Selection dilemma??

[NMWBloods]

Mathews' disposal is not great (and sometimes quite woeful), but he does have the very good ability to be in the right place at the right time. This is why is he is so effective as a sweeper.

He is also a very good defender and has shut down a number of effective opposition players.

[Nico]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Mathews' disposal is not great (and sometimes quite woeful), but he does have the very good ability to be in the right place at the right time. This is why is he is so effective as a sweeper.

He is also a very good defender and has shut down a number of effective opposition players.

In Matthew's case I see it as - better a player who gets the ball than one that doesn't. By that I mean he seems to rack up a lot more possessions now than a few years back. As NMW says he seems to have that ingredient that a lot of players don't have - anticipation.

[Nico]

THE DEVILS ADVOCATE.

Following on from Blood_Angels's post, and this could probably apply to most clubs. Here is a list that could kick our depth fairly and squarely in the guts. (a bit tongue in cheek but plausible).

Sundqvuist - back after a bad injury and now 5 years service I think?
Crouch - bad shoulder injury that had to be reset. What are the chances of it recurring?
Schauble - seems to be now injury prone. How did he do his foot, or was it a hangover from 2004 season. If so taking a heck of a long time to recover.
Fixter - the great unknown. Injury prone. Great talent wasted.
Matthews - broken ankle. How bad was it and will there be residual problems?
LRT - the great white hope at CHB. Here's hoping, but a big punt by Roos.
Davis - is he the great pretender? To expect a blinder of a season is whistling into the wind. We can only hope.
Schneider - 2 hammies. I know we all like his flashes of brilliance, but can we rely on him to really step up and add that midfield depth and brilliance consistently that we so much need?
Saddo - utility who is injury prone.
Micky - He has the combo - hammies and knee soreness, permanently. Comeo performances is the best we can hope for.
Ball - age factor will it blunt his team value.
Williams - ditto
Maxfield - ditto
Nicks - ditto?
Goodes - knees
Doyle - injury prone.
Buchanan - is he just a spare parts player.

[Wazza]

Originally posted by Jeffers1984
I don't understand the talk about Matthews being a fringe player. He is Mr Consistency. Sure he lacks silky clean disposals and he does float his kicks alot, but he is our sweeper in the backline and nobody does it better in our team than him. He is the one that sparks the run from the backline giving away that first handball nearly everytime. He is important to our gameplan.

If he is out of the side at all this year, we will definately see the negative effects it will have on our team.

What negative effect would it have on the team?

If B Mathews was out for the whole year it wouldnt make any difference to this team.

What it would mean is players like McVeigh, Fixter, Sundq, Dempster would have more on ground time. Mathews has been consistent but is not a match winner, theres probably 6 players who could do the same job as him as well. He gives reasonable service but is not irreplaceable. Just my 2 cents - I know its not worth much.

There should be pressure on every player for spots in the 1st this year - the first time for a long time.

[penga]

Originally posted by chammond
Barring injury, if Jolly and Spriggs aren't regularly in our best 22 the Swans recruiting staff will be looking for new jobs very soon . . .

i wholly disagree, jolly's recruitment is in light of ball's imminent retirement. as far as doyle is concerned, im a fan and it is obvious, the more gametime, the better he gets. we simply cant have bally, doyley and jolly in the same squad, too tall. i see jolly as our third string ruckman and he will be in the best 22 very shortly.

before the draft roosy stated that he would be recruiting the best available. come the third round, they decided that spriggs was the best available. this does not equal selection. how many games has matthew davis played, what about dempster? theyre both third round picks...

just because they were recently recruited, doesnt mean they will walk straight into the team, they have to prove their worth first, well that's MHO...