So have we gone from 2nd or 3rd favourites for the flag to having to dump a bunch of players in order to 'play the kids' and enter the dreaded 'rebuilding phase' after 3 terrible performances?
Hopefully Tippett is rushed back as soon as possible as he is the all-important missing piece of our forward set up. If he's not ready for this week we may need to bring in Membrey to give us a forward target. Either one will at least give another target up forward to take a small bit of heat off Buddy and hopefully allow him to push a bit higher up the ground and create a bit more. Buddy is not a key forward in the Tippett sense and I see his role changing as soon as Tippett, and eventually Reid, come back in.
Bird is the only other in that we need this week. We've missed him.
Oh one more in for this week - decent weather for the weekend please.
My solution for the problem of nobody at FF is to play Membrey there. I don't give a rat's bum if he is not tall enough, nor is Jack Darling. Membrey is 189cm & Darling 191cm. They play a similar sort of game and Timbo is getting plenty of it at the moment. So my ins & outs are;
Out; Shaw, ROK, LRT, Derrickx (we lack skill, pace & endurance. I think the first three may have played a bit too long. The last is not quite up to it.)
In; Membrey, Biggs, Bird, Aliir.
I would also think about Mitchell's form and Lloyd would be a good swap. The reason for Aliir is that he can play back while Reg goes forward & if that doesn't work he is capable of playing a defensive forward role on Johnston. He is quick, has good ball handling skills and is developing a really good working relationship with Shane Biggs. He can also play second ruck. If not then bring Naismith in as he is the one killing them in the Twos.
I've got 4 of yesterday's players in my sights, because I don't see them as part of our side next year:
Derickx: Worth a shot because of the uncertainty of who would replace Pyke in case of injury. I think we have a few better alternatives. Had his 15 minutes of fame (photos with Buddy and Hanners).
ROK: Great player for a long time. Shame about not making 300 games. Deserves it. But he's playing like a statue. Can't see how that's going to change.
Shaw: He still does a lot of good things, and is a real leader at the club. But his error rate continues to grow. Prefer to see someone in our future in his spot.
LRT: Another favourite of near legend status. He can probably continue to fill holes if needed, but I think we have better options.
We have 4 players that will come into the side to take these spots when they are fit: Bird, Reid, Tippett and Goodes.
I've got Grundy in my sights as well, but we have too many injuries to KPPs to put much pressure on his spot.
Hanners and Mitchell are way down from mid season 2013, but we need these guys for our future.
MCS, this is my point. Bringing in new players generally results in an increase in effort and attitude as they want to make the most of their opportunities. I agree, our attitude and commitment has stunk, and the coaches need to show that they are not going to accept it.
Maybe I am over rating some of the reserves players. But maybe I am not. We will never know until they get a chance. Maybe we are over estimating the ability of some our senior players. Some of the crap they have been serving up this year has me and others questioning it.
Dropping ROK, LRT and Shaw is not something that I find easy to say. As they have been loyal servants to the club. However, persisting with their sub par performances just because of who they are is sending a poor example to the younger players. Hopefully they can find form back in the reserves and force their way back into the team. The team and bloods culture must come 1st.
Couldn?t agree more Ludwig. We also need to develop a squad of players that can step in at any when the opposition, weather or injuries dictate. Geelong are masters at it.
The general consensus here is that ROK, Shaw, LRT and Derickx need to be dropped. I have simply offered up my replacements. I am also suggesting we rotate Rohan and give him some game time in the reserves and build on his fitness. Bird has to come back in, so Cunningham goes out. Mitchell is not in good form, so doesn?t deserve to keep his spot. This is a good opportunity to reward Lloyd for consistent effort and see what he has got. Whilst seven changes may seem radical, what is the worst thing that can happen. They play as bad as they players they are replacing.
I've read an old story where during the Gold Rush in America a bunch of fortune seekers bought expensive digging equipment and spent months and months digging but decided to give up one day and do something different to find their fortune. They sold the goldmine and equipment to another guy who discovered gold a few inches from where they had stopped digging a week later. They had given up and changed their plan mere inches from their goal.
Sometimes changing things isn't what gets results. Sometimes brute persistence, belief and patience pays off.
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