Preview R7: Changes vs. Fremantle

[Crows I Am]

At the risk of getting howled down, both Draper and Curtin have looked like they both need a rest for a few games now.

Sid in greater need of a spell.

Nicks doing his usual of running players into the ground when someone like Shoenberg could come in and probably add more than Draper at the moment.

Agree that Draper would benefit from a week off. Although not fully opposed to giving Curtin a rest, I don't think he needs one just yet, happy for them to give him reduced TOG or to be managed as the sub for the next week or two.

But i definitely agree that Nicks needs to use the squad better throughout the season, now is the time to give guys like Dowling, Edwards and Ryan a go and rotate some others out. Ideally we want these guys getting a few games through the season so they are ready to go if needed as an injury replacement later in the year or come finals.

Give Draper a week or two rest or in the SANFL and let Dowling take his spot. Bring Ryan in for Laird or Milera at some stage and Edwards can come in for Curtin when he does need a spell. We don't have to wait for injuries to get these guys into the team, we can manage players through the season so we are better prepared come finals time if we do make it.

 

[1970crow]

Agree that Draper would benefit from a week off. Although not fully opposed to giving Curtin a rest, I don't think he needs one just yet, happy for them to give him reduced TOG or to be managed as the sub for the next week or two.

But i definitely agree that Nicks needs to use the squad better throughout the season, now is the time to give guys like Dowling, Edwards and Ryan a go and rotate some others out. Ideally we want these guys getting a few games through the season so they are ready to go if needed as an injury replacement later in the year or come finals.

Give Draper a week or two rest or in the SANFL and let Dowling take his spot. Bring Ryan in for Laird or Milera at some stage and Edwards can come in for Curtin when he does need a spell. We don't have to wait for injuries to get these guys into the team, we can manage players through the season so we are better prepared come finals time if we do make it.

Don’t you understand how continuity credits work?

 

[Golumless]

There are 18 player, imho, who are clearly in our best 23. On average AFL teams are missing 3-4 of their best 23 each week. That means we need to select the “ best” for the remaining spots. Whilst we are aiming to play finals, we also need to develop some Kids. I don’t think Taylor, Nankervis etc will provide significantly greater output than the more experienced players currently in the Twos but we need to find out their upside.

We must invest in the high quality Kids like Curtin and Draper and we have done this over the last 5 years. Its the midrange Kids like Nankervis, Taylor and Dowling that we have been more reluctant to play.

You find out upside in preseason, not gameday, and teams know their high quality prospects rather quickly.

We do not have to do anything in regards to giving our mid tier prospects a go. The only kids you need to invest in are the ones that are your high quality ones. The mid tier prospects will sort themselves out as you go on and as injuries/structural changes/form creates opportunities.

 

[Jars458]

Burgess is not an AFL footballer.

Curtin is capable of playing Fog's role, then we bring in Dowling who has been one of our best sanfl players & can play AFL level.

Any chance Bond comes in to play on Bolton or does MM get that role?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Any chance Bond comes in to play on Bolton or does MM get that role?

I like Bond & we should have brought him in against the Cats with their small forwards... particularly as we should have been rotating players with the shorter break.

Unfortunately our selectors go for minimal changes rather than rotating the squad.

 

[Crows I Am]

Don’t you understand how continuity credits work?

That hasn't really worked too well in this past for us though has it?

Our depth is pretty good this year, we need to use it to try and keep our experienced guys fresh and to keep giving the young kids exposure.

 

[MrBarry]

I don't understand the calls for Deraper and Curtin needing 'rest'. Curtin was looking like he was going to build a strong game on the weekend before he got taken out for most of the game and Draper needs more time on ground not less. Later in the year he might need a rest but not now.

Only change should be Fogarty out Peatling in imo. As there is no need to risk him this week nor rush Rachele back.

Happy to give Berry another run at it this week.

 

[Cromulant]

I don't understand the calls for Deraper and Curtin needing 'rest'. Curtin was looking like he was going to build a strong game on the weekend before he got taken out for most of the game and Draper needs more time on ground not less. Later in the year he might need a rest but not now.

Only change should be Fogarty out Peatling in imo. As there is no need to risk him this week nor rush Rachele back.

Happy to give Berry another run at it this week.

Curtin sure, but Draper is a young kid coming off a limited pre season and who has said himself that he can see the difference that a full AFL pre season would make.

No point running him into the ground.

 

[CrowBloke]

If Rachele doesn't get up, then give Edwards a debut.

I didn't see the game but Wright was very bullish about Edwards, who had a
"... big game against the Bays.
Playing off half back, Edwards gave Adelaide plenty of rebound out of its back half, along with using the ball well under pressure.
“He’s now playing some really consistent footy and the challenge for him is to play above league footy level and keep pushing himself,” Wright said.
“He had some really nice moments tonight and he is in a really good spot.”
Edwards finished with 24 disposals, five marks, six inside 50s and three rebound 50s".

Good numbers for a hb-flanker against good opposition, but there's
Nicks
who does not like to change a winning side.
Also, where would you play him? I doubt that Milera will be dropped.

 

[CrowBloke]

Only change should be Fogarty out Peatling in imo

Yes, this would be very Nicks as well.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I don't understand the calls for Deraper and Curtin needing 'rest'. Curtin was looking like he was going to build a strong game on the weekend before he got taken out for most of the game and Draper needs more time on ground not less. Later in the year he might need a rest but not now.

