Rd 4 team vs Pies

[Linton Lodger]

Collingwood favourites in the betting.
But that is to be expected given their large membership and following.
AND the lack of football IQ among these.

That, and that their midfield is starting to hum...

They've got the midfield,we've got the forwards/backs. Should be interesting game.

With the exception of Roo, our forwards are out of form and Carlisle is still getting his groove back.

This game will be won in the centre.

Our forwards have been getting plenty of the ball but Bruce, Membery and Weller need to kick straight.
It was mentioned last week that our marking in the forward 50 is above the AFL average.

We've also had a high number of inside 50s, all encouraging signs.

[Linton Lodger]

Good to see billings named, hopefully paddy makes final cut. Would be silly to drop either of those two.

I worry about going in without Paddy. (Aside from the explosion of Paddy threads) I think we will compromise our structure if Roo goes forward to replace him. We want Roo in midfield.

[CURLY]

Excited about Ben Long.

I see Daniel and Biggs have been dropped.

[Wrote for Luck]

Is Billings being played out of position a little and should be higher up the ground? Hard to tell only watching on the telly but are we rushing him into the midfield/wing to quickly and better to let him excel in his regularly position most played before being recruited? Happy to be corrected if this is not entirely correct but just my thoughts watching Sunday's game.

The thing i notice with him is he needs the ball in his hands early. You watch the Melbourne game he gets the ball early and looks good. Personally i want to see him playing in Joeys role come 2018. He's too much of an outside player in comparison to what we drafted. from memory they wanted to run him through midfield but likes to get on the outside and use that left foot of his.

I remember watching probably his first game for the club in a vfl scratch match in Frankston and looked terrific on the forward flank out positioning and just out playing his opponent reading the play, he was brilliant kicked three or four goals on the run. Above I actually meant to say further forward not further up the ground. Agree he's definitely a receiver type and just wonder if we're trying to develop him too soon into a midfield contest type when we could really do with his use, and let him come on in the other regard as he gets older.

[RODOS]

I remember watching probably his first game for the club in a vfl scratch match in Frankston and looked terrific on the forward flank out positioning and just out playing his opponent reading the play, he was brilliant kicked three or four goals on the run. Above I actually meant to say further forward not further up the ground. Agree he's definitely a receiver type and just wonder if we're trying to develop him too soon into a midfield contest type when we could really do with his use, and let him come on in the other regard as he gets older.

Reminds me of that match where he kicked a bunch of sausages in the last and snagged us the game. For sandy that is.

[Con Gorozidis]

Excited about Ben Long.

I see Daniel and Biggs have been dropped.

Yes because the Bulldogs pick their side on form and performance.
Two bad games. You get dropped.
We should adopt similar principles.

[CURLY]

Excited about Ben Long.

I see Daniel and Biggs have been dropped.

Yes because the Bulldogs pick their side on form and performance.
Two bad games. You get dropped.
We should adopt similar principles.

And that they are basically not that good.

[Con Gorozidis]

So who comes out of the side?

[Con Gorozidis]

Excited about Ben Long.

I see Daniel and Biggs have been dropped.

Yes because the Bulldogs pick their side on form and performance.
Two bad games. You get dropped.
We should adopt similar principles.

And that they are basically not that good.

And so what?
Talk me through your logic.
Both are down on form this year so they got dropped. As they should be.
Doesn't take their flag away though does it.

[WellardSaint]

So who comes out of the side?

I wish Sportsbet had odds on players making the 22,
i would bet 2 mortgage payments on Gilbo playing.

[kosifantutti]

StKilda v Coll
I/change: Acres, Gilbert, Armitage, Long.
Emerg: Savage, Stevens, McCartin.
Armitage, Long in for Savage, McCartin.

[Con Gorozidis]

StKilda v Coll
I/change: Acres, Gilbert, Armitage, Long.
Emerg: Savage, Stevens, McCartin.
Armitage, Long in for Savage, McCartin.

Gilbo very lucky to survive the chop.

[Griggsy]

StKilda v Coll
I/change: Acres, Gilbert, Armitage, Long.
Emerg: Savage, Stevens, McCartin.
Armitage, Long in for Savage, McCartin.

Stevens must have been close, im sure we will see him soon.

