TOPIC:

Hitchcock wasn't injured just held over as insurance. He'll be fit to go if he's picked on Thursday night.

Hey, you blokes are putting it together. Real outsiders. I live south side, i have a soft spot for Perth. My pensioner mate is a Perth supporter so i tend to support him as well. Keep well all.

TFAF, surely Masten is an automatic inclusion when fit. Likewise Yeo, although I fear he is probably still a ways off if he had to have a week's rest after two reserves games. Colledge also comes straight back in for mine. As much as I admire the efforts of Hayward, Sing, Gray , Martin and others, we have to get our best players out there. It will be a different game against Subi. A fine, clear night is forecast, unlike the heavy conditions of the last two weeks. That means a faster game. As much as I hope we can pull off another surprise, we may get exposed for pace and skill without our best players. 

Ted, absolutely correct. We must get our best players back on the park. That is going to be a gradual process but hopefully as get get closer to the end of the qualifying rounds we will get most back.
Masten and Colledge should come straight in when available. I believe Yeo is still being managed but hopefully he may be back at least after the bye, if not this week. Nicholas should not be out for too long.
As for the rest McInness, Smith,and Sinclair hopefully not more than 3 weeks away,. Grey, Giblett and DBW may be longer still.
No one can predict with certainly when we have them all back.
Rogers has been carrying an injury, I understand, and was not a certain starter v WP and declared himself fit at the last moment which meant Hitchcock as his emergency played ressies.

Glad Rogers played he kicked an important goal. Doesn’t looks at his best though. Looks to be carrying a little extra weight. 

Not quite correct Smokey. As I said already Hitchcock was held over as a contingency but he didn't play ressies. I was there.

Rogers is no certainty to keep his spot when players start coming back. As mentioned, we have 11 players out. Of those, I think Richardson, DBW and Yeo are not automatic picks. (Yeo would be, but I'm not convinced he will be match fit this season) Of the team that played WP, I would say the following are safe: Langlands, Fisher, Byrne, Clarke, Taylor, Cary, Busher, Stubbs, Hill, Edmonds, Coniglio. Then add Eyres, on the basis that if DBW comes back in, it is likely to be at the expense of Eyres. I can't see us playing both if we have close to a full list to choose from. Avery may put his hand up too, though his first reserves game saw him get a third of his usual numbers in the colts. (to be fair, conditions were tough)

So that means 8 of the other 10 players who played v WP have to make way. I can't see Martin, Sing, Hayward, Davis or Gray keeping their spot. So that leaves Browne, McPartland, Rogers, Clark and Hendo. 3 of those would have to make way. It may depend on match ups and positions, but the two I would keep are McP and Clark.

In the short term, this week I'd bring back Colledge and Nicholas for Sing and either Gray or Hayward. The next game, on 19 June, may see Gibba, Masten, Sinclair, Smith and McInnes available. We may decide to give some of those guys a run in the reserves first, but hopefully before July most or all of our injured players will be back. As they say, having to make tough selection decisions is a good position to be in.

Even if Nicholas gets up on Thursday night I’d be trying to keep Connor Sing in there. Subi are very potent and Sing is similar to Taylor and Nicholas, pacy, good height and good overhead which offers extra versatility and it might free Busher up to spend more time forward.

TN a good position to be in with the injuries coming back.
The last 2 wins have been really important if we can steal 1 of the next 2 we may give ourselves time to get the team back on the park.
And a chance to win enough to make finals.
Sneak in there and you never know.
Our season not as lost as a couple of weeks ago.

Totally agree with everyone about returning players however I dont think we can underestimate what this patched together team of young players and perennial reserves have achieved through a combination of tenacity pressure and never say die attitude, and most of all playing as a team not individuals.  If  all  of the higher credentialed  returning players show the same desire we will be very hard to beat.