Round 2 vs Essendon

[dimelb]

If we just had one ruckman who was resilient and competent, it would be enough, e.g. Sam Naismith. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

I've been hoping that Joel Amartey would continue his progress as a versatile player. Unfortunately, he's run into a bit of an injury snag. I hope it's not a bad sign of things to come. I think Joel and Aliir could make a good undersized ruck combo option. They are outsized, but do compete reasonably well and add a lot around the ground. I still have questions on Joel's competitiveness. Not negative, but just not sure. He can have a lethargic look, but sometimes that can be deceptive. He does compete well in the ruck, marks the ball well, tackles and has a booming kick, almost in the Buddy class, but far less accurate.

Sadly, I think the three words at the end sum up the fatal flaw.

[ugg]

Sydney
In: Clarke Fox Hewett Sinclair Stephens Warner
Out: Naismith (inj) Ronke (omitted)

Essendon
In: Ambrose Ham Heppell Hooker McKernan Phillips
Out: Fantasia (inj) Zerk-Thatcher (susp)

Ext benches:
Hewett Clarke Fox Warner O'Rirodan Rowbottom Stephens McInerney
Francis Phillips Laverde Parish Langford Ambrose Ham Zaharakis

[MattW]

Sydney
In: Clarke Fox Hewett Sinclair Stephens Warner
Out: Naismith (inj) Ronke (omitted)

Essendon
In: Ambrose Ham Heppell Hooker McKernan Phillips
Out: Fantasia (inj) Zerk-Thatcher (susp)

Ext benches:
Hewett Clarke Fox Warner O'Rirodan Rowbottom Stephens McInerney
Francis Phillips Laverde Parish Langford Ambrose Ham Zaharakis

Round 1 emergencies were: Clarke, Fox, Sinclair, Hewett.

So presuming Sinclair and Hewett come in for Naismith and Ronke, that suggests Warner and Stephens have been been added.

[liz]

Not sure about Ronke (omitted), given we've been told he's injured.

[Mel_C]

I just registered for the ballot seats for Sunday.
Cross your fingers and toes for me.

How did you know there was a ballot? Were you emailed?

[ugg]

How did you know there was a ballot? Were you emailed?

Yes and in the email it said the criteria is "11-game members who have pledged their support in 2020"
Ballot closes 8pm tonight!

Tickets issued in your name are not transferable


Edited: wrong criteria posted earlier on.

[MattW]

Not sure about Ronke (omitted), given we've been told he's injured.

I think Gardiner said earlier in the week that he's been fully training for a week or two, so it might just be a conditioning/management thing.

[Markwebbos]

I think Gardiner said earlier in the week that he's been fully training for a week or two, so it might just be a conditioning/management thing.

That’s my take. He’s not strictly injured but hasn’t been able to train enough to play because he was.

[bloodspirit]

That's my understanding too: he was injured (hyperextended knee during Round 1 match) but he has recovered and is back in training. He's advanced enough that Gardiner declared him technically available for selection in the recent Injury Update - however, based more on comments a couple of weeks ago I figure he's a bit of a longshot at this stage and still needs to get more training and fitness under his belt.

[Meg]

Yes and in the email it said the criteria is "11-game members who have pledged their support in 2020".

Which effectively limited the ballot to Sydney/NSW members. But given the match is at SCG and State border restrictions that makes sense anyway.

[Markwebbos]

After complaining about being overlooked, I qualify but I’m not in Sydney this weekend.

[snajik]

It's probably the case that I haven't been paying attention but there is now an 8 player extension bench as opposed to 7. Still a 4 man interchange bench on match day though, no extension to the actual numbers of interchange players for 2020? there was talk of it at one stage.

[liz]

It's probably the case that I haven't been paying attention but there is now an 8 player extension bench as opposed to 7.

That change was introduced for the start of the 2019 season.

[snajik]

Well. Clearly I've been zoning out for some time in that case. Was there a rationale for this?

[liz]

Well. Clearly I've been zoning out for some time in that case. Was there a rationale for this?

Possibly. No real idea what it was. You might need to take a deep dive inside Steve Hocking's brain to discover whatever it was. Maybe he was just bored one day.