Preview R4: Changes vs. Gold Coast Suns (Match of the Round!!!)

[FR0GGY]

haven't read the whole thread so apologies if mentioned....

are we wearing the gather round jumper early this week? or full home kit?

our away kit can absolutely not be worn

Should absolutely be our normal jumper unless there’s a clash which there’s not.

 

[Betts are off]

1 alternate strategy this week would be to give Draper a midfield defensive role.

But not on Rowell, give him the task of standing Noah Anderson. Even though Rowell is the form player I kind of feel like Noah has the history of hurting us more then Rowell with his inside /outside style and class. And it could be a great development game for Sid in year 1.

And sometimes when Batman doesn't have his Robin, he stops being Batman

 

[CrowBloke]

Sholl is almost the opposite of a downhill skiier.

Had his best ever season in a year we were awful.

Again, 2024 Sholl. Yes, 2024 was his best year, no question.

It's 2025, and we're looking at Round 3 performance with a mind to Rounds 4 and 5.
With respect I disagree re Sholl's merits, clearly.
Round One 2025 good game in a big win.
Likewise Round 2, another big win, but one of three Crows to have zero tackles.
Round 3, ineffective, one tackle recorded.

I concede:
OK, dropping him after one weak game might be harsh, but I am old-school about strengthening a team by weeding out underperforming players and Sholl is not our prime weakness.

I have nothing personal against Sholl (and certainly not against you ), in fact his skills are of a high level when not under pressure. I'll bet he looks like a Brownlow Medallist at training.
I just think we'd be a better/stronger side without him; he's scrawny, gets bodied off the ball easily and doesn't stick tackles (on the odd occasion he tries one).

Nicks & Co will probably retain Sholl. You'll be ok with that. I won't. No biggie.

 

[Alwaysacrow]

Imo we have three options;

Move Rankine to Rachele's role and give Draper a full game in the midfield. Nankervis as sub.

Move Draper into Rachele's role and occasionally swap roles with Rankine. Nankervis as sub.

Keep Rankine in the midfield and Draper as the sub but bring in another player such as Pedlar (Or dare I say... M..u..r.. yeah nah) to do Rachele's role.

I think it will be #3, but personally I'd do #1.

Gold Coast midfield looks awesome we will need Rankine in the middle I'd say.

 

[Milo Cyrus]

This is the perfect opportunity for Peatling & Cumming to show their value.

 

[Jarman3]

Gold Coast midfield looks awesome we will need Rankine in the middle I'd say.

Yep, our forward line is firing on all cylinders. Rach going out hurts, but not enough to make me want to upset our midfield. Rach comes out, another player comes in to play that role, Rankine stays in the middle. If something happens like our midfield is on top but we're struggling at ground level up forward then maybe look at making the Rankine switch during the match, but I certainly wouldn't have "Rankine forward" in my plan A.

 

[Dangarman]

Fun facts:

Quarters won-drawn-lost:
Adelaide: 12 - 0 - 0
GC: 7 - 0 - 1

This game sees the 1st and 2nd ranked rucks in terms of average hit outs - Witts 46.5 vs ROB 37.0


(Last year I posted TIC that I would accept nothing less than winning 104 quarters. We won 42. Never lost all four in a game though! This year it's 12 down 92 to go...)

 

[Betts are off]

This is the perfect opportunity for Peatling & Cumming to show their value.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Ben Keays is in our top 3 players if we win.

Hard running Queenslander that loves playing against unaccountable star rebounders. If Ben's on, I suspect who-ever lines up against him won't even realise they are getting smoked until halftime.

 

[CrowBloke]

Yep, our forward line is firing on all cylinders. Rach going out hurts, but not enough to make me want to upset our midfield. Rach comes out, another player comes in to play that role, Rankine stays in the middle. If something happens like our midfield is on top but we're struggling at ground level up forward then maybe look at making the Rankine switch during the match, but I certainly wouldn't have "Rankine forward" in my plan A.

Crucial to Rankine's presence in the middle (+ all other mids) will also be RoB.
If ever he was going to turn on one of his best games, this is the time.

If we break even with Clearances, we will outscore them.

 

[Coopers]

Ridiculous.

Aside from Sunday, Sholl has had a very good 12 months of footy. Once a whipping boy, always a whipping boy

How so? Sholl's probably just inside the best 22 players but if he's not playing well, he should be outside it. Same argument as Milera really.

Personally, I didn't think he'd ever have as good a season as he did last year, but he proved me wrong, so that's great. Maybe he'll learn to stick a tackle and prove me wrong again.

I wouldn't drop him after one poor game, but we shouldn't have to tolerate it for too long because we've got like 10 other players who we could look at giving games to.

 

[Cromulant]

How so? Sholl's probably just inside the best 22 players but if he's not playing well, he should be outside it. Same argument as Milera really.

Personally, I didn't think he'd ever have as good a season as he did last year, but he proved me wrong, so that's great. Maybe he'll learn to stick a tackle and prove me wrong again.

I wouldn't drop him after one poor game, but we shouldn't have to tolerate it for too long because we've got like 10 other players who we could look at giving games to.

Milera has had 3 poor games, thats why the argument is there.

 

[CrowBloke]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Ben Keays is in our top 3 players if we win.

Hard running Queenslander that loves playing against unaccountable star rebounders. If Ben's on, I suspect who-ever lines up against him won't even realise they are getting smoked until halftime.

Loved the post, even if you've tipped Fagan off to tag Keays ... ssshhhhhh ... .

