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Isn't that the whole purpose of RWO????? Especially when we lose games!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes I am amazed at how stupid some opinions are and then there are times when I am in awe as to how incisive and competent some people are eg. Liz.It is a place to vent and it is reasonably safe. That's why I've returned.
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"The Dog days are over, The Dog days are gone" Florence and the Machine -
Dont get me started on Channel 9's highlights of wickets that have fallen from earlier in the day... slow motion, cameras spinning 360 degrees, lines all over the screen and eventually you see it happen from above. You dont even get to see what the ball does or the batsman sees. Just because we can do it with technology, doesnt mean that we should.Comment
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Just a gentle reminder that this is a thread about pre-season news. Can we try to get the thread back on track.Comment
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Let's get back on topic. I can't believe I'm saying this!
Every season there are reserves players who rise (Cunningham, Lloyd) and veterans who fall (ROK and LRT).
What reserves players do people think are going to rise this year based on Pre-Season performance?
What veterans will struggle and fall down?
These are my rising stars:
Heeney
Hewitt
Mitchell
Allire
These are my struggling veterans:
Bird
Shaw
Potentially Goodes, Pyke and Richards.Comment
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really don't see Bird struggling beyond injury. Pyke again injury only. Shaw , Goodes and Richards to slide in impact and errors made. Age catches us all! Though i think the last two especially are irreplaceable when on the park fit still in the crunch.Comment
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There have been some interesting comments coming from the coach and other spokes people. Melican has been talked about a lot so I expect him to be tried in the NAB, not just in one game but at least two. Other players who are hot at the moment are Robinson, who played pretty well in the NAB last year and will get plenty again. Heeney, Zac, Hewett, Xav, Aliir all being talked. I think our defensive stocks just went up HAHA.Comment
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Dan Robinson seems to be getting a mention for his effort so far in pre season. Not sure if that translates into moving much further up the rung. It is always an interesting time to see who can improve, who is able to maintain level and unfortunately seeing the inevitable slide of some players.Comment
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Agreed - its been going on for quite a while now and its getting tiresome to say the least.
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I think Goodes may struggle a bit - but I expect we may see him quite selectively during the main part of the season, on account of trying to save his best for the finals.
If Pyke and Richards go downhill (which they might), then we are going to be in serious trouble, as they are still pivotal players in our team, and when fully fit, are surely going to be in the first few names on the teamsheet. Id like to think that X Richards and Allir will put some serious pressure on the first team for opportunities at the top level - strong competition for places in the backline would only be a good thing for the team overall.
I don't think Bird will struggle if he stays relatively fit - as he still has the ability to play a strong shutdown/run with role, which may come back in vogue a bit more this season given our dismal failure in that aspect during the GF (as others have said, I still struggle to understand why he didn't start the Grand Final)."You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."Comment
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Bird is in the age and experience bracket where he should be near the top of his game. His problem in holding his spot is likely more related to younger players pushing past him. He's lacking a bit of pace, but he has most of the other attributes to be a high quality player. He may have to continue to improve, but I don't see why he shouldn't be able to do it.
Although Pyke will be 31 next month, I don't think this is old for a ruckman. Given his late introduction to the game, he could be the kind of player that continues to improve, and could well be playing his best footy at age 33-34. The main thing for him is to stay injury free.
The one most likely to drop off is Shaw, mainly because he needs his pace and evasive skills to be a quality player. Kennelly, who by the way is only a few months younger than Rhyce, was a more skilful player, but once his pace fell away a bit, he was finished.
Also, just thought I'd bring up the name of a seemingly forgotten man this year, Lloyd Perris. He's back from a knee reco and seems, from the videos, that he's taking part in regular training. He was all the talk when drafted (another supposed steal), and was having a pretty good year in the reserves before his injury. If anyone knows how he's tracking this year, would be good to hear.Comment
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Agreed about Bird. Everyone seems to be forgetting that he's probably averaged in our top ten at the end of every year for the last several years. And he's also a different midfielder to the others. Who else do we have who can shut down an opponent as well as him in the midfield?Comment
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Today's a draft of your epitaphComment
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