Changes for Round 5 versus Fremantle

[Big Al]

Well , I believe that the players don't have a choice to leave?

Some of our players got around that problem on Sat by not turning up at all.

[bloodsbigot]

i just looked at the reserves highlights and wow Big Sammy Naismith caused at least 4 goals through great ruck work. I mean great ruck work, his hit outs were sensational. Straight to a player to the player's advantage where he could run onto the ball. Just wonderful footy. Our ruck coach is just heaven and is delivering a pupil that will honour the master very soon. The taps reminded me of Ball ion the 2005 finals.

Thank god... some good news.

Of all the players I want dropped to the reserves, it's Derryx.

[bloodsbigot]

My Dad has followed the Swans for over 80 years, myself over 50 and my son for over 20 and we have never left a game early. That includes many years of end on end losses. My dad is a passionate follower but has always considered watching the game as a day out. If the team is losing (even badly) he can appreciate the skills of other players on the ground (yes, even Collingwood players!) He has instilled that in me, and in turn my son. He will be the first to applaud any piece of good play, a mark, kick, etc. even from the opposition.
We hate it when the Swans lose but also just enjoy the game as a spectacle. What anyone else does is up to them, but we just love to be at the game.

I only went to a few games with my Dad (Now 64), but every single time we left early (Unless with a larger group that consisted of opposition supporters.

[ScottH]

It may not be the greatest look, but I think you'll find most people do it out of practicality not poor sportsmanship.
I always leave about 5 mins from the end if a loss looks imminent, I have the best part of a two hour drive home after the game so I don't need to add on 30-45 minutes extra just trying to get out of the car park if I'm not going to have the joy of singing our song at the end!

I hope you finish your chardonnay first.

[MattW]

Wholesale changes are not the answer. I'm sure the club knows if the kids are ready to play AFL footy or not.

Shaw and O'Keefe are the two that I would look at. Shaw doesn't look to have lost any pace but he's playing poorly. Is he trying to do too much? I would've preferred if he had gone to Harvey (he has done the job before) and then that would've freed up McGlynn.

It's hard to believe how quickly it has happened but O'Keefe looks finished. Dropping marks, slower than ever and just can't find the footy.

In:
Tippett (if right), Bird

Out:
Derickx, O'Keefe.

These are my changes, too.

[Ludwig]

Wholesale changes are not the answer. I'm sure the club knows if the kids are ready to play AFL footy or not.

Shaw and O'Keefe are the two that I would look at. Shaw doesn't look to have lost any pace but he's playing poorly. Is he trying to do too much? I would've preferred if he had gone to Harvey (he has done the job before) and then that would've freed up McGlynn.

It's hard to believe how quickly it has happened but O'Keefe looks finished. Dropping marks, slower than ever and just can't find the footy.

In:
Tippett (if right), Bird

Out:
Derickx, O'Keefe.

Apparently Longmire thinks Ryan is doing just fine. He said:

" What I'm really pleased about with Ryan is his commitment to the task at hand.

"It's been outstanding and he's prepared to play any role we need him to."

He must be watching a different game than the rest of the world.

[Bexl]

We cannot change what's in their heads, but we can change the mix to see if we can facilitate some genuine hardness and enthusiasm.

I will suggest the following to Horse:

B: Nick Smith, Ted Richards, Dane Rampe
HB: Nick Malceski, Heath Grundy, Jeremy Laidler
C: Lewis Jetta, Jarrad McVeigh, Dan Hannebery
HF: Craig Bird, Lance Franklin, Ben McGlynn
F: Harry Cunningham, Kurt Tippett, Luke Parker
FOL: Mike Pyke, Josh Kennedy, Kieren Jack
I/C: Rhyce Shaw, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Jack Llyod
SUB: Towers

Out: ROK, DerickX, Mitchell, Rohan - they are all down on form and need to run some confidence in the seconds
In: Bird, Tippet, Lloyd (To be promoted from Rookies) ,Towers

This is the team I like as well. Mitchell and Rohan need some time in the 2nds.

[ernie koala]

Apparently Longmire thinks Ryan is doing just fine. He said:

" What I'm really pleased about with Ryan is his commitment to the task at hand.

"It's been outstanding and he's prepared to play any role we need him to."

