Changes for round X Collingwood Magpies

[longmile]

Well, Papley has been named at centre, so maybe he will play more midfield? Not that the named team is usually much of a positional guide. I suppose that Fox, Dawson, O'Riordan and even Mills could do a bit more midfield time. And, yes, we will probably see McCartin, Reid, Hayward and especially Blakey, spending more time as wingers.

I'm actually looking forward to this game. I think that we're stabilising and becoming more confident, while on the other hand, constant injuries are starting to destabilise Collingwood.

I'd rather they keep Papley forward. Play Franklin and Blakey as wingers delivering to Reid and McCartin in the forward line

[liz]

Jack was on injury list as ‘hip’ and ‘test’. So not the head knock. And presumably (to use Longmire’s terminology) Jack ‘didn’t come up’ at training this week.

Jack has had hip problem previous seasons as I recall.

I believe he's been battling with a hip injury for a few years now, starting from whenever his form noticeably dipped.

[KSAS]

Update: Tom Browne reporting this morning Langdon also will be missing for the Pies but Daniel Wells will be making his long awaited return. Good news is that he reported Buddy will play but he didn't give any update on JPK.

Tom Browne was on the mark with Buddy's return this week.

I think this will be a cracking game & give ourselves a real chance, considering their outs & our ins. I don't think the Pies have been severely tested in the last few weeks & if we bring our recent pressure game I'll be disappointed if we go down by a big margin. This is a big IF, but if we win the talk of us making the finals will be truly on. Love to see this happen just to put the likes of Murphy & Shaw back in their place after just few weeks ago suggesting we should offload Buddy on the premise we'll bottom out next couple of years.

[liz]

I'd rather they keep Papley forward. Play Franklin and Blakey as wingers delivering to Reid and McCartin in the forward line

That doesn't address the issue of who can provide some zip at centre bounces. I guess the return of Kennedy makes it obvious who replaces him in simple manpower terms, but except that changes the dynamics of the centre square set ups somewhat.

[liz]

This is a big IF, but if we win the talk of us making the finals will be truly on. Love to see this happen just to put the likes of Murphy & Shaw back in their place after just few weeks ago suggesting we should offload Buddy on the premise we'll bottom out next couple of years.

I don't think we need to make finals to demonstrate the folly of that suggestion. Even if the club (and Buddy) did seek to trade him, he was never going to garner a high draft pick at his age. So the idea of trading him to give the club currency to stock up on highly rated junior never made sense. Not to mention the value he has to the existing playing list in terms of his contribution to the development of the young forwards.

The loss of all our >200 game players last week brought into sharp focus just how young the team was. In reality, even with Kennedy (and Buddy) back in the side, it is still a pretty young team. Mean ages and games played hide over the finer details of the make up of a team. But given that people like to focus on means, taking out Kennedy on top of those already missing made the youth of the side even more apparent. And though the two wins have come against pretty mediocre sides, the performances of Hewett, Dawson, Papley, COR, Melican, Florent et al have made commentators realise they'd underestimated the talent already on the list. Blakey's talent was never under-estimated, but his last two games suggest he's going to mature into a decent player sooner than people realised.

[longmile]

That doesn't address the issue of who can provide some zip at centre bounces. I guess the return of Kennedy makes it obvious who replaces him in simple manpower terms, but except that changes the dynamics of the centre square set ups somewhat.

Fair point. I overlooked how slow our team is this week without both Cunningham and Jones. It's shame because the last few weeks Papley has been very influential playing 70/30 forward/midfield, but you're right I think he has to play more midfield time this week to carry Collingwood's run. I still stand by the fact that I think Buddy should play wing this week and persist in that position will Reid is playing and Blakey and McCartin are gelling.

[KSAS]

Fair point. I overlooked how slow our team is this week without both Cunningham and Jones. It's shame because the last few weeks Papley has been very influential playing 70/30 forward/midfield, but you're right I think he has to play more midfield time this week to carry Collingwood's run. I still stand by the fact that I think Buddy should play wing this week and persist in that position will Reid is playing and Blakey and McCartin are gelling.

