Injury update please!

[alt_mattr]

I am very glad bolton decided to play on. With all the injuries we need every capable body we can get and having a smart, experienced footballer out there must be doing the new guys a world of good. I think in general we need to acknowledge that our awesome older players are a big reason the new guys are playing so well.

[Ratna]

I think that the injuries that will hurt in the finals are those to the defenders. Our midfield can hold up against anyone, but with the ebbs and flows of the modern game there will be periods when teams like Geelong and Hawthorn get the upper hand. Last year we had the ability to withstand some periods well but IMO with those missing that we will not be able to avoid periods of heavy scoring by good opposition that will hurt in big games. Having said that I love that we are blooding new players and that they are stepping up when given the chance.

[giant]

Love the positive vibes from some on this thread - wish I could share the love. Too many talls, too many defenders, too much trouble.

[Ludwig]

I think that the injuries that will hurt in the finals are those to the defenders. Our midfield can hold up against anyone, but with the ebbs and flows of the modern game there will be periods when teams like Geelong and Hawthorn get the upper hand. Last year we had the ability to withstand some periods well but IMO with those missing that we will not be able to avoid periods of heavy scoring by good opposition that will hurt in big games. Having said that I love that we are blooding new players and that they are stepping up when given the chance.

Definitely agree that this is our big vulnerability. We desperately need Ted, Reg and Dre to stay healthy and be in good form (that means You REG). Even when fit and about they can hardly contain the Geelong and Hawthorn forwards. Tippett is another key, as he gives our forward line structure and we can manage to fill in any empty spaces around him.

On the bright side, our engine room is purring along nicely and has been pretty healthy. It would be nice to have Jetts back, but he's hardly been the force he was last year and BJ is alreadly matching Jetts' productivity. We've been getting by without Rhyce, but i will be good to have him available.

We are still in decent shape for the finals if we can get Goodes back and halt the injury demons from here on, which is a pretty big ask given how things have been going this year. I don't know if we are quite good enough go all the way without AG. He's always been our X-factor and our big game player. I think we are building toward a future where we can be a great team without him, but we are not quite there yet.

[Bloodthirsty]

Definitely agree that this is our big vulnerability. We desperately need Ted, Reg and Dre to stay healthy and be in good form (that means You REG). Even when fit and about they can hardly contain the Geelong and Hawthorn forwards. Tippett is another key, as he gives our forward line structure and we can manage to fill in any empty spaces around him.

On the bright side, our engine room is purring along nicely and has been pretty healthy. It would be nice to have Jetts back, but he's hardly been the force he was last year and BJ is alreadly matching Jetts' productivity. We've been getting by without Rhyce, but i will be good to have him available.

We are still in decent shape for the finals if we can get Goodes back and halt the injury demons from here on, which is a pretty big ask given how things have been going this year. I don't know if we are quite good enough go all the way without AG. He's always been our X-factor and our big game player. I think we are building toward a future where we can be a great team without him, but we are not quite there yet.

Yeah we'll get there. Geelong is pretty good without Ablett.

My concern the last 2-3 years is that once a few of our champions move on, we'd be middle-of-the-table quality for a while, cos you can't replace the guys we're talking about. But the Swans have once again will proved everyone wrong, even their own fans. That's not to say people saying this are being negative - it's just trying to think realistically. Swans will defy this trend for a while to come. I can see us being a top 4 team for another 2-3 years. The question for me though remains whether enough things can go our way in 2013 to go all the way again.

[rojo]

When we hit the finals I think LRT and, if he is not match fit, Goodes, are going to be the ones we miss the most. Hopefully KT can fill the Goodes void somewhat but there is no big body to throw down back to help counter the giant forwards. That is where Everitt and White should be options but they are not. A possible 'wildcard' is Mummy. If he can get back to his very best by the finals he will be a big plus for us. We just have to declare him injury free from now on. I don't dare contemplate Rohan, I would be happy if he was held back until next year, knowing how he plays, but they may have to chain him to the wall in the dungeon to keep him off the field if all goes well with his comeback!