Bolton out for six weeks

[dimelb]

Why?

Because he played well and Ted was not v. good.

He has played in the backline for a few games in the reserves and now you want him in the last line of defence against Fev and Brown!

Yes, because he won't get either of them. I did say, 'If we need third tall ...' In any case he's bigger and faster than either of them and I think he'd make a contest out of it.

Sure, he's very athletic and can take a good grab (in the reserves), but what does he do after the grab?
IMO he still can't kick!

In fact he can kick. Awkwardly by AFL standards, but if he can kick well enough to kick goals, he's mastered the rudiments. I want to see him on the bigger stage for a while (when we need etc.) to extend his experience.

[hammo]

Brown and Fevola have too many footy smarts for a rookie like Pyke.

I don't think 2 games in the backline against amateur footballers warrants a promotion to the seniors.

The Swans are very conservative at the selection table which means Richards will come in (even after his shocker on Saturday) but I'd much prefer Veszpremi with the option of using White or Mumford as a third tall should the Lions get on top up forward.

[Far Reach]

Brown and Fevola have too many footy smarts for a rookie like Pyke.

I don't think 2 games in the backline against amateur footballers warrants a promotion to the seniors.

The Swans are very conservative at the selection table which means Richards will come in (even after his shocker on Saturday) but I'd much prefer Veszpremi with the option of using White or Mumford as a third tall should the Lions get on top up forward.

I think they'll go with a smaller player. Mattner or Kennelly will get the third tall with a ruckman filling a hole if required. I expect to see Veszpremi back this week.

[Dalai Lama]

Welcome back Father Ted?

[stellation]

This is probably a negative result for Smith. He's made it into the team as a midfielder after much effort now, due to his talent, he'll be left in a back pocket. It's been noted by the ressie watchers that he is undoubtedly a midfielder....shame in one sense, but it'll certainly give his position some security.

I'm sure that Nick would see it as a positive to play in the seniors as a back if that's the role that needs to be filled, he spent at least half the game on Saturday in the backline shutting down LeCras. I see no shame at all in him playing in the backline- I actually think he is an excellent defender and whilst we have an amazing group of running backs I think that out of Mattner, Shaw, Kennelly and Malceski I'm only really sold on Mattner as being a solid defender when the other team has the ball.

[Triple B]

I'm sure that Nick would see it as a positive to play in the seniors as a back if that's the role that needs to be filled, he spent at least half the game on Saturday in the backline shutting down LeCras. I see no shame at all in him playing in the backline- I actually think he is an excellent defender and whilst we have an amazing group of running backs I think that out of Mattner, Shaw, Kennelly and Malceski I'm only really sold on Mattner as being a solid defender when the other team has the ball.

Excellent post Stella. I agree with all that, especially the last bit.

Hasn't footy changed.

We have Eski, Shaw and Tadhg all playing in the back half and when one of our main stoppers goes down, we are scouring the ressies for a replacement because the aforementioned three 'defenders' are anything but.

[Red]

He's been carrying the injury for a few weeks and seems to have aggravated it by still playing. Pretty silly stuff.

We've played West Coast, North and Richmond over the past 3 weeks. Why he wasn't rested for those games is beyond me Very poor management especially when we're up against some difficult teams over the next month.

x2, big time. Especially this year when we have good depth.

... we have an amazing group of running backs I think that out of Mattner, Shaw, Kennelly and Malceski I'm only really sold on Mattner as being a solid defender when the other team has the ball.

Mattner is so under-rated isn't he? Probably because he's not flashy with it, but as you say he's got the best defensive game on our half-back line. I'd actually love to see him play forward more as he's one of our safest kicks for goal imo, but he's too important to our defensive setup.

[Hartijon]

Because he played well and Ted was not v. good.

Yes, because he won't get either of them. I did say, 'If we need third tall ...' In any case he's bigger and faster than either of them and I think he'd make a contest out of it.

In fact he can kick. Awkwardly by AFL standards, but if he can kick well enough to kick goals, he's mastered the rudiments. I want to see him on the bigger stage for a while (when we need etc.) to extend his experience.

I agree with your sentiments but also acknowledge that it is a bit of a risky experiment. However ,we have other game day options for Pyke if it doesn't work.He has been playing well in the reserves and on form deserves a chance as much as anybody and more so than Ted.I get back to the point of what is the point of having him if we never try him out.He did servicably in his games last year and has improved since then so why not start him on the bench and ease him in on the rotations in the back line or a run in the ruck. He's gotta learn about the big time sometime!

[hammo]

I agree with your sentiments but also acknowledge that it is a bit of a risky experiment. However ,we have other game day options for Pyke if it doesn't work.He has been playing well in the reserves and on form deserves a chance as much as anybody and more so than Ted.I get back to the point of what is the point of having him if we never try him out.He did servicably in his games last year and has improved since then so why not start him on the bench and ease him in on the rotations in the back line or a run in the ruck. He's gotta learn about the big time sometime!

There's no need to rotate him in the ruck with Seaby and Mumford already doing a great job. And Dan Currie would be ahead of Pyke should one of those two go down.

I also don't think Pyke needs to be tried out for the sake of it. We have 3 first round picks currently running around in the reserves who I'd rather give a game to than Pyke.

[Captain]

Not much love for Ted.

Totally unfair in my opinion and hope that he comes in and proves the doubters wrong.

Guys like LRT and Ted are always the brunt of harsh comments though have the toughest job and do a lot of team things the average mug doesn't see.

Pyke is a long, long way from Ted.

[CJK]

Ted plz.

Oh, and thread title is misleading - it's up to six weeks

[ugg]

Ted plz.

Oh, and thread title is misleading - it's up to six weeks

or more

[Plugger46]

I'm tipping Ted will play. I'm not his biggest fan but he's probably ahead of Pyke. Ted comes back, just as we play the good sides - what a shame. He's quite good defensively but such a poor decision maker.

[liz]

Pyke is not an option unless a) Bird or Thornton are already on the LTIL. (There is no point putting them on now as that will stop them playing at any level - including reserves - for another 8 weeks); or b) Bolts is put on the LTIL (which would be silly unless the club knows for sure he will miss at least 8 weeks).

We may have had the option of nominating two rookies at the start of the season but I don't think the club chose to do so. There was a published list of "nominated rookies" and no Swan was on that list.

We have another chance to nominate a rookie to play senior footy with no LTI but not until about round 12.

If a tall defender is deemed the ideal replacement to come in, the choices are Ted, Ted or Ted. I don't think his reserves form is particularly relevant as players of his experience who go back to that level often find themselves playing a different role, in a differently structured team, and often feel the need to prove themselves in a way they don't at senior level (ie they try too hard). Ted wasn't dropped for form, he was dropped because there wasn't really a role for him. If that role now exists, he will be back. If the role doesn't exist even with Bolton out, someone else will get a go.

[Hartijon]

I'm tipping Ted will play. I'm not his biggest fan but he's probably ahead of Pyke. Ted comes back, just as we play the good sides - what a shame. He's quite good defensively but such a poor decision maker.

Perhaps we are being too one dimensional in our thinking here. We don't need to replace a backman with a backman. Grundy on Brown, LRT on Fevola,Smith and Matty next to LRT and Tadgh and Eski on the flanks. That backline should do the job and we have Shaw as an option on the wing. We might be lacking a tall but we will have speed!
If Pyke gets the thumbs down and Teddy's form doesn't warrant selection then why not Vespa with his ability to rotate front or back. He offers more in attack mode than Teddy and gives enormous flexibility to the side. He could be like a pinch hitter..bring him on when we want some action.