Rd 3 vs Melbourne Demons @ MCG, Sunday April 2 3:20PM - Pre-match Thread

[The Big Cat]

I don't see anyone he would push out of the side, so I think he will have to wait for an injury or poor form to make the side. I suspect he will get a couple of warmup games in the VFL in any case, as there's no need to rush him in. There's going to be pressure to get some games into the likes of Sheldrick, Roberts, HHK and Gould. I don't know how they fit into the side, but it's not good to let the queue of AFL ready players get too long, else they will start to look elsewhere for opportunities.

I think we can stop talking about Gould. I think his papers are stamped. Seems there are a dozen players in front of him.

[dejavoodoo44]

I don't see anyone he would push out of the side, so I think he will have to wait for an injury or poor form to make the side. I suspect he will get a couple of warmup games in the VFL in any case, as there's no need to rush him in. There's going to be pressure to get some games into the likes of Sheldrick, Roberts, HHK and Gould. I don't know how they fit into the side, but it's not good to let the queue of AFL ready players get too long, else they will start to look elsewhere for opportunities.

Which could be a small advantage of the new sub rule, as it gives teams a little bit more chance to rotate fringe players. Although, that probably applies more to midfielders.

[707]

Strong bench, Harry Cunningham Chad Warner Braeden Campbell Justin McInerney - shows we're building depth

[Ludwig]

I think we can stop talking about Gould. I think his papers are stamped. Seems there are a dozen players in front of him.

The test will come when one of the McCartins, Rampe or Blakey are out, and who comes in to replace them. Our back line has a very low injury rate. Good for us, but bad for Gould.

[crackedactor 01]

Strong bench, Harry Cunningham Chad Warner Braeden Campbell Justin McInerney - shows we're building depth

I always find it funny when I see one of the best players in the AFL sitting on the bench in Chad Warner.

[Aaron]

The test will come when one of the McCartins, Rampe or Blakey are out, and who comes in to replace them. Our back line has a very low injury rate. Good for us, but bad for Gould.

And we recruited Aaron Francis

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I think we can stop talking about Gould. I think his papers are stamped. Seems there are a dozen players in front of him.

Poor guy, crushed by the unrealisable expectations of RWOers - it's tragic

[Ludwig]

And we recruited Aaron Francis

In our first VFL game, Francis played forward and Edwards was in defence. Francis has the versatility to fill in either end, if he's good enough to play at all. And we still have Melican as a possible backup defender, although I would expect this to be his final year with us. I think we need to develop Gould as that next defender, because the time will come when we will need it. It's his 4th year and he's always just missing out,(according to Tom Harley). So I will take him at his word and look forward to a Gould debut this year.

Gould was our best VFL player last year, so it's not unrealistic to expect him to get a go in the AFL side.

[Dow]

The test will come when one of the McCartins, Rampe or Blakey are out, and who comes in to replace them. Our back line has a very low injury rate. Good for us, but bad for Gould.

This about sums it up for Gould

[Aaron]

In our first VFL game, Francis played forward and Edwards was in defence.

Our VFL team did not have any experienced key tall forward last game but why would us traded in someone just for VFL? Agree that we have to give Gould a chance to develop though. BTW Melican can't be trusted. He was again injured after playing just one real game!! He would be the last in the rank!

[Aaron]

The Interchange bench has been trimmed as expected. Sub to be decided on Sunday:

Backs Tom McCartin Dane Rampe Paddy McCartin
Half Backs Ollie Florent Jake Lloyd Nick Blakey
Centreline Errol Gulden Luke Parker Dylan Stephens
Half Forwards Isaac Heeney Will Hayward Joel Amartey
Forwards Tom Papley Lance Franklin Logan McDonald
Followers Peter Ladhams James Rowbottom Callum Mills
Interchange Harry Cunningham Chad Warner Braeden Campbell Justin McInerney
Emergency Hayden McLean Matt Roberts Angus Sheldrick Hugo Hall-Kahan