Is Roos for real this time?

[ernie koala]

Once again Roos has flagged 2-3 changes this week. With the curious comment, that he'd rather loose/be inconsistent with youngsters in the side, because, at least they will learn from it. I agree with that, but the Swans have been inconsistent for the best part of two and a half seasons.. This season alone we have blooded less youngsters, and used the least number of players overall, than every other side except Geelong.
So how many changes, and who to come in and who to go?
History says Roos will make 1 change or 2 at the most, assuming no injuries.
My guess is :
In.... Bird, and either Thornton or Laidlaw or Smith.
out.. Moore and Malceski

[sharp9]

He specifically mentioned Moore as young player, though...

He didn't mention Mickey as a gun playing well this year (or Jolly who is probably All Australian right now) so he may had those two in mind when saying "I don't want to jump in without looking at the tape 'cos some players have been playing well)

He referred to the middle tier which would be

Ablett, Buchanan, Bevan, Roberts-Thomson, Richards, Mattner, Shaw, Malceski, Crouch and McVeigh.

My personal opinion has always been that LRT, Bevan and Ablett should be replaced as soon as ANY suitable replacement was available.....a harsh call against mostly competent players....but after all this time they are never going to be important game winning players - clearly - so as we are not challenging for a premiership we should try others on the chance that they will be better.

Richards, Mattner and Shaw are big frustrations because they have plying levels well above the other 3 but seem to cruise and continually let themselves down with DUMB, DUMB bits of footy or HUGE skill errors that are an absolute mile below what they are capable of at other times. I reckon that these are the guys right in the gun which might surprise.

Malceski and Buchanan are big talents not giving enough return. This could well be the end for my beloved Bucky.

The Eski might be asked the Ablett/Johnson type question....do you want to be a superstar or do you want to **** off, because you are just mucking around at the moment. O'Keefe was asked this question and has answered.

Maybe Macca might be being asked the same question, too .... even though his year has been pretty good .... he should be challenging for a Brownlow and isn't.

It's a crying shame that Vez, Murphy, Meredith and Johstone can't come in.

My suggestion from left field...throw DOK in ... matbe he's one of those players who can't really perform till he gets to the big stage....who knows?

Obviously Laidlaw MUST play next week.

I love the Swans.....SIGH

[Captain]

Must go:
Ablett
Buchanan

Should go (but we have no one to replace them):
LRT
Richards
Bevan

Very close to going:
McVeigh
Malceski
Moore

[Triple B]

Very close to going:
McVeigh

Get real.

He's getting hard tags every week and still going better than 2 or 3 others in the midfield.

Daniel Cross negates the best week in, week out, winning the Doggies B&F last year, a year where they made a Prelim and had the Brownlow Medallist in their team. If you think he was going to kick another 6 at Manuka after last years effort on loose, kick chasing Cooney, he was never going close once Cross lined up next to him.

[connolly]

Mc V, LRT and Bevo will not be dropped. Moore, Ablett and Grundy will be. There is no place for Crouch in this side as he is just keeping a young player out. He should be dropped for Smith not because he didnt do his job against the yapper but because he adds absolutely nothing to the game plan or the future of the club. If Roos is serious about risking defeats through youth Crouch will be dropped. Lets see.

[ernie koala]

So how many changes, and who to come in and who to go?
History says Roos will make 1 change or 2 at the most, assuming no injuries.
My guess is :
In.... Bird, and either Thornton or Laidlaw or Smith.
out.. Moore and Malceski

What I should of added, is what I hope will happen:

In : Bird, Smith , Laidlaw,
Out : Ablett, Bevan, Malceski

It pains me to say but possibly even Currie in for Mick.

[Captain]

Get real.

He's getting hard tags every week and still going better than 2 or 3 others in the midfield.

Daniel Cross negates the best week in, week out, winning the Doggies B&F last year, a year where they made a Prelim and had the Brownlow Medallist in their team. If you think he was going to kick another 6 at Manuka after last years effort on loose, kick chasing Cooney, he was never going close once Cross lined up next to him.

