Changes v West Coast

[TheBloods]

I know, right. I'd been looking forward to Lewis' body work and defensive spoils on Oscar Allen . . .

we are kidding ourselves if we think blakey is gonna do any of that ! Will just flap around like a wounded bird as usual and god help us if he needs to show composure out of the back 50

[longmile]

I was feeling positive about this week until I saw the changes. Bell and Blakey are two passengers we can't afford to have in the team in a must win game. Hope they prove me wrong ... but on their past performances, I highly doubt it.

[Markwebbos]

Are we sure they are going to unleash the lizard on the HBF? He’s played a couple of VFL games there.

[SwanSand]

Observations from those selections:

Blakey for Brand:
- Blakey selected to give us some height in the backline. That says a lot about the parlous state of our defensive stocks and is revealing as to the match committee's views on Brand, O'Riordan and Gould - actual defenders.
- Rightly so re Brand. Brand was a liability last week, not just with that shocking handball. His disposal was uncertain and his movement poor. Suspect his cards are marked.

Wicks for Rowbottom
- Wicks was always going to come in, but assumption was that it was for Bell. The fact that it was for Rowbottom demonstrates the difficulties he's having with that knee. It's a bit concerning that he needs a rest a week after the first game back from a bye and raises a question as to what benefit one extra week will provide. I wonder whether he'd benefit from a Gulden/Campbell type break.
- Also revealing that none of Taylor, Stephens or Ronke came in for Bell. I thought Bell was unplayable last week (his performance had me wistfully recalling the days a sub could be activated without an injury). He had a couple of decent uncontested possessions in the fourth but needs to impact the contest a lot more. The time is now. But no-one is smashing down the door (or even knocking).

I know it may be premature but let’s put Gulden in the middle, He is small but geez he has skills, and great courage.

[Bangalore Swans]

Hawks Number One ticket holder Matt Stevic, he'll stitch us up as he always does.

Thing I'll now have a decent bet on West Coast, Stevic will get them across the line!

I’ve had a few champagnes, happy hour at home.

Can we have a game where we leave the umpires alone and focus exclusively on Swans players doing their jobs?

Once the umpire has made a decision it stands.

[AB Swannie]

Managed is a politicians way of saying dropped !

WTF are we playing Blakey ! Taylor wouldve been better ffs

Was McInerney managed or dropped earlier in the year? ????

[Markwebbos]

I'm glad they left Laidler with the rehab group in Newcastle. I don't know if it will help our development, but at least it removes an obstacle. I've noticed that he was complimented for the job he's doing in Newcastle, which is a sure sign that he wasn't doing the job he was hired for and how pleased they were to get him as far away from the reserves team as possible.

This has been the worst development I've seen for our our reserves players. We have a lot of talent there and they should be making progress. The reserves team looks like a free range chook farm out on the ground. Once we get a competent coach for these players, things hopefully should improve.

Nothing personal against Laidler. It's just that I wouldn't trust him to be the runner unless he had the instructions written down.

This year I can’t think of any players that have gone back to the reserves and improved or fringe players who’ve pressed their case.

I’m sure the soft cap cuts (try saying that after a couple) haven’t helped but …

I’m with you Ludwig on banishing of the Laidler-jam to Newcastle

[gloveski]

I’ve had a few champagnes, happy hour at home.

Can we have a game where we leave the umpires alone and focus exclusively on Swans players doing their jobs?

Once the umpire has made a decision it stands.

Hopefully we can . All we ask is for a fair go . We haven’t got that the last few games


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[MattW]

I know it may be premature but let’s put Gulden in the middle, He is small but geez he has skills, and great courage.

He kind of played a midfield role last weekend, as this chart shows. (He seems to have not been given a disposal for his toe poke in the forward pocket which led to Buddy's HTB free directly in front.)

Checked his time on ground too, since the the physio mentioned he was on minutes restriction. It was 65%. So we should benefit from more Errol this week.

While looking at that stat I noticed that Rowbottom only had 60% TOG which was a harbinger of this week's non-selection. (Florent had 68% which may suggest he had a knock.)

I also noticed that Bell ran the farthest, the farthest at high speed and has the most sprints. We noticed him picking up some uncontested possessions in the last - perhaps that work rate is contributing to his selection.

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[Mountain Man]

I assume Wicks will resume his forward pressure role; which he is good at, as pointed out earlier by Ludwig.

This means that Bell is slated as the Rowbottom replacement for this week; mainly playing around the contests. I suspect that will suit him as 'see ball, get ball' role will improve his focus, and hence his effectiveness.

That means Blakey must have been selected as the Brand replacement

[TheBloods]

Was McInerney managed or dropped earlier in the year? ????

Yes he was Longmire said he was rested because of his back injury from last year under medical advice and it was in the injury report !

[Meg]

I’ve had a few champagnes, happy hour at home.

Can we have a game where we leave the umpires alone and focus exclusively on Swans players doing their jobs?

Once the umpire has made a decision it stands.

[emoji122][emoji122][emoji122]

[Ralph Dawg]

We may be going into this game with Fox, McCartain and Rampe covering the talls, with help from Dawson, Hewett drops back into defence, with Lloyd and Harry playing their usual roles. That would leave Blakey to slot into Hewett's spot from last week.

Leaves us lacking height severely with Allen, Darling, Kennedy with either Vardy or Natanui also potentially loitering in the Eagle's forward line.

One thing to note about Blakey is he still lacks bulk and would get dominated in a one on one contest with any of the Eagle's big men. If he was to play defence, it would be as the extra man up in the aerial contest.

[Captain]

Weird changes. To drop Brand against 3 tall forward is strange.

I honestly can’t see us winning a game when Bell and Amartey play. Solid NEAFL players at best.

[AB Swannie]

Yes he was Longmire said he was rested because of his back injury from last year under medical advice and it was in the injury report !

Agreed. McInerney was managed and so is RB. Plenty of evidence of players being “omitted” when they’ve been dropped.