He must be watching a different game than the rest of the world.

I'm with you Ludwig...How O'Keefe can be getting a game ahead of Bird right now, is beyond me.

[ernie koala]

My guess is:

They'll play Tippett at FF.

LRT will be Back up ruckman.

Derrickx will be dropped.

Bird will replace either..Rohan or Mitchell

Sounds to me like Horse will, unbelievably, stick with O'Keefe.

If so :

IN : Tippett, Bird
OUT : Derrickx, Mitchell

Hope it's:

IN : Tippett, Bird, Biggs
OUT : Derrickx, O'Keefe, Shaw

[Cressakel2]

Apologies to those I've offended on the leaving the ground early issue. I understand there practicalities involved.

It's just my thing. My fiancee had corporate passes to the 2006 Grand Final. After the final siren, the people we were with jumped up to leave. I was annoyed with my fianc?e, because I wanted to watch the losing ceremony presentation, and pay respect to the defeated Swans moping on the grass. She told me to pull my head in, and that we were leaving!

I would have said "We're finished love, see ya later". Simple as that....

Being from Melbourne I go to every game down here and a handful in Sydney every year. YOU JUST DON'T LEAVE EARLY - STAY TO THE BITTER OR SWEET END. END. OF. STORY.

Mates know to leave me be & I'll meet them in the bar or at a pub later. Family know to go without me if they don't want to stay to the end. As for the better half, she knows not to come at all...

Sometimes it's an education process, but I get there in the end...

[Cressakel2]

MCS, if you leave the ground at the same time regardless of the result, then my criticism is rich. But if people leave with 10 minutes to to go because there team is down by 38 points, but are happy to stay if the scores are equal, then my criticism is warranted.

Our relationship with the Swans is a give and take arrangement. The team and officials have given the Swans fans wonderful memories over the last decade and a half with their effort and achievements. When they are struggling on the field, the players don't want to look up at the stand to see masses of people leaving. They need the fans staying with them through the losing game and giving positive encouragement.

Could I get some people to back me up here or am I on my own.

150% behind ya mate. Actually, bugger it, 200% behind ya...

Doesn't happen in Melbourne, we stay to the bitter end. Well, I do anyway...Nothing worse than listening to Pies or Bombouts flogs when they win but I stay to remind myself why I hate hate hate them!

And, the traffic isn't as bad - particularly at 1am after a few frothies....although sometimes the cabbie does struggle to listen to my directions

[mcs]

Do you come up from Canberra for all home games? That's amazing commitment to the team? Do you spend 6 hours on the road on game day, going up and back?

No I dont as I dont have the time. In an average season I do probably 6 home games in sydney, plus 3-4 games in Melbourne, plus when I can afford it a couple of other interstate away games (this year adelaide in rd 3, plus the brisbane game and maybe port later in the year), plus work and study committments allowing, all finals. I aim to, give or take a bit, to go to around 1/2 the games each season.

[mcs]

Rohan should go out before Mitchell if you ask me. Both are struggling but rohan barely gets his hands on the pill at all. Mitchell should be played more on the ball and less as a quasi-forward like he has this year. The obvious one to play that role is parker.

Rohan, as ive said before, needs an extended period in the ressies to find form. He is not managing to do that inat afl level, and being sub wont help. Its all well and good to say we need his pace, but its not going to help much if he cant get his hands on the pill!

[DA_Swan]

The worry for me with selection is that i don't think either Mitchell or Jack are fully fit and with Hanners and O'keefe's form being poor and against Freo who will tag Jack (crawley) and probably McVeigh (Mzungo) it is going to be a tough day - given the size of Freo - apart from Ballantyne they are all big players for their position so it would be tough to debut Nankervis against Clarke and Sandilands so Derricks might have to play as poor as he is - maybe we need the rain this weekend - i'm sure Buddy is hoping Tippett plays so McPharlin does not go to him or it could be another week without a goal - and just to top it off Fyfe is back after a couple of weeks rest and i have no idea who we will play on him and do any good - if the effort is better then we are always a chance , just got to hope the rain & cold spook Freo after all the hot weather they have been having ? not a week for debuts for me if i was selector

[Reggi]

IMHO to early to make wholesale changes. Season is not a write off yet