Predicted Round 1 team

[puma1355]

Given the injury to McInnes and the suspension for Trindall I expect to see the following round 1.

1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Ramien
4. Tracey
5. Mulitalo
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Tolman (I think he comes in as a starter now).
9. Brailey
10. Toby
11. Nikora
12. Graham
13. Finucane

14. BHU
15. Williams
16. Talaki
17. Wilton

Id have Hunt before Wilton

 

[bort]

I thought Williams could be out for a week or 2?

Haven't seen that

I'll go

1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Tracey
4. Ramien
5. Ronnie
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Frudolph
9. Brailey
10. BHU
11. Nikora
12. Wilton
13. Finucane

14. Talakai
15. Williams
16. Tolman
17. Hunt (or Berrell, don't know Fitz well enough as a coach to know which way he swings)

Assuming of course an injury to Graham but no unreported trial or training injuries.

Fifita I think close to taking that last jersey also but likely to miss out. I think Fitz will like Tolman as a worker.

 

[Gumby]

Whilst McInness is out I feel tolman will see some game time to help strengthen our middle D.

 

[Tatus]

I’ve been critical of Fifita, a lot, but I was really impressed with him last night. Didn’t think he had it in him. Happy to let him lose jersey. He fires the pack up like no other and we need that attitude!

 

[Wiz]

I’ve been critical of Fifita, a lot, but I was really impressed with him last night. Didn’t think he had it in him. Happy to let him lose jersey. He fires the pack up like no other and we need that attitude!

Mate he did the exact same thing in the all stars game - don’t know what some people on here were watching during that game. Looks like they had their Hynes glasses on

Fifita has been the most consistent player along with Hynes so far this year

 

[Gal The Goat]

Graham miss first 6 rounds surgery on ankle for high grade syndomosis.
McInnes miss first 2 rounds knee clean out.
Williams miss first 2 rounds knee clean out.

From the Tele

On that note I think we will be
1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Tracey
4. Ramien
5. Ronaldo
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Uele
9. Brailey
10. Rudolf
11. Nikora
12. Wilton
13. Finucane (C)

14. Talakai
15. Hunt
16. Tolman/Fifita
17. Tolman/Fifita/Berrell/Metcalf

Last bit of the bench is a tad hard to work out what sort of style Fitz wants to run

 

[Sir Chadley]

Graham miss first 6 rounds surgery on ankle for high grade syndomosis.
McInnes miss first 2 rounds knee clean out.
Williams miss first 2 rounds knee clean out.

From the Tele

On that note I think we will be
1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Tracey
4. Ramien
5. Ronaldo
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Uele
9. Brailey
10. Rudolf
11. Nikora
12. Wilton
13. Finucane (C)

14. Talakai
15. Hunt
16. Tolman/Fifita
17. Tolman/Fifita/Berrell/Metcalf

Last bit of the bench is a tad hard to work out what sort of style Fitz wants to run

I think you're pretty close mate given what we have to work with at the moment. I think with 16 and 17, I'd go with Tolman and Fifita I guess. But with Trindall suspended, perhaps Fitz may run Berrell to give Blayke a breather after 50 or so mins. But I am hoping Blayke can go 80 mins this year in games.

 

[BurgoShark]

Graham miss first 6 rounds surgery on ankle for high grade syndomosis.
McInnes miss first 2 rounds knee clean out.
Williams miss first 2 rounds knee clean out.

From the Tele

On that note I think we will be
1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Tracey
4. Ramien
5. Ronaldo
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Uele
9. Brailey
10. Rudolf
11. Nikora
12. Wilton
13. Finucane (C)

14. Talakai
15. Hunt
16. Tolman/Fifita
17. Tolman/Fifita/Berrell/Metcalf

Last bit of the bench is a tad hard to work out what sort of style Fitz wants to run

Geez - depth is being tested before a ball is even kicked in anger.

Bench of Talakai, Hunt, Fifita + utility would be the worst way to go. Not enough minutes among those forwards.

Finucane should play ~60.
Rudolf should play ~50.
BHU shouldn't play more than 40.
Hunt and Talakai shouldn't play more than 30 each.

With that bench they would would be asking Fifita to play 30 minutes assuming no injuries or HIAs. That's madness.

I'll take Tolman in the #16 (because he can handle the minutes) and Berrell in the #17 (since he can play a bit of lock in a pinch).

 

[Paul C]

Graham miss first 6 rounds surgery on ankle for high grade syndomosis.
McInnes miss first 2 rounds knee clean out.
Williams miss first 2 rounds knee clean out.

From the Tele

On that note I think we will be
1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Tracey
4. Ramien
5. Ronaldo
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Uele
9. Brailey
10. Rudolf
11. Nikora
12. Wilton
13. Finucane (C)

14. Talakai
15. Hunt
16. Tolman/Fifita
17. Tolman/Fifita/Berrell/Metcalf

Last bit of the bench is a tad hard to work out what sort of style Fitz wants to run

Faark, Graham out a third of a season already? Come back - something else for 6 weeks then head knock and out for good.

Captain? No way.

 

[bort]

Well my guess immediately wrong again due to Jack Williams news.
I guess take him off bench and call the last two jerseys two of Hunt/Fifita/Berrell

 

[Shortfin Mako]

I think you're pretty close mate given what we have to work with at the moment. I think with 16 and 17, I'd go with Tolman and Fifita I guess. But with Trindall suspended, perhaps Fitz may run Berrell to give Blayke a breather after 50 or so mins. But I am hoping Blayke can go 80 mins this year in games.

Can you or someone else please explain to me why it is a problem for Blayke to play 80 mins? Is it his size, lack of strength/endurance or is this position very demanding?

 

[Sir Chadley]

Can you or someone else please explain to me why it is a problem for Blayke to play 80 mins? Is it his size, lack of strength/endurance or is this position very demanding?

