Changes for round 19 - Geelong

[mattybloods]

Agree with everything you say, and yet I don't think any of us would be hugely surprised if he was named

McLean had a great debut match last week. It's hard to see anyone coming in and having more of an impact (including Naismith). I think he'll be in the team for the rest of the year

[707]

McLean had a great debut match last week. It's hard to see anyone coming in and having more of an impact (including Naismith). I think he'll be in the team for the rest of the year

McLean was a surprise packet last week, a lot to like about his game, particularly when you factor in his background and injury problems, so almost certain he'll play out the year in the seniors.

[Markwebbos]

McLean competed but he got monstered and the clearance differential was one of the worst recorded in the AFL this year.

But it was against 3 ruckman including a guy 6 inches taller.

I wonder if they’ll use the rest of the season to give Knoll etc a try or just tell McLean he’s ducking for the rest of the year.

[mattybloods]

McLean competed but he got monstered and the clearance differential was one of the worst recorded in the AFL this year.

But it was against 3 ruckman including a guy 6 inches taller.

I wonder if they’ll use the rest of the season to give Knoll etc a try or just tell McLean he’s ducking for the rest of the year.

There must be something about Knoll they don't like. For McLean to come in, compete well and lay 8 tackles is really promising. Unless Knoll suddenly hits a hot streak it'll be McLean for the year

[MattW]

This is some sort of a myth. The Swans are the best team in the AFL scoring from play originating in their defensive zone. The Swans are obviously not doing so well scoring from stoppages and turnovers.

Naismith hasn't played in 2 years. You can't just bring him back to play AFL. He needs to be carefully managed. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't play senior football this year (something I predicted at the time of his injury). See NicNat as an example. I would also put Buddy on ice. It's getting to the point in the season where it hardly makes sense to play him, even if fully recovered. I would like to see both fit and ready to get in a full preseason than play now in meaningless games.

I thought Longmire implied in his Monday presser that they're looking forward to Naismith playing this year. It won't be this week, maybe next.

I think they'll be keen to see how he goes, as it's relevant to post-season strategy. Also, they are keen to keep their structure and they won't want to knock McLean's confidence too much. Like Sinclair, McLean is more a forward, second ruck.

[Ralph Dawg]

I thought Longmire implied in his Monday presser that they're looking forward to Naismith playing this year. It won't be this week, maybe next.

I think they'll be keen to see how he goes, as it's relevant to post-season strategy. Also, they are keen to keep their structure and they won't want to knock McLean's confidence too much. Like Sinclair, McLean is more a forward, second ruck.

Lots of tall forward options moving into 2020. Buddy, Reid, McCartain, Sinclair, McLean and Amartey. Blakey and Dawson both tall enough to play 3rd tall as well. I really hope Naismith makes a good comeback and we also recruit a decent ruck in the off season.

[liz]

There must be something about Knoll they don't like. For McLean to come in, compete well and lay 8 tackles is really promising. Unless Knoll suddenly hits a hot streak it'll be McLean for the year

I think it will be McLean for this week, but I don't think the match committee needs to be making decisions now for the rest of the year. Maybe McLean will struggle in game two. Maybe Knoll will have a blinder in the NEAFL over the next week or so. Or Amartey. Or maybe Naismith will make a senior return in the last couple of weeks.

[Blood Fever]

Lots of tall forward options moving into 2020. Buddy, Reid, McCartain, Sinclair, McLean and Amartey. Blakey and Dawson both tall enough to play 3rd tall as well. I really hope Naismith makes a good comeback and we also recruit a decent ruck in the off season.

Dawson an option up forward but prefer him delivering, Malceski like, inside 50. He can also drift up and kick long bomb goals.

[barracuda]

There must be something about Knoll they don't like. For McLean to come in, compete well and lay 8 tackles is really promising. Unless Knoll suddenly hits a hot streak it'll be McLean for the year

I think Knoll is struggling with tap craft. He is also struggling on techniques to negate an opposition ruckman. I think you can getting a very good gauge on where a ruckman is at on these skills by looking at what the midfielders are doing. When I watch Knoll I see midfielders like Kieran Jack going man on man, and standing slightly behind their opponent. This is a pretty good sign that they have every confidence that the opposition ruckman will not only win the tap but also control it.

[Blood Fever]

I think Knoll is struggling with tap craft. He is also struggling on techniques to negate an opposition ruckman. I think you can getting a very good gauge on where a ruckman is at on these skills by looking at what the midfielders are doing. When I watch Knoll I see midfielders like Kieran Jack going man on man, and standing slightly behind their opponent. This is a pretty good sign that they have every confidence that the opposition ruckman will not only win the tap but also control it.

It seems that, understandably, we did this in the ones as well. Puts the team on the back foot as far as clearances are concerned.

[jono2707]

It seems that, understandably, we did this in the ones as well. Puts the team on the back foot as far as clearances are concerned.

Also makes us more susceptible to giving away free kicks.

[stevoswan]

McLean had a great debut match last week. It's hard to see anyone coming in and having more of an impact (including Naismith). I think he'll be in the team for the rest of the year

+1

[Blood Fever]

Also makes us more susceptible to giving away free kicks.

Probably right. Too reactive. In one centre square bounce, Allir got the clear tap but a Freo player ran on to it. We rely on holding the ball in and trying to win it from there.

[Mel_C]

Probably right. Too reactive. In one centre square bounce, Allir got the clear tap but a Freo player ran on to it. We rely on holding the ball in and trying to win it from there.

I remember this happening and the commentator said it should be called a hitout to disadvantage!

[Ludwig]

I think it will be McLean for this week, but I don't think the match committee needs to be making decisions now for the rest of the year. Maybe McLean will struggle in game two. Maybe Knoll will have a blinder in the NEAFL over the next week or so. Or Amartey. Or maybe Naismith will make a senior return in the last couple of weeks.

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.