Bring Pitto in and let TDK float forward like we did earlier this year. Three talls down there plus JSOS will stretch them in my opinion.
I would be even tempted to play one less small in our forward line this week.
If Gov is fit and has done the work he comes in.
Stocker for Newnes if he doesn't get up.
In: Pitto, Gov, Stocker
Out: Honey, Plow, Newnes


Stengle match up is key. Not sure who goes to him. Maybe Saad is the best option.

Selection over next few weeks will be very interesting. For the first time in a while we had no injuries over the weekend. Look who isn't in current 22 and will be back this week or in the coming weeks

Pittonet - Now available. Will he come straight in? I think so
McGovern - Now available. Probably play reserves but part of our best defence
Hayes - Looked good for 10 minutes. Fills a role we are struggling for consistency which is wing
Owies - Should be good for this weekend
Martin - Should be good for this weekend but for me needs to play VFL and show effort. Has the talent
Setterfield - Hasn't played for nearly a month because of being sub or travelling emergency. Had showed improved form prior
Dow - Playing good football in 2's
Ed Curnow - Needs a game or two more but could really add to our side
Marchbank - Can fill most defensive roles. Class player when fit
Stocker - Buildling. Has all the tools
Carroll - Very young but improving and will be a good mid
Williams - At his best is a gun. Could play Wing with Docherty Saad Newman, maybe Boyd doing well down back. Will he get back in time?
Boyd - Looked at natural fit as a Back Pocket. Like Williams will he get back in time
Fogarty - Very good VFL player. Can he step up?
Sam Durdin - Another realistic option as a Key Defender
Kemp - Young and talented. Still finding his spot

IMO we have a weakness on Wings. O'Brien & Cottrell are developing well and Newnes is solid but do they do enough to make us a finals threat. Hayes, Curnow, Setterfield are possible options.
TDK has been awesome but Pittonet helps massively. Allows TDK to have more impact and play forward, Allows Jack to play more as a forward and not be worn out and we can stretch defences further.
McGovern is our best 3rd tall defender who can intercept and attack. Will help Weitering & Young a lot
Martin can really add to our forward line but needs to show effort

So true Woj . And i reckon there midfield is dangerous with there lesser lights creeping under the radar . Reckon Voss has a lot of homework to do this week . As star studded as our midfield is i reckon they need to play negating footy this week . And i reckon our wingers have to drop back to the half backline and choke the leading lanes of Tomahawk and Cameron . Wont be fast flowing free running football this week . Turn it into a stack's on the mill ugly scrimmage and we can win . Just frustrate the hell out of them .

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All my dangerous friends

Plowman for Plowman.

It’s bold strategy Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for them


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I think the Eagles of the past month are vastly improved and superior to the shitbiscuit of the start of the season.

But yes it is still a vulnerability good sides will exploit. Need to work on that. Attitude.

We usually play 7 defenders: Weitering, Young, Docherty, Saad, Newman... and then two others.
We've used McGovern, Plowman, Kemp, Durdin, Marchbank, Williams, Boyd, Stocker and Newnes.
We typically play a medium-sized defender and a small, running defender as the extra two - but it depends on availability.

Assuming Newnes is injured this week, the fully fit defenders we have for the two remaining spots are Kemp, Plowman, Durdin & Stocker.

Plowman, for all his faults, has been pretty solid this year and has incumbency on his side.
Stocker is in okay form in the VFL, but seems to have fallen out of favour somewhat. He isn't currently a running defender - he's more of a lock-down small.
Durdin has almost zero exposed form, but seems... fine?
Kemp has been pretty good, and seems to play better at AFL level than VFL level.

I'd actually like to see us play Durdin and Stocker this week, in place of Newnes and Plowman.
Stocker to take Stengle, and just smash him all day. (Saad as the next choice.)
Durdin to Hawkins.
Young to Cameron.
Weitering to play the third tall - filling the holes and floating over the top.
That way, if one of Hawkins or Cameron get off the chain, you can always swing Weitering onto them.

