02-28-2016, 10:52 PM
(02-28-2016, 10:24 PM)Gointocarlton link Wrote:That was the comment that resonated most among the people I was with yesterday, "why play such a weak side today?".
People need to look at the big picture. Does losing to Essenscum suck? Yes. Does Rd 2 of the NAB Challenge mean anything? No. Did our kids get a good run and do a few nice things? Certainly.
It was worth giving an extended run to our most inexperienced players, and this was a perfect opportunity to do it. We were playing a team of kids and rejects. It wasn't worth rushing back Murphy and Cripps. It's better to ease Kreuzer into Rd 1 after his injury issues. Kerridge is one who probably could have/should have played, but you'd think he's locked in his spot for Rd 1, so it was a good opportunity to see who else could step up to the plate. As a result of more experienced players being unabailable, Graham and Tuohy really stepped up. Graham would have to be a certainty now to be in the best 22 come Rd 1.