Team Round 1 vs WCE

[F'scary]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

Based on numerous training reports, a couple of first hand observations and various media reports (including club's website), at this stage I reckon:

B: Dale Morris, Jordan Roughead, Liam Picken

HB: Bob Murphy, Michael Talia, Shane Biggs

C: Mitch Wallis, Matthew Boyd, Jack Macrae

HF: Stewart Crameri, Jack Redpath, Lachie Hunter

F: Jake Stringer, Tom Boyd, Luke Dahlhaus

FOLL: Will Minson, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore,

I/C: Jason Johannisen, Nathan Hrovat, Easton Wood, Koby Stevens

If we are really concerned about their height on the forward line we could try Hamling in BP for Stevens on the bench and reshuffle the interchange, perhaps JJ as sub. I have Boyd in the centre based on 2014 form but the clock is ticking and there is always the Boyd disposal issue

[GVGjr]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

Inside Football put this as our best team as opposed to the likely round one side. This one doesn't include Biggs

B: Morris, Talia, Picken
HB: Murphy, Roughead, Wood
C: Hunter, Liberatore, Macrae
HF: Dickson, Crameri, Dahlhaus
F: Stringer, T.Boyd, Hrovat
R: Minson, Bontempelli, M.Boyd
IC: Smith, Stevens, Wallis, Campbell


On a side note, both the Herald Sun and Inside Football have put forward many errors in naming there best 22 players. Some of the errors include naming players twice or naming players as not named when they have actually been included.

[GVGjr]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

I'd be going with something like this for round one

B: Murphy, Roughead, Morris
HB: Biggs, Talia, Wood
C: Macrae, Hrovat, Stevens,
HF: Dahlhaus, Crameri, Bontempelli
F: Stringer, T.Boyd, Hunter
R: Minson, Picken, Liberatore
IC: Wallis, Johannisen, Jong, M.Boyd, Campbell, Roberts, Honeychurch

[always right]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

Here's the team I'm hoping to see.

B: Hamling Roughy Morris
HB: Biggs Talia Wood
C: Murphy Jong McCrae
HF: Dahlhaus Crameri Bontempelli
F: Hunter Boyd Stringer
R: Minson Libba Hrovat
I: Wallis Boyd Picken Stevens

I've selected this side for Westcoast and their tall forwardline...even though it looks at this stage like Darling may miss. Johannisen could easily come in for either Hamling or Talia with Talia the most vulnerable. I like Hamling's pace and agility at the moment even though I've never seen him play. Looks like a good matchup for Kennedy.

Jong is the big one. His improvement has been enormous in such a short time and he looks the perfect player for Beveridge's attacking game style. Still question marks on his disposal and game awareness but he looks like he could become a real attacking weapon. My new favourite player.

[The Underdog]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

Based purely on the one training session I've seen, I'd have Hamling slightly ahead of Talia, but admittedly that's no sample size to judge from. The 2nd ruck issue is one that continues to perplex. Having T. Boyd run there makes sense from a size perspective but I'd be surprised if his fitness if going to be good enough, at least initially. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jong is in there from the get go.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

It's always hard to pick a side at this time of year, but after the latest set of training reports, I'd like to see:-

B: Morris, Roughead, Hamling
HB: Murphy, Talia, Biggs
C: Bontempelli, Wallis, Dahlhaus
HF: Hrovat, Crameri, Stevens
F: Stringer, T Boyd, Hunter
R: Minson, Jong, Liberatore
I/C: Macrae, Picken, Wood, M Boyd (sub)

[Happy Days]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

It's always hard to pick a side at this time of year, but after the latest set of training reports, I'd like to see:-

B: Morris, Roughead, Hamling
HB: Murphy, Talia, Biggs
C: Bontempelli, Wallis, Dahlhaus
HF: Hrovat, Crameri, Stevens
F: Stringer, T Boyd, Hunter
R: Minson, Jong, Liberatore
I/C: Macrae, Picken, Wood, M Boyd (sub)

Pretty close to what I would have, aside from semantics; Hunter or Hrovat to be sub instead of Mr. Workrate, and Dahl, Stevens and Macrae all swapping positions. Pre-season will illuminate which one of these players inevitably gets dropped for Jarrad Grant, obviously.

Hamling at this stage plays round one, if for nothing else other than matching up on WCE's height. The biggest reach in the side is probably Boyd (the handsome one) in all honesty, but no way he doesn't play.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

The other 21 can sort itself out. Jarrad Grant must be in the 22.

