Is he slower, I don't know?.

There will be other medium forwards.
Henderson is also likely to play forward.

Be nice for the kid to get two or more games.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

It would be nice, but it's AFL football not U12s. No one's crying about Johnson getting dropped after one game.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

With Gibbs & Graham out, there's an opportunity to give the likes of Docherty, Yarran, Tuohy, White, Everitt & Menzel a run through the midfield. Docherty strikes me as the only one in that group who could develop into a genuine mid, but we have nothing to lose by trying different things.

Armfield & Gibbs have already been ruled out, and there has to be some doubt about Cripps, Jamo, Everitt & Menzel. But assuming those 4 get up-

B: Simmo Jamo Fields
HB: Tuohy Hendo Buckley
C: Docherty Cripps Curnow
HF: Bell Casboult Walker
F: Yarran Rowe Everitt

R: Kreuzer Carrazzo Murphy
Inter: Holman, Johnson, White
Sub: Menzel

In - Docherty, Johnson, Rowe, Walker
Out- Armfield (inj), Gibbs (inj), Tutt, Wood

Johnson in the side will release Walker, Everitt & Yarran up the ground at different stages. Johnson might like the wider ground too. He is playing for his career in my opinion over the next month or so. Give him a shot this week.

It's tempting to pick Boekhorst to play in his home state. We could do with some dash and good ball use. But he looked like he might have finished the VFL game last week with an injury himself.

Wood is unlucky, but I think Rowe gives us more options (2nd ruck, forward, back). I would start Rowe forward. All I expect from him is that he competes aggressively & kicks straight when the opportunity presents itself. Obviously we can throw him back if our defenders are getting monstered.

Might be time to settle Hendo in defence and try Yarran forward.

Jaksch is defending well in the VFL, but he's a turnover merchant at the moment. I'm happy to be patient with him. I can't see Jones or Watson making us better.

White to plug holes at both ends and may even get a midfield run with role for periods on someone like Mundy.

The above team lacks run, no doubt. But that's what you get with Gibbs, Thomas, Graham & Armfield out. Byrne needs another couple of weeks in the VFL. Even so, I don't want Tutt or Whiley in the side. Walsh might be a chance of promotion - he won't add much in the way of outside run but we should try him through the midfield, especially if Cripps needs a spell.

This game could get very ugly. Freo on the rebound might be scary...

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

Still waiting for someone to select Hendo in the position he's played all year.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

And how has he been travelling in that position?

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

Just having a laugh.

_________________
I hope Essendon* folds.

pretty solid and workmanlike up until last week when he came up ag the best defender in the league, and our foot skills aren't exactly silver service. And who are our alternatives?
We haven't got royce hart running around in the twos. Yes hendo is a better chb but who else do we play at chf Watson? Jones? Cam Wood? Jason tutt?

I think your point is well made and that's why Hendo has been left forward all year. Up until now, I've accepted he needs to be forward. But I think the time for a change is now. With a depleted midfield, our backline is about to be see a lot of action.....

Over the next few weeks, let's try Hendo in his best position (CHB) and throw the challenge out to the likes of Rowe (who has been up & down in defence this year, and can play as a #2 ruck/forward), even Watson & Jones (not expecting much, but let's try them under Barker before the year is out) to see if they can give us anything in attack. I'm even not opposed to giving Jaksch a go as a forward at some point.

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

Hendo (not Carlton) has put contract talks on hold all year and now is the time we get him ready for market. Geelong will be salivating over his uncontested marks in the backline, keep him there as a loose man all year and see how desperate the Cats become to get him.

Are you sure it's not us stalling?

_________________
I hope Essendon* folds.

He is stalling, is he playing like a passionate Carlton man?

i'm with you there abns

So you're guessing based on his performance ?

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I hope Essendon* folds.

I'm not guessing about that, I'm reading his quotes, you can google and read them yourself.

What I am guessing is that he is gawnnnn to Geelong, also interesting that Motlop has not signed for Geelong. So maybe we get Motlop or we get the Motlop draft pick when they trade him.

So you really don't know.

Thought you might have some inside word.

_________________
I hope Essendon* folds.

It's never good to guess......that's when you risk becoming Jon Ralph.

How old is Motlop? He can play but are we looking for kids or what?

_________________
Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Saturday night footy

Freo will be angry

Roscoe will be grumpy, very grumpy
Sumich will be frowning
Lloyd will be doing his best job audition to beat Barker for the job

The purple haze barrackers will be frothing at the mouth more than a rabid village dog

The mid strength "beer" will be flowing

Ballantyne and Walters will be ordering their birthday cakes in advance from Michel's pattisierie, with extra candles and icing.

No Judd, no Gibbs, no Thomas.
Walker doubtful.
Not to mention no Armfield and no Graham.
Menzel and Cripps not looking healthy.


If Barker can manufacture a win against this supposedly "soft" Freo team, then I will be very impressed.

In the meantime I think the club medical staff should be stocking up on icepacks and vaseline.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

They going like busted arses at the moment and our efforts with ball in hand remind me of that Eric Sykes short film " The Plank" .

_________________
I hope Essendon* folds.

Last time we played Freo they were belted by Stk the week before so we all expected a belting in return....same scenario this time....we only lost in the final seconds last time though

And it's not like last week was Freo's first bad game. They've been off since they played Adelaide like 5 weeks ago.