Roo named at half forward and joey on the wing. Really hope nick pushes into the midfield, thought our best chance of winning is to have him run riot in transition.
Savage is a good drop, he is damaging offensively but the pies smalls are dangerous and his defensive side isn't as strong as the other guys.

[To the top]

So we lose a KPP (McCartin) for 2 "Mids" builds (Long and Armitage), one on debut, the other established as a leader of the side.

Given the introduction of Long, I am wholly surprised that Lonie has been retained.

Obviously their mid field spread has us worried by the selections and omissions, but Long on debut is a big ask and Lonie is questionable at best in regards mid field rotation support and particularly given a genuine "mid", Stevens, has been left out.

Then there is Riewoldt being removed as a mid field option, and that, to me, is a negative.

The omission of Savage improves us.

In regards Gilbert, he was a contributor last week in all aspects of defensive play and particularly when we were under most pressure, including rebounding.

The only "negative" was when he peeled off behind his opponent but we then very badly handed the ball over and the entry found Gilbert not man on man.

His performance exceeded the contributions of Geary (including his ineffectual and thankfully short lived foray into the mid field) and Webster.

I would expect there will be further changes and we are playing structural "ducks and drakes" at this stage.

[BringBackMadDog]

StKilda v Coll
I/change: Acres, Gilbert, Armitage, Long.
Emerg: Savage, Stevens, McCartin.
Armitage, Long in for Savage, McCartin.

Gilbo very lucky to survive the chop.

Exciting to have two newbies in.

Sick of this s***, watch the game again, Gilbert was fantastic off half back. Him, Roberton and Webster were just fantastic. Billings can count himself very lucky, I would've had Stevens in for him

[BigMart]

Webster has been far better than Sam G

In fact Webster has been very good, close to our best defender

[Con Gorozidis]

StKilda v Coll
I/change: Acres, Gilbert, Armitage, Long.
Emerg: Savage, Stevens, McCartin.
Armitage, Long in for Savage, McCartin.

Gilbo very lucky to survive the chop.

Exciting to have two newbies in.

Sick of this s***, watch the game again, Gilbert was fantastic off half back. Him, Roberton and Webster were just fantastic. Billings can count himself very lucky, I would've had Stevens in for him

No I am sick of this s*** of fan bois over rating our own players.

Here is an independent assessment

http://www.aflplayerratings.com.au/Rati ... am-GILBERT

If we were as good as some on here claim we would have five flags by now.

Rose coloured glasses.

He is in our best 22 but only just.

[MC Gusto]

I think these are positive changes. Paddy clearly not fit enough for the big boys, savage has been a liability the last few matches. I'm confident we'll win based on these changes. Very nice team balance

[longtimesaint]

I am not sure about Paddy out -we look fairly small with Lonnie, Gresham and Long.
Also means Roo needs to play forward more.
Admittedly Paddy probably needs to go back to Sandy.

[Wayne42]

Excited about Ben Long.

I see Daniel and Biggs have been dropped.

Yes because the Bulldogs pick their side on form and performance.
Two bad games. You get dropped.
We should adopt similar principles.

The Bulldogs should have dropped their whole team if it's based on form, very ordinary so far, for them it's Ordinary Friday.

[Myron Gaines]

I am not sure about Paddy out -we look fairly small with Lonnie, Gresham and Long.
Also means Roo needs to play forward more.
Admittedly Paddy probably needs to go back to Sandy.

Acres can play tall in the forward line

[longtimesaint]

I am not sure about Paddy out -we look fairly small with Lonnie, Gresham and Long.
Also means Roo needs to play forward more.
Admittedly Paddy probably needs to go back to Sandy.

Acres can play tall in the forward line

Gilbert can go forward too so it is probably to get more run.
Collingwood don't have a very tall forward line so Gilbert isn't needed in the backs.

[desertsaint]

happy with the changes. mccartin needs to gain some confidence. savage has been very poor. would have preferred stevens in, in place of billings or armo, but richardson seems a very conservative coach.

[longtimesaint]

happy with the changes. mccartin needs to gain some confidence. savage has been very poor. would have preferred stevens in, in place of billings or armo, but richardson seems a very conservative coach.

Billings is the sort of player that could come good and I think Armo deserves his place.

[sainters85]

billings is still in because he was pick 3. Had it been acres that played like him last week he would have been dropped without a doubt