This weeks NAB Challenge against Carlton

[Levii3]

Little surprised Dawson and Leo weren't named and Hiscox was Experienced squad named - sydneyswans.com.au

[Scottee]

Little surprised Dawson and Leo weren't named and Hiscox was Experienced squad named - sydneyswans.com.au

I can understand the 2 youngest and greenest guys not getting a go for the final hitout, better to test them out in the NEAFL at this stage.

But why is Hiscox back??? Please not him ahead of Rose and Hewett.

Looks like Talia is preferred over X.

Robbo and BJ very lucky to be there.

[Ludwig]

We still need to cut 2 from the final team. I think it will be from these 5: Rose, Hiscox, Robbo, BJ and Newman. I'd leave out Hiscox and either BJ or Robbo. Hewett comes into the final side after being cut last week.

It looks as if we will be going with a round 1 backline of Talia, Grundy and Laidler with the possibility of Ted, Reid and Macca ready to into the side for round 2 or 3.

[707]

Good to see Rose, Newman, Hewett and Papley named, I hope they make the final team because all four need to step up for us and appear the most likely types long term. Rose and Papley clever small/med forwards, Hewett to add to the midfield rotations and Newman looks to be a very promising HBF with poise and good skills.

Hiscox has shown little other than speed and endurance, even at a lower level so he seems to be a long way off seniors.

[ugg]

Little surprised Dawson and Leo weren't named and Hiscox was Experienced squad named - sydneyswans.com.au

The article says a 26 man squad but I count 27.

In: Rose, Hiscox, Hewett
Out: Jordan DAWSON, Xavier RICHARDS

[ugg]

Here's Carlton's list

1 Andrew Walker
4 Bryce Gibbs
6 Kade Simpson (C)
7 Dylan Buckley
8 Matthew Kreuzer
9 Patrick Cripps
11 Sam Kerridge
12 Blaine Boekhorst
13 Jed Lamb
15 Sam Docherty
17 Sam Rowe
22 Jason Tutt
23 Jacob Weitering
24 Mark Whiley
30 Charlie Curnow
32 Nick Graham
33 Andrejs Everitt
34 Andrew Phillips
35 Ed Curnow
37 Daniel Gorringe
38 Ciaran Byrne
39 Dale Thomas
40 Michael Jamison
41 Levi Casboult
42 Zach Tuohy
43 Simon White
46 Matthew Wright

[chuckie]

I was just reading the article on the Swans Web Site "We learnt a lot" and Grundy talks about the turnovers.
There are times in football matches where it is best to take the mark or free kick and just go back and look at your options before kicking it. So many times we just play on without looking and then find out that there is no one ahead of us to kick it to, so we have to try an invent something or handball or a silly little kick that results in turnovers. The other one is the "Rhyce Shaw" run past the man with the ball and receive the handball then look up and as above there is no one to kick it to, or the player than runs to the wrong side then realises he can't kick with his opposite foot so he has to turn back and he either kicks it further back or to the same place it came from surely you would check on your options before demanding the ball. I think if we just slowed it down sometimes we may not turn it over as much.

[Ludwig]

I think if we just slowed it down sometimes we may not turn it over as much.

A solution, in part, is finding more time and space, which should lead to more effective disposal, although some of our players make far too many unpressured disposal errors. It's hard to slow the game down if under intense pressure, which was the case against GWS. And if an equal amount of pressure is not applied when the other side have the ball, it only makes it easier for them to move the ball down field and add to the pressure on us.

Work rate is certainly a major factor in the pressure game. Get more players to the contest. Run harder to get open to receive the ball. Work rate has to be a key part of our game, at least until we get better users of the ball. We are making progress regarding ball use by drafting players with better skills, but the transition will take years, not months. Heeney, Mills, Jones and Hewett should go a long way to improving our ball use. Hopefully recent draftees like O'Riordan, Newman, Dawson and Leonardis will make an impact in the coming years. We have a problem in that some of more wasteful ball users, like Mitchell, Hanners and Rampe, are among our best players in other parts of the game.

[Levii3]

We have a problem in that some of more wasteful ball users, like Mitchell, Hanners and Rampe, are among our best players in other parts of the game.

Since when is Hanners one of our wasteful ball users? He doesn't bomb away kicks to a contest or finds a free target has clean hands

[wolftone57]

Since we do need to "find" a handful more players capable of playing senior footy this year, I hope they rotate the fringe players from last week. I'd keep anyone whose close to a certainty for a round 1 spot (unless anyone has a niggle that needs managing). That means Mills stays, as do Cunningham and Towers. Even though these two remain at the bottom of our best team, with the injuries to Rohan, McVeigh and Reid, they are both sit comfortably in our best likely available 22 for round 1.

Jones will get another game, given they want / need to get him up to match fitness quickly. He may not be deemed fit enough for round 1 but he's up there in the pecking order when he does get enough game time under his belt. I'd like to see Papley get another game. Last week was his first chance and he earned another go. Similarly with Newman. He'll be in senior team calculations, so he should get another game.

But then I hope Hewitt gets a second game, after missing out last week. Robinson has played two without impressing so I'd swap the two. Similarly with Jack and Rose, whose been close but missed out both times. And maybe switch around Aliir and X, though that might depend on whether Ted is available.

Though given that the squad size reduces by three players, some of my "outs" will likely lose their spots without my "ins" getting a go. I suspect Dawson will lose his spot, notwithstanding his excellent cameos. So it could be Dawson, Robinson, Jack and X out, with just Hewitt in. Or more likely we'll see one or both of Robinson and Jack keep their spots, with Hewitt left on the sidelines and Papley cut.

