Maxfield - Who will he displace and why?

[RogueSwan]

I take back my comment about B1 maybe needing/getting rested. Unless Maddog has absolutely blitzed in the ressie's then no way should he be given a run. I am sure I won't be thinking that way if he comes in due to injuries in the following weeks and we need Maddog to step up. Best to think positive and believe he won't be required.

can we drop matthews for maxfield or isn't he accountable enough if given a defensive role?

[stellation]

Originally posted by sfan
I would bring Stewie in and play him out of defence. His long kicking and run could be a very effective attacking weapon

Would he have to play on anyone, or would he just be a loose man across hbf?

[Foreign Legion]

I'd play him - gives him a chance to show if he has still got it - can't take the chance in a final.

Also from a emotional viewpoint it gives him a chance to (possibly) say goodbye to the fans - he has been a fantastic servant of the club. He was probably the first 'outsider' the Swans got in the Pre-Season draft who was any good and played heaps of games for us.

Bring him in for one of the smalls (must be someone with a niggle) and let Stuey EARN his spot or not for the finals.

[Nico]

Originally posted by RogueSwan
I agree with Sharp9, B1 could be rested allowing him to be firing for the first week of the finals.

Can't be resting players just for the hell of it. When Bolton was injured he took a couple of games to find touch again. Can't afford that in the West or Adelaide.

How the heck can Maxfield possibly be match fit for finals.

Why should they bring him back when part of the reason he has been out is his own doing. We are here to win flags not do people favours. Besides the team's disposal is way superior to when he was playing, and he was one of the big clanger disposal problems.

[Nico]

Originally posted by Vivien
I hope they don't change the side, but I am inclined to think they will at some at some stage. I think the club's moral obligation to play a loyal servant and former leader of the side before his retirement is more important to them than the ethics of team selections. ie. whether or not a player deserves to be selected or omitted.

Moral obligations dont win flags.

[Nico]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
And if he kicks five goals??

It seems like everyone here thinks Stewie is a crap player. That's not the image I have of him. Or is this based purely on his form of early 2005 when his world and body were falling apart?

JUst over the hill.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by Nico
How the heck can Maxfield possibly be match fit for finals.

Why should they bring him back when part of the reason he has been out is his own doing. We are here to win flags not do people favours. Besides the team's disposal is way superior to when he was playing, and he was one of the big clanger disposal problems.

Match fit? Well possibly because he was always the benchmark for work and fitness in perhaps the fittest team in the comp.

He was out from his own doing? He kneecapped himself.?Now that's tough!

The only Swan making as many errors as Stewie was is Baz.

It'd be nice to play him this week so if, for example, Willo was injured we'd have a player of similar experience to put in. If he doesn't play this week - and Roos suggests he won't - then using him in the finals, if needed, is a real step into the unknown.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by Vivien
I am inclined to think they will at some at some stage. I think the club's moral obligation to play a loyal servant and former leader of the side before his retirement is more important to them than the ethics of team selections. ie. whether or not a player deserves to be selected or omitted.

Are you serious?! You think that some sense of moral obligation to giving Stewie another game before he retires is more important than ensuring the clubs first premiership since 1933? Good grief! Get a grip!

[footyhead]

Originally posted by cruiser
Are you serious?! You think that some sense of moral obligation to giving Stewie another game before he retires is more important than ensuring the clubs first premiership since 1933? Good grief! Get a grip!

Hear hear, too many sentimentalists amoungst Swans supporters ranks.
This club has to be ruthless to win a flag.

[ROK Lobster]

Originally posted by cruiser
Are you serious?! You think that some sense of moral obligation to giving Stewie another game before he retires is more important than ensuring the clubs first premiership since 1933? Good grief! Get a grip!

Have a heart cruiser. If we make the GF the first 3 picked should be Maxfied, Nicks and Heath James. No one can deny the courage, loyalty and endeavour of any of them. Dempster, Ablett and Buchanon have years in front of them. Loyalty should mean something. IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT WINNING!

[Go Swannies]

Paul Roos has already shown what a sentamentalist he is by giving Schaubs an easy cruise in the 2s so wait for the others named by ROK to show up, too. And what about Spriggs? Bring the boy all the way from Geelong and not even give him a chance to experience a GF?


Earlier on I was just toying with the ridiculous notion that Stewie might have something to give the team. But you're right - he's shown for years that he's just playing footy for the ego trip and the club be damned.

[BayesysLeftBoot]

Originally posted by sharp9
J. Bolton....could probably do with a rest, gives a chance for Fosdike, Buchanan, Schneider and Davis to do a bit more work in the centre in preparation for the finals.

Bolton is in good form and doesn't need a run. Actually the same could be said for Kirk.

All the younger players would be negatively impacted with a week off.

Spot on, couldn't hurt to rest an important midfielder in the leadup to the most important game in our finals campaign. Also it would give a good indication of what stewie could offer to us without having to find out the hard way. Could also be his last chance to represent the swans and would be a nice way to reward his loyalty without risking our premiership chances.

[robbieando]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Earlier on I was just toying with the ridiculous notion that Stewie might have something to give the team. But you're right - he's shown for years that he's just playing footy for the ego trip and the club be damned.

We can't go into finals carrying a player regardless of whether that player has given this club fantasic service. If Stewie had shown good form in the reserves the past two weeks then maybe there could be a case to bring him in for say a Schneider or Fosdike. But why should either player make way for him when they have produced the form in the senior side to be far more worthy of the spot in the team than Stewie.

I would love to give Stewie a farewell game for his service to this club over 10 seasons and 200 games, but I (and many Swans supporters like me) have waited all my life to see the Swans win a premiership and I don't want one of our best chances to win one harmed by Stewie returning to the senior side and in the process throwing out the team balance that at the minute is close to perfect, because of a well meaning "send off" that form doesn't dictate.

Do you think the Kangaroos would bring back Corey McKernan to give him a worthy "send off" during the finals for his 11 years and 196 games of service for the club, even though he hasn't played a game in the seniors all year and been fit for most of it???

No I wouldn't think so. So why would we do the same?

[OldE]

Originally posted by ROK Lobster
IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT WINNING!

Hey! That's an attitude that dates back more than seventy years! It's part of Swans' tradition! You dare mock it???

[SXP]

Originally posted by eirinn
Hey! That's an attitude that dates back more than seventy years! It's part of Swans' tradition! You dare mock it???

Yes, it's all about that old Olympic saying: "It's more important to participate than to win".