Changes Round 5

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Changes Round 5

HAHN

Think Hahn is always going to struggle when he is the KPP in our forward line

He is best suited to ground level contests when he can take the ball on the volley or when he can bulldoze the opposition, especially when he is close to goal

Think without other key targets in Murphy and Welsh he struggles when he gets one of the better defenders on him

Grant could definetely play the lead up role that Murphy has in the past, hence also assisting Hahn

MINSON

Will at times spiked the ball forwards in the ruck contest 20 meters to our advantage, which was a positive, but he did little else all day

He played an OK match against Richmond, so I wouldnt be writing him off just yet

He can needs to hold a grab....how hard can it be??????

[boydogs]

Re: Changes Round 5

HAHN

Think Hahn is always going to struggle when he is the KPP in our forward line

He is best suited to ground level contests when he can take the ball on the volley or when he can bulldoze the opposition, especially when he is close to goal

Think without other key targets in Murphy and Welsh he struggles when he gets one of the better defenders on him

Grant could definetely play the lead up role that Murphy has in the past, hence also assisting Hahn

MINSON

Will at times spiked the ball forwards in the ruck contest 20 meters to our advantage, which was a positive, but he did little else all day

He played an OK match against Richmond, so I wouldnt be writing him off just yet

He can needs to hold a grab....how hard can it be??????

Tend to agree, but:

- Bringing in Grant/Welsh/Murphy to help Hahn, someone(s) need to make room - from our starting forward line this week I would put Johnson, Higgins, Hill and Aker ahead this year so far

- Having a ruckman that can double as a tall forward line marking target is very important to us without a Fevola, Brown etc., particularly on days like today when the midfielders are under pressure having to just kick long to a contest

[LostDoggy]

Re: Changes Round 5

If we persist in playing a short, quick forward line we need to add some class to the midfield, so we can hit targets and work our way through the zone. Okeefe has to come in, even if he plays mainly in the forward line and releases Higgins or Aker for extended periods in the middle.
We have too many players who arn't great kicks/decision makers eg Addison,Tiller,Cross,Picken,Williams,Tim Callan(when fit).

Time to play young Grant.

[Hairy Albert]

Re: Changes Round 5

If you were basing changes on today's game, you'd put a line through half the team.

I agree comrade, they looked too hot to be bothered. Wholesale changes will not help the team, Maybe give Eagleton a rest for Grant, and maybe Wood for Aker, ( If he gets done for the trip)

[mjp]

Re: Changes Round 5

There's been much banging-on about our newfound 'depth' lately...

But our depth is a myth...we have a bunch of kids - none of whom have played more than a handful of games - who we are excited about.

I admit, it is better to see Reid, Wood and O'Keefe (and others) knocking up getting the ball at Willi than Faulkner not getting a kick and Brad Murphy skirting round the outside of contests, but they are still kids who haven't proven a thing.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Changes Round 5

They can't prove a thing, if they're not given a chance.....chicken and the egg kind of thing.

[Bornadog]

Re: Changes Round 5

They can't prove a thing, if they're not given a chance.....chicken and the egg kind of thing.

You can't bring them all in at once. First gamers, one at a time.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Changes Round 5

You can bring them in to soon when they are not ready to step up and do more damage than good. I don't know if our game against Carlton is the best game to blood new players.
I would hope that Welsh is back this week, not sure about Cooney or Murphy, maybe a couple of games in Williamstown would be a better option take the pressure off them to perform when they are still recuperating. We have managed to win 3 out of 4 games without them, and after all one game does not make a season.

[ledge]

Re: Changes Round 5

I have a lot more sympathy for Tiller, i think he is holding his own on any forward at the moment, admittedly his kicking out on the full is a problem but he is quicker than Everitt and seems to have more strength.
Yesterday wasnt a good game to judge any backline player as the Eagles midfield was pretty much doing what they wanted once they got it.
In AFL once a player leads and the deliverer has time its pretty much all over.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Changes Round 5

I have a lot more sympathy for Tiller, i think he is holding his own on any forward at the moment, admittedly his kicking out on the full is a problem but he is quicker than Everitt and seems to have more strength.
Yesterday wasnt a good game to judge any backline player as the Eagles midfield was pretty much doing what they wanted once they got it.
In AFL once a player leads and the deliverer has time its pretty much all over.

