I would think Scotto & Lucas would be the ones to drop back at different times

The big guy says he is good to go despite the calf problem
Midfielders need to be on their toes and unlike last week Hammer has to jump

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Mark Riley on 6PR tonight.

Bombers too good.
If you are not awake you get filled in.
Rucks were awful.
Injuries should NOT have cost us the game. Players did not follow back up plans.
Players didn't work hard enough to get into bummers back half, leaving the backs exposed.
Yarran was a 1-2 week injury.

Re this weeks game.
Can't expect to win the ruck.
Other plans needed and in play.
Focus on pace.
We like Subi.
If we play the way we should we are a hard team to beat.
Walker is an aerobic beast.
Warnock still some time away.
Western Australia is God's country.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

So we now have officially ruled Yarren out

_________________
If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Yarren no, but Yarran yes.

Bomber Riley said "no point playing ducks and drakes he got off the plane with a moon boot!"

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Losing Laidler is a blow, but we are fortunate to have a competent replacement in T-Bird (who should be fresh after a week off). I think Laidler is a stronger defender, but I like T-Bird's flexibility in that he can go forward.

Fingers crossed Yarran is OK, but I get the impression he won't play. Armfield to come in for him if fit, otherwise it's AJ.

I think Ellard could do with another week in the VFL, so Brock holds his spot if Curnow misses. I'd be reluctant to play both Brock & Curnow in the same side again.

If Armfield, Curnow and Yarran are all out then Collins may get an opportunity on the longer ground. He would need to make the most of it because unless the injuries keep coming I can't see him getting too many more chances....


*Worst case scenerio:
OUT: Carrazzo (inj), Curnow (inj), Laidler (inj), Yarran (inj)
IN: AJ, Collins, T-Bird, Tex

*Best case scenerio:
OUT: Carrazzo (inj), Laidler (inj), Brock
IN: Armfield, T-Bird, Tex

ie.-

Tuohy Jamo Bower
Duigan Hendo Gibbs
Simmo Brock/Curnow Lucas
Garlett Waite Robbo
Betts Hammer T-Bird

Kreuzer Judd Murphy

Inter: Scotland, Tex, Yarran/Armfield/AJ
Sub: Armfield/AJ/Collins


It's stating the bleeding obvious but a massive lift in overall intensity and hunger required this week, particularly from our rucks & small forwards IMO.

And as others have stated, Jamo & Duigan haven't hit their straps yet this season. I think Duigan was brought back too early - I said at the time that I thought he needed another VFL game or two to run into some form/fitness. We need a big lift out of those two guys, particularly now with Laidler out.

We'll find out a bit about a team this week - how will they respond in an interstate game against a well coached top 8 side after last week's loss + with senior players out?

No passengers this week.

_________________
It's never as good as it looks and it's never as bad as it seems.

Great that Walker is back.
Unfortunately* he covers the loss in class, like for like, in Carrazzo.

TBird for Laidler for mine.

Armfield for Yarran.

I wouldnt be surprised to see the pragmatic selection of the pace over McLean, purely for the Subi factor. No real stand outs left imo.

I'd bring in Ellard where I could, whose a tad faster than Brock: the WA boy playing in front of his home crowd. And he always plays well there.
I also reckon he's one of the fastest at getting his hands on the contested ball. A Terrrior, moreso than most let alone McLean.
Wouldn't care if the MC play him for the next 3 or 4. I don't think he's going to get any faster though.

If Curnow is out too, then , maybe Joseph,straight to Ballantyne.

Mundy and Hill worry me.

All starts in the middle. We should break even on that front, then some to win it.

Go Blubaggers.

Will be watching them on the screen in a Palm Cove Bar near Cairns with a Fitzroy supporter and a former team mate.

Blues want this bad and have GWS the follwing week, so they can sneak in an 8- 18 point win with Scotto as best on ground.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

watch mcphee, crowley and ballantyne try and spook us bomber style

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Yep. We can all see it coming. Hopefully the players and coaches do too...

Crowley will go to murph or Judd. If I don't see plenty of blocking and overall team assistance I'll be very, very disappointed.

