Depth

[dimelb]

Great effort from the whole team today, even without some key contributors. Even when we fell behind they didn't panic, stayed focussed and pulled themselves back into it.
When everyone's on deck:
we have the strongest forward line in the comp
our midfield can mix it with the best (Brisbane, Kangas, let's wait on the Eagles)
our back six are among the stingiest in the comp
and we have the best coach, who respects his players and whose players respect him

And we now have a problem in deciding who to leave out!!!
It all makes me a bit anxious!

[ItsAllGoodes]

i just put a team on paper that had schaubs, micky and nick davis back and i had to have players like Bevan, Saddington, OKeefe and one of either Crouch or Mathews on the bench.. I am not suggesting that this is the actual team...but it goes to show the depth we now have in our Top 22


B Crouch/Mathews Schauble C Bolton

HB Kennelly James Barry

C Williams J Bolton Maxfield

HF Davis Ball Goodes

F Doyle Oloughlin Schneider

Foll Ball Kirk Fosdike

Int OKeefe Bevan Saddington Crouch/Mathews

[Go Swannies]

The idea of chosing between Crouch and Mathews for who to leave on the bench is ludicrous. Both must play unless one is injured. Why do you think Crouch was trash talked by Aker? Because he can neutralise the best running forwards in the comp. And leave Ben Mathews out after he was easily best on ground today. May as well drop Goodes too, to give some of the kids a run.

Yes, we do have too much talent right now - but injuries could quickly end that. I think Roos is doing a great job in selection. The fact that two of our best goal kickers are out at present is balanced by the incredible defence we have right now. And Schauble will add to that.

[swans_premiers]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
The idea of chosing between Crouch and Mathews for who to leave on the bench is ludicrous. Both must play unless one is injured. Why do you think Crouch was trash talked by Aker? Because he can neutralise the best running forwards in the comp. And leave Ben Mathews out after he was easily best on ground today. May as well drop Goodes too, to give some of the kids a run.

Yes, we do have too much talent right now - but injuries could quickly end that. I think Roos is doing a great job in selection. The fact that two of our best goal kickers are out at present is balanced by the incredible defence we have right now. And Schauble will add to that.

I don't think u looked at the team for 2 long...one of crouch/mathews starts in the back pocket and the other starts on the bench..they are both in the 22.

[ItsAllGoodes]

nah...i think he was aware that one was on the bench....but he thinks they should both be in the 18...which I am not arguing with

but AS I SAID IN MY ORIGINAL POST "I am not suggesting that this is the actual team"...i just wanted to indicate the depth of the 22....if you have Crouch and Mathews in the 18...who do you drop to the bench? Probably Fozzy (30 possessions today)...and I am sure some could argue against that.

Which is simply what i wanted to show...depth and a very even 22

[TheHood]

Having depth is a real asset, no doubt and you need it because injuries can rip apart a season easily (look at Collingwood and Port aren't far away and they have heaps of depth).

But is does come at a cold cost. Although we aren't the Lions YET, they have had to break hearts. Craig Bolton comes to mind, Voss, Lawrence and a few others have just had to hit the road in search of AFL game time.

If we get to that position, then you rippa. But we ain't there yet.

[Go Swannies]

Yep, sorry about the careless writing but it was late and I was still excited. Roosy has to have about the best skill in rotating the players through the bench in the course of a game. As the depth improves his real skill will be picking the interchange - does he have Saddington there in case Magic is out of sorts or does he interchange the hard working Schauble and James?

Nice problem to have! The ease with which our new players have become part of the A's is wonderful. And, after watching LRT on a replay I think he added to the team's performance - even though he had fewer possessions than most. Most of his were difficult and he did the right thing in the situation. I doubt he'll be dropped. But who will?

[sharp9]

Holy Crap, Batman!

I think that the solution is that Maxfield is not in the best 18!!

