Changes for Qualifying final V Freo

[mcs]

My Parents sat next to Mike Pyke on Saturday and he spent half the game burying his head in his hands at all the mistakes we made.
I'm sure he'll be keen to get out there and take on the big Spider.

Glad to hear he was feeling the pain from the sidelines like the rest of us.

I think he will be absolutely fired up for the finals - he will be feeling the pressure, but he also knows from 2012 that he can do it on the biggest stage of all.

[rojo]

I guess we'll have to be the voices in the wilderness on this one, FS.

I still maintain that the beautifully underrated defensive play of three or four relieving handballs back to the goal line has been missing/slipshod since Laidler went out and was particularly exposed during the first 10 minutes of the Richmond game.

I spent most of the year not rating Laidler all that highly until the first game he was dropped, I think it was when Shaw first came back in, v Essendon. That game I was aware that the back line was not operating as smoothly as it had been and came to the conclusion that it was because of Laidler's absence. Since then I have looked for him more, when Shaw was out again, and it seems to me that he really does play the 'gap filler' role like Marty. As with Marty you don't notice him all that much, he might do one or two dashes up the ground a match and sometimes is run off easily but he does make a difference.

The problem of course is that there is no spot for him with Shaw back in.

Looking ahead, if Rohan with his speed and tenacity is kept in the backline, Laidler's lack of pace may not be such an issue.

[Meg]

Umpires for firsts round of finals have been announced. We get Brett Rosebury, Justin Schmitt and Simon Meredith. Meredith is the ump who had to retire ill (and was rushed to hospital) with bleeding on the brain in the last quarter of our SCG match against Port Adelaide, so good his health has recovered from a big scare.

Also in the Whistle Blowers video on AFL site there is discussion and footage of the free and 50 metre penalty against Towers from Sat night. I had no idea what that was for at the time. It's about 3.50m in on the video.

AFL Video, Official AFL Footy Videos from the Australian Football League - AFL.com.au

[longmile]

Do people think there is room in our team for Mitchell when both Kennedy and Parker are in the team? Even alongside other inside midfielders we have like McGlynn and sometimes Bird

[ernie koala]

You'd think, if Bird comes back in this week, then Mitchell may miss out....

If so he's very unlucky, I'd leave him in, ahead of Bird (who I'm also a fan of) at this stage, but I'm no coach..

I doubt they'll go in with..McGlynn, Kennedy, Parker, Bird and Mitchell.. I reckon that would be 1 too many inside mids.

[DA_Swan]

I reckon there is as both Parker and Kennedy go forward - with Sandilands dominating the rucks we will need to be doing a lot of tackling to stop Mundy and Fyfe breaking away and Mitchell certainly can tackle - good to have McGlynn back but he will need the run for sure - Mitchell is good insurance given it will probably be damp

[Danzar]

You'd think, if Bird comes back in this week, then Mitchell may miss out....

If so he's very unlucky, I'd leave him in, ahead of Bird (who I'm also a fan of) at this stage, but I'm no coach..

I doubt they'll go in with..McGlynn, Kennedy, Parker, Bird and Mitchell.. I reckon that would be 1 too many inside mids.

+1

[Matt80]

You'd think, if Bird comes back in this week, then Mitchell may miss out....

If so he's very unlucky, I'd leave him in, ahead of Bird (who I'm also a fan of) at this stage, but I'm no coach..

I doubt they'll go in with..McGlynn, Kennedy, Parker, Bird and Mitchell.. I reckon that would be 1 too many inside mids.

I believe that Longmire has a system where he plays a maximum of three slow inside midfielders. In the first final we will have Kennedy, Parker and Mitchell. Bird needs to firstly get his body right, then he needs to push for one of those spots. It's most likely to be Mitchell as Kennedy and Parker are in the All Australian 40 man squad. I don't believe that Longmire will play the four of them together as you would need to omit a Lloyd or Cunningham and that would make the team too slow.

[mcs]

I believe that Longmire has a system where he plays a maximum of three slow inside midfielders. In the first final we will have Kennedy, Parker and Mitchell. Bird needs to firstly get his body right, then he needs to push for one of those spots. It's most likely to be Mitchell as Kennedy and Parker are in the All Australian 40 man squad. I don't believe that Longmire will play the four of them together as you would need to omit a Lloyd or Cunningham and that would make the team too slow.

I certainly don't think they'll omit Cunningham. Lloyd has been a bit in and out of games, but has the ability to impact games at critical times, and would be harshly done by. I have a sneaking suspicion he is going to be one that really steps it up come finals time as well.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Lloyd's composure and disposal could be massive in the heat of a final when things go up a notch.

[Kelpie_X]

Lloyd's composure and disposal could be massive in the heat of a final when things go up a notch.

I agree. I think Lloyd is our X Factor for this finals series. Won't be flashy but will set up some crucial plays.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Mitchell will be perfect off the bench as a sub ie to up the speed of tackling and pressure in the last 2 qtrs if needed or just the standard last qtr

we have Bird and Kennedy out and we are playing a big midfield rotation Freeo

I saw enough of the pressure that Tom brings and his execution via handpass when playing at the bottom of the scrap for the ball is first class

[Auntie.Gerald]

Laidler hasnt provided more effective football then Rohan has the last few weeks........Laidler is solid but we have so many players who can now rotate thru the back 6 and Laidler is in my opinion behind the following 8 players..........Rampe, Ted, Shaw, Mal, Macca, Reg, Rohan and Reid

Macca needs to spend half his time in the backline for short passing exits to be effective from our 50m defensive arc in a pressure game against a team like Freeo....... equally Mal needs to be up on the wing almost 50% of the game

B: Rampe, Richards, Shaw
HB: Malceski, Grundy, Smith
C: Jetts, Kennedy, Hannes
HF: McGlynn, Franklin, Jack
F: Goodes, Tippett, Harry
Fol: Pyke, Parker, McVeigh

I/C: Lloyd, Rohan, Reid
Sub: Mitchell


In: Kennedy, McGlynn, Franklin, Pyke
Out: Naismith, Towers, Biggs, Jones

Injured: Bird

McGlynn, Jack, Harry up in the forward line for a significant percentage of the game will be very difficult match ups for Freeo.........but more importantly these guys are high pressure footballers - I think for us to truly wrestle a team like Freeo we need to pin them down in their half and Jack, McGlynn and Harry at the front of the assault will do us very proud on Sat !!!!

[Go Swannies]

Mitchell will be perfect off the bench as a sub ie to up the speed of tackling and pressure in the last 2 qtrs if needed or just the standard last qtr

we have Bird and Kennedy out and we are playing a big midfield rotation Freeo

I saw enough of the pressure that Tom brings and his execution via handpass when playing at the bottom of the scrap for the ball is first class

Kennedy's out? That's a significant setback.

[mcs]

Kennedy's out? That's a significant setback.

Press articles today suggest he will definitely be playing, with doubts only really about Bird still.