Changes v Bombers

[samuraisaint]

It's crazy to panic about last night.

We played one of the two or three top teams on their home ground, where they have a considerable advantage. We kept up with them until well into the last quarter, even though we had lost several players through injury by that time. I think that, on the whole, we performed a lot better last night that we did either against Adelaide or North Melbourne. The umpires seemed determined to give as many free kicks inside 50 as they possibly could, which helped us on occaasions but also neutralised the impact of our strong defensive unit.

Our main problem is the injuries that occurred, not that we lost. Sure, Hill and Wood had poor games, as do all players from time to time. Hill has more excuse, as he was clearly targeted by the Lions because they know he is a serious threat. But our main problem was in the middle, as seems likely to be the case until Steele comes back.

Does anyone have a clear indication of who will definitely be missing next week? I assume McKenzie and Owens definitely, but what about Jones? And what about Bytel's availability? Without knowing about Jones and Bytel, I can't say what I would do in the midfield: Clark is presumably coming in and Byrnes might well come in too, but it seems quite likely that Windhager will also keep his spot for lack of viable alternatives.

It seems that, if the fans were choosing the team, Sharman and Highmore would be the first two selected, but I honestly can't see spots for them. Butler surely cemented his place, so the only possible spot for Sharman would be that of Higgins, who IMO is demonstrating his limitations more and more every time he plays. (I'm sorry, but can there ever be a spot at AFL level for a goal sneak who can't kick straight?) But I doubt very much that the club would drop Higgins at this stage. And it looks more and more like HIghmore can only really come in to replace Battle, and I don't think that's going to happen in a hurry bar injury.

Billlings will surely come back, and most likely NWM as well, with Wood missing out.

Tentatively, I will suggest (on the basis of assuming that McKenzie, Owens and Jones are all out injured) that the changes will be

IN: Billings, Clark, NWM and Byrnes
OUT: McKenzie, Owens, Jones and Wood

We will be desperately weak in the middle, but we don't have any other options unless Bytel is available. If he is, then I'd be tempted to use him and give Clark more time at the Zebs.

Don't think Jones tore his hamstring or even strained it that bad. Was smiling in the stand in his tracksuit - he may have been taken off as a precautionary measure.

[older saint]

We were in front of the 2nd best team at half time and right in the game at 3/4/time with 1 rotation down in the 3rd qtr and 2 plus wood injured in the last.
just relax people!

Injuries will dictate many changes :
McKenzie, Owens, Jones, Wood ( jab kept him going but 6 day break would be shocked)
form: Windy , Long?
On basis of like for like which selection has been all year
McKENZIE- Brynes
Jones - Clark
Wood - Billings
Owens - NMW

There will be calls for Highmore, Sharman, Lienert, But based on position, which has dictated selection who is out?
If Long goes then sharman likely in
If Paton out - then Highmore or Lienert but not convinced with these changes , although Long must be on last chance IMO - one thing to be good against North, need to do it against good sides. Sharman has bit to work on, yes has shown a bit but many talk abut him like the next messiah. Not Courney Jones or Brandon White, but he isn't Bruest or Fritsch yet either.

Big game for Hill too V essendon as he was soft last night when the pressure went up, something he hasn't been all year.

B: Paton, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Webster, Battle, Sinclair
C: NWM, Crouch, Hill
HF: Billings, Membrey, Higgins
F: Butler, king, marshall
Foll: Ryder, Ross, Gresham
Int: Clark, Long, Brynes, Lienert

Emerg: Sharman, Kent, Highmre, Joyce

Out: mcKenzie, Owens, Wood, Jones (inj) , Windy
In, Billigs, Clark, NWM,Brynes, Linert( medi sub into 22)

[saintbob]

INS: Billings, Clark, NVM and Connelly (we need someone to take the game on and be a line breaker)

OUTS: Owens, McKenzie, Wood (all
Injured) and Leinert

[saynta]

INS: Billings, Clark, NVM and Connelly (we need someone to take the game on and be a line breaker)

OUTS: Owens, McKenzie, Wood (all
Injured) and Leinert

Jones?

[saintbob]

INS: Billings, Clark, NVM and Connelly (we need someone to take the game on and be a line breaker)

OUTS: Owens, McKenzie, Wood (all
Injured) and Leinert

Jones?

Whoops forgot Jones, Byrnes would have to get a crack

[Ghost Like]

INS: Billings, Clark, NVM and Connelly (we need someone to take the game on and be a line breaker)

OUTS: Owens, McKenzie, Wood (all
Injured) and Leinert

Jones?

Whoops forgot Jones, Byrnes would have to get a crack

Lienert technically was never an IN so can't be an OUT.

[saintsRrising]

INS: Billings, Clark, NVM and Connelly (we need someone to take the game on and be a line breaker)

OUTS: Owens, McKenzie, Wood (all
Injured) and Leinert

Connolly has been in poor form.

4 of Billings, Clark, Nasiah, Highmore, Lienert, Sharman and Byrnes.

