The Case for Nankervis over Naismith this weekend

[Ludwig]

I was thinking that too. Worth trying for the next 2 games (provided weather is dry).

Doesn't make sense on 3 accounts:

1. It's not time to make a major change to the team structure that is working so well. Playing an extra ruckman in lieu of a speedy midfielder (who would you drop?) would slow the team down and if anything we would rather speed it up a bit.
2. Both Naismith and Nankervis have been playing under 70% game time. Tippett will be working his way back into game fitness and will also likely have a somewhat reduced game time from normal. So it places an additional burden on the other players that have to take up the load.
3. North Melbourne have a tall defence capable of defending well against tall forwards. You beat them with speed and gut running. Hawthorn cut them up on the outside.

[barry]

No change. Tippet plays neafl.

[graemed]

Doesn't make sense on 3 accounts:

1. It's not time to make a major change to the team structure that is working so well. Playing an extra ruckman in lieu of a speedy midfielder (who would you drop?) would slow the team down and if anything we would rather speed it up a bit.
2. Both Naismith and Nankervis have been playing under 70% game time. Tippett will be working his way back into game fitness and will also likely have a somewhat reduced game time from normal. So it places an additional burden on the other players that have to take up the load.
3. North Melbourne have a tall defence capable of defending well against tall forwards. You beat them with speed and gut running. Hawthorn cut them up on the outside.

+1

My contention was that this must be like for like and if Tippett is selected it must be at the cost of either Naismith or Nankervis.

Other selection changes would need to be similarly weighted toward team balance. If Laidler is to be promoted it must be in lieu of a defender perhaps Cunningham although I doubt this will happen as the latter appears fit and has genuine pace. If Towers was omitted it must be to include a player who can play that switch role including going 3rd man up, providing a link as a hit up and as a genuine half forward. Marsh may be capable of such a role but unsure who else fits the bill besides Reid who clearly is unavailable.

Although not quick, in the usual sense, a winning inside midfield combined with Lloyd and the half backs means the ball moves very quickly and I would be loathe to mess with what seems to be working.

I love the work Naismith and Nankervis have done but have no doubt we are a better team with Tippett.

[CureTheSane]

Normally I'd say he should be NEAFL, but given his value, and how close we are to finals, I'd say he needs to play seniors.

Having said that, I say play all three.
Tippo will likely play 70 - 70% of game time, and most of that in the forward line.

I'd begrudgingly omit Richards for this week, and next week probably Nankervis has to move out for Richards back in.

[Cheer_Cheer]

We are playing some very good football at the moment. I think other than Tippett we have had our finals side out there the last 3 weeks. The Naismith VS Nanka debate is not just for this weekend but for the rest of this season. Naismith is the far superior ruckman so should get the nod. Players like Laidler are just there in case of injury now.

[KTigers]

One of the questions on 360 tonight was "Are the Swans any better with Tippett playing".
Answer was yes. Just.

[graemed]

The problem is not with the question nor the reply but with the respondent. Nothing that arrogant peacock says carries any credibility.

His character was displayed for all to see when Goodes was vilified

[Bloods05]

"Arrogant peacock". Yep.

[Melbourne_Blood]

"Arrogant peacock". Yep.

Who was it? Dermott is my guess ?


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[giant]

Whomever misses out will be unlucky. Loved Nankervis' game on the weekend but Naismith for me this week.

[mcs]

Its a great conundrum to have and a tough decision is to be made. Nankervis has been showing good signs of improvement with some more footy in recent weeks, and Naismith has been continuing on to do good things in the ruck.

I agree with other comments about North - I was also at the Wees and poos v Norf game on Saturday, and the impact speed can have against their fairly one paced midfield is significant. Not sure its the game to carry 3 big talls into the team with Tippo to return - but I think it could work too, but would probably be at the expense of Xavier Richards, who has impressed me in recent weeks -, with his excellent workrate and improving tank.

Its amazing what some confidence can do to how a player goes at the top level when they begin to feel they belong. We've seen it with all our youngsters this year - who week on week (maybe Papley is an exception - but he keeps showing us good snippets of what he can do) seem to be growing an extra inch as they realise 'we are good enough at this level'.

