Changes for Rnd 5 V Adelaide

[Ludwig]

It may get to a point in the season where one, or both, gets worn down physically, or issues elsewhere in the team expose the inconsistent performances from Will and Ollie. But the next player off the rank to fill the role that these two are playing is almost certainly Ronke, who is even greener. I reckon they will give Ronke a chance sometime this season, but we're not there yet.

I hate calling for dropping Hayward or Florent because I like both players very much and they surely will be walk up starters by next year. But we also need to get some games into other players that are doing well when the opportunity seems right. O'Riordan is looking good so far this season and there will likely come a time later in the year when Stoddart and Ling will push for a game. Hopefully Dawson will get fit sooner rather than later.

I thought this week might be a good time to bring in Ronke for Hayward, as Ronke has been playing well and Hayward had a slow game. Ronke was drafted as a 19 yo, so is a bit older and more physically developed than Hayward or Florent. I wanted to see how Ronke would do as a pressure forward and allowing Papley to spend more time in the midfield. The timing seemed good. As much as Papley is needed as a small forward, he's a damn good midfielder as well. What and incredible pick up so late in the draft.

Melican is likely to return next week, so Marsh will be under the gun to try to hold his spot. I hope he rises to the occasion.

I think Hewett is likely to tag Rory Laird this week. Gibbs wouldn't be a bad one to tag either. Limiting either one would go a long way to winning the game.

[aguy]

I think Hewett is likely to tag Rory Laird this week. Gibbs wouldn't be a bad one to tag either. Limiting either one would go a long way to winning the game.

Hopefully Laird gets the tag. It?s better for my fantasy team

[Markwebbos]

Last 2 night games at the SCG it?s been very wet even though no rain. Perhaps they?ll make similar arrangements tomorrow night.

[stevoswan]

Hopefully Laird gets the tag. It?s better for my fantasy team

Oi, he's in my team! Consistent points scorer....but I don't mind at all if he has an off night tomorrow.

[liz]

I hate calling for dropping Hayward or Florent because I like both players very much and they surely will be walk up starters by next year. But we also need to get some games into other players that are doing well when the opportunity seems right. O'Riordan is looking good so far this season and there will likely come a time later in the year when Stoddart and Ling will push for a game. Hopefully Dawson will get fit sooner rather than later.

I thought this week might be a good time to bring in Ronke for Hayward, as Ronke has been playing well and Hayward had a slow game. Ronke was drafted as a 19 yo, so is a bit older and more physically developed than Hayward or Florent. I wanted to see how Ronke would do as a pressure forward and allowing Papley to spend more time in the midfield. The timing seemed good. As much as Papley is needed as a small forward, he's a damn good midfielder as well. What and incredible pick up so late in the draft.

Melican is likely to return next week, so Marsh will be under the gun to try to hold his spot. I hope he rises to the occasion.

I think Hewett is likely to tag Rory Laird this week. Gibbs wouldn't be a bad one to tag either. Limiting either one would go a long way to winning the game.

None of those players is likely to play in the forward line, though. They're all natural half-back flankers, at least to start with.

I'm sure injuries (or form drops) will provide opportunities to some of these players as the year progresses but I don't see the point of playing players for the sake of giving them a game. Not if there are others more capable.

[Ludwig]

None of those players is likely to play in the forward line, though. They're all natural half-back flankers, at least to start with.

They may play as HBFs in junior footy, but so many players switch roles once they get to the AFL. And now with so many midfielders going forward and vice versa, it's hard to put a positional label on players anymore.

I can see Ronke playing anywhere. Fox played as a HB, but then played forward in his first year with us, and is now playing back again. Newman played forward when he was younger, then was converted to a backman. McVeigh has played everywhere.

In the case of Ronke, I don't think it would be just giving him a game for the sake of it. He's really playing well and is worth seeing what he could do a senior level.

