Always Right Match Committee R23 vs West Coast Eagles 2025

[Warrnambulldog]

Well done Crofty. I feel this means Buss out, Lobb to stay back and Crofty to chop out in the ruck.
I see the need for giving Crofty exposure. Sellwood I thought would make more sense with an eye towards this years finals. If we lose a JJ, Cleary, Bramble, Dale type, you’d think he’d be essential… so thought this would be the game to trial him

[JackCJohnston2000]

Well done Crofty. I feel this means Buss out, Lobb to stay back and Crofty to chop out in the ruck.
I see the need for giving Crofty exposure. Sellwood I thought would make more sense with an eye towards this years finals. If we lose a JJ, Cleary, Bramble, Dale type, you’d think he’d be essential… so thought this would be the game to trial him

Based on the debut for Buss and Croft, I don't think Bevo and the selection committee think too much about "trialling" players. If you're ready to play AFL footy, you're ready and you get put in the 23 regardless of opposition or point in the season.

So re: Sellwood, it seems to me either a) he's not ready for AFL footy and so won't get picked until they think he is or b) he is ready but is behind in the pack for that medium defender position and so he'll need to wait for one of those guys you mentioned to leave the team.

[jazzadogs]

I'm saying Garcia and Croft in to half forward in the Poulter and VDM roles, with Davidson in as sub.

[Warrnambulldog]

Based on the debut for Buss and Croft, I don't think Bevo and the selection committee think too much about "trialling" players. If you're ready to play AFL footy, you're ready and you get put in the 23 regardless of opposition or point in the season.

So re: Sellwood, it seems to me either a) he's not ready for AFL footy and so won't get picked until they think he is or b) he is ready but is behind in the pack for that medium defender position and so he'll need to wait for one of those guys you mentioned to leave the team.

I think the club would be always looking to improve, hence you got to ‘trial’ or have a look at players to see if they can help you get better. Hope Crofty succeeds. Sellwood definitely looks ready in the vfl but you might be right in that he has to wait his turn and they mightn’t want to unsettle the backline. Hard to see another debutant after this weekend

[doggies ftw]

I can see the reasoning behind Buss missing and Croft taking ruck minutes with Lobb staying behind the ball. But if Croft is in the team I just can’t see a world in which Poulter stays in too - would be completely unnecessary and a real detriment to our forward half defence.

I really want to get Davo back into this team, he offered so much that we’d been missing. He had a spell in the 2s and then a rest, I think he deserves to see this season out now as he definitely contributed to us being in a finals spot. Baker has grabbed his wing spot with both hands but I think there’s room for them both. Would like to see Davo try VDMs role - he can cover just as much ground and actually offer a threat offensively.

So for mine, In Croft, Davidson, Garcia & out Poulter, VDM, McNeil to sub (could also be Davo)

I wouldn’t be surprised though if it’s out Buss, Williams to def, Davo to wing and Poulter to sub

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Very exciting about Croft. Hope he holds up and has a game to remember. I want to see father Croft and son Croft embracing after a nice comfortable win against the West Coke Eagles

[BontlowSzn]

Buss will be an out. Bevo even made a very slight reference to West Coast being a bit shorter up forward.

They have Shanahan and Reid as their talls. Reid plays second ruck and around 65-70% game time. So half of the game they will likely only have one key forward. There's no match-up for Buss.

If Croft can come in and impact it will be a huge result. Being able to leave Darcy and Lobb at either end for long periods, yes please!

I agree with those saying Poulter can't be in with Croft. But with the track watchers suggesting two changes, I'm tipping he will likely be sub.

Croft and Davo in.
VDM and Buss out.

[Mofra]

Some whispers that Darcy is sore and Crofty is his direct replacement. Hopefully that's not true.

[doggies ftw]

Buss will be an out. Bevo even made a very slight reference to West Coast being a bit shorter up forward.

They have Shanahan and Reid as their talls. Reid plays second ruck and around 65-70% game time. So half of the game they will likely only have one key forward. There's no match-up for Buss.

If Croft can come in and impact it will be a huge result. Being able to leave Darcy and Lobb at either end for long periods, yes please!

I agree with those saying Poulter can't be in with Croft. But with the track watchers suggesting two changes, I'm tipping he will likely be sub.

Croft and Davo in.
VDM and Buss out.

I don’t disagree but Buss will be needed against Freo next week, and should we progress he’d be needed against all 3 of our most likely match ups in Hawks, GWS or Freo again.

Coming off half a game last week is it really worth yo-yoing a 4 game player against the literal worst side in the league or do we let him get another important game under his belt and some much needed consistency with his teammates.

It just seems a completely ridiculous approach to change our structure week to week based on match ups against the weagles. Let the defence build & hopefully click IMO

[1eyedog]

I'd drop Sanders personally he's been running on the spot for weeks and has escaped criticism. Even in our demolition jobs on Essendon and GWS he was very vanilla and hasn't offered anything across the last month of football.

Just play Adz for two and a half quarters in his place.

Is Harmes any chance this week?

[Eastdog]

Good luck to Jordan Croft. Hope he goes well. Good opportunity to see how he goes.

He was really good last weekend in the VFL.

[Axe Man]

I'd drop Sanders personally he's been running on the spot for weeks and has escaped criticism. Even in our demolition jobs on Essendon and GWS he was very vanilla and hasn't offered anything across the last month of football.

Just play Adz for two and a half quarters in his place.

Is Harmes any chance this week?

Per the article I posted in this thread yesterday Treloar might play VFL on Sunday but unless Bevo is foxing he won't play AFL.

Harmes is reportedly still sick and hasn't trained so I would suggest he's no chance.

Sanders will survive with little pressure on his position at the moment.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

I'm a little concerned about Sanders. Not looking like a first round pick at all let alone top 10.

[Bornadog]

I'd drop Sanders personally he's been running on the spot for weeks and has escaped criticism. Even in our demolition jobs on Essendon and GWS he was very vanilla and hasn't offered anything across the last month of football.

Just play Adz for two and a half quarters in his place.

Is Harmes any chance this week?

Harmes has been ill and hasn't trained for two weeks

[Mantis]

I'm a little concerned about Sanders. Not looking like a first round pick at all let alone top 10.

I know the highlights for draftees/ potential draftees are cherry picked to show the ''best bits'', but the vision of Sanders running forward from the centre with ball in hand at under age level, and then delivering the ball with precision to leading forwards had me extremely excited... I'm yet to see much of that at all at AFL level.