Why Are we Underestimating Melbourne?

[Jack Daniels]

Hi fellow Swannies.

I am a little concerned that we have underestimated Melbourne at this juncture in time. The wins Melbourne have had have been impressive to say the least. They beat Richmond by around 10 goals, which should have been more but they didn't kick straight, they murdered the dogs all day and should have won that by 10 goals, and they beat port Adelaide whilst not at there best, nor was Melbourne, they had Johnson , Ward, Jolly and Armstrong out. 4 really good players. Our midfield as you pointed out is good and solid without being gun, I think you look at Melbourne's midfield and its extremely solid also. Yze, Green, Bruce, Thompson ( who incidently is a gun on the rise ), I think they change that up with Johnson, Read, Whelan, Rigoni. That is a pretty impressive bunch of players to rotate, given ward and walsh will also go through there. I think we will win, but I don't think we will walk ove them, if we don't come to play we could be in trouble.

[Ryan Bomford]

Jacko,

I couldn't agree more but let's not forget that the Dees have played all their first 4 games at the 'G', against ordinary opposition with the exception of Power. Wait 'til Neitz finds out his leading lane at TS is more the size of a bowling alley than a half acre paddock.

But we can't forget that the Dees played well against us last year and I expect a close contest again.

[Jack Daniels]

I think that works the same for both Forward structures right?

I just have a bad feeling about this game, and I don't like bad feelings about games.

As for Robertson being out, he is a dud anyway, he won there best and fairest but I was extremely surprised, the way they seem to play now he isn't even important to them, worst thing is they get 2 hard runners capable of kicking goals, in Johnson and ward.

[liz]

Who's underestimating them?

This is a game we need to win if we have any pretentions to be a serious challenger this year and we will start as favourites on home territory. However, I doubt that many believe it will be a walk in the park.

I think Melbourne are a similar team to us in that they have a pretty even team that needs to work hard and together to play well. Neitz is their only obvious matchwinner, although they have others able to stand up on any particular day. Hall is a different type of forward to Neitz but equally capable of taking a game by the scruff of its neck. And then we have Goodes...

[Jack Daniels]

Can anyone see an obvious match up for goodes on the Melbourne side, I think this is our one big strength and we need to use it, I don't think they have anyone capable of holding the big man, and he could be the match winner for us, I hope he is the match winner for us.

[Bart]

Originally posted by lizz
Who's underestimating them?

This is a game we need to win if we have any pretentions to be a serious challenger this year and we will start as favourites on home territory. However, I doubt that many believe it will be a walk in the park.

Agree, haven't seen anyone state otherwise.

Big danger game. A must win with away games against Bombers and eagles coming up

[demonchum]

i think it will be a close contest, and i HOPE that melbourne can go 4 - 1... it should be a good game, with both sides evenly matched.

I dont know about the swans but a difference for us this year, is less injurys and more depth...

last year, we had seven top 18 players out, not to mention leoncellies retierment...

Robbo being suspended gives us an excuse to try someone else in the spot, he has been trying to get into some form this year, and with vardy, seemingly not on the clubs injury list any more, he could be a replacement, how ever, i think it will be more likely that johnstone comes in and playes off the half forward line, or swaps with rigoni for that position, and davey slots into a forward pocket...

Congratulations to captain coragous, David Neitz on captaining 100 games this week... well done to the big fella...

[Jack Daniels]

Well I guess that gives Melbourne more insentive to win for the captain eh? I just have a sense that people think we are certainties, and I just hope the players don't think the same thing, Melbourne will play finals this year, so we must dust them.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Originally posted by Jack Daniels
Melbourne will play finals this year, so we must dust them.

Won't play finals.

[CHF]

Originally posted by Jack Daniels
Can anyone see an obvious match up for goodes on the Melbourne side, I think this is our one big strength and we need to use it, I don't think they have anyone capable of holding the big man, and he could be the match winner for us, I hope he is the match winner for us.

Hello Jack,

Melbourne supporter here. a good thread this one. I was hoping that everyone up there would take us lightly. I think it will be a good game with very little in it.

Robertson will not be a big loss to us in this game as he has not done a hell of a lot for us so far this season. I do not expect Ward to be selected this week as he will be coming back after three weeks and we have had three wins with the backs performing well together.

As for matching up on goodes, well it will depend on how Roos uses him and also the way you set up your forwards. You may find Wheatley having a run with him or maybe Broadbridge might be there some of the time. Roos may have to use him in defence if the Melbourne midfield can get to the ball first. If that is the casae You might find him having to play on someone like Bruce.

[Jack Daniels]

Who is this broadbridge guy?

[CHF]

Originally posted by Jack Daniels
Who is this broadbridge guy?

Was playing very well as a rookie early last year when he did his knee. Was playing in the backs and on the wing for us.

About 194 in height and has filled out a bit in the last 12 months during rehab. Played most of this season at Sandy but got a run in the last quarter against Port last weekend. He may be dropped this week but I tend to think he will be retained.

Good hands, good speed and thinks pretty well.

[Jack Daniels]

In your honest opinion does he have the weapons to go with Brownlow medallist Goodes, we are not talking about a player that hasa good week and a bad week, we are talking about an out and out match winner

[Go Swannies]

The Dees are a potentially good team that regularly play crap footy. Sound familiar? Think Swans 2002. It drives their fans mad but they generally do better in even number years - like this one.

But enough of reading tea leaves - this will be our first real test this year. Round 1 but teams looked as if they were re-learning how to play footy. Exciting but lots of errors all round.

R2 - Freo found out that they still haven't mastered playing away.

R3 - it was only a hard-up Geelong and we only just won that one.

R4 - the Roos forgot how good we are and they played as we did vs Geelong. Our backline wasn't pushed as our midfield had all of the ball. Except look at our defence in the first quarter - that wasn't encouraging.

R5 - Neitz is Lloyd crossed with the proverbial brick outhouse. And the Dees are desperate to prove themselves. I think we'll win but if we approach it with less than last week's full-on spirit we'll get caned (just as the Roos did when they thought they could back off a bit). I suspect the difference between the two teams will be in Roosy's coaching.

Should be fun.

[CHF]

Originally posted by Jack Daniels
In your honest opinion does he have the weapons to go with Brownlow medallist Goodes, we are not talking about a player that hasa good week and a bad week, we are talking about an out and out match winner

To be honest, No. I do not think he can run with Goodes all day at the moment. I was looking more at him doing it in shorter bursts to rotate with others.

He will be an option.