Naismith is the superior tap ruckman in my opionin, and every week I've been watching closely to see the combinations beginning to develop with our midfielders (he is going to be a real weapon in that space in time), but Nankervis has impressed around the ground more and more in recent weeks - somewhere where he is a bit in front of Naismith.

To be honest, as long as we show faith in whoever ends up being chosen into finals (i.e. assuming Tippo goes ok and does more rucking once finals arrives), then I'll be happy. I have them both well in front of Sinclair on current form, and they deserve faith of selectors as they've done a sensational job for us in Tippo's and Sinclair's absence. Our faith in inexperience and youth has paid rich dividends so far this season - and while Tippo is an obvious in, we should not abandon that policy going into finals. Show faith in what they can bring the team, and we may just be rewarded come September.

These are great concerns to have at this time of year. Fingers crossed we maintain a pretty healthy list, as I have a great feeling about September - I just love so much about how this team is developing, and even if it falls over come September, there is so much to like about the direction our club is heading.

But I have a growing belief that we are on the cusp of something special indeed - if we win well in Hobart on Saturday, I will be confident that the features of 2016 that remind me of 2012 are not just a hope, but a realisation that this team is good enough to stand up when it counts, and go all the way with some luck along the way. What an achievement just making a prelim final would be given the change in player personnel that has happened this year - but we know that this bunch won't be truly satisfied unless we put our best foot forward in the finals. And if we do that, then I think that could be enough for us to go awfully close to lifting the holy grail. I'll stop now - getting giddy, but by gee 2016 is proving to be such a wonderful season after what we endured in 2015

- - - Updated - - -

Who was it? Dermott is my guess ?


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There is one thing I want to see so badly this year - even if its not our Swans to do it, I want to see a team beat those arrogant wees and poos when it matters, and wipe the smile off their prominent smug, arrogant ex players in the media, and that nasty element of the fanbase. I desperately want it to be the boys in red and white, but I'd take anyone doing it. ABH all the way!!!

[Ludwig]

A few interesting items from our injury list:

• Davis, Jones, Robbo and Sinclair could all be back for our first NEAFL final in 3 weeks time.
• Sam Reid had surgery on his Plantaris Tendon, which effectively puts him out for the season, as the average recovery time is 6-8 weeks.
• Michael Talia's name does not appear on the injury list and there was no mention of him in Harley's injury report. Based on earlier expected return dates he should be fit to play by now. Perhaps we will see him in the NEAFL this weekend. The game is a dead rubber for us, so we can manage his time as much as we want (not that we wouldn't do that anyway).

In summary, we could have up to 5 additional players available to play our first AFL final, although Zak Jones might be the only one to come under serious consideration.

[liz]

I agree with the couple of comments above. The fact that it is a dilemma who to drop to fit Tippo back into the team is a pretty amazing situation for the club to find itself in, given that the season looked to be teetering on the edge when Tippett went down.

I am in awe of these young blokes, and the coaching and development staff, that they are all so confident that they belong at senior level with so few senior AFL games to their name. A strong, experienced team should be able to absorb a couple of younger players with ease, but the fact we have had so many playing key roles for the second half of this season is pretty special.

[tasswan]

I agree with the couple of comments above. The fact that it is a dilemma who to drop to fit Tippo back into the team is a pretty amazing situation for the club to find itself in, given that the season looked to be teetering on the edge when Tippett went down.

I am in awe of these young blokes, and the coaching and development staff, that they are all so confident that they belong at senior level with so few senior AFL games to their name. A strong, experienced team should be able to absorb a couple of younger players with ease, but the fact we have had so many playing key roles for the second half of this season is pretty special.

+1
This is what has made the season so enjoyable for me.

[stellation]

Sam and Toby have been quite wonderful for us in Kurt's absence, I appreciate Kurt is the superior player to both but given how (unexpectedly?) well they've covered the ruck I don't think it's completely underselling things to say that Kurt's return from a long period out makes us "just" better?