Changes for Rd.4 V The Cats

[Big Al]

Re: Changes for Rd.4 V The Cats

Last in, first out? So drop Luke Parker? Or drop the oldies like Jude and Goodes? Or cycle through some fringe players like Armstrong and Andreas? Or keep the kids in the 2s and wait for injuries - or them to request a trade?

Selection is a bugger.

Solution: Rule Change to allow an extended 15 man bench.

[Go Swannies]

Last in, first out? So drop Luke Parker? Or drop the oldies like Jude and Goodes? Or cycle through some fringe players like Armstrong and Andreas? Or keep the kids in the 2s and wait for injuries - or them to request a trade?

Selection is a bugger.

[Ludwig]

We don't want to lose a potential Craig Bolton? Although that may have happened last year with Campbell Heath. Also, look where the Blions are now. They have been in the relative wilderness ever since their glory days.
I realise we should do everything we can to win another Premiership whilst we can, but we can also learn from other teams... mistakes seems too harsh a word ... but it is the best I can come up with.

I think this is a good observation. It's a difficult balancing act when you have quality players in the reserves that can't get a game in the seniors, for whatever reason.

Once you're in the system for several years, if you can't get a senior spot, you have to move on (unless your name is Jesse White). Looking at the team now, it's hard to see Cambo getting a game, even though he's playing great footy for PA. But we knew he could play. We just didn't have anyone to drop to give him a spot, and the time for his now. We may have known for quite a long time that we were going to take Towers on our first pick, which would have made things even more difficult for Cambo.

Geelong and Collingwood usually have a couple of spots in the seniors for young players. I think it's a good policy that helps keep the team from going into the wilderness, as RogueSwan says. I am very much in favour of giving well performing reserves players a go in the seniors, especially against the weaker teams. Maybe this is not the week to do it, but i definitely think we should give Lamb a go against the Saints or Brissy. Add Morton, Rampe and White to list as well. Towers also looked good on the weekend.

[jono2707]

We have been very lucky with injuries too - apart from Gazza last year we had relatively few injuries, and some ready made replacements in Seaby, Morton etc for players that missed games. Hence we didn't really need to blood too many younger players, and the two most likely in Jed and Mitchell are only now overcoming injury setbacks.

[DLBIA14]

There is no point bringing in young kids if they are not ready yet, it will only destroy their confidence. Hawthorn and Geelong youngsters where obviously ready. But personally I am excited about Tom Mitchell, Jed Lamb and Alex Brown playing AFL football in the not too distant future. To play them now would be a mistake. Agree it is time to bring back Morton and maybe leave out Armstrong and give Bird a full run in the backline. Morton would likely be the sub.

It's also true that this club isn't, presently, in the habit of handing out games for the sake of it.

We'll, no doubt, get our fair share of injuries as the season progresses.

Thats when the consistent standouts from the 2's will get their chance....

Some misinterpretation here.

Obviously I wasn't suggesting that kids get given games when they're ready. That's just moronic.

The point I was making is that we haven't had many kids earn games over the last couple of years when rival teams have seemed to have quality kids force a few of the senior boys out. It's not about playing young ones for the sake of it, it's about have kids that demand it.

I'm not suggesting it's easy for them to push out senior players from a top 4 team, but clubs like Geelong do seem to find a few.