Selection Dissection: Time (and form) is not our friend

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Tick, tock, tick, tock! The clock is ticking, and we’re running out of time.

Yes, we’ll most likely finish in the top four, but are we simply making up the numbers? I hope I’m wrong, but right now I just can’t see us challenging for the premiership.

Since Round 4, we haven’t beaten a team currently sitting in the top six, and our form is arguably the worst it has been all season. The coach has a massive job on his hands over the next few weeks. Turn things around and we remain a genuine threat. Fail, and we’re staring down the barrel of a straight-sets exit.

This week we head west to take on a West Coast Eagles side that has lost 10 straight games and is probably already halfway to Bali for its end-of-season trip.

Selection will be fascinating. It’s Jack Gunston’s 300th game and while he could probably do with a rest, he simply has to play. Several players look sore and out of form, but we need to win this game and win it convincingly if we’re to finish third and avoid a trip back to Perth to take on Fremantle in a qualifying final.

Box Hill recorded a strong win over Casey, with the likes of Bodie Ryan, Cody Nairn and Jack Dalton all putting their hands up for selection.

Another disappointing performance from the defensive unit.

To concede 27 scoring shots and 92 points against that Collingwood side was concerning. Tom Barrass, in particular, has become a major issue. Opposition teams seem to have worked out how to play through him, and it’s affecting our overall defensive structure.

The form of co-captain James Sicily, Karl Amon and Josh Weddle is also a concern, and there doesn’t appear to be a quick fix. At this stage, we simply have to hope they can rediscover their best form, and quickly.

Bodie Ryan finished with 32 disposals and six marks in the VFL, while Jack Scrimshaw returned from a knee injury and played only the first half. I’m not sure Scrimshaw is ready to return after such a limited preparation.

I expect Amon to be “managed” this week.

As predicted last week, Nick Daicos was simply too good and will collect the three Brownlow votes.

Jai Newcombe and Josh Ward were once again our best midfielders, but they lacked support around them.

Will Day has struggled over the past month and needs to find some form quickly if we’re going to challenge for the flag. Fortunately, he should get a good opportunity to bounce back this week against a struggling Eagles midfield.

Ned Reeves was dropped last week, with the coaching staff deciding to back Lloyd Meek as the sole ruck.

Meek probably broke even with Darcy Cameron and now comes up against the underrated Bailey Williams. Reeves responded well in the VFL and is every chance to earn a recall.

That said, I expect the coach to stick with Meek for his 100th AFL game.

A special mention to Mitch Lewis, who will play his 100th AFL game this week.

It’s been a long journey for Lewis, now in his 10th season at the club. Let’s hope he can celebrate the milestone with a big performance and hit the scoreboard.

Jack Gunston should also have every chance to kick a bag in game #300, while Nick Watson, who has gone goalless in the past two weeks, shapes as another likely bounce-back candidate.

The current concern is the half-forward line. Dylan Moore, Jack Ginnivan and Connor Macdonald are all struggling to have their usual impact and must find form before finals.

Ginnivan, in particular, looks sore and may be “managed” this week.

Tom Cole to kick three goals

In - Dalton, Nairn, McCabe
Out - Amon, Ginnivan, Barrass (all managed)

Emg: Dear - Butler - Ryan

In - Dalton
Out - Amon (managed)

Emg: Dear - Nairn - Ryan

Unavailable: Conor Nash, Noah Mraz, Flynn Perez, Cody Anderson

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