Team v Dockers Steele in Acres out

[shrodes]

I love Richo. He's a bloody good coach.

Poe's law?

[Saint wagga]

I think if we are to make anything out of this season, 3 players really need to lift - Blake Acres, Mav Weller and Tom Hickey. If we can keep staying in contention while Hickey goes through his lull in form, You get the feeling he is the only ruckman we have who is ready to actually have a big impact on games and help win us bug games. Sure BIlly has rucked well in a few games but even his better games, you just can't see him driving a big win like Hickey did last year...but Hickey must recapture that form...he has time to turn it around.

I really hope both Blake and Mav are retained this week and given a chance to find their best form...Weller has teased this season, and has only been a few set shots away from some very good games. Blake couldn't get near it last week and I feel he's struggling to play his 'role'...because i think his role is changing a bit. I thought he was at his best on a wing ala Sinclair, but it looks as if Sinclair has got that spot at the moment...I wouldn't mind Seeing Blake have a run on ball for a whole game, but you get the feeeling Richo doesn't trust his defensive inside work enough to let him go on ball full time just yet. So he continues to be a bit par player and I don't think he's playing his best...again, we need him to lift and find some real good form to complement Billings and our other x factor players!!

[dragit]

I feel like Blake has played 11 pretty solid games before a stinker last week and deserves the chance to redeem, the guy needs to keep playing seniors - I can't see anything to be gained by collecting 35 touches in the VFL this week.

Weller in contrast has been pretty average all year, it could be an ankle that he seems to aggravate most weeks… but as a 25 year old leader of the club, he just needs to be performing better. 9.18 this year is just sub-AFL standard.

[Saint wagga]

I feel like Blake has played 11 pretty solid games before a stinker last week and deserves the chance to redeem, the guy needs to keep playing seniors - I can't see anything to be gained by collecting 35 touches in the VFL this week.

Weller in contrast has been pretty average all year, it could be an ankle that he seems to aggravate most weeks… but as a 25 year old leader of the club, he just needs to be performing better. 9.18 this year is just sub-AFL standard.

I think Weller's position by nature is so dependent on hitting the scoreboard, the difference between 1.3 and 3.1 is huge. He's rarely cracked 20 posi's, so just needs to be converting his set shots...which he was much better at last year, he seemed to kick clutch goals in big games, the geelong game in 2016 spings to mind.

[dragit]

I feel like Blake has played 11 pretty solid games before a stinker last week and deserves the chance to redeem, the guy needs to keep playing seniors - I can't see anything to be gained by collecting 35 touches in the VFL this week.

Weller in contrast has been pretty average all year, it could be an ankle that he seems to aggravate most weeks… but as a 25 year old leader of the club, he just needs to be performing better. 9.18 this year is just sub-AFL standard.

I think Weller's position by nature is so dependent on hitting the scoreboard, the difference between 1.3 and 3.1 is huge. He's rarely cracked 20 posi's, so just needs to be converting his set shots...which he was much better at last year, he seemed to kick clutch goals in big games, the geelong game in 2016 spings to mind.

Absolutely, but it's round 15 and he's kicked 2.11 in his last 6 games.

[dragit]

2.11

[bigcarl]

I wouldn't mind Seeing Blake have a run on ball for a whole game, but you get the feeeling Richo doesn't trust his defensive inside work enough to let him go on ball full time just yet. So he continues to be a bit par player and I don't think he's playing his best...again, we need him to lift and find some real good form to complement Billings and our other x factor players!!

Richo must have his reasons.

Maybe he just doesn't think Acres is up to it, so he will stick with inside specialists like Dunstan, Steele, Koby, Longer. Lots of muscle there, but, as you say, there's an X factor missing.

it indicates a lack of adventure to me, but then again it's not my job being put on the line.

[WellardSaint]

I wouldn't mind Seeing Blake have a run on ball for a whole game, but you get the feeeling Richo doesn't trust his defensive inside work enough to let him go on ball full time just yet. So he continues to be a bit par player and I don't think he's playing his best...again, we need him to lift and find some real good form to complement Billings and our other x factor players!!

