Changes for Rd. 3 vs North Melbourne

[TheBloods]

I’m stunned the AFL has left us with no means of getting games into players outside the 22. It is in danger of being a wasted year for many players.

Looked at the stats from Sunday, Hewett only 60% TOG, maybe he’s not quite fit yet . Makes me think he’s not going to be up to tagging.

Not sure if Clarke is the answer but someone has to take Higgins

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Who would you replace them with given their height?

McCartin with McLean. Hayward with Ronke. Blakey has his bacon saved by his few moments of class each week.

[Markwebbos]

Btw Heeney took zero marks on Sunday

[bloodspirit]

I think a few posters on here are way too fickle, too impatient and too harsh on the young talent. Rowbottom is no Bailey Smith but he's a good player who is still developing. McCartin has done superbly as KPF still only 20 years old. We can't expect the world of him, especially in the absence of the senior forwards. The thing that chafes me about the comments is that we lost the game by just 6 points; if we had scored 10 more points - and if Buddy or Naismith had played we may well have done that - we wouldn't be hearing the griping and moaning going on. And it wouldn't mean the other players or coaching was suddenly any better. We don't have to look further back than our last match against Adelaide in Round 1 for a decent case study. We played well early and should have put them away but we didn't, and we let them come back and then just held on long enough to come away narrow winners.... and there was nowhere near the level of angst and misery on these boards. Yet the Crows aren't as good a side as Essendon and our performance in round 2 was at least on a par with our performance in round 1. But you'd never know that from all the carping.

I think the calls to blood young players have to factor in that we already have done that - our team is predominantly made up of young talent. We have to place faith in those that we have picked and give them time to develop. While I would like to give the new draftees a chance it's hard to figure out who to drop because either it's a young player who you want to back in or it's one of our relatively few senior players who you can't afford to lose. In any event, it seems likely that there will be a few injuries this year and plenty of opportunities for fringe players to get a run over the course of the season.

If Ronke comes in, it has to be for Gray. But I'm not expecting Ronke to offer a lot more. He's also young and while he is certainly talented, he has been inconsistent. Gray is a solid player who hasn't shone in the two opportunities he's had so far but it's too soon to write him off.

Yes, I'm being conservative and leaning to the status quo; but there's a fair bit to be said for stability and continuity and sticking fat rather than sending a third of the team through a revolving door every week. Especially when you're a young and developing side.

My two bob.

[Mr Magoo]

I think a few posters on here are way too fickle, too impatient and too harsh on the young talent. Rowbottom is no Bailey Smith but he's a good player who is still developing. McCartin has done superbly as KPF still only 20 years old. We can't expect the world of him, especially in the absence of the senior forwards. The thing that chafes me about the comments is that we lost the game by just 6 points; if we had scored 10 more points - and if Buddy or Naismith had played we may well have done that - we wouldn't be hearing the griping and moaning going on. And it wouldn't mean the other players or coaching was suddenly any better. We don't have to look further back than our last match against Adelaide in Round 1 for a decent case study. We played well early and should have put them away but we didn't, and we let them come back and then just held on long enough to come away narrow winners.... and there was nowhere near the level of angst and misery on these boards. Yet the Crows aren't as good a side as Essendon and our performance in round 2 was at least on a par with our performance in round 1. But you'd never know that from all the carping.

I think the calls to blood young players have to factor in that we already have done that - our team is predominantly made up of young talent. We have to place faith in those that we have picked and give them time to develop. While I would like to give the new draftees a chance it's hard to figure out who to drop because either it's a young player who you want to back in or it's one of our relatively few senior players who you can't afford to lose. In any event, it seems likely that there will be a few injuries this year and plenty of opportunities for fringe players to get a run over the course of the season.

If Ronke comes in, it has to be for Gray. But I'm not expecting Ronke to offer a lot more. He's also young and while he is certainly talented, he has been inconsistent. Gray is a solid player who hasn't shone in the two opportunities he's had so far but it's too soon to write him off.

Yes, I'm being conservative and leaning to the status quo; but there's a fair bit to be said for stability and continuity and sticking fat rather than sending a third of the team through a revolving door every week. Especially when you're a young and developing side.

My two bob.

I agree, while Ive been critical of Blakey and others , changing out twenty gamers with zero gamers on the basis that the twenty gamer has stagnated or isnt doing much is really harsh.

Even the newbies from other clubs need more of a chance. Its pretty hard to come straight in and be used to how a new team works. We just need to give the team some time to Gel, do the odd change but I wouldnt be making wholesale adjustments for the new draftees who havent even player NEAFL in this shortened year.

[barry]

It was a terribly slippery night, first game back from a long layoff. I'd hold off on wholesale changes for another week.

[bloodspirit]

It was a terribly slippery night, first game back from a long layoff. I'd hold off on wholesale changes for another week.

Nice one, barry! :-P

[stevoswan]

The only change we need is decent delivery into the fwd line. We had a fwd line with an average hight of 5ft 9 yesterday yet we continued to bomb it long and expect a Mark of the year. Essendon talls would not have believed there luck with that game plan. Players need to take responsibility but instead they are just following coaching directions.

How do you know what the coaching instructions are?

[Southern Swan15]

How do you know what the coaching instructions are?

I don't, but when 90 percent of the inside 50s are high and long it feels like that must be the the game plan. Most game plans I have encountered come from the coaching staff.

If the game plan the coaches are instructing is different and the players are just doing what they want, than that is a while different issue.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

[stevoswan]

I got the strong feeling watchimng the game that we were grossly undercoached. This was reinforced by not seeing anyone other than Horse and Cox in the coaching box.

Do you think that was by design? Haven't you heard there's a pandemic?????