Jones, Dmac and Owens definite outs due to injury. Wood may or may not be injured.

On form Long has had two shockers. Woods ball use was poor, as was most of his team mates but he work hard and helped our our defenders.

Windy needs to go back and play with Sandy, but they may not want 5 changes.

[Teflon]

With Wood possibly injured there looks to be at least 4 changes and more if players like Windy are dropped after a 7 possession game (a la Sharman last week)

Out: McKenzie, Jones, Owens, Wood, Windy
In: Billings, Clark, Byrnes, Sharman, NWM

Bang on
Won’t happen
They’ll do the mystery get and Kent will get a go…
It’s odd but through injury very rarely does it eventuate that what you bring could actually be better than what you take out….
We have a chance here IF selection has half a brain

[B.M]

I reckon we’ll lose 4 players and be a better team

Billings, Clark, W-Milera, Byrnes

Are better than

McKenzie, Owens, Windhager, Jones

[SunnyErnie]

I reckon we’ll lose 4 players and be a better team

Billings, Clark, W-Milera, Byrnes

Are better than

McKenzie, Owens, Windhager, Jones

[spert]

I reckon we’ll lose 4 players and be a better team

Billings, Clark, W-Milera, Byrnes

Are better than

McKenzie, Owens, Windhager, Jones

Billings and Clark circa 2019 maybe, but at least bring them back into the seniors I guess. DMac wont get dropped unless injured.

[Devilhead]

Any news on Jones hammie?

Edit - Scans have also cleared Zak Jones of any hamstring injury following a complaint which kept him out of the final quarter.

Jones will undergo a number of tests at training this week to determine his availability

[Devilhead]

Anyone know why Geary didn't play against Southport?

Surely not??

[Devilhead]

Actually Geary - Shoulder 3 weeks ..... missed that

[saintbob]

INS: Billings, Clark, NVM and Connelly (we need someone to take the game on and be a line breaker)

OUTS: Owens, McKenzie, Wood (all
Injured) and Leinert

Connolly has been in poor form.

4 of Billings, Clark, Nasiah, Highmore, Lienert, Sharman and Byrnes.

Jones, Dmac and Owens definite outs due to injury. Wood may or may not be injured.

On form Long has had two shockers. Woods ball use was poor, as was most of his team mates but he work hard and helped our our defenders.

Windy needs to go back and play with Sandy, but they may not want 5 changes.

He wasn’t in that good of form last year when he came in, he might be just one of those players that steps up when given a chance

[Teflon]

Massive massive danger game
Stringer kills us often
We ought to remember these pr!cks embarrassed us last year
It should be noted
It’s flogging time like coach killing flogging we need to be ruthless

[mad saint guy]

Owens - Sharman
McKenzie - Wangmil
Jones - Byrnes
Wood - Billings
Windhager - Clark


B: Paton, Howard, Wilkie
HB: Sinclair, Battle, Webster
C: Hill, Crouch, Wangmil
HF: Higgins, Marshall, Billings
F: Butler, King, Membrey

Foll: Ryder, Gresham, Ross
Int: Byrnes, Clark, Long, Sharman


It's a shame to lose McKenzie and Jones but TBH that team looks stronger than the lineup we had against Brisbane

[Scollop]

Give the boys smoked wagyu beef, smoked carpaccio and sashimi all week

https://www.bradleysmoker.com/recipe/sm ... carpaccio/



In all seriousness, I reckon Seb and Hunter Clark can do the job to support Crouch. Gresh, Sincs, Jones (if he plays) and also Byrnes should be all tried as inside mids.

I know they'll put their head over the pill

[Bruce G McAbee]

Jones hasn't torn his hamstring and may be available.

[Ghost Like]

Jones hasn't torn his hamstring and may be available.

I'd prefer he rests it than produce last Saturday night's effort.

[SunnyErnie]

Massive massive danger game
Stringer kills us often
We ought to remember these pr!cks embarrassed us last year
It should be noted
It’s flogging time like coach killing flogging we need to be ruthless

Coach killing for them or for us? If we lose it could be the end of Ratts as far as getting an extension!!!

[tony74]

Jones hasn't torn his hamstring and may be available.

I'd prefer he rests it than produce last Saturday night's effort.

In full training this arvo

[Yorkeys]

Jonesy must be a nightmare to coach. And for medical staff. Bit disruptive with his ball movement into forward line as well. You know he is going to baulk, but when and which side.....

[Teflon]

Jonesy must be a nightmare to coach. And for medical staff. Bit disruptive with his ball movement into forward line as well. You know he is going to baulk, but when and which side.....

He just doesn’t take the first and often best option, tries to do to much then stuffs it
Take option 1 Jones

[Teflon]

For me this week

In: NWM, Sharman, Billings, Clark,

Out: Dmac, Owens, Butler, Wood

NWM - DMac
Sharman - Butler
Billing’s - Wood (if Billing’s doesn’t run deep defensive to help out..he’s out)
Clark - Owens (I’d play Sincs mid Clark HBF)
Long back to forward pressure role with Gresham when he’s up there