Changes for round 1 - Syd vs Port

[bloodspirit]

AG, thanks for explaining why Cameron might be in the mix. Personally I'm in the camp that will be surprised to see them pick three rucks since we also have Buddy and Sam Reid in the team.

Ludwig, what did you mean when you wrote Harry C can "run the lines"? Do you mean run and break the lines? Or something else?

Here's AFL.com.au's side

B: Nick Smith, Heath Grundy, Dane Rampe
HB: Callum Mills, Aliir Aliir, Jake Lloyd
C: Dan Robinson, Josh Kennedy, Dan Hannebery
HF: George Hewett, Sam Reid, Dean Towers
F: Kurt Tippett, Lance Franklin, Kieren Jack
Foll: Sam Naismith, Luke Parker, Zak Jones
I/C: Jeremy Laidler, Darcy Cameron, Harrison Marsh, Oliver Florent

Who plays for your club in round one? - AFL.com.au

This is foxsports effort:

B: Nick Smith, Heath Grundy, Zak Jones
HB: Aliir Aliir, Dane Rampe, Jeremy Laidler
C: Jake Lloyd, Dan Hannebery, Callum Mills
HF: Dean Towers, Lance Franklin, George Hewett
F: Sam Reid, Kurt Tippett, Dan Robinson
FOLL: Sam Naismith, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker
I/C: Jordan Foote, Harry Cunningham, Ollie Florent, Harrison Marsh

They both have Laidler and Aliir playing but Fox have Foote and Harry C instead of Kizza and Cameron. I'm not certain but I think that Fox had an embarrassing line up that featured injured players and even Jack Hiscox (!) but they obviously got a couple of pointers and changed it up to something more credible.

[Ludwig]

So from the 24 that played on the weekend

In: Aliir, K.Jack, Laidler
Out: Cunningham, Foote, Fox, Hayward, Melican

It would be contrary to how we've structured the side for quite some time for us to take 3 ruckmen into the game. I don't see Cameron 'stretching' Port's defence when they can drop back Trengove and Westoff. I think Cameron played in the JLT to give him more experience so it won't be a shock to the system if (most likely 'when') Naismith or Tippett are out with injury. Ryder would kill Cameron in the ruck contests.

I think it would be tough for Melican not to play round 1 given his performances in the JLT, and it's hard to see both Marsh and Laidler playing in the same side. I prefer going with 3 tall defenders to counter Dixon, Eddy and any of Westoff, Trengove and Ryder drifting forward. I think it's our defence that would be the one more likely to be stretched. Impey and Krakouer are both out with club suspensions, which lessons the load on the small defenders, although Wingard is always a handful.

Cunningham has had a very solid preseason and is unlikely to be dropped.

So I see the outs being Cameron, Fox, Hayward and Foote. Ins: Aliir and KJ.

I remember raising this issue last year leading into the prelim and gf. At the time I was of the belief that while clearly Naismith was a better tap ruckman, he could not compete with the aggression that Nankervis brought to the contest both on the ground and in the air.

I love Naismith but really believe that Nankervis will be the next Mumford. He was lethal when attacking the ball who can forget the way he cleared a path through Sam Fisher to make a goal for Franklin v St Kilda.

It's difficult to carry more than one quality tap or bullocking ruckman these days. The 2nd ruckman has to do something else, usually as a marking goal kicking forward, like Tippett for instance. With Naismith getting the nod as 1st ruckman, it would difficult for Nanka to get a regular spot in the side. I think the trade was good for both clubs, as Richmond desperately need a good young ruckman and we effectively got Cameron out of the deal, who I think is more suited to our need in that he is more mobile and dangerous as a forward than Nankervis.


Re: Cunningham. I meant that I would like to see Harry using his pace to give us a bit more outside run. Jones has been doing a good job doing just that this preseason. We really don't get enough of that from Dean Towers. Hanners does a pretty good job just by his gut running, because he's not all that quick. Florent is very evasive and gets out of tight situations well. Hayward will be good doing just that, but we will probably have to wait till next year. Rohan ineligible to play till round 4, and more likely to need at least one game in the NEAFL, so I would say round 5 v GWS at the earliest before his return to senior footy.

[bloodspirit]

Can LTIL players play NEAFL when they are ready if they are still on the LTIL?

[Auntie.Gerald]

Will be interesting to see the recovery of hannes from his knee injury last weekend ??

[wolftone57]

I can see no reason why with two games in the NEAFL that we wouldn't play Aliir.

I agree with you. The only reason he is playing at that level is that they are trying to bring him on slowly and if we played a Seniors game this week he would be playing. A weeks break and then into it. So he will be primed for the first game.

[Meg]

Can LTIL players play NEAFL when they are ready if they are still on the LTIL?

No.

From CBA:

"An injured Player who is transferred to an AFL Club?s Long Term Injury List is ineligible to play in the AFL Competition or in any other competition for the period:
(i) the Player?s name is on the AFL Club?s Long Term Injury List; or
(ii) of eight weeks,
whichever is greater."

[wolftone57]

it does appear Cameron is being seriously looked at as a forward rotation with Tippo and probably gives us flexibility for Reid to play part of the game down back if needed while there is question marks over Melican and or AA fitness.......

