Always Right Match Committee Round 2 V St Kilda

[1eyedog]

I would play Daniel as a samll forward until we get back (Jones/Weightman/Clarke). He knows how to read the game and it is something we lack at the moment. As we know he is very smart with ball in hand and has good goal sense.

After last week I would definately play Daniel forward of the ball.

[1eyedog]

Now that we know Lobb went into R1 under an injury cloud that clearly hampered him in game, and now requires immediate surgery, it was a very poor match committee decision - I don't think anybody could dispute that.

I disagree that we lost the 2021 GF because of bizarre selections in the last 4 rounds of H&A. We were 19 points up in the GF with about 37 minutes of playing time left, had just kicked 8 of the last 9 goals and Melbourne were freezing cold, looked clueless for a quarter and a half, and didn't look like scoring in that stretch. Put simply, we gave a sucker an even break, and that sucker is now emboldened against us in every subsequent match and own our sorry ass. We could have struck a mortal blow to the confidence and psyche of a fellow contender as well as give the rest of the competition shivers about our air of invincibility - imagine the narrative post GF about our travels around Australia, our inability to leave our hotel rooms, being under strict (and in hindsight, utterly ridiculous) quarantine and yet still overcoming all obstacles to win another flag again from outside top 4. Instead, we showed our soft underbelly (that has been ruthlessly exposed by the better teams in the last 12 months), and instead it is Melbourne who we gve a leg-up to and who now have that air of invincibility.

Yep we could have become absolute beasts and feasted off our reputation alone for all of 2022. It was our moment in the sun and we blew it.

[bornadog]

After last week I would definately play Daniel forward of the ball.

Me too. Let Dale, Ed and Duryea take on the opposition smalls.

[1eyedog]

Me too. Let Dale, Ed and Duryea take on the opposition smalls.

Our best small / mediums are all behind the ball. We need a quality small forward of centre when Weightman isn't playing.

[Curly5]

Is Gardner likely? If not, how far away is he from a return?

[bornadog]

Is Gardner likely? If not, how far away is he from a return?

Check the injury thread here

Injury List

Liam Jones (neck): test
Rory Lobb (ankle): TBC
Arthur Jones (groin): 1-2 weeks
Ryan Gardner (elbow): 1-2 weeks
Tim O?€™Brien (hamstring): 1-2 weeks
Cody Weightman (groin): 3-5 weeks
Laith Vandermeer (leg): 4-5 weeks
Roarke Smith (foot): 4-5 weeks
Dom Bedendo (groin): Indefinite

[Mantis]

Me too. Let Dale, Ed and Duryea take on the opposition smalls.

And when those guys are taking a break?

And given St.Kilda aren’t flush with tall forwards do we really need to play all of Jones, Keath & Bruce?

[bornadog]

And when those guys are taking a break?

And given St.Kilda aren’t flush with tall forwards do we really need to play all of Jones, Keath & Bruce?

Jones may not play anyhow.

[Rocco Jones]

And when those guys are taking a break?

And given St.Kilda aren’t flush with tall forwards do we really need to play all of Jones, Keath & Bruce?

I'd consider not playing Keath even if Jones is out. The Saints heaps of marks and disposals to opposition backline. As you mention, they are not tall and they are also pretty inexperienced. Looking at pre-season game they had too, seems like they are conceding a bit of space in their i50 once they've conceded a mark and defending higher up.

Very hard to comment on the VFL guys with the lack of coverage we get from the club, but all things considered, I would prioritise intercept marking and disposal much higher than strength/size/1:1 ability.

Would like to see Cleary get a game but once again, no idea how he is going at all.

[GVGjr]

Is Gardner likely? If not, how far away is he from a return?

I think Gards is really close once the brace comes off his arm. He's been doing a lot of training even with it own but not contact work.

[F'scary]

Keath and JUH to the magoos, they can take JJ and Hannan with them. Assuming Jones is injured. Williams to sub

In: Sweet, West, McLean, Garcia, Khamis and Cleary.

Naughton to chf, English ff / ruck. Daniel fp. Darcy chb.

[chef]

Treloar out injured and JJ dumped apparently. Jones to play.

[mjp]

Treloar out injured and JJ dumped apparently. Jones to play.

Can we please end all the experimenting with JJ as anything other than a running defender?

It. Is. Not. Working.

I actually don't care how well he plays in match sim against 2nd tier defenders...against AFL defenders he is not up to it. AS an AFL defender he has proven to be a very useful player....

[chef]

IN: Hayden Crozier, Rhylee West, Riley Garcia

OUT: Rory Lobb (ankle), Adam Treloar (hamstring), Jason Johannisen (omitted), Mitch Hannan (om
itted)

[chef]

I love those changes.