Changes for Rnd 2 V Port Adelaide

[liz]

It was oft said on here over the pre-season that some good players would find themselves playing NEAFL this season, unless we got a bad injury run and this is just that eventuating. We just have a solid group of players ranked from around 16-26 on our list and it's hard to fit them all into the side.

Clearly the coaches see Florent and Hayward as promising and they do have some class about them. I doubt they'll be given umpteen weeks just showing flashes here and there but I don't mind them being backed in at the start of the season.

[aguy]

It?s amazing to think that a couple of years ago ( when we happened to make a grand final btw) most of us on here were worried about the depth in the squad. Now it seems we can?t fit all the players in. What a terrific position to be in. Cheer cheer.

[707]

Newman being dropped whilst a low possession getter in Florent staying in surprises me. Newman can feel very unlucky.

[Markwebbos]

Newman being dropped whilst a low possession getter in Florent staying in surprises me. Newman can feel very unlucky.

I?m very surprised they dropped Newman too. Does Horse explain why on the Swans website?

[Auntie.Gerald]

Fascinating times we are in:

Is it possible a player like Newman is simply injured with a minor strain ? and we are reading too much into the selections this week?

Have dean cox and stevie J had a serious impact on our vision of what bloods football needs to be 2018 and beyond?

Have we truly started to evolve our blue print of football ?

I have been a little left out on my own with the idea that the evolving of style of footy the bloods want to play in 2018 will start to dominate selections .....but it appears to be happening in the pre season and rd 1 and rd 2

I suspect that there Is a slight a shift re the style of play we desire starts to pick players with the attributes necessary to play flexible footy.

I sensed the frustration talking to the players last Xmas that some slight changes were required if we want to be no1 and that when I pressed a few players one on one re bloods footy not being flexible in the past has been our greatest strength but also our weakness......the silence was very interesting......

I suspected that the change of the guard would sneak up on us ie players Newman who just about all on redandwhiteonline can can see as an obvious selection for being in the top 22 right now and even this week have been left out most likely due to matchups and flexible fast footy. The players rotating through our transitions appear to need to be athletically fast.

from what I have seen in pre season and rd 1 the footy is so bloody quick this year, with the play on style where ever possible to upset the opposition defence is critical. This changes the overall balance of players that are required on the pitch. Yet arguably Adelaide chose to not do this vs Richmond. Adelaide thru out the game reverted to pulling their kicks or small kicks to keep possession and starve Richmond of the footy via uncontested footy in the 3rd and 4th qtrs especially on thurs night.

In the 2018 The encroachment rule promotes such fast flowing footy and more upside to play on near the mark then ever before

This week will be a serious test for theories and selections because our coaches and playing group have backed faster outside players like Hayward and Ollie which is giving them only one choice. Play ur role bloody well and u might stay in? I mean Newman was solid last week and he didn?t stay in the 22. Ollie and Hayward have been given an absolute gift this week in my opinion......a real opportunity!

So in summary:

Winning each week is no 1 via correct matchups BUT

We have serious depth and so far in pre season and rd 1 it appears we have a squad that can have players that can come in and out of the 22 and play a specific role that on the surface may not look important to us spectators ala Ollie last week against west coast but frees up our playmakers and flexible football style we are striving for.

We could be playing possum re the selections some weeks as I am surprised with a couple selections this week so early in the season and at the scg a small field

There could be players with a niggling injury we are not aware of?

Development of Florent, Hayward like we did with Heeney and Mills has so much upside over the season and if we want true flexibility between contested and uncontested footy and to be able to play on fast and direct we have to have serious ?running players?

The reality of being a flexible winning team for the mcg and finals appears to have some impact on future selection of players required

In a lot of the transitions by teams in rd 1 and pre season it appears that if u can run and carry or give and go FAST as an indv that u do have an advantage under the rules this year

A player that has an awesome kick like a Newman some weeks might miss out on matchups againts pure running opposition teams.

Port is a flood forward fast team generally and love their counter attack in numbers streaming through. You would think we have to match this minimum or be at the mercy of port dominating.

[rb4x]

All these theories re Newman. Have we even considered that sometimes the selectors just get it wrong. They are human.

[707]

All these theories re Newman. Have we even considered that sometimes the selectors just get it wrong. They are human.

They'll be wrong if Ollie is a low possession getter and we get beaten!

[Auntie.Gerald]

Will the playing group and coaches be right if Ollie stops the players that he tags from having an influence on the game?

Even if Ollie only has 2 disposals ?

Even if we lose?

Even if we win?

Ollie is not picked for his disposals as yet ...... that is obvious otherwise other players would be picked way ahead of him like Nic

I think on the forum we tend to fall into the trap of making the team selection about best players

Obviously the snr playing group and coaches have different criteria

What that criteria is ........ is fascinating

[AB Swannie]

I?m embracing the fact that we are able to have a discussion whereby we obviously have at least 26 players on our list who could easily play in other team?s starting 18. Newman is a good player. So is Florent. I?d personally have dropped McVeigh and he is a legend of the club. At the end of the day, I don?t think the selection between Newman and Florent will be the difference between a win and loss.

[SeanM]

I thought Florent was good in the two JLT games and he may be doing well in training. So the coaching staff could be making selection decisions on more than just the West Coast game.

Also I would not mind there being more routine rotation of our bottom four. So that Fox/Newman not being selected one week does not mean they are out of favour and have to prove themselves. And you can bring in someone like Dawson or Stoddart for a one off game.

And even last year, if someone like Aliir is behind Melican you can still select him on the bench for a game late in the season to keep him involved.

[longmile]

While not a fan of it, I can see why the selection panel kept McVeigh in the side. Much like Goodes in his last few years it'll take a few games for McVeigh to warm up.

Newman being dropped and Ollie keeping his place is much more confusing

[rb4x]

Sometimes selectors use the wrong criteria. It is another sport but I remember Rod Marsh explaining why they picked one test wonder Joe Mennie over Jackson Bird. It was because they were wanting to strengthen the lower order batting! They were both fast bowlers. Let alone that after that Bird was making more runs than Mennie. After that ridiculous explanation Rod Marsh was gone as a test cricket selector.

I am worried about this game for a number of reasons. Where is Rohan's head at? Will McVeigh keep up with the Port speedsters? Port have brought in some genuine star poer with Watts, Rockliff, Motlop and Barry. Their big loss is Ryder which has meant Howard moving into ruck which leaves Clurey or Jonas to pick up Buddy. Hopefully a win for the Swans there. The bookies have the Swans hot favourites but I remember that the Power thrashed us in Round 1 at the SCG last year and they look even better this year.

[ugg]

I know Port have named Howard in the ruck but I can?t see him playing there after his solid game in defence last week. I expect Westhoff to be first ruck with support from Dixon and Watts

[CureTheSane]

While not a fan of it, I can see why the selection panel kept McVeigh in the side. Much like Goodes in his last few years it'll take a few games for McVeigh to warm up.

That, plus IMO if a fit McVeigh gets dropped, that's pretty much his career done.

[liz]

Sometimes selectors use the wrong criteria.

And sometimes coaches/selectors know more about what they want from a team than posters on a message board.

There's an awful lot of teeth gnashing about the last player picked in the side, especially considering the commonly stated view that we have 26 or so (at least) very capable players. I reckon ABSwannie has made the most astute comment thus far in this thread.

At the end of the day, I don?t think the selection between Newman and Florent will be the difference between a win and loss.