Changes for R8: Swans vs Melbourne

[barry]

Hickey would be an ok forward. He's a good mark, and great kick. I can see us playing both at the same time.

[Ralph Dawg]

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

The modern ruckman needs to be able to not only tap to advantage but also win their own clearances, get around the park to support the defence and take marks in F50 and kick the odd goal. Hickey has done all this, hence his importance to the team.

Naismith is only good for hitouts. He has minimal influence elsewhere. His metrics, other then hitouts are poor, many bettered by Sinclair. There seems to be this thought that he serves it on a platter to our mids. I call BS on this. When he last played consistently for us, we had a dominant midfield that thrived at the contest. For them, it didn't matter who won the hitouts, they would invariably win the clearance. It was so strong that Tom Mitchell could barely crack a regular gig in ones.

As always, happy to be proven wrong but I can't see why Naismith is required whilst Hickey is in the side and playing like he is. Remember, he last played regular footy for us 3-4 years ago and is coming off his second ACL recon.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

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

We'd have to have the pair of them both at 100% at the same moment in time. Which seems a bit of a long shot.
As caj23 said Naismith is a #1 ruckman, unless he's developed some new tricks while he's been injured.
Hickey's career thus far contains no evidence of him being able to share the #1 mantle - very few ruckman can.

RalphDawg's comment that Sam is "only" good for hitouts, misses the point a bit. While hitouts aren't everything, when your hitouts were as good as Sams were, I think there's a little less need to compensate with other facets.

[Nico]

We'd have to have the pair of them both at 100% at the same moment in time. Which seems a bit of a long shot.
As caj23 said Naismith is a #1 ruckman, unless he's developed some new tricks while he's been injured.
Hickey's career thus far contains no evidence of him being able to share the #1 mantle - very few ruckman can.

RalphDawg's comment that Sam is "only" good for hitouts, misses the point a bit. While hitouts aren't everything, when your hitouts were as good as Sams were, I think there's a little less need to compensate with other facets.

What if Sam does a Hickey and reaches his best footy at an older age, like a lot of rucks do. Then we have a dilemma.

[Ralph Dawg]

What if Sam does a Hickey and reaches his best footy at an older age, like a lot of rucks do. Then we have a dilemma.

If you watch old footage of Hick, he has always been pretty skillful. I didn't realise though that he had such a good tank.
I've seen no evidence of either of these with the Cray and he had the added issue of multiple ACL ruptures and soft tissue injuries.
As I said, more than happy to be proven wrong but if I had to put money on it, I'd say it ain't happening.

[Captain]

Hickey is also a much better kick than Naismith (better than some of our midfielders as well if truth be told).

[Ludwig]

Chances are that there will be more weeks when both Hickey and Naismith are injured than when both are fit to play.

[SwanSand]

I reckon we match well in the middle of the field with the Dees. Where we need to match up with them is intercept marks, rebound 50, and wing running. Ben Brown and Tom McDonald are going to hurt us only if their intercept game gets going and wingman are off the leash. Pickett on the other hand will need very close attention. Cunningham will get the job or maybe Campbell comes back and plays close to him. They have genuine fast small forwards.

Loss of Tomlinson will make Steven May accountable. So hopefully we will prevent their intercept game. Hickey will have to be on alert with Gawn going into defence and offensive 50. Don’t worry about Petracca - he won’t hurt us if we control the wing and rebound.

[111431]

The modern ruckman needs to be able to not only tap to advantage but also win their own clearances, get around the park to support the defence and take marks in F50 and kick the odd goal. Hickey has done all this, hence his importance to the team.

Naismith is only good for hitouts. He has minimal influence elsewhere. His metrics, other then hitouts are poor, many bettered by Sinclair. There seems to be this thought that he serves it on a platter to our mids. I call BS on this. When he last played consistently for us, we had a dominant midfield that thrived at the contest. For them, it didn't matter who won the hitouts, they would invariably win the clearance. It was so strong that Tom Mitchell could barely crack a regular gig in ones.

As always, happy to be proven wrong but I can't see why Naismith is required whilst Hickey is in the side and playing like he is. Remember, he last played regular footy for us 3-4 years ago and is coming off his second ACL recon.

agree 100%. Sam is a one trick pony whereas the Wild Thing plays like an additional onballer

[Ludwig]

The Demons are vulnerable.

• Christian Petracca has been doing all the tv and radio shows this week, spending any remaining time with his accountant. When you're better than Dusty, you don't have to train.
• Clayton Oliver has been singing What About Me? in the shower. He's threatening to join his brother Jaime in the restaurant business unless he gets $7 million.
  
• Gerard Healy has turned his hand to film production with yet another remake of A Star is Born, this time starring Kysiah Pickett alongside Lady Gaga. He's already better than Cyril and Maurice combined. Nothing else to do in life.

[ugg]

On the app it says

In Blakey Fox Franklin Rampe
Out Clarke Heeney Melican Stephens

Emg Heeney Bell Brand

Only 3 emergencies?

[The Runner]

Blakey is an emergency, it's 5 on the bench in the app

[MattW]

On the app it says

In Blakey Fox Franklin Rampe
Out Clarke Heeney Melican Stephens

Emg Heeney Bell Brand

Only 3 emergencies?

I suspect this is right:
TEAM: Three big inclusions.

[Markwebbos]

No Hewett or Stephens.

Wonder who plays on Langdon and Petracca?

[longmile]

Weird thing to me is the amount of tall forwards. Hickey, Sinclair, Franklin and McLean.

Bit harsh on Stephens I feel! He should get a run and I think he should be the sub.

However I think this is close to our best 22. Heeney, O'Riordan and Reid for Sinclair, Stephens/Campbell and McLean and we're there!