by Booney » Fri Sep 13, 2024 9:54 am
While I don't agree with selection I'm not sure what options they had when it comes to smalls, particularly defensively.
With Farrell, Burton and Houston out, Jones, Bergman and Evans in the only real option was to bring Sinn in. Williams is too slow and any of the remaining smalls on the list are forward/mids, Lorenz, Charleson, Anastasopoulos, Jackson etc. They're not defenders. One option would have been to move Byrne-Jones back but that would only mean another coming in and they've lost faith in McEntee so it's all in on the tall forwards but that's not where the heat is now placed.
The heat is now entirely on the midfield, either you win enough of it and deliver it with purpose into our forward half or we're cooked. With Dixon who can't move, Ratugolea who struggles to turn and Marshall forward any ground balls are going to bounce out and expose our undermanned defence as Geelong did last week.
It's a massive gamble but one I don't think they had many options but to take.
If you want to go quickly, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.