I can't see Plowman getting dropped, unless Plowman is fit and ready to replace him.

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"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself" - Henry Ford

I would also play Pitto in place of Honey, even though that makes us very tall.

Are we sure about that? With our track record, I’m expecting an injury to a key player to be reported within the next 48 hours…..

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

Wasn't Newnes injured? Or did we cheat?

Solid no to Weitering, Young, and Durdin in the same backline. Way too top heavy. Young and Weitering have the key defensive posts locked down. McGovern or Marchbank as a third tall / interceptor is the ideal lineup. Happy for Kemp to have a go at this role if Gov needs a week in the 2s


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We need our strongest (physically) side to be a chance.

If Pittonet is right to go I’d play him at centre bounce them have him drop in the hole down back with TDK to run around the ground.

I’ve been a big supporter of LoB but do worry about the pressure he’ll be under every time he gets the ball. Hayes looked ok albeit 10 minutes when we were in complete control.

Can’t believe I’m typing this but Plowman probably survives as third tall, surely McGovern can’t just walk in after 4 months out?

Will this be the week?

We have been 5th I think for 3 or 4 weeks straight now.

We keep going WLWLWL

We keep losing and finding ourselves on the edge of being in that uncomfortable spot near the edge of the 8, before winning to keep us around the edge of the 4

At what point will we take the chance to get more entrenched in the top echelon?

Just happens to be those tests for us tend to be against the best sides

So can we knock off Geelong?

Problem though as I see it is, going off other teams near us and their upcoming games, we simply must win this game against Geel to stay with this group of 4-6 teams

Pies will win this weekend

We lose to Geel we go a game below Pies

Reality is, to finish top 4 we have to get on a roll and beat the top teams over consecutive weeks

We have to win 4 or 5 on the trot I reckon

Will it start this weekend?

Hmm McGovern is a talent

I think LOB is hitting his ceiling

I am not sure he will get much tougher

And I reckon Voss sees it.

Newnes out injured for whoever (One of Owies, Martin, Hayes, another as the sub) would be my only change. Good a game as any to try Honey in that role.

Reluctant to play Pittonet after 3 months out and no VFL game in a side coming off a six day break to play one with a nine day break. Game isn't going to be won and lost by Rhys Stanley, and the potential to disrupt the balance of the side is high. Far too many question marks than pros. I'd play him in the VFL.

Yes, LOB's had two stinkers, but he was fantastic against Freo and Richmond also. More credits in the bank than not, and if Newnes isn't fit, I don't think you want wholesale changes in that department.

Yes, Plowman was very ordinary yesterday, but think the conditions of a cold Saturday night at the G will favour him much more than a hot day and dry track in Perth. Think he'll have a bit to offer either playing in the space in front of Hawkins/Cameron, or is a pretty decent match up for Rohan. Wouldn't trust McGovern straight back in.

Or within the first 15 minutes of the match starting.

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final

If he lived in Bilbo Baggins house.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

The extra big in defence wouldn’t necessarily be my choice, but blanking Hawkins will go a long way towards winning on the day.

We don’t want Cameron getting off the chain, but if Hawkins is a closed shop, I’m not sure their mids are going to be able to run the footy up the extra distance to score themselves.

Kill the contest against Hawkins and Stengle/Close are in a pickle.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

Yep, spot on. We need to make a statement like we did against Freo and then back it up with solid winning form.

I think we can win this week, then back it up with the Giants and Crows, we will go into the games against the Lions and Dees with real momentum and will end up top 4.

Lose this week, and I think it will be difficult to get that momentum and belief that we belong in the top 4. Still possible, but less likely.

Either way, I really want to finish above Sydney and/or Brisbane if we end up in the lower part of the 8. I don't want to travel for an Elimination Final...

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"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself" - Henry Ford