Rampe > Armstrong

[ernie koala]

Mattner reads the ball coming in as well as anyone...Constantly chops out, to cover other opposition players.

He's brave, tough and very experienced....and he's under NO threat of loosing his spot....I'd say you're smoking parsley...no self respecting pot smoker would think he's finished.

[mcs]

Smith and Mal are also lefties.

Rampe reminds me a bit of the younger Mattner. When he first came to the Swans and when he was with the Crows, he provided a lot of drive from back with his run and long kicking. Rampe actually has a lot more poise at the same stage of their respective careers. The rebound aspect of Mattner's game has fallen off a lot, perhaps leaving those things to the likes of Shaw and Malceski. Mattner's tackling and 1%ers are very valuable, but otherwise I would prefer to see Rampe in the team ahead of Mattner at this time, if I had to choose. Maybe it's pushing the clock forward a bit too fast, but you can see it coming.

I like rampe but to suggest you'd pick him in front of mattner to me is astounding. Just think of how immense mattner was when it mattered last year, especially in that 4th quarter and youll soon remember how important he is.

[Ludwig]

Mattner reads the ball coming in as well as anyone...Constantly chops out, to cover other opposition players.

He's brave, tough and very experienced....and he's under NO threat of loosing his spot....I'd say you're smoking parsley...no self respecting pot smoker would think he's finished.

I think this is a gross exaggeration of what I've been saying. I am agreeing with the many positive qualities that Mattner has, but also recognising that he is past his peak. That doesn't mean he's playing poorly, or worse than Rampe. I also think it would be a bit blinkered to think that Mattner is now playing at the same level of a few years ago. My argument is more about when is the best time to bring in promising young players. And how best to transition from the old stalwarts to the next generation of players. It's a bigger picture question, not one meant to be critical of a particular player, especially one that I have always thought of very highly.

There are some coaches that like to keep a few spots in the senior side for younger players. I agree with that strategy. John Longmire is not one of those coaches, but I think he's a great coach nonetheless. I just disagree with him on this one point.

If I asked the question that falls into the same category: When should Jed Lamb get a game, and who should he replace? That's the kind of dilemma I am raising. Wait till Tom Mitchell starts playing well in the reserves.

[Wazza]

Wow against geelong I thought Rampe was found out defensively, HBacks always look good running with ball in hand but its there work and positioning around stoppages etc that really count. IMHO Rampe is no where near mattner on defensive skills he looks great long hair flowing running out of HB but he has much to learn on the defensive aspects of his game. Dont get me wrong I think he has great potential but to say he should replace mattner wow big call..

Cheers

waz

[Primmy]

I like Rampe a lot. He is going to be just fine.

I love Marty a lot. You don't see him much until that crucial moment when we couldn't live without him. The Lurker.

Rampe is not Marty. then again, not many players are like Marty. However, Rampe definitely has a place in this team. Where would we be right now without him I ask you. And Tony for that matter. Even Leo had to start somewhere, and that was in the forward line, but it took him a while to become the player he became.

Its not like going to the shops and getting a ready made player off the rack. Except perhaps with AJ, but there is always an exception to the standard application of the rules, isn't there.

[jono2707]

I think Rampe's done alright with his opportunities so far and he's getting valuable experience but I don't see a spot available for him once Shaw is back. I know that he's really battling it out with Armstrong for a spot but I reckon the club puts more value in wanting to develop TA more at this point in time. Rampe certainly looks physically ready and he's full of run but I reckon he's going to be in and out of the team a bit this year. With experience will come a bit more polish and he's done well so far but I reckon he's seen more of a long-term project.

I wouldn't be totally surprised either to see Towers get a run at some stage to give the coaches a look at what he'll offer in comparison to Rampe.

[ugg]

I really don't think, at this stage at least, that Rampe is battling Armstrong for a spot. The coaches have stated that they believe that Rampe can play on talls and smalls, i.e. as a third tall defender an ability that Armstrong doesn't possess. So I would think Rampe's spot is quite safe until LRT comes back or they promote someone like Walsh, go with Mattner in that role instead or reprogram Everitt into that third tall position.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Rampe has made a few defensive blues, sometimes over and sometimes undercommitting to tackles. But experience should help that.

Armstrong's main problem is that's he's not very quick (which is a major problem when you weigh 60 kg wringing wet). He tends to get caught a lot and his normally excellent disposal tends to deteriorate quite alarmingly.

[ShockOfHair]

Mattner's got probably the best defensive game in the list. Definitely the best tackler. On the AFL Q&A thing 'The Grill' other Swans nominated him as "player most likely to fill in the hole in front of J Brown or Cloke."

