Changes for Rnd 8 V Hawthorn

[Go Swannies]

Last night I had a dream that we were 10 goals up at quarter time, a la the Cats last year.

And I must have been clearing the dark side of my brain as both Mitchell and Roughly suffered season-ending injuries in heavy but fair tackles (that's the phrase my brain used) as we went on to thrash them and bring their whole season undone.

My dreams have no track record of coming true.

[Flying South]

Having reported on the strategic change, I also have some radical structural changes in mind,
1. Tippett is too slow to play on the forward line against Hawthorn, on the other hand, he is quicker than Hale or McEvoy, so assuming that either of them play, Tippett should play directly against them i.e. As a back or follower.
2. Use Reid and Franklin as high half forwards. The Hawthorn backline works best zoning off and helping win turnovers from errant high balls into the defensive 50. By playing these two between the arcs we deny Hawthorn their favoured situation.
3. Use Goodes exclusively in goal square and forward 50. Against Lake, Gibson or Frawley he may win more ball from this position but more importantly he provides a focal point for our attack that may release the other two talls.
4. Use Rohan to cover Suckling and Birchall, both these are used as release players delivering the ball further forward and in attack. He has the speed and coverage to stop their penetration by applying pressure.
5. Use Mitchell's opponent whenever possible. Mitchell has no defensive game, he is a great reader of the game and places himself brilliantly at stoppages and in zones, but he is vulnerable when we have possession. Making him accountable every time we go into attack will prey on his lack of speed and commitment to his defensive side. This is why Ben must get this job. He has the discipline, strength and courage to go with Mitchell all night but still have the skills to run off hi when necessary.
6. We must protect Hannebery from the snipers. Last year he was cleaned up repeatedly and so far this year other teams have made him the target of similar plans. He is our most damaging midfielder, we must be prepared to stand beside him.

Love your analysis graemed. With Hawthorns forward height I feel we will need Reid in defence. He will be a good match up for Gunston. Or he could run with Bruest.

After what happened last year, I would be expecting the Swans to come out very physically. After reading the following it appears Buddy will be looking for some payback.

Sydney Swans Lance Franklin to show Grant Birchall he is no buddy

I feel we need to draw a line in the sand with Hawthorn. We need to bring a physical presence. The midfield must stand up and not allow their midfield to beat us up again. This is where we are missing Mumford most. Opposition midfielders would be looking over their shoulder with Mummy there. There is no such intimidation with Pyke. Perhaps Tippett could provide some of that that. How about we try Pyke deep with Goodes in the forward 50 and play Tippett more around the ground.

We all know Jones is a tough little bugger and I would love to bring his aggression into the team in place of Shaw. I would send him to Mitchell for the whole game. Cop that Mitchell.

Sewell is also a danger. McGlynn did a great job on Selwood and I would give him the job again. If he runs hard he can hurt them the other way.

I can't see what Towers is bringing to the team and I would like to see Robinson's consistent reserves form rewarded. He is not the ideal sub, but he could bring a fresh fwd/mid replacement late in the game.

Out: Shaw, Towers
In: Jones, Robinson

[dimelb]

One problem solved: Sewell has retired.

[Flying South]

One problem solved: Sewell has retired.

Oops. I meant Lewis.

[ugg]

Hazza in for Deano

[Conor_Dillon]

Cunningham in for Towers.
I'm tipping Goodes to be sub again!

[The Big Cat]

Cunningham will be sub

[ugg]

I think Cunningham has been brought in specifically to run with Smith or Hill

Goodes sub for me

Emg Naismith Robinson Towers

Strange no bird given ressies have the bye

[longmile]

Third on Goodes being sub
Any news on emergencies?

[Ludwig]

I think Cunningham has been brought in specifically to run with Smith or Hill

Goodes sub for me

Emg Naismith Robinson Towers

Strange no bird given ressies have the bye

Agree, with Adam named on the bench, he's probably the sub.

[ernie koala]

Glad to see Lake in for Hawthorn...I reckon he'll be a liability after 4 weeks out, hopefully a performance littered with classic 'Lake Brain Fades'....

Rip into him boys, and run him up the ground

[ugg]

Interesting that while Lake is back they also kept Schoenmakers in their team meaning they have potentially four tall defenders in Lake Gibson Frawley and Schoenmakers. I guess they have the option of pushing Schoenmakers forward and try to stretch us down back with Hale Roughead and Gunston

[longmile]

Interesting that while Lake is back they also kept Schoenmakers in their team meaning they have potentially four tall defenders in Lake Gibson Frawley and Schoenmakers. I guess they have the option of pushing Schoenmakers forward and try to stretch us down back with Hale Roughead and Gunston

seems like a weird decision, considering he's been in pretty average form

[mcs]

Interesting that while Lake is back they also kept Schoenmakers in their team meaning they have potentially four tall defenders in Lake Gibson Frawley and Schoenmakers. I guess they have the option of pushing Schoenmakers forward and try to stretch us down back with Hale Roughead and Gunston

Schoenmakers is an average defender at best in my book - and I doubt he is much better as a forward. Interesting that they've gone with 4 talls though.

[Ludwig]

Interesting that while Lake is back they also kept Schoenmakers in their team meaning they have potentially four tall defenders in Lake Gibson Frawley and Schoenmakers. I guess they have the option of pushing Schoenmakers forward and try to stretch us down back with Hale Roughead and Gunston

I thought the Schoenmakers inclusion was odd as well. Perhaps it's a bit of insurance in case Lake has problems. But he is more likely to play forward as there's really no matchup for him. They dropped Duryea instead, who played every game this year and all the finals last year as well, and I thought he was playing well. His stats are really up this year.

Hawthorn have the ability to do things like that due to their flexibility. They can play Gunston on the wing and Roughy in the the midfield. They may well try Roughy as 3rd man up at times, as it seemed to work well against us in the Geelong game.

We are going to have to play some kind of game to beat them.