[GVGjr]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

It's always hard to pick a side at this time of year, but after the latest set of training reports, I'd like to see:-

B: Morris, Roughead, Hamling
HB: Murphy, Talia, Biggs
C: Bontempelli, Wallis, Dahlhaus
HF: Hrovat, Crameri, Stevens
F: Stringer, T Boyd, Hunter
R: Minson, Jong, Liberatore
I/C: Macrae, Picken, Wood, M Boyd (sub)

I have a few questions:
Why Macrae slips to the IC bench?
Why you are moving Dahlhaus to a wing?
No Johannisen?
Not massive changes but ones I find interesting.

I'd also have Picken in the square to support Liberatore.

[Happy Days]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

The other 21 can sort itself out. Jarrad Grant must be in the 22.

Nailed it.

[GVGjr]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

The other 21 can sort itself out. Jarrad Grant must be in the 22.

Contract year, I'd hope he is good form from round one.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

Contract year, I'd hope he is good form from round one.

Some cynics would say a contract year means Jarrad will have a good year. The way I see it, Boyd, Campbell,/Roughy, Stew & Jake get the 4 big guys. Dahl, Hunter, Hrovat get the best small defenders. He works too far up for a lockdown player too. On this basis Grant is too tall &/or too quick for his likely opponent. When this happened when Barry was around and in late 2013 when other clubs forgot about him, he showed his value to the team. His work rate is up, upon many replays of the VFL grand final it was clear its now dropping in his head. If he'd kicked straight he would've been close to BOG. The reports are saying we are moving the ball much faster which for me means Jarrad must play. His link in, lead up and look away handball X factor stuff is conducive to fast movement, and if he in the 50 he can burn a slower opponent and/or take heat away from Boyd. Or better yet, crumb which is probably his most accurate kicking technique. A more attacking gameplan is his ticket to playing AFL footy for more years, he might have needed to learn defence under Macca, but under an attacking Eade with other bigs was his best time. So it's his time again.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

I have a few questions:
Why Macrae slips to the IC bench?
Why you are moving Dahlhaus to a wing?
No Johannisen?
Not massive changes but ones I find interesting.

I'd also have Picken in the square to support Liberatore.

I'm not too concerned about naming a player who I would rate in our top 18 on the bench, but just for balance couldn't fit him on the field. Given the rotations it doesn't really mean much, in my opinion.

Given our midfield will have Liberatore, Wallis, Bontempelli, Stevens, Macrae and Hrovat rolling through I like Dahl on a wing to add some pace around the ball, along with Jong. I know there has been a lot of speculation about Dahl's best position, and the general consensus from most on here seems to be to play him in a forward role, but I think he'll spend quite a lot of time in the midfield again - his pace, ability to create something from nothing and defensive efforts all offer a point of difference to most of our other blokes.

I really wanted to squeeze JJ in, but couldn't quite put him ahead of Biggs and Wood at this stage. I'm sure he'll play a lot of senior footy this year though. Biggs seems to be a lock, and Wood is a handy player for his versatility, especially against West Coast where he may need to pinch hit above his height at times. He's one I'm keen to see play a bit of a utility role, meaning he can also spend time forward and through the middle to give some others a chop out with the rotations.

[The Underdog]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

Some cynics would say a contract year means Jarrad will have a good year. The way I see it, Boyd, Campbell,/Roughy, Stew & Jake get the 4 big guys. Dahl, Hunter, Hrovat get the best small defenders. He works too far up for a lockdown player too. On this basis Grant is too tall &/or too quick for his likely opponent. When this happened when Barry was around and in late 2013 when other clubs forgot about him, he showed his value to the team. His work rate is up, upon many replays of the VFL grand final it was clear its now dropping in his head. If he'd kicked straight he would've been close to BOG. The reports are saying we are moving the ball much faster which for me means Jarrad must play. His link in, lead up and look away handball X factor stuff is conducive to fast movement, and if he in the 50 he can burn a slower opponent and/or take heat away from Boyd. Or better yet, crumb which is probably his most accurate kicking technique. A more attacking gameplan is his ticket to playing AFL footy for more years, he might have needed to learn defence under Macca, but under an attacking Eade with other bigs was his best time. So it's his time again.

I absolutely think there is a place for Grant at his best form in our best 22. He is one of the best crumbers on our team, has a great burst of pace and fantastic hands below his knees. Of course he also has a strong history of under performing and being exceptionally lazy without the ball. I thought parts of his 2013 were easily his strongest and most exciting football. I thought some of his 2014 VFL football was appalling. For all of the criticism of Jones and Tutt, they out performed Grant at VFL level by a mile. I'm fine if he is in our 22 in round one, provided his pre-season form is outstanding. X factor is fine, but I'd rather pick a guy I can rely upon to give total effort for a full game. I'm a supporter of Grant's talent but for a guy who's been in the system as long as he has, I'm not necessarily a believer.

[Axe Man]

Re: Team Round 1 vs WCE

Some issues for West Coast going into round 1 with Beau Waters retiring and Jack Darling and Scott Selwood unlikely to be fit.