Always Right Match Committee R7 vs GWS 2025

[Happy Days]

Buss for Darcy with JOD going forward and Lobb staying back seems like the easiest most obvious thing ever so of course we won’t do it.

[SquirrelGrip]

Buss for Darcy with JOD going forward and Lobb staying back seems like the easiest most obvious thing ever so of course we won’t do it.

So based on that:

Talls in defence: Jones, Buss, Lobb
Tall in attack: JOD, Naughty, Buku

I can't imagine that we'd play both JOD and Buku forward. If we are going three talls forward and back, we are better with Lobb being on those forward talls with Naughton and JOD/Buku as the other. Then tall defenders Jones, Buss, JOD/Buku.

Personally I'd keep Lobb back as that is where he has played his best football for us, and just play two talls in the forward line. The Lobbster can still be a break glass option in the last quarter for ruck or forward, but he is a key pillar down back.

[Scragger77]

Maybe an Anthony Scott type as a leading small?

[Rocco Jones]

When up against an intercept mark trio like Taylor, Buckley and Himmelberg, I think the worst thing you can do is play guys just because they are tall. Means we have less mobile targets who who need to go aerially to mostly, makes the problem worse imo.

I'd look at how the Hawks beat them at the same venue. Of course ideally we have Darcy who is just too big and too tall, but we don't. I'd go a smaller forward line and bring in Poulter to try to play a def fwd role on one of their interceptors. A big key to this strategy is to be smart when going into our f60-70, which maybe hasn't been a strength of ours. I'd lose our big loss as a bit of an opportunity to throw in pinch hitting from Buku, JOD and/or Lobb. Well one of them plays there for most of the time, but one less tall than how we have been setting up. Having JOD and Buku both up there will make us so predictable, really hope we don't do it.

So the short of it is
In: Poulter, Vanders (if fit)
Out: Darcy, Hynes (if Vanders out)

Sub: Dolan or Hynes again

[Bulldog Joe]

When up against an intercept mark trio like Taylor, Buckley and Himmelberg, I think the worst thing you can do is play guys just because they are tall. Means we have less mobile targets who who need to go aerially to mostly, makes the problem worse imo.

I'd look at how the Hawks beat them at the same venue. Of course ideally we have Darcy who is just too big and too tall, but we don't. I'd go a smaller forward line and bring in Poulter to try to play a def fwd role on one of their interceptors. A big key to this strategy is to be smart when going into our f60-70, which maybe hasn't been a strength of ours. I'd lose our big loss as a bit of an opportunity to throw in pinch hitting from Buku, JOD and/or Lobb. Well one of them plays there for most of the time, but one less tall than how we have been setting up. Having JOD and Buku both up there will make us so predictable, really hope we don't do it.

So the short of it is
In: Poulter, Vanders (if fit)
Out: Darcy, Hynes (if Vanders out)

Sub: Dolan or Hynes again

I actually think JOD as a defensive forward on Taylor is a real option.
Buku also forward/ ruck and we need him to provide a leading option.
Naughts needs to be mobile and allow the mids/smalls to also get some inside 50 space.

For me Buss for Darcy

[Rocco Jones]

I actually think JOD as a defensive forward on Taylor is a real option.
Buku also forward/ ruck and we need him to provide a leading option.
Naughts needs to be mobile and allow the mids/smalls to also get some inside 50 space.

For me Buss for Darcy

I hear you with JOD as a def fwd but not sure it's really worked for us. Harris Andrews got most of his intercept marks when he had the match up on JOD. Freo worked us out there too. I also liked JOD back.

I don't mind Buku or JOD forward, just not both for a long duration.

Hogan's availability might influence things too, potentially another reason to go smaller.

[lemmon]

I'd go a smaller forward line and bring in Poulter to try to play a def fwd role on one of their interceptors.

How does Pouler do that? I think being an effective defensive forward means either putting an elbow in your opponent's back and letting them lead you to the footy or having the ball channelled through you so your opponent can't zone off and has to be accountable.

I don't think Poulter has the physicality to make Taylor or Buckley accountable if he is trailing them to the ball and I don't think Poulter is dangerous enough to force them to be accountable.

If we're going to go small, I'd rather we played Naughton one out and put a mosquito fleet around him with guys like Jones or Baker - try to make the tall GWS defensive backs uncomfortable at ground level.

