Pre match. Pies v. Crows - All comments

[Dave The Man]

We just need more players around the Ball as the Last Month we been out numbered around the Ball

[rocketronnie]

[Bob Sugar]

Yes, White playing as a forward/ruck just hasn't worked.

[doriswilgus]

Reid has to play forward.Our forward line has been abysmal this year,it's been ten times worse than our backline which has held up fairly well under the circumstances.

[Bob Sugar]

[On the March]

White to play back

[Magpietothemax]

Good news for us if Thomson is out for Adelaide. This equalizes the midfield situation. This will be critical. We need to make sure that supply to their forward line is limited by our ascendancy or at least equality in the midfield. I think Dangerfield is the Dangerman. We must somehow curtail his influence on the game. If Caff is unable to control him, the suggestion was Marley Williams and then Caff playing forward. Who goes back then? Goldsack?
if we at least match their midfield, I think we'll win. Jamie Elliott up forward with Cloke, and the fast ground level mids (Kennedy and Martin) have capacity to combine and create havoc for Adelaide's defence, not to mention the possibility of Reid coming forward if the defence is holding OK.

[Piesnchess]

Start Reid at FF, and see how he goes, alongside clokey and Elliott, put white back to backline, we need scoring power, and Reid and Elliott give that hopefully in spades, and fasolo too, if he comes on. Its roll the dice time folks, who dares wins. !!

[Magpietothemax]

Fasolo ??? He hasn't been selected. But i like your sentiment. Maybe reckless adventurism would disorient the opposition. It would need to be done at the start, as you say, not during the game when it might smack of desperation.

[watt price tully]

Last time too they had a fast, evasive and talented little Aboriginal player debut & he caused havoc playing a great game. Don't think he's in either.

Having said that, their talls area a worry to most teams: Jenkins, Tex, Pods, & the no 1 Ruck who Carlton stupidly let go: Jacobs. Lynch once kicked 4 or 5 against us when we just managed to beat them at the G. Then we had Krak in the team.

I'm hoping we win but pissed off I am rostered to work this afternoon -

[roar]

Midfield is my main concern. Ours has been ordinary lately and I can't see them getting on top today. Adams should get a full game in the guts so we should get a good look at how he plays in his preferred (probably only) position. I'll be really disappointed to see him at hbf today.

[Jezza]

Huge game of football today with so much on the line for us and the Crows. Whoever wins has a huge chance to be playing finals football in September. Personally I think the top 7 is done and the Gold Coast are gone without Ablett now, so it comes down to us and the Crows to secure that last finals spot. A win today would put us in a healthy position to remain in the top 8 for the rest of the year, but if the Crows win then we'll be bundled out of the 8 on percentage by the end of the round with some matches coming up as well.

However it's not only just about finals football, but it's also about how we'll respond from our recent poor form. I have big expectations that the side will demonstrate a massive response against the Crows, because if they don't I really can't see any improvements for the rest of the year. We're a better team than we're showing at the moment, but our confidence is low and it needs to be regained starting from today. I hope having the bye has allowed the players and the coaching staff to reflect on what has gone wrong and to try and fix the issues that are facing us at the present time. I think the inclusions of several players for this game could really galvanise the group into action.

In regards to the changes, all the inclusions are great in my opinion. It's wonderful to see Ben Reid back for the first time this year which is amazing considering I didn't think he would be missing so much of this season to start off with. I think the big man should start forward especially since our forward line has been deplorable so far this season. We had 49 inside 50s against Essendon and yet only kicked 5 goals for the whole game. Reid must start in the forward line because he'll be able to free up Cloke and Elliott significantly. Lachie Keefe returning is a no-brainer after being surprisingly dropped for the Essendon game. He did play poorly against the Crows back in round 9 but I hope he redeems himself today. Fantastic to see Elliott back in the side as well, we really missed his presence in our last two games. The inclusion of Kyle Martin is refreshing and deserving to say the least. I can't wait to see how he performs today and good to see Tim Broomhead given another opportunity to stamp his authority in the side.

When it comes to our exclusions in some way I'm almost happy to hear that Swan's decline has been a result of poor form through injury as opposed to just getting older, losing motivation and losing his pace which has been evident this year in his inability to break open from the centre with pace or from stoppages. Now this truly means that this injury can explain his average form this year. It's a relief that an injury has hampered the great man as opposed to something else all together. About time the club rests him up as opposed to continually playing him where his contribution is minimal. This should have happened a while ago and the club will claim he got hurt against Essendon, but it's pretty obvious that he's had persistent injury issues this year. In regards to the other exclusions, pity Luke Ball goes out but I think Adams can fill that void as being the in-and-under player for us and Toovey is a big loss as well.

The Crows forward line will stretch us but so a lot is riding on Frost and Keefe to play well today and potentially someone like Goldsack and Reid may need to go down back to counter their forwards, especially with Toovey out of the side now. Marley or Seedsman need to take on Eddie Betts as no other defender in our side can match him for leg speed. I remember Marley doing a stunning job on Eddie last year against Carlton so I have faith he can beat him again today. Losing Scott Thompson will hurt the Crows so we need to make the most of our opportunities to win the midfield battle. My guess is Macaffer will tag Dangerfield.

It's going to be a good contest and I have a good feeling we'll win this one by a couple of goals today and the Crows are a very inconsistent side with a poor record at the MCG in recent times. I'm feeling good about our chances. We've received plenty of criticism in the Herald Sun today, I'm sure our players are eager to redeem themselves after an insipid performance two weeks ago and we have some fresh faces in the side today.

I will be there despite the poor timeslot.

GO PIES!!!

[On the March]

Just to make us all happy - BK the sub!

[David]

Oh man, what does he have to do? Surely there are better candidates.

[swoop42]

Unbeblairable that kennedy is the sub yet again while bland gets to keep
his seemingly safe no matter what place in the 21 when he should have been
dropped.