Changes for Swans vs Bombers

[The Big Cat]

No way AJ will play until he carves it up week after week in the ressies. He needs to be super confident in his knee and not double guessing his decision making. Essendon on a fast deck would be too big an ask at the moment. Probably will not play seniors till next year after another preseason

[jono2707]

Reg is an obvious in this week.
Sure we lost the weekend's match mentally, but our defence was unbalanced and Rampe and Lloyd really missed their partner in crime.

[Industrial Fan]

Smith’s played two of the worst games I can remember that happen to coincide with Grundys ‘rest’

[MattW]

I don't agree McCartin should be spelled. He took 8 marks and contributed to a game-winning play against North. He had a down game on Saturday, but that doesn't mean he needs to be dropped. He's been an important player. Having said that, I agree his goalkicking is below standard

Longmire has admitted it was a mistake to play Cameron and Sinclair, and they won't drop Sinclair.

Marsh isn't an AFL defender. If they don't want to pick Grundy for whatever reason, and Longmire still seemed pretty cold on it in the presser today, then pick Johnno.

Finally, Dawson plays for Newman. He's a left-footer too. He's going to win more contested ball and clearances, and provide greater threat forward (where Newman found himself at times on Saturday).

OUT: Cameron, Newman, Marsh
IN: Towers (bloody chase, lad!), Dawson, Grundy

[liz]

A few comments in response to things said by a variety of posters in this thread:

- agree that Buddy looked sore on Saturday. His pace was a little down and he didn't look as agile. He actually looked in good nick the previous week so I wonder if he picked up a niggle in that game or early on Saturday, or if he's just managing ongoing issues that are easier to play through some weeks. He did have a few shots at goal, but while his kicking was crisp against North, it wasn't against the Suns. Even his field kicking was a bit off.

- am flummoxed at the suggestion Jones should be dropped. I agree his disposals can sometimes be frustrating (for me because it's a concentration issue, rather than an ability issue) but he's one of the few blokes in the team who's tried to take the game on in the three recent losses. One of the most oft read criticisms on here of the Swans' game style is that they are too conservative bringing the ball out of defence. Yet the one guy who is trying to break the lines with his pace should be dumped??? I had him as one of our very best against the Roos, because he combined his line breaking runs with good disposal. That was, in part, because he had team mates presenting and creating options. This was less evident on Saturday, which contributed to some of his turnover (admittedly not all of them).

- I don't see AJ getting a senior game this season unless we're desperate. While his form in the NEAFL is reasonably promising, I'd be surprised if his endurance is anything like up to the level required at senior level. Bear in mind that the last pre-season he completed was post 2012. He didn't complete the pre-season last year or this, and has only been back playing a couple of months. He's not the excited quick young colt he was back in 2012. Although he seems to be moving quite well, his pace is noticeably down on 2012, unsurprisingly given what his body has been through. He may or may not have shown enough to persuade the club to retain him on the list for next year but I think he needs to be able to complete a full pre-season before he's close to ready to playing senior AFL again.

- I don't think there's anything to lose by bringing in Dawson this week, in place of either Newman, Fox or one of McCartin/Cameron. He's the one player at NEAFL level that looks most capable of becoming a senior player. Mind you, he won't get to play on-ball, not to begin with. So he won't be racking up 30+ possessions or laying 24 tackles. And he's not overly quick. He is a good contested mark, however, and a long and usually reliable goal kicker. So we have nothing to lose by playing him across half-forward and hoping he can add to the goal kicking options. Of the players he could come in for, I'd prefer Fox stays. I think he contributes more than Newman. However, it's close to a certainty that one of McCartin or Cameron will lose their spot. I hate players getting dropped after a single game debut so would quite like to see Cameron get another chance. However, we're playing one of the quickest teams on the quickest deck and McCartin is more mobile than Cameron. So unless McCartin is sore and would benefit from a rest, I think Cameron will be the one to go.

[707]

Well said, agree with all of that. Selection comments can be a bit off beam after a bad loss calling for any number of players to be chopped but after the North win we were flag bound weren't we?

The old adage should always be said out loud before posting after a game result "It's never as good as it seems, it's never as bad as it seems".

Unless you're Carlton :-)

[Ludwig]

- I don't see AJ getting a senior game this season unless we're desperate. While his form in the NEAFL is reasonably promising, I'd be surprised if his endurance is anything like up to the level required at senior level. Bear in mind that the last pre-season he completed was post 2012.