C. Bolton, Crouch and Mathews are ahead of him at the moment (not that he has been bad!) and must be selected (one of them at least would be in the midfield at any given time)....same for James, Schauble, Kennelly and Barry in the backling.

In the centre the definite starters are Kirk, J. Bolton and Williams with Fosdike just shading Maxi here.

Ball as the ruckman with Goodes, Hall, O'Loughlin, Davis and Schneider and O'Keefe. That's 18.

Which means that the bench would be Doyle, Saddington, Maxfield and Bevan.

Jiminy Creepers how many teams in the competition could name the likes of Roberts-Thomson, McVeigh, Ablett, Buchanan, Fixter, Powell, Meiklejohn and Nicks running around in the twos trying to get a game? And don't even start me on the youngsters who are ready to play but need a break (McGlone, Thewlis, Rogers) or the youngsters who every club would put on their list if given the chance (Davis, Dempster, Willoughby and Schmidt) Geez that only leaves 6 players on the entire list (rookies included) who are not pushing for a game this year. (Warfe, Erickson, Hunt, Potter, Taylor, Malceski and Sundqvist).....and two of those are 'cos of injury. Unbelievable!

[Go Swannies]

I think you may be right about Maxfield if you look at it purely on-ball. But I think he may be doing a lot as onfield organiser.

On that subject, did anyone notice the Tiger directing the other Swans at the ruck in the 3rd Q? And they obeyed - and it worked. I guess the days of "that Irishman playing AFL" have faded . . .

[TheHood]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
On that subject, did anyone notice the Tiger directing the other Swans at the ruck in the 3rd Q? And they obeyed - and it worked. I guess the days of "that Irishman playing AFL" have faded . . .

Have noticed him do plenty of instructing when I have been at games on small enough grounds to hear him.

He's turning into a real general down back there. Brash Irishmen just won't be told.

[hammo]

Yep, no doubt the depth at the Swans is exciting.

It is interesting seeing Mick Malthouse lament the fact Collingwood have been too successful to rebuild in the way St Kilda or Freo have been able to do with early draft picks.

But we have probably only had two legitimate seasons of "rebuilding" and now have one of the strongest lists going around.

Goodsey is a legitimate star and was pick 40-odd, so the chances of getting a Judd or Pavlich are rare anyway.

One thing we can't afford to do is now not keep giving our youngsters games. It will be tough for Roosey, but guys like Bevan and McVeigh don't deserve to be dropped and Ablett would definitely benefit from more game time. Then again the thought of leaving out O'Loughlin and Davis is ludicrous.

Glad its not me making the decisions!!

[sharp9]

Difficult to believe that Malthouse can whinge about picks when they trade them for Woewoodin and don't get priority picks because former champions have so many sons (I believe they have six on the list and another one or two to come over the next couple of years).

I think we have 5 top ten picks on the entire list (Fosdike, Bolton, Crouch, Fixter, McVeigh). Surely the Wobbles have about the same?

If not they have only themselves to blame 'cos they have finished outside the top 6 at least 6 times in the last ten years.

[Rizzo]

I think McVeigh and Bevan have been fantastic and it would be a real shame for them to miss out. Having said that, I can't see any other passengers. Ablett would have to make way, then LRT.

[midaro]

Originally posted by sharp9
Holy Crap, Batman!

I think that the solution is that Maxfield is not in the best 18!!

Yep.
I've been thinking about posting this issue as an outrageous hypothetical - ie could our captain be dropped.

I know we're nowhere near that at the moment, but medium term (later this season and in the next) it may become an issue.

The problem as I see it, is age is simply tiring him. He can't go as hard as often anymore. And I don't think he'll be the type of player who can 'retire to a pocket' for his last couple of years.

[sharpie]

Dropping Maxfield is out of the question, but I reckon we will continue to see him rotate off the bench into the midfield, which he has realistically been doing for some time already. He is still an integral part of the team, not just for his leadership.