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

[TheKev]

Bloody hell, does GC have any passengers on their team as a square-up for our idiotic selection?

 

[GreyCrow]

Just have to chuckle at the posters dismissing concerns about Murphy getting selected this year, round 4, first injuries and he’s in.

I'm now waiting for them to say '' its only 1 game ''

 

[CharlieCrow]

Saw a thing from Bickley saying that he saw Murphy as a logical replacement for Rachele as a small creative forward - can't remember his exact words. That is clearly the thinking with this selection and the prevailing view from the AFC conservatives.
The only good part to this awful selection is when he spuds it up again, hopefully Davis and Balme will get in the ears of the selectors (Nicks) and it never happens again.

 

[feenix67]

I went to Marion but had left by the time you started.

eww Marion hahaha

There were so many inner south schools back then. I went to Seacombe about your era (class of 84). I reckon Seacombe, now Seaview, is just about the only one left.

 

[Peter Doherty]

Ideally Murphy plays a Jericho like game and he's straight out.

I can't see him getting enough footy to play that badly though.

 

[Scorpus]

Ideally Murphy plays a Jericho like game and he's straight out.

I can't see him getting enough footy to play that badly though.

If his performances across the last 115 games weren't enough to put him out of the side permanently, nothing will

 

[CharlieCrow]

Looking at a forward line of Keays Thilthorpe and Rankine, then Fogarty, Walker and Neal-Bullen, I can't see where Murphy will play. Is he some sort of high order forward rotation guy?
Hopefully he is the sub and only comes on for a trot when we are up by ten with ten minutes to go.

By the way, the Suns have only played WC and Melb, who are probably the two worst in it at the moment.

 

[Stephen2]

Too sad to be angry. May we please somehow win anyway, we've all waited so long...

 

[CrowBloke]

Everyone has been saying that for the last 4 years.
But here we are

+

True. But you have an excellent list now.

It's much better for sure and will improve from playing together more often under the guidance/expertise of a really good Coach.
I don't think Nicks is the man for the job.
EDIT: the Nicks'n'Murphy supporters are placing all their bets on the last 3 games.
My conclusion on Nicks looks at his 5-year + 3 games' record (and it's not good at all).

And the coach knows if he doesn’t make finals he will be shown the door.
If push comes to shove, Mr Murphy will be on the outer.

Nicks believes in Murphy, clearly, ahead of Taylor.
If he thought Murphy's potential failure/s was career-threatening for himself then he would not have picked Murphy for the GCS game.
In my mind (and many posters in here) Nicks has better options given the injury to Rachele and the 'management' of Crouch.
Either Nicks is wrong, or many of us are wrong. We'll see, I guess.

A good start to the season, a tricky game this week, but at least a platform to build on. Positivity

3-0 is a very good platform to build on moving forward. Then, injuries beyond Nicks' control but what he does after that is up to him and ON him.
I think Nicks' Selection/s are unnecessarily risking a 3-1, then 3-2 result (with only a 5-day break to the Cats on the 10th).
If I am wrong, the Crows might well be 5-0 which would be wonderful and I'll happily admit I was wrong.

 

[GreyCrow]

I think we will win - I tipped us - it doesnt make it right

 

[huludicidal]

Looking at a forward line of Keays Thilthorpe and Rankine, then Fogarty, Walker and Neal-Bullen, I can't see where Murphy will play. Is he some sort of high order forward rotation guy?
Hopefully he is the sub and only comes on for a trot when we are up by ten with ten minutes to go.

By the way, the Suns have only played WC and Melb, who are probably the two worst in it at the moment.

Murphy has been picked to play Rachele’s exact role. Rachele played as a full time high half forward for the first 9 quarters of the season before getting his rib cage caved in. There is no other replacement from within the team taking that role (especially considering Crouch is out and no full time midfielder has come in to the squad).

It’s a moronic selection, and any coach with a clue would have picked Zac Taylor to play that role, especially in a team already containing 2 “workhorses” in the forward half in ANB and Keays. The role that needed replacing was a creative, skillful player who can set up goals and kick them himself when opportunities arise. That player is Taylor. Not Murphy.

The fact that Taylor is not even getting selected as an emergency this year is beyond belief. Was comfortably in our best dozen players in the last 8(ish) games of 2024 (including kicking 3 in the final round when half the senior players didn’t try), and takes morning shits that are better AFL half forwards than Lachie Murphy.

Not quite as ridiculous as the above blunder is the fact that Milera has been retained for this game. His game against North was nothing short of embarrassing to watch, and his selection looks certain to resign Nank to the sub role, which is a shit choice, considering Nank is clearly better at pretty much everything involved with being a creator off half back or a wing than not only Milera, but also Sholl.


On a more positive note, Crouch being rested and no Berry coming in means Draper is an absolute certainty to start in the 22. I would say Peatling takes Crouch’s normal role (with a view towards “cooling” one of Anderson or Rowell), and Draper essentially takes Peatling’s normal role for the day.


All in all, tonight’s selection is another example of the blind faith in proven losers over exciting youngsters that has plagued Nicks’ coaching career. What are we, getting Lachie to a contract trigger or something? Newsflash - nobody wants him and he’ll be in about as much demand as Ned McHenry if we don’t sign him up for next season.

I’ll be the first one to put my hand up and say “Nicksy nailed it” if Murphy has 20 and 2 and we win, but I’m not sure you’ll find anyone who knows football who thinks Murphy is a better anything than Taylor moving forward. They clearly value “experience” over many other things, and are failing to take into account that all Lachie Murphy actually knows is losing. That’s what he is experienced at doing. Losing.

