Team selection: Round 15 v Port Adelaide

[UUaswan]

I’d actually be cautious about bringing two players off long term injury back at once. You will need to manage their minutes, which places a lot of pressure on everyone else when you have two doing it.

Plus, Paps is a notoriously slow starter after a long break. His position depends so much on elite timing and touch that it makes sense to struggle a bit. Timing that run so precisely to the contest, and then having the clean hands to swoop among the chaos, ain’t easy to do. I’d be inclined to give him one week in reserves.

I also don’t like the idea of starting one as a sub on the assumption it helps manage their minutes. If someone gets injured early, that gets blown out of the water.

As for Adams, I’ll never quite understand that recruiting decision. A 30yo with a growing history of soft tissue injuries was unlikely to end well.

All about who they are replacing.
In this case we are replacing 6-8 possession players, even with managed minutes they both contribute more blindfolded

[liz]

As for Adams, I’ll never quite understand that recruiting decision. A 30yo with a growing history of soft tissue injuries was unlikely to end well.

Maybe we could trade him to Norf as a straight swap for their #26.

[UUaswan]

Maybe we could trade him to Norf as a straight swap for their #26.

Had nearly forgot about that

[Thunder Shaker]

AFL website posted an article about goalkicking accuracy so far this year for all clubs.

Sydney's rankings
Overall: 16th with 44.1% (143 goals, 124 behinds, 57 misses)
Set shots: 2nd with 58.8% (90 goals, 48 behinds, 15 misses).

Not given was general play (all other scores). Given these numbers, it's not a surprise to find that Sydney is ranked last for accuracy from general play at 31.0% (53 goals, 76 behinds, 42 misses). West Coast is 17th at 34.0%, then it's daylight to Melbourne in 16th at 39.7%. Only St Kilda has an accuracy above 50% in general play.

I expect these numbers will improve once we get a functional forward line again.

[imuninformedtwo]

Tom Morris (which gives me some pause) that Jake Lloyd has been dropped for the game against Port, with Paps and Errol to return.

Gotta admire Cox for making the call if true.

[UUaswan]

Tom Morris (which gives me some pause) that Jake Lloyd has been dropped for the game against Port, with Paps and Errol to return.

Gotta admire Cox for making the call if true.

Hopefully Ollie gets back in.

Not against dropping either nor bringing them back in, with more players to select from we can make more selection statements week to week.

[Nico]

Hopefully Ollie gets back in.

Not against dropping either nor bringing them back in, with more players to select from we can make more selection statements week to week.

Maybe we can have a straight swap. Ollie for his best mate.

[Thunder Shaker]

Looks like five changes.

In: Amartey, Florent, Gulden, Papley, Roberts
Out: Adams (injured), Hanily, Lloyd, McLean, Co. Warner (omitted)

Adams is inured and will be out for 4 to 6 weeks. Florent replaces Adams.
Papley for Hanily. Hanily had two disposals against Richmond.
Roberts in for Lloyd, who would be unlucky to be omitted because he had 22 disposals against Richmond. If he is omitted the reason is likely to be "managed".
Amartey comes in and McLean could make way for him. It won't be Francis because Francis kicked 3 goals in a quarter the last time we played against Port.
Gulden for Corey Warner, who had 6 disposals against Richmond.

As for the sub, I expect it may be Florent or Sheldrick, with the aim of replacing Gulden or Papley at three-quarter time.

It could also be four changes, with Lloyd staying in the team and Florent waiting another week before being recalled.

[ugg]

I doubt Lloyd would be managed, given we just had a bye. He's being dropped because he has been poor this year

[imuninformedtwo]

I doubt Lloyd would be managed, given we just had a bye. He's being dropped because he has been poor this year

Yep.

There's no joy in any of this as Jake Lloyd has been a great servant of this club. He held his standards incredibly high during our down years and deserved his two Bob Skilton medals. My understanding too is that young players coming into the system were regularly told to watch how he trained, prepared, everything 'off field' if they wanted to make it - and he'd give them endless time. Just a champion.

But there are clear signs that he's struggling. Who knows if it is the end? A bit over 12 months ago Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury looked cooked, and now they are flying. Old fellas can find a way back. In a way, I hope he does. But he does deserve to be dropped this week and Cox deserves plaudits for having the balls to make the call.

[The Big Cat]

So we all believe Tom Morris now do we?

[crackedactor 01]

So we all believe Tom Morris now do we?

He is usually right as far as team selection goes.

[longmile]

Swans social media just confirmed Errol playing this weekend.

seems like this is one of those one in hundred times Tom Morris may be right! I’d be supportive of Lloyd’s axing for what it’s worth

can’t believe Errol’s back already! Thought it could be one of those injuries that keeps on giving and he’d be out for the rest of the year. Huge news

[liz]

Errol, Tom, Joel, Matt in.

Jake, Corey, Taylor, Tom out.

Just realised that Bice has retained his spot. Must have been a close call. Maybe he'll be sub.

Allir hasn't come up from his knee injury sustained last week, while Ollie Wines will also be absent. Now we just have to avoid kicking it straight to Ratugolea, rather than to Aliir.

[UUaswan]

Best team of the year

Bice the Sub, be good to see a couple of talls up fwd