Changes for R8: Swans vs Melbourne

[Blood Relative]

I'm with the blogger - very surprised to read so much negative commentary on COR, thought both he and Melican were very solid.

+1

[graemed]

I'm with the blogger - very surprised to read so much negative commentary on COR, thought both he and Melican were very solid.

+2

COR was great, controlled his opponents, provided overlap and options offensively, tackled well and supported both KPD against Cameron and Hawkins in marking contests and when breaking up leading lanes.

[Kafka's Ghost]

+2

COR was great, controlled his opponents, provided overlap and options offensively, tackled well and supported both KPD against Cameron and Hawkins in marking contests and when breaking up leading lanes.

His kicking was also excellent; the pass to McInerney was first class.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I'd bring in Franklin for Sinkers as I think McLean could ruck well against Jackson. McLean is a pretty hardworking aggresive ruck from memory and could put the younger Jackson under pressure.

McLean may be a hardworking, but so far he's also a losing ruck. I suspect Jackson will have a day out when the pair are relieving Gawn and Hickey

[TheBloods]

Hewett replaces Rowbottom in midfield, RB to a flank. Buddy replaces Sinclair. Rampe replaces Melican. Fox as medical sub.

Silly talk of not playing Heeney. Hes a big boy he has played under duress before and will do it again

[Ludwig]

Hewett replaces Rowbottom in midfield, RB to a flank. Buddy replaces Sinclair. Rampe replaces Melican. Fox as medical sub.

Silly talk of not playing Heeney. Hes a big boy he has played under duress before and will do it again

So, who goes out for Hewett? Or is the flank somewhere in Afghanistan?

[TheBloods]

So, who goes out for Hewett? Or is the flank somewhere in Afghanistan?

Wicks or Gulden

[Bloods05]

Keeping Rowbottom in the team is a significant change from your previously help position on Rowbottom.

Can you outline for the forum how Rowbottom impressed against Geelong for you to support his retention in the team? How can you see Rowbottom working on a flank in tandem with Stephens and J-Mac?

Is this what we would call counter-trolling?

[Rod_]

Wouldn't you love to see Naismith and Hickey play this week? Only 2 weeks away and has been training with the team...

Buddy vs Sinclair or McClean Sinclair out.
Hewitt vs COR or Fox or Stevens Hewitt in and coin toss for COR vs Stevens. Fox one more week in the seconds to build to full game.
Wicks vs Guilden Mute point as both to stay in the side
Ramps replaces Melican
Heeney is playing through injury. Still commands the 2nd best backman - plays. (Due for a blinder)

[Markwebbos]

I wondered if we’d play Naismith and Hickey, when (if) both are fit?

[Bangalore Swans]

Is this what we would call counter-trolling?

Apologies mate. Naughty of me. I’ve deleted my post. If you delete your counter post to me then we can move this on.

Apologies again.

[stevoswan]

Heeney is playing through injury. Still commands the 2nd best backman - plays. (Due for a blinder)

I agree that Heeney stays but he will only play a blinder if he can mark strongly, which he couldn't last week. Dropped mark to ice the game a case in point.....so we'll see how that goes this week.

[bloodspirit]

I wondered if we’d play Naismith and Hickey, when (if) both are fit?

I don't think we can generally afford to play both. Better off having someone else who offers more around the field and defensively instead of second, full-time ruck. We get enough benefit from having just Hickey. The additional benefits of having Naismith too would be more than offset by the cost. If we were to play two rucks, one of them should be a forward-ruck but it seems we (at last!) have two pure rucks on our list. Naismith will be a great back-up for Hickey once he's fit and in form.

[caj23]

Even if he could get himself fit enough to return to the seniors, Naismith offers absolutely nothing up forward or around the ground, he's a no.1 ruck or nothing.

I suspect Hickey is in the same boat, his effectiveness would be diminished playing forward

[Rod_]

I would play Hickey and Naismith against a lot of clubs. Saints, Eagles, Dees to name a few.

One would rest in the forward line most of the time. Hickey has proven he can kick goals and would stretch most backlines. Agree that Naismith is like a new player and would need to prove his worth in the forward line. However if he was able to ruck 60% plus of the time, what a bonus.