Pre Match. Pies v. Bulldogs - All comments please.

[Jezza]

The team.

B Flynn Appleby, Lynden Dunn, Jack Crisp
HB Travis Varcoe, Matthew Scharenberg, Jeremy Howe
C Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Phillips
HF Jordan De Goey, Ben Reid, Will Hoskin-Elliott
F Josh Thomas, Mason Cox, Jaidyn Stephenson
FOL Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Adam Treloar

I/C Josh Daicos, Chris Mayne, Levi Greenwood, Tom Langdon

EMG Sam Murray, Ben Crocker, Brody Mihocek, Brayden Sier

[Haff]

Still no Sier/Wills....

[stui magpie]

I expect we'll frequently see Cox and Reid in opposite high pockets and De goey planted in the square

[Mugwump]

Good ins, which make us tougher and add a bit of development potential in Daicos. We need to win this one, and these ins help. Love Sam Murray, but it was time for a spell. Hope he’ll be back having learned a few things.

[Dave The Man]

I got a Terrible Feeling about this Game.

I tipped the Dogs by 20

[Magpietothemax]

I like Greenwood, so welcome his return to the team as a big-bodied midfielder capable of a strong tagging role as well. I am also happy to see Reid in our forward line again. I am starting to love the look of our forward line, with JDG now striking fear into the heart of the opposition, with Stepho to add his chaos speed, WHE to add his pace and aerial skills, and now with twin talls Reid and Cox to either mark or bring the ball to ground, while random midfielders rotate through. It is starting to look very dangerous. We are definitely witnessing the emergence of something new in our forward structure.
It is disappointing for Sam Murray to be omitted, both for him and for me. I understand why: his last couple of games have been below the necessary standard, and maybe it has been judged that he needs a couple of games in the reserves to tighten up on essential skills required at senior level. He'll be back, with a vengeance.
I also like the addition of Daics as another clever forward.
I think this is a good team.
I really like our prospects tomorrow. While we are favourites (never a good thing psychologically for us) I am confident that we will be sufficiently focussed, given the fact that only 2 years ago the WBs were Premiers, and they have dominated us in the recent scoreline. Plenty there to get us primed from the start. Go Pies!!

[Magpietothemax]

My prediction: Pies by 22 points.

[Dave The Man]

How does Mayne keep getting a Game?

[KellyD33P]

Yesssss... good list, smoke em out through the middle! If greenwood brings his grunt and daicos brings the class we are in. Reid is a gun. Mix it up keep it unpredictable. Dogs made three pretty tall n pacey changes to. Looks like a good game. Friday night what more could you want... Pies by 3.2 🍻

[Donny]

"Reid is a gun" ??

Used to be.

[Crazypie]

I'm glad daicos is named and not Crocker. He looked good in the Vfl on the weekend.

[Magpietothemax]

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

I understand Sam Murray being dropped but I think he's a bit unlucky compared to Appleby who keeps getting a game. Hopefully Murray gets back into the team after he regains form in the VFL. Daicos deserves his spot and Greenwood is needed for a tagging role on Macrae (even though I'm not sure Greenwood has the pace to keep up with Macrae). When is Sier going to get a game? Looking forward to the game. I believe we have the tools to account for the Bulldogs although I'm expecting a tougher game than the one against St Kilda.

[Pies2016]

I would be surprised if Greenwood is used to tag Macrae.
Macrae has been the most in form mid fielder in the comp over 9 rounds and a few clubs have tried run with roles on him but he nobody has been able to put him off his game.
Greenwood’s two games in the VFL have been off half back and with Murray out, it might be that he spends some time back there.
Greenwood may go to Macrae and block him at the stoppages but I can’t see how a player with such a limited pre season could run with Macrae around the ground.
Macrae is a wonderful player. Doesn’t waste a possession by hand or foot.
The best way to beat him, is to simply get hands on the ball before him.

Either way, clearly the club rate Greenwood off such a limited pre season, so I will be interested to see how we use him.

[swoop42]

Not sure I agree with Murray being omitted.

While his form has tapered away when you encourage him to play such a high risk high reward style you've got to accept sometimes it doesn't come off.

Only his first season playing senior AFL so perhaps a reset at a lower level is needed and the coaches want him to focus on his defensive side but we're sure robbing ourselves a player who was a weapon earlier in the season and one who played a vital role in the better brand of football we seemingly are witnessing.

I can only assume Greenwood is being added to the 22 for a specific tagging job otherwise why select him ahead of someone like Sier.

Remember Greenwood had no preseason and has been managed playing off half back for what 2 or 3 VFL matches?

It's a selection gamble.

Great to see Daicos get another opportunity and his creative and clean ball use will help offset the loss of silk that is Daniel Wells.