Changes for round 19 - Geelong

[Roscoe]

100 % agree

[Aaron]

Zac Smith will play according to 'Boring' Cats recall Zac to attack the Swans - AFL.com.au . Dawson will be a definite in and I wish Menzel can add some experience and composure to our young forwards too.

[ugg]

Dawson Jack Menzel Ronke Rose in
Hayward out (injured)

Ext bench is Fox Stoddart Ronke Jack Clarke Menzel O’Riordan Rose

Henderson Henry Narkle S.Selwood Simpson Smith in
Rohan (managed) Tuohy (managed) out

Ext bench is S.Selwood Narkle Henry O’Connor Simpson Stanley Smith Henderson

[707]

Geelong resting players against us!

We wait until tomorrow to see who is dropped for Dawson.

[Melbourne_Blood]

Geelong resting players against us!

We wait until tomorrow to see who is dropped for Dawson.

Well they could just bring him in for Hayward .. but I imagine we will bring in a forward ( Menzel or Rose) as well so you’d have to say Stoddart goes out. Stiff but was pretty poor last week and you need to show something when you get a shot in the seniors. He’ll get plenty more opportunities next year no doubt . So Dawson for Stoddart and Menzel / Rose for Hayward .


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[Ludwig]

It looks as though it's just Dawson replacing Hayward and go with the rest of the squad that played with real commitment v Freo. I don't think we need a direct replacement for Hayward with a forward. It's just a midfield rotation role that a lot of players do anyway in the normal course of the game. We could also play Fox as a half-forward, or Stoddart for that matter.

The number of players looking unlikely to return this year is growing with Sinclair having surgery and Cunningham looking to go under the knife as well. Hayward's hip problem could also be a season-ender, since it's something he's been carrying for a while and they don't seem to know what the problem is.

We still have several reserves' players that could see some senior footy if need be.

[AB Swannie]

It looks as though it's just Dawson replacing Hayward and go with the rest of the squad that played with real commitment v Freo. I don't think we need a direct replacement for Hayward with a forward. It's just a midfield rotation role that a lot of players do anyway in the normal course of the game. We could also play Fox as a half-forward, or Stoddart for that matter.

The number of players looking unlikely to return this year is growing with Sinclair having surgery and Cunningham looking to go under the knife as well. Hayward's hip problem could also be a season-ender, since it's something he's been carrying for a while and they don't seem to know what the problem is.

We still have several reserves' players that could see some senior footy if need be.

Yep. I always thought they listed the "bench" for Sunday games in either numerical or alphabetical order so as to keep some mystery about the team but it seems like they have just named them in the order of preference:

4 Ryan Clarke
33 Ryley Stoddart
38 Colin O'Riordan
42 Robbie Fox
2 Daniel Menzel
15 Kieren Jack
25 Ben Ronke
1 James Rose

[Nico]

I agree that how the rest of the season plays out regarding our ruckman is very much up in the air.

An interesting note is that McLean and Amartey were Sandringham teammates in 2017 and in the same draft class. They're about the same size, played similar positions, including sharing the ruck duties. Their stats were also quite similar, but it was McLean who was the one to make the Vic Metro under 18 squad, yet Amartey was the one to get drafted.

I've long been in favour of playing a McLean/Amartey type ruckman, while not conceding the ruck contests, playing a defensive setup, recognising that the opposition have the advantage. It's easier developing counterplay off a negating setup than acquiring one of the half dozen dominant ruckmen going around and keeping him healthy. There is the additional advantage of opening more list spots, otherwise reserved for ruckmen, for other kinds of players (non-specialised ruckmen). Although I am a Longmire fan, a major criticism has been his tiring trope of 'you can never have enough ruckmen'. For me, this says that too many resources are being allocated to a losing cause, and playing to a weakness, rather than trying to change the weakness to a strength.

