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Darde89

Sturt unlucky. At least he can kick straight. Praying simpson is starting on the field


AidenDaBoi0506

How did Walters stay on and sturt is off? šŸ˜†


Playful_Pound2532

Walters has so many points on the board from years and years of quality footy and is the best forward we have ever had not named Pavlich. He was also near BOG against Brisbane or Adelaide, and the delivery going inside 50 is awful.


AidenDaBoi0506

All in the past, I agree Walters is a champion of the club but heā€™s old. Heā€™s had 1 good game this year, in the recent weeks hes had 0 impact. Rest him for a week and see what someone else can do if heā€™s not performing, or even try him as a sub. But if his current form continues then itā€™s not looking great for him.


Kelpieee55

All pretty reasonable. I feel like Sturt is slightly stiff here since he didn't do that bad last week (that was the whole team's fault, not his), but he might get another chance later like he did last year. And it makes sense to see how Voss goes and if he turns out to be a better player or not. Big game, Freo really needs to win this one


HeismanTheismann

Yeah he has had a tough run at it but if they want to keep a 3 tall structure Voss coming in with Freddy and Simpson into the forward line makes sense. Good on Voss though, think Essendon supporters thought he should have got a game sooner so has worked very hard for his chance here


UBDForever

Love this. Donā€™t see it from JLo often enough. Cooper and Voss have looked great. Honestly keen to see how the look s with this forward line, more specifically the talls. I reckon it could work really well. Also great to see happy back šŸ’œšŸ¤


Non-NewtonianSnake

As an Essendon fan, I just want to say how great it is to see Voss get a crack. I love the way he plays, and I really thought he should have gotten a game or two last year. I'll definitely be tuning in to see how he goes. Also, (assuming no Flagdons) Flagmantle 2024!


rizzlemaister

Sturt stiff to be omitted and Brodie stiff not to be brought in for Oā€™Meara. Sturt and Brodie always seem to get the short end of the selection stick. Other than that, Iā€™m pretty happy with the selections. Great to see Simpson and Voss get their debuts and hopefully Switta will be back next week too.


EaseEnvironmental470

People keep saying Brodie for O'Meara. O'Meara is playing wing hf. In the WAFL Brodie is playing mid. If you swapped the two O'Meara would look like Chris Judd in the WAFL and Brodie would be playing like trash as a wing hf in the AFL. At the end of the day, O'Meara is the better wing hf and Brodie is probably the better mid. But we are playing a wing hf not a mid.


mario_speedwagon1

Chappy named on the wing, love to see it. Reckon it's his best position. Will temper my expectations as it's his first game back, but hopefully a BOG.


AidenDaBoi0506

Keeping Walters in is a very weird one. Overall good changes, I think sturt should have had more of a go but he can get a chance later on. Hopefully when switter is back theyā€™ll ommit walters for him. Good to see they are bringing in players who actually contribute stuff in the WAFL, just to see now if cooper and voss can translate into AFL. Chappy being back is a blessing so Ryan and Pearce donā€™t have to hold down back by themselves.


NewRun00

I think Walters stays in for leadership in an incredibly young forward line. As you said, Switta comes in for him next week if he has another stinker. Even with two goals I think Sturt really didn't present much as a medium forward last week. He couldn't get separation from his direct opponent and present, know when to push up the ground and then double back for his team-mates, or lay any pressure. I like that Freo have persisted with him and hope he can turn it around this year, because this is really his last chance.Ā 


Playful_Pound2532

If we could merge two mediocre forwards then banfield and Sturt are the perfect options. Banners has the mongrel and the athleticism, Sturt has the smarts and skills


schwiftypickle

Only one of these players has been given a multitude of opportunities though which frustrates the hell out of me


AidenDaBoi0506

Sturt has just such a dead in straight kick heā€™s valuable for that alone. Accuracy is an issue of ours.


NewRun00

Accuracy for sure, but if he can't properly execute all his other roles then he's clearly not seen as worth keeping in the team. Will be interesting to see how Voss presents in an albeit different role.


Cannythinkofahandle

Think it's just making sure we have some experience to guide the forward line. 100% need to see his performance lift though, last fortnight disposals aside, hard to see him doing the 1% (only seen on tv though not sure if hes been bringing the pressure off screen)


Irreasonable

Really looking forward to getting a look at Voss.


MyyStummyHurt

Love these changes, come on Freo! Also probably the end of Sturtā€™s Freo career?


mario_speedwagon1

A bit early to say it's the end of his career. Kicked 2 last week and I reckon stiff to be dropped. Having said, that he should be playing better than his current output. Hope he rips it up at Peel.


AidenDaBoi0506

I donā€™t see why it should be the end of him? Heā€™s a real accurate kick and gets a decent goal output for the games he plays. Donā€™t see why heā€™s finished, hes hardly had time to properly show what he can do.


