Changes for Rnd 5 V Adelaide

[AB Swannie]

I think there will be minimal changes this week. I don't think anyone in the twos is knocking the door off its hinges yet. If Gaz makes himself available, I think he will come in for Newman who was disappointing on the weekend.

[longmile]

I'd keep in Newman over Cunningham. Fail to see what Cunningham contributes. Newman and Jones are far better at his role.

[Cainit]

Allir Allir, Newman out
Fox, Ronke in

[ugg]

I'd keep in Newman over Cunningham. Fail to see what Cunningham contributes. Newman and Jones are far better at his role.

You mean apart from the excellent job he did in curtailing Lachie Hunter's output.

[AnnieH]

I'd keep in Newman over Cunningham. Fail to see what Cunningham contributes. Newman and Jones are far better at his role.

Apart from shutting down Hunter, he snapped goal and was in the thick of it.

[chammond]

I would have thought that the main thing to have come out of the Bulldogs game is that we must have an alternative forward marking target to allow Franklin to roam. If he plays as a static forward, he's much easier to double-team, plus we lose out on his intimidating round-the-ground play. When you watch him live (as opposed to TV) you realise just how much the opposition @@@@ themselves when he runs at the ball.
With that in mind, Cameron seems the best option to come into the seniors in place of Aliir. Aliir looked seriously underdone on Saturday, and will have done his confidence no good at all. Plus, he's a natural defender - he kept wanting to plug holes rather than find space. Cameron is a better mark then Aliir, and he seems quite at home when he takes a rotation in the forward 50. And if Cameron takes the odd stint in the ruck, it gives Sinclair the chance to go forward and be the marking target.

[Billericay]

I would have thought that the main thing to have come out of the Bulldogs game is that we must have an alternative forward marking target to allow Franklin to roam. If he plays as a static forward, he's much easier to double-team, plus we lose out on his intimidating round-the-ground play. When you watch him live (as opposed to TV) you realise just how much the opposition @@@@ themselves when he runs at the ball.
With that in mind, Cameron seems the best option to come into the seniors in place of Aliir. Aliir looked seriously underdone on Saturday, and will have done his confidence no good at all. Plus, he's a natural defender - he kept wanting to plug holes rather than find space. Cameron is a better mark then Aliir, and he seems quite at home when he takes a rotation in the forward 50. And if Cameron takes the odd stint in the ruck, it gives Sinclair the chance to go forward and be the marking target.

I agree that we need a second tall forward, and it isn't Aliir. It doesn't reflect that well on Cameron that Aliir was chosen over him. If Rohan returns does he play tall enough for that role, I'd have thought not. In which case we have a lack of depth. McCartin not ready yet? How far away is Dawson?

[Ralph Dawg]

I agree with the line of thought having another target in the forward 50. Unfortunately, Cameron has had a slow start to the year. Relatively unimpressive in JLT then (imo) soundly beaten by Simpson and Flynn in the GWS NEAFL game. Against lions, did ok but was shaded by Smith and Mcinerney. I think there?s no obvious tall to come in and it might be that we will have no choice but to have a Richmond like setup. At least until Dawson is fit again although he would be a third tall under normal circumstances. McCartain looks promising, as does Amartey but they might get schooled by an AFL standard key defender. But both are certainly holding their own in NEAFL.

[AnnieH]

Give Aliir a break. He's spent the last twelve months busting a gut to get back into the 22.

I think they need to name ruthless again... and maybe give him a little more game time.
We need percentage.

[Ludwig]

I don't think we need to play another tall forward if we don't have one who's ready to play at AFL level. I don't think Cameron is quite there yet, mainly due to a lack of the physicality necessary to play at senior level. This is the difference that has most accounted for Sinclair's improvement this year. He contests the ball better and is marking it better too.

If Rohan is back training now, I would think he would play. He's a far better option than Cameron in the forward line.

Aliir usually plays an aggressive physical type of game, which wasn't evident on Saturday, where he looked more concerned about screwing up by getting in Buddy's way. He didn't really play poorly, he just didn't see much of the action, but what he did he did pretty well. He should be more comfortable playing in defence. I haven't been all that impressed by Maibaum yet, but think he's on a solid development track. He seems that he will be more in the mould of a Grundy or Melican if he does make it to the senior team. We need to get Aliir up to speed, because of the kind of skill set he brings to the defence. AJ would be the next best shot at that, but he hasn't even played NEAFL yet this year. We have put too much reliance on Rampe to both defend taller than his height would dictate and lead the counterattack as well. We need another tall weapon. Aliir plays in the style of Rampe. We need to get him up the same level of competence. Right now we be in serious trouble is another chain got in Rampe's path.

[AB Swannie]

If Rohan is available, he is the most obvious to play as a deep forward. He is listed at 189cm and has a good leap and often marks it at its highest point. The fact is, Reid and Tippett out have meant we are severely short in the forward line while we wait for some young ones to develop.

These are our players listed at 189cm or greater:
Sam Naismith 205
Darcy Cameron 204
Kurt Tippett 202
Callum Sinclair 200
Lance Franklin 199
Sam Reid 196
Lewis Melican 195
Aliir Aliir 194
Jack Maibaum 193
Tom McCartin 192
Heath Grundy 192
Josh P. Kennedy 190
Jordan Dawson 190
Gary Rohan 189
Dean Towers 189
Dane Rampe 189
Harry Marsh 189

[barry]

We do need another marking target forward. Allir back and Grundy forward?

[AB Swannie]

The other option is to play Aliir/Towers more in the ruck and Sinclair forward. Jacobs will beat Sinclair anyway.

[barry]

If Rohan is available, he is the most obvious to play as a deep forward. He is listed at 189cm and has a good leap and often marks it at its highest point. The fact is, Reid and Tippett out have meant we are severely short in the forward line while we wait for some young ones to develop.

These are our players listed at 189cm or greater:
Sam Naismith 205
Darcy Cameron 204
Kurt Tippett 202
Callum Sinclair 200
Lance Franklin 199
Sam Reid 196
Lewis Melican 195
Aliir Aliir 194
Jack Maibaum 193
Tom McCartin 192
Heath Grundy 192
Josh P. Kennedy 190
Jordan Dawson 190
Gary Rohan 189
Dean Towers 189
Dane Rampe 189
Harry Marsh 189

I think the criteria for tall forward starts at 194cm. Maybe 192cm at a pinch. I doubt anyone calls Joey Kennedy a 'tall', or any below that.

[AB Swannie]

I think the criteria for tall forward starts at 194cm. Maybe 192cm at a pinch. I doubt anyone calls Joey Kennedy a 'tall', or any below that.

I agree. I think what this list shows is how thin we currently are in terms of ?talls?. If we are a player in the trade and FA market, I suspect it will be for more depth here.