Changes for R 10 V Kangas

[ugg]

It rained heavily in the Bulldogs game. Tom Derickx played in the other 2. Need I say more?

Well a picture would have been nice but I guess I can't be too demanding.

[wolftone57]

More facts...
Allir Allir - being playing footy on a weekly basis since preseason
Xav Richards - being playing footy on a weekly basis since pre season
Harry Marsh - being playing footy on a wekly basis since pre season
Abe Davis - being playing footy on a weekly basis since pre season

Sam Reid - No meaningful footy since september 2015.

Which balances the debate a little more...What's the bigger gamble.

The best, most experienced player in the group, with no footy matches for 8 months....OR

The best performed reserves player who's being playing footy every week.

I'm not saying Reid would be a bad choice, just that his selection also carries significant risk in such a big game.

I agree. Bringing Reid into the side after such a long lay off with absolutely no match conditioning is not just risky it could be suicidal. If he were to play forward it would be less of a risk but playing back is damned hard even with match conditioning let alone without. What I read from what Longmire said was that Reid would play somewhere this weekend, they just don't know where yet. But he did say ideallyReid would play reserves to get some match fitness.

Teddy is still a chance & so is Papley.

[Sandrevan]

The Swans get 2 Friday night games in succession. When was the last time this happened?

[Mountain Man]

The 3 North Melbourne big men pose the obvious challenge in the forward line (including Goldstein), and our defenders will be under pressure no matter who is selected, assuming Ted is out.

But they also are very successful in defending the long bomb along the sideline. It is here that I think playing Reid might have a significant advantage over the other contenders, as he is a very good read of the long ball, and should compete well in that situation.

[dimelb]

I'd take a punt on Reid, but if they decide not to, and if Ted isn't ready, I'd like to see Abe Davis get a run in defence.

[Sandrevan]

It won't be easy, but I think we should bring Reid back and use a montage to get 8 months of match practice into him in 2 days. You know the type of thing; Reid being outmarked in match practice, fast handball drills, shot of skipping drills, Reid spoiling his opponent in match practice, Reid lifting weights, Reid running around in match practice, Reid running alone at dawn, Reid outmarking his opponent in match practice, Longmire putting his hand on Sam's shoulder - "you're ready, son".

We should just be able to get him ready by mid-Friday afternoon with just enough time for a quick scene with him walking along Coogee beach with his girlfriend - "do you really think you can do it, Sam", "I'll never know unless I try".

Probably our best option.

Is Sam a lovechild of Longmire - just like Jarrad

[liz]

I'd take a punt on Reid, but if they decide not to, and if Ted isn't ready, I'd like to see Abe Davis get a run in defence.

Abe's not been playing in defence in the NEAFL, so I can see him being selected to make his debut there. If Ted's not available and Reid's too big a risk, the team will either need to rely on Rampe and Laidler playing above their heights (which both have shown they can do, but it does leave the team vulnerable to an injury to either of them early in the game - there would be practically no-one else that you could move down back to cover the Roos' three tall forwards), or it's a choice between AA or X.

[wolftone57]

Reid does his best work down back when he has licence to drift back and read the play. If he has to take responsibility for a specific player he appears to get lost, stops watching the play and starts focusing solely on his opponent.

His strengths are his overhead marking and his defensive positioning. His weaknesses include his turning circle, his burst speed and his kicking. The weaknesses do not constrain him as a forward or a swing player but are significant as a defender. Moreover his strengths are diminished.

For North, I favour the Bulldogs model, use Grundy, Laidler and Rampe for the talls and Mills, Smith and Jones for the smalls. Give Jones the job on the resting mid-fielders, Mills on Boomer and Smith gets Thomas. I'd like to see Reid into the side perhaps not this week rather give B Jack his opportunity.

We do not need to panic about their talls if Richards is out, the SCG is not Etihad or the MCG. I don't think three talls will work well there at least not as goal kicking options, there just isn't enough space and they'll spend the whole night contesting against each other. They will have to use at least one as a chop out on the Logos and perhaps two. This means if we can bring the ball to ground our midfield or running backs will have a chance to tackle and create opportunities.

Brown is quick in a straight line but can't turn or bend over. Petrie is experienced and has always done well against us but he is slowing up on the chase while Waite is a threat especially leading out the goal square but again does not chase well. If Richards is not available, this North strength could be turned to our advantage. Grundy, Laidler and Rampe are all solid in the air, have good closing speed and run to advantage. If we use crumbers to clean up the loose ball before North get there we can use these three to set up.

Basically agree Graeme. Rampe will surely get Waite anyway no matter whether Ted plays or not. Grundy could go to either Brown or Petrie. That would leave Laids on one of those. I'm not sure I'm convinced about that but he did a pretty good job on Sisily and O'Brien (alternated) last week. I though ee took a fair bit of time to get the match ups right after Teddy went off. Especially late in the second and in the third quarter. Gunston was the problem not the other two. Waite is the most dangerous of their forwards even if Brown can take a huge mark. Waite breaks games apart. So Rampe for the whole game the same as he should have played the whole game last week on Gunston.

