Our Best Backline?

[Matimbo]

I watched yesterday's Bomber's game after not having seen our Rd 1 draw or any of the Swans pre-season games. Was quite a different looking set-up. We clearly struggled big-time in the backline with the Bombers seeming to get their goals in the 1st half very easily.

So to my question ... what is our best backline setup now?

With Bolts retired, it's not so obvious to me who is 1st choice to take on the opposition's best forward each week. Are we going to choose from Grundy, Ted, etc. for this role each week on a horses-for-courses basis? Or are we better giving someone (Grundy, I guess) the role to own? What will be LRT's role?

Kennelly coming back in when ready is obvious for some run out of defence.

[blinddog]

NOt sure if this was mentioned before but LRT after a reserves game 2 weeks ago, did not make it thru training last friday - tightness in the calf accourding to John Longmire. So he will still be a few weeks off I would think

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Insert Tadhg and LRT and we'll be fine. They're not far off, just need to hold things together until then.

[Triple B]

Given in seasons past Tadhg has come in on no preparation at all, on his game yesterday in the ressies I'd say he is almost a certainty to come in next week. If it wasn't Perth, I'd have said an absolute certainty.

[swansrule100]

LRT slots straight in, not sold on Everitt yet. Malceski would be in too if fit.

IS kennelly still up to it?

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Everitt was really solid in round 1, I expect him to be a very handy addition to our side this season.

[liz]

Everitt was really solid in round 1, I expect him to be a very handy addition to our side this season.

I agree. He was ordinary yesterday but good the week before. He is still inexperienced enough that we have to expect a bit of inconsistency.

In terms of our best defensive structure, LRT slots in with no trouble once he is fit. Just his height advantage over Ted and Reg makes him invaluable, particularly with ruckmen mooted to spend time forward. In his absence, Ted and Reg have to take the two best talls, though Marty's contribution has been good for the past two weeks on some dangerous - if not quite as tall - opponents.

Tadhg and/or Eski aren't going to improve us much (if at all) defensively, but they are important in the way we bring the ball out of defence. It may be that the ubiquitous forward press means that a long kick in hope is now the commonest way of moving the ball forward but it would nice to still have the option of trying to run it out at times, especially against the teams not so good at the forward press as the Pies. Tadhg and Malceski have been two of the chief architects of that over the past few seasons and we are definitely missing their presence.

[Auntie.Gerald]

I still feel that our midfield made way to many errors and turnovers which left our high backline in a real bother

I was sitting with a mate at the game and we both felt that the errors being made in the midfield were simply below top8 standard.............make that AFL standard !!

I stand by that our backline was strong and some of the individual efforts are promising and they are playing very high up field.....................which means they will always be stranded like shag on a ruck without a brilliant midfield shutting down play were possible

I think it is fair that it will take us many weeks to get used to not playing as deep with crafty delivers such as Mal etc...........we are trying to jam the play down the other end of the field and not play it out of our own half.............it is all about minimal passes to get down to their end, replicating a Collingwood style it appears

[Go Swannies]

In terms of our best defensive structure, LRT slots in with no trouble once he is fit. Just his height advantage over Ted and Reg makes him invaluable, particularly with ruckmen mooted to spend time forward. In his absence, Ted and Reg have to take the two best talls, though Marty's contribution has been good for the past two weeks on some dangerous - if not quite as tall - opponents.

Roos on the Couch tonight said that people are talking about Goodes but the Swans who played blinders were Jude and Marty. I think he's reflecting the coaching panel there. I was super impressed by Ted but maybe it's because I expect Reg to be exceptional and Marty to be very good (but why does he slip over all the time?). Ted's positional play is great but he's more likely to be outmarked. With LRT still not a definite anytime soon, I think they are the three we'll be building our defence around if we're aiming for finals. (with Smith and Mr Shaw further up the ground.) But, as AG says, any backs would have been in trouble with the delivery coming in to the Bombers' forwards.