Tiller needs the confidence to go for his marks when the times right. Twice he went for the spoil when he was the only player capable of marking it.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Changes Round 5

Tiller needs the confidence to go for his marks when the times right. Twice he went for the spoil when he was the only player capable of marking it.

He's got a leap on him.. worth a punt up forward? Will at least add some defensive toughness to the forward 50 with Hahn and Will seemingly unable to get to enough contests to stop the easy rebound and Hill too easily pushed out of it.

[Sedat]

Re: Changes Round 5

What are we currently lacking? The lead up forward - that would be Murphy (if deemed match fit enough and over his knee injury) with Jarrad Grant the next in line. We are also currently lacking a small defender who can close down the small forward - hello Tim Callan. I think we are also lacking one extra midfield option - Sam Reid is obviously knocking down the door but his sameness to the collective of Cross/Boyd/Picken/Ward (ie: in and under, not overly quick, not elite by foot), places extra pressure on our genuine ball carriers like Gilbee and Griffen - if these two get sat on, our ability to hurt the opposition by foot is greatly diminished. It also means, rightly or wrongly, that Eagle is deemed to be required to provide run and carry (I'm trying to think like the match commitee). Who else will run and carry the ball if Gilbee and Griffen are well held and Cooney is out? Then there are the directly substitutional possibilities, players out of form who are replaced by the same types. ie: Skipper for Minson, that will be considered - Hahn is on thin ice but there are no real options in the two's to directly replace him. Then there are the factors out of our control - Picken and Aker coming under MRP scrutiny. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that the unlucky chook lotto numbers come up for both - nothing would surprise me when it comes to the MRP. Then there is the cumulative fatigue factor from the first 4 rounds - a combination of 2 trips to Perth, one wet slog in the elements, and two warm to hot game days in the last 2 weeks - that alone will necessitate a couple of changes to the line-up.

None of the above factors in the opposition and how they will potentially line up, so I'd imagine this week's match commitee selection meeting will be very interesting and quite difficult. I hope Murphy and Cooney are given consideration for the entire 2009 season, and if there is any doubt on either of them to be able to run out the game on Sunday then they should not be rushed back into the line-up.

[Mantis]

Re: Changes Round 5

^^^

That's a pretty good wrap-up and as you discussed it will be an interesting week at selection.

From my perspective factor's to be taken into account would be:

1. Are Murphy & Cooney ready to come back in? Reports read that Murf probably needs another game at Willi. We need him to play the lead up role and not the floating role across HB he played in the 2's.

2. Who needs a rest? The recovery sessions will show this up.

3. What to do with our forward structure? Johnson hasn't been as effective up forward, Minson & Hahn aren't having an influence. Gia was apparantely poor yesterday and hasn't been that great in the last couple either. Bit of an indictment that Hill & Higgins look to be our 'go to' forwards.

4. Run through the middle is lacking as is our delivery in the forward half. Do we need to see some fresh faces?

Plenty of good signs so far, but we have a few tough games coming up which will give us a better indication to where we sit.

[azabob]

Re: Changes Round 5

He's got a leap on him.. worth a punt up forward? Will at least add some defensive toughness to the forward 50 with Hahn and Will seemingly unable to get to enough contests to stop the easy rebound and Hill too easily pushed out of it.

Tiller up forward? They tried that late 2007 and IMO it worked. For the life of me Im not sure why they didn't continue with it in 2008. I have a feeling Welsh took his spot. I think he would do extremely well up forward, he leads well and is an ok mark. Start him from the goal sqare and see what happens.
I've been on that bandwagon since the start of 2008, but what do I or we know?

[Sedat]

Re: Changes Round 5

One player I forgot to mention was Wood - he is apparently in good form for Willy and he is one player that possesses the tools to provide some rebound drive off half back, giving the likes of Gilbee and Griffen a much needed chop-out. Willy watchers will be better able to tell the rest of us if they think Wood is ready to take the next step yet.