Richo must have his reasons.

Maybe he just doesn't think Acres is up to it, so he will stick with inside specialists like Dunstan, Steele, Koby, Longer. Lots of muscle there, but, as you say, there's an X factor missing.

it indicates a lack of adventure to me, but then again it's not my job being put on the line.

some posters suggested that Blake had a more defensive role against the Coasters
which might explain his 6 kicks and 2 handballs, I don't think he had more than one tackle
Either they demote him for that performance,
or they keep him, acknowledge their mistake in taking him out of the midfield, and let him run free.
Having DMack in the extended bench,
suggests DMack may replace Blake,
for the defensive aspect, they hope DMack might help chase down the Hill brothers, who are very quick,
as well as provide long kicking from defence.

I remember the WCE game where DMack was run down a few times, seemed to be uncomfortable with the pace of AFL,
maybe they think he'll be better this time around.
It's significant that they brought him to Perth the first time,
and are thinking of him again.

[minneapolis]

I thought Bailey Rice was supposed to make the trip?

[WellardSaint]

I thought Bailey Rice was supposed to make the trip?

anthony74 suggested that "Rice may be heading west"

May...not a given.
It was said 2 weeks ago
Things might have changed in the meantime.

[magnifisaint]

How does Gresham stay in the side? He's done nothing all year. He's getting picked on potential.

[WellardSaint]

How does Gresham stay in the side? He's done nothing all year. He's getting picked on potential.

Richo was quick to drop Steele, but some players are treated like royalty

[Yorkeys]

Guessing Steele for Lonie. BIgger, more grunt in middle; but Lonie would be stiff, I think.

[quirky84]

The word is Acres is dropped for Steele

[desertsaint]

Fair enough, but Mav needs to deliver. Better players have been dropped for less. We don't really have a better player than Mav for his role, but we do have players that could do it better than he has been this year. I wonder how we'd go putting Gilbert in that role and bringing in Rice or Savage down back.

[skeptic]

Fair enough, but Mav needs to deliver. Better players have been dropped for less. We don't really have a better player than Mav for his role, but we do have players that could do it better than he has been this year. I wonder how we'd go putting Gilbert in that role and bringing in Rice or Savage down back.

I would argue for that as poor as they've been at times, both Minch and Wright have had at least had good games which is a step up from Mav minus the Hawk's training run

[dragit]

The word is Acres is dropped for Steele

That stinks.

[bigcarl]

The word is Acres is dropped for Steele

That stinks.

Disappointing if true.

Playing safe again and just not very adventurous.

We've got to take some risks and that includes selecting players who take risks.

[dragit]

Acres is probably a little bit too accurate in front of goal to fit into the side, having kicked 8.3 so far this year.

[bigcarl]

Too many plodders

[carn_sainter]

I really hope Acres plays! Put him in a roo-like role off half forward. We're going to struggle to move the ball from one end to the other at this ground and Steele's average possession distance is about 5ft. Fingers crossed Acres plays...that ground suits his style of play

[quirky84]

Stephen Hill, Connor Blakely and Deluca have withdrawn from the Freo side.

Collins, Pearce and Hughes into the 25.

[shrodes]

Stephen Hill, Connor Blakely and Deluca have withdrawn from the Freo side.

Collins, Pearce and Hughes into the 25.

Massive outs. Great news for us.

[WellardSaint]

When is the final team announced?

Does the whole squad fly over to Perth,
if so, then the 3 who are dropped, get no chance to work on "things" with the Sandy Surrender Monkeys
so how do they work their way back in?

[Sainter_Dad]

When is the final team announced?

Does the whole squad fly over to Perth,
if so, then the 3 who are dropped, get no chance to work on "things" with the Sandy Surrender Monkeys
so how do they work their way back in?

I believe that one of the emergencies flies with the team - the others are available to play