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(08-20-2023, 12:49 AM)rocky link Wrote:I'll 2nd that pinot although as G2C suggests I'd sacrifice Marchbank rather than Cincotta
What a dilemma we're having? Last year we couldn't get anyone in.
Cincotta has speed, toughness and is a terrific kick, cannot drop out IMO.
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Why would you drop Cincotta? That's absurd.
2012 HAPPENED!!!!!!!
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Cripps has to come out and stay out until he is fit. He may be an inspirational player, but he is human.
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I think Cincotta has to play, kicks well both feet, has leg speed and can take a bump, still get up and carry on and I like how he plays close to his man which Is what I look for in a defender.
If I was looking for a player to drop it would be Cottrell, he is handy and does some good stuff but has been a bit ordinary of late and with Fisher and Dow coming in and doing ok it probably puts him under pressure for his spot if we want to bring all our injured regulars back in who helped provide the catalyst for our present run of success.
I could also see Dow losing his spot but being made the sub, good position to be in having choices but we will have some unhappy players...
Fisher vs Boyd.....might depend on the opposition for me, the former is now the incumbent and his ball use had been very good since returning but as MBB pointed out we are going to need some defense being played and we cant detract from Saads game by making him play too deep and on extremely dangerous players and then expect him to provide his usual drive.
I would play Cuningham and Fogarty and having McGovern in for Marchbank is a no brainer imo...
Jack Silvagni looks like missing out in favour of Harry now being back plus the coaching box being happy with the Pittonet/TDK ruck combo setup....Id be finding a spot for Jack but I dont see the MC making him a priority and the success of the Owies, Martin, Motlop and Fogarty small forward setup has probably dented his chances of selection also.
Might be the farewell game for Ed Curnow this week too....
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WCE beat the Bulldogs
Bulldogs have Geelong at Geelong next week.
If they win they'll push GWS out on percentage
GWS will know by our game whether they have to win to make finals.
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I have been picking next weeks Blues team every week since I became a Blues fan in 1968 and I don't recall a tougher selection task than this coming week. First up are the inter-related philosophical questions - 1 do we rest tired/banged-up players? and 2 do we prioritise getting miles into the legs of returning players? North failed to overrun the tigers in the seconds, so no-one outside the 23 are getting any match practice. The remaining unknowns at time of writing are whether top 4 is still a chance and conversely who we'd be playing week 1 of the finals on either a round 23 win or loss scenario. The former will be clear tonight, the latter by match time. If top 4 is on offer we play our strongest side, likewise if the results make a win imperative. Otherwise I am more open to being dictated by the opportunity to get miles into the legs of returning players.
To my mind we rest Cripps, Docherty and Hollands on any scenario. All would benefit from the 2 weeks off and all are struggling at the moment such that fresh legs would be a benefit to the team this week anyway – not to denigrate what they bring to the table. Incoming I would expect all of Cerra, McGovern and Walsh to come in. Also Kennedy and Silvagni if they are fit. Perhaps Boyd, though Fisher has been better than I thought he could be in the loose defender role. However I wonder whether we can afford his lack of defensive application when it comes to finals. Boyd and Cincotta to me are more defensive, more physical, better overhead and in Boyd’s case a better kick than Fisher. McGovern is a different type of defender and Marchbank and Kemp are the obvious 2 he potentially replaces, unless you want to play all 3 in which case one of them plays small and one of the small defenders goes out. That doesn’t effect our run that much and gives us flexibility if one of our tall defenders goes down.
On ball Ed Curnow I think is cooked. Cuningham has not been setting the world alight despite his obvious gifts and may be at risk. Cottrell is not the most skilled player going around but I like his versatility and team ethic and his incredible running power is crucial to the way this team plays. He stays for mine. Lastly, if there is not much hanging on the game I say we blood Binns. He has been excellent all year in the 2s and deserves a run. If he turns it on we have another selection dilemma, otherwise we have 1 natural out for the final. Win/win in my view and an investment in the future.
At this stage assuming we will prioritise getting miles into the legs of returning players and assuming Kennedy and Silvagni are fit to play my line-up is:
BOYD WEITERING MARCHBANK
FISHER McGOVERN SAAD
ACRES DOW WALSH
BINNS McKAY MARTIN
SILVAGNI/PITTONET C CURNOW OWIES
DE KONING KENNEDY/CINCOTTA CERRA
COTTRELL HEWETT KEMP MOTLOP / FOGARTY
EMERGENCIES CINCOTTA HOLLANDS YOUNG
IN BOYD McGOVERN WALSH BINNS (NEW) SILVAGNI KENNEDY CERRA FOGARTY
OUT NEWMAN DOCHERTY CRIPPS HOLLANDS (RESTED) E CURNOW CINCOTTA PITTONET CUNINGHAM (OMITTED)
LOCKS TO RETURN CRIPPS DOCHERTY NEWMAN
PUSHING TO RETURN CINCOTTA CUNINGHAM HOLLANDS
CHANCE TO RETURN PITTONET
BACKUPS E CURNOW COWAN HONEY O'BRIEN PLOWMAN YOUNG