[Critter]

When up against an intercept mark trio like Taylor, Buckley and Himmelberg, I think the worst thing you can do is play guys just because they are tall. Means we have less mobile targets who who need to go aerially to mostly, makes the problem worse imo.

I'd look at how the Hawks beat them at the same venue. Of course ideally we have Darcy who is just too big and too tall, but we don't. I'd go a smaller forward line and bring in Poulter to try to play a def fwd role on one of their interceptors. A big key to this strategy is to be smart when going into our f60-70, which maybe hasn't been a strength of ours. I'd lose our big loss as a bit of an opportunity to throw in pinch hitting from Buku, JOD and/or Lobb. Well one of them plays there for most of the time, but one less tall than how we have been setting up. Having JOD and Buku both up there will make us so predictable, really hope we don't do it.

So the short of it is
In: Poulter, Vanders (if fit)
Out: Darcy, Hynes (if Vanders out)

Sub: Dolan or Hynes again

Agree so much with you Rocco about JOD and Buku. We have need to maximise the potential advantage of a wining mid-field that has good disposal skills. Let Naughton get on his bike and then spread our other forwards. Kicking to the hot spot would be manna from heaven for the GWS backs. It would be unlikely that JOD or Buku would make double digit disposals.

This match calls for a mobile mid-size who can mark and who has forward skills. Caleb Poulter is ideal.

[Bornadog]

How does Pouler do that? I think being an effective defensive forward means either putting an elbow in your opponent's back and letting them lead you to the footy or having the ball channelled through you so your opponent can't zone off and has to be accountable.

I don't think Poulter has the physicality to make Taylor or Buckley accountable if he is trailing them to the ball and I don't think Poulter is dangerous enough to force them to be accountable.

If we're going to go small, I'd rather we played Naughton one out and put a mosquito fleet around him with guys like Jones or Baker - try to make the tall GWS defensive backs uncomfortable at ground level.

Poulter is 194cm - hardly a small

[Critter]

How does Pouler do that? I think being an effective defensive forward means either putting an elbow in your opponent's back and letting them lead you to the footy or having the ball channelled through you so your opponent can't zone off and has to be accountable.

I don't think Poulter has the physicality to make Taylor or Buckley accountable if he is trailing them to the ball and I don't think Poulter is dangerous enough to force them to be accountable.

If we're going to go small, I'd rather we played Naughton one out and put a mosquito fleet around him with guys like Jones or Baker - try to make the tall GWS defensive backs uncomfortable at ground level.

I think that, rather than a full mosquito fleet around Naughton, you need a second tall to provide a second leading option for us. One that will split the attention of the GWS backs. I agree with Rocco about Poulter. He has more mobility than either JOD or Buku, more goal sense and is quicker.

[jazzadogs]

The key with Poulter (or JOD, or Buku) is that we actually use them when they lead/separate from Naughton.

We need them to have Brodie Kemp type games, where they hold dangerous space so if Taylor/Buckley want to double team Naughton they can - but it will leave our target on his own.

If they are just trying to contest with Taylor, he will outmark them 9 times out of 10.

[hujsh]

The key with Poulter (or JOD, or Buku) is that we actually use them when they lead/separate from Naughton.

We need them to have Brodie Kemp type games, where they hold dangerous space so if Taylor/Buckley want to double team Naughton they can - but it will leave our target on his own.

If they are just trying to contest with Taylor, he will outmark them 9 times out of 10.

I'm going to speak for mjp here (you're welcome) and say whoever plays on them doesn't lead, they just stick their elbow in their back and be in the way all day. And if I misremembered the point he made... mybad

[lemmon]

Poulter is 194cm - hardly a small

I don't think that impacts how Caleb Poulter will fare competing in an aerial contest with Taylor or Buckley.

Caleb Poulter has taken a grand total of 3 contested marks in his career...Sam Davidson has taken 3 contested marks in his first 6 games of AFL footy.

If Poulter is in as a leading forward, I'd probably just stick with Buku who kicked 40 goals doing that role for Footscray in 2023.

[Bornadog]

Following the injury report:

OUT: Darcy, McNeil (Hammy) and Hynes
IN: Harmes, VDM, Poulter

[Garbs_7]

Hynes might survive another week now with McNeil out too, but we'll see. Will be huge to get Harmes and VDM back, missing so many forwards now, those two will play important roles if back this weekend.