Only change should be Fogarty out Peatling in imo. As there is no need to risk him this week nor rush Rachele back.

Happy to give Berry another run at it this week.

Draper was struggling against GWS, so I understand the call. It's his 1st season so we need to manage him wisely.

Don't understand calls for resting Curtin yet though. Only if he has delayed concussion.

 

[Bovo]

Agree that Draper would benefit from a week off. Although not fully opposed to giving Curtin a rest, I don't think he needs one just yet, happy for them to give him reduced TOG or to be managed as the sub for the next week or two.

But i definitely agree that Nicks needs to use the squad better throughout the season, now is the time to give guys like Dowling, Edwards and Ryan a go and rotate some others out. Ideally we want these guys getting a few games through the season so they are ready to go if needed as an injury replacement later in the year or come finals.

Give Draper a week or two rest or in the SANFL and let Dowling take his spot. Bring Ryan in for Laird or Milera at some stage and Edwards can come in for Curtin when he does need a spell. We don't have to wait for injuries to get these guys into the team, we can manage players through the season so we are better prepared come finals time if we do make it.

You want to give the kids more exposure and experience, and you want us to win games. I can only imagine how difficult that balance can be. I think teams that are winning consistently provides better opportunities to do that. Right now Nicks has to pick the best squad to beat the next opponent

 

[Scorpus]

Apparently Fremantle have never in their history come back from 18+ points down at three quarter time

 

[Samcro24]

Apparently Fremantle have never in their history come back from 18+ points down at three quarter time

Is the game on? Did I sleep in again?

 

[Scorpus]

Is the game on? Did I sleep in again?

Nope. But apparently all we need to do is get three goals up at 3QT and Fremantle just simply will not win

 

[tinman]

Draper was struggling against GWS, so I understand the call. It's his 1st season so we need to manage him wisely.

Don't understand calls for resting Curtin yet though. Only if he has delayed concussion.

Opportunity for Curtin to play at Optus in front of his family and mates.

No way that the club will rest him unless there’s an injury we’re not aware of.

Reckon he will be pretty excited about playing in Perth.

 

[conVINCEd]

That's last season's bottom four logic

Fogarty being out doesn't make Walker any younger. It doesn't loosen up his back. It doesn't limit his sore spots.

What is the best thing we can do to get the most value out of Tex this season?

What would we do if the aim is to drive him into the ground and render him ineffective in the second half of the season?

Just can't be greedy with Tex imho.

He'll want to play
The coaches will want him to play
The fitness staff will want him to play as getting players up is their rep
Who's our forest for the trees guy?

Which is why we should’ve rested Tex for the Suns game.

Actually be proactive with it when we’re playing at noon in the Qld sun before a five day turnaround.

Instead we squandered that opportunity, lost both games anyway, and now we’re in a bind because of Darcy’s injury.

 

[Thylacinus]

Looks like the Dockers are really setting themselves for the ANZAC day game against the Crows. We need to take note and be at our best. https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news...for-ruthless-mindset-ahead-of-anzac-day-clash

 

[moogerfooger]

IMO if we win this game it'll show we're the real deal. Freo at home is a tough challenge.

 

[NSolis]

IMO if we win this game it'll show we're the real deal. Freo at home is a tough challenge.

Yeah, thinking back to 2023 we had a few games where it felt at the time like an away win would help us escape the pack, cement the improvement and pretty much lock up finals. Gold Coast away in round 12 we went in 6-5 in the 8, up against a team in 12th and lost, back to 6-6. Collingwood away in round 15 we went in 7-6 in the 8 and lost, back to 7-7. And Essendon away in round 17 we went in 8-7 in the 8 and lost, back to 8-8. Essendon and Gold Coast weren't absolutely hopeless but they weren't finals teams and we should have won at least 1 or 2 of those. Even the Melbourne and Brisbane away games later on, two away losses against good teams by a narrow margin.

Obviously we'd have made finals if won those games but also I think those are the sorts of wins that have been missing since the rebuild. Just your standard challenging game against a comparable side away from home. Similar situation here - win this one and we're back at home for two weeks and could be heading to the MCG against Collingwood in round 10 with 6 or 7 wins banked and in the top 4, for a genuinely massive game against another contender. Lose and it's obviously not season over but we are back in the pack. Big game.

 

[Cromulant]

It's a big game for Freo too.

Drop this one and the heat will ratchet up a few notches on Longmuir

 

[FR0GGY]

Which is why we should’ve rested Tex for the Suns game.

Actually be proactive with it when we’re playing at noon in the Qld sun before a five day turnaround.

Instead we squandered that opportunity, lost both games anyway, and now we’re in a bind because of Darcy’s injury.

Only because you’re assuming he needs to be rested?
He was one of our best last week.

 

[Velvet George]

Only because you’re assuming he needs to be rested?
He was one of our best last week.

Yep, Tex is showing zero sign of fatigue or slowing down, play him until that happens

 

[1990crow]

Simply have to win this. Sets us up.

 

[Peter Doherty]

With the talk of resting Tex or Fogarty maybe not playing, it's important to remember how well our talls played at the MCG.

Optus has similar dimensions, would be nice to keep the same structure. Would almost be another MCG tick if we can win.

Maybe Burgess plays.