Rd 5 vs West Coast @ Optus - Pre-Game Thread

[AB Swannie]

I still maintain that Heeney is far better value as a forward. His ground ball gets and snaps are elite. He causes chaos to defences.

I really like his current hybrid role. Very difficult to match up on when he roams between midfield and forward. 20+ possessions and 2 goals per game will do me.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I really like his current hybrid role. Very difficult to match up on when he roams between midfield and forward. 20+ possessions and 2 goals per game will do me.

+1

[Aprilbr]

I really like his current hybrid role. Very difficult to match up on when he roams between midfield and forward. 20+ possessions and 2 goals per game will do me.

Agreed. He is vital to us up forward. We need two of him. One in the midfield and one up forward! Cloning anyone?

[ugg]

Big out for them

Jeremy McGovern will miss tomorrow night’s clash with @sydneyswans.

The @WestCoastEagles defender has entered COVID protocols. @7NewsPerth

— Ryan Daniels (@FootyRhino) April 14, 2022

[liz]

Ouch! (For them).

That makes a huge difference.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Mammoth.

I've watched a couple of their games this year. He has been back to his best (and better), reading the play like nothing, and plucking everything out of the air. They would have lost a couple of their earlier games by four or five goals more without him.

[Maltopia]

I know we won the first few games without Franklin last year, but that was when we caught other teams by surprise with our game style and ball movement (plus excellent execution). And we had Kennedy in the guts last year instead of trying to fit him somewhere where he has been less effective.

Was worried about this game with McGovern and Barrass vs Logan and Almartey/McLean with Hickey and Papley out as well.

Am more hopeful of a good start to the Easter long weekend now!

[707]

McGovern out - does that mean we can again now bomb it into the forward 50?

On a serious note, that's a handy out

[SeanM]

INS: Logan McDonald, Ben Ronke
OUTS: Lance Franklin (injured), Josh Kennedy (managed)

Emergencies: Josh Kennedy, Joel Amartey, Matt Roberts, Dylan Stephens

Team: Two changes to face West Coast

[liz]

So Ronke and Bell. Fair enough I guess, in the absence of both Papley and Wicks.

It will be interesting to see if the team looks more naturally structured without the "managed" Kennedy.

I suspect Stephens will be the medi-sub, though they might sit Kennedy on the bench. If they want to rest him I'd have thought not cramping him on a long flight across the country would be the better bet. Amartey will probably also travel as an emergency. That's working on the assumption that Roberts won't debut as a sub.

[707]

Want a bit more speed for the stadium in Perth, probably why Kennedy is being "managed".

Doubt they'll fly Kennedy to Perth and back, surely the speedy Stephens will be the medi-sub, Amartey flies as the tall insurance.

Edit: they might all go, in case of late breaking Covid cases - yikes!

[TheBloods]

Stephens should ve left last yr

[Roadrunner]

Stephens should ve left last yr

He has improved from last year but not doing quite enough. A few weeks in the twos will help his confidence and he will be back soon and all the better for it. It just takes a bit of time, TB- let’s wait a little shall we?

[Ludwig]

Doubt they'll fly Kennedy to Perth and back

What?

Do you think they'll just leave him there?

I know he hasn't been playing well, but that would be cruel.

[Nico]

Does "managed" really mean, omitted? He isn't injured and he didn't look tired or jaded to me.