Pre-Match: Pies v. Hawks - All comments please

[WarrenerraW]

[Tezza23]

Reid is certainly one of the best defenders in the league, however this year he has been one of the of the biggest culprits of the "crab" culture. He has hardly sent a damaging kick forward.

Don't be fooled we will win this one - it may not be by much but we will prevail

[mooretreloar]

As with the first time we played them this season, our depth in the midfield will be the deciding factor. In 2017, Hawthorn has only been competitive with sides that have poor midfields, which includes Adelaide, as this is the area where they are extremely deficient.

Tom Mitchell is the only class midfielder that they have and his 50 possession game last time was not even enough to get them the win.

Ben Stratton is their best defender, so he is a big in for them, but he hasn't played for a couple of months, so is likely to be underdone and struggle in the second half. Their backline is very brittle and can be scored against heavily and quickly.

Hopefully, we don't give them a 6 goal head start this time, as this is about the only way they could beat us.

[Piesnchess]

Ben Reid out is a bit of a mystery, I actually thought he was one of our better players last week, but hell, what would I know. hmmmmm.

[Magpietothemax]

I am really happy that Josh thomas has been selected. I've always liked him in our midfield, and think he can add to our midfield pressure. The omission of Ben Reid caught me completely off guard, as it has almost everyone. Buckley made it clear in an official proclamation that Reid was dropped on the criterion of form, and nothing else. I find that weird, given that last week was Ben's first game back after 5 weeks ( I think) out. Why would he be dropped on the basis of one mediocre performance on return? I don't really believe that "form" was the major criterion... I think that it has been judged that he needs a bit more time to recover fitness, and the official explanation is for public consumption to avoid criticism for playing Ben prematurely last week.
I really like our inclusions: Cox must be given his chance, and with Fasolo and Elliott both in the forward line, he has the best possible conditions for having an impact by a) syphoning defensive resources away from Darcy Moore and b) presenting a legitimate tall marking target forward, and either bringing the ball to ground or clunking it. I hope his time has come to clunk it.
Overall, I am happy with our team. The absence of both Puopolo and Rioli for Hawthorn is in our favour as well.

[Piesnchess]

[watt price tully]

I sort of have it in for Langdon, he screws up far too often in the backline & too close to goals. He's a way bit too selfish and/or his perception of his abilities far exceeds them.

Having said that I think he needs to do the team thing on Sunday: Take Hodge out of the game by channeling Hooker Harrison of the 1958 premiership team. Of course I would not condone violence for one minute but that sniper needs to be temporarily and in the nicest possible way be given a taste of his own medicine.

[Pies4shaw]

The Future Captain wouldn't do such a thing.

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

Will still win, but I disapprove of bringing back an AA defender after a month of being injured and then dropping him after a week in the interests of team balance or lack of form. This reminds me of playing Keeffe as a forward in the Port Adelaide elimination final. You build players up and then let them settle down to prove their worthiness in the team. All good coaches do this. You don't chop and change players around according to your latest theory of how the opposition plays. Sorry Nathan but you have lost me here. You need to trust you instincts from having played the game and understanding the phscology of human behaviour.

[Big T]

Good changes. Pies by plenty.

[think better]

Looks like we've gone from one real forward target in Moore to having 3 - Moore, Cox and Elliot. Should mean we move it far more quickly and directly

[RudeBoy]

I like the changes, including Reid's omission, as Dunn and Goldy are much more physical and mobile. Pies by heaps.

[think positive]

Gees about the first game I'm getting really excited for this year bizarre that's it's against hawthorn! I hope your right rudey I've ordered an extra 10 dozen dimmies!

[RudeBoy]

[watt price tully]