Changes for Rnd 17 V West Coast

[satchmopugdog]

Will be interesting to see who they assign Xavier to play on. I'm guessing the resting ruckman but this might include playing on Nic Nat at times which isn't ideal.

Strewth....welcome to the big leaue

[ugg]

Strewth....welcome to the big leaue

Cast your mind back to 2011 when a young untried defender named Alex Johnson made his debut in a baptism of fire against the Eagles' tall forwards and acquitted himself well. I know this isn't technically Richards's debut but for all intents and purposes it is and I hope it's the start of something similar.

[aguy]

Cast your mind back to 2011 when a young untried defender named Alex Johnson made his debut in a baptism of fire against the Eagles' tall forwards and acquitted himself well. I know this isn't technically Richards's debut but for all intents and purposes it is and I hope it's the start of something similar.

Agreed. Xaviers only game was when he was an emergency and there was an injury during warm up ( in 2103) if I recall correctly. Not really how you want to get your first game. So I agree this is like his first proper game. Hopefully he does well. Good luck Richards junior

[Scottee]

Xav in the side means that Reid can go forward and enforce our height advantage in the forward line. If the mids can get on top we might have half a chance

[dimelb]

I imagine Heeney will be the sub and Xav will be on for the full game (with visits to the bench). Good luck to them both and whatever happens on Sunday I think they're both part of our future.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Xav in the side means that Reid can go forward and enforce our height advantage in the forward line. If the mids can get on top we might have half a chance

That's the key for me, I think we have the better midfield and I think that's how we've dominated them recently. There's has improved no doubt, and Nic Nat is in great form, but I think if we can assert our dominance in the middle , we can win this one no doubt.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I think we will back ourselves to be in the game and sub will be Xavier and he will come on for a small in the last qtr and we will go tall and stay in our defensive 50 last qtr to shut the game down

[aguy]

I think we will back ourselves to be in the game and sub will be Xavier and he will come on for a small in the last qtr and we will go tall and stay in our defensive 50 last qtr to shut the game down

Will be interesting. I can't quite see the sense in bringing xav in if he's going to be sub. He's not really a sub type player I don't think

[liz]

Will be interesting. I can't quite see the sense in bringing xav in if he's going to be sub. He's not really a sub type player I don't think

It's the only position he's ever played at senior level!!

But no, I can't see the point of bringing X into the squad with the intention of making him sub. They'd be better off using Jack in that role. It seems like a strangely balanced team, to be honest. We've lost two talls but brought three into the side (with Laidler playing more as a tall, than a running player). And it's a largish ground and, if anything, we lacked a bit of run at times last week. Well, OK, we lacked a bit of everything last week but I don't think we were "too short".

It's a bit hard to pick who might be sub. Possibly Harry, but I'd say we really need his pace throughout the game. Shaw? Jones?

[MattW]

Yes, Shaw or Jones. Heeney will definitely start - he has an important role forward (as he alluded to in today's interview on the official site).

[chalbilto]

I would be rapt if Shaw was the sub.

[Melbourne_Blood]

I would be rapt if Shaw was the sub.

+1

[Aaron]

BTW Razor Ray will be the umpire

[Faunac8]

BTW Razor Ray will be the umpire

Say it ain't so after Stevic last week we now get look at me as well

[aguy]

Yes, Shaw or Jones. Heeney will definitely start - he has an important role forward (as he alluded to in today's interview on the official site).

I agree. After watching that interview I think heeney will start. I also think shaw should start ( despite me thinking he is next to be dropped). I say that because I think ted often leads the back 6 on field and we need shaws experience to play that on field leadership role If it's not shaw then it would fall to Grundy and laidler and I'm not sure that either is ideal for that. McVeigh should play across half back but he is often further upfield so also not suited to that defenders marshalling role.

So I ( kinda reluctantly) think that jones should be the sub for this one. I do however think (injuries aside) that we shouldn't wait till deep in the final qtr to make the sub. I would sub jones on for shaw mid third quarter