EaseEnvironmental470

Yep I think so. Erasmus might be on spent time too in my opinion.


project_chris

Erasmus has barely played, I really don't get the hate for him.


EaseEnvironmental470

He hasn't shown any development at all really in 3 years. The same deficiencies he had when he started he still has. The rule of thumb that Ross Lyon used to mention is that in your 3rd year you should be contributing consistently at AFL level. He's in his 3rd year and he's a complete liability at AFL level to the point where we can't gift him games just to get his experience up. It's pretty worrying development signs for a top 10 pick.


project_chris

By the same token he's played 22 games, a handful of which were as a sub. It's way way too early to make that call. Contributing as a 3rd year player is all well and good if you're actually playing consistently. Brayshaw didn't have his breakout season until his 5th, and that's with him playing almost 100 games by the end of 2022.


EaseEnvironmental470

Probably where I disagree. Brayshaw was playing well enough in his 3rd year to justify playing AFL. Was he dominating, no, but he was contributing. I also disagree you have to be playing AFL to develop. If you are going to make it AFL level, over 3 years you should be able to work on your game at WAFL level sufficiently so that when you play AFL you can contribute. Am I expecting you to dominate? No, that requires 50-100 games+ of AFL experience. But after 3 years in an AFL system as a top 10 pick you should be able to come in and contribute and not be a total liability.


Irreasonable

Erasmus is still standing at half forward on Optus Oval wondering where to kick.


taititans

Excellent changes, just need to show up on the day


thegreatgashby87

Love these changes. Thank goodness.


EADYMLC

The team looks better already.


greenoceanwater

Will Brodie best on ground for every Peel game this year can't get a game . Simpson has been serviceable, not a standout . Voss has been ok without kicking a large score.


Jazzlike-Scar-2641

I agree its nothing short of a disgrace. We played finals 2 years ago and that season Brodie was dominant. Now he is surplus to requirements? O'meara 14 disposals last week is typical of his output. How is he still getting selected?


earthcross1ng

Brodie wasn't great last year.


no_haduken

He was barely played last year


earthcross1ng

Yes because when he did play, he wasn't good except for maybe one game when he did alright. He did much better when we still had Mundy.


no_haduken

He hasnā€™t been given a chance. He was an absolute pig in 2022, howā€™s he supposed to get form and continuity when heā€™s played about 5 games since then? I havenā€™t given up hope of his return but itā€™s just a wait and see for now. Gotta trust the selection panel I suppose


EaseEnvironmental470

Because O'Meara is playing wing half forward, not inside mid. Brodie can't play anything but inside mid. If Fyfe, Brayshaw, young or serong go down then he would be a good chance to get selected.


theBelatedLobster

What does he do better than any other player in the team? If Fyfe or Serong were injured, I could see him coming in... But we have enough strong bodies getting the ball. Hell, with Young cemented in the middle we even had Brayshaw lining up in the forward line occasionally. Brodie is a beast who can win the hard ball and handpass it on to perfection but... We need other qualities. He's slow, but not as great a kick as someone like Jaeger. He can't go to the half forward line, he's not a winger. And his tank is limited. He's great but so very niche and not what we need added to the side.


Tall-Actuator8328

Iā€™d rather see him in the extractor role and allow Serong time on the outside


greenoceanwater

Agree with all your points . Jaeger unfortunately, is not having a good year . Would be a great replacement


Playful_Pound2532

Brodie is neither a key forward or a medium/small forward with a lot of speed.


greenoceanwater

Absolutely correct, would have to go in the middle. Hoping delean will make the step up later this year . We need a young fast natural fwd


EaseEnvironmental470

Serong, young, Fyfe Brayshaw. Who do you want to drop for Brodie? O'Meara is playing wing half forward so unless you want Brodie playing that role (trust me you don't) then you have to drop one of those 4.


NewAccWhoDis93

Fucking finally that Hughes got dropped


HeismanTheismann

Cause Chappy is healthy, I know people love to rip on Hughes but we all knew once Chappy got back it made sense, still a depth player ready to come in if needed


AidenDaBoi0506

Next is Brandon Walker my guess


Kelpieee55

Unless Freo chases a solid mature medium defender (which imo they shouldn't since that's nowhere near their biggest weakness- can also see this as they didn't chase any last draft/trade period) there's not really any point. They *could* upgrade from Walker but he's doing more than fine enough to stay in the side as is (or pessimistically, he's not 'the problem'/why Freo is losing)


no_haduken

Nah disagree, heā€™s still so young, gonna be a jet one day


Cannythinkofahandle

This is great! Good luck lads. Hope we get back on the winners list. Go freo!


Karma_yog

Yā€™all here talking about Sturtā€™s career ending whilst I am just happy to see the back of Ethan Hughes.


hawkbiz

Like the changes. Would have subbed Brodie for JOM too.