Changes for Round 5: Swans vs GWS

[KTigers]

I know it's popular to bag Steve Johnson on here, but the reality is he has been hired as a coach by two AFL clubs immediately after his
retirement as a player.

[NeonBible]

Whatever Laidler says in the very little info he provides on the Reserves team, there is no way Melican can force his way into the 22. His current style of play is totally against how the side is playing fast open and attacking from the backline. I've watched Melican closely and he is on his heels most of the time and lacks the mindset of the current 22. I don't think Bell will remain in the 22 which means Rowbottom, Stephen or Ling will be in the 22. I'm disappointed to not see more spread across the Swans listed players in the Reserves from Laidler. Gould for one I'm looking for. The reserves have played Giants for last 4 weeks and will take them on again this next weekend at the oval next to SCG prior to main game. So we will have the opportunity to see for ourselves how all the players are actually going.

Rickmat, what makes you so certain Rowbottom, Ling or Stephens will be in the 22, but Melican won't be? I'd say Melican has as much claim to a spot as those guys, maybe even more so. Maybe not RB. We might need another tall - Himmelberg, Finlayson and Riccardi is a TOUGH forward line to defend against. We must stop them AND Toby Greene.

My thoughts
Melican in, takes a tall and frees up Rampe to shut down Greene. 2 AA talents, what a match up that would be!! Not sure where that leaves Rowbottom though if fit. Lots to think about.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

As mentioned by AB Swannie, they have a battery of inside bulls (Ward, Green, Taranto, Hopper) and maybe Mommy, so JPK, Parker and Mills will face a challenge. So if the Giants are unable to keep it in tight and overcome our three hard nuts, then if Coniglio, Perryman and Whitfield miss again, our mosquito fleet could run riot completely.

If that occurs, and Reid, Buddy and Logan can maintain separation then they should be able to feast on some silver service from that mosquito fleet and overwhelm Taylor, Keefe and Buntine - I only rate the former. Defensively up forward I also expect Hayward to reprise his role on Haynes and hope Wicks can make Ash's life difficult, the latter has replaced Williams with aplomb.

When discussing the Giants forward lines marking targets, you need to add Riccardi, to Himmelburg, Finlayson and Greene. It was his first game back and he will be better for the run. So I think Melican (or Brand) may well be needed. Daniels and Hill are only intermittently dangerous and HarryC and Lloyd (whose defensive game has improved hugely over the last coupe of seasons) have the ability to control them.

[The Runner]

Does anyone else feel that our style of play is least suited to our home ground?

[707]

Greene was the difference between the 2 teams. 5 goals from 14 says it all. Perplexing why Buckley didn't move Maynard on to him earlier. I wouldn't put Hewett onto him as Greene is way too quick on the lead. It might be a team effort.

How bad is Collingwood going? Forward line is non existent. Buckley must be on the chopping block and so should their chief recruiter. This has been a problem for them since Cloke went sour.

The interview with their recruiter Ned Guy after the trade period was both train crash painful and deliciously delightful. Poor bloke trying to put a positive spin on giving away top players for peanuts to regenerate their list. Long may the Pies demise continue!

I will be most disappointed if we let GWS beat us and get their season back on track, a must win from multiple perspectives.

[waswan]

Logan in a moonboot ?
I reckon Sydney playing silly buggers, rest him with full pay.

[longmile]

Can we collectively stop wishing for melicans recall. I can't see a single reason why.

Agreed. Brand much better alternative.

[barracuda]

I know it's popular to bag Steve Johnson on here, but the reality is he has been hired as a coach by two AFL clubs immediately after his
retirement as a player.

The swans forward line didn't work under stevie J, but is now flying under McVeigh. The Giants forward line is not going well under Stevie J. The fact the Giants hired him says more about where they are at as a club.

[barry]

The interview with their recruiter Ned Guy after the trade period was both train crash painful and deliciously delightful. Poor bloke trying to put a positive spin on giving away top players for peanuts to regenerate their list. Long may the Pies demise continue!

I will be most disappointed if we let GWS beat us and get their season back on track, a must win from multiple perspectives.

Very interesting game. I dont think lead in form means much in cross town derbies. 60/40 our way based on home ground and GWS injury list.

[Ludwig]

Can we collectively stop wishing for melicans recall. I can't see a single reason why.

I think Melican is our best chance for the fullback position. We gave Melican a new 3 year contract, while trading out Aliir, so some folks at head office feel that this is the future.

