Changes for Round 5: Swans vs GWS

[TheBloods]

Wouldnt be moving Mills from midfield. Keep Hewett there let him take Greene. Is Brand available? Would play him over Melican. Hope Bell keeps his spot

In Brand Rowbottom Stephens
Out Rampe Heeney Blakey

[AB Swannie]

Lloyd and Cunningham are both in the leadership group this year, so we should expect that they can handle the organizing in defence.

We've been lucky with injuries until now, so we just have to suck it up and show that we have the depth to cover several of our regulars being out.

I largely agree that we need to suck it up and avoid restructuring our whole team to replace Rampe. However, I also think that there is a difference between being in our leadership group and knowing how to organise the defence. Organising a defence also depends a lot on where you are playing in terms of seeing the field. This creates a big opportunity for McCartin who I think can and will do this job with aplomb.

[Ralph Dawg]

What are the chances of Rowbum being fit? Another poster said he saw him in a cafe in Melbourne with his leg in a brace and limping on the weekend.

[Markwebbos]

Wouldnt be moving Mills from midfield. Keep Hewett there let him take Greene. Is Brand available? Would play him over Melican. Hope Bell keeps his spot

In Brand Rowbottom Stephens
Out Rampe Heeney Blakey

For once I agree with you re: keeping Mills in the mids.

How far away is Fox? He plays rather Rampe like, but then so should the enigmatic Manchild Gould.

[stevoswan]

It would be interesting to know what's going on with Gould. He looks absolutely ripped so clearly he's been getting through his fitness and strength requirements. Certainly at a junior level, he looked to have good disposal and he was able to match it with the men in the SANFL. So I do wonder what's holding up his development? Is he struggling to understand the structures?

I have been having the same thoughts. It is one of our clubs biggest mysteries at the moment. I was so excited when we drafted him......and over a year later......nothing to see here? I hope he gets his chance soon.

[NeonBible]

What are the chances of Rowbum being fit? Another poster said he saw him in a cafe in Melbourne with his leg in a brace and limping on the weekend.

Hi Ralph that was me. No brace but his knee was strapped. I was surprised to see him limping but i suppose it could be a standard symptom so dont take it to mean his recovery isnt going well. Kept mum on a return date and issued the company line of "we'll see", but was in good spirits and very friendly.

[liz]

Rowbottom (especially his bottom) is featured in today's training gallery.

[Ralph Dawg]

I have been having the same thoughts. It is one of our clubs biggest mysteries at the moment. I was so excited when we drafted him......and over a year later......nothing to see here? I hope he gets his chance soon.

It is bizaare isn't it? Even last year when we were so short on talls he still didn't get a chance. I'll be optimistic and say they only want him in when he's well and truly ready and when that time comes, watch out!

[Ludwig]

Rowbottom (especially his bottom) is featured in today's training gallery.

I just though I should mention that photo 1/11 is a photo of Rowbottom's face. Easy mistake to make.

[HeeneyIsAGun]

Out: Rampe, Bell, Heeney
In: Melican, Rowbottom/Stephens, Hayward

[MattW]

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.

On your first paragraph, there's also the likelihood that Aliir's market value equated to Hickey's and I doubt we'd have gotten anything for Melican last October/November.

On the second paragraph, I was optimistic about Melican, but alarmed at his performances last year. He appeared to have lost some pace compared to 2017-2018, when he looked really good.

It was pleasing to hear he was BOG on the weekend and am hopeful he can take that into this game this Saturday night (when he'll surely come in for Rampe).

[The Runner]

There was a quote last week from Horse that they will need to play Mills down back at some point during the year. The fact Rampe had a broken finger at the time, and facing surgery, suggests the coaches were preparing for this.

I think Mills to the backline, Rowbottom to the middle to replace him, and Hayward in for Heeney feels like the logical path the coaches would take. Would be surprised if there isn't an extra change to get Stephens in.

I'm not too worried about their tall forward line. McCartin to Himmelberg, Dawson to Finlayson, Cunningham to Riccardi. Then it's who gets Greene.

[giant]

Do they play Reid back? Probably not to start with, but will be a useful plan B for the coaches.

[barry]

Why are we (unbeaten) worrying so much about a forward line from a team that's won one game?
Trust the system.

[Ludwig]

On the second paragraph, I was optimistic about Melican, but alarmed at his performances last year. He appeared to have lost some pace compared to 2017-2018, when he looked really good.

Melican started off the season last on shaky grounds, but he came back to play the final 8 games and did pretty well. It must have been good enough to get a 3 year contract. My concern with Melican is that he can fall off the edge a bit if he has a bad game or several losing contests in a row. He has to learn to just go out and play his game and not get overtaken by his emotions. It's tough on defenders these days, so he's going to lose a fair share of one on ones.

You may have felt that Melican lost some pace last year, but it's not likely to be the case. With the kind of training these players do these days, they usually improve their running ability until age and injury slow them down. Melican doesn't have a great turning circle, but his closing speed is quite good and once he gets on the move he can really motor. His kicking on the run is also pretty good for both distance and accuracy.

I don't see why he shouldn't settle in to play his best football on a more consistent basis. There's no guarantee, but chances are it will happen.