Changes for Round 6 v Geelong

[Markwebbos]

Before you get too gloomy, bear in mind that the Cats have quite a few of their best 22 out as well - Ablett, Menzel, Taylor and Henderson, plus I wouldn't be surprised to see Scott Selwood pulled from the team.

Our injuries are crueller in the sense that, Hanners aside, they are concentrated amongst our tall players - Naismith, Reid, Buddy, Melican, Towers (in the sense he "plays tall" as our backup ruckman). Plus Tippett of course.

You can certainly mount an argument that we rely on Buddy more than any other team relies on a single player (though I'd be interested to see how Richmond go without Martin). But in terms of sheer numbers missing, we're worse off than Geelong but only just.

I share your lack of expectation that we can win this game, but I'm kind of looking forward to seeing how the team goes about things, and hopeful that a couple of players might lift in unexpected ways to make up for the absentees.

I am approaching this game with low expectations, but hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Or at least not humiliated.

[giant]

Cats $1.43 Swans $2.90. It's been a while since we were that long odds.

Adelaide were at much longer odds last week.

[ugg]

Just as liz suspected, SSelwood has withdrawn due to concussion. Thurlow (yet another 190cm player) comes in for him and just to rub it in, they add another ruckman to the emergencies in Zac smith.

[YvonneH]

Just as liz suspected, SSelwood has withdrawn due to concussion.

I would have been surprised if Scott Selwood played after that knock last week. If he had played then I would have suspected that he was 'acting' last week (which he wasn't).

Looking forward to how we go this week.

[waswan]

Alir needs to play to help in the ruck

Blicavs killed us running our ruck around last time

WTF anyway if Alir cany get a game when melican is out why is he on our list ???
Again go back to whem we lost 2016 EVERYONE was talking about how good we would be with Alir in our side now he has been wasted

Guys that have proven they can perform in the top side shouldnt need to play well in the Neafl
If they are fit play them

[The Big Cat]

Alir needs to play to help in the ruck

Blicavs killed us running our ruck around last time

WTF anyway if Alir cany get a game when melican is out why is he on our list ???
Again go back to whem we lost 2016 EVERYONE was talking about how good we would be with Alir in our side now he has been wasted

Guys that have proven they can perform in the top side shouldnt need to play well in the Neafl
If they are fit play them

He's not AFL fit yet.

[Blood Fever]

He's not AFL fit yet.

Club seems keen to get to get him in team. Played him against dogs but played mainly in front half. Probably not fit enough to run all over ground in ruck. Long season so if he does get fit, still a chance to have impact. Had no luck with injuries.

[ernie koala]

On the positive side I'm really optimistic, and looking forward, to what Ronke brings to the table.....

On the other hand, I'm pessimistic as to what Robinson, who is yet to impress at AFL level, will bring....

And similarly Fox, who shows flashes of endeavour mixed with flashes of woefulness

Very surprising these two got a run ahead of Newman and Aliir.

Nevertheless, we are back in our natural habitat of battling underdog, so I'm optimistic of really good effort , and hopefully a cracking game, as we revert to the hunting role.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Adelaide were at much longer odds last week.

The funny thing is that, historically speaking, we tend to win these "underdog" matches. Not saying I'm confident of a victory though. That said, I'm excited to see hat potential the newbies can produce.

[bodgie]

Based on on field chat his teammates have been calling him Ronk, although maybe that?s just short for Ronke the same way Ramps is short for rampe

I'm hoping it's Ronkee for his extended career as he makes a note for himself in media headlines. e.g.: 'Ronkee was a bit flat today'. 'Ronkee conducted traffic through the middle upsetting the oppositions defensive composition'. 'Ronkee held his own keys to goal through the opening stanza'. If you get my riff.

[AB Swannie]

I'm not really sure about all this Longmire is either a genius or an idiot talk. The fact is that we have had three forced changes. I can understand that people are concerned about a lack of height. However, the only two realistic players that could've been brought in to help here was Aliir and Cameron. Aliir is underdone fitness-wise and Cameron has not shown that he is capable of being AFL standard yet.

We may get beaten. We may get smashed. But it won't be because we played Robinson instead of Aliir.

After last week, the biggest question mark for me is not our forward structure but our midfield form. Over the past 5 years or so, JPK has been as big a factor to our success as Buddy. That is why Stevie J knocked him out of the game a couple of years ago. If JPK has a third game in a row where he is a passenger then I will be more worried about 2018 than having Heeney playing CHF.

[Blood Fever]

I'm not really sure about all this Longmire is either a genius or an idiot talk. The fact is that we have had three forced changes. I can understand that people are concerned about a lack of height. However, the only two realistic players that could've been brought in to help here was Aliir and Cameron. Aliir is underdone fitness-wise and Cameron has not shown that he is capable of being AFL standard yet.

We may get beaten. We may get smashed. But it won't be because we played Robinson instead of Aliir.

After last week, the biggest question mark for me is not our forward structure but our midfield form. Over the past 5 years or so, JPK has been as big a factor to our success as Buddy. That is why Stevie J knocked him out of the game a couple of years ago. If JPK has a third game in a row where he is a passenger then I will be more worried about 2018 than having Heeney playing CHF.

Sane and sensible post. Especially agree that if Kennedy continues to struggle, especially with Hanneberry down and out, then that is a massive problem. He has been an absolute gun for us for 8 tears and we have taken him for granted.

[Doctor]

I'm not really sure about all this Longmire is either a genius or an idiot talk. The fact is that we have had three forced changes. I can understand that people are concerned about a lack of height. However, the only two realistic players that could've been brought in to help here was Aliir and Cameron. Aliir is underdone fitness-wise and Cameron has not shown that he is capable of being AFL standard yet.

We may get beaten. We may get smashed. But it won't be because we played Robinson instead of Aliir.

After last week, the biggest question mark for me is not our forward structure but our midfield form. Over the past 5 years or so, JPK has been as big a factor to our success as Buddy. That is why Stevie J knocked him out of the game a couple of years ago. If JPK has a third game in a row where he is a passenger then I will be more worried about 2018 than having Heeney playing CHF.

You're being too reasonable here. Please get more hysterical.

[royboy42]

I'm hoping it's Ronkee for his extended career as he makes a note for himself in media headlines. e.g.: 'Ronkee was a bit flat today'. 'Ronkee conducted traffic through the middle upsetting the oppositions defensive composition'. 'Ronkee held his own keys to goal through the opening stanza'. If you get my riff.

Maybe I?m extra slow today, but I don?t follow. Anyway, O?Rordan and Newman both taken out of reserves team. Not too sure how to read that either. What a confusing morning.

[ugg]

No changes for us
Parfitt out, ZGuthrie in