Teams: Sydney v Essendon

[Bas]

Some people must be out of their minds. There is no way you could risk Pyke playing a KP backman. You need years of developing footy smarts.

I am out of my mind. It helps me deal with reality!

Tell that to Karmichael Hunt and GC.

[Triple B]

My best guess is Pyke wont play,i think Mummy will ruck when Hille rucks and White when Ryder does,yes we loose out in the ruck but Jesse has the pace to go with Ryder around the ground i dont think Pyke does,Bird will be the sub imo.

Personally I think Pyke is much better equipped to run with Ryder than Jesse. Not to say he will do a great job, but he'll do that role better than Jesse, imo.

[stellation]

Personally I think Pyke is much better equipped to run with Ryder than Jesse. Not to say he will do a great job, but he'll do that role better than Jesse, imo.

I agree, Pyke would be fine to run with Ryder. My biggest concern with Pyke over White if it comes to that is, assuming he isn't a sub (obviously they may go with the idea again), we'd be playing 2 ruckmen that don't really have a solid second position to play. Mummy can get it around the ground (didn't really against Melbourne), but that only is really when running in the ruck.

[magic.merkin]

My best guess is Pyke wont play,i think Mummy will ruck when Hille rucks and White when Ryder does,yes we loose out in the ruck but Jesse has the pace to go with Ryder around the ground i dont think Pyke does,Bird will be the sub imo.

??? Pyke is lightening, sure he didn't get to show it in the GF slippery dip the other year, but I think his tank as well would be competitive with Jesse and he is quicker, and dare I say it a better set of hands marking wise.... Oh yeah I went there.

[RogueSwan]

... we'd be playing 2 ruckmen that don't really have a solid second position to play. Mummy can get it around the ground (didn't really against Melbourne), but that only is really when running in the ruck.

Mummy's second role can be tagging Watson and letting him know that every time he gets the ball Mummy will be the one tackling him.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I really hope they don't repeat the ruckman=sub thing again, but I too fear they may. And if they do play Mummy & Pike I suspect they'll drop Jesse, for fear of being top heavy.

But I think there may be another either all question.

If, as seems possible, Bird will be included to try to reverse the contested footy problem.
Is that a solution?
They pulled Jude out of the midfield partly because the Demons made him look VERY slow, could that have adversely affect our ability in tight?
And is Craig a whole lot quicker than Jude? Will either of them he be able to keep up with Essendon's speedsters?
Can we afford to include the pair of them?

[Go Swannies]

I really hope they don't repeat the ruckman=sub thing again, but I too fear they may. And if they do play Mummy & Pike I suspect they'll drop Jesse, for fear of being top heavy.

But I think there may be another either all question.

If, as seems possible, Bird will be included to try to reverse the contested footy problem.
Is that a solution?
They pulled Jude out of the midfield partly because the Demons made him look VERY slow, could that have adversely affect our ability in tight?
And is Craig a whole lot quicker than Jude? Will either of them he be able to keep up with Essendon's speedsters?
Can we afford to include the pair of them?

If Bird is played then it won't be a tall as substitute. I'm guessing they'll go back to the Mummy/Pyke ruck combo and use Mummy's aggression and Pyke's speed when not rucking.

I love the uncertainty of new coach and newish players. Every Monday we can argue how much better we would have gone if Horse and the gang had listened to us. Sumner played well in the NAB but didn't seem ready for the main game. But the same could be said of Rohan. I think Melbourne are better than many think - and may be better than the Bombers. But I think it's Sydney isolation that the players always seem surprised in R1. On the other hand, they'll really be pumped for this one against the reigning NAB champs playing good defensive footy so I expect a lot more contest instead of a speed shootout.

Let's really really take it to the Bombers with their god-given right to success under the reign of the Golden Boy and let's give their percentage a setback as we soar. See you on Sunday!!

[stellation]

mummy's second role can be tagging watson and letting him know that every time he gets the ball mummy will be the one tackling him.

[ShockOfHair]

Leigh Tudor's match preview doesn't mention the subs at all but reminds that last week we got smashed in contested possessions and made quite a few ineffective tackles.

Our midfield leaders need to step up:

Our midfield is obviously different this year without Brett Kirk, and we still need to get better at our communication and organisation. There were a couple of times there where our set ups weren?t right. Josh Kennedy has really stood up with his leadership in the middle but it?s an area where we can improve.

The Game Plan ? Swans need midfield muscle - Official AFL Website of the Sydney Swans Football Club

[Hartijon]

His courage is undenialable, his goalkicking is generally good but his clangers are unbearably bad. If he plays, and I am sure he will as he is listed, I hope he plays in the forward line where his clangers will not be as costly as down back.

AMEN !! thought it was my post coz its exactly what I think too. I have lost count of the number of clangers that lead to opposition goals. Then we lose by a small margin.It looks like the selectors think he is still worth playing in defence so more of the same.Its like starting the game 2 goals down.

[RogueSwan]

AMEN !! thought it was my post coz its exactly what I think too. I have lost count of the number of clangers that lead to opposition goals...

Are you sure? We all have our favourite whipping boys (not sure who mine is at the moment but it could be Rohan if he keeps playing like last week) but according to this he only had two clangers on the weekend and I am pretty sure they both didn't lead to goals.
He was also well down on the list last year with an average of 1.1 clangers/game. There were 28 Swans who had a higher average.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

On the other hand, they'll really be pumped for this one against the reigning NAB champs playing good defensive footy so I expect a lot more contest instead of a speed shootout.

If we're pumped to play Collingwood, we should definitely get over the line against Essendon.

[Hartijon]

AMEN !! thought it was my post coz its exactly what I think too. I have lost count of the number of clangers that lead to opposition goals. Then we lose by a small margin.It looks like the selectors think he is still worth playing in defence so more of the same.Its like starting the game 2 goals down.

I don't have the benefit of a reply to check but my alcohol befuddled brain seems to remember
1.A handball backwards to nobody that led to a turnover (not sure if a goal came from that)
2. A taking an adtvantage play on when surrounded by Melbourne players..pretty sure a goal came from this!
3. A Crude tackle on Green from which he kicked a goal.

His forward play on the other hand was good I thought,missed one but so does everybody. He presented well.

[jono2707]

I blame Bevo for the Japanese earthquake and the GFC

[Untamed Snark]

I blame Bevo for the Japanese earthquake and the GFC

But not Christchurch?