FREMANTLE v WESTERN BULLDOGS

FREMANTLE
B: Roger Hayden, Luke McPharlin, Paul Duffield
HB: Steven Dodd, Michael Johnson, Scott Thornton
C: David Mundy, Rhys Palmer, Garrick Ibbotson
HF: Shaun McManus, Chris Tarrant, Dean Solomon
F: Jeff Farmer, Matthew Pavlich, Marcus Drum
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Ryan Crowley, Peter Bell
I/C (from): Kepler Bradley, Robert Warnock, Adam Campbell, Byron Schammer, Brett Peake, Andrew Foster, Heath Black
In: Bradley, Warnock, Campbell, Hayden, Peake, Duffield, Black
Out: Mark Johnson (suspended), Daniel Gilmore, Brock O’Brien, Ryan Murphy

WESTERN BULLDOGS
B: Dale Morris, Brian Lake, Tim Callan
HB: Ryan Hargrave, Cameron Wight, Lindsay Gilbee
C: Nathan Eagleton, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Cross
HF: Brad Johnson, Mitch Hahn, Robert Murphy
F: Scott Welsh, Will Minson, Jason AKERMANIS
Foll: Ben Hudson, Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney
Int (from): Dylan Addison, Daniel Giansiracusa, Josh Hill, Farren Ray, Wayde Skipper, Stephen Tiller, Callan Ward

In: Ray, Skipper, Ward
Out:

Looks like Hayden and Duffield are both in, with the other spots likely to be two of Warnock, Bradley and Campbell. Can't see either Black or Peake getting a game.

I think Hayden is still doubtful hence Black being named.

Geez, with all due respect to Seany Mac, how does he keep getting a game?

I agree Westerly, as much as he is a warrior, shauny mac isn't playing his best footy. Mundy is also a bit lucky, he certainly doesn't show any hunger or desperation.
Freo 6.1 to make the eight, not bad odds I reckon....?

Who would you play instead? It's all about having enough running players and we don't have too many left. Possibly only Josh Head as Brock O'Brien was dropped.

any one know how grovers injury going? thought that he might have been back for this one

I like the look of that team as listed... apart from missing Grover and Josh Carr.

Drum up forward, Taz around HF, the HB line... these things please me. I'd suggest Soreknee is in as a defensive forward. He might not be playing his best footy but he's still quick and could play a handy negating role, something we'll need to do to counter the run of the Bulldogs.

What is going on with Chris Mayne? If the guy is able to play WAFl he should be right to play afl and with the way he started I can't believe he is not getting selected. Apart from pavlich he was our most consistent forward working up the ground aswell and barely missing a target. This is the time to blood these quality young players and time to make the tough decisions with some of the elder brigade.

Came in for Taz, didn't he?

Bit early to concede the season, too. That's for the other mob, tanking.

It won't hurt a young bloke after a few weeks off to get his confidence up in the WAFL. Mayne will be back soon, no risk. A couple of others have put their hand up so why not give them a go. While we are all about youth at the moment, balance is also a consideration. I'm sure that we all want an emphasis on giving the team a winning chance each week, and this could well mean measuring the mix of youth and experience from week to week. Brock is another who'll have to bide his time for his opportunities.

I'm all for not playing anyone who isn't quite 100%.

Listening the the radio they said Mayne didn't start the 2nd half, but was instead getting some work done on his sore calf.

I'd hate for him to be rushed back now, only to re-injure his leg.

I'm quite prepared for him to miss 2 or 3 games at the start of his career, rather than 2 or 3 years at the end of it....

I agree that if he's not fully fit its not worth the risk but if your considering team balance i think he is clearly in our best 22 and we have recalled roger hayden and dropped brock and murph who are relatively inexperienced. Also i dont believe we can hang our hat on wafl performances as Murphy has always been good for south but struggled at afl level and campbell is the same although he hasnt had as many opportunities. Another interesting thing is the inclusions of peake and black who i would be surprised if either play. Black doesn't seem fully fit and is very undiscipline and peake just flat out doesn't deserve a game.

The young players have contracts. If you're chucking the season in, it's time to blood the old players so we know which ones to keep.

Mayne will be straight in as soon as he's fit. He's a beauty and everyone knows it.

FREMANTLE
B: Hayden, McPharlin, Duffield
HB: Dodd, Michael Johnson, Thornton
C: Mundy, Palmer, Ibbotson
HF: McManus, Tarrant, Solomon
F: Drum, Pavlich, Farmer
FOLL: Sandilands, Crowley, Bell
I/C: Bradley, Schammer, Foster, Black
EMG: Warnock, Campbell, Peake

IN: Bradley, Black, Duffield, Hayden
OUT: Mark Johnson, Gilmore, O'Brien, Murphy

Kiwi is pretty unlucky, but hopefully he can back it up with another great game in the WAFL. Good to see Bradley get a game, looks like he will be doing some back up ruck work. Not sure about Black, if he is fully fit he would be a welcome addition, just please don't give away so many frees.

Looks like a well balanced team to me. Grover being out won't hurt us as much againt the Bulldogs forwards who are 'play taller than they are' types, and you'd like our chances if we can get get close to breaking even in the midfield. That's a pretty big if though. Hopefully macca and solomon can help stop their run off half-back, but they might need a little help *looking in Mundy's direction*.

Looking forward to seeing how Bradley goes. Surely a sunny day at Subi would be ideal conditions for a free-running-tallish-pitch-hitting-ruckman-type.