05-31-2021, 12:49 AM
Not sure WCE will only field the 2 talls. If I was them I'd play Brander up forward to force Jones and Weitering to play on him and Kennedy thus leaving Darling a lesser matchup. Only counter we would have would be to play Levi back but I don't like that in his current hobbled state.
I think either Casboult or Pittonet has to get dropped but one has to stay to give TDK a chop-out in the ruck. I don't like the idea of anyone else in our squad doing that role. Jones is needed down back, everyone else is either too small even as a chop-out (eg Kennedy) or too valuable to risk (eg McKay). And what happens if TDK gets hurt or really chopped up? I understand that you can't run too many big guys in the one team, but I believe in the principle of having a second player who you can step into the ruck even if only to give a real contest if the first ruck goes down 2 minutes into Q1 and someone to give them a brief chop-out in that event. I call this the chief/relief/brief combination. Obviously the brief has to be able to earn their keep in a different primary role and the relief ideally same or at least be able to contribute in another role eg key position. A fit Casboult does that, Pittonet doesn't and TDK is a work in progress as a forward even more so than as a ruck. Jones is also able to ruck and showed quite a lot in the 2s at the time of his renaisance but he is too necessary in defence at least at the moment, especially against teams that have at least 2 genuine tall forwards if not 3. A returning McGovern or McDonald, an up to speed Kemp or maybe a mideseason draft pick-up might open up Jones, as might a fit Cas, but they might be as good up forward or filling in as ruck and leaving Jones in defence.
This week we can do one of two things - minimalist changes or major shake-up. To date this year I have been taking the minimalist changes approach (not as minimalist as the match committee prior to this week) but this week I would be open to more of a shakeup. But without details of the performances in the scratch match it is a bit hard to know who might warrant the call-up. I doubt Kemp is yet ready, and Fisher will probably need a run in the 2s (out for a similar time to Martin and I think we all saw Jack needed a run in the 2s) but Dow, Honey, Kennedy, Newnes, O'Brien, Parks and SPS might all come into consideration. Who to go out? Gibbons a given, Casboult, Cottrell, Murphy, Pittonet, Setterfield, Owies all a chance to be dropped. I'd be tempted to give Owies another week and further to my above ruck comments keep one off Casboult or Pittonet - if his knee is up to it I'd keep Casboult and drop Pittonet. Let TDK pit his athleticism against the benchkmark - Pitt would be slaughtered. So something like:
Saad Jones Weitering
Newman JSOS Williams
Docherty Cripps Walsh
Fogarty Casboult Martin
Betts McKay Owies
TDK Stocker E Curnow
Best 5 from
(incoming) Dow, Honey, Kennedy, Newnes, O'Brien, Parks and SPS
(reprieved) Cottrell, Murphy, Pittonet, Setterfield
My stab (given I know nothing of the performances in the scratch match)
Dow, Honey, Parks, SPS / Kennedy as injury sub (can cover multiple roles).
I think either Casboult or Pittonet has to get dropped but one has to stay to give TDK a chop-out in the ruck. I don't like the idea of anyone else in our squad doing that role. Jones is needed down back, everyone else is either too small even as a chop-out (eg Kennedy) or too valuable to risk (eg McKay). And what happens if TDK gets hurt or really chopped up? I understand that you can't run too many big guys in the one team, but I believe in the principle of having a second player who you can step into the ruck even if only to give a real contest if the first ruck goes down 2 minutes into Q1 and someone to give them a brief chop-out in that event. I call this the chief/relief/brief combination. Obviously the brief has to be able to earn their keep in a different primary role and the relief ideally same or at least be able to contribute in another role eg key position. A fit Casboult does that, Pittonet doesn't and TDK is a work in progress as a forward even more so than as a ruck. Jones is also able to ruck and showed quite a lot in the 2s at the time of his renaisance but he is too necessary in defence at least at the moment, especially against teams that have at least 2 genuine tall forwards if not 3. A returning McGovern or McDonald, an up to speed Kemp or maybe a mideseason draft pick-up might open up Jones, as might a fit Cas, but they might be as good up forward or filling in as ruck and leaving Jones in defence.
This week we can do one of two things - minimalist changes or major shake-up. To date this year I have been taking the minimalist changes approach (not as minimalist as the match committee prior to this week) but this week I would be open to more of a shakeup. But without details of the performances in the scratch match it is a bit hard to know who might warrant the call-up. I doubt Kemp is yet ready, and Fisher will probably need a run in the 2s (out for a similar time to Martin and I think we all saw Jack needed a run in the 2s) but Dow, Honey, Kennedy, Newnes, O'Brien, Parks and SPS might all come into consideration. Who to go out? Gibbons a given, Casboult, Cottrell, Murphy, Pittonet, Setterfield, Owies all a chance to be dropped. I'd be tempted to give Owies another week and further to my above ruck comments keep one off Casboult or Pittonet - if his knee is up to it I'd keep Casboult and drop Pittonet. Let TDK pit his athleticism against the benchkmark - Pitt would be slaughtered. So something like:
Saad Jones Weitering
Newman JSOS Williams
Docherty Cripps Walsh
Fogarty Casboult Martin
Betts McKay Owies
TDK Stocker E Curnow
Best 5 from
(incoming) Dow, Honey, Kennedy, Newnes, O'Brien, Parks and SPS
(reprieved) Cottrell, Murphy, Pittonet, Setterfield
My stab (given I know nothing of the performances in the scratch match)
Dow, Honey, Parks, SPS / Kennedy as injury sub (can cover multiple roles).