Grundy ready to go but too slow against GWS?
They move the ball around without hesitation.
If there was another tall defender available then it might have been a different selection choice. As it stands I think the selection panel were happy to go with the six that played last week.
To bring someone like COR in would have meant shifting Newman or Florent up the ground. Both offered something different for us in our defensive chains. Although I’m surprised COR isnt an emergency
Also thought Fox would have received the nod over Robinson. He can fill in the same positions as Robinson but with the added bonus of also being able to play in the backline as a medium defender, in case another defender goes down during the game.
Kelly and Shaw both out for Giants. Greene and Williams still out too. If we are going to beat them, now is the time.
We're a better team with Robinson in. It's a separate debate whether we should play other youngsters ahead of him for the future, but he's a 10-15 possession player who never fumbles and generally does something constructive with whatever he's involved in.
There has to be a role for COR to play him - we have McVeigh, Newman, Lloyd and Jones as rebound defenders already, and you could add Cunningham and Florent as options to spend time in those roles also.
Robinson to Whitfield for sure
I'd prefer to see Cunningham go to Whitfield, Hewett to Coniglio and Robinson to Shiel. Whilst they tend to get an even spread amongst their midfielders, Coniglio and Shiel have been consistent in their clearances. If we can limit those and get on top in that area we will go a long way to winning.
I have been anxious to see the long term replacement for Smith - and now an immediate issue. He has been so important IMHO in preventing scoring by the best small forward and has a wonderful record.
I will be interested to see how the back 6 do line up - presumably the 'rebounders' of Jones and Lloyd remain in their roles, and while Cunningham has been playing mostly as a defender, he too seems more valuable as a creative player.
So, maybe Robinson is the answer - particularly if Whitfield does play as selected as a 1/2 forward flanker
Can't see Whitfield playing anywhere other than half-back. He's been their primary architect from there for pretty much the whole season, and until Williams returns (if he does, this season) I can't see that changing. Shaw's omission makes it even less likely he'll be moved.
They've got lots of very high quality players but, with Kelly missing, Whitfield is the obvious one to lock down on ahead of all others. He creates so much of their play. I imagine Cunningham and Robinson will both get to spend some time on him.
Notwithstanding Hewett's success in round 3, I reckon we need him as one of our main onball brigade with neither Kennedy nor Parker really at their very best right now. If he feels the urge to lock down on someone, there are a few options in there for him to get his teeth into. But I hope he's asked to play a two way role, rather than a primarily defensive one.
Bookmarks