Pre-Match. Round 9. Magpies v. Bulldogs.

[Pies2016]

Our rucks will still be up against that old battle horse, Stefan Martin, so it’s remains a challenge no matter who we put up. Martin doesn’t have four quarters in him anymore but he still knows his way around the park. Our best opportunity to expose them in the ruck is when Martin isn’t rucking.
We could either work the minutes so that Cameron also rucks against their non ruckman or our second ruckman ( Begg / Cox ) takes advantage in the ruck while Cameron “ rests “ in the forward line.
The game within the game .

Seems Martin won't play because of knee swelling - will be Sweet in the ruck. All will be revealed later today.

Always the first with the latest RVP1. That’s good enough for me.

[Piesnchess]

Jumpin Jack Ginnavin is now out, according to Matty Lloyd, hes sick, so the beat goes on, we never have a fit team, ever, how the heck can we win this very tough match minus him ??

[robevpau1]

He is training this morning - looks OK.

[LaurieHolden]

I view Stef Martin as more of a problem for Begg than English. Stef is more old school crash and bash, English is a more mobile and a marking target.
While the forward line will be inexperienced, Cameron in the Ruck is the answer.

Time to bring Macrae in.

In: Macrae, Madgen, Poulter
Out : T.Brown, Sidebottom, Bianco

EMG : Sidebottom (that way he doesn't have to play in the 2nd's. Rest him up for a week and freshen him up for the trip to Freo)
It's Danny Rowe all over again!

If IQ goes to Weightman, that'll be good to watch.
Maynard to Libba, two hard nuts going at it all day.
Howe to Khmais.
Not sure who to go to Bailey Dale, give Crisp a run with role? Perhaps Pendles back into the middle to rotate with Crisp.

[mudlark]

You DO realise that Weightman has a broken collar bone?? He’s not playing. Neither is English. It was reported on Footy classified, that both Collingwood and Footscray had players in hospital suffering from the flu.

Not Covid. No names were mentioned. It apparently both sides may have very different line ups than expected.

[David]

Interesting. I wonder if that was just Ginnivan and McCreery, or someone else? It seems strange that they would be mentioned publicly by McRae if other players have it worse.

(Also, did no-one get their flu shots this year!?)

[swoop42]

The hilarious thing is Ed never actually got around to expanding on the flu story outside of mentioning it involved the Western Bulldogs.

Honestly, it was like a reporter writing a headline for a news story and forgetting to then include the actual bloody story.

[Pies2016]

Interesting. I wonder if that was just Ginnivan and McCreery, or someone else? It seems strange that they would be mentioned publicly by McRae if other players have it worse.

(Also, did no-one get their flu shots this year!?)

It is interesting. We’re into our third week of training disruptions because of illness. I take it that the first two weeks were gastro related and as we all know, that can go as quickly as it arrives. Not one ill player in the previous two weeks went on to miss the game, albeit they werent likely 100% either.
I thought that McRae described this weeks illnesses as a carry over, so by extension, there’s every chance Ginnivan and McCreery still get up. As above, it’s been reported that Ginnivan was training today. Seems like the key to this bug is to have caught it by mid week and then likely come good for the weekend. We will all know soon enough.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Poulter in for Ginny

[axl22]

what's going on with Poulter? He was going well last season and can't seem to get a crack at it this year. He's a lot better option than the Brown brothers.

[think positive]

Interesting. I wonder if that was just Ginnivan and McCreery, or someone else? It seems strange that they would be mentioned publicly by McRae if other players have it worse.

(Also, did no-one get their flu shots this year!?)

i was about to have mine, its been 16 days now, and im still no where near healthy. im on codeine syrup which is helping, but i was dry coughing so much i was literally on the verge of fainting. the first 4 days i barely got out of bed. 2 years of no natural immunity and both doctors i have seen told me this thing is going through the community like a freight train. i have never been this sick in my entire life, even Plurisy wasnt this bad! by the way, he reckons its not the flu, its just a virus! and its only going to get worse! god help anyone with asthma, or a chronic smoker, who gets it!

[Piesnchess]

So, folks, how the hell do we win this minus goal sneak Jumpin Jack Ginnivan, ?? and Gawd, dont we miss Jamie Elliott now, sticks out like dogs balls, and where the heck is Krueger, so frustratiing, now.

[23 YIPPEE!!!]

Ginny was at training this afternoon

[Pies4shaw]

Official changes:

IN: Caleb Poulter, Jack Madgen (R8 medical sub)
OUT: Jack Ginnivan (illness), Trent Bianco (omitted)

[Pies4shaw]

... and the emergencies named are: Finlay Macrae Mason Cox Trent Bianco Callum Brown.

Full team in the OP.