I would trade or delist Naismith, Cameron and Knoll, freeing up 3 list spots, and go into next season with Sinclair, McLean and Amartey as our ruck division, plus drafting or recruiting another similar player, i.e. someone who is primarily a tall forward who can also ruck. It also creates a point of difference where other sides have to do some special planning to counteract the Swans' stoppage strategy.

Dean Cox is reading your post. He turns to JL and says; "Horse, what is a counterplay off a negative setup", "beats me Coxy". "Maybe we should look into it. This Ludwig guy on RWO sounds like he might have a clue".

[Industrial Fan]

Hayward has been woeful the past few weeks so don’t think he’ll be missed from the setup too badly.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Well they could just bring him in for Hayward .. but I imagine we will bring in a forward ( Menzel or Rose) as well so you’d have to say Stoddart goes out. Stiff but was pretty poor last week and you need to show something when you get a shot in the seniors. He’ll get plenty more opportunities next year no doubt . So Dawson for Stoddart and Menzel / Rose for Hayward .


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You're probably right but we need to give our incoming players a minimum of 2-3 games in order to prove themselves. IMO we have a history of not giving youngsters opportunities to prove themselves then losing them to others who saw their potential.

[Hotpotato]

There will be a lot of (newer) Swans members/fans unused to facing Round 19 with zip prospect of finals and the excitement that usually brings.
Luckily there is still plenty of entertainment from the tragics on here who know more about every player, potential draft pick, players from every other club, WAGS, the players pets, every injury, players favourite breakfast cereal, every possible stat you can think of, every past player and all the scores from the last 100 years.

Thanks guys , even though it gives me a headache.

[Ludwig]

Dean Cox is reading your post. He turns to JL and says; "Horse, what is a counterplay off a negative setup", "beats me Coxy". "Maybe we should look into it. This Ludwig guy on RWO sounds like he might have a clue".

Horse doesn't like me because I've been too critical of his ruck strategy. But he did finally give in and admitted he was wrong and went from the 2 ruckman to the 1 ruckman policy. The coach doesn't like to be shown up, although I do my best to give him the credit.

One by one my boys are taking their spots in the team: Lloyd, Hewett, O"Riordan, Aliir, Dawson, Rowbottom, Stoddart.

Trust me. In a year or 2 we will playing Plan Ludwig footy.

[rb4x]

The last three weeks we have been playing Plan Ludwig footy and the results have not been pretty. I am predicting another thrashing in the Hit Outs column this weekend and as a consequence we will also be way behind in the stoppage count. Geelong are apparently going with two ruckmen and we are going with none. I do not count McLean as a ruckman, just a pinch hitter. Horse is on record as saying he is predominantly a forward. If we had played Knoll in the last three games I believe we could have won them all as in all of them we were well beaten in the ruck. Knoll might not be a world beater but his NEAFL stats are not too bad and he is the only fit ruckman on our list. He could have gone some way to negating our ruck disadvantage in the last three games and would have allowed the Swans to retain their structure with Aliir in defence and Reid up forward. McLean was a revelation though well beaten in ruck but McCartin was very poor and could be rested/managed without being missed.

I am starting to wonder if Horse is not in fact tanking.

[MattW]

The notion Longmire's tanking has not crossed my mind. He is the last who would. Kennedy was firm yesterday that Longmire had indicated he'd play the best team possible.

And John made it clear that he thought McLean was the best for the job. He told us before the game that McLean was a competitor, and that was proven true. John wants to keep standards high and reward those who will be disciplined and play hard.

I am with you on the general critique of Plan Ludwig footy though. I think we should aim to get our hands on the ball at clearances more often than the opposition, and thus want a ruckman who will win the majority of ruck contests. That won't be possible until Naismith is back.

[111431]

Dare i say it, but even Dermott Brereton in yesterday's 'Hun' rated McLean a good pick up. Apparently coached him in juniors and feels he is very big and strong with a mature body. His efforts last week against the the 3 giants were very good. Against 2 more mortal ruckman who can be hot and cold i think he'll do ok