Pre-season 2020

[waswan]

Def and Fwds are stacked
Id play those kids ahead of him

Rowy was one of our best mids by the end of the year thru getting given games and developing in the 1s

Stephens is R1 start for me.
More to gain playing thise kids

[bloodspirit]

I agree with you that COR should be in our starting 22, though I suspect in the coaches' minds he might be on the borderline.

I have no idea what they'll do with Mills, but I don't think the team can afford to have both Mills and Dawson as permanent defenders. We need one further up the ground. If we have three tall defenders (in Rampe, Brand and AA) available and in the team, I don't think we need the additional aerial cover that Mills and Dawson jointly provide.

I tried posting this yesterday but it doesn't seem to have worked. I think Mills will stay in defence for the time being. Dawson will be moved around as needed. And, in any event, Dawson is not in the backline so much for the aerial cover he provides defensively as for the elite rebound by foot he gives us offensively.

Incidentally, and based on I have no idea what, I perceive Brand as a one on one defender more so than an interceptor and I can't see him playing loose too much so I don't really consider him as aerial cover in the same way as Aliir or Rampe or Mills.

[ugg]

Final 26 named - Hewett and Fox not playing according to afl.com.au

Starting bench is Stephens, Clarke, Gray, Ronke, McInerney, Parker, Dawson, and Amartey.

[MattW]

Final 26 named - Hewett and Fox not playing according to afl.com.au

Starting bench is Stephens, Clarke, Gray, Ronke, McInerney, Parker, Dawson, and Amartey.

Huh. Well we heard Fox turned an ankle last week; perhaps George is injured too.

It will be interesting to see where Amartey plays. Is it his first pre-season game for the seniors?

[stevoswan]

Huh. Well we heard Fox turned an ankle last week; perhaps George is injured too.

Or it's a wake up call for his totally sub par performance last week.

[liz]

I wonder if something is up with Hewett. He was quiet in both games against the Giants, and didn't seem to spend much time truly on ball in either game.

[Blood Fever]

I wonder if something is up with Hewett. He was quiet in both games against the Giants, and didn't seem to spend much time truly on ball in either game.

Hope we can get him right for round 1. Big part of our team and still young.

[dejavoodoo44]

Huh. Well we heard Fox turned an ankle last week; perhaps George is injured too.

It will be interesting to see where Amartey plays. Is it his first pre-season game for the seniors?

According to the AFL site, we're only playing 24; with Amartey and Clarke listed as emergencies. Doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, so hopefully it's wrong.

[MattW]

Huh. Well we heard Fox turned an ankle last week; perhaps George is injured too.

It will be interesting to see where Amartey plays. Is it his first pre-season game for the seniors?

(To answer my own question, having checked back on the AFL site: yes.)

Ugh, edit - it looks like you're right, Deja.

Also, this is how they list the outs, FWIW: "Out: M.Knoll (Omitted), S.Wicks (Omitted), R.Fox (Ankle), G.Hewett"

[AnnieH]

Just checked the app... who the hell plays AFL on a work day Monday (for the rest of the country, Melbourne)?

Told the kids last week, please don't bust a gut for the ansett cup... we don't want unnecessary injuries.
Looks like they listened.


- - - Updated - - -

(To answer my own question, having checked back on the AFL site: yes.)

Ugh, edit - it looks like you're right, Deja.

Also, this is how they list the outs, FWIW: "Out: M.Knoll (Omitted), S.Wicks (Omitted), R.Fox (Ankle), G.Hewett"

Georgie wasn't at the Redback function last week... sick, was the excuse.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Wow

Hard to watch a bottom team easily containing a bottom team

[MattW]

Some of the ball movement forward looked good; Kennedy looks fit and Rowbottom spritely. Defence looked shaky. Not much forward. Mills and Lloyd playing up the ground a bit?

[dejavoodoo44]

Certainly seem more lively than last week: doing plenty more tackling and chasing. Liked Aliir's quarter: the quick play-on that set up Papley's goal, gave us our first bit of momentum. Kennedy has been good inside and when they've been close to the contest, I've liked Florent and Rowbottom, for their ability to get it out quickly.

[MattW]

Great mark and goal, Tom.

[MattW]

Good running and ball movement again.