Who makes way for Nick Daicos?

[RudeBoy]

I guess if Adams misses through injury, then no-one needs to be dropped for Nick Daicos. He's not a like for like player, but he is a midfielder, so I guess it will require Mitchell, JDG and Crisp to do more grunt work at the bottom of packs. It's not ideal, as Adams was ferocious last game, but needs must when the devil drives.

[Sir Alan of Didak]

Adams out, Naicos in.

Ginni remains sub.

Lock this side in for the rest of September.

Hyperbaric Chamber won't save Adams the following week.

Lipinski a better player at this stage of their careers anyway and am backing him in for a spike game in Prelim...was very, very good in the Finals Series last year.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Lipinski makes way for Nick daicos

Adams out and Carmichael in for preliminary final

Adams to be right for grand final

[What'sinaname]

Adams out, and you’d have to think for the year. Would not risk a hamstring strain in a GF

[Piesnchess]

Tay out, Nick in, pretty darn good replacement. Chill people. all is good.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Prelim line up:

FB: Quaynor Moore Howe
CB: Pendles Murphy Crisp
C: J Daicos Maynard N Daicos
CF: Hill Checkers Marcov
FF: Elliott McStay McCreey
R: Cox JDG Mitchell
INT: Cameron WHE Side Noble
SUB: Ginny

[eddiesmith]

[Jezza]

Sad for Adams, but he's the obvious replacement in light of his injury.

[David]

Question now is if any other changes are made, e.g. Lipinski for Noble. I think two changes should be the absolute max (to ensure that we don't shake things up too much), but I'd be inclined to make that particular swap.

[woodys_world69]

adams and Daicos are not really a like for like thats the only issue

adams is inside mid and forward frontal pressure. neither are Daicos

So means another change will also be made or a change in positions for the run on team

[pietillidie]

A lot of factors to weigh up here. Lippa is down on form but covers the ground well has shown a determination to keep bouncing back. Sure, he's never going to be super hard at the contest, but legs and foot skills matter, especially if it's going to be dry.

I am happy we're playing the Giants. You have to beat the best to be the best, and they're deserving opponents who trouble us.

Their strong bodies forward and over the ball will be challenging, no doubt, made worse by Adams being out.

But coming off a break with fresh legs, will that matter? The temptation will be to go all legs and run over them if conditions are dry.

If we anticipate greasy or wet conditions, or them going really tight on constricting us, you have to look at stronger bodies, especially with one in being Nicky, who's a fab tackle for his size but needs two more years to become a beast.

I half expect a shoot out with them backing in their bigs and stronger bodies. They're a very even strong-running team, but our slick ball movement can still prevail, especially if we can break even over the ball, and play a smart forward line setup as we did against Melbourne.

The old stagers such as Mitchell, Pendles and Sidey having had a week off, along with players whose bodies take serious punishment (Checkers, Jamie and Murph, for starters) can't have hurt, that's for sure. Coxy was also off his feet after a huge first half against Melbourne.

Any hint of the weather outlook yet? Fingers crossed on this outlook holding and the ground being dry by the end of the day, though I'd have preferred a day game: http://www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/melbourne.shtml

[think positive]