Pre-Match - The Big One: Collingwood v Hawthorn

[DaicosMagic]

I just posted this in another Rocca OUT 1 Week thread, but thought I'd post it on its own:

Let Rocca take the week, and bring in Medhurst. Play Medhurst FROM THE SQUARE. This guy is a genuine FF in the Mark Williams mould. It's a little out of left field, but I reckon a small FF could be the thing to throw the Hawks. Also, without Rocca, Hawthorn could find themselves in a false sense of security. They MUST win, or face being touted as pretenders for failing to defeat a team with no backline and missing their gun FF. Medhurst from FF at The Dome could be his 'arrival' game in B&W. We saw his leading vs Richmond in the final qtr, where he kicked 3 on the lead.

Furthermore, this could be THE contingency plan we have in case Rocca is suspended/injured in the future leading up to teh finals. We need a plan B ... why not this?

[stui magpie]

I actually like it. The downside however is that we still need a big body down there to crash pack. The way we deliver into the forward line is to either spot up a lead or stick it up for Rocca to make a contest knowing that if he doesn't mark it, it's going to ground and so are usually 2 or 3 of their defenders.

Medders can certainly do the leading forweard bit but not the second.

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

Wouldn't it be nice if Bryan could kick?!?!?!

[~Madness~]

On the actual question at hand. I don't think we can. I've said on a number of occasions Rocca is first man picked. My opinion is without him we are seriously depleted.

BUT

IF Bryan came in to free Josh up in the forward line? Then I think yep.

[DaicosMagic]

[Johnson#26]

Seeing as the match is so highly anticipated, we'll get the pre-match thread cracking. Keep all talk related to the match in here.

[collingwoodjoe]

Reid wouldn't play Rocca's way at FF, he would play as a fast lead out FF rather than a pack crasher, leave Cloke where he is, he and Didak are key to our delivery.

The problem I have with playing Cloke as the sole Tall Forward is that it would free up Croad to play forward for the Hawks, you can't alow Croad, Roughhead, Boyle and Franklin all to line up as forward targets with our depleted defensive stocks.

The problem I have with using Fraser as a part-time FF is that we need him in the ruck! the Hawks have some good young rucks and some very very good midfeilders, Fraser is a good ruck and also a very good midfielder and we need him there winning contested ball.

As for Bryan, why bring him in to play FF when you didn't play him there this week at Willi and the guy you did play there kicked 4 goals took 10 marks plus and had 20 odd touches?

Finally, I would also bring Medhurst in, he was BOG against Werribee and kicked 4 goals as well, we will need all the goals we can get, him and Reid for Rocca and Holland IMO would make sense.

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

Look at moi!!!... OK, it's Chris Bryoin then!!

Actually, I'm pretty sure he's a terrible kick - Long, but terrible! Having said that, probably not worse than Rocca & Travis at the moment!

[killer]

Classic Eight pointer.

[collingwoodjoe]

Also my smokey selection would be Brown, to play on their third tall forward, Wakelin and Goldsack would take Boyle and Franklin, Brown might get a look at Roughhead, leaving Maxwell free to be third man up and he and Cox or Stanley to play more as rebounding type players.

[Dark Lord]

It's a fully ticketed game, too.

[swooper]

So that means no walk ups? Even if member?

[Dark Lord]

I believe so.

[Tannin]

The trouble with suspensions is that everyone gets knotted up wondering if the player is going to be on the ground or in the grandstand, right up until the final appeal. Buggers up your team focus.

But with an injury, you often have a pretty fair idea that Player X is going to be missing, and you can get straight on to thinking about how you are going to play with the players you have. Gives you more of a chance to settle on an option and get on with the game, IMO.

[handy point]

Is Buddy all clear to play?