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- Sep 17, 2006
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- #1
This week we head to Marvel Stadium to face a Suns side who have beaten us on the last 2 occasions we've played them, by 2 points at their ground last year and by 10 points at Marvel Stadium in 2021. Make no mistake this game is no walk in the park especially for a side that sits in 15th on the ladder with a 1-1-4 record.
Possible Line Ups
Tigers:
In - Broad Ross
Out - Ralphsmith(omit) M.Rioli (inj) Prestia(managed)
Suns:
In - Sexton
Out - Miller(inj) Rosas
F: Ryan Cumberland Riewoldt
B: Lemmens Collins Macpherson
HF: Cotchin Martin Mansell
HB: Long Ballard Powell
C: McIntosh Taranto Pickett
C: Weller Swallow Ellis
HB: Baker Vlastun D.Rioli
HF: Ainsworth Chol Sexton
B: Young Grimes Balta
F: Holman King Lukocios
R: Miller Hopper Bolton
R: Witts Rowell Anderson
INT: Broad Short Clarke Ross
INT: Humphrey Fiorini Andrew Casboult
As I mentioned at the top, this game is anything but a walk in the park. We've been struggling for form most of the season and have been prone to fadeouts either late in games, through the middle of games or even just slow out of the blocks. The Suns who are coming off a good win over North, will be looking to build some momentum themselves and getting back in the hunt for a finals spot that they seem to have set as a goal for this season.
Down back we're getting yet another piece back with Broad finally returning from suspension and it kind of gets us back to the structure we want to have with Balta Grimes Vlastuin Broad Baker & D.Rioli as the foundation of our back 6 with Young learning the ropes alongside them intially and Gibcus to return soon. Hopefully the return of Broad will see both Grimes & Vlastuin get back to playing at the standard that we've become accustomed to. Both seem to have really struggled in Broads absence as they are seeming caught between playing their game and covering for his absence. The Suns forwards will provide a different challenge to the Demons with Ben King getting some confidence from a 5 goal haul against North, while Chol & Casboult provide good support in the air and Lukocious has shown he can hit the scoreboard when he is up and running.
It was flagged last week that with back to back to back 6 day breaks Prestia might get a rest and as much as I said this isn't a walk in the park, I'd like to see us give him the week off especially playing on the hard ground at Marvel, the flipside to this is it give an opportunity to Ross to possibly step in to the midfield mix and stake a claim as his form warrants a chance. I also didn't mind the idea of playing Cotchin as a high half forward again after the role worked well on Monday night, with Cotchin being an important link between the midfielders and the forwards. Prestia going out also allows the likes of Bolton and Short to also spend some more time through the middle where there creativity and ball use can be quite damaging as they launch away from stoppages around the ground. The Suns midfield is going to take a hit with Miller out but are still quite capable as a unit and if we don't give them respect they could cause us problems.
Up forward we saw how our forward line can work with quick ball movement into our F50 with Jack and Noah hitting the scoreboard for 7 goals against a strong Dees back line. The Suns backs aren't as well known as them, but won't simply allow us to have it all our own way. If our midfield can get on top and provide plenty of supply into our forwards we can certainly kick a score capable of winning the game. The issue is that we're going to need Ryan and Miller to try and work over Witts, who is a man mountain at 209cm & 111kg, which will not be easy.
The heart says that the Tigers should be good enough to win this and hopefully get ourselves back on the winners list, but the head says don't discount the Suns, especially given their ability to beat us the last 2 games. We should win, but I'm not sure it's going to be a comfortable win by any means.
Tigers by 2-3 goals.
Possible Line Ups
Tigers:
In - Broad Ross
Out - Ralphsmith(omit) M.Rioli (inj) Prestia(managed)
Suns:
In - Sexton
Out - Miller(inj) Rosas
F: Ryan Cumberland Riewoldt
B: Lemmens Collins Macpherson
HF: Cotchin Martin Mansell
HB: Long Ballard Powell
C: McIntosh Taranto Pickett
C: Weller Swallow Ellis
HB: Baker Vlastun D.Rioli
HF: Ainsworth Chol Sexton
B: Young Grimes Balta
F: Holman King Lukocios
R: Miller Hopper Bolton
R: Witts Rowell Anderson
INT: Broad Short Clarke Ross
INT: Humphrey Fiorini Andrew Casboult
As I mentioned at the top, this game is anything but a walk in the park. We've been struggling for form most of the season and have been prone to fadeouts either late in games, through the middle of games or even just slow out of the blocks. The Suns who are coming off a good win over North, will be looking to build some momentum themselves and getting back in the hunt for a finals spot that they seem to have set as a goal for this season.
Down back we're getting yet another piece back with Broad finally returning from suspension and it kind of gets us back to the structure we want to have with Balta Grimes Vlastuin Broad Baker & D.Rioli as the foundation of our back 6 with Young learning the ropes alongside them intially and Gibcus to return soon. Hopefully the return of Broad will see both Grimes & Vlastuin get back to playing at the standard that we've become accustomed to. Both seem to have really struggled in Broads absence as they are seeming caught between playing their game and covering for his absence. The Suns forwards will provide a different challenge to the Demons with Ben King getting some confidence from a 5 goal haul against North, while Chol & Casboult provide good support in the air and Lukocious has shown he can hit the scoreboard when he is up and running.
It was flagged last week that with back to back to back 6 day breaks Prestia might get a rest and as much as I said this isn't a walk in the park, I'd like to see us give him the week off especially playing on the hard ground at Marvel, the flipside to this is it give an opportunity to Ross to possibly step in to the midfield mix and stake a claim as his form warrants a chance. I also didn't mind the idea of playing Cotchin as a high half forward again after the role worked well on Monday night, with Cotchin being an important link between the midfielders and the forwards. Prestia going out also allows the likes of Bolton and Short to also spend some more time through the middle where there creativity and ball use can be quite damaging as they launch away from stoppages around the ground. The Suns midfield is going to take a hit with Miller out but are still quite capable as a unit and if we don't give them respect they could cause us problems.
Up forward we saw how our forward line can work with quick ball movement into our F50 with Jack and Noah hitting the scoreboard for 7 goals against a strong Dees back line. The Suns backs aren't as well known as them, but won't simply allow us to have it all our own way. If our midfield can get on top and provide plenty of supply into our forwards we can certainly kick a score capable of winning the game. The issue is that we're going to need Ryan and Miller to try and work over Witts, who is a man mountain at 209cm & 111kg, which will not be easy.
The heart says that the Tigers should be good enough to win this and hopefully get ourselves back on the winners list, but the head says don't discount the Suns, especially given their ability to beat us the last 2 games. We should win, but I'm not sure it's going to be a comfortable win by any means.
Tigers by 2-3 goals.
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