Pre-Match. Pies v. Bulldogs. All comments

[masoncox]

Wow it is going to be tough the next 6 weeks or so.
We have only 1 ruckman out of 4 for weeks to come.
Our forward line is decimated.
this is really a tough gig for the next month.

[Piesnchess]

With this mass of injuries, now young Joe, if we can win 3 of our next 6 matches, we are doing very well indeed. !

[doriswilgus]

[Pies2016]

So if we look at additional availabilities for this week, they include Howe ( very likely ) Bytel and possibly Markov would be back after missing last week.
Howes flexibility is important and should he play, it’s likely he would resume as a forward again. Or he may start back and allow Frampton to play as a forward and second ruck. Bytel could also come in, possibly as a replacement for Allan or Parker. Even if Markov is available, he’s almost superfluous to our needs, given he’s another general defender. I imagine one of Krueger or Johnson are strong chances to come in also.
So many permutations and combinations to consider and with so much quality unavailable, it’s hard to even guess how the team will look on game day.
Still, it is the MacRae inspired Magpies, so you just never know what this team will deliver, especially when they’re up against the odds.

[The Black and White Lion]

Week 12, time for some more radical forward line moves.

I'm bringing in Kreuger, McInnes, Markov and Macrae.

We've got Hill, McCreery and Harrison. Add Kreuger and McInnes.
Going to have to rotate Macrae, Sullivan, Sidey, a Daicos and Pendles through there. I'm benching Cameron for rest although he is arguably our best tall forward after Checkers and McStay. No idea who's in the ruck for us at that time. Maybe we play Markov as back up ruck instead.
Ideally leave Kreuger close to goal with Hill, McInnes to lead out and the rest push up the ground to clog the dogs and make space for Hill to run riot.

[Piesnchess]

Im going to cop flak,but is Naicos at full forward for half a game, viable at all. Seems he can play anywhere else, aside from the Ruck. ?

[K]

[K]

[Pies2016]

Just on this weeks cobbled forward line, it’s time for Schultz and McCreery to hit the scoreboard. They are both senior players in this weeks front six and we need more than just run down tackles from these two over the next couple weeks. If Richards can hit the scoreboard every week and Harrison can kick three last week, it’s now time for Schultz and McCreery to do something similar.

[K]

^ I don't even see run-down tackles from Schultz... Not more than anyone else, anyway.

[Pies2016]

[K]

^ And Hun is listing Reef as "1 week"...

[warburton lad]

Out Cox- In Krueger
Out Mihocek. In Howe
Out Richards In Markov

If we win two of the next three (somehow), we will hit our bye at 9 wins and 5 losses- That would make it very hard to make Top four but leave us in the mix to make the eight.

The injury crisis is essentially at the stage where it may derail our premiership hopes.

I have faith in McRae and co, but failing us drafting the next Len Thompson and Gordon Coventry in this week's mid-season draft, the flag may be slipping out of our grasp.

This is the worst injury toll for the Pies I can remember.

[RudeBoy]

If we manage to get most of our A team on the park by the end of the h & a season, we'll have a team capable of winning the flag from outside the top 4.

[shawthing]