Melican has played well over stretches of time, and has been recognised as playing well by most on RWO during those periods. Then he has a bad game or two and everyone is ready to delist him. I don't deny that he has his bad games, and can string them together as well, but if we look at what his best has to offer, he can be a very solid fullback. It's just a matter of consistency. Most players can reach that high level with dedication and good coaching. I think we have both in this case and expect Melican to become a staple in our back line along with McCartin, who effectively takes over the role we had slated for Aliir.

Longer term, I hope Gould will fill in the role vacated once Rampe retires (hopefully many years from now).

We need to construct a defence that can repel 3 tall forwards plus a dangerous strong marking smaller forward. For the Swans, we have Franklin, Reid, McDonald and Heeney. The Giants have Finlayson, Ricardi, Himmelberg and Greene. This is a fairly common type of forward line these days. A couple of quick dangerous small forwards added to the mix to make up the 6 forwards.

We are not far off the mark. When Fox was in the mix instead of Hewett, we looked better because of Fox' quickness and close checking. We also look more capable if we can get Rampe playing on a smaller forward and rolling off for intercept marking and defending the goal square.

For me, Melican seems the best bet to accomplice the structure we need going forward. If someone like Brand or O'Connor can step up to provide a better option, I'm all for it.

[O'Reilly Boy]

I think Melican is our best chance for the fullback position. We gave Melican a new 3 year contract, while trading out Aliir, so some folks at head office feel that this is the future.

Melican has played well over stretches of time, and has been recognised as playing well by most on RWO during those periods. Then he has a bad game or two and everyone is ready to delist him. I don't deny that he has his bad games, and can string them together as well, but if we look at what his best has to offer, he can be a very solid fullback. It's just a matter of consistency. Most players can reach that high level with dedication and good coaching. I think we have both in this case and expect Melican to become a staple in our back line along with McCartin, who effectively takes over the role we had slated for Aliir.

Longer term, I hope Gould will fill in the role vacated once Rampe retires (hopefully many years from now).

We need to construct a defence that can repel 3 tall forwards plus a dangerous strong marking smaller forward. For the Swans, we have Franklin, Reid, McDonald and Heeney. The Giants have Finlayson, Ricardi, Himmelberg and Greene. This is a fairly common type of forward line these days. A couple of quick dangerous small forwards added to the mix to make up the 6 forwards.

We are not far off the mark. When Fox was in the mix instead of Hewett, we looked better because of Fox' quickness and close checking. We also look more capable if we can get Rampe playing on a smaller forward and rolling off for intercept marking and defending the goal square.

For me, Melican seems the best bet to accomplice the structure we need going forward. If someone like Brand or O'Connor can step up to provide a better option, I'm all for it.

Interview with Melican on club website. That suggests that he's in the frame. Some good vision of him in the Ressies match spoiling, and taking marks and playing on.

[Vonsteinman]

Heads up everyone, according to SEN, Toby Greene is a clear competition leader in the ‘Frees For’ category this season with 16. Next best have 13. I’ll personally be avoiding consuming any goods that are easy to choke on while watching on Saturday.

[AB Swannie]

Does anyone else feel that our style of play is least suited to our home ground?

I disagree. Although the SCG is relatively short (155m) it is actually relatively wide (136m). It is 2 metres less than MCG (138m) in width but wider than Marvel (129m), Adelaide (126m), and even Optus (130m). GMHBA is a skinny skinny 117m.

What it means is that a zone defence is spread more thinly through the midfield and so going through there is easier by foot than at thinner grounds.

If you’d like to know all the ground dimensions, I got my info from this Foxsports article (which I assume is current enough).

[barry]

I think Melican is our best chance for the fullback position. ...

We also look more capable if we can get Rampe playing on a smaller forward and rolling off for intercept marking and defending the goal square.

I dont agree. Rampe is our best full back by a country mile, and is quite happy to take on big forwards. Him and McCartin can take care of most key forward combo's.
Melican would upset the balance to much in my opinion.

[stevoswan]

There’s really no way to see that clearly and if he actually hit a guy in the head hard enough to break his own hand I’m sure we’d have known more about it immediately.

Bombers fans on Twitter are so gracious lol.

Tim Watson said he didn't hit him in the head but in the chest/collar bone region. It's an off the ball 'don't argue' to me.....he just over did it. Silly boy.....he'll learn from it.