Sinkers for Hickey, our only true ruck option, this is the exact reason he is still on the list.
Stephens needs a game for either J mac or Wicks
Rowy walks in if fit, prob for one of the above too
No need doing wholesale changes, we are 1min from 5-0.
Oconnor Riordon etc, who would they displace ? It isnt Lloyd or Harry.
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PS, starting to think Ollie is our barometer
I was listening to the ABC radio coverage of the game, featuring Tadhg Kennelly and Ryan O'Keefe. Tadhg reminisced back to when he was on the coaching staff and how he suggested, that it might be a good idea if Buddy did a bit of the ruck work. Apparently Longmire gave him a very bemused look and questioned Tadhg's grasp of asset management.
Buddy out 3-4 weeks (bone bruising), Hickey probably 6-8 latest guesses:
Franklin sidelined
Now that Buddy is going to be out for a month or more, we can return to team development as the top priority.
I still think we should give McDonald a week off and play McLean and Amartey along with Reid to cover our tall forwards and ruck positions. If we want to play 3 tall forwards we can also add Sinkers, but I'm fine with going a 2 tall forward line as we have a lot of good smaller players who can apply forward pressure and kick goals.
It's far from all doom an gloom. I don't really see us as a premiership side this year, so might as well target 2022 for the time when we've got the players and game plan in place to push to the upper echelons of the ladder.
This season is a very interesting one.
Are we playing to get in the top8 because we have a win loss ratio trajectory so far that might get us there...............and then see what happens? I mean nothing like a finals game to truly prepare the young folk for future success.
Are we in part, managing our youth to keep them healthy but game fit for Snr AFL roles?
No doubt there are so many layers to managing the trajectory and growth edge of a playing group with Top4 GF possibilities in more likely 2022/23/24
immmmm guessing we are giving as much game time to our future finals talent right now.............and simply managing each person on their development plan.
HENCE
Out: Hickey injured maybe Wicks out also
IN: Sinkers and Rowbottom
McInerney for me doesnt have enough real speed and or change of speed for wing long term and I would consider giving Stephens the opportunity to get back in and be ready come finals. I like JMac but maybe he is player 23 or 24 right now vs the upside of Stephens?
"be tough, only when it gets tough"
Buddy, Heeney, Rampe, Hickey Out for multiple weeks
Logan, Campbell, Gulden all need rest - may be not all together
Here we go again. The promising season is looking shaky now.
Suns, Geelong, Melbourne, Collingwood to follow
We need to try and break even in the next 4.
I think it won't be a bad idea for Blakey to go forward, McInerney and Stephens to do the wing. Mclean, Blakey, Reid, Hayward in forward half will be good enough against Suns.
Ling can come in to to replace Campbell if he is struggling according to the team management. Or Rowbottom on the wing and McInerney on half back.
McInerney has attacking mindset and he has long levers too with good kick. I reckon he will be good on the halfback and slid forward to push the ball in forward 50.
I would bring in Sinclair rather than Amartey with Buddy gone.
We need to win this one.
"be tough, only when it gets tough"
McInerney was the fastest runner on the ground on the weekend. However, I get your point, straight line running vs repeated sprints and having the same run when defending etc is more important than just getting the fastest run.
Stephens on the other hand had the more difficult task of coming in quite late in the game but for 17 minutes of game time had 1 contested possession and 1 tackle. He should have covered Josh Kelly on the last goal (as too others).
Spewing
Ins
McLean
Sinclair
Brand
Stephens
Outs
Franklin
Hickey
Melican
Blakey
Talk of dropping Mcinerney is silly
The talls are dropping like flies! Hope Bud is back soon. Hickey's injury may give Naismith a short window to prove himself in a few weeks time.
Ins
McLean
Sinclair
Stephens
Rowbottom
Outs
Franklin
Hickey
McDonald
Campbell
If Campbell and McDonald didn't looked so rooted, I would of happily dropped Blakey. Hasn't offered much this year so far.
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