Team Changes for Round VIII v Bombers

[Markwebbos]

I agree that we need to start experimenting a bit more in order to find our next path to success. However, this must also be tempered by remaining somewhat competitive as no one will develop if we start losing by 60+ and have zero ball. In some ways, this experimentation has already happened - I, for one, didn't see Aliir being used as an alternate ruck. However, other things I think could be trialed include:

* Playing Mills & Rowbottom in the guts.
* Playing Cameron & Sinclair together.
* Getting some speed at half back by using COR and Florent together moving Lloyd to a wing.
* Swap Heeney & Parker. That is Parker plays 80% forward 20% mid. Heeney vice versa. I actually see Parker very much like Ziebell now.

Yes to all of those suggestions. Moving Parker out of the mids will make a space for Mills.

It’s probably going to make things worse in the short term, so has to commit to it for a block of games 4-6 or so

[Blood Relative]

Out : Harry C. & Jack
In: COR & Ronke

[AnnieH]

I'm the stand in coach for the game. We need speed. If you can walk 500 metres in a half hour, you're in the side.

I'd be pushing it, but I will give it a red hot go.

[Rod_]

Who we got rid of at the end of last year did make me to question where we were going late last year. Surely Marsh, Foote, Rohan, Hanners, (Alex Johnston), Newman, Robinson and Towers would be very handy at the moment for depth. They are not here so a mute point! I agree 100% that they were unlikely to take us to the next flag. (Big full stop)

So my thoughts were that we kept the experienced players to train the next and up and coming players. McVeigh, Lloyd, Jack, Smith and Grundy etc. They are / were very good players and if they they were on the paddock enough we would be performing better week to week. Short story is that father time has caught up with them. My opinion is that it is time to pass on your knowledge and tips of the trade and get out of the way. Time for others take the lead!

Swans game plan for the last (X) years has been a typically defensive style of play. Flooding back and being better at stoppages. This is the team we have enjoyed and loved. This team has taken years to build.

WE (Royal WE) don't change our game plan overnight and the AFL has changed the rules. This aligned with big player movements. Probably a smart move by the player management team and coaches. This has not been good for out defensive game plan and win loss ratios. Short story is it just hasn't worked. (another big full stop) If you look closely at all teams those with this defensive style of play. They are not leading if we use the ladder as the assessment tool. Therefore in today's conditions we need to change and grow quickly.

WE have great crop of players coming through. If they can play cohesively, and be allowed to use some of their natural aggressive skills. I feel we can match with the best.

Therefore it is time to blood all the best options for the future.

Unfortunately Reid and Jack won't be there for the next flag and I suggest we take the hurt now. Both out of this weeks team, to share skills with the seconds.

I feel we need to only tweak our game plan. I know that change comes slowly to the Swans. 110% effort, and I see improvement I am happy. Whether that be as a player, team offensive or defensive units. Continual growth and improvement is all any reasonable person can ask for.

COR, Clark and Cameron in for Reid, Cunningham and Jack.

I would keep Buddy off the field and get him fit and ready for late in the season and 2020. However wouldn't be surprised to see him replace a tall forward...

Those who are knocking the swans should try to remember how good was it when we won our first game after 26 losses back 93. I felt like we had won the lottery. My kids still talk about how excited I was. (Probably because I took them to Maccas.. big celebration)

Swans will be back and there is only one way for us to go from position 18th.

Upwards.

Go the Swans!

My team for life!

[dimelb]

I like your general trend Rod, and agree with most of what you said.

The sole exception I'd make is Sam Reid. He is 27, right in the critical age bracket where we are lacking. We have seen him play good football in the past, and flashes of that since he got over his injuries and recommenced regular senior's play. "Flashes" means that he can take a great mark, or can also watch it fall through his hands; score a long goal kick, or watch it drift a bit wide. And he can certainly tackle.

I think he's in a different category from Kieren, and that his best bet is to keep working hard and take the game on. We got him because of his formidable size and strength, and I'm not prepared to move him on unless he has had a good long spell where he is. Unfortunately we haven't seen a lot of that largely due to his injuries, but I believe he can put the parts together and make a very useful footballer. Let's see what happens a bit further down the track.

[Blood Fever]

Who we got rid of at the end of last year did make me to question where we were going late last year. Surely Marsh, Foote, Rohan, Hanners, (Alex Johnston), Newman, Robinson and Towers would be very handy at the moment for depth. They are not here so a mute point! I agree 100% that they were unlikely to take us to the next flag. (Big full stop)

So my thoughts were that we kept the experienced players to train the next and up and coming players. McVeigh, Lloyd, Jack, Smith and Grundy etc. They are / were very good players and if they they were on the paddock enough we would be performing better week to week. Short story is that father time has caught up with them. My opinion is that it is time to pass on your knowledge and tips of the trade and get out of the way. Time for others take the lead!

Swans game plan for the last (X) years has been a typically defensive style of play. Flooding back and being better at stoppages. This is the team we have enjoyed and loved. This team has taken years to build.

WE (Royal WE) don't change our game plan overnight and the AFL has changed the rules. This aligned with big player movements. Probably a smart move by the player management team and coaches. This has not been good for out defensive game plan and win loss ratios. Short story is it just hasn't worked. (another big full stop) If you look closely at all teams those with this defensive style of play. They are not leading if we use the ladder as the assessment tool. Therefore in today's conditions we need to change and grow quickly.