[Auntie.Gerald]

There are so many layers to picking a team but we are certainly making adjustments to cultivating a running team that can combat the opposing teams that have this ability

Richmond
Port
Etc

This could be the most mobile fast footed 22 player team I have seen at the Swans

[Auntie.Gerald]

If Adelaide play the long game we are good to go with a fairly strong counter attack backline

Secondly if they play their wide and in shorter kicking game which works for Adelaide on the the wide Adelaide oval and SCG I think we have the teamto nullify and force a contest via hands

I?d be surprised if we don?t get our 4th win for the season

[Beerman]

Last 2 night games at the SCG it?s been very wet even though no rain. Perhaps they?ll make similar arrangements tomorrow night.

Forecast is pretty good - chance of a shower or thunderstorm, but only 0-1mm and more likely in the west. Let's hope that holds up and there's no rain.

With a cooler daytime temperature, it may not be as dewy as it has been the past few night games.

[Blood Fever]

Newman not even named as one of the four emergencies.
He has seriously annoyed someone.

Not necessarily. Players named as emergencies, especially those who have been playing more in the twos, need to be encouraged as well.

[Swansongster]

I really want Aliir to cement a spot (and think he will this year) but he didn't do enough last week albeit out of position. Newman will benefit from time in the twos. He was off his best last week (over the crowd, from the top deck of Docklands, I could hear Macca screaming his lungs out at him to get himself in the right position several times).

Great to have Gaz back. He should be able to create some confusion in Adelaide' defence and therefore options for a mobile Budster. Good chaser too.

I haven't seen a lot of Marsh but trust the ressies watchers who seem to think he deserves his chance.

I think Adelaide's tall forward line ear-marks a bomb-it-long game-plan.

Of course, they do have to rebound from defence and/or get it through the mid-field before taking to the air. In their forward 50 they are going to have to clunk contested marks and/or force turnovers. On paper this week, we match up pretty well right across the field for all of that.

The only thing that can beat us tonight will be if we don't bring our B+ game (or better).

[Markwebbos]

If the Crows play a similar short kicking game to the one they played v Richmond it might create problems given our inability to counter that tactic (exhibit A = Hawthorn).

But they?ll need to win the ball first. Our midfielders should outperform theirs but think Jacobs will monster Sinkers in hitouts which might even things up.

Ludwig might disagree and this article would back him up. It might also put Nankervis? (lack of) prowess as a ruckman into context.

Category: | Herald Sun

Melbourne big man Max Gawn has won 211 hitouts through the first four rounds (average 52 per game), the most ever recorded by Champion Data in the first month of the season.

Yet, like an ancient proverb we have all heard about the tree falling in the forest, what does a hitout mean if the onballers can?t convert it into an effective clearance?

Remarkably, despite Gawn?s ruck prowess this season, the Demons have been beaten in scores from clearances in three of their first four games...

... the reigning premier... are the best ruck tap sharks in the league

If one thing in the AFL is clear, it?s that Damien Hardwick doesn?t give two hoots about the hitout.

The Tigers virtually surrender the ruck battle each week and ranked 18th in the league for hitouts last season...

... we know the damage Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin and Co are doing sharking the ball off the opposition ruckmen, and bursting away from congestion.

[Jeynez]

Jeez that's a tall forward line Crows are playing, 5/6 starting on field are 190cm+

[Ludwig]

The main points I've been making about ruckmen over the past few years are:

1. Teams will play only 1 main ruckman. Except for a few special cases, this has come to pass.
2. The question is more about how a team approaches the stoppage. Teams with dominant ruckmen will continue to play the stoppage the usual way. Teams that don't will have to find another way to win clearances. This also has come to pass.
3. Unless a ruckman is totally dominant in the ruck contests, like Naitanui and Gawn, they will have to bring some other tricks to the game, like play as an extra midfielder (Grundy, Martin), be able to play all over the ground (McEvoy, Jacobs), go forward and kick goals (Kreuzer, Sinclair). Several teams are still trying to find the right niche that suits their playing style (Geelong, WB). I think we are finding our groove with Sinclair.

[longmile]

Hope to see Aliir as a late in in defence. Crows packing a tall forward line