Changes for the Eagles game next week

[samuraisaint]

Given that we are playing a team interstate that have just lost their previous two matches by over 100 points and had 379 points scored against them in those matches, I believe that we have a real opportunity to reset the team for the last ten games of the season.
Moreover, we have a much younger core of players than we have had for quite some time, and they look like they are tiring.
The Eagles are the first team to lose twelve games in a row by 40+ points in VFL/AFL history and will have more players coming into and out of the side next week.
We won in Perth twice last year comfortably and should have won there in 2021 against the Eagles as well, so we have done alright there in recent times.

I was at the game Friday night, and I think that a lot of our midfielders need to go back to the twos or be managed, as they are playing sore/and or fatigued. In addition to this our forwards have failed in three of the past four matches, prior to, and post-Bye.
I won't mention names of players to come out of the side, but I will mention the names of players I think should come in, so that will give you some clue.

Ins for next week:
Bytel - starting 22 - deserves a chance on form!
Cordy - forward line - need him to play on McGovern (if he plays)
Campbell - I/C second ruck so that RoMA can rest up forward if we're struggling to score.
Sharman - starting 22 please (makes things happen)
Highmore - Backline - surely deserves a chance based on reserves form (if not against the Eagles, then when?)
Billings - sub - didn't finish fourth quarter in reserves (being looked at for the Eagles game?)

The Eagles have already lost four games this season by over 100 points, even in Perth to Carlton, and the Suns beat them by 70 points over there, so there is no excuse for the team not to turn up.
This is a chance for a % booster, not a regulation 6 goal win.

I am going to add this - I remember 1979 when we lost by 170+ points, and I remember 1985 when we had over 200 points kicked against us, and for those of you who don't remember it, you cannot possibly understand how s*** you truly have to be to lose like that. And to lose four games by over 100 in twelve games? Uncompetitive. No excuses next week!

I don't remember 1919 because I was home sick with the Spanish flu but I heard that we finished that game with only 14 players on the field, so that is the level that the Eagles are currently playing at.

[Scollop]

There'll be 1 or 2 changes and that's it

Paton may be out as well as maybe Byrnes or Maybe Sharman out

[wally]

In the 22——-Bytel Campbell Billings
Out…….Steele Wood. (Both rested) take a pick out of form players get a chance to get some form.
On paper we should win and boost percentage but this is us and anything can happen

[cwrcyn]

Out: Steele (rested) Paton
In: Ross, Bytel

[desertsaint]

give em all a shot - vfl vs wafl.

[nobhead]

Good opportunity to bring in either campbell or heath play marshall at chf ,owens as a mid .
Fwds 3 talls and 3 smalls
Cammaniti
King
Marshall
Gresham
Butler
Higgins

[SAINT-LEE]

We lose by 14. So set the team you want but we will be facing a fierce animal in Perth.

[samuraisaint]

No way do we play players just because they are young. We have been doing that all season so far.
No way should players be gifted games anymore just because they won a B&F or three anymore. They need to go back to the magoos and earn their spot!
No way do we rest players who are not carrying an injury/younger players who are very fatigued from workload.

All of the players I suggested are players who have been playing regularly in the magoos this season and have earned their shot at the title.

[samuraisaint]

In the 22——-Bytel Campbell Billings
Out…….Steele Wood. (Both rested) take a pick out of form players get a chance to get some form.
On paper we should win and boost percentage but this is us and anything can happen

I can live with that. All three are performing in the magoos and have been for some time.
And we definitely need a second ruckman.

[samuraisaint]

give em all a shot - vfl vs wafl.

Last night's Eagles team included 15 of their 2018 Premiership Team. Yeo, Shuey, Sheed. Plus Kelly.
Next week they will probably add Hurn and McGovern to that side.

The fact that the Eagles lost by as much as we did with only 14 players on the field way back in 1919 or were on the very brink of survival with players leaving us at the beginning of the year for money, better contracts and because the club were on the brink of bankruptcy in 1979, tells me everything I need to know right there.

We select our best possible side and don't play players who are obviously hampered by injury.

It is up to us to go into that game with an absolute ruthless attitude - we do that and we should get a percentage boosting win interstate. It would be great for team confidence.

[shanegrambeau]

Premiership coach and 15 premiership players in home ground takes on alsorans from the East with notorious ex-WA coach.

Could this spike their pride and damage their tanking plans? Or are they already safe on the bottom of the ocean floor?

