Changes for the Pies

[Ludwig]

Sorry but Jesse will kill LRT in the ruck. He got 2 HO & 4 possessions and I don't think deserved his spot. He was slow getting to the contest, outmarked all day and really unusually soft. He is normally the hardest trying player in the team but I don't think he had it in him the other day. Definitely not match fit, he has had so long out of the game and only the last couple of Twos games & NAB. Back to the Twos to get some match fitness. I am not sure they will use Jesse as a ruckman. He was used as a KF in the NAB and they used Witts as second ruck. It all depends on how they structure.

Agree that both LRT and Pyke were underdone, which was part of the reason for their poor performances. Hopefully it's 2 weeks on and they can both perform at a higher level. Remember that this will Jesse's first game, so he may be a bit underdone as well. Jesse is a better ruckman than LRT for sure, but I think can hold his own. They probably have practiced a good deal against each other over the years, but not sure who that helps.

[Meg]

Don't agree Pyke had a 'poor performance'. I thought he beat Mumford in the first half and some of his tap work in the first two quarters was superb. But yes he faded and was well beaten in the second half. He looked absolutely shattered at the end of the match. It was a very odd decision by the coach to expect him to carry the ruck against. Mumford and Giles after his knee op and consequent truncated pre-season.

[Matt80]

Don't agree Pyke had a 'poor performance'. I thought he beat Mumford in the first half and some of his tap work in the first two quarters was superb. But yes he faded and was well beaten in the second half. He looked absolutely shattered at the end of the match. It was a very odd decision by the coach to expect him to carry the ruck against. Mumford and Giles after his knee op and consequent truncated pre-season.

Great work Meg! I also think that when you ruck Pyke all day, you lose him as a key forward! He kicked a lot go goals last year, and took some great contested marks! The game against Geelong at Kardinia was a highlight as he was our best key forward on that day!

[Ludwig]

Would someone suggest that we should have played Derickx and Nanko instead of Pyke and LRT?

It was an option. But I think we looked at the opposition and thought it would be an easy win and could get some needed game time into Pyke and LRT to boot. It just didn't go to plan.

[aguy]

Would someone suggest that we should have played Derickx and Nanko instead of Pyke and LRT?

It was an option. But I think we looked at the opposition and thought it would be an easy win and could get some needed game time into Pyke and LRT to boot. It just didn't go to plan.

We should have played pyke and Derickx. Maybe then Derickx wouldn't have gotten concussion

[Auntie.Gerald]

poor old Mikes body language didnt look good at all but he will be up for the fight !!!

[Meg]

By the way, did anyone see if Mike and Mummy talked or in some way interacted in the field after the match? When I specifically looked for this Mumford was being interviewed for TV so obviously couldn't happen then. I was interested because I got the impression they had become quite close as friends as well as ruck colleagues. I recall Mummy saying that Mike was one of the first to call him when news broke that Mummy had not been contracted by the Swans and so was off to GWS.

[neilfws]

Tippett won't be back for the Pies. Jack and LRT are not certain yet either.

Kurt Tippett to miss Sydney Swans clash with Collingwood

[ernie koala]

Seems LRT is sidelined once again.

That makes selection a little easier you'd think.

OUT : LRT

IN : A ruckman...Probably Derickx

If Jack remains sidelined then ROK will get another reprieve.

If he does, I'd expect a really intense showing from him.

[snajik]

He would be gaulled to hear that.

ho ho. Perhaps Obelisk could lend some ruck support to Pyke.

[wolftone57]

Funny how people keep saying preseason form means nothing. But the players who played really well in the preseason are the players who have the best stats on the weekend. Those who had pretty ordinary or limited pre-seasons are way down the bottom in the stats. At Hawthorn Buddy would have never been treated with such kid gloves. My nephew kept asking me "why isn't Buddy training, why isn't Buddy playing a full game?" I know it is pre-season but I think we needed to get as much game time into the big bloke as we could as he needs match fitness to thrive. If I hear managing Buddy one more time I will scream, it sounds like mollycoddling to me.

Out; LRT & Ryano. Hannas & Benny on notice.

In; Kizza & either Derrickx (if fit), Sammy N or the smokie Aliir (this boy could be our Nic Nat). Extended bench Towers, BJ & Biggs.

If pies play Witts we have to play a second ruck we have no choice. LRT is going to be useless against 209cm. As it stands he is hopeless against Sammy N, Toby & 'Bo' so how is he going to compete against Witts? Grundy would massacre him. What's more we need to take a player in who is going to get a kick as well as a few HO. LRT 2 HO & 4 disposals is just not AFL standard, sorry.

[Ludwig]

Apparently the tv Talking Footy show said Ben Reid is injured and not playing this week. So the defensive task looks a bit easier this week. We will have to face Cloke and White, and perhaps they will leave Witts in as well, or perhaps go with Goldsack; hard to say. This may give us an option of playing Derickx, or another ruckman, in lieu of LRT, as Ted and Reg can handle Cloke and White and Laidlaw can take the 3rd tall, whoever it is.

[mcs]

The In has to be a ruckman, whether LRT is fit or not. Collingwood's ruckmen might be young, but they are pretty decent as well. If we try playing Pyke with a 'roadie' as backup against teams with 2 good ruckmen, we are going to really struggle in the 2nd half of games.

[magic.merkin]

Funny how people keep saying preseason form means nothing. But the players who played really well in the preseason are the players who have the best stats on the weekend. Those who had pretty ordinary or limited pre-seasons are way down the bottom in the stats. At Hawthorn Buddy would have never been treated with such kid gloves. My nephew kept asking me "why isn't Buddy training, why isn't Buddy playing a full game?" I know it is pre-season but I think we needed to get as much game time into the big bloke as we could as he needs match fitness to thrive. If I hear managing Buddy one more time I will scream, it sounds like mollycoddling to me.

He was injured for a large part and started at least 2 weeks back from the others due to his grand final commitments.

[liz]

Funny how people keep saying preseason form means nothing. But the players who played really well in the preseason are the players who have the best stats on the weekend. Those who had pretty ordinary or limited pre-seasons are way down the bottom in the stats. At Hawthorn Buddy would have never been treated with such kid gloves. My nephew kept asking me "why isn't Buddy training, why isn't Buddy playing a full game?" I know it is pre-season but I think we needed to get as much game time into the big bloke as we could as he needs match fitness to thrive. If I hear managing Buddy one more time I will scream, it sounds like mollycoddling to me.

OK, so ignore the fact the bloke had a seizure with unknown causes and/or had quad tightness (reported at the time - might have been a cover for the seizure that has now been reported). Let's just flog the bloke until he drops. After all, being in peak condition in the middle of March is far more important than being in peak condition in September.

While they are at it, I can't understand why Tippett and Goodes aren't being flogged on the track too. Who do they think they are? And as for Alex Johnson...He thinks he can have two whole years off work just because his knee is a little sore?