1st Qualifying Final Freo v Sydney Pre Match Discussion

[Ludwig]

Excuse me. They are taking those 3 blokes to Perth?

Just checked last week's 2's list. Very skinny depth indeed.

Marsh and Bird must be going season's end.

I don't think you can read too much into the emergencies. You're probably right about Bird going, but I don't think he's fully fit.

Marsh has only played in defence this year. I don't think we would bring in a first game player for a final to play as a defender. If for some reason a medium defender goes out, say Laidler, we would probably bring in Richards or move Rohan to defence and bring in Rose as the sub.

[mcs]

You know what? That's a really bloody good team we're putting on the park! No excuses, we're in with a shot here.

Spot on. I give us a real chance to win on Saturday - despite the weakness (comparatively) of our interchange. We will need lots to go our way, but we can certainly win if we play near our best.

[longmile]

With ballantyne and walters on the park and no smith our defence is gonna have to be at their best

[goswannies]

Is 14 changes for a game a record?

[Hotpotato]

16 degrees max, rain , possible hail.
Have no idea who best wet weather team is ?

[chalbilto]

16 degrees max, rain , possible hail.
Have no idea who best wet weather team is ?

Certainly not Sydney!

[Swanny40519]

Certainly not Sydney!

C'mon guys.

get behind the team. They are going to give their best.

I am sure we can win.

[annew]

No Buddy, Jack, Parker, Smith. Should we cut our losses and rest our players for the following week? Wouldn't that AFL love that!

Thought the same thing but unlike us fans the team believes they can win.

[Matt79]

McGlynn and McVeigh in for Kiz and Bud


Freo's changes (takes a deep breath)
Ins - Pavlich, McPharlin, Sandilands, Johnson, Mundy, Spurr, Dawson, D Pearce, Ballantyne, Hill, Mayne, Walters, Sutcliffe, Fyfe , R.Chamberlain
Outs - Duffield, C Pearce, Mzungu, Hannath, Duffy, Crozier, Ballard, Smith, Langdon, A Pearce, Blakely, Weller, Grey, Hughes

You forgot one key IN for Freo...

[Ludwig]

The cards are stacked against us.

But the pressure of expectation is all on Freo and I think we will win easily.

[jono2707]

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Interesting to note the emergencies experience. Freo 203 games, Sydney 3.

And a few people have been lauding our depth.......

I think the forecast bad weather will help bring us a bit closer to Freo. We can tough this one out and win it but a lot will have to go our way...

[aardvark]

I think the forecast bad weather will help bring us a bit closer to Freo. We can tough this one out and win it but a lot will have to go our way...

Might be time to reinvent the slingshot. Stack the backline and hope we can get them on the rebound. If Freo do the same it could be a nil all draw. I reckon its going to be ugly.

[crackedactor]

I am amazed at the confidence on this thread and I am hoping I am wrong. But with Jack and Buddy out combined with a wet ground ( which we have a poor record on) I believe the Footy gods are not smiling at us. I be very surprised if we win. But I have been wrong before!!

[DamY]

The only players I have any question marks around would be Towers and Lloyd from a performance point of view and then McGlynn from a fitness perspective. I think BJ has earned his spot, just needs to watch his tackling (can be high) and maybe try and jag a few more goals. Towers I have high hopes for and I pray he shines this weekend. Lloyd's role appears to have changed from last year or maybe his disposal efficiency is just down. Would really love to have Smooch back to tackle the small forwards and I think we will be OK without Parker and KJ, Parker's grunt-work could be taken over by Mitchell and his forward presence can be taken by Heeney. KJ's had a lot of goal score involvements which will be missed but hopefully Benny will help in that area (with high frees and pinpoint passes into forward 50). And if Reid, Tippo and Pyke are clunking marks forward then I think Buddy will be covered. So I am hopeful at this stage

[wolftone57]

Excuse me. They are taking those 3 blokes to Perth?

Just checked last week's 2's list. Very skinny depth indeed.

Marsh and Bird must be going season's end.

I don't know. Rose is very handy. X wasn't that bad in the game he played. Started slowly but by the end was holding his own. Jack Hiscox is there for the experience that is all. Don't think he will get anywhere near a game. I think Rose will be first emergency. I was surprised they didn't pick Hewett.