Plus his working over of Birchall in the GF should give him a full season's immunity.

[Auntie.Gerald]

i think it is fair to say due to the lack of us winning the clearances our backline was under more pressure to random kicks fired into our backline

and Rampe was one of a fair few in the backline that had to contend with some serious pressure ....... namely the Cats game !

Stevie J said he was amazed at how high our midfield pushed ahead of their own and this worked for the first two qtrs but then when the Swans could nail the clearances our guys got caught to far away from their opposing midfielder ! ...........then we got crunched !

hence our backline under so much pressure

[Nico]

i think it is fair to say due to the lack of us winning the clearances our backline was under more pressure to random kicks fired into our backline

and Rampe was one of a fair few in the backline that had to contend with some serious pressure ....... namely the Cats game !

Stevie J said he was amazed at how high our midfield pushed ahead of their own and this worked for the first two qtrs but then when the Swans could nail the clearances our guys got caught to far away from their opposing midfielder ! ...........then we got crunched !

hence our backline under so much pressure

What's new; we always lose the centre clearances.

[Cosmic Wizard]

Armstrong has had plenty of time and games to show something!
Over two years has there been a really stand out game???
One where he has been in our top 5; top 10???
Time to try someone else and see if they can make an impact.
( Same goes for Reid and Jetta but only for this season, a spell in the second is no evil for players finding form)

[wolftone57]

I think this is a gross exaggeration of what I've been saying. I am agreeing with the many positive qualities that Mattner has, but also recognising that he is past his peak. That doesn't mean he's playing poorly, or worse than Rampe. I also think it would be a bit blinkered to think that Mattner is now playing at the same level of a few years ago. My argument is more about when is the best time to bring in promising young players. And how best to transition from the old stalwarts to the next generation of players. It's a bigger picture question, not one meant to be critical of a particular player, especially one that I have always thought of very highly.

There are some coaches that like to keep a few spots in the senior side for younger players. I agree with that strategy. John Longmire is not one of those coaches, but I think he's a great coach nonetheless. I just disagree with him on this one point.

If I asked the question that falls into the same category: When should Jed Lamb get a game, and who should he replace? That's the kind of dilemma I am raising. Wait till Tom Mitchell starts playing well in the reserves.

I agree with you here and it was quite obvious in the preseason that some young players who have been here a few years could have benefited from being blooded. I feel that we are at the crossroads too. We have LRT 30, Marty 31, Goodsie 33, Shaw 32, Bolts 33, ROK 32, Teddy 30 and add Pykie 29 and we do need to blood some players in the next two years. There will be retirements this year I would think. Goodsie, Bolts and ROK have been the guts of the midfield and Hf line for a generation but their time is nearing and at least there is a transition in the mids with Parker, Joey, Hannas, etc and now we need Lambie & Mitchell, when ready, to get blooded.

I would love to see Lambie come in to play a game or two. I would be happy to see him replace Drey after last week. Unfortunately, Drey looked lost last week at different stages. He got in Goodsies way at one stage when he should have gone to his left he continued straight ahead, if he had have gone left he could have provided a loose option.

I am not saying willy nilly replace older players but I am saying if they have a few niggles, give them a rest and blood a young bloke who looks ready. Sometimes it won't quite work and I realise we have had quite a few players that were not quite up to it. But this year I think our younger brigade are coming on far better than they have for a long time. The young blokes in the Two's seem to have more composure than in the past and when they are challenged they keep their nerve and play the game out.

[wolftone57]

Wow against geelong I thought Rampe was found out defensively, HBacks always look good running with ball in hand but its there work and positioning around stoppages etc that really count. IMHO Rampe is no where near mattner on defensive skills he looks great long hair flowing running out of HB but he has much to learn on the defensive aspects of his game. Dont get me wrong I think he has great potential but to say he should replace mattner wow big call..

Cheers

waz

Against Geelong everyone was caught out Waz. Our mids were caught out of position constantly in the third. Our forwards didn't pick up their opposite numbers and we paid. Our backs were under siege and all of them suffered from the ability of Cats players to constantly bring the ball up the guts with no opposition. Podsiadly was on his own for most of the third quarter and parts of the last. that third quarter will go down as one of the worst we have played in years, yes they played well but a team can only play as well as you let them.

[Bloody Hell]

I really don't think, at this stage at least, that Rampe is battling Armstrong for a spot. The coaches have stated that they believe that Rampe can play on talls and smalls, i.e. as a third tall defender an ability that Armstrong doesn't possess. So I would think Rampe's spot is quite safe until LRT comes back or they promote someone like Walsh, go with Mattner in that role instead or reprogram Everitt into that third tall position.

On that basis would you say Shaw in - Armstrong out?