Round 6 : Changes vs Melb

[Jewels]

But Jewels, at the end of last year we were criticising the coaches for not rotating the midfielders for a rest during the season. I think every game will be a pressure/important game, but some will be easier to rest players than others.

Yep Doss we were, but last year we had a buffer around us both with games won and percentage that we don't (hopefully only temporarily) have the luxury of so far this year and besides, as Liz said in another thread this win was achieved with hard work and pressure, I still don't think the team is truly gelling yet and that only comes from playing together week in and week out.
Hopefully later in the season we can rest tired players but for now I don't think we are in the position too.

[Plugger46]

I see both sides of the argument. I definitely think we need to give Pyke a couple of rests throughout the year. We're asking a lot of him and this would seem a good week to do it.

[Ludwig]

The team we put on the park the next couple of games should have getting the strongest side ready for our round 8 and 9 matches against the Hawks and Dons. We will need to win at least one of these games to have a shot at top 4 and it won't be easy. We have the bye in round 9 and can refresh.

With Goodes, I think we will need assess him week by week. It would be nice to have him play at least as a sub in the Brisbane game and ready to play in some capacity for the Hawks game in 3 weeks.

Hopefully Reid will also be ready for a round 7 start. I would like to see Franklin-Tippett-Reid working together for a game before round 8.

Agree with Liz that a couple of talls will have to be dropped with these 3 coming in. Derickx will be the first. The other one or two will be a difficult call.

[Matt80]

We need to rest, rotate and built a resilient fresh squad coming to the finals. We can't bring that intensity against the Dockers every week and hope to go far in the finals. You will end up like Essondon under James Hird, who dropped of after the half way through the season because there best players could not maintain early season intensity.

If you going to freshen up players it must be done against teams like the Demons and the Lions. If you lose against those teams not playing your best 22, then you don't deserve to play in the finals. I think the subs vest is a good mechanism to freshen up players.

[Ludwig]

We need to rest, rotate and built a resilient fresh squad coming to the finals. We can't bring that intensity against the Dockers every week and hope to go far in the finals. You will end up like Essondon under James Hird, who dropped of after the half way through the season because there best players could not maintain early season intensity.

If you going to freshen up players it must be done against teams like the Demons and the Lions. If you lose against those teams not playing your best 22, then you don't deserve to play in the finals. I think the subs vest is a good mechanism to freshen up players.

Well said and on the money!

You have to look at the season as a whole, and even into the next season (development). What's the point in blowing away Melbourne if you're too tired to follow through in games that are critical for winning the title.

I would like us to follow the Geelong model for player development. I think it's the reason for the longevity of their recent success and has enabled them to retire many great players without dropping out of premiership contention.

[DamY]

The team hasn't strung two wins together. Why mess with the team? I don't think anyone has earned a rest just yet.

[southsideswan]

I agree with the comment about you cant expect to put your absolute best 22 on the paddock each week and expect the best results at end of season. If we loose these then we do not desire to make top 4. The "fringe" players we are talking about are seniors quality players. Come later in the year when players suffering from niggling injuries we need players to slot straight in.

Great to see BJ and Jake Lloyd play well. As a close follower of Jake's over the 16 months I was thrilled to see him make the grade. I would love to see these 2 play a full game each over the next 2 weeks.

It must put a scare into the more established players to see the young guys go well and experienced players playing in ressies. Certainly would unsettle some even more if Goodesy went off to Mackay. We would understand if this happened but would show that anyone can be sent to the lower grade to get match fitness or sharpen skills.

[Swansongster]

Let's just go in with our strongest possible team and smack the opposition please.

This. For mine, it really is quite simple for the selectors this week. Only changes would be if Tippett (for Derickx, LRT as ruck relief) is deemed fully fit or if injury renders someone incapable of running out four quarters.

[Ampersand]

Agreed. We're 13th on the ladder for god's sake. We shouldn't be taking the foot off the accelerator nor sending the message to our players or the opposition that we've already chalked up a win.

That sort of complacency and poor attitude is arguably what cost us a win against GWS.

[Triple B]

I am assuming a forward will come out. Will Harry stay down back? Isn't that where he was for most of last weeks game?

Yep, he played in a back pocket all afternoon and did a brilliant job imo...

[liz]

If you going to freshen up players it must be done against teams like the Demons and the Lions. If you lose against those teams not playing your best 22, then you don't deserve to play in the finals. I think the subs vest is a good mechanism to freshen up players.

