Chance for Big Mac

[older saint]

Great week to be BOG in the magoos for Big Mac.
Obvious replacement for Kosi, has form on the board, and like for like.

not other changes - not broke don't fix it.

X- wait your turn

Maguire - playing back how can you change a backiline which is the best in the league at the moment.

Max - not ready yet.

[bigcarl]

goose would also have claims if we are after someone to create a strong, physical, aerial contest like kosi and bust open a few pack.

whether either he or big mac can kick the goals that kosi has been providing i don't know.

but it is great to have capable replacements and options when you lose key players.

it's a big opportunity for someone.

might even be x if they decide not to go like for like.

[Con Gorozidis]

big mac obvious choice and probably deserves it.

maybe they will throw goose down back and try gwilt up forward?

[LTN16]

Great week to be BOG in the magoos for Big Mac.
Obvious replacement for Kosi, has form on the board, and like for like.

not other changes - not broke don't fix it.

X- wait your turn

Maguire - playing back how can you change a backiline which is the best in the league at the moment.

Max - not ready yet.

Agree. McEvoy can play at FF and King & Gardiner to ruck or Gardiner to FF and King & McEvoy to ruck or a bit of both. Either way McEvoy should come in IMO.

[InkerSaint]

If you heard Rossy's post-match press conference you would have heard him talk about the second-quarter confusion due to the loss of "structure" caused by Kosi's absence... which suggests it is an important role.

My first guess would be like for like, and considdering Macca has been on the emergency list for weeks and was close to BOG this week, he'll get a shot. I don't see why this would not take precedence over any other option given Andy Lovell's comments, bar a return from injury from the likes of Raph or Max (and a corresponding shuffle up forward) - and I have the impression that neither of those two are ready yet.

[degruch]

Would we be more likely to see Sam Fisher replaced in the backline, releasing him for the mid on his old home turf? Normally runs pretty well at AAMI. From that perspective, Goose (or even X) might be looking OK. Otherwise, if Max is ready, you'd put him on Treaders any day, wouldn't you?

[older saint]

Why would we want to take an All Australian Half Back out of the most miserly backline so far this year and play him forward in a role which he has yet to show he can do?
Change for change sake.

Maguire is being played as a back in the reserves and has never played well when thrown forward. If we get 6 games from him this year major bonus.

If Max fit make him come back through Sandy to get a game. More likely to redo in game back and lacking conditioning havng missed 4 weeks of games. You cannot afford to play one down against quality opposition

Big Mac in

[degruch]

Why would we want to take an All Australian Half Back out of the most miserly backline so far this year and play him forward in a role which he has yet to show he can do?
Change for change sake.

To release a potentially dangerous midfielder from the backline, shifting Goddard to forward pocket for another lazy 4 goals. I dunno...sounds like a pretty good idea! Tis but an opinion, but IMO Big Mac needs a little longer on the griller before he get put on the menu for an 'in form' Port.

Just replacing a tall guy with a tall guy doesn't make it the best solution.

[InkerSaint]

To release a potentially dangerous midfielder from the backline, shifting Goddard to forward pocket for another lazy 4 goals. I dunno...sounds like a pretty good idea! Tis but an opinion, but IMO Big Mac needs a little longer on the griller before he get put on the menu for an 'in form' Port.

Just replacing a tall guy with a tall guy doesn't make it the best solution.

You're talking as if Goddard was in the midfield. I'm pretty sure he lined up at HB flank. Rather than push Chips into the midfield and toy with the setup there it makes more sense to put Goddard in at full forward. You're also talking as if Max was ready to come back. I'm pretty sure that's not the case either.

In any case it's not up to us and we know stuff-all about what the options are, but I for one would enjoy seeing Macca line up on Friday night.

[degruch]

[You're talking as if Goddard was in the midfield. I'm pretty sure he lined up at HB flank. Rather than push Chips into the midfield and toy with the setup there it makes more sense to put Goddard in at full forward. You're also talking as if Max was ready to come back. I'm pretty sure that's not the case either.

You're talking as if you know what you're talking about. Your comments re: my comments are not quite correct, as I've made no assumptions BJ is in the centre, or that Max is an option. HOWEVER, Goddard at FF is a reasonable option, as is Gilbert up front. Doesn't hurt to think outside the square, even if I'm not on the selection committee (an astute observation).

We shall see regardless...I'm happy if Big Mac's up for a confident Port, we've got some big games coming up and he has to start gaining high pressure experience some time.

[vacuous space]

You're talking as if Goddard was in the midfield.

Goddard has lined up either forward or on the ball this year. I don't think I've seen him line up behind the ball at all this year. Not even as an extra.

I don't think we'll see McEvoy come in for Kosi. I think we'll see a smaller player, maybe Xavier Clarke, come into the lineup while we use a variety of players, including Goddard, up forward. Either that or somebody like Goose or Lynch, but I think Ross will go with the smaller option.

[InkerSaint]

You're talking as if you know what you're talking about. Your comments re: my comments are not quite correct, as I've made no assumptions BJ is in the centre, or that Max is an option. HOWEVER, Goddard at FF is a reasonable option, as is Gilbert up front. Doesn't hurt to think outside the square, even if I'm not on the selection committee (an astute observation).