Hewitt really doesn't play as a forward pocket anyway..... most teams have only a few standing up forward at anyone time.........7 in the backs if not more spreading in attack and we isolate Bud, Reid etc up front where ever possible.........and Buddy plays half the game on the wing anyway

i am worried about Hannes after he held his knee in the last qtr against the Saints and limped off

Having no Hannes, no Heeney, no Macca and maybe no KJ would put pressure on our midfield depth to rally in a tight game..........but exciting possibilities await

Read this and read it well; REID WILL NOT PLAY BACK. HE WILL PLAY TRUE CHF. HE WAS GOOD THERE AGAINST SAINTS.

Please stop suggesting Reid in the back half. We have plenty of defenders. Maibaum is not too rough down there.

Hannas is like Evil Knievil, they keep putting him back together with medical tape and he just gets on with it.

I'm not sure about Harry Marsh. His indecision was costly against the saints, 2.1 and could have been 3 if the Saints player who kicked the point had kicked straight from right in front. He supposedly had 78% efficiency but then again this mob insist a kick down the line not to your advantage is efficient. I don't.

I think the coaches might be looking at some of the late comers in the reserves this weekend, like Dawson, too. If fit he could prove a headache as a fast, extra tall option in the forward line.

Hayward might get a go just to see how he performs in the NEAFL. In his case I think people have to remember he has had very limited preparation due to an injury. He only started contested work less than a month before he played the JTL.

Mills WILL play back. That looks to be the plan as he hasn't been in the mids in any of the pre-season games. I can't see them changing that at the last minute

my team;

backs; Rampe, Reg, Smithy
HB; Mills, Aliir, Lloydy
C; Hannas, Parker, Robbo
HF; Towers, Reid, Hayward/Bud
F; Hewee, Tippett, Bud/Cameron
Followers; Naismith, JPK, Jones

I/C; Florent, Harry C, Marsh/Melican/Edwards/Cameron

Kizza, Macca, Rohan, Heens, Paps all injured.Is Laidler injured? Seem to remember something in the last quarter of the GWS match but thought it was minor. There is nothing on the Swans site about him at all. The injury update, if it comes out tomorrow might clear things up.

[Ludwig]

I don't think Hannebery is injured. He did jog off the ground in the last minute of the game after being in some bother with his right knee, although there was no incident that would indicate a serious injury. There was video after the game in the locker room with Hannas sitting on the floor with the rest of the playing group listening to Horse. He didn't seem under any duress, wasn't having any attention from the medicos, nor was there any ice on his knees. There has been no mention of any problem in the news.

[Captain]

My attempt:

Smith Grundy Rampe
Mills Aliir Marsh
Hannebery Kennedy Lloyd
Hewitt Reid Robinson
Jack Tippett Franklin
Naismith Parker Jones
Towers Florent Cunningham Laidler

[shaun..]

I think Laidler's days may be numbered. At a team for a real need for a third tall defender he would be perfect. But we now have rampe and marsh and I would consider aliir more a third creative, roaming tall. He just lacks the height or the pace that our team needs out of the backline and someone like marsh and rampe offers more in that regard. We should also invest in a Melican/Talia even with AA. For example who would we match up against gws.. Cameron, Patton and lobb/mummy ? I'd like a combo of grundy Melican and AA

[Velour&Ruffles]

Amongst all the twaddle the commentators sprouted on Sunday, one comment cut through - Lloyd is Sam Mitchell like in popping up and calmly distributing

Unfortunately, that comment was made by the greatest effwit currently calling the game. I hope he is right but given his last sensible comment was last millennium I'm not holding out any great hopes.

[Auntie.Gerald]

Wolfy plse read what I said re Reid before a big song and dance ???????? Lol

I don't want him as a defender and I have never named him there in any of my team suggestions ever

He went down back in the last qtr to cover Grundy etc against the saints

But all I alluded to was helping in Rd 1 if we have AA out or another

[bloodspirit]

Thanks Meg. What does CBA stand for and where do you access it? It's obviously not Collective Bargaining Agreement.

[wolftone57]

I don't think Hannebery is injured. He did jog off the ground in the last minute of the game after being in some bother with his right knee, although there was no incident that would indicate a serious injury. There was video after the game in the locker room with Hannas sitting on the floor with the rest of the playing group listening to Horse. He didn't seem under any duress, wasn't having any attention from the medicos, nor was there any ice on his knees. There has been no mention of any problem in the news.

Hannas is Evil Knievil reborn. Tape him up with medical tape and off he goes all back together again. Tough as old goat's knees. I reckon Hannas could survive the Electric Chair and still have four quarters left in him.

[wolftone57]

I think Laidler's days may be numbered. At a team for a real need for a third tall defender he would be perfect. But we now have rampe and marsh and I would consider aliir more a third creative, roaming tall. He just lacks the height or the pace that our team needs out of the backline and someone like marsh and rampe offers more in that regard. We should also invest in a Melican/Talia even with AA. For example who would we match up against gws.. Cameron, Patton and lobb/mummy ? I'd like a combo of grundy Melican and AA

Melican did a good job on Cameron. Laids is still in the mix I think I prefer him to Harry Marsh. they both make mistakes but Harry gave away three clangers, almost in a row. He seemed to get Alzheimer's and not know where to go or what to do then shanked three terrible kicks a out only 25 metres.