Always Right Match Committee R10 vs Essendon 2025

[Bumper Bulldogs]

I would consider resting Libba. VDM injured and Poulter.

I would bring in Buss, Scott and Luke Kennedy

Scott as the sub and move gags to the backline. I think he plays better with the ball coming at him. This also moves Truck upto the wing and Fridge midfield

[1eyedog]

In - Duryea (good VFL form and deserves a reprieve), Buss, Scott or Arty (as sub)
Out - VDM (injury?), Gallagher, Libba (rest)

Would shift Davidson to half forward to play Laith's role, Williams back to the wing and then Duryea to the back line. Buss coming in gives us the flexibility of Lobb playing forward to stretch the Bomber's back line and giving Naughty a bit more support. Scott can be the sub and his flexibility is handy able to fill multiple roles or Arty who was good in the VFL and most suited to sub at this level.

Davidson is no good defending can't play Laiths role if you can't stick tackles.

[jeemak]

We have to go in with all of our best available cattle against Essendon, unless it's absolutely critical someone needs a rest. They have their tails up, if we lose we're back to parity and that's not a place I want to be in when heading down to Sedat Park.

If we don't get to the bye at least slightly in front of the ledger all the bullshit scrutiny starts again. Getting to the bye behind the ledger with JUH out for the season, Bont and Richards unsigned, and without clarity on our coaching situation would be a catastrophe. So I'd get Libba to the bye, get him rested for a week, play him against the Hawks and then rest him again against the Saints the following week.

That would have been a horrible game first up for the season to have to deal with for Poulter. I'd give him another week to settle. The only time I want Lobb to play forward is if it's an in game change to address concerns (or if we don't have English playing), as I prefer to start the game with defence shored up. Happy to bring Busslinger in and play three talls down there, knowing we have cover if Lobb goes forward.

So as it stands it's Gallagher out, Busslinger in for mine (pending further injury updates).

[Mantis]

Davidson is no good defending can't play Laiths role if you can't stick tackles.

You do know that Laith didn’t register a tackle on Saturday night?

[Pleather Sole]

Definitely in Buss, taller backlines against Two Metre Peter & co

Definite outs Gags and Poulter. Gags as sub in those conditions (and not in defence) was not the wisest, especially with the game on the line at the end, but we'd already lost it in 3/4's prior. Same with Poulter, works hard but doesn't have the level of footy brain that someone like Dolan for example, has shown in just a few games.

If Vandermeer is injured I'd be tempted to debut Luke Kennedy IF he's physically up to and ready for an AFL level game.

Possible ins, Duryea, L. Kennedy, A. Jones, A. Scott

Essendon have some x factor with Kako, Caddy and Durham plus their stalwarts Merrett and Martin. We'll need to either dampen their spark or produce plenty of our own. The Bombers are gelling nicely and have plenty of confidence.

Unless Libba is putting up his own hand for a rest I wouldn't be pulling that lever. He's on a roll. The bye isn't far and maybe another pencilled in rest against Richmond in Round 15.

Ps
Bramble irked me at times but he often does

[Scraggers]

Essendon have some x factor with Kako, Caddy and Durham plus their stalwarts Merrett and Martin. We'll need to either dampen their spark or produce plenty of our own. The Bombers are gelling nicely and have plenty of confidence.

Unless Libba is putting up his own hand for a rest I wouldn't be pulling that lever. He's on a roll. The bye isn't far and maybe another pencilled in rest against Richmond in Round 15.

I agree with this ... Gold Coast loss makes this game ultra important. We need this win; no time to rest players

[Bornadog]

Essendon have won 5 of their last 6 even though they haven't had a big scalp they will be full of confidence.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

We are rightfully short priced favourites.
Let's get the job done, starting at centre bounces and defending at our best.
Let's get serious business happening with quality assurance and bona fide propriety incorporated team work.,
We have QA in Bont, Dale, Libba and Lobba, Red Richards and I predict Naughton and English to become QA.
A core worth banking on.

[Rusty12]

Don't think I have been close once, but, will keep trying.

