Powell In For Saddington

[TheHood]

If Saddo continues to get played down back, are we going to keep ending up with the scenario ala Saturday night?

I really want to see Powelly given a chance (good at either end of the ground IMO) but he seems to have fallen from favour with the selection committee. Does anyone know why?

Also, I understand the sentiment that dropping Saddo to the ressies would do more harm than good, but that is kind of a flawed argument because what result are we after here? A solid Swans unit or a half deluded Jason Saddington who thinks he is invincible?

[BAM_BAM]

I was really disappointed with Powell's game on Saturday. He just didn't seem to be making the extra effort. For a kid who has endless potential and could be in contention each week for a senior spot, he didn't seem to be pushing his case.

Given the opposition, he really could have dominated play, but it just didn't happen. But then again he wasn't the only one. The entire game was played that way.

[TheHood]

Originally posted by BAM_BAM
I was really disappointed with Powell's game on Saturday. He just didn't seem to be making the extra effort. For a kid who has endless potential and could be in contention each week for a senior spot, he didn't seem to be pushing his case.

Given the opposition, he really could have dominated play, but it just didn't happen. But then again he wasn't the only one. The entire game was played that way.

Thanks Bam Bam, it is disappointing when you have someone with the obvious talent of Powelly loping around.

Perhaps he is a bit over a lifetime as an emergency.

[Captain]

Nope I think he definately deserves his spot in the best 22.

He needs to be played forward or as a loose man in defence as the guy lacks accountability.

Saddo is a skilled player as highlighted by the game against the Roos. He is capable of kicking a few goals, so why not play him where he can kick them.

If Saddington goes anywhere near Lloyd or Hird on Sat we are stuffed.

Stick him at FF or a FP for a month and see how he goes. If he does nothing, then start talking about dropping him to the reserves.

[hammo]

But who should make way so Saddo can have a month up forward??

Hopefully O'Loughlin will be back for Saturday and I hope you aren't suggesting that ROK get dropped.

Saddo is a useful option but shouldn't take the place of players who have been doing the job week in week out.

[liz]

Originally posted by BAM_BAM
I was really disappointed with Powell's game on Saturday. He just didn't seem to be making the extra effort. For a kid who has endless potential and could be in contention each week for a senior spot, he didn't seem to be pushing his case.

Not dissimilar to my take on his performance the previous week against the Tigers (albeit that he only played half the match) or even the week before that against the Lions where his ability was obvious but his application questionable.

[stellation]

I don't see Powell earning his place in the 22 over Saddington. The only way I could see it is blooding for the future, but we have to remember that Saddo isn't exactly that old yet.

[Captain]

Originally posted by hammo
But who should make way so Saddo can have a month up forward??

Hopefully O'Loughlin will be back for Saturday and I hope you aren't suggesting that ROK get dropped.

Saddo is a useful option but shouldn't take the place of players who have been doing the job week in week out.

Drop ROK - Never! The bloke is a gun. I would never suggest dropping him.

No one needs to make way for Saddington as he is already in the team. I would think Mick O in for McVeigh and Schable in for LRT. It's a pity about McVeigh, but he would be the obvious choice to go out.

I think the ideal forward line would look something like:

Schnider Saddington O'Lauchlin
Davis Hall ROK

Doyle on the bench and Goodes on the ball/wing.

Plenty of room for Saddo. Looks like an excellent forward line to me.

[BAM_BAM]

Originally posted by TheHood

Perhaps he is a bit over a lifetime as an emergency.

I also think this may have been the same for Abletts showing too. He must be thinking what does he have to do to keep his spot. Well it's not what he did on Saturday, that's for sure.

[Barry Schneider]

Originally posted by Captain
Drop ROK - Never! The bloke is a gun. I would never suggest dropping him.

No one needs to make way for Saddington as he is already in the team. I would think Mick O in for McVeigh and Schable in for LRT. It's a pity about McVeigh, but he would be the obvious choice to go out.

I think the ideal forward line would look something like:

Schnider Saddington O'Lauchlin
Davis Hall ROK

Doyle on the bench and Goodes on the ball/wing.

Plenty of room for Saddo. Looks like an excellent forward line to me.

It looks awful to me.Saddo kicked 4 goals as the third forward in a thrashing of a fair to middling team.Now you want him playing as full forward where he will be picked up by a key defender.
If he is to play as a forward it should be on the flank where he can float across packs or act as a target further up the field.His height would be an advantage in that case.

[liz]

Originally posted by BAM_BAM
I also think this may have been the same for Abletts showing too. He must be thinking what does he have to do to keep his spot. Well it's not what he did on Saturday, that's for sure.

One thing that really struck me watching the Tigers vs Swans game in Canberra the weekend before last was the lack of structure in the reserves game, particularly from the Swans. At senior level they are obviously so well drilled that they know exactly where they should be running and have confidence that their team mates will respond and can execute the skill correctly to get them the ball (well, except for Sat night!).

This is much less so for the reserves team and I wonder how much impact this has on the better players' inclination to work hard. I could bore you all with Expectancy Theory here, but will resist the temptation

Nonetheless, I think it is maybe harder for the better reserves level players, those pushing for senior selection like Nog, Powell and Monty, to dominate at this level than we'd expect.

[NMWBloods]

As things stand, Saddo in the forward line will only work against one of their weakest defenders, he can't play in the midfield, and he's not up to a key defensive spot.

I wonder if he should be put into a loose man across half back role, a la Cloke of Collingwood, and occasionallu shifting into the forward line.

[stellation]

Originally posted by Barry Schneider
It looks awful to me.Saddo kicked 4 goals as the third forward in a thrashing of a fair to middling team.Now you want him playing as full forward where he will be picked up by a key defender.
If he is to play as a forward it should be on the flank where he can float across packs or act as a target further up the field.His height would be an advantage in that case.

I don't think it actually looks that bad. Saddington is tall, can mark or at least make a contest and have the ball spill to the feet... his ability to do this was the great pain of those who wanted him dropped when playing as a backman... I like Micky O at FF, but if he and Saddo both play in the forward line Micky is the one with the skills below his knees... at least he used to be.

[TheHood]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
As things stand, Saddo in the forward line will only work against one of their weakest defenders, he can't play in the midfield, and he's not up to a key defensive spot.

I wonder if he should be put into a loose man across half back role, a la Cloke of Collingwood, and occasionallu shifting into the forward line.

Has this strategy been working for the Maggies?

Why would it work for us?

Saddo is more skillful than Cloke but both are out of luck when it comes to spoiling bigger opponents.

On another note (Dan's whinge session), does anyone else think that we tend to lack communication when it comes to big pack marking contests in the defensive 50?

I mean there are times (often) when we have say a 3 on 3 contest and yet there is still some heroic Swan leaving his man to fly and spoil and, then when it doesn't come off, his man is all alone for a snap or worse, a stroll into the goal square?

[liz]

Originally posted by TheHood

I mean there are times (often) when we have say a 3 on 3 contest and yet there is still some heroic Swan leaving his man to fly and spoil and, then when it doesn't come off, his man is all alone for a snap or worse, a stroll into the goal square?

And yet there are other times when three Swans players will stand at a contest and watch while the opponent takes an uncontested mark!

You can probably find examples, though, from most other teams committing both of these sins. Don't think it is a problem peculiar to the Swans.