Swans v Dockers QF1

[dimelb]

At this stage of the season I think that if we have to replace Nic Mal it would be good to reinforce the engine room, so Mitchell in. If the replacement is necessary (and I hope it's not) then I could understand Horse going with either Biggs (a like for like) or Towers (more power front and middle, with Reid to spend more time in defence), but for me in the sheer body-rattling hardness of a Preliminary or GF, Mitchell gives extra grunt where it's needed.

And I hope Adam is able to finish with another premiership. He has lost ground, and he's not going to improve from where he is.

[Ampersand]

A lot of ridiculous comments regarding Laidler. He's a young player (only 25), he was an essential component of our 22 during "the streak" and I still maintain that our defence has been down since he went out because Rohan is an on-baller and doesn't provide defensive outlets by clearing the area.

Rohan's clanger yesterday followed by Pav's goal was a perfect example. Instead of getting goalside he crashed the pack and knocked Richards over leaving Pavlich an easy run to goal.

[ernie koala]

Breaks my heart seeing Kirky in the Freo box. Surely we could find a job for him here in Sydney.

He's doing his apprenticeship !

[ernie koala]

I think Rohan might be better served, in these high pressure finals, playing as a half forward/ winger.

Where he can chase and tackle and find open space when attacking.

I reckon he needs another pre season, and home and away season, before he's comfortable enough to play that halfback role with finals pressure.

[Mel_C]

Just read that Smithy hurt his hammy!! Apparently it happened late but I don't remember seeing anything. Longmire said it was cramp. Not sure what to believe.

For those in Melbourne listen to SEN after 12 as Smith is going to be on. Will be interested in what he has to say. I'm sure he will say he is fine ????.

We haven't had a good run with hammies this year!

[DA_Swan]

My take is that Goodes did more than Tippett today. He hasn't tackled for about 3-4 years and I presume it's because of instructions. However he is such a clever player that he is worth more than anyone we'd put in the team in his place.

I wouldn't be surprised if he played on next year. He has said that the club has said it's entirely his call.

Hopefully he is reading the tea leaves a bit better than ROK - i hope he finishes up after a GF Win and given he is no longer playing on the opp best defender unlike Tippett he will get that chance.

[aguy]

This mentions the nick smith cramp

http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/nick-malceski-will-face-fitness-test-before-preliminary-final-after-injuring-hamstring-in-freo-win/story-fni5fan6-1227050113350

[barry]

I agree laidlerwould be a risk selection against hawthorn, but for the prelim he give the back line strength. He's a defender through and through. Rohan and Biggs and mcveigh in the back line looks vulnerable to me.

If mal is back by the grand final, he can replace laidler.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Pyke is the new Mr September! Loves the big stage !

[Ludwig]

I think we should do a bit of tinkering with positions whether Malceski is out or not. One of the outcomes will be to free up Rampe a bit to play the Malceski rebounding roll if Mal doesn't come up.

• Move Reid into defence. We were lucky that Taberner didn't take that mark in the goal square. Richards is getting beaten too much in the air lately. Many sides drop back a ruckman to help in defence, but we don't. I am not being critical of Sam at all, but our setup doesn't allow him to make enough of a contribution up forward. Tippo seems to be the 2nd ruckman of choice now.
• Move Rohan to HF taking Reid's place. I love having Gaz in the side, but he still doesn't have the composure necessary to play defence under high pressure finals conditions. With Goodes not doing much chasing these days, it would be useful having someone like Gaz applying forward pressure.
• If Mal is injured, leave Macca in the midfield and use Lloyd as the 7th defender. He plays like a Mini-Macca anyway. He's so composed, is a strong mark an accurate kick. I also like having McVeigh running toward the forward line as he makes such good decisions and hits targets that lead to goals.

So without Malceski in the side, this has a back six of Reg, Ted, Reid, Rampe, Smith and Shaw with Lloyd and perhaps McVeigh as the 7th defender.


If Malceski is fine and does play, do we go in with the same side, meaning that Bird remains the sub? I'm not sure. But the usual subs from earlier in the season, Harry and Jake, are playing too well to be left out of the 21. As of now I'm leaning toward Yes, keeping Bird as sub.

[Doctor]

Welcome AnnaKE!!
I hope 25 points is conservative.

I expect Benny will be fired up. He's still hurting from 2012.

Was a bit shocked to see a Match Thread, not only started before noon, but also already several pages long.
Well done Doctor!!

You're welcome guys. Glad I could do my bit to help the team!

[Doctor]

I live less than 20 mins normal driving time to ANZ Stadium and tried to take the free big event bus service. Due to a combination of horrendous traffic and sporadic buses, it took approx one hour and 45 mins to get there and we missed the first 5 mins of the game. A third member of our party tried to go by train from the eastern suburbs and sat on a train at Central that went nowhere for over 20 mins. He also missed the start of the game. Call him pathetic if you like but he said he won't bother again. As for me, given I work in the city it will be a complete lottery regarding how long it takes to get to ANZ Stadium on a Fri night game in 2 weeks.

My bus ride took over an hour and I nearly missed the start of the game. Getting around Sydney on a Saturday afternoon is painful. I'm sure Friday night will be better.

[barry]

My bus ride took over an hour and I nearly missed the start of the game. Getting around Sydney on a Saturday afternoon is painful. I'm sure Friday night will be better.

Friday night is going to be a bitch too unless you are on a train line.

[Doctor]

Smith well and truly BOG for me, but he had plenty of friends. Jetta, Parker, Rampe, McGlynn & Pyke were all great and Franklin found a way when we needed him. I know there has been a bit of talk about Reid but I spent a bit of time watching him yesterday and I thought his work around the ground was very good. I can see the role Longmire has given him and how he's executing it. I liked Tippett's ruck work too, very good body strength and some decent taps.

- - - Updated - - -

Friday night is going to be a bitch too unless you are on a train line.

Yes I'll be travelling from work in the city so will be on the train. I'd still say the traffic on the roads yesterday was worse though because King Georges Road is always a mess on Saturday from Beverly Hills to Greenacre, and was again. The Flemington markets traffic then brought us all to a standstill again.

[O'Reilly Boy]

Smith well and truly BOG for me, but he had plenty of friends. Jetta, Parker, Rampe, McGlynn & Pyke were all great and Franklin found a way when we needed him. I know there has been a bit of talk about Reid but I spent a bit of time watching him yesterday and I thought his work around the ground was very good. I can see the role Longmire has given him and how he's executing it. I liked Tippett's ruck work too, very good body strength and some decent taps.

I agree. I thought that Reid was good yesterday, and seems to be settling well into the swing role. Once our mids got on top, he was able to roll back as deep spare, and looked really solid. Tippett was a great ruck option; Pyke had competed superbly, but it was good to chop him out, and not just in the forward arc. Jetta was special, I reckon, down the Members' wing especially. But Smith was simply exceptional.

I also think that the first five minutes of the game were really important for us, even though we didn't hit the scoreboard?we controlled the game, and stopped Freo from getting their mongrel on. A few mistakes (I'm looking at you, Gary Rohan) brought them into it, but we always looked to have their measure, I reckon. And Gary will be all the better for that run.

Will we get the Friday night prelim? I hope so?we're off up the coast that weekend, but I think that I have negotiated a dawn start on Saturday rather than the Friday after work getaway.