Changes for Round 11 v Carlton

[NeonBible]

So its McInerney, Sinclair and Brand in for Hickey (knee injury), Fox (eye injury), Blakey (omitted) and Clarke (medical sub - omitted)

This will make some happy. Hickey is a very big loss for us, he changes the make up of our team. The game starts at the ruck contests and we can pencil us in for a loss in that area already!! It will be up to our midfielders to even up that ledger - just on the midfielders, I wonder if we have one too many?? Five inside mids - Joey, Parks, Mills, RB, Chad.. Three wingman - McInerney, Ollie, Dylan... in previous weeks we've rotated at least one inside mid to the outside but it seems we have that spare outside mid already, so I wonder if we could see one of the inside mids moved to another role?? Mills back to defence?? Help out against the man mountain that is McKay?? Or Parker fwd? Then we have too many medium forwards with Heeney and Hayward also! Or could TheBloods get his way and Rowbottom will be in defence??

So many options! Intriguing!! Very excited for this game!!

CHEER CHEER

[liz]

On that list, I think COR would be this week's medical sub and one of the others would be a game-day emergency (not sure who).

They can all be game-day emergencies since all else they've got to do this weekend is thumb twiddle.

[longmile]

You'd imagine if Naismith gets through this weeks ressies game, he'll be on for next week

[Bexl]

You'd imagine if Naismith gets through this weeks ressies game, he'll be on for next week

What ressies game?

[longmile]

What ressies game?

true....

I forgot!

Either way I don't think we'll have to rely on Sinkers as a back up ruckman for much longer

[Ludwig]

Carlton have gone very tall in their forward line with 3 players over 2 metres plus Silvagni at 194cm.. We look very undersized in defence even with Brand coming into the team. Our defence is neither particularly tall nor quick. Wet conditions could suit us under the circumstances, but predicting how these mismatches turn out is always difficult. We will have to try to keep their forwards from marking too close to goal.

[MattW]

Sigh.

As I've said before, I feel like playing Sinclair in the ruck is like starting the game at -12. I have a foreboding feeling in any game he starts. We've gone from a ruckman who contributes to winning, to one who hinders it.

Like Ludwig, I fear for our defence.

McLean, Wicks and Hayward in our forward line are coming off poor games.

McInerney back will help.

[SwanSand]

Carlton have gone very tall in their forward line with 3 players over 2 metres plus Silvagni at 194cm.. We look very undersized in defence even with Brand coming into the team. Our defence is neither particularly tall nor quick. Wet conditions could suit us under the circumstances, but predicting how these mismatches turn out is always difficult. We will have to try to keep their forwards from marking too close to goal.

And give away silly free kicks by chopping their arms.

[Matty10]

As I've said before, I feel like playing Sinclair in the ruck is like starting the game at -12. I have a foreboding feeling in any game he starts. We've gone from a ruckman who contributes to winning, to one who hinders it.

The hallmark of Sinclair’s time with the Swans has been his commitment and effort. He has busted himself trying to help us win. Admittedly, he hasn’t looked great this year (and may well be feeling the pressure of not having a genuine spot in the team when everyone is fit), but that is not his story over the journey.

He is clearly not our first ruck choice, but I don’t think he hinders our ability to win.

[MattW]

The hallmark of Sinclair’s time with the Swans has been his commitment and effort. He has busted himself trying to help us win. Admittedly, he hasn’t looked great this year (and may well be feeling the pressure of not having a genuine spot in the team when everyone is fit), but that is not his story over the journey.

He is clearly not our first ruck choice, but I don’t think he hinders our ability to win.

Agree on the first two sentences, and yes, I should have acknowledged that.

The drop off started last year and has worsened this year.

As for the last sentence, I think the improvement in our performance this year has been substantially contributed to by having a functional ruck. Callum gets beaten in the ruck and around the ground. He's not taking marks. He gives away free kicks. We need to win despite being beaten in those areas.

[Bangalore Swans]

The hallmark of Sinclair’s time with the Swans has been his commitment and effort. He has busted himself trying to help us win. Admittedly, he hasn’t looked great this year (and may well be feeling the pressure of not having a genuine spot in the team when everyone is fit), but that is not his story over the journey.

He is clearly not our first ruck choice, but I don’t think he hinders our ability to win.

Always loved Sinclair’s effort and commitment. He is always ready to go to work and will never relent in his desire to do his job.

[Aprilbr]

Opposition teams are trying to exploit our lack of size in defence. Melbourne and Freo both managed to do this very effectively in recent weeks. Carlton looks like they are trying to do the same in bringing in Casboult who can certainly take a big grab.

Hickey is arguably our most important player at present, so his loss for this match is huge. We are quite vulnerable with him out. I also feel that we could really do with Reid's height and flexibility at present. Melican in defence is another player we miss although his performances can be up and down. Let's hope Brandt can perform Melican's role to an acceptable level this week.

[The Runner]

I'd be more concerned with Stephens than Gould at this point in time when talking of busts. I don't think he will be one, but he's yet to impact a game they way you hope a pick 5 would have. Having a great tank is a foundation, not a huge differentiator these days.
Some players take time to develop, and learn their craft. I think both Gould and Stephens fit in to this, and should hopefully get more time in the back end of the year.

Sinclair coming in is never a good thing. However, playing Pittonet is probably his best match up. Neither will jump more than an inch tomorrow in ruck contests.

I'm genuinely excited about our forwards tomorrow. They have 2 defenders in their entire 22. Saad, Williams, Newman and Docherty are all running creators, and none even slightly capable of going with Heeney, Papley, Hayward. McLean will play a role to try to keep Jones or Weitering away from half back.

And we have the right balance in defence. McCartin to McKay, Brand to Casboult, Rampe to play the extra role. Hewett to Cripps when he rests forward.

If we lose tomorrow, it will be in the middle. We've got the better of both ends.

[greeng]

Hickey out due to injury and Carlton currently 12th on the ladder. A danger game for us.

[Nico]

Surely Hewett tags either Walsh or Cripps.