04-20-2016, 10:55 AM
(04-20-2016, 10:01 AM)crashlander link Wrote:There will be a few raised eyebrows this week when Murphy plays. His head cut was so bad that it needed a rather large number of staples. They are still there. They are not certain (but are highly probable) to be removed before this weekend's game. Murphy will play for at least 1 week in a helmet. Maybe 3 or 4, depending on how his head heals.
Over the years there have been questions about Murphy in a lot of regards. It looks like his wanting to be out there for us is no longer going to be one of them.
How effective he will be, now that is an interesting question! He wasn't all that effective last week before he got injured. Personally I would take things more conservatively, but I found that few if any of the AFL medicos share my opinion. I prefer a fit player, clubs appear to prefer half fit stars.
I guess just because I take a long time to get right, I assume others will. And I always underestimate the ability of some people to play with what I consider serious injury. Why Hodge played last week, I will probably not understand. But until some club gets bitten, .....
There haven't been that many whispers about who may come in this week. The club sent out an injury update yesterday that had a number of guys close. Silvagni was said to be almost certain to play, but he will be in the VFL. Maybe Walker will be fit? Maybe....
I would start Walker in the VFL anyway. He generally doesn't d a lot first week back. Charlie Curnow is good enough for the moment.
I find myself in a position I never expected: I think Liam Jones may be called up this week.
I gave up on the guy, I admit it freely. Too often last year I was disappointed with poor showings in the VFL, let alone the seniors. However, his recent form is enough that he evens looks like a player. I may find it difficult to believe, but....
I'd be tempted to leave him in the VFL for another week, just t see if these few weeks have been true flukes. But with our need for goals, he just might get up.
The other question I have over our team when it is named tomorrow is the ruck spot. Now Freo are missing a guy whom we have never been able to control reasonably in Sandilands. However, our own ruck stocks have looked less than impressive. Phillips has had his moments, and looks to be viable option for the future, but he doesn't take a heap of marks around the ground. Kreuzer, on the other hand, has been getting a reasonable number of taps, but not doing much with them; he hasn't been able to take a contested mark anywhere on the ground and he hasn't been worth much as a forward. (That said, in the last quarter against the Dogs he picked up and actually took 3 marks in the forward line. He lead well and looked like he knew what he was doing, something that NONE of our 'forwards' have been able to replicate so far. However, he still had the sit for a mark 20 m out from goal and couldn't complete what should have been a regulation mark. A few years back he would have swallowed it. And he could not kick a goal.)
I am not sure which way the Match Committee is going to jump with this one.
Buckley is another question. After a few ordinary weeks he started brilliantly last week, getting half a dozen possessions and a goal early and making the Dog defenders look slow. Then he dropped off the end of the planet and was barely seen again.
Had he been able to keep playing like he did early, he would not be under pressure to hold his spot. But he is definitely someone who needs to start producing more.
Nick Graham is another who is questionable, although he has had only 1 really poor game (against the Dogs). However, he has been able to reproduce the for he had last year and during most of the pre-season.
To me he appears to be playing a slightly different role and not getting as many clearances. I think he plays his best when he is getting clearances.
But the other question is, who do we bring in?
Clem Smith is doing some really impressive negative work. In fact, his chasing, tackling and smothering produced goals last week in the VFL. But he barely got the ball himself.
Armfield probably needs another game to get his match fitness up. He also did some nice things, but didn't get huge numbers either. His leadership on the forward line, on the other hand, was invaluable in the VFL.
Cunningham and DVR are possibles, but both had their least effective games for the year last weekend (and we still won!): they need to get the possessions up again to get a promotion, especially against the mature bodies of Freo.
Everitt might come back in if fit seeing as we cant beg, borrow or steal a goal and he can kick straight regardless of his other shortcomings...