WE have great crop of players coming through. If they can play cohesively, and be allowed to use some of their natural aggressive skills. I feel we can match with the best.

Therefore it is time to blood all the best options for the future.

Unfortunately Reid and Jack won't be there for the next flag and I suggest we take the hurt now. Both out of this weeks team, to share skills with the seconds.

I feel we need to only tweak our game plan. I know that change comes slowly to the Swans. 110% effort, and I see improvement I am happy. Whether that be as a player, team offensive or defensive units. Continual growth and improvement is all any reasonable person can ask for.

COR, Clark and Cameron in for Reid, Cunningham and Jack.

I would keep Buddy off the field and get him fit and ready for late in the season and 2020. However wouldn't be surprised to see him replace a tall forward...

Those who are knocking the swans should try to remember how good was it when we won our first game after 26 losses back 93. I felt like we had won the lottery. My kids still talk about how excited I was. (Probably because I took them to Maccas.. big celebration)

Swans will be back and there is only one way for us to go from position 18th.

Upwards.

Go the Swans!

My team for life!

+1. Sanity and positivity.

[Roadrunner]

Great post Rod but Blood Fever is right about Reid-we need him forward or back, but please not in the ruck! Remember with Goodsey?

[Legs Akimbo]

If I'd love to see Sinclair play forward with Cameron in the ruck. If bud plays make him a high half forward and push Sinclair back deep. Paps and resting onballer to crumb. Hayward the floating HFF. 90s style setup that gives us space to lead into from fast forward entries.

If the Essendon drop players back get Dawson and Bud to go long from 50.

[Rod_]

Injuries and form have robbed us of expectations in regards to Reid.

He was my tough love call. By dropping him I propose I was giving him the opportunity to get match ready in the lower grade. Give McCartin a chance to shine...

Melican, Mills and Reid returning from injuries I only targeted one... and all have shown average to indifferent form in 2019.

I could be swayed if form improves... and agree 27 he should be in his prime.

[aardvark]

Before we pick Cameron go back and have a look at his one and only AFL game V Gold Coast last year. He was so far out of his depth they couldn't even put him on the ground towards the end of the game. I haven't seen any great improvement since then.

[Mel_C]

Looks like Smith won't be playing anytime soon. He has had more surgery on his hamstring. I don't think I've seen a hamstring take this long to recover before.

I also read that Cunningham is going to be out for 6-8 weeks. We seem to have a lot of experienced players with long term injuries.

Hopefully Papley will be ok for this week. Charlie said he pulled up sore after that heavy knock to the ribs.

[bloodspirit]

How good is Rampe? How many fullbacks can play on Charlie Cameron one week and Joe Daniher the next? Not too many. Right now I can't think of any others but I'm not trying hard.

[liz]

Before we pick Cameron go back and have a look at his one and only AFL game V Gold Coast last year. He was so far out of his depth they couldn't even put him on the ground towards the end of the game. I haven't seen any great improvement since then.

I think Cameron should only be brought into the team if the coaches think Sinclair is needed as a marking forward - ie if they think that a combination of Reid, Blakey and McCartin (or some of the above) aren't capable of providing that target - and that's at least arguable based on the season to date.

I'm with a couple of others (Nico maybe?) who don't think Cameron is going to fundamentally change our ruck success. Sure, he's taller than Sinclair but otherwise he's a pretty similar kind of player. He can dominate in ruck contests when matched up against smaller or vastly inferior NEAFL rucks but tends not to against the more athletic, high jumping players on the AFL club lists. For example, he's played against both Archie Smith and Tom Nicholls in recent weeks, and I think he struggled a bit against both, at least at centre clearances. Where he is highly valuable in the NEAFL team is his work around the ground. He reads the play well, gets into the right spot a lot of the time, and takes contested marks. Which is similar to the main value that Sinclair provides already. He's unlikely to be better at that aspect at AFL level than Sinclair, given he's less mobile and less experienced. Hence I think the only justification for picking him is to use Sinclair elsewhere (or if Sinclair is injured).

I also don't really think that marking power in our forward line is much of a problem. Structure and movement is - which is partly a result of the lack of experience. And delivery to the forward line certainly is. But on the few occasions each game when the ball is delivered forward in a manner that is vaguely to the advantage of our forwards, we've been taking enough contested marks. Moreover, those marks are spread across a range of players - Sinclair (as a resting ruck), Reid, McCartin and Blakey have all taken a few good, truly contested marks this season. Then you have Dawson, Heeney, Hayward and Parker of the not-quite-KPP height players who can all take a good grab. And even someone like Papley is a pretty good contested mark for his size.

The keys to scoring more goals are, IMO, getting the ball in there more often, getting the ball in there more constructively, and more movement by the players in our forward line (when we have some there), vastly improving the ground ball work of the forwards, and vastly improving pressure so that we stop letting the ball escape so easily when the opposition wins possession. Not increasing marking power, and certainly not at the expense of reduced mobility (as replacing one of our young, albeit inexperienced, forwards with Sinclair would do).

[bloodspirit]

I think your analysis has gone to another level this season, liz!

[Roadrunner]

Thank you Liz! I still would give Cameron a run of games to see if he has it or not- last year we couldn’t do it but now we’re rebuilding! Who else do we have?