Ben will be 'on'; has no OFF switch.

 

[Vader]

Milera has had 3 poor games, thats why the argument is there.

Except that he hasn't. He played well in the Essendon game.

 

[Cromulant]

Except that he hasn't. He played well in the Essendon game.

First half he did yeah, 2nd half he wasnt much chop at all. Mind you we were all back on the bus by then.

He's nowhere near it currently, in a very easy position to play.

 

[CrowBloke]

Milera has had 3 poor games, thats why the argument is there.

I want Milera dropped, but R2 vs. Essendon was better than R1 and R3.
I remember how quick, evasive and talented he was at his best, but I have yet to see that this year.

"Very talented" and "used to be really good (sometimes)" are not enough to keep him in the Ones until he recaptures his best in the SANFL.

 

[Jeffcrowe]

How so? Sholl's probably just inside the best 22 players but if he's not playing well, he should be outside it. Same argument as Milera really.

Personally, I didn't think he'd ever have as good a season as he did last year, but he proved me wrong, so that's great. Maybe he'll learn to stick a tackle and prove me wrong again.

I wouldn't drop him after one poor game, but we shouldn't have to tolerate it for too long because we've got like 10 other players who we could look at giving games to.

Wouldn’t get too fascinated with stats re guys that play on the wing

Sometimes you get used all day and sometimes you don’t

If he stopped covering back into defence and providing outlet option offensively and in general not competing then he’d be dropped

Certainly not after one quiet game stats wise after 2 handy ones

 

[Crouch]

Gold Coast midfield looks awesome we will need Rankine in the middle I'd say.

I do have faith that Draper can be that quick midfielder and don't believe the gulf between him and Rankine is big. But yeah it's probably a bit too early at this stage.

Imo, it will probably end up being a player that comes in to replace Rachele's role.

 

[Vader]

I do have faith that Draper can be that quick midfielder and don't believe the gulf between him and Rankine is big. But yeah it's probably a bit too early at this stage.

Imo, it will probably end up being a player that comes in to replace Rachele's role.

There's a pretty big gulf between Draper & Rankine right now. Draper will be an absolute gun when he matures, but he's nowhere near that yet. He had 7 disposals in over a half of footy against Norf, compared with Rankine's 30 from a full game - Draper's current output is less than half of Rankine's on a pro-rata basis.

I'm all for giving Draper a full game this week, after 3 weeks as the sub. Just don't expect him to be a superstar yet, like a fully matured Rankine is right now.

 

[Trigger13]

Ridiculous.

Aside from Sunday, Sholl has had a very good 12 months of footy. Once a whipping boy, always a whipping boy

Also, I think his run-all-day work ethic makes him a handy asset in the Gold Coast heat. Watch him have a decent game this week.

 

[Crouch]

There's a pretty big gulf between Draper & Rankine right now. Draper will be an absolute gun when he matures, but he's nowhere near that yet. He had 7 disposals in over a half of footy against Norf, compared with Rankine's 30 from a full game - Draper's current output is less than half of Rankine's on a pro-rata basis.

I'm all for giving Draper a full game this week, after 3 weeks as the sub. Just don't expect him to be a superstar yet, like a fully matured Rankine is right now.

I don't think you can use the North game to compare them, as Sid was pretty much in the forward line the whole time.

In the first two games Sid had 8 and 9 possies in just over a quarter. If he can keep that up the whole game, it's not far fetched to think it could be close to 30.

Don't get me wrong, Rankine is better, but I just don't think the gulf between the two is that big.

This is all speculation as we haven't seen him have a full game in the guts yet. Time will tell.

 

[Vader]

I don't think you can use the North game to compare them, as Sid was pretty much in the forward line the whole time.

In the first two games Sid had 8 and 9 possies in just over a quarter. If he can keep that up the whole game, it's not far fetched to think it could be close to 30.

Don't get me wrong, Rankine is better, but I just don't think the gulf between the two is that big.

This is all speculation as we haven't seen him have a full game in the guts yet. Time will tell.

That's fair.

 

[Hodgy]

I agree that Sholl has done enough in the last 12 months to not be dropped off the back of one of his worst games. BUT, I'd move him to Sub and let Draper have a whole game. Have Nankervis in for Milera, Draper into the guts and let Rankine stay closer to goals.

Would love to see this as the changes, Sholl’s main weapon is disposal and elite running which could make him really dangerous as sub and Rankine splitting forward and in the middle with Draper really works. You still need to bring someone in for Rachelle though, so probably makes most sense with Curtin playing more wing.

Nank for Milera at HB
Curtin for Sholl on wing
Rankine for Rachelle up forward
Draper for Rankine in the middle
Pedlar for Curtin at HF
Sholl to sub

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Draper's first start, surely?

 

[Dangarman]

Draper's first start, surely?

Damn well hope so. This sub BS is killing my fantasy team...

 

[Golumless]

Keane on King will be a mauling, Keane is a disaster we have Worrel and Max who peel off their man and play loose we don’t need him doing it as well.

Where the **** did this perception that Max plays loose come from (I do want to add a extra to this comment, this isn't entirely directed at you, as this is a weird perception that has floated around)? Max produces nothing in this aspect. The three big names that contributed to our intercept game and playing loose is Keane, Worrell and Hinge, with the hope Milera can find form and be the fourth (though weirdly, it's been Soligo this year?)

The value of Max is that he plays tight and can have moments that he does damage the other way, but we do not build around him being a prime mover - or have any expectations he will be.