Tony Shaw must be reading RWO because he suggested tonight playing Buddy on the wing! Other media commentators have picked up on this, with Montagna liking the idea because he can setup play & still kick a few goals without being bashed against 3 defenders playing as permanent forward. Brereton & Dunstall question whether Buddy can go straight playing on the wing after missing 4 weeks on top of his lack of training this year due to his groin op.

[Blood Fever]

I don't think we need to make finals to demonstrate the folly of that suggestion. Even if the club (and Buddy) did seek to trade him, he was never going to garner a high draft pick at his age. So the idea of trading him to give the club currency to stock up on highly rated junior never made sense. Not to mention the value he has to the existing playing list in terms of his contribution to the development of the young forwards.

The loss of all our >200 game players last week brought into sharp focus just how young the team was. In reality, even with Kennedy (and Buddy) back in the side, it is still a pretty young team. Mean ages and games played hide over the finer details of the make up of a team. But given that people like to focus on means, taking out Kennedy on top of those already missing made the youth of the side even more apparent. And though the two wins have come against pretty mediocre sides, the performances of Hewett, Dawson, Papley, COR, Melican, Florent et al have made commentators realise they'd underestimated the talent already on the list. Blakey's talent was never under-estimated, but his last two games suggest he's going to mature into a decent player sooner than people realised.

Young teams on the rebuild need a block of experienced players to learn from and to carry them to a degree when things get tough. Melbourne threw the baby out with the bathwater a few years back and their youngsters got slaughtered. Buddy, Kennedy etc all useful, even Mendel when he comes in.

[Meg]

Brereton & Dunstall question whether Buddy can go straight playing on the wing after missing 4 weeks on top of his lack of training this year due to his groin op.

I am doubtful for this reason. Otherwise I would really like the idea.

[MattW]

I'd rather they keep Papley forward. Play Franklin and Blakey as wingers delivering to Reid and McCartin in the forward line

Yes, especially re Papley. It'll be interesting.

[MattW]

Tom Browne was on the mark with Buddy's return this week.

I think this will be a cracking game & give ourselves a real chance, considering their outs & our ins. I don't think the Pies have been severely tested in the last few weeks & if we bring our recent pressure game I'll be disappointed if we go down by a big margin. This is a big IF, but if we win the talk of us making the finals will be truly on. Love to see this happen just to put the likes of Murphy & Shaw back in their place after just few weeks ago suggesting we should offload Buddy on the premise we'll bottom out next couple of years.

Well said!

[MattW]

That doesn't address the issue of who can provide some zip at centre bounces. I guess the return of Kennedy makes it obvious who replaces him in simple manpower terms, but except that changes the dynamics of the centre square set ups somewhat.

They might run Ollie through there a bit. Six clearances last week. Maybe even Hayward. I didn't notice it at the time, but stats suggest he got 4 clearances last week including a centre clearance.

[aardvark]

I hope Kennedy being back doesn't mean Hewitt returns to his tagging role.

[Markwebbos]

I hope Kennedy being back doesn't mean Hewitt returns to his tagging role.

Hewett still played on Cunnington last week, so he’ll have a responsibility, just not so out and out defensive.

Wonder if they’ll send Clarke to Sidebottom?

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I don't think we need to make finals to demonstrate the folly of that suggestion. Even if the club (and Buddy) did seek to trade him, he was never going to garner a high draft pick at his age. So the idea of trading him to give the club currency to stock up on highly rated junior never made sense.

In addition to finding a team that would offer a high draft choice, you'd also have to find a team willing to take on 1.4 million in their salary cap for the next season.
Alternately the Swans would have to pay some of it - and I can't see a trade happening.
Whether he stays, is traded or retires. Buddy's contract, which continues to rise each year, will remain in the Swans salary cap.