If they are now safely last, I expect they will lift as players play for their future pay checks.

We have a low scoring game style so that will keep them close and then if it rains we might have more issues than we planned for.

I like the ruthless mindset. How things go..it is intriguing to wonder will happen with the selection panel, even though it has been a boring watch this season.

The more RTB delegates this stuff, you would expect more vanilla selection results, as any individual’s clever ideas get washed out in the ‘average’…result

[Life Long Saint]

We can't keep going with Caminiti, and I am not sure that Sharman is the answer there.
For mine, Campbell comes in and plays ruck with Marshall moving to the forward line and playing 2nd ruck.
Billings comes in. Has certainly earned his chance. Gresham can go to the sub.
Bytel for Byrnes.

We still need three tall backs for the Eagles. Wilke plays on Allen and Howard on Darling. Battle takes Maric.

Out: Caminiti, Sharman, Byrnes, Gresham.
In: Campbell, Bytel, Billings

You could also mount a case for Ross in for Paton.

With Billings in, Owens moves to more of an on-ball role. And Phillipou should have more on-ball time, too.
Marshall gives us another genuine tall target inside 50 instead of King.
Neither Hurn, nor Mcgovern played in the WAFL, so I wouldn't expect McGovern to be playing and if he does, he will have no fitness.

My biggest fear from this game is not the result. It's that we make minimal changes and win comfortably wall-papering over the obvious cracks in our team...And front up the next week and get smashed by Melbourne's defence of May and Lever.

[SaintWiki]

Premiership coach and 15 premiership players in home ground takes on alsorans from the East with notorious ex-WA coach.

Could this spike their pride and damage their tanking plans? Or are they already safe on the bottom of the ocean floor?

If they are now safely last, I expect they will lift as players play for their future pay checks.

We have a low scoring game style so that will keep them close and then if it rains we might have more issues than we planned for.

I like the ruthless mindset. How things go..it is intriguing to wonder will happen with the selection panel, even though it has been a boring watch this season.

The more RTB delegates this stuff, you would expect more vanilla selection results, as any individual’s clever ideas get washed out in the ‘average’…result

Roughly my gut feelings as well unfortunately. I try to fight it off but it makes too much sense.

[Devilhead]

Changes will be pretty straightforward

Billings for Byrnes
Ross for Capt Jack (he needs a week off)
Bytel for Paton

Billings & Bytel both had good games for Sandy so must be rewarded

[WellardSaint]

I see us being the team that gives WCE a win after a record thrashing.

It would be all over social media as 'that's sooooo St Kilda'

[samoht]

The only chance they have of winning this is if we allow their defenders to get loose and rebound under little pressure - if we play like we did against the Hawks, for instance.
They might even get Hurn back this week?

Hunt, Yeo, Shuey, Duggan, McGovern and possibly Hurn - it could spell danger - if I were RL, I'd reconsider and start to question any game plan which allows defenders too much space.

This has been our achilles'/Sicilian heel apart from our middling midfield.

[axcellence]

Roma to wing (gives height and point of difference)
Campbell to ruck to help with clearances
Bytel in to help with clearances

[WellardSaint]

Put some money on WCE at long odds.

[saintkev]

I see us being the team that gives WCE a win after a record thrashing.

It would be all over social media as 'that's sooooo St Kilda'

That’s my fear also, Wellard. If we don’t bring that ‘mongrel’ hard attacking attitude we could get done. The Eagles have nothing to lose. If we give them a sniff…

[saintkev]

I see us being the team that gives WCE a win after a record thrashing.

It would be all over social media as 'that's sooooo St Kilda'

That’s my fear also, Wellard. If we don’t bring that ‘mongrel’ hard attacking attitude we could get done. The Eagles have nothing to lose. If we give them a sniff…

[Scollop]

Put some money on WCE at long odds.

Could be some options but don’t waste your money on WCE for an outright win.

Would be funny/tragic if we lost. They may give us a scare and get close at times but we should win easily.

[SaintPav]

[B.M]

Don’t count chickens

I do believe they have over a dozen stung premiership players

We should win

We could lose

[WellardSaint]

It's in the club's DNA to lose to a bottom team

[saintbob]

Outs:
Phillipou, Paton, Howard, Steele and Sharman

Ins:
Bytel, Connelly, Billings, Campbell and Highmore

Marshall and Billings Forward

Campbell ruck

Bytel midfield

Connelly sub

Highmore defence