_________________
We are on our way back...

It's the midfielders who need to lift their intensity. It all starts there. Watson is a beast, yet he still shouldn't bounce off Judd and run out of the middle like Usain Bolt. Also ran away from Robinson and Gibbs who weren't putting an arm across him and blocking his run to the ball. Stanton just came through to cherry pick off Watson. They were comatose last week.

If Curnow and Mclean are out, then Murphy needs to be asked to play a complete game and get his own ball to release our receivers. Watson doubled his clearances last week. And quadrupled Judd's clearances. The like of Ellard and Armfield who are hungry and love a good scrap should be sodas. We need pace, pace and pace.

YAWN.... McLean is not in the side for pace ... never has been ... never will be ... we all know that .... He is in the side because of ball winning ability ... he needs several games to settle into this (or not). We already have lots of pace. We need more work under the packs ... this is why McLean is in the side.....Phew. ...Seems like we go over and over and over this.

There are are lots of examples of slow players making it in the AFL. Give the bloke a chance. I think there are others in the side that require more scrutiny because they have had more chances.

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I am as mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more!!!

ericpascoe on BF claims that there'll be five changes this week. Seems that certain that the changes are Mclean to be dropped plus Curnow, Yarran, Laidler and Carrazzo out due to injuries. Alas poor Brock, we knew him well.

Ellard, Russell, Thornton, Armfield and Walker the likely ins.

Better balanced squad with Thornton and Walker in.

B: Duigan Jamison Tuohy
HF: Gibbs Henderson Bower
C: Simpson Robinson Scotland
HF: Walker Waite Garlett
F: Betts Hampson Thornton
R: Kreuzer Judd Murphy

I/C: Armfield Lucas Ellard Sub: Russell

Blues set sights on atonement in the west

:Saintsfooty:

The coaches at that point really can't do anything other than say don't be scared. It's really up to the players from that point on. There isn't a Plan B to right that problem.

If true - that is our best forward line setup , although surely Walker might be a little rusty. Probably plays a blinder this week though. I would be bitterly disappointed in the McLean decision though.

Those outs are not unexpected. Although I have been living under a rock all week, not much has been made of the fact we were 4 men down on Saturday.

I'm not using it as an excuse, nor want sympathy as our start was terrible and intensity down from nearly everyone, but they was no way back after that. We really needed to be 4 or 5 up early to be able to hold on from there.

I've seen Laidler and Carrazzo mentioned in parts, but the fact that Curnow and Yarran didn't look 'as injured' to someone casually watching, or get vested meant that it kind of slipped under the radar where as the Dempsey/Winderlich combination will go down in the annals of history.

Then Jon Ralph has the audacity to criticise us for wanting to use it as an excuse when I believe we've done everything but.

Happy with those in's, but hope for a good run for a while as we'd be stretched for depth with only Collins, Joseph and Warnock left as players with experience that could come in.

_________________
"They're [REDACTED]'

Does anyone else think its not great to have our squad posted on the internet 2 days before officially named for all to see?

Snickers - Carrots, Laidler obviously out, Riley confirmed on 6PR Yarran last night, and Curnow hobbled around all game and was seen on crutches during the week. Mclean at Subiaco always a ?

As for the in's Ratten confirmed Armfield and Walker in a presser, Ellard was B.O.G in the 2's, Thornton an obvious for Laidler. Russell or Jospeh the other in depending on match up's.

Nothing really unexpected.

Even assuming that FremantleFC know that eric's mail is usually spot on, I dont think that there was anything that would alter their planning at all.

_________________
"They're [REDACTED]'

The opposition coach or whatever they're called at Freo would have seen the injuries from Saturday, studied the rest of our list and probably come to the same conclusions about ins/outs as we have.

Ross Lyon probably has spies at Melbourne aiport anyway

You can't be serious!!! McLean hasn't had a chance? Tell me one game he has played that he has featured in our best players. Also, please list all the slow players currently making it in the AFL. Just remember McLean is not slow, he's super slow.

If we take McLean to Pattison's Stadium, we play with one less player. Just face it, he's no good, we made a mistake. Ellard every day of the week over McLean.

That squad is an educated guess based on the obviousness of those four not coming up for this game.

The AFL will condemn BigFooty for beating their embargo.