TOPIC:

Good team. I will have a crack also.......

Backs: Johnson Johnson Spurr
H/B: Pearce C McPharlin Duffield
Centre:D Pearce Crowley Hill
HFF: Deboer Pavlich Barlow
FF: Ballantyne Mayne Walters
Ruck: Griffen, Fyfe and Mundy.
Inter change: Suban Mzungu, Mellington
Sub Neale

I am tipping that Lyon will go in with 1 ruckman for the game with Naitanui out. The game will be won through the middle, so I expecting to pick a 4th runner. Mellington in to add flexibility to the forward line. Suban and Mzungu can also adapt and play down back if required, to allow Johnson to pinch hit in the ruck.

McPharlin and Dawson will play on Kennedy / Darling. Spurr to Lecras. Ibbotson may get a game to mind Lecras or another small forward.

It was pretty obvious that Dawson was one of those Johnsons! But anyway....

Spurr can play as the 3rd tall in my opinion. What he lacks in height he makes up for in his willingness to compete.

I would through Griffin the challenge and make him ruck the whole game, unless Clarke is OK to play. In which case, I would put Clarke on the bench and Mellington dropped.

I'd be interested in hearing your predictions on who by how much lads?

anchorman wrote: Have to say the Dockers Shark.By about 21 points I reckon.
but I think it will be close and hard all night.Though the Eagles have a few missing they still look strong.
Maybe the Dockers mids over all will give them the edge.
I expect a big game from Fyfe and maybe,just maybe that Ballantyne will upset someone during the game.
Oh and your tip Shark!!

Leaning towards the dorks anchor - I think the eagles have a more damaging injury list. Guess it's how both teams cope with who they don't have. Still, game 1....eagles by 4 pts. BTW, I have a feeling that the loss of Sandi may be a minor plus for freo.

Great start to to the season to knock off the highly fancied coasters. Was worried early but under Ross Lyon we have shown the ability to tighten up and not panic. I reckon we got on top around the stoppages and that's what turned the tide our way.

Cox was on top in the first qtr but i reckon Griffo won the battle after that and played a big part in the win with very little back up though Kepler played his role and kicked a couple of important goals.

To the Freo knockers (not just WC supporters), stick that in your pipe and smoke it including those that knocked the recruitment of Danyle Pearce who has proven after one game what a great addition he is to our midfield and forward line.

Stephen Hill looks a different player to me. The one criticism I have had of him in his AFL career so far is he doesn't take the game by the scruff of the neck and was too much of an outside player. He looks to me to now be more willing to get stuck into the contest and win some hard ball and use his pace to the teams advantage. His game yesterday reminded my of Peter Matera.

Back to Danyle Pearce, this guy is slippery, very quick and sure hands and very good in tight situations. Can't wait to get our No 1 draft pick into this line up because he is another very evasive type, throw in Morabito as well with fingers crossed and there's a bit to look forward to.

Bit of a worry about Pav's report but to me it looked like he turned to minimise the impact and think it was on Schofield who didn't suffer in any way. Though Pav didn't contribute much to the scoreboard he is so important the way he commands the best defender and them some and brings the Walters, Ballantynes, Pearce etc... into the game.

Agree 58Shark Griffen I reckon now might be our No 1 ruckman and when Sandi is fit again he might have to come into the side as a tall marking player up forward or even down back and as support ruckman to Griffo. I reckon we can play both but then where does that leave Clarke? We could lose him at the end of the season i reckon but I'm not overly worried about that, we should use that to our advantage to pick up a late first round or early second round draft pick or maybe part of a Buddy deal? Maybe dreaming a little there?

Good write up Johnno. I agree in that the game was won around the ball, where we seemed to have more numbers at the contest than the Eagles. The other thing that stood out to me was our hardness, we were extremely strong over the ball, and our tackling pressure was amazing.

I am surprised you didnt mention Suban's efforts. I thought he was outstanding, and if he could hold that form all year, he will be one of our big improvers. Sutcliffe looked good for little game time.

Slightly early to even be discussing Buddy, as any Club would have to move heaven and earth to get him...... which I wouldnt want the Dockers to do.

My view is that Buddy will end up at Hawthorn or the Eagles with Sharrod Wellingham.

I thought Suban was superb Boomer and looks set for a good year. His kicking was a highlight. TBH I couldn't find a weak link in that side and would be surprised if there are any changes apart from a replacement for Ballantyne. Lachy Neale will come in for him i expect, he has been in top form for SD.

Mayne was excellent a/man, he plays on taller opponents and competes as hard as anyone and brings others into the game if he's not scoring himself. He is now one of our most important players, fingers crossed his injury plagued days are behind him. I think he is the sort of player that has to be managed in terms of his injuries.

Yeh Sutcliffe played a nice cameo role in the last qtr, looks like an excellent user of the ball.

I agree in that I believe Neale will come in to play Ballantyne's role..... but as a sub. I think Lyon will give Sutcliffe a full game, as he didnt look out of place out there on the ground.

The positive for me is that I feel we have developed some depth at the club. With the likes of Ibbotson, Neale, Clarke, Sandilands, Crozier, Mellington, Crighton, Faulks, Morabito and Hannath (who I heard looks the goods). All of these players are capable of coming into the side and doing their bit.

Still very early days, but great to get a win first up.