Changes for Round 12 vs St Kilda

[SwanSand]

We do need wing marks and some pressure acts on the wing. At present since Sam Reid has been injured and McLean am has started to struggle, the only player who is doing it well has been Heeney. Maybe Amartey could help us with some exit kicks on the wing and get us going. The only problem is that he will have to covered by the small forwards with the ball in opposition hands. So yes every other small forward will have to spend time up the ground. Not sure who has a better tank. Hayward had spent the most time on ground in 2020.

[Nico]

I agree that it looks like Amartey for McLean as forward/ruck, Fox for Brand in defence, and Hickey for Sinclair as ruck. This leave McDonald as a replacement for Stephens.

According to the AFL stats for the game against Carlton, Stephens played mainly midfield on a wing with some time in the middle of the ground. Although he started a number of centre bounces in the forward line, he didn't stay there so it is definitely not a like for like replacement (captain obvious). Basically, Stephens was that poor that it shouldn't be too hard to replace his stats - 2 kicks, 1 tackle, 7 pressure acts, only 20 metres gained.

I suspect it means that Heeney, Hayward, Wicks, and Paps spend a bit more time up the ground.

On an interesting side note, while looking at these stats, I noticed that Franklin played 98% TOG which blew me away.

According to the AFL app Stephens had 2 kicks, 11 hand passes, 4 marks, 1 tackle. Up to half time he had 10 hand passes.

[Nico]

Dougal Howard is almost certain to play on Buddy. The Saints don't have any defenders worth negating, unless we want to put a tag on Brad Hill, which other teams have done successfully.

Howard has been in poor form.

[MattW]

According to the AFL app Stephens had 2 kicks, 11 hand passes, 4 marks, 1 tackle. Up to half time he had 10 hand passes.

That's a good stat to demonstrate his lack of confidence. He played tight.

[Bangalore Swans]

Agree that they are the swaps.

I think they're all great.

- Hickey and Fox are improvements - best 22 players returning from injuries;
- Stephens didn't influence the game last week and I can't wait to see Logan have another crack, working with Buddy;
- McLean has been well down the last couple of weeks and looking forward to seeing what Amartey offers.

Robbie Fox is being regularly picked in the seniors and deservingly so.

I would like to know why Fox was delisted last year? He was subsequently re-listed as a rookie.

Why did the Swans not keep him on a senior contract?

[AnnieH]

Nice swaps.

[KSAS]

This week's changes makes sense as they do improve the team, particularly with Hickey coming back in (I think last week was our first win with him absent?).

Brand is a little unlucky as he seemed to gel with our backline longer the game went, but probably misses out due to match ups this week. Expect he'll get selected where additional tall is required in defence, particularly in Melican's absence.

As someone had already posted, Hewitt may get more midfield time this week (in place of Stephens) rotating through defence providing them some chop out.

[bloodspirit]

Good changes, good team this week.

I'm excited to see Logan return to the team. And will be good to see how Amartey fares too. Hopefully young McLean will benefit from a break and be able to come back again later in the season as required.

I agree with Markwebbos and co about the roles the incoming players will play i.e. Hickey for Sinclair, Amartey for McLean, Fox for Brand and, therefore, McDonald for Stephens. This is interesting because it represents a structural change to the team and our game plan this week. liz's comment is really pertinent:

That was my first reaction, but both Will and Isaac are capable of taking their turns further up the ground, Heeney at centre bounces if need be, and Hayward on a wing.

One of our weaknesses this season seems to be that we get outmarked too often in the midfield, especially since Reid got injured). That's despite having Heeney, Mills, and Parker who are all better than average overhead for their height and JPK who should be capable of marking overhead, given his height. So an additional mobile tall pushing further up the ground to provide a marking option might be a good thing - whether that's Amartey, McDonald, Buddy, or the mid-sized forwards.

I think that we mostly won't see three talls at once in our forward line. First, Amartey being able to spell (and cover for) Hickey will allow both Hickey (a bit banged up) and Amartey (not our fittest player) to rest a bit extra, which will see one tall on the bench more of the time. I note that Amartey, with his leaping ability, is a better second ruck than McLean. Second, both of Buddy, Logan and, to a lesser extent, Amartey, are mobile and able to work up the ground and get involved in the midfield, taking marks etc. I think this is how they will replace Stephens and change our midfield mix a bit. I think we will rotate which of those tall forwards is left closer to goal and keep the St Kilda defence on their toes. Meanwhile Heeney will provide both a strong and dangerous marking presence in forward 50 and be able to take a turn in the midfield. Ditto Hayward. If Logan McDonald and Joel Amartey can perform well, it's a fantastic forward line with a great mix of tall, small and medium.

***

I have some good news to report after being given a bit of a fright.