Backs:
Lobb - JOD - JJ - Dale - Bramble - Truck
Outside:
Freijah - Davidson
Inside:
Libba - Bont - Richards
Ruck:
English
Forwards:
Naughton - Khamis - Sanders - Mennedy - West - Harmes

INT: Cleary - Poulter - McNeil - Scott
Sub: Baker

Bubble:
Jaques - Duyrea - Arty - Buss - Dolan - Lennedy - Gallagher
Not in the Mix:
Smith - Gardner - Coffield - Hynes
Injured:
Garcia - Darcy - Adz - Croft - Jones - VDM

Ins: Baker - Scott
Out: VDM - GAGS

[doggies ftw]

Buss better be back in, we’re definitely short a tall at Marvel. Please no more Poulter either, if he’s not going to run the wing (and we have better options now) then I just think he’s a complete waste of a spot in the forward line. Bramble on thin ice too, had a very very poor year.

In: Buss & I’d go with Dolan, but sounds like Kennedy might get the gig which is fair enough, hell of a game on the weekend.
Out: Poulter & Gallagher

If VDMs injured then Dolan or Arty in but sounds like he’s okay, not sure on Sub probably Kennedy would be a decent fit but we don’t like to do that on first gamers.

Williams JOD Buss
Dale Lobb JJ

Davo Libba Freijah
English Bont Richards

Sanders Buku MKennedy
Mcneil Naughty West

Harmes, LKennedy, VDM, Bramble, Cleary - maybe Bramble sub as we’re a defender heavy (if Williams stays down back)

[Pleather Sole]

Hmmmm, after watching bits of the game against Casey I'm thinking Doc in for Bramble.
Tony Scott in to assist Naughton (Poulter out)
Arty in for Gags as sub

Want Buss back in but not sure it'll happen or for whom, another tall against the Bombers would be apt.

Would love a Luke Kennedy debut but who knows.... would be a fresh spark.
Don't want Libba rested, the old man is in sublime form and it's his birthday Friday!
This time last year we were all fretting he'd be medically retired due to concussions and that odd collapse-haven't forgotten about that Fake Springer........

[bulldogSimmo]

Gags out for me, Buss in to the team, Poults drops to sub but I would seriously think about swapping him out for Doc

[The Adelaide Connection]

Hmmmm, after watching bits of the game against Casey I'm thinking Doc in for Bramble.
Tony Scott in to assist Naughton (Poulter out)
Arty in for Gags as sub

Want Buss back in but not sure it'll happen or for whom, another tall against the Bombers would be apt.

Would love a Luke Kennedy debut but who knows.... would be a fresh spark.
Don't want Libba rested, the old man is in sublime form and it's his birthday Friday!
This time last year we were all fretting he'd be medically retired due to concussions and that odd collapse-haven't forgotten about that Fake Springer........

From a number of reports Arty was super involved and a lot of what he did resulted in positive thrusts forward/scores etc. The knock has really been that he just didn't get it enough, so this was great to hear.

He has been the poster child for the Indigenous Guernsey this week and been plastered everywhere and, not that that is a reason to play, it would be great to see him in (even if just sub).

[Rusty12]

What is wrong with you guys?
Bramble out, he has had a poor year? He had 1 bad game. He has been fulfilling his role.

Buss in, would move Truck back to the wing, they will not line up with those 4 all back.

Is it a good prep for Buss to come straight back in? Rightly or wrongly, it has been a disrupted 3 weeks.

I am not a Poulter supporter, however, he out and Duyrea in, where is the balance?

[Mofra]

From a number of reports Arty was super involved and a lot of what he did resulted in positive thrusts forward/scores etc. The knock has really been that he just didn't get it enough, so this was great to hear.

He has been the poster child for the Indigenous Guernsey this week and been plastered everywhere and, not that that is a reason to play, it would be great to see him in (even if just sub).

Arty is a bit of a 'hype guy' who just brings energy to the group. I'd definitely have him in the frame to play as we risk being flat after that Darwin game. Some fresh legs never hurt.