidler or Rampe are going to be able to play as the 3rd tall defender against GWSs Tom Boyd. The guy is 200cm and the best junior player in the country. You will need an LRT to do this job, but many on Red and White are advocating for LRT to play forward and as 2nd Ruck!

If I were Horse (if only!), I'd play Reid back. He's been open that he wants Reid playing a swing role this year. What better time to get some good experience against an imposing forward line than against the Patton, Cameron, Boyd trio?

Even if he does let through a couple of goals, it's not likely to change the result and he'll walk away with some great lessons learnt. Playing LRT back is the safest option, but does nothing to improve the team's capability and playing a mid-size defender against Boyd doesn't achieve anything except a mismatch.

[O'Reilly Boy]

If I were Horse (if only!), I'd play Reid back. He's been open that he wants Reid playing a swing role this year. What better time to get some good experience against an imposing forward line than against the Patton, Cameron, Boyd trio?

Even if he does let through a couple of goals, it's not likely to change the result and he'll walk away with some great lessons learnt. Playing LRT back is the safest option, but does nothing to improve the team's capability and playing a mid-size defender against Boyd doesn't achieve anything except a mismatch.

Only thing there for me is that we are strong in the back six/seven, but need to find a structure up front pending Tip's return. I'd rather see Reid get his confidence up as a marking FF and then swing him back later in the season if need be. I'd also love to squeeze Cunningham into the 22, but can't see him getting past Bird or, at this stage, Jetta?although Jetta has it all to prove. I thought Cunningham was the player who managed to put the ball on Tip's chest late last season, and he will get into the team if Jetta is as lacklustre as he was last year.
Main issue this week is to be strong in the ruck so that the mids dominate, which will take the GWS big forwards out of the equation; game time for Derrickz is important. Make that critical.

[Matt80]

If I were Horse (if only!), I'd play Reid back. He's been open that he wants Reid playing a swing role this year. What better time to get some good experience against an imposing forward line than against the Patton, Cameron, Boyd trio?

Even if he does let through a couple of goals, it's not likely to change the result and he'll walk away with some great lessons learnt. Playing LRT back is the safest option, but does nothing to improve the team's capability and playing a mid-size defender against Boyd doesn't achieve anything except a mismatch.

Good call. Sam Reid has the capability to play well on Tom Boyd as the 3rd tall, but I would leave Reid forward for a number of reasons:

- Sam is shown some great early season form up forward. He is moving well, his hands are working well and he is timing his leap very well. Why give him a new role down back and mess with this great form and confidence. Let the confidence build further, and then swing him.

- Even though Tippett is scheduled to return for round two, there is apprehension that his knee may take some more time! If Tippett is out for a number of weeks you will need another strong key forward to take the pressure off Buddy. The best available next key forward after Buddy and Tippett is Reid.

- LRT is a proven backman and was playing in that 3rd tall back role before he went down in 2013. Tom D is a viable option to help Pyke for the GWS game and leaves LRT to concentrate on defence and Reid to concentrate forward.

Against other teams who don?t have a 3rd power forward and who don?t have two dominant ruckman, then you can play LRT in that Forward/Ruck Roll, leaving Rampe or Alex Johnson (4 weeks ) to play on the 3rd tall.

[Triple B]

I doubt our match committee will be as petrified of the 'big 3' up forward for GWS as some posters here are.

Cameron = a bona fide star, but Patton is coming off an ACL and less than 20 games under his belt and Boyd has never played an AFL game.

May be worth worrying about in 2016 and beyond, but not this week. I'll be backing either Rampe or Laidler to comfortably handle first gamer Boyd. Think Hawkins, Daniher and even Patton himself....

[Ludwig]

I doubt all of Cameron, Patton and Boyd will all play round 1, as they haven't played together during the preseason games. It's hard to get 3 young tall forwards to coordinate their games first time out. They're tall, they're good, and will all be stars at some point in time, but I don't think there is much to fear at this point in their development.

[Ludwig]

Based on this recent article, it seems that Cameron might not play, or it will be either Cameron or Boyd, but not both.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-11/testing-time-for-cameron?utm_medium=RSS

[Matt80]

Based on this recent article, it seems that Cameron might not play, or it will be either Cameron or Boyd, but not both.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-03-1...utm_medium=RSS

Thanks for that Ludwig. If only two of Boyd, Cameron and Patten play then Rampe can comfortably play as the 3rd tall in the backline, and LRT can play forward and in the Ruck. I mentioned in another thread that Pyke / LRT would have a hard time against Mumford and Giles due to Giles pure ability as a big ruckman against LRT.

It?s amazing after being out for a year how important LRT is to the team structure. His ability to play defence, forward and ruck is so important with Kurt Tippett, Goodes and Alex Johnson out the side. I don?t know where LRT will play if those three guys come back into the side in good form (presuming there are no other injuries to key position players).

[Blood Tunnel]

I doubt our match committee will be as petrified of the 'big 3' up forward for GWS as some posters here are.

Cameron = a bona fide star, but Patton is coming off an ACL and less than 20 games under his belt and Boyd has never played an AFL game.

May be worth worrying about in 2016 and beyond, but not this week. I'll be backing either Rampe or Laidler to comfortably handle first gamer Boyd. Think Hawkins, Daniher and even Patton himself....

They probably won't be together beyond 2016 because I'm sure the Vic clubs will begin to rape GWS for their talent.

[Reggi]

If they play 3 talls, Reg will get 30+ possession s.

[Ludwig]

Now Nick Smith is pumping up Laidler's tyres (from Swan website interview):

Former Blue Laidler in particular has impressed Smith, who he suggested could fill the role vacated by Marty Mattner's injury-enforced retirement early in 2013.

I don't know if this means that he's playing round 1 or they're just placating him when he has to play in the ressies.