[caj23]

How do you know what the coaching instructions are?

Does it even matter?

They are either following the game plan which is a failure on the part of the coaches, or they are completely ignoring the coaches instructions.

The latter option isn't a positive for the coaching staff.

[stevoswan]

I got the strong feeling watchimng the game that we were grossly undercoached. This was reinforced by not seeing anyone other than Horse and Cox in the coaching box.

Do you think that was by design? Haven't you heard there's a pandemic?????

[Ludwig]

I think a few posters on here are way too fickle, too impatient and too harsh on the young talent. Rowbottom is no Bailey Smith but he's a good player who is still developing. McCartin has done superbly as KPF still only 20 years old. We can't expect the world of him, especially in the absence of the senior forwards. The thing that chafes me about the comments is that we lost the game by just 6 points; if we had scored 10 more points - and if Buddy or Naismith had played we may well have done that - we wouldn't be hearing the griping and moaning going on. And it wouldn't mean the other players or coaching was suddenly any better. We don't have to look further back than our last match against Adelaide in Round 1 for a decent case study. We played well early and should have put them away but we didn't, and we let them come back and then just held on long enough to come away narrow winners.... and there was nowhere near the level of angst and misery on these boards. Yet the Crows aren't as good a side as Essendon and our performance in round 2 was at least on a par with our performance in round 1. But you'd never know that from all the carping.

I think the calls to blood young players have to factor in that we already have done that - our team is predominantly made up of young talent. We have to place faith in those that we have picked and give them time to develop. While I would like to give the new draftees a chance it's hard to figure out who to drop because either it's a young player who you want to back in or it's one of our relatively few senior players who you can't afford to lose. In any event, it seems likely that there will be a few injuries this year and plenty of opportunities for fringe players to get a run over the course of the season.

If Ronke comes in, it has to be for Gray. But I'm not expecting Ronke to offer a lot more. He's also young and while he is certainly talented, he has been inconsistent. Gray is a solid player who hasn't shone in the two opportunities he's had so far but it's too soon to write him off.

Yes, I'm being conservative and leaning to the status quo; but there's a fair bit to be said for stability and continuity and sticking fat rather than sending a third of the team through a revolving door every week. Especially when you're a young and developing side.

My two bob.

Good post. Sums up the situation very well.

The whole team looked off against the Bombers. So many disposals, even when not under pressure, were off the mark just enough to slow down our movement and allow the opposition to catch up and force a kick to a contest. This was the main cause of the poor performance of our forward line players.

It's going to be very hard this year to make judgements on player performances based on a game or two.

[Mr Magoo]

Good post. Sums up the situation very well.

The whole team looked off against the Bombers. So many disposals, even when not under pressure, were off the mark just enough to slow down our movement and allow the opposition to catch up and force a kick to a contest. This was the main cause of the poor performance of our forward line players.

It's going to be very hard this year to make judgements on player performances based on a game or two.

This is what the problem was. Well summed up . The coaching instructions wouldnt have been "kick it long to our small forward line". It would have been I imagine - maintain possession with quick transition to the forward line and use our small forwards speed to effect. When this transition broke down with our poor disposal and the forward line got clogged up, the players resort to a safe option of kicking to a dangerous spot deep in the forward line rather than losing possession across half back and facing a quick rebound by the opposition.

[TheBloods]

I think a few posters on here are way too fickle, too impatient and too harsh on the young talent. Rowbottom is no Bailey Smith but he's a good player who is still developing. McCartin has done superbly as KPF still only 20 years old. We can't expect the world of him, especially in the absence of the senior forwards. The thing that chafes me about the comments is that we lost the game by just 6 points; if we had scored 10 more points - and if Buddy or Naismith had played we may well have done that - we wouldn't be hearing the griping and moaning going on. And it wouldn't mean the other players or coaching was suddenly any better. We don't have to look further back than our last match against Adelaide in Round 1 for a decent case study. We played well early and should have put them away but we didn't, and we let them come back and then just held on long enough to come away narrow winners.... and there was nowhere near the level of angst and misery on these boards. Yet the Crows aren't as good a side as Essendon and our performance in round 2 was at least on a par with our performance in round 1. But you'd never know that from all the carping.

I think the calls to blood young players have to factor in that we already have done that - our team is predominantly made up of young talent. We have to place faith in those that we have picked and give them time to develop. While I would like to give the new draftees a chance it's hard to figure out who to drop because either it's a young player who you want to back in or it's one of our relatively few senior players who you can't afford to lose. In any event, it seems likely that there will be a few injuries this year and plenty of opportunities for fringe players to get a run over the course of the season.

If Ronke comes in, it has to be for Gray. But I'm not expecting Ronke to offer a lot more. He's also young and while he is certainly talented, he has been inconsistent. Gray is a solid player who hasn't shone in the two opportunities he's had so far but it's too soon to write him off.

Yes, I'm being conservative and leaning to the status quo; but there's a fair bit to be said for stability and continuity and sticking fat rather than sending a third of the team through a revolving door every week. Especially when you're a young and developing side.

My two bob.

Good points bloodspirit. For what it's worth, I don't think Rowbottom should be dropped. However I don't think he is the heir apparent to our midfield that he has been touted as.

McCartin I would only drop because he has some deficiencies in his game that he needs to work on, and I'm not sure he's doing that lining up on established stars like Cale Hooker and Robbie Tarrant.

[0918330512]

McCartin I would only drop because he has some deficiencies in his game that he needs to work on, and I'm not sure he's doing that lining up on established stars like Cale Hooker and Robbie Tarrant.

Well he sure as cr@p won’t do it sitting at home when there isn’t even an opposition scratch match for those not getting a game.