Changes for Rnd 21 V The Tigers

[Go Swannies]

Utterly baffled at the dropping of Mal.

I don't understand what's hard? A fit and firing Mal would be in our 22 every week. He's been neither for the past few weeks and now Horse reveals he has groin problems (don't we all?) so they want to give him an easy but full run in the 2s. It'd be nice to bring him up to speed for Saints and Cats if possible (when his disposal would be invaluable), or give him time to heal before next year if not.

[Robbo]

Good to see Seaby named he is clearly our 2nd best ruckman.

[swannielady]

I am abit confused about Birdy on the bench? Is this common for him and have I just noticed it. Surely they would not drop him for the game.

[wolftone57]

I am abit confused about Birdy on the bench? Is this common for him and have I just noticed it. Surely they would not drop him for the game.

Quite a few times this year he has been named on the bench but started. The same for Hannas. It is a ploy to confuse the opposition, I don't know why they bother it never works as the match ups are already formulated before a game. The only way it can work is if they actually do start on the bench, then it stuffs up the opposition rotations.

[Plugger46]

Good to see Seaby named he is clearly our 2nd best ruckman.

Surely no chance of playing though.

[CJK]

Twitter @sydneyswans:

Longmire says Brett Meredith is likely to be included in the @sydneyswans final team to play the Tigers.

[swannielady]

Quite a few times this year he has been named on the bench but started. The same for Hannas. It is a ploy to confuse the opposition, I don't know why they bother it never works as the match ups are already formulated before a game. The only way it can work is if they actually do start on the bench, then it stuffs up the opposition rotations.

Thankyou Wolftone for replying that clears it up abit although it worked to confuse me lol not hard!. I need to pay more attention each week to the listed team and where they are positioned. Thanks again.

[Triple B]

I need to pay more attention each week to the listed team and where they are positioned.

Actually, you are better off paying no attention whatsoever to where they are positioned, it often bears no resemblence at all to where they are at bouncedown.

The one constant this year has been that the 'sub' has always come from the players listed on the bench on a Thursday. So I guess you can read that much into the Thursday side.

[stellation]

Intriguing news on Meredith. Assuming McVeigh, who is named on the ground, doesn't play (although I obviously dearly hope he does, because that suggests good news on that front!) then I guess we'd have 5 from that extended bench come up. I'm guessing it'll be
Tadhg Kennelly, Brett Meredith, Craig Bird, Trent Dennis-Lane, Luke Parker
Although if Meredith has earnt one last hurrah, I'd hope that Bevo gets one as well. If Meredith does play please, please give the guy a chance to impress and don't make him the sub- I actually wouldn't mind seeing Luke play another game as the sub, I'm a big fan but I think he looks a tad like he's hit something of a wall so a run as sub could be a good chance to rejuvinate?

[Triple B]

Agree Stella, from a purely 'show us what you've got' perspective, it would be pointless playing Meredith as the sub.

I like Meredith, although I'm more enamored with Parks, Gazza etc, but I've always thought he had a real touch of class about the way he goes about his work. He's the type of player who mightn't necessarily cut a side to ribbons in the 2's because he just does the things asked in a clinical manner, but this translates well to seniors and provided he adjusts to the heightened pressure and speed of the game, that type of game stands up well against any quality of opposition.

Should be an interesting watch...

[S120]

It'll be McVeigh, Meredith in for TDL and Malceski I reckon. Makes the most sense.

TDL was only a late in last week and didn't do heaps to stay in the side.

Parker, Meredith and Jetta are the obvious candidates to be the sub. I hope also that isn't Meredith as I think he'd be of more use to us starting the game as it would allow him to get a feel for the pace and intensity right from the start. Coming on as a sub as a player who hasn't been in the 1's for months (when he was a sub back in round 2), I don't think he would get a good feel for the game having been injured and being in Canberra for so long.

[liz]

I too would like to see Meredith get a chance. It would be good to see him play a principly "outside mid" role because we already have loads of players who go in and hunt the ball. It was evident last week that Essendon are much better at spreading from the contest when they win possession that we are and it must be something the coaches have already identified needs to be worked on. (Check 50% of players' responses to the question of what the Longmire's favourite expression is.)

Meredith isn't super quick but he has the tools to play a similar role for us that Stanton does for the Bombers.

[S120]

Did anyone watch Longmire's press conference on the site?

He says "it will be interesting to see how Tre...Reid, Parker, Jetta, Hannebery will respond to the loss" referring to how the young players will respond to such a devastating loss last week. Was about to say Trent Dennis-Lane but then stopped, I'm sure of it. Suggests that he is out this week? I reckon TDL will be out so I wouldn't be surprised.

Pure speculation, but I thought it was interesting.

[Mountain Man]

If Mal doesn't come up to speed this season, and if Kennelly is as formless as some are suggesting - who would be the best replacement for the balance of this season?

[S120]

Campbell Heath is the obvious one in the reserves, but will the coaches want to put in a 2nd year player who has been injury riddled during his time with us over one of our most experienced come finals time? I doubt it. If Tadhg plays as he did on Saturday night I think the coaches will stick with him. He might only get 10 touches a game but as long as he doesn't make any howling mistakes, they'll take that over putting a 19yo in come crunch times in the finals.

Next year, however, Tadhg could be really struggling to keep his spot given his gradual drop in form and consistency over the last 10 weeks conitnues.