Fair enough, but 3 goals a game is hardly smashing the door down, it’s just par for the course for a guy like him.

Out
Dow
Setterfield
JSos (inj)

In
Williams
Kennedy
Stocker

We're a month in now, so I think you can start to judge players with a reasonable amount of data.

I'm not as set against Dow as some others but he's averaging 12.5 disposals across the first month, and statistically speaking, his best game was his first.
Setterfield is averaging 13.7 from three games, although that's skewed slightly by a very quiet game against Collingwood.

Every other player who mostly plays midfield is putting up better numbers in the opening month, so these two are the current 'weak links' in the midfield rotation.

From all reports the next three cabs off the rank for the midfield are Kennedy, Cunningham and Stocker.
Kennedy might make us a little slow in midfield (although against a midfield featuring Wines and Boak that might not be a huge issue).
Cunningham has pace, but doesn't really play full midfield minutes, so he's not a real replacement mid.
Stocker is a big chance.

Across the rest of the ground, you can sort-of point to moments in each game where most of the current best 22 did *something* to justify their spot (although in the case of Casboult the something is being able to ruck, and generally "working hard").

However, I don't actually expect us to make four changes to a winning team, assuming JSos is out and Plowman ends up being sore. We rarely make that many changes.

In regards to Silvagni, the obvious options are McDonald, McGovern or going smaller with Cunningham. Given how tall Port play up forward, I'd be tempted by McDonald as a swingman.

If Plowman is out, I'd play McDonald for the same reasons. Port play tall up forward with Dixon, Ladhams / Marshall and Georgiades. We probably need another tall option down back. I'd also think about playing Casboult back on Dixon, but we rarely mix things up like that.

So if anyone seriously thinks that an average of 12.5 disposals over 4 games for a midfielder is OK, and one kick and 8 possessions for a midfielder against Gold Coast in a winning team is OK then they need to give me the name of their drug dealer. He must have some pretty good gear.
There are 6 players in the reserves that are better than spud Dow, but he will probably get picked again after his great one kick game on "potential", which he does not have an ounce of.

Think you're trying to justify your position

60 goal forwards don't grow on trees & you're opposed to this one because he does it too easy?

Good call.

Slightly off topic but I reckon Mark Williams is having an influence on the 4-0 Demons.

Mark Williams has always had a great reputation for teaching young players the basics of the game. Can be a prickly customer but a pity pity we didn't grab him when he was available. His father Fos coached 10 or so SANFL premierships from memory and his brother coached a few as well and Mark coached the Power's first premiership against Brisbane who were going for four in a row. If Teague was to get hit by a bus Williams and Paul Roos would be at the top of my list.

Mark Williams has always had a great reputation for teaching young players the basics of the game. Can be a prickly customer but a pity pity we didn't grab him when he was available. His father Fos coached 10 or so SANFL premierships from memory and his brother coached a few as well and Mark coached the Power's first premiership against Brisbane who were going for four in a row. If Teague was to get hit by a bus Williams and Paul Roos would be at the top of my list.

Mark Williams has always had a great reputation for teaching young players the basics of the game. Can be a prickly customer but a pity pity we didn't grab him when he was available. His father Fos coached 10 or so SANFL premierships from memory and his brother coached a few as well and Mark coached the Power's first premiership against Brisbane who were going for four in a row. If Teague was to get hit by a bus Williams and Paul Roos would be at the top of my list.

When has he ever kicked 60 goals in a year for us?

I’m sick of us rushing player like him into the seniors, make him earn it.

I thought Setterfield was very good when he went in at centre bounces.

As soon as he went in he got two or three clearances immediately.

That's his position...not wing.

He is too good a player to mess with.

Just get him around the ball.

Your words.

3 x 22 = get him in.

I agree. He had the same amount of centre clearances as Cripps from very limited opportunities. 1.
It shows how reliant we've become on Cripps. The previous week he had about 7 and we dominated. The other players cant step up and fill the void if we don't give them a chance.

1) Get ahead of the ledger. Once we do, that will be the year we get back into the finals.
We can do that with a big effort and complete game this week.

2) 80 tackles. My primary whiteboard goal for this week (and every week):
David Parkin used to have 60 tackles as his benchmark for a win back in the 90s. We are fitter and stronger now.

3) And, whilst I have been a hopeful believer, I now think Dow needs to go back to the VFL and earn his way back for a final fling at the big time later in the season. And to do this, above any other metric, he needs to be able to consistently get 25+ possessions playing in the middle. Once he learns how to get the ball, everything will flow from there - primarily his confidence, which will itself improve his disposal (his handballs have been good lately, albeit too few...).

4) Casboult and Setterfield on notice for McGovern and Stocker. They both need to get to more contests, and deliver effectively once there.
I agree that McGovern should have to prove himself more in the VFL - if nothing else, so he really feels hatred towards ever putting himself back in the position of having to do so again.... BUT, if I honestly think about it, I am pretty sure McGovern would perform better than Levi right at the moment. And I think that Stocker would not be any worse than Setterfield when he has an off day but Setterfield is probably better on a good day. But his off days are outnumbering his good days at this point...

Out: JSOS, Dow
In: Williams, Kennedy