Meiklejohn

[Charlie]

Can't recall hearing a peep from him all year.

What's he up to? Not on the injury list, and not mentioned in Bam Bam's reserves reports...

I ask because without Goodes, LRT and Saddo being in any position to take on the ruck, and Stephen Doyle lacking in experience, Jason Ball's work load in the ruck is going to get even worse in coming weeks. If he keeps doing what he's been doing, I can see him being absolutely exhausted, to the point of retirement, at the end of the year. I suspect we'll need Meiklejohn to step up at some stage.

[sharpie]

But with Doyle lacking experience at the moment, surely with more experience he is going to take more ruck responsibility, reducing the burden on Ball. And why rob peter to pay paul (always wanted to get that in a post ) by dropping one inexperienced player (Doyle) for another (Meiklejohn).

But, damn, Ball is playing well at the moment. Darcy is a hell of a physical player and I reckon Ball gave as good as he got last night.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by sharpie
But with Doyle lacking experience at the moment, surely with more experience he is going to take more ruck responsibility, reducing the burden on Ball. And why rob peter to pay paul (always wanted to get that in a post ) by dropping one inexperienced player (Doyle) for another (Meiklejohn).

But, damn, Ball is playing well at the moment. Darcy is a hell of a physical player and I reckon Ball gave as good as he got last night.

Not saying drop Doyle. Saying we may need another option in the squad at some stage.

[sharpie]

Fair enough, but I dont think this week will be the week to pick 3 specialist ruckmen. St Kilda play without many tall ruckmen. The 3rd guy would be wasted on the bench.

[liz]

MJ was OK in the reserves yesterday. Seemed to dominate at the centre bounces, and was genuinely trying to tap the ball to advantage, rather than just getting his hands on it. Doesn't seem scared to use his physicality, which is good since many of our reserves lack this in comparison to the larger bodies they are generally playing against.

Wouldn't rush him into the senior team based on what I saw, but if we had a disaster and lost either Ball or Doyle (and we need them both now that Saddo is no longer available to pinch-hit in the ruck) I reckon MJ could at least come in and provide a decent contest at ball-ups.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by sharpie
And why rob peter to pay paul (always wanted to get that in a post ) by dropping one inexperienced player (Doyle) for another (Meiklejohn).

I didn't know we had a Rob Peter on our list? And Paul who?

[sharpie]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
I didn't know we had a Rob Peter on our list? And Paul who?

I never did like that saying anyway. My name's Peter and it makes me feel like I always get a raw deal. If we'd just rob paul, I'd be a rich man.

[footyhead]

Originally posted by lizz
Doesn't seem scared to use his physicality, which is good since many of our reserves lack this in comparison to the larger bodies they are generally playing against.

[/B]

I wonder if this is a problem in the reserves given that the young players would be mindful of the fact that they would not want to get injured in a game that: "does not count"

[liz]

Originally posted by footyhead
I wonder if this is a problem in the reserves given that the young players would be mindful of the fact that they would not want to get injured in a game that: "does not count"

I don't think so - and I've seen no evidence of them wimping out of the contest. It's just that more than half the team at least (including half a dozen or so ring-ins each week) are 18 or 19 year old boys playing against teams of men. James, MJ, Warfe and Thewlis were probably the only Swans' players playing yesterday with clearly AFL ready bodies, though was pleasantly surprised to see that Willoughby seems to be adding some meat to his frame at a reasonable rate.

[Dpw]

Originally posted by lizz
I don't think so - and I've seen no evidence of them wimping out of the contest. It's just that more than half the team at least (including half a dozen or so ring-ins each week) are 18 or 19 year old boys playing against teams of men. James, MJ, Warfe and Thewlis were probably the only Swans' players playing yesterday with clearly AFL ready bodies, though was pleasantly surprised to see that Willoughby seems to be adding some meat to his frame at a reasonable rate.

Lizz, how was James I know he needs alot of work on his defensive play but do you think hes ready for a crack at Stkilda seeing they have so many tall forwards.

[liz]

Originally posted by Dpw
Lizz, how was James I know he needs alot of work on his defensive play but do you think hes ready for a crack at Stkilda seeing they have so many tall forwards.

I thought James was stiff to get dropped in the first place because he's not looked out of place at senior level and was thrown in at the deep end.

I posted some comments on another thread, but he was pretty good out there yesterday. Played the second half up forward and let himself down with some ordinary kicking for goal (kicked 3.3 in the second half) but his marking and leading were excellent.

If the team needs another tall now that Saddo is out, he should be a clear choice. He was much more impressive than Powell, for example. I reckon he could either play as a tall in defence, maybe releasing B2 to roam further up the ground, or could even drop down forward, as Saddo has been doing recently.

[sharpie]

Does James have the strength to play Gehrig? Or should we pick someone with the speed to add to our run out of defense and play Barry on Gehrig?

[Bleed Red Blood]

I'm sure I read somewhere that MJ played full back for the ressies.