Game Day Thread; Swans v Crows

[Reggi]

Derrickx stats where pretty impressive.

[DK_]

Shaw missed a motza last year, he has had LARS surgery, he is getting his 'game' back. Give him (and me) a break!
LRT is not running like mad, but he is doing a fine job as a protector, a vastly underrated position. Missed most of last year.
Derryks will be just fine. He is damned good looking and that is a plus. He is also ready to play his role and wants to.
Laidler will also be just fine. He is playing nervous, and who would blame him. Couldn't get a gig under Malthouse, and that has to undermine your confidence.

The kids have to play like there is no Jude and muscle memory has him still hovering. They got better this game. I found the kids more inclined to take action instead of waiting for the more senior players to lead the way. And you have to admit that having Franklin in red and white has to discomode the brainwaves of the players. The very idea of having him play with you and not against you is still new, to everyone!

Everything will be fine. Even the drink soaking shows that a) Buddy is loving it, b) the players love the new blokes, c) they are a team that is starting to gell.

Good post! The carnage of last season is still being worked through. You can't underestimate the disruption it caused. Consider that, from our team, as of rnd 1:

LRT, Reid, Jetta, Shaw and Goodes have played at most 1 or 2 games with Mitchell and Cunningham (and very few games with Rampe). Rohan also has limited recent time with these players.

No-one has played with Derrickx, Buddy or Laidler.

That's almost half of the team who've never played together and most of them forward of the centre circle or carrying it into the forward line. Add in some injury interrupted preseasons for key players such as Pyke and the change in structures that came with dealing with the injuries last year, and it's no wonder they're taking time to find their groove.

Rnd 2 was better than Rnd 1. Rnd 3 was better than rnd 2 and was starting to look promising. I'm expecting things to continue improving. Hopefully fast enough that we give Freo a good shake in two weeks time.

[liz]

Derrickx stats where pretty impressive.

His hit out toadvantage stats were certainly impressive. It's not always something easy to pick up on
watching from the stands.

[Nico]

Not a lot of love here for Josh Kennedy. I thought he was back to his brilliant best today.

I agree. He got loose a lot more probably due to the fact he didn't have someone hanging off him all game. People are lauding the the umpiring, but one glaring thing for mine is the so called run with players are holding a player well before they get possession. In the Brisbane game a player ran a good 20 metres from the centre bounce to gather the ball, was held on to (shafted) the whole way, didn't collect the ball and the opposition player fell right into his back: play on. Watching McCaffer against us and against Geelong last night I formed the opinion that he is a deadset cheat. Then again he can't be because the umpires don't pull him up.

[stellation]

How many HTA did Tom have?

[DLBIA14]

I agree. He got loose a lot more probably due to the fact he didn't have someone hanging off him all game. People are lauding the the umpiring, but one glaring thing for mine is the so called run with players are holding a player well before they get possession. In the Brisbane game a player ran a good 20 metres from the centre bounce to gather the ball, was held on to (shafted) the whole way, didn't collect the ball and the opposition player fell right into his back: play on. Watching McCaffer against us and against Geelong last night I formed the opinion that he is a deadset cheat. Then again he can't be because the umpires don't pull him up.

QFT. What happens to Kennedy near in week in week out is criminal. There is a difference between a tight tag, and restraining a player before he's near the ball. If you pressure a guy into turning it over or continuously beat him to it good on you, but you can't flat out be a grabby little mollusk and think that's fair.

[Ludwig]

His hit out toadvantage stats were certainly impressive. It's not always something easy to pick up on
watching from the stands.

Where do you get the HTA stats from?

Agree that Derickx did look better this week. Perhaps I've been a bit harsh on him, given that is only his 4th AFL senior game. I should have cut him a bit more slack.

Another one I've been harsh with is ROK. Although he's still slow and fumbled the ball a few times, he was better as well. Looking at the stats from the AFL website, all but one of his 14 disposal were deemed 'effective' and he spent the entire game on the ground, so his fitness was used to great advantage by Longmire.

And Harry Cunningham has now gone 2 games without an ineffective disposal. He really uses the ball well. That snap shot from just inside 50 was really impressive.