Would be more likely to play Jones on Boomer because of his pace. I don't know if Mills can handle his pace. Mills on the resting rovers in Ziebell, Wells (if he plays), Swallow, Cunnington etc as most of them are a bit taller and not as fast as Boomer.

By the way we won't be blooding anybody new this week as there has been no introduction article on the Swans site.

[wolftone57]

They brought Gary Rohan back in last week seemingly a bit underdone - and he was great. He made a real difference with those 3 goals. Will they do the same with Sam Reid this week? An experienced but underdone player or a less experienced but match fit player eg. Aliir, Xavier. Hard to tell.

I like Gary Rohan in the forward line but he needs space to be effective. Enticing forward line; Buddy, Heeney, Gary, McGlynn and Sinclair (if he can hold his marks). They all bring something different.
I know it's regaling the past but who could forget the 2014 prelim final against North. Buddy made Scott Thompson look like a schoolboy. Let's do it again.

Rohan was not brought in cold. He had played 3 reserves games. Reid to come in cold and play back would be a monumental error of judgement. I can't see the coaches committing that sin. He hasn't played since last September after all and has had a setback. Let's phase him into the game in the reserves.

[RogueSwan]

Do you think Norf fans are just as concerned about our fwd line?
I don't think I have seen a Roos game this year so I can't really comment about their back six/seven but surely Buddy, Tippo/Sinclair, Heeney, Rohan and a Parker or McVeigh must be big challenge for any defence.
I know that Tarrant and Thompson are quality tall defenders, Firrito used to be good but didn't look great, good but not great, from what I remember of last year.

[wolftone57]

I don't agree it would be antithetical. In Longmire's interview from earlier this week he indicated that Reid had been training well for some time and that he'd been informed Reid was capable of playing big minutes this week. He suggested directly that Reid could play seniors. That was in response to a question asking for confirmation Reid would come back via the reserves. McVeigh came straight back into the seniors.

Yes and look how that has worked out. The Macca coming back straight into the seniors I mean. He has been woeful. I think he needs to go back to the reserves. If he is a burden again this week he probably will.

[CureTheSane]

Rohan was not brought in cold. He had played 3 reserves games. Reid to come in cold and play back would be a monumental error of judgement. I can't see the coaches committing that sin. He hasn't played since last September after all and has had a setback. Let's phase him into the game in the reserves.

I'm not a big fan of Reid.
I think he has been hampered by the club playing him out of position (down back) but even up forward I wasn't sold.
But it would be doing him a big disservice if he was brought straight back into the team, because people like me will make posts like "Reid watch"
I'm hoping that it never gets there and he fulfills what he is potentially capable of, for this to happen, he needs to be handled the right way.
Psychology can play a big part for these guys (Jetta first goal etc)

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Yes and look how that has worked out. The Macca coming back straight into the seniors I mean. He has been woeful. I think he needs to go back to the reserves. If he is a burden again this week he probably will.

It's a tricky one. Never should have been a captain this year.
I bet he is an awesome leader, possibly #1 leader at the club, but you can't really drop your captain.
Still hoping he'll come good, but what if he doesn't?

[ernie koala]

The match up I'm most looking forward to this week is Tippo on Goldstein.

It will be an intriguing dual, both are at the top of their game and they play a different style of game.

IMO, it's the pivotal battle which will go a long way to deciding the winner.

Also critical is for Sinclair to step up, it will make Tippo's job a whole lot easier.

[neilfws]

How many games do we actually lose at the SCG?

Since you ask, the current number is 143 from 353 games. So about 2 in every 5 on average. I'm with you, someone is due to take them down and it should be our team

[wolftone57]

I'm not a big fan of Reid.
I think he has been hampered by the club playing him out of position (down back) but even up forward I wasn't sold.
But it would be doing him a big disservice if he was brought straight back into the team, because people like me will make posts like "Reid watch"
I'm hoping that it never gets there and he fulfills what he is potentially capable of, for this to happen, he needs to be handled the right way.
Psychology can play a big part for these guys (Jetta first goal etc)

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It's a tricky one. Never should have been a captain this year.
I bet he is an awesome leader, possibly #1 leader at the club, but you can't really drop your captain.
Still hoping he'll come good, but what if he doesn't?

I do like Reid and thought he was very good last year. Especially when Buddy was out. He kicked a couple of bags but was pretty consistent.

I don't care if Macca is captain or not. He can still be dropped. If he is a burden on the side and being carried I'm sorry but the coaches will have no alternative but to drop him. He has seemed very slow this year and is making bad decisions when he gets it. Too easily pushed off the ball and even beaten at ground level by Brand, a KPP, last week. Not good. I have never been a Macca Attacker (hehe) but his form leaves a lot to be desired at the moment. He is the first one to complain if a player is not doing his bit so he should take it on the chin if he isn't doing his.