Changes v Tigers (aka will ROK get a farewell game?)

[Flying South]

Common sense really. With finals coming up, no point rushing players back. Unlike what some think on RWO.

So excited to see Naismith make his debut. I have been waiting for it since round 1. He will be our next Mummy.

[barry]

Wow. Last game of the year and we are down to our rookie ruckman. This is our vunerability. Pyke "sick" for 2 weeks?. Seems sus.

[Untamed Snark]

Wow. Last game of the year and we are down to our rookie ruckman. This is our vunerability. Pyke "sick" for 2 weeks?. Seems sus.

Maybe Pyke doesn't like Homebush either...

[stellation]

Excited for Sam to get a chance, although my first thought was "I hope it's a mistake and they actually meant to say Nankervis is debuting and don't correct it until game time". For some reason that would please me greatly.

[Flying South]

Wow. Last game of the year and we are down to our rookie ruckman. This is our vunerability. Pyke "sick" for 2 weeks?. Seems sus.

Come 730 saturday night I am confident you will all be saying where have we been hiding this guy.

[Meg]

Just watched the video interview of Sam Naismith on the Swans site. Sam can't wipe the smile off his face! There's no doubt he will be giving everything he's got on Saturday. I'm looking forward to it.

[mcs]

....... in fact he's got Electric Light Pole tallness. An essential ingredient in Horseball.

nice one Ludwig!

[Captain]

I don't think Pyke will be that much of a loss. Definitely won't miss his constant handballs to blokes under pressure.

[dimelb]

I don't get Mike's handoffs. It may have been necessary for his first season or so but not since. As he shows when he lines up for a goal kick, he's got the skill. So use it.

[Mel_C]

And by the way, if as Horse says Pyke was sick and nearly didn't play last week, and then was sick during the match, what a fantastic match Mike played. I'm sorry I didn't put him in my RWO votes now.

I hope Pyke doesn't pass whatever he has to the other players!!

[Meg]

I hope Pyke doesn't pass whatever he has to the other players!!

I thought the same when Sam Naismith said in the video interview that Mike shook his hand and wished him well today after the announcement! But I expect Mike is past the illness stage and into recovery mode.

[Nico]

On the serious side; Kennedy, Bird and McGlynn haven't come up. Surely that is a worry going into next week. These guys have been absolute rocks to our side all season. It certainly takes away a lot of experience. All 3 injuruies are not easy to get over. A PCL from memory is about a 6 week layoff, unless you are Adam Goodes. I doubt any of these guys are being "rested".

[barry]

We may not see bird again this year but we need kennedy and mcglyn.

[liz]

At the start of last season, the Swans' rookie list comprised:
Jake Lloyd
Shane Biggs
Daniel Robinson
Sam Naismith
Dane Rampe
Xav Richards
Brandon Jack

Quite remarkably, come Saturday night, all bar Robinson will have played senior football. Rampe has pretty much established himself as a stalwart of the team. Lloyd has managed to hold his spot over two thirds of this season. Biggs and Jack aren't in our best 22 (yet) but have shown themselves able to come in and play a role. Robinson can consider himself to be a tad unlucky to be the exception on the list because the quality and consistency of NEAFL footy he's played over the past two seasons suggests he would be just as equipped to play senior footy as those who have managed to do so.

That's a fair hit rate from one year's rookie list. All but Biggs were recruited last year, and they come off the back of Cunningham's similar journey the year before.

[wolftone57]

Congratulations Sammy Naismith on your first game. Reid in sounds to me like we are going to try to stretch Richmond's defence. Towers or Shaw will probably vie for the vest. Good looking team and I think anyone who is fretting about Benny or Joey should stop being drama queens. They are being rested as is big Mikey, who did have a virus last week and should not have played but was probably ok for this week but the club didn't want to take the risk so close to the finals. The club is wrapping a few in mothballs until next week.