Changes Round 16 - vs Geelong

[ernie koala]

I hope Hanners is given a specific task tonight...A negating role perhaps, on someone like Mitch Duncan.

He's a good tagger and it would take the pressure off him to some extent...ie disposals.

We'll need our lesser lights to play their best footy tonight if we are to prevail.

Swans by 7

[ugg]

No changes

Starting bench
McVeigh Cunningham Robinson Fox

[wolftone57]

For sure his last SCG performance by foot or hand was not pretty. Players even as experienced as him go thru bad runs where it looks like they are doing nothing right, but I think it's important to remember he has a lot of petrol tickets up his sleeve. A really fat wad of them actually. He's a champ and he'll come out of it for sure. That's what great players do.

His last two games have netted 34% & 23% disposal efficiency. He has not had that many disposals to be truthful. He matched Gaff but wasted all but 34% while Gaff disposed at 78%, He has not been putting any defensive pressure or chasing his player. The fact is he got a shirt-front in his second game back that nearly sent him into orbit. His body was not quite right anyway and now it is even worse. Nobody, even the invincible Dan Hannaberry, can take the sort of punishment his body has over a long period of time and expect to say 'She'll be right mate'. Eventually the body needs respite and if he is quiet or does not pass the DE percentage (His Av 68.7%) and defensive acts quota tonight then he just needs to rest his body until he is right to go. If that means counting 2018 out then so be it. I'd rather have a super fit Dan Hannaberry in 2019 than a 50% fit one now.

[wolftone57]

The swans weakness is the "long tail" they have (in cricket terms). Our bottom 5 players (in the 22) are far weaker than anyone else in the top 8.
This is the challenge longmire must address before september. When you have players like Kirk, Rohan and Hannerbury in your tail. Players who should be in their prime and contributing, its a worry. I dont mind having Rose, McCartin, maybe Ronke as a small tail, but right now our tail is probably 6 or 7 players deep!

Kirkie? Thought he was mids coach? Has he made a comeback? I think you might mean Jack? It is not about the tail as you put it. The problem is thatg we have some experienced players who have stopped performing for one reason or another. Even though Rohan didn't get much ball he impacted games because of his pressure acts and goal kicking. Not now. Jack was a top quality mid, if not a bit wayward in delivery. Not now. Hannas was a star, he was a running machine, a ball magnet and accumulator, he is the bravest player in the AFL. But due to his body failing him. Not now. The bravery is still there but the body is not fit for it.

Gee I think even Hawks would take Ronke as a part of their tail, Richmond too. The kid is a gem. I think we bat quite strongly right down to the 22nd man. I think Cats have more of a problem than us. If they had as many injuries as we have had this season I'm sure they would have dropped even more games. In fact we have not dropped too many with 9 players out injured at one stage. That is almost half a side. We have a very strong list compared to most clubs.

[wolftone57]

MCS QUOTE

Damn cheat boy Stevic again - Hawks #1 member back for another go grrr. {end quote}


Stevic is typical of the VFL old guard. They favour all Victorian sides over the interstate sides. Last week two of the umpires were terrible, Stevic and Finley.

[mcs]

MCS QUOTE

Damn cheat boy Stevic again - Hawks #1 member back for another go grrr. {end quote}


Stevic is typical of the VFL old guard. They favour all Victorian sides over the interstate sides. Last week two of the umpires were terrible, Stevic and Finley.

Yep indeed wolftone - hopefully we are good enough to take any errant umpiring out of the equation, but Stevic will still do his best (Worst)...

[stevoswan]

According to my brother, Stevic also hates Geelong so maybe Stevic will be neutral tonight ????.

I wonder why?!!! Oh yeah, Hawthorn supporter......

[caj23]

Embarrassing himself and hurting the team? Please stop. IMO even a half fit Hannebery will bring more to the team than anyone else in the Neafl team. Foote and Robinson have all been tried in the past and their numbers don't stack up to what Hannebery is currently producing. Besides it is not just about numbers. Hannebery is an elite player who is three time all Australian, two time top 5 brownlow medal vote getter, Afl coaches award winner. He is a premiership player and vice captain of the club. He has given his all for our club and should be given the respect all that deserves. He has many credits in the bank. To those that think that he could easily be replaced by a neafl player are dreaming. Any neafl player with an ounce of Hannebery's talent would have already been playing regular senior football. Don't forget Hannebery was playing senior football as a school boy.

Hannebery is not the only player down on last years numbers. Both Dangerfield and Martin are down about 25% on last years stats as well. In fact a number of elite players are experiencing a decline in stats. Whilst clearly Hannebery is not 100%, I suspect that there is more to this overall decline in numbers by the games best players . The 'state of the game' or over officiating, I'm not sure. Whatever it is, perhaps some players are more affected than others. Hannebery is a champion and he will respond like all champions do.

What did you think of his response tonight?

[Mel_C]

What did you think of his response tonight?

Apparently he did his calf early in the game.