I think you had the right of it. X, Robbo, BJ, but I'd keep Dawson and drop Toby. The reason for this is that we will not play a three way ruck set up in the first match unless Tip plays only forward and not in the ruck, which I can't see happening. We played 9 defenders and at least one has to come out. I'd rest Laids as he as far as I'm concerned is an automatic selection for the first game and has played well. Him and Reg have both played well. The ones who seem to need the practice are Smithy (dreadful so far), Jones (fitness), Ramps (not much better than Smithy), Talia, Newman & Mills (the last three need to get used to their teammates and set ups).

In saying that i would bring in Aliir for X (I think he has been good in his cameos) if X comes out, although I'd like to see Reg have a rest and us to keep X and see what the Aliir, X, Talia combo can do. But it won't happen.

As for the forwards and mids I'd like to see Rose & Hewett in and Robbo, Toby, BJ & Harry rested. Harry was terrible last week. Let's try an alternative. Rose or Dawson on a wing.

I think then that this is what I'd like to see;

Out; Laids (rested) & Reg (rested), BJ, Robbo, Toby (although I think he has been ok there is no place for three rucks)

in; Rose, Hewett, Aliir

[Ludwig]

Since when is Hanners one of our wasteful ball users? He doesn't bomb away kicks to a contest or finds a free target has clean hands

Hanners is big time ball winner and an elite runner. He creates lots of time and space for himself, which makes him such a great player. But given how often he has the ball in upressured situations, he really doesn't hit targets often enough and is a poor kick on his right side. It's the one weakness in an otherwise elite game.

[Foreign Legion]

I think you had the right of it. X, Robbo, BJ, but I'd keep Dawson and drop Toby. The reason for this is that we will not play a three way ruck set up in the first match unless Tip plays only forward and not in the ruck, which I can't see happening. We played 9 defenders and at least one has to come out. I'd rest Laids as he as far as I'm concerned is an automatic selection for the first game and has played well. Him and Reg have both played well. The ones who seem to need the practice are Smithy (dreadful so far), Jones (fitness), Ramps (not much better than Smithy), Talia, Newman & Mills (the last three need to get used to their teammates and set ups).

In saying that i would bring in Aliir for X (I think he has been good in his cameos) if X comes out, although I'd like to see Reg have a rest and us to keep X and see what the Aliir, X, Talia combo can do. But it won't happen.

As for the forwards and mids I'd like to see Rose & Hewett in and Robbo, Toby, BJ & Harry rested. Harry was terrible last week. Let's try an alternative. Rose or Dawson on a wing.

I think then that this is what I'd like to see;

Out; Laids (rested) & Reg (rested), BJ, Robbo, Toby (although I think he has been ok there is no place for three rucks)

in; Rose, Hewett, Aliir

Good point about Laidler, he has looked pretty good and can do with a break but he might need the run due to a restricted pre-season etc - not sure. I think we are crazy not to play Aliir - got to test him against better opposition and see what he can do. Grundy has had a great 2 games and should get a break - he is critical for round 1 if Teddy is doubtful in any way. Would like to see if Rose's 3 goal 1/4 against GWS was a total fluke or not - hope not heh.

[wolftone57]

I think that, for our guys, intensity and skill go hand in hand. I guess if they are not totally in a game they are not also going to be completely focused on their next kick and its result, more about just getting through the game. In the season proper, intensity rises, instincts and reflexes dominate more and the footballer (and hopefully those drilled in skills) in them emerges.

do you remember in 2010 and early 2011. They just seemed to be going around for the sake of it. Then horse changed the game plan and suddenly there was so much excitement about the place. they started playing great footy and seemed to be really enjoying themselves. I think that is what is needed now. We need a totally new game plan to get the players excited. I think they are bored.

[Ludwig]

Good point about Laidler, he has looked pretty good and can do with a break but he might need the run due to a restricted pre-season etc - not sure. I think we are crazy not to play Aliir - got to test him against better opposition and see what he can do. Grundy has had a great 2 games and should get a break - he is critical for round 1 if Teddy is doubtful in any way. Would like to see if Rose's 3 goal 1/4 against GWS was a total fluke or not - hope not heh.

The reason we are likely to play both Reg and Laidler is that we need to work on the chemistry of bringing 2 new players into the back six in Talia and Mills, and even Jones only has a few full games under his belt. We should have tested Allir in the first game, but the thinking must have been that X was ahead of him so there was little chance of him playing in the early rounds of the season, if at all this year. Talia is definitely part of our long term plans for our back six and we are likely to stick with his development unless he turns out to be a total flop. So far, he looks good enough for a 30 game player.

[wolftone57]

This is no longer the case. We are no longer the bullies of the NEAFL.

We play Brisbane, Gold Coast and GWS (the new bullies), along with some other pretty handy sides.

We, along with Brisbane, Gold Coast and GWS, also have the distinct advantage of having our own reserves team, unlike the rest of the competition.

We therefore have total control on our reserves developement, play them in whatever position and whatever style, amount of game time, etc etc, that suits our coaches.

This is an advantage you would hope leads to better depth.

you say we, along with GWS, Suns and Lions, have our own reserves teams unlike the rest of the comp. That statement is flawed in that Essendon, Collingwood, Geelong, Footscray Reserves (yes they say Footscray) and Box Hill may as well be Hawks reserves because their coaches are paid by Hawthorn. they train together for the most part.