Changes Round 22 v Bulldogs

[Conor_Dillon]

Can we merge the two 'changes for round 22' threads?

Cheers!

[Conor_Dillon]

Also, I think Hewett is a massive chance to be given a game this week...will be as excited as I've been for any debutante since Mitchell.

[stellation]

Didn't Goodes managed to play on with a torn PCL?

He did in 2004, but I'm pretty sure that was when we saw mummified knee Goodesy that could only run in straight lines (not sure if it was because of the knee or the strapping!) and ended up playing across CHB for the rest of that season. Pretty sure it was PCL in the Grand Final in 2012 as well and he saw the game out, but that's not exactly getting up next week and I think it was a rupture not tear (not sure if that makes a difference).

I don't think we can take much from Goodesy in 2004 as means of encouragement for Craig, if he was limited as Goodesy was for the rest of that season then he'd have to sit it out.

[grarmy]

ROK would only get a farewell game for sentimental reasons... I'm pretty sure Horse gets Stewy Dew to blow the candles out on his birthday cake for him. A fitting farewell for Pebbles would be a lap of honour at half time at the GF (Hawthorn 2-11-23, Swan 9-4 58)

Totally agree! The notion that someone would get a game for the Swans based on anything but merit and 'best for game' selection is as silly as it is obscene.

[Syd Swan]

Outs - Kennedy, Bird and Reid

Ins - Mitchell, Hewitt and B.Jack

I've spoken before about how the Swans use three slower in and under midfielders (Bird, Parker, Kennedy).

Two of those guys are likely to be outs so they should be replaced by similar players to keep the same system. Mitchell and Hewitt are in and under slower paced midfielders and will be able to team up with Parker to keep the existing system.

That is just plain ridiculous. What you are saying is, that if you are a brilliant in and under midfielder that can run fast, you will not get a game for the swans.

You really do try and sound as if you are some sort of AFL guru and some of the stuff you preach is just ridiculous.

[grarmy]

That is just plain ridiculous. What you are saying is, that if you are a brilliant in and under midfielder that can run fast, you will not get a game for the swans.

You really do try and sound as if you are some sort of AFL guru and some of the stuff you preach is just ridiculous.

Whoa! Matt80 is expressing a considered opinion. He didn't say who wouldn't get a game. He based his opinion on his take on the coach's approach to team selection. Makes great sense even if you don't agree. Hardly ridiculous.

[Ampersand]

Call me delusional but I'm pretty confident that Bird doesn't have a PCL tear, especially given that the source (Neil Cordy) also thinks that Biggs was our sub.

If you watch Birdy's discussion with Tippett after Lenny's guard of honour it looks to me like he is saying that one of his knees hit the back of the other in their collision. I think what he suffered was essentially a corkie (contusion) to the back of the knee albeit in an unusual place.

I didn't see any type of hyperextension in the replays which normally results in a PCL tear. Anyway, I guess we'll find out tomorrow.

[ernie koala]

Call me delusional but I'm pretty confident that Bird doesn't have a PCL tear, especially given that the source (Neil Cordy) also thinks that Biggs was our sub.

Off topic, but just another little annoyance from Cordy's article, that he referred to Kennedy as, "ex Hawthorn player Kennedy"....Come on Neil, he's a Swan...

He played 9 games for the Hawks. With lots of player movement between clubs, it needs to be a lot more than 9 games for that kind of reference.

Does he refer to Gibson as, ex North Melbourne player Gibson or Gunston as, ex Adelaide player Gunston, etc etc....The answer is no,

even though they played plenty of games for their previous clubs.

Back on topic....Bird looked shot to me, IMO he'll be out for at least a couple of weeks, regardless of whether its a tear or not.

[Matt80]

Also, I think Hewett is a massive chance to be given a game this week...will be as excited as I've been for any debutante since Mitchell.

I believe with Kennedy and Bird likely to be out that Mitchell will return and Hewitt will come in. They are like for like inside midfielders.

I think Mglynn, Smith, Shaw and Reid will be ready by the final round. I?m hoping that Kennedy will be ready for the qualifying final and that Bird will be able to participate in the finals.

The next two rounds will be vital for the Swans in 2015 and 2016. What do we do if Hewitt and Mitchell come in and play blinders and demonstrate that they are bona fide AFL inside midfielders who should be playing 20 AFL games a year? We can?t keep them all.

If Hewitt demonstrates that he is extremely promising do we have to sell the house to get Isaac Heeney? I don?t think the Heeney recruitment is a done deal. If the modified AFL rules ask for too much then we may have to wave him through. I believe Hewitt will play the next two games to help the recruitment staff work out what to do with Henney.

[Jimitron5000]

I think Mitchell will come in for Kennedy, probably Hewitt for Bird.
If Reid is out, I think Tommy Walsh should come in. Playing well in the 2's, admittedly as a key defender, but has enough height to do a Reid style job in the ruck. From what I hear I don't think either Naismith or Nankervis are quite there yet.
For all the talk about resting...we just need to win our next three and then we have a week off!

[goswannies]

Yes to goswannies and yes to ShockOfHair. But all the players except two in the circle singing the song look happy and excited. And the two who look glum are Kennedy and Bird. That may be a coincidence and mean nothing at all. I hope so. No doubt we will see this week.

True, but anyone who injures a knee will feel likely despondent, compounded by looming finals and the potential repercussions. But patience. Might be bad, but with a PCL might be ok.

[mocaholic]

For all the talk about resting...we just need to win our next three and then we have a week off!

We need to win our next five. Then they can all have a rest.

[ScottH]

We need to win our next five. Then they can all have a rest.

Easy!!

[Molly dooker]

What about Zak Jones? I think if he is fitter than Tommy M, he gets a run. Does anyone have from good source that Josh K has actually injured his Hammy or was it as Longmire stated "not risking him" because he had "tightness in his Hammy". Longmire also said the Josh didn't feel anything "go". I don't think we should "risk" Tommy M either if he is just rebuilding fitness, Zak's got the head down, bottom of the pack mentality that we need too.

[liz]

What about Zak Jones? I think if he is fitter than Tommy M, he gets a run. Does anyone have from good source that Josh K has actually injured his Hammy or was it as Longmire stated "not risking him" because he had "tightness in his Hammy". Longmire also said the Josh didn't feel anything "go". I don't think we should "risk" Tommy M either if he is just rebuilding fitness, Zak's got the head down, bottom of the pack mentality that we need too.

Jones has only just played a couple of games back from an injury lay off too. Mitchell would have a higher endurance base, you would think, being older and having completed parts of more pre-seasons.