I agree with nearly everything in your post, but I don't know why the negativity toward AJ. I think he actually did go through the current pre-season, but was injured around the start of the regular season. It's hard to tell what his endurance is like without the GPS data, but he looks okay to the eye.

Maybe I'm being more hopeful than rational, but I like the look of the way AJ has played the last couple of weeks. I think we are a bit desperate and need to look for things that probably fall into the miracle category. Maybe the emotional lift of having AJ back in the side is just the thing we need.

[Auntie.Gerald]

So we have the following teams after the bombers

Collingwood
Demons
GWS
Hawks

All pretty fast teams just like the bombers hence our experiment of playing smaller in the backline makes sense......but only if it is effective!!

For me Grundy in or out can be decided each match as he can handle that at his experience and we can then get matchups right

So this week we play the bombers that have 3 talls up front with a possible rotation of one of there tall backs or Heppell drifting forward half the game

No Daniher is significant and now their other tall McKernan is out injured I believe which changes match ups massively

The reality is with Melican not coming back via injury this is really tough for us as he is so valuable one on one with the fast tall leading forward

I’m not sure about Maibaum as yet especially that would make us a youthful backline for finals “if we make it” but for me I think Grundy deserves serious consideration this week despite no obvious match up

Yes it was our midfield that struggled last week and I think we all acknowledge that but a rock solid backline is critical also

Re matchups : So bombers tall forward rotation for this week will most likely be -

Brown 196cm vs Grundy
Myers 191cm vs Rampe
Langford 191cm vs Marsh
McKernan replacement vs AA

In: Dawson for Newman
In: Grundy for Cameron

[barry]

I think many have forgotten how good AJ was. He was a huge part of the 2012 flag. It's 12 months since he resumed playing, he's had a preseason, and even through his injuries he maintained a level of fitness.

If he is not selected this year, he will be delisted.

[RogueSwan]

I don't understand the "there was no match-up for Grundy" comments.
It would have been nice to have him play on Wright on the weekend.
And who else do we have to defend the oppositions resting ruckman? It isn't a job for Sinclair.

[AnnieH]

I think many have forgotten how good AJ was. He was a huge part of the 2012 flag. It's 12 months since he resumed playing, he's had a preseason, and even through his injuries he maintained a level of fitness.

If he is not selected this year, he will be delisted.

Have you people all forgotten that 2012 was SIX years ago.
I'm sorry, but the game has gone past AJ.

- - - Updated - - -

I don't understand the "there was no match-up for Grundy" comments.
It would have been nice to have him play on Wright on the weekend.
And who else do we have to defend the oppositions resting ruckman? It isn't a job for Sinclair.

Reg is seriously our last line of defence, as he's proved time and time again. Unfortunately, our back line can't quite cope without him.
He needs to come back.

[Plugger46]

I don't understand the "there was no match-up for Grundy" comments.
It would have been nice to have him play on Wright on the weekend.
And who else do we have to defend the oppositions resting ruckman? It isn't a job for Sinclair.

Richmond is the only side where that applies and they played him in that game.

He's been a lock for so long and doesn't appear to be any different to previous years. I think there's more to it than form/match-ups. i.e. They've decided he's not part of the future and this will be his last season.

[0918330512]

Richmond is the only side where that applies and they played him in that game.

He's been a lock for so long and doesn't appear to be any different to previous years. I think there's more to it than form/match-ups. i.e. They've decided he's not part of the future and this will be his last season.

Shades of Rod Carter & Ryan O’Keefe

[stevoswan]

Have you people all forgotten that 2012 was SIX years ago.
I'm sorry, but the game has gone past AJ.
Reg is seriously our last line of defence, as he's proved time and time again. Unfortunately, our back line can't quite cope without him.
He needs to come back.

Agree with you on Grundy...must come back in, 'match up' or no match up. Re: AJ....well, there's only one way to have him 'catch up' to a (seniors) game that has 'gone past him'....and that is to play him. As Barry said, if we don't select him this season, he will be delisted. I say 'get him in'.....then we'll really know if the game has gone past him.

[goswannies]

Agree with you on Grundy...must come back in, 'match up' or no match up. Re: AJ....well, there's only one way to have him 'catch up' to a (seniors) game that has 'gone past him'....and that is to play him. As Barry said, if we don't select him this season, he will be delisted. I say 'get him in'.....then we'll really know if the game has gone past him.

I wonder if they get AJ to do some good solid match simulations against Bud (maybe that’s why Bud looks sore? ) or even get Tip into training sessions against AJ (make Tip do something in this last year of his contract) to test AJ against the bigger bodies. The advantage of using Tip is that there is no risk of damaging a valuable player.