Nah. If you're going to freshen up players it should be done around 2/3rds of the way through the season when they might reasonably be expected to be feeling the effects of a few hard months and could do with a week or two to freshen up. And when the team is playing cohesive consistent football and you can confidently slip a young player into the team, knowing they can play their role.

You don't do it after a month where half the senior players have barely earned their pay and the team is still struggling to find a system that works and to implement it well from one week to the next.

If a player is genuinely injured and a week off might help - Jack is one who might possibly fall into this category if rumours about his sore ribs are correct - fair enough. But otherwise, we still need far more consistent efforts from almost the whole team. Not time to be taking any other team lightly right now.

[Ludwig]

It's not always clear who the best 22 are. Even in victory, not everyone plays well. You always have to look for changes that will improve the side. Also shows that we are not being complacent, and everyone is expected to bring their best game and no one's spot is guaranteed.

We had 5 players the missed the Freo game that I suspect would be in our best 22 when fit and firing (Tippett, Reid, Goodes, Rohan and Tom Mitchell). So you wouldn't think the team is totally settled yet.

[rojo]

I am astounded that JL would consider playing Goodesy in the team this coming Saturday, surely he was throwing in a red herring. I support the stance of Alistair Clarkson in playing Brian Lake in the VFL despite the flak from certain 'experts' for doing so - they were suggesting that Hawthorn would have won if Lake had been playing!! He stated that it is better to lose a game now (which the Hawks can afford to do!) and have his best players fit at the end of the season. Carlton, desperate for a win decided to play a totally match unfit Chris Judd as substitute. On Talking Footy an independent Doctor (can't remember why he was selected to comment) said that taking all the circumstances into account, doing a hamstring was very predictable, despite MM and Judd declaring that he had been running and exercising without problems.

Despite our great win v Freo and Rhyce's big improvement, we still have Mike Pyke a shadow of the player he was last year, LRT still gaining form, Buddy not quite there yet, as well as Laidler and Derickx and Cunningham finding their feet. KT most likely coming in this week will require time to find his feet and will change the forward set up again for the mids and other forwards to adjust to. I cannot think of one positive in adding AG to the mix right now.

Looking at what I call our 'super six' up-and-comers, Hanners, Rohan, Reid, AJ, Parks and Mitchell, it has been so sad to see both Rohan and AJ taken out with serious/long term injuries. Then Reid and Mitchell have almost spent more time out injured than they have played since being at our club, one different injury after another, hamstrings, groins, shoulders, knees, ankles, feet ..... Hanners and Parks out of the six, while not unscathed, fortunately have been injury free for long enough to be making their mark.

I know that current club 'cultures' fixate on getting players back as soon as they can run round the park and that playing in the reserves is seen as a demotion or something to be avoided at all costs, ego-wise, BUT with the stresses of the game as it is played currently on the physical bodies of the young players in particular I think this should change - a bit like the recent rethink on procedures with regard to concussion. I would have Reid and Mitchell (Goodes too) playing several weeks in the 2's, AFTER they have been declared fit to play, Rohan for a month or so and months for Tommy Walsh.

I know that won't happen because under the pressure of current culture it would not be acceptable to the players or the club and of course there are no guarantees, injuries happen in the 2's too. But please JL bring Goodes back through the ressies even if it is - unthinkable!!

[Doctor]

Well said and on the money!

You have to look at the season as a whole, and even into the next season (development). What's the point in blowing away Melbourne if you're too tired to follow through in games that are critical for winning the title.

I would like us to follow the Geelong model for player development. I think it's the reason for the longevity of their recent success and has enabled them to retire many great players without dropping out of premiership contention.

You don't. If you are blowing away an opposition, and I don't necessarily think we will do that to Melbourne, then you can always put the cue in the rack and work on structures and kicking it around for practice and team cohesion. I think the Demons will give us a tough game and we won't be wanting to give our former coach any extra ammunition that might suggest that we are takingthe game lightly.

[Ludwig]

I would be very surprised to see Goodes in the seniors this week. Agree that Goodes should spend some time in the reserves, except that the Reserves have a bye in 2 weeks time, so if Goodes gets through this week in the ressies, we might see him in the seniors for the Brisbane game.

We'll wait for the injury report to see how the others are going. It may be hard to get Reid back for Hawks game if he doesn't get some time in the reserves this week.