We shall see regardless...I'm happy if Big Mac's up for a confident Port, we've got some big games coming up and he has to start gaining high pressure experience some time.

Not to labour the point, but my comments are spot on based on your comments if Goddard is in defence.

Serves me right for doing a rodgerfox and relying on the internet.

[degruch]

Serves me right for doing a rodgerfox and relying on the internet.

Everyone can be forgiven for lapsing into 'Rodgerism' every once in a while.

[bigcarl]

maybe they will throw goose down back and try gwilt up forward?

i think riewoldt and bj should be the two key forwards on friday night.

ff is an important specialist key position that needs an accomplished goal-kicker in it.

no offence to jimmy gwilt (who is becoming quite a valuable player) but i'm not convinced he can kick enough goals to hold down ff.

rapt if he could prove me wrong, but would prefer if it is tried in an easier game ... one that we practically can't lose like saturday night.

who will come in?

i'd say it is out of x-man, mcevoy and goose.

[BigMart]

Moving Sam Fisher or Sam Gibert would be ridiculous......the two in-form defenders in the AFL.....in the best backline...

Goddard is not an accomplished goalkicker....he averages less that half a goal per game.....he has the ability to swing fwd and create a mis-match...he was NOT full forward vs the eagles - Kosi was

IMO

Gwilt will play Third tall fwd
Goddard second tall fwd/rotating with Gardiner (King Ruck/BJ mid)
Riewoldt out of the square...

[bigcarl]

Goddard is not an accomplished goalkicker....he averages less that half a goal per game.....he has the ability to swing fwd and create a mis-match...he was NOT full forward vs the eagles - Kosi was.

goddard played the first quarter at ff against the eagles and kicked four (should have been five actually, but one was disallowed).

he spent a lot of the rest of the game on the ball or at half back.

he averages less than half a goal per game because he has spent a considerable part of his career behind the ball on the half backline.

imo he's a natural goalkicker who doesn't miss too many when he gets the chance.

gwilt played quite a few games as third tall last season for the grand total of four goals. like him as a player (wing or half back), but he either can't impact on the scoreboard or hasn't shown us yet than he can.

if it were me, i'd simply bring goose in to play kosi's role at chf and rotate bj and riewoldt through full forward.

i thinl x in is the most likely scenario though.

[maverick]

Moving Sam Fisher or Sam Gibert would be ridiculous......the two in-form defenders in the AFL.....in the best backline...

Goddard is not an accomplished goalkicker....he averages less that half a goal per game.....he has the ability to swing fwd and create a mis-match...he was NOT full forward vs the eagles - Kosi was

IMO

Gwilt will play Third tall fwd
Goddard second tall fwd/rotating with Gardiner (King Ruck/BJ mid)
Riewoldt out of the square...

His averages on goals are very misleading given he has played back so often.

He is the best kick for goal in the side, and probably only needs 5 or 6 shots to be damaging.

Having said all that, I like your forward set up

I agree with an earlier post and RL that our set up when Kosi went off in the 2nd was thrown out, way out. Almost back to '07 in fact. I would love to see McEvoy given a chance, but AAMI at night is always dewy slippery and wet, no matter whether it rains or not, so I am not sure he is suited this week.

If Kosi is out for two, then the following week against the Doggies might be the go.

[Megamaguire]

Given that Ben is a Mc i'd rather see him as a Dj or a Mc 'E' sounding like Mackie just to add a surname for a nickname.

Not 'Big mac' please.



G O S A I N T S

[Megamaguire]

big mac obvious choice and probably deserves it.

maybe they will throw goose down back and try gwilt up forward?

Con i just had to reply as i was always a big nicky fan and appreciate the pic. On the flip side i have to persist with my aim of getting the non-existant 'mac' which can't be squeezed from 'Mc'Evoy dumped never mind the lame reference to big mac.

Here's a few alternatives. .... Mc 'E' which sounds like Mackie but isn't
and.... 'Mc a boy' which might sound more like a horse but i like it anyway.

I was very happy we drafted Ben as a fairly high draft pick and felt confident at the time that coach Rossi was really committed to the role of a good ruck player and not just engaging in media antics - showing himself as a real alternative to GT.


G O Ben!
G O S A I N T S !

[Thinline]

Can we afford to have three lumbering giants in our side on a wet and slippery surface?

I say no.

McEvoy deserves a crack, no doubt, but conditions may not suit.

[Megamaguire]

Xavier may finally be in line for some luck on the injury front or ready to take advantage of the club's improved fitness regime - hope so.

Looking forward to that Clarke 'X' factor being a regular inclusion in the team in 2009. My gut reaction is that McAboy might well be a one big guy too many this weekend. Great to see that he is beginning to demand selection with his form. At the back of his head i'm sure the thought is rattling around that he could be johnny on the spot come finals time later this year. Anyway lets just enjoy one game at a time and get primed for the game of the round at aami.

G O S A I N T S !