I'll feel better once we beat a quality side.

[Matt80]

His hit out toadvantage stats were certainly impressive. It's not always something easy to pick up on
watching from the stands.

We certainly look a better team with two ruckman. Tom D was brought in as a mature body back up for Pyke or Tippett, who are the number one pairing. Tippett is not there at the moment, so Tom D is getting games. Tom D is not getting big numbers on the stars sheet, but Pyke has looked very good with Tom D in the side.

On current projections I think we will use Tom D until round 6, when Tippett returns. Tom D will get better with more senior game time.

When Tippett comes back I can see the ruck work being split:
65%Pyke
20% Tippett
15% LRT

That's a good flexible lineup with Tippett, Pyke and LRT being able to play forward roles, while LRT can also play defence.

Tom D also allows Naismith and Toby N the time to develop there games in the Reserves. We hope these two young guys remain injury free through the season, so they are both pushing strongly for senior selection early in 2015.

Tom D will provide assistance until the end of 2015, and maybe into future seasons if he improves in a big way. Pyke at 30 will probably lead the ruck until the end of the 2016 season, when he will be 32. He is in career best form. LRT will probably retire at end of 2015.

Our ruck stocks are strong as long as Naismith and Toby N develop, and Pyke does not get injured!

[Flying South]

On current projections I think we will use Tom D until round 6, when Tippett returns. Tom D will get better with more senior game time.

When Tippett comes back I can see the ruck work being split:
65%Pyke
20% Tippett
15% LRT

That's a good flexible lineup with Tippett, Pyke and LRT being able to play forward roles, while LRT can also play defence.

With Tippett's tendinitis I think he will be managed for the rest of the year. I don't see him doing a lot of ruck work, if at all.

[Jewels]

With Tippett's tendinitis I think he will be managed for the rest of the year. I don't see him doing a lot of ruck work, if at all.

I was just writing the same thing, I think it's far too risky to put a player of Tippetts value into the hurly burly of the ruck.
Surly planting him in the forward 50 with Buddy roaming up the ground would be far more advantageous to the team.

[Triple B]

If Derrickx produces more of the same, or even better with more experience, Tippo won't be needed to ruck. He can just concentrate on forging a lethal forward structure with Buddy and Sam...

[aguy]

If Derrickx produces more of the same, or even better with more experience, Tippo won't be needed to ruck. He can just concentrate on forging a lethal forward structure with Buddy and Sam...

Wow he's Derickx is getting a lot of love now. What were his stats for the game ?

[Matt80]

If Derrickx produces more of the same, or even better with more experience, Tippo won't be needed to ruck. He can just concentrate on forging a lethal forward structure with Buddy and Sam...

You can't play Tippett, Tom D and Pyke in the same 21. This would make the team to top heavy and will badly affect balance and mobility. Tom D does not give enough in attack for this to occur.

I'm sorry, but Tippett will have to give at least 20% of time in the ruck to help Pyke with LRT to also provide support. Tippett played in the ruck in Adelaide ,and spending some time in the ruck may help him get him in the game.

I know he has got some knee troubles, but you can't have a situation where you have Buddy, Reid, Tippett and Tom D in the same forward line.

[Jewels]

You can't play Tippett, Tom D and Pyke in the same 21. This would make the team to top heavy and will badly affect balance and mobility. Tom D does not give enough in attack for this to occur.

I'm sorry, but Tippett will have to give at least 20% of time in the ruck to help Pyke with LRT to also provide support. Tippett played in the ruck in Adelaide ,and spending some time in the ruck may help him get him in the game.

I know he has got some knee troubles, but you can't have a situation where you have Buddy, Reid, Tippett and Tom D in the same forward line.

I know and agree with what you are saying and certainly don't have the answer, I just think Tipps is far too valuable to risk in the ruck. Will be interesting to see the setup when we hopefully get all hands back on deck.

[Ludwig]

From Tippett, Reid, Tom D, LRT and Laidler, we can play 3 out of the 5. So would seem that the final spot would come down to LRT and Laidler.