Teams: Sydney v Fremantle

[ugg]

If its wet on Saturday then I reckon Playfair will drop out for MOD or Vespa....

Richards is the emergency staying in Sydney (staying emergency? as opposed to travelling emergency) as the reserves are playing in Canberra at the same time

[ugg]

Umpires
Chris Donlon (1)
Michael Avon (27)
Scott Jeffery (29)
EM: Brett Ritchie (33)

[707]

Good to see MOD and Vespaas emegencies, means they can't be far away from promotion if they keep performing in the ressies.

On the ruck situation, it's hard to negate Sandilands anyway so just run Pyke when Sandilands is rucking and pinch hit the rest of the time. Think we'll play to losing rucks anyway so an extra mid is more useful. If it's wet maybe MOD or Vespa may replace Playfair as Freo is loaded with quick small/midsized players.

[dimelb]

1 ruckman up against Sandilands???? I dont like it.

Neither do I, but not much we could do if we rule White out (I'm sorry he's not down front). Henry P has done a bit of rucking - could give Pyke a break, but as before, it'll be up to the mids to lift and shark the ball. I expect a back-to-form game from Kirk.

[ugg]

Campbell Heath, for those who don't know what he looks like. Solid build, about Craig Bolton's height, stylish left footer.
cambo_new_246b..jpg

[satchmopugdog]

He no longer has those beautiful curls...but they would have been pulled anyway against Freo

[Robbo]

Ridiculous omissions. I agree with Ted getting dropped but keeping Playfair ahead of White is nothing short of ridiculous.

[Matty10]

White needs to be re-energised and hopefully some time in the reserves will bring him back with more gusto - regardless of what position he plays in. I have no great problems with Playfair's performance from last week, so am happy that he gets another crack at it - but hopefully he is able to find more of the ball / contests.

[Bas]

I bet White is feeling very blue tonight rather than seeing red. His performances in the last few weeks have been very grey.

[teddys mum]

Dropping White and keeping Playfair (Roos usually gives players two weeks to prove themselves) both seem big risks.

One ruck should be OK (although not ideal) as Sandiladders will beat two rookie rucks anyway.

Is this selection policy a sign of things to come when Longgy takes over?

[Justice]

I would try the option of not contesting the ruck when Sandilands is on the ball and to run an extra rover in the square/around the ground to shark the tap. Would need to have a least one extra player about 25 meters behind the contest to cover sandilands just thumps it forward.

Could then run Pyke in the ruck against their relief ruckman (Bradley?) when sandilands of off the field. Pyke likely to be more successful palming to advantage against their second string ruckman.

Cheers

Justice

[Dogzbody]

As I said on another post.... Roosy is making a concession in the Ruck to try and win clearances off the mountain! Midfield options is his go! He wants an alternate target to Bradshaw. Bit flimsy, but if it works we'll all be hailing the brilliance of the strategy... if not same old RWO!

[Nico]

Bevan retaining his spot is a bit odd. I don't recalling him having any impact as a defensive forward. In the last 2 weeks we have been very poor at the contests. I would have thought MOD gives us far more speed and grunt at the footy. Our smalls are getting slower by the week. The game has sped up a couple of cogs but we have dropped back a couple of gears.
Lets hope Smith has a go in the guts this week.

[Old Royboy]

Swans coach Paul Roos revealed that club leaders Brett Kirk, Adam Goodes and Craig Bolton - who also serves as Heath's mentor - had pushed strongly for the young defender's inclusion at match committee this week.

That's pretty cool - and a good endorsement of his abilities.

Some may think that cool, I think it reeks of nepotism. I wish young Heath well, but there is no way he deserves this on form. Regular reserves watchers have watched the kid do little all year, and scratched our heads when he was named by the club in the best list. Hacks like Playfair and Bevan continue to give little and be rewarded with re-selection. Meanwhile, O'Dwyer, Vez, LJ, Crusher and Co, despite being among the reserves best performers are left to rot.

I guess I should be grateful that Barlow and Richards have been dropped. But it seems that the form players will have to wait until evry dud in the club with family connections has been tried and failed.

[hammo]

The best ruckman in the AFL going up against the worst. This is going to be ugly.

The Swans midfield isn't good enough to be sharking Sandilands taps, so let's hope there is some method to Roos' madness.

At least Vesz and MOD are emergencies... based on recent weeks that means they must be close.

Playfair and Bevan could be playing for their careers? They're not in the team on form.

Once again McGlynn has been talked up and misses once again. Whenever he returns you'd think he'll have to do it via the reserves to get some match fitness again.