Changes for Essendon (official teams named)

[Hartijon]

There is so little footy played in truly wet conditions these days it is hard to say. Most recent evidence if taken in isolation (Port v Tigers last week) would seem to indicate the opposite! But that result is so peculiar as to not offer much insight into anything I reckon!

Generally tho, it makes sense that a more skilled team should stay as the more skilled team, regardless of the conditions.

Wow,the depth of Rodney Eade,s thinking!How many years did it take to realise a more skilled player will beat a less skilled player and a more skilled team will beat a less skilled team regardless of conditions.Having said that,some players are like mudlark race horses and love the wet.Others, skilled or unskilled, hate it.Attitude is a factor that has not been mentioned.

[Nich]

Wow,the depth of Rodney Eade,s thinking!How many years did it take to realise a more skilled player will beat a less skilled player and a more skilled team will beat a less skilled team regardless of conditions.Having said that,some players are like mudlark race horses and love the wet.Others, skilled or unskilled, hate it.Attitude is a factor that has not been mentioned.

So true - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg3vzl_VwLc&feature=fvst

[Triple B]

Wow,the depth of Rodney Eade,s thinking!How many years did it take to realise a more skilled player will beat a less skilled player and a more skilled team will beat a less skilled team regardless of conditions.......

Try reading it again.

The point Eade was making is that wet conditions widen the skill gap, whereas the common perception is that wet weather brings the sides together.

[ernie koala]

I disagree, skills in the wet are hard to come by, and MOD is a one-touch player. Bevan is hard at the ball, and that's a great quality, but to what end? Great if he puts his body on the line, but if he can't pick the bloody ball up, what's the point? MOD's skills aren't in his kicking, they're in his ability to read the play, his peripheral vision, and his hands. He has great hands. Slippery ball in dispute on the HBF, I'd rather have MOD pick it up and dish it off than Bevan dive on it and risk getting pinged because he can't pick it up in the wet.

People always seem to assume that the Swans are good in wet weather because we're full of strong bodies, but I don't think I can remember the last time we won a game in the wet. That's because, for all our toughness, when it's wet we can't pick the bloody thing up! It's a myth that big bodies make better wet weather players.

I agree with this, it's absolute rubbish that..1)Swans are good in the wet...2) That big bodies are better in the wet.
As you pointed out in your previous post, the selection of Bevo reeks of conservatism. It's typical Swans selection policy, that has been in place since 05/06.
We go into this game with plodders such as Bevo and Playfair (I can't understand the logic of having both Playfair and Pyke playing on a wet track against a fast skillful opponent, just one of them surely, IMO Pkye not Playfair) .... they're planning for a slog not for the future. As I've said before, not until we have no chance of making the finals will there be a change in selection policy...just like last season.

[goswannie14]

Try reading it again.

The point Eade was making is that wet conditions widen the skill gap, whereas the common perception is that wet weather brings the sides together.

I think Eade is talking out of where the sun doesn't shine.

[Triple B]

I think Eade is talking out of where the sun doesn't shine.

Fair enough, you don't agree.

But at least you appear to at least understand what he is saying, unlike some.

[lwoggardner]

I think Eade is talking out of where the sun doesn't shine.

Eade was in Sydney yesterday?

[liz]

I don't think either are matchwinners so what difference does it make. I suppose there's a chance Bevo may kick a goal or two. Isnt it interesting we spend the most time arguing over the last player picked who will probably have the least effect on the game.

These arguments are less about this weekend's game, and more about the future. Jack, Smith, Hanners and more would have been the last player picked not so long ago. Now they are critical parts of the current team, and hopefully the team for the next decade. MOD just seems to be a player who, as an outsider looking in, doesn't seem to have had the opportunities that his consistent reserves form and reasonable senior performances appear to warrant.

[CJK]

Beautiful day so far.

Might just make all this talk of playing in the wet completely redundant.

[Primmy]

Not so much playing IN the wet as ON the wet.

[Nich]

As evidenced here - http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/ja2e2...ce/-byT6ymrv4L

[Hartijon]

I think Eade is talking out of where the sun doesn't shine.

Hard to better this assessment. Using Eades logic (oxymoron),the gap between teams should widen in the wet.It doesn't! Don't know the statistics but I have a feeling the opposite happens. You can't argue that thats because skills are dampened by the wet when you argument is that the skill gap widens in the wet. Typical Eade doublespeak(he should be a politician) and boy were we lucky to get rid of him.

[Peace]

todays weather is suprising but tomorrow looks like its going back to the usual miserable wet, grey weather.

look at that picture linked above, bevan is a weapon and will be of much better use in tomorrows scrappy game.

[liz]

It doesn't! Don't know the statistics but I have a feeling the opposite happens.

Maybe you should go and gather some stats before making your mind up.

[Lucky Knickers]

Thanks for posting those Nich. That looks heaps of fun from the comfort of my lounge room.