Like it or not, he is out of form. Very close means that if he puts in a few more average games (and we are getting flogged) then a run in the ressies might do him the world of good.

If he can't deal with taggers then that's more of a worry. Not sure I mentioned that he should have kicked 6 (or any for that matter).

For us to improve as a side, we need players like McVeigh to step up and add more consistency to their game rather then going backwards from last year.

[Captain]

Mc V, LRT and Bevo will not be dropped. Moore, Ablett and Grundy will be. There is no place for Crouch in this side as he is just keeping a young player out. He should be dropped for Smith not because he didnt do his job against the yapper but because he adds absolutely nothing to the game plan or the future of the club. If Roos is serious about risking defeats through youth Crouch will be dropped. Lets see.

Crouch is one of our few players in form and has played well in both matches since coming back.

He is easily our best small defender even at his age. If Bevan could defend half as well as Crouch then it would be less of an issue.

Should Mick and Kirk be dropped as well because they add nothing to the future of the club?

[ScottH]

Like it or not, he is out of form. Very close means that if he puts in a few more average games (and we are getting flogged) then a run in the ressies might do him the world of good.

If he can't deal with taggers then that's more of a worry. Not sure I mentioned that he should have kicked 6 (or any for that matter).

For us to improve as a side, we need players like McVeigh to step up and add more consistency to their game rather then going backwards from last year.

McV is a receiver, and if the ball is being fed out to him, he aint gunna get it much.

[ugg]

For those who want to drop LRT and Richards (which by the way is just absolutely puzzling to me), be aware we have no key defenders playing in the reserves at the moment. Barry and Murphy are injured and the reserves are struggling in no small part due to the fact that skinny top ups are being called upon to play these roles.

[ugg]

You have a very short memory Captain, McVeigh was amongst our best against Port just 2 weeks ago.

[Captain]

You have a very short memory Captain, McVeigh was amongst our best against Port just 2 weeks ago.

Hard not to be that day though.

Maybe I'm marking him too harshly, but I rate him as one of our top 3 or 4 players. Therefore I think he needs to be up there in the best more weeks than not.

Let's get one thing clear - I'm not calling for him to be dropped now. Just saying that he (like most of the team) needs to improve and get more involved otherwise should be looked at.

[Plugger46]

Get real.

He's getting hard tags every week and still going better than 2 or 3 others in the midfield.

Daniel Cross negates the best week in, week out, winning the Doggies B&F last year, a year where they made a Prelim and had the Brownlow Medallist in their team. If you think he was going to kick another 6 at Manuka after last years effort on loose, kick chasing Cooney, he was never going close once Cross lined up next to him.

Absolutely spot on. Amazing how quickly opinions change in this place. Hall was finished a few weeks ago, LRT and Bevan were having great seasons.

McVeigh was close to BOG against Port.

One horrible quarter against quality opposition. Win 1 of the next 3 and we're still very much in the finals mix.

[573v30]

Absolutely spot on. Amazing how quickly opinions change in this place. Hall was finished a few weeks ago, LRT and Bevan were having great seasons.

McVeigh was close to BOG against Port.

One horrible quarter against quality opposition. Win 1 of the next 3 and we're still very much in the finals mix.

That's RWO for you.

Several changes will be made with Ablett, Buchanan and Malceski likely candidates for some time at the reserves. One ordinary game and McVeigh should be dropped? I don't think so.

[giant]

Mc V, LRT and Bevo will not be dropped. Moore, Ablett and Grundy will be. There is no place for Crouch in this side as he is just keeping a young player out. He should be dropped for Smith not because he didnt do his job against the yapper but because he adds absolutely nothing to the game plan or the future of the club. If Roos is serious about risking defeats through youth Crouch will be dropped. Lets see.

I'll be fascinated to learn how keeping the opposition's most damaging player completely blanketed is adding nothing to the game plan.

However, agree that most at risk are Moore, Ablett & Grundy - no idea who's available to replace them tho.