Mate I have no idea. Maybe he can, we'll find out soon enough. I think he played a couple of 80 min games last year from memory but I'd like to see him play 80 more consistently.

 

[BurgoShark]

Can you or someone else please explain to me why it is a problem for Blayke to play 80 mins? Is it his size, lack of strength/endurance or is this position very demanding?

Hooker is possibly the most demanding position in the game. I don't think Brailey playing 80 (which he did most games) was a problem in itself, but there are two common threads when discussing Brailey and his minutes:

1. There were a few examples of games last season where people pointed out some "lazy" plays in defence
2. Quite a few posters have been critical of his attacking output

Most people seem to agree that he can handle 80 minutes, but there is some suggestion that we may see more attacking output and less of the fatigue-related misses if he gets a rest. The alternative view of course is that if he is surrounded by better defenders and guys who are playing appropriate minutes, he won't be getting worn down.

As far as attacking output goes, I personally believe that his influence on the team is greater than just "doing stuff that shows up on stats sheets". There is a very important control/organising factor which goes unnoticed by many, and the team plays better when he is out there even if he isn't taking scoots or setting up line breaks.

The other big factor with Brailey is that his worst game of the year was the final game. Recency bias is a real thing.

 

[Wilson]

I think we’re a good chance of seeing Ikavalu in the 14/17.

 

[Gards]

I don't think it's recency bias, Brailey's attack just hasn't been that great consistently since he has played FG for us. He was such a shining light in the lower grades but it hasn't really carried over though we get glimpses. Yes we can appreciate the little things and all he does for our structure, dummy half service ect but feel we are within rights to expect more from him. (well any 9 that starts for us really)

He racks up the tackles and our defense hasn't been great for years now putting him under extra pressure

If having better defenders around him and/or not playing 80 mins helps him with and without the ball then that's good all round for the team. There was some promise showed in the dogs trials under Fitz. The spark is still there, it's just about extracting it most weeks and hopefully Fitz has the playbook to deliver that.

If we are worried about some of our big boys fatiguing over 30 mins just give them 15 mins both sides of half time. I think we even did this with Fifita under JMO and / or Talakai. Keeps em keen and fired up by the time they get on and in theory they should be able to go hard in 15 min stints.

As for Williams, his best and most disciplined footy by far has been as a bench middle. I wouldn't go out of my way to pick him as a lock or second rower unless he can show he can perform in those positions.

 

[BurgoShark]

I don't think it's recency bias, Brailey's attack just hasn't been that great consistently since he has played FG for us. He was such a shining light in the lower grades but it hasn't really carried over though we get glimpses. Yes we can appreciate the little things and all he does for our structure, dummy half service ect but feel we are within rights to expect more from him. (well any 9 that starts for us really)

He racks up the tackles and our defense hasn't been great for years now putting him under extra pressure

If having better defenders around him and/or not playing 80 mins helps him with and without the ball then that's good all round for the team. There was some promise showed in the dogs trials under Fitz. The spark is still there, it's just about extracting it most weeks and hopefully Fitz has the playbook to deliver that.

If we are worried about some of our big boys fatiguing over 30 mins just give them 15 mins both sides of half time. I think we even did this with Fifita under JMO and / or Talakai. Keeps em keen and fired up by the time they get on and in theory they should be able to go hard in 15 min stints.

As for Williams, his best and most disciplined footy by far has been as a bench middle. I wouldn't go out of my way to pick him as a lock or second rower unless he can show he can perform in those positions.

Not trying to have a lengthy BB discussion. Was just trying to explain to someone new to the conversation why there is discussion about giving him a rest.

Defensively, recency bias is definitely at play. He had more missed/ineffective tackles combined in the last 4 games than he did in the other 20.

15-20 either side of half time is the standard usage for bench middles. Williams, Hunt or Talakai are always used like this. Play any of those guys more than 18-20 minutes consecutively and you start to have big problems in defence (unless of course you have the ball the whole time).

 

[Gards]

With what we seem to currently understand of player availability:

1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Ramien
4. Tracey (too late to mess with this, will give him the chance)
5. Mulitalo
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Tolman (love him but still sigh...)
9. Brailey (will need close to 80 mins, Tracey can slot in if desperate, Berrell promising but underdone)
10. BHU
11. Nikora
12. Wilton
13. Finucane

14. Rudolf
15. Fifita
16. Talakai
17. Hunt

Extras:
Pele (available??)
Ikavalu
ect. ect.

 

[Sir Chadley]

I like your bench Gards. I have no problem in Tolman starting, in fact I would not be surprised to see Fitz do this. Especially against the Raiders when we need to be above average defensively.

 

[Wiz]

With what we seem to currently understand of player availability:

1. Kennedy
2. Katoa
3. Ramien
4. Tracey (too late to mess with this, will give him the chance)
5. Mulitalo
6. Moylan
7. Hynes
8. Tolman (love him but still sigh...)
9. Brailey (will need close to 80 mins, Tracey can slot in if desperate, Berrell promising but underdone)
10. BHU
11. Nikora
12. Wilton
13. Finucane

14. Rudolf
15. Fifita
16. Talakai
17. Hunt

Extras:
Pele (available??)
Ikavalu
ect. ect.

Rudolph over Tolman especially in opening stages then back on towards the end of the game. Tolman doesn’t provide enough punch

Talakai over Wilton for me

 

[Gards]

Rudolph hasn't played any trials, struggles with his minutes and is a sus defender. Tolman aleviates the last 2 points and provides even less impact coming from a bench position where Rudolf might find a new lease.

Wilton is a better second rower than Talakai and has more endurance

We need to start asking ourselves why Rudolf should be guaranteed a starting position in the 13