TOPIC:

wrote:

If fit, Busher may have to go down back. Time to give some players the opportunity to show what they have. Nyika John could slot in down back for instance. Jack Steel and Christian Martin have been kicking goals in the ressies as has Harry Quartemaine in the Colts.  



 

Instead of shifting Busher back, I'd be keen to bring La Fontaine in as a key back and see how he goes. Having said that I don't think Giblet was suspended. The injury/suspension list was updated on Tuesday and he wasn't on it. But unfortunately it had Sinclair as 4 weeks away, along with Grey (7), Smith (6) and McInnes (6)

www.perthfc.com.au/football/demons-injury-list

Looking further ahead, I'd be finding a spot for Avery, even if it's just to take the kick-ins! I'm told he often launches it 60m and we might actually look dangerous for once after a behind. Quartermaine is worth a shot going up to ressies to see if he dominates as much against bigger bodied fullbacks. While many careers have been killed making that leap, this will soon tell us if the big fish can flourish out of the small pond (christ i'm sounding like grassy)

And while on the topic of our shit possession-starved rucks, here's one from left field. Jaiden Hunter was played in the ruck in colts and did pretty well at it - not just in the taps where he did all right, but more importantly on the ball and around the ground. One of his old coaches mentioned that was the main reason they had him there - he worked well with the mids and became one himself when the ball came to ground. I see him working in tandem with a bigger bodied ruck (DBW i guess). There are a couple of issues though. Firstly he is still pretty skinny, and secondly CHB is his preferred position and i think he has been played there since landing in ressies. Hopefully he remembers what it was that got the afl clubs interested last year and wants to ruck again at ressies then hopefully league down the track. 

 

It would be very disappointing if ET was not fit enough. He said all the right things a couple of months back about doing whatever it takes to give himself a chance at playing AFL again. He's had months to do nothing but train, with Brady Grey as his mentor, so there would be no excuse to come back underdone. He has to know that his only pathway is outstanding form in the WAFL. He won't get picked on promise again. We'll hope for the best. Does anyone know if he is playing reserves in the next game? My understanding is that he is eligible. There will be some strong media interest in the reserves game that weekend if so. 

Yes Satan, I have been wondering what the selectors have been doing with Avery. There have been suggestions that he can play and his stats in the Colts (in a losing side no less) have been exceptional.  He is 19 and should have been tried in the ressies by now if not the league.
I have him on my list of players who need to be given a chance to show their wares... Avery, John, Brodie Gray, La Fontaine, Steel, Martin, Quartermaine, Meloncelli, Reid and Hitchcock. Some of them could be the future of the club. But we will not know until we give them that chance.
We could do a lot worse by persevering with good ressies players who have been around for 3 or 4 years and not made the grade everytime we have an injury.
Time for change and that time is now.
Yes Ted, I am sure that ET can play ressies next game, the date of his return was ressies on 15 May but that is the bye this week.  I will be disappointed if he has not fully complied with what he has had to do. I did mention fitness but that was just a query whisper that I heard. All being well, I believe he could play league about mid June.

wrote:

Yes Satan, I have been wondering what the selectors have been doing with Avery. There have been suggestions that he can play and his stats in the Colts (in a losing side no less) have been exceptional.  He is 19 and should have been tried in the ressies by now if not the league.
I have him on my list of players who need to be given a chance to show their wares... Avery, John, Brodie Gray, La Fontaine, Steel, Martin, Quartermaine, Meloncelli, Reid and Hitchcock. Some of them could be the future of the club. But we will not know until we give them that chance.
We could do a lot worse by persevering with good ressies players who have been around for 3 or 4 years or more and not made the grade everytime we have an injury.
Time for change and that time is now.
Yes Ted, I am sure that ET can play ressies next game, the date of his return was ressies on 15 May but that is the bye this week.  I will be disappointed if he has not fully complied with what he has had to do. I did mention fitness but that was just a query whisper that I heard. All being well, I believe he could play league about mid June.

Have heard since my last post....Gibba got 1 week but pleaded down to a reprimand. Time we had a bit of luck.

Smokey, I don't agree about the reserves players you mentioned, apart from Gray. I think Martin and Steel are way off, and I don't understand the fascination with John. His numbers are very poor. Meloncelli was very good in colts last year, but after playing a few reserves games early this year, he has gone back there. He was getting less than 10 disposals a game in the twos. Quartermaine would be very quickly exposed for lack of pace and mobility in the league. Plus there's the question of who they replace. It may be worth giving Hunter another go, and I hope to see Avery in the reserves next game and pushing for a league game. He is 190cm, same height as Sinclair, Nicholas and Busher, but also mobile. Now is not the time to be experimenting with untried players. if we lose the next 3 games, so that we have to accept that finals are beyond us, maybe try a few things then. But for now we need experienced, proven players. Which of course begs the question why Browne and Quill were brought in, but hopefully we have learnt from that.

Cannot for the life of me understand why we paid a transfer fee for Quill.
I had seen enough after his first game.

Ted, if not the players I mentioned, who are you going to play against Souths? Our usual suspects Browne, Hendo, Quill, Peletier, etc may be good ressies players but as shown last week they collectively do not represent depth in the squad.
Hendo can do the odd run with job and Browne handy at best IMO. As for Quill and Peletier, no comment.
We know what each of them bring to the table and that is not enough. What we do not know is what other untried players can offer unless they are given the chance.
It beats me why Brodie Gray has not yet been tried. His ressies form has been so good. And Jack Avery is averaging 34 disposals, 8 marks and 4 tackles while languishing in the Colts.
The ressies form of Steel, Martin and John  has been good. They have put their hands up for a go. So what have we got to lose? Other than Yeo who will probably return we must make changes. It looks as though Sinclair and Smith may be 4 weeks away while Grey and McInness still 6 to 8 at best. Masten's fitness is suspect. And the form of Rogers and Byrne is of grave concern.
On the basis of what we showed against Peel we are going to be very hard pressed against sides above us on the table.

Smokey, we should drop 3-4 players, Hendo, Quill, Browne and Eyres. We bring in Richo, McP, Yeo and I'd say Gray. Structurally we may decide to retain Eyres. Avery should have a couple of games in the reserves and if he shows similar form, he comes in. I agree Rogers and Byrne haven't been great, but I think they should stay until we start getting players back.

I don't disagree with your 4 outs and ins. Mcpartland must play midfield - best clearance player in absence of Grey. Perhaps Colledge should spend more time in the middle also.
Rogers looks a bit dis-interested to me. He should be a leader but is not showing it. Byrne is attracting a lot of physical treatment and his confidence appears low. Perhaps he needs to back his pace and ball skills. I do not know why Richo was dropped but he should come in. Yeo definitely an in for me.
Yep, play Avery in ressies to start and if he shows anywhere near the same stats as his Colts form then he will have to come into the league side.
With Gibba available to play so no question about where Busher will play if he is fit. Aussie Davis will remain as Sinclair's replacement. Eyres may survive the cut for this game.
From here we will play it one game at a time in respect to ins and outs but IMO more change will need to be considered as we go until the remaining long term injuried players return.

 

Not before time.... Jack Avery is on the senior list.