 

[Interloperer]

We’ve never used Murphy as a tagger.

He is not the obvious pick as sub. Play Schoenberg as the sub who is in form and can rack up the possessions or Milera who is lucky to hold his spot

He was used in a tagging role against Brisbane last year. And semi-regularly shows up in a defensive midfield role (something Schoenberg and almost all other Nicks developed mids are bad at) in short bursts.

I wouldn't have played him with just Rachele out because the two remaining small forwards are both solid defensive forwards. Meaning a pure attacking forward or Draper into the best 22 is the better choice.

With a gap in midfield too you want a more flexible player (if only to free up Rankine to be moved around as needed)

 

[n4sir]

We’ve never used Murphy as a tagger.

We did that, and he sucked at that too. He's just not AFL standard. Period.

 

[n4sir]

This is the worst thing, we are setting ourselves up to lose 2 in a row by not managing the likes of Tex in hot conditions.

I don't mind this... if we manage Tex and Fog on basically a 50/50 game time between them.

We ran Fog into the ground last weekend with the interchanges, so Tex coming off a 4 goal haul should be at least able to do a decent stint with Fog, and if we get the win, then re-evaluate Gather round. Yes we will be testing out Thiltorpe and probably Curtin as an extra tall with extra time on the field, but this is the time to do it on the back of a 3-0 start.

 

[Slime Roy]

ROB on AA his arvo when referring to Murphy, Berry and Pedlar: "they'd walk into any other team's 22".

**** no they wouldn't ROB.

 

[Pugsley]

We did that, and he sucked at that too. He's just not AFL standard. Period.

Jacky had more ability than Murphy. Taylor got on the phone to your manager. You won't get a go under this bloke.

 

[StonesThrow]

For ****s sake.

I told you all we are in desperate need of another small forward last trade period. As soon as we go one down they pick Murphy, our worst small forward of all time.

We managed 3 rounds with a talented 22. The idiocy of our selectors couldn't maintain that.

 

[Burtonsgottago]

All in all, tonight’s selection is another example of the blind faith in proven losers over exciting youngsters that has plagued Nicks’ coaching career. What are we, getting Lachie to a contract trigger or something? Newsflash - nobody wants him and he’ll be in about as much demand as Ned McHenry if we don’t sign him up for next season.

Agreed

 

[Burtonsgottago]

No other club would be interested in Murphy. I’d be more concerned about getting our youth games which would assist in player retention also.

 

[MRB37]

Ideally Murphy plays a Jericho like game and he's straight out.

I can't see him getting enough footy to play that badly though.

How long was the rope he gave senior players last year? You really think that's gonna be shortened?

 

[Cromulant]

How long was the rope he gave senior players last year? You really think that's gonna be shortened?

it'll take a player having 20 and kicking 5 to get Murphy out.

 

[craig crowing]

Live and learn you lot

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Whilst hard to believe it was going to happen with Murphy coming in before so many talented younger players waiting for opportunities .
But Nicks obsession with his non possession game wasn't suddenly going away and of course clincher for me was seeing coaches votes for 2 SANFL games have Murphy as best and Smith in but SANFL and media don't have .
Then we have 95 point win in SANFL and instead of getting excited about talented kids we have in the 5 best things article the coach ? rattles on the wonderful work of Smith and Murphy, and Murphy suddenly becomes a midfielder.
I was concerned trading in 3 experienced players that the Nankervis ,Taylor,Dowling ,Pedlar ,Ryan .Edwardes etc etc wouldn't get opportunities and eventually leave, but was hoping that Milera and never in wildest nightmare that Murphy would keep them out of team .
Next thing they will pick up McHenry in mid season draft.

 

[Crow till I die]

Looking at a forward line of Keays Thilthorpe and Rankine, then Fogarty, Walker and Neal-Bullen, I can't see where Murphy will play. Is he some sort of high order forward rotation guy?
Hopefully he is the sub and only comes on for a trot when we are up by ten with ten minutes to go.

By the way, the Suns have only played WC and Melb, who are probably the two worst in it at the moment.

He 'might' be the sub AND maybe we are doing well enough to only need to activate 3 minutes before the match ends...that could happen couldn't it?...is that clutching at straws?

 

[pjcrows]

"It's only acceptable if he's the sub"

No. It's the same.

 

[Greenfinger]

Firstly I'll just say there's plenty of things Nicks has done that frustrates me and I don't agree with Murphy being brought in over several others. Not at all

But...

If we're being objective there has been other improvements from Nicks.

Resting guys like Rankine & Tex for a start. But more importantly he clearly acknowledged his game plan last year went too far in the defensive direction & has set about changing course on that.

The way in which we've been moving the ball has been pretty impressive, it's not just skill based (though that is a part) it's players knowing where they need to be to open sides up and be that next outlet. Its pretty disingenuous to give 0 credit to the coach for this.

I'm all for criticism but similar when there's some credit due it should be given too.

Just to clarify I'm not saying he's turned the corner, the sample size of this year is a bit narrow and today feels like a step back in this regard after a positive start from his end in the earlier rounds.

When has he ever owned that his game plan was at fault last year? I listened to all of his abysmal pressers after game last year and he generally blamed injuries or player effort . I’d love to hear where he took responsibility from a coaching perspective.