Team vs Brisbane

[Nico]

Robbie,

Your side looks spot on. With Schnides and Schaubs likely to come back in soon it makes for very healthy competition for a spot in the team.

I would suggest that this is one subtle difference Roos has made to the culture of the playing group. We now have up to 30 players who are in contention for a spot every week.

[Jeffers1984]

Good work Robbie, That team looks spot on.

Good call on Matthews as well, starting on the bench.

[Charlie]

Robbie's side looks very strong. Would switch Mathews and James, but other than that it looks as good a side as we could hope to put out there.

Reckon Leo might get a shot on Leppitsch. He's physically strong enough to hold his own, and can compete in the air.

If Leppitsch can be limited to no more than 3 goals, it's a 50-50 game imo.

[Tooth Fairy]

Looking at robbies team I have to say I'M EXCITED!

[thommoone]

Robbie, i like your side with the exception that the FB line is too tall. If Rogers is your Fb then i would prob put Matthews in instead of James and move him onto the bench, even though Matthews is underdone a touch. Otherwise stick McVeigh straight in or maybe even powell as he can play shorter than james

[liz]

I too reckon that Robbie probably has it spot on, though it may be a toss up between Ablett, Sunny and McVeigh.

James and Rogers will probably be battling it out for a couple of weeks to see who gets to keep his spot when Schaubs is ready to return.

And it's not obvious who would make way for Schneider or Fixter either. Neither of those two will be an automatic "in" - they are going to have to prove they deserve their spot.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by lizz


And it's not obvious who would make way for Schneider or Fixter either. Neither of those two will be an automatic "in" - they are going to have to prove they deserve their spot.

I know. Isn't it great?

[Sanecow]

Matthew Nicks, injured, forgotten or ignored?

[liz]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Matthew Nicks, injured, forgotten or ignored?

Injured...at the moment (or at least not match fit).

[TheHood]

Robbie, your team is a gem. I really like it and there is no doubt there will be plenty of shuffling Jamesy forward and back and Mathews here and there with probably Powelly.

My fingers are crossed tight for Powelly. I really hope he gets a run and hope he delivers enough to start playing game after game.

Looking at the fullish strength side does get the juices flowing and with a couple of key players yet to return, there is more depth on the horizon.

Early days I know but does anyone else start to get the feeling that the Swans now have some depth?

It is this depth that a lot of media are maybe underestimating (except maybe for Plough).

"The worm is turning Smithers....D'EXCELLENT!"

[Nico]

Sorry LIzz but Schneider is an automatic inclusion.

[robbieando]

As to whether my Full back line is too tall, well I would like it to be tall. Of course Mathews and James could equally be swapped around depending on the forward line Brisbane send out, but at the minute I'm happy with James.

Lizz you said a spot in the team is up for grabs between Ablett, Sundqvist and McVeigh. My belief is, you must pick the one who showed the better form during the pre season and hands down McVeigh wins.

To mirror everyone else, yes it is great that we have a solid group of 30 players who we know can step up to the senior level and provide us with solid game time. Whether its enough to win us a flag this year is another question, but a finals spot should be the least we aim for this season.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by lizz
And it's not obvious who would make way for Schneider or Fixter either. Neither of those two will be an automatic "in" - they are going to have to prove they deserve their spot.

I don't Schneider will need to prove he deserves his spot - at this stage he did that all of last season!

[Benevolent Ert]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Matthew Nicks, injured, forgotten or ignored?

all of the above

[liz]

Originally posted by TheHood

Early days I know but does anyone else start to get the feeling that the Swans now have some depth?

I reckon we have a decent degree of depth for the 10th to 22nd spots in the team but are still pretty reliant on most of our top 10 or so players being fit and in form. But then the same probably applies for every other team other than maybe Brisbane.

Also our tall, defensive depth is still to be tested. It's good that we have James and Rogers who look ready to come in and play a role but neither is really tested at the top level. And if we lost one of Saddo, Leapin' or B2 on top of Schaubs then things are looking a bit thin on the ground. I reckon a back six that included James, Rogers and Powell all together would cause us a few nervous moments.

As for Schneider, I don't think he is an automatic inclusion, at least not coming straight back from injury. Aerobic capacity isn't his strength (at least not yet) and a month of restricted training won't have helped him. I agree he did all that could have been asked of him last year - and then some - but he still needs to back it up with a solid second year. Many players have had good debut years but then struggled the following year. If we reckon that a second year player (at senior level) who is essentially still a "burst" player off the bench is an automatic inclusion then maybe our depth isn't really that great.

That said, I'm sure the Swans will give him an opportunity as soon as possible and I don't think he will let us down.