Changes for R13 v Eagles

[Wardy]

I just hope it?s a cracking game - the Sydney crowd get loud and intimidate the umps like they do in Perth - and we only have to win by 1 point!! (Of course I hope it?s by more but one can?t be greedy!!) just hope & pray that umpire number 9 isn?t assigned to this game.

[AB Swannie]

What I think will happen: In: KJ, Out: Robinson.

On top of this, I'd like to have Towers in our team in place of McCartin.

[S.S. Bleeder]

I'm probably on my own here but I don't think Jack deserves a spot in the side. I'm not saying he won't get picked, just shouldn't get picked. He's done very little for us this year and in fact has done very little for us for the last few years. We'd be better with him in the twos and freeing up a spot for one of our younger players or even Towers or Rose.

[Ludwig]

i wonder if we whinge at the end of the year when all we get offered for Alir is a late 3rd round pick

This is probably the last week for Aliir to get picked this year, as once Melican is fit to play the door will shut. It looks more likely than not that Aliir will be gone at year end. He shows real glimpses of talent, but he also makes far too many ball handling errors. I don't understand how he could have fallen so far in 2 years. I feel the talent that he showed 2 years ago is still there, but something has gone missing and it's hard to say why.

I would take a chance and bring him in the senior team to see how he responds playing will a high quality team around him, but this appears unlikely to happen.

[barry]

I'm probably on my own here but I don't think Jack deserves a spot in the side. I'm not saying he won't get picked, just shouldn't get picked. He's done very little for us this year and in fact has done very little for us for the last few years. We'd be better with him in the twos and freeing up a spot for one of our younger players or even Towers or Rose.

I agree, but I think he's marginally ahead of Robinson, so likely to come back in.

[MattW]

This is probably the last week for Aliir to get picked this year, as once Melican is fit to play the door will shut. It looks more likely than not that Aliir will be gone at year end. He shows real glimpses of talent, but he also makes far too many ball handling errors. I don't understand how he could have fallen so far in 2 years. I feel the talent that he showed 2 years ago is still there, but something has gone missing and it's hard to say why.

I would take a chance and bring him in the senior team to see how he responds playing will a high quality team around him, but this appears unlikely to happen.

I agree with that. It makes me a bit sad. I'm sorry it's gone this way. I know I am not alone in feeling thrilled by Aliir's dashing play in 2016 - the crowd rose, it was warming, and for me at least, a source of pride.

He had a long period out injured, took a while to recover, perhaps lost some confidence. Melican's rise has been part of it - Melican is excellent and definitely deserves his place in the first 22. It has been a little disappointing they have not turned to him in recent weeks as he seems to have come into form a little while Melican is still out. They have gone for the safer option in Marsh. I agree his window is shutting and I'd also love to see them give him a chance in a big game at the SCG this Friday, but also doubt they will.

[AnnieH]

I'm extra nervous and worried this week.
Swans have to bring ruthless AND their A-game.
The wet coke budgies are due for a loss (and hopefully it will be against us).
I'd like to beat them twice this season.

[The Runner]

West Coast play a game built around fast outside run and big marking forwards. On a small deck like the SCG, you need to beat us with tough inside midfielders.
I'm not that convinced by them either. You can only beat what is in front of you, which they have. But they haven't really played decent opposition away from home (except maybe the Hawks but they are up and down). My read is that they are similar to Melbourne - great against weak sides. But tough assignments they come unstuck. Will rely heavily on a top 4 finish and a downhill run to the MCG.

I think we will win with a comfortable 4-5 goal buffer.

[bungwahl]

West Coast play a game built around fast outside run and big marking forwards. On a small deck like the SCG, you need to beat us with tough inside midfielders.
I'm not that convinced by them either. You can only beat what is in front of you, which they have. But they haven't really played decent opposition away from home (except maybe the Hawks but they are up and down). My read is that they are similar to Melbourne - great against weak sides. But tough assignments they come unstuck. Will rely heavily on a top 4 finish and a downhill run to the MCG.

I think we will win with a comfortable 4-5 goal buffer.

The size of the SCG is irrelevant these days. If you stand in the centre circle it's literally 2.5m shorter in each direction than the MCG, or 0.5m shorter and 1m narrower each way compared to the Gabba. Bigger than the ground we were on last week!

[waswan]

Not sure Alir has fallen off a cliff
Probably given 6 games since the Prelim in 2016 and 3 of those have been out of position
Id like to see hime with Melican and find another to leave out

[S.S. Bleeder]

I agree with that. It makes me a bit sad. I'm sorry it's gone this way. I know I am not alone in feeling thrilled by Aliir's dashing play in 2016 - the crowd rose, it was warming, and for me at least, a source of pride.

He had a long period out injured, took a while to recover, perhaps lost some confidence. Melican's rise has been part of it - Melican is excellent and definitely deserves his place in the first 22. It has been a little disappointing they have not turned to him in recent weeks as he seems to have come into form a little while Melican is still out. They have gone for the safer option in Marsh. I agree his window is shutting and I'd also love to see them give him a chance in a big game at the SCG this Friday, but also doubt they will.

I wonder if any other clubs were genuinely interested in him last year. We'll be kicking ourselves if we rejected a decent offer because we'd get nothing for him now.

[Blood Fever]

The size of the SCG is irrelevant these days. If you stand in the centre circle it's literally 2.5m shorter in each direction than the MCG, or 0.5m shorter and 1m narrower each way compared to the Gabba. Bigger than the ground we were on last week!

Good post. Just about everybody, including all the commentators, refer to SCG as if it is way smaller. They go on outdated information like the "experienced" hard bodied mid fielders that we have. Piss poor research and analysis.

[mcs]

Good post. Just about everybody, including all the commentators, refer to SCG as if it is way smaller. They go on outdated information like the "experienced" hard bodied mid fielders that we have. Piss poor research and analysis.

This drives me to derision the whole 'postage stamp SCG' garbage the commentators crap on about! But lazy like every other clich? the commentators usually trot out.

[Meg]

This drives me to derision the whole 'postage stamp SCG' garbage the commentators crap on about.

Yep, I find myself often correcting people on that out-of-date misconception.

[waswan]

While we are talking distance
Is it just me or has buddy not kicked a goal outside 50 since round 2 ?