I heard Kath Loughlan on AFL Tonight say that James Rowbottom said that the Swans were keen to make the SCG a FORTRESS. Yes, she actually used that dreaded word. I was so upset that I replayed the RB interview twice, but he never used that word.

The last time that word was used in relation to the SCG was by Jarrad McVeigh, which triggered the worst home ground losing run this century.

But James showed he's a very clever lad and never said such a thing, He's definitely headed for greatness, future captaincy and a coaching career down the road.

Robbie Fox is being regularly picked in the seniors and deservingly so.

I would like to know why Fox was delisted last year? He was subsequently re-listed as a rookie.

Why did the Swans not keep him on a senior contract?

Fox was never on a senior contract. And, although the club de-listed him, they said they always hoped/intended to re-rookie him. However, I agree that he deserves promotion to the senior list. He is one of our most reliable depth players and with Melican injured and not quite breaking out he is even best 22 at the moment.

[Auntie.Gerald]

TEAM: Four changes for Round 12

Ludwig "Joel Van" Beethoven............u must be slightly excited about your young fella Joel getting a run this wknd !!!

[bloodspirit]

Hey, O'Reilly Boy and ernie k

Time to fire up your keyboards! Where have you been? We need your elder statesmanship. What are your thoughts about how we're travelling and what's working and not working? Are you game to buy into the commentary on Rowbottom? (I won't go so far as to call it a debate but I do acknowledge TB has forced me to scrutinise and second guess my opinions about RB.) What do you think we should be expecting to get out of the rest of this season? Any players you're particularly impressed by or concerned about? I would love to hear from you.

[NeonBible]

The more i think about it the more thrilled i am that Joel Amartey is getting a game! I can't believe this will be just his second game in four years on the list! Time has really flown!! He must take this opportunity as it may be his last. Key position players do get the luxury of time but theres no guarantee he'll be given a contract!! Make this chance count Joel!! Go you good thing!!

Looking at the training gallery uploaded by the swans there were some interesting things :

-Tommy McCartins leap appears to be higher than McLeans! (Unless the angle of the photo is deceiving
-Rampe is always the happiest person on the track is he not??
-Heeney was in a stoppage-like photo! Could suggest he sees some midfield time maybe?? Wouldnt be that different to what hes already been doing
-Logan McDonald has a beard!! Is he taking the name "Logan" too literally heh...
-Rowbottom is in the dreaded fluro cap! For the uninitiated, its commonly used at training to suggest the player is carrying something and not to get rough with them.
-Hayward really has an excellent kicking technique! Textbook stuff! Based on the photos at least
-I wonder how long Robbie Fox will need that glove on?? Heeney seems to be glove-free from a similar injury!

[Aaron]

Robbie Fox is being regularly picked in the seniors and deservingly so.

I would like to know why Fox was delisted last year? He was subsequently re-listed as a rookie.

Why did the Swans not keep him on a senior contract?

I think part of the reason was that we were expecting to draft at least 2 very good players from our Academy and need more vacancy in the main list to accumulate more points ready in our last draft.

[Ludwig]

TEAM: Four changes for Round 12

Ludwig "Joel Van" Beethoven............u must be slightly excited about your young fella Joel getting a run this wknd !!!

It is true that I'm both excited and a bit nervous. I've been hopeful about Amartey from the time he was drafted, but never confident he would make it. He's one of those players that fits the profile of a very good player. His skills are good, he has good size and strength, and he's quick and athletic. He can also kick the ball a mile although I wouldn't bet it would go through any pair of sticks. He came to the game late, so I'm hoping the 3½ development at the Swans has turned him into a legitimate AFL player.

Logan and Joel could be a powerful key forward combo for the next decade if things work out.

[Ludwig]

-Rowbottom is in the dreaded fluro cap! For the uninitiated, its commonly used at training to suggest the player is carrying something and not to get rough with them.

Now that Rowbottom is a media front man, we have to protect the face.

[Hotpotato]

I have some good news to report after being given a bit of a fright.

I heard Kath Loughlan on AFL Tonight say that James Rowbottom said that the Swans were keen to make the SCG a FORTRESS. Yes, she actually used that dreaded word. I was so upset that I replayed the RB interview twice, but he never used that word.

The last time that word was used in relation to the SCG was by Jarrad McVeigh, which triggered the worst home ground losing run this century.

But James showed he's a very clever lad and never said such a thing, He's definitely headed for greatness, future captaincy and a coaching career down the road.

I wish I had an alternative to using a broadcaster that would employ Eddie McGuire and Dermie, but Fox is the only provider of all the AFL games in Thailand, so I have to put up with the bad and the ugly. They hardly ever report anything about the Swans and when they do, it's usually false or a negative story.

There’s not a shadow of doubt Jimmy will take over from Eddie in Millionaire Hot Seat down the track .