TOPIC:

Here we are at the pointy end with mixed form coming in but a pretty healthy list with the exception of Ryan Borchet and Rowan Powell.  Souths coming off a gruelling encounter last week may run out of puff towards the end if we get some rain on heavy Leederville track but that's no certainty.  Our backs have been good all year, mids are a bit light on compared to Souths and some of our forwards have struggled to have an impact on a weekly basis.  I can only see one change being Mayo in for maybe Clinch.  Not a like for like but we need an additional tall against a top heavy Souths and he can play back or forward.  Toss of the coin for mine but will support my team and go Subi by a goal.

I'd like to see Robbins in instead of Bailey Matera, Robbins has a solid defensive side to his game, he's more physical at the contest as well and a better disposer of the footy. Bailey can get some footy but he rarely hits a target. Mayo, Martin & Atkinson had a solid hitout in the ressies last week, so all should be considered. Martin will definitely play as will Mayo, Atkinson should as well as he has height, is very quick for a big bloke, aggressive and can kick the footy outa sight, plus pinch hit in the ruck. The Hickmonts will likely get tagging roles, one will got to Ducker Schloithe, the other may go to Florenca who is also a gun mid. If we can at least break even in the mids, I think our backs can be the difference, as we get a lot of our attack from halfback. We saw how Claremont shut down Souths run last week at least for the first half, high tackling intensity is the key to take away their space. Souths play with a lot more flair than us, we tend to grind teams down so if we can stiffle their run we have a good chance to get over them. They are a fit team as we saw them run the game out well over another very fit outfit in the Tiges.

I think we've left the Robbins - Matera swap a bit late. Maybe not. How did Robins play last week? 

If you bring Atkins in, who is dropped? Beverly? Can't remember if he was in, anyway. Clinch is a steady improver, but agree Atkins has some energy to bring,  if fit. Bringing in Robins, Atkins and Mayo at once is a big ask. 

Luckily reserves are playing still. 

Robbins didn't play last week in the ressies final. Atkinson and Mayo in for Clinch and Golding look like the only possible changes to me

Yep...you could be on the money DG which will give us some extra size at both ends.

DG, would you drop a mid given we are playing a team that has one of the best midfields in the comp? Maybe the weather will dictate if we bring in extra talls or extra mids. The ground will be heavy after lots of rain this week, Subi have 2 teams still in training and EP have one, plus three games on a heavy surface Saturday could see it as a real slog which I think will favour us more that Souths who have a more expansive game style than we do.

SS I would definitely bring in Atkinson if wet, not sure about Mayo. Golding would be ok in the wet I think, he lacks a bit of toe but is cool and calm and big bodied

Yes he's very solid, unlike his old man who was built like a roo dog.

Senior Seagull wrote:

Yes he's very solid, unlike his old man who was built like a roo dog.

I remember Wayne, a goldfields lad if I remember correctly?

I'd say Mayo is a definite in but not sure about anyone else.  Just looking at the interchange it wouldn't surprise if Bailey Matera, Nick Martin, big Putt and Atkinson or Golding made the cut.

FB 35 Drew ROHDE 21 Jordan LOCKYER 8 Angus DEWAR
HB 3 Hayden KENNEDY 36 Aaron HEAL 2 Kyle STAINSBY
C 26 Chad Harris 1 Leigh KITCHIN 31 Wil HICKMOTT
HF 9 Max WALTERS 10 Jack MAYO 13 Liam HICKMOTT
FF 32 Brandon MATERA 18 Ben SOKOL 25 Michael BRAUT

FOLLOWERS
17 Lachlan DELAHUNTY
7 Harrison MARSH
12 Gregory CLARK

INTERCHANGE
20 Jakob ATKINSON
16 Jack BEVERLEY
56 Isaac CLINCH
34 Jordan FARAONE
53 Benjamin GOLDING
28 Nicholas MARTIN
33 Bailey MATERA
27 Lewis Putt