Changes for round 16 v Essendon

[crackedactor]

I would have Hewett tag Dyson Heppel, who's the one that makes things happen for Essendon. I wouldn't bother with Ryan Clarke. Their other key movers are a bit too quick for him. One tag is enough. We want to move the ball too and not just let them run the lines all day.

I think we will only make forced changes, at this stage being just a replacement for Sinclair.

Ryan Clarke is a must be in. He can n run all day and that's what you need at the MCG. This was one of Rohan's main weaknesses.


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[MattW]

I don't think there is any chance Naismith will come back from an ACL straight onto the MCG.

Zero. Gardiner mentioned he will start training with the main group this week.

[waswan]

Clarke to Saad
Has to play they have top end talent
He cpuld even go to Shiel, he strikes me as someone who cant handle a tag

[Ludwig]

Clarke has a good tank, no doubt, but Essendon have several players with bursts of speed from a standing start who will blow right by Clarke.

We don't have anyone who can go with Shiel on the burst. We just need to keep someone between him and the goal.

All our forwards are pretty quick and will have to keep Saad and McKenna under control. No single tag is going to work, except the one I previously suggested on Heppell, who finds the right targets and hits them. We will need to get them on turnovers and beat them at the contested ball.

The Giants had them well beaten last week, but dropped away in the 4th quarter. They were also done in by the umpires and poor goal kicking. We'll probably get done in by the umpires (according to posters on here) unless we win, but hopefully we can kick straight.

[ugg]

In; Cunningham
Out: Sinclair

Emg: Fox McInerney Jack Stoddart

In: Z.Clarke Guelfi Stringer
Out: Begley Bellchambers Langford

Emg: Snelling Zerk-Thatcher Langford McNiece

[Markwebbos]

WOW! No talls, no taggers into the side.

Captain you were right about Cunningham coming straight into the AFL

Does this mean they'll play one shorter in defence, move McCartin back to play on Hurley (it worked last time) and let Cunningham take Aliir's spot (sort of).

[liz]

I expressed my doubts/reservations about Cunningham coming straight back in a few days ago and I haven't changed my mind that it's a risky option.

He could well be used as a tagger to ease back into the side. He's done the job in the past, albeit that I don't think he did earlier this season, before getting injured. But he can play at either end of the ground, so could be an option to run with Saad or McKenna in a defensive forward role. Or he could play as a small defender on someone like Fantasia, freeing Rampe up to play on the returning and dangerous Stringer. I imagine McCartin will play in defence and Aliir primarily in the ruck.

[Ludwig]

WOW! No talls, no taggers into the side.

Captain you were right about Cunningham coming straight into the AFL

Does this mean they'll play one shorter in defence, move McCartin back to play on Hurley (it worked last time) and let Cunningham take Aliir's spot (sort of).

I think we will play 2 tall forwards: Blakey and either Reid or McCartin. We could even swap Aliir and Reid between defence and the ruck, to simplify things. It's a really inexperienced forward line, but our ruckman can drift forward.

Dawson has also been playing in defence and has been a strong marking defender. He's a good height. Taller than Rampe.

Who needs a ruckman? Longmire says you can't have enough of them, but failed to add that they first have to be good footballers.

Essendon brought in ruckman Zac Clarke. They are also playing Dylan Clarke, Ryan's brother. Ryan not even named as an emergency. Obviously AFL rule 17(n)(3)(c), limiting the number of Clarkes that can be on the ground at any one time is in effect. I wonder if Ryan changed his name from Clarke to Clark, we could have circumvented the rule. We'll never know.

No Ruckman! No Clarkes! Advantage Swans!

[Scottee]

I expressed my doubts/reservations about Cunningham coming straight back in a few days ago and I haven't changed my mind that it's a risky option.

He could well be used as a tagger to ease back into the side. He's done the job in the past, albeit that I don't think he did earlier this season, before getting injured. But he can play at either end of the ground, so could be an option to run with Saad or McKenna in a defensive forward role. Or he could play as a small defender on someone like Fantasia, freeing Rampe up to play on the returning and dangerous Stringer. I imagine McCartin will play in defence and Aliir primarily in the ruck.

I am a bit skeptical too Liz. Cunningham has been a notoriously slow starter coming back from injury and I would have liked to see him get a game or two in the ressies.

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[Nico]

I am a bit skeptical too Liz. Cunningham has been a notoriously slow starter coming back from injury and I would have liked to see him get a game or two in the ressies.

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And it is the MCG not the SCG.

[Blood Fever]

I am a bit skeptical too Liz. Cunningham has been a notoriously slow starter coming back from injury and I would have liked to see him get a game or two in the ressies.

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Late change? Or special role he has done before v Bombers?

[Ludwig]

I expressed my doubts/reservations about Cunningham coming straight back in a few days ago and I haven't changed my mind that it's a risky option.

He could well be used as a tagger to ease back into the side. He's done the job in the past, albeit that I don't think he did earlier this season, before getting injured. But he can play at either end of the ground, so could be an option to run with Saad or McKenna in a defensive forward role. Or he could play as a small defender on someone like Fantasia, freeing Rampe up to play on the returning and dangerous Stringer. I imagine McCartin will play in defence and Aliir primarily in the ruck.

I was surprised too about Harry coming right back into the seniors. We could have brought in Fox if we just wanted a tagger.

It will be interesting how we structure up. Cunningham may just play his usual role on the wing. There will be plenty of traffic moving quickly through the midfield, so no problem finding an opponent to defend. I still like the Hewett tag on Heppell. I wonder if it will happen.

[Aaron]

Interesting that Clarke is not even an emergency. I think he was the emergency last week that did not play in the NEAFL

[Matty10]

He could well be used as a tagger to ease back into the side. He's done the job in the past, albeit that I don't think he did earlier this season, before getting injured. But he can play at either end of the ground, so could be an option to run with Saad or McKenna in a defensive forward role. Or he could play as a small defender on someone like Fantasia, freeing Rampe up to play on the returning and dangerous Stringer.

It would seem logical that Cunningham’s selection is all about the speed that he possesses, so any of the options you noted are in play, but it will be one hell of a test as a first game back from two months on the sidelines. Tagging may allow him to ease back into the game in terms of reading the play and skills, but I am not sure that he will get much rest unless playing on someone like Fantasia who has also missed a lot of football this year.

[Ludwig]

Cunningham has been a notoriously slow starter coming back from injury and I would have liked to see him get a game or two in the ressies.

Is he? He played every game last year, so we would have to go back to 2017 at least. I frankly can't remember any injuries he had back then. Maybe it's because he wasn't that good a player back then. He really came on last year.