When I looked at that on the AFL site I thought the exact same thing except on form I would leave out Hayward. We will all find out pretty soon. One week to go.Originally Posted by MattW
When I looked at that on the AFL site I thought the exact same thing except on form I would leave out Hayward. We will all find out pretty soon. One week to go.
Yes, with Heeney spending much of his time forward, and with Parker and Kennedy rotating through the forward line, I'm not sure if we really need another medium sized forward? So it might be best, if Hayward goes to the reserves and boosts his confidence by kicking a bag of goals.
Rain and showers are forecast for all of next week in Brisbane. So that should suit Gulden, who can get to contest after contest, and once he's there, can get down and dirty to extract the ball. And with the slippery conditions, perhaps we need another athlete in the side? So maybe Hewett loses out to McInerney or Stephens?
With the reduced rotations we will need more players capable of playing midfield and less specialist position players.
From the team listed above I would suspect everyone aside from the key components of our defence (Lloyd, Melican, Rampe and McCartin), and Logan McDonald would need to be able to play midfield/on the ball in some form.
Melican was talking on Sinclair's pod cast recently and said that Hayden McLean had been a stand out at training. I think he will be in the team. It would surprise me if we play three first gamers in round 1.
Ling, Melican, Rampe
Lloyd, Mc Cartin, Dawson
Florent, Mills, Blakey
Heeney, McLean, Hayward
Papley, Reid, Wicks
Hickey, Kennedy, Parker
Hewitt, Rowbottom, Warner, Gulden
We played three first gamers in round 1 2016, albeit they weren't all 18 years old (or just turned 19, as Campbell might be by then).
We desperately need a tall target to stay deep in the forward 50 and, if not mark the ball, at least provide a contest and bring it to ground so that our merry band of smalls can get to work. I'm not sure McDonald is yet physically ready for that. Reid might be / ought to be, but Longmire had him playing much further up the ground last weekend. Hayward was trying to perform the "key target" role but I don't think it exactly plays to his strengths. (And thus not surprising he had almost no impact. He can play, but that role's not fair on him.)
McLean is one player on the list who is maybe equipped to play the role but if the coaches thought that, you'd think he'd have got a run in one or both of the practice games. (He did come on late in the second half - or maybe that should be the second third - of the scratch match two weeks ago, but that doesn't indicate he's in the coaches' immediate plans.)
The 22 from the AFL site is fair and reasonable. We have 23 players that all have a strong case in the 22.. how they decide who misses out is going to be very interesting.
Reid with his arm in a brace is one option.
Hewett is unlikely to miss, they'll value his experience too much.
Hayward is well known as a coaches pet. Learning to play a new role buys him a bit more grace, so I think he'll stay.
Which means it's one of the debutants and Warner. Campbell is the most likely to play. Then I think it will be a decision of whether they want an extra tall (maybe not in the Brisbane dew) or the extra defensive forward / mids.
Based on that, I think McDonald misses.
Hayward just doesn't give enough. He reminds me of Leo Barry when he started out. Obviously, physically talented, and super keen, but lacking something. Leo made it in the end and maybe Hayward will as well. A wet game away from home, I'd leave McDonald out this week. Warner, and Gulden are a lock for me.
No chance of Mclean playing rd 1. If he hasnt played in the two preseason games doubt he plays round 1
I'd have Gulden in before Campbell.
Think Reid may be injured and Melican and Hayward just aren't up to it atm.
Based off the best 22 posted by AFL and discussed above, I'd have Melican, Hayward and Reid out for Gulden, Sinclair and McInerney
But wouldn't be suprised if Reid was fine and we don't play McDonald. Used to be a fan of Hayward but I've grown tired of his preferential treatment. I think he'll be a good player but he needs a solid stint in the 2s to build confidence and hunger.
Don't want to bang on about it but would like to see Lewis Taylor get another shot soon but based off the pre-season games he's probably a long way off it
Last edited by longmile; 12th March 2021 at 06:05 PM.
I could go with selecting our 22 from any of 30 players. I can see a lot of combinations that look good on paper.
Your back six is one I've mused over. I would like to see Ling given a chance to secure a spot in the side. But it's hard to see Cunningham being dropped.
I prefer Wicks over Hayward, and as I've mentioned in another post, I would retrain Hayward to play another position. We have better players to play close to goal (Papley and Gulden) and I think Dawson will find s spot up forward or in the midfield once Fox, COR or Gould are ready to come into the side.
Matt Rendell said on Dwayne's World today that he thought McDonald was already better than Reid. I would play him until Franklin comes back, which might only be this game anyway.
McDonald has got some serious write ups off the back of 2 quarters of footy against a rookie defender. The kid looked great, and will be, but we need a bit of reality here. He will probably frustrate us and yoyo in and out of the team over the next 3 years.
There aren't many forwards since Buddy that have come in early, had an impact and held their spot in the 22.
Sinclair over McDonald just seems to me to be being conservative for the sake of it. What's the point of 'experience' when it isn't going to result in a better performance. Sinclair won't get up the ground as much and is poor when the ball hits the deck. We know McDonald is going to offer more, so play him.
As for the other comments, yes Hayward underperformed last week, but I can't see us taking marking targets out when they're in meagre supply.
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