04-10-2017, 10:47 AM
(04-10-2017, 10:15 AM)crashlander link Wrote:I know that changing a winning team doesn't happen very often, but we DID have some players who must come under some pressure. Unfortunately the 2nds did do enough to put some real pressure on. However, we must consider all options.
I am not saying drop all of these guys, but:
[1] Jack Silvagni: now before I get killed, I do have some reasons to bring up Jack. I like the lad a lot. However, this season he does not appear to have the same confidence as he had last year. He is 2 - grabbing a lot of marks. Last year his hands were like a vice. He appears to have lost some confidence in his kicking. Last year he was deadly, having only 1 shot that was not on target (yes, another couple hit the post and a couple got touched, but they were headed for the goals). This year he hasn't had any close shots and he isn't the biggest kick we have. He has got the yips. Thirdly, he is fumbling more this year. One of the things that stood out for much of the year was the clean hands - not fumbling. This year he is fumbling a lot more.
None of these are hanging offences in a young lad, but I think he could go back for a couple of weeks and get his confidence back by kicking 5 or 6 in the VFL.
If he goes out, then we might blood Harry McKay, or give Jones another chance. Jones is not the long term answer, but he has been performing and probably deserves a game.
[2] Jarrod Pickett: Pickett got games because we badly need a goal sneak with pace. So far he hasn't done a lot. he did well in the pre-season, but has not done so well since. Worse in my eyes is that he has not shown composure under pressure, but made some critical errors, including dropping a high ball he was in easy position to mark and fumbling in the clear, allowing opponents to get into the contest.
I think he offers enough to persevere with. But a couple of weeks getting 20+ possessions and getting his confidence up would be beneficial.
The counter argument, alas, is easy. We are about to play GC on the fastest track in the comp and we NEED pace. 2ndly, who do we bring in? As well as some of our mids played in the VFL, not many of them can play the small forward role. Polson isn't ready yet. Armfield has been tried and has been in poor form.
[3] Harry Macreadie: I like this kid. He DOES have composure. However, he played probably his least effective game on Sunday. I would give him a spell for a few weeks and then bring him back. We do have to manage our kids.
[4] Rhys Palmer: I had hopes for Palmer, but his kicking pi##es me off big time. He had a chance to really nail Essendon and he didn't manage a score.
Maybe I am being too harsh, but we haven't seen the pace and composure yet. It was his first game.
Agree with Palmer as he is an experienced player who has shown stuff all in preseason, 2nds or this week. But the rest are kids that all seem to be developing nicely. Sure you can find faults in them but all exceeded my expectations so early in their careers.
Kids form fluctuates and if you focus on what they cant do you should drop them after every game. They need time and unless they are really struggling with form or injury's i would keep playing them.
McCreadie has been amazing IMO - thought he was a rock again in trying conditions on Sunday.
As far as bringing Jones in for SOJ....having we beaten that dead horse enough. Thankfully i think we have heaps of options...Jones is gone at seasons end - cant see any value in giving him another game unless we have no options left.