Rd 2 vs Geelong Cats @ SCG - Pre-Game Thread

[Mountain Man]

Geelong midfield is still built around Dangerfield and Selwood.

Rowbottom is capable of matching one of them, but I think Kennedy may get a midfield role this week. I have only seen the highlights of the Geelong game - and Essendon were pretty soft (even pathetic), - but they bullied contested possessions and clearances.

So, for me, Lloyd in his usual role replaces Kennedy at half back; Kennedy in mids and Sheldrick misses; Warner in and maybe McDonald misses if the weather is bad.

McLean has to stay as relief ruck, and Wicks needs to stop any exit run.

[Bangalore Swans]

I think people want it to work because they respect a champion of our club. If it doesn't then it's back to the mid's but that might be taking 'flying hours' away from the fast developing cygnets....so then he becomes the new ROK....and no one wants that.

As for Blakey, it's fine to be excited, I think we all are but let's not get ahead of ourselves ok. Bit early to be putting him above club greats and premiership players. While I agree with you that he's the type of back flanker we need, compared to them he's done nothing yet.

Blakey will need to do this over the next couple of seasons to be in the McVeigh category.

Certain in my mind is that it’s the greatest 5 game half back flank sample that I’ve ever seen from a Swans half back flanker.

Kennedy for medical sub is perfect. He can come in and do a midfield job while other midfielders can play different roles ie Mills to half back, J-Mac to half back or Heeney and Parker forward.

[TheBloods]

If JPK goes into the midfield, then what do we do with Chad? I'd prefer Chad in the midfield.

PS: Don't knock Banga on this post. He was just going with my suggestions.

Not knocking bangalore , i like the debate

Chad can be in the mids too , why does it have to be one or the other , they were both in the mids last yr and it was fine. Now everyone has gone cold on Kennedy in the mids , why ? Cause he 's old ?

[i'm-uninformed2]

Geelong midfield is still built around Dangerfield and Selwood.

Rowbottom is capable of matching one of them, but I think Kennedy may get a midfield role this week. I have only seen the highlights of the Geelong game - and Essendon were pretty soft (even pathetic), - but they bullied contested possessions and clearances.

So, for me, Lloyd in his usual role replaces Kennedy at half back; Kennedy in mids and Sheldrick misses; Warner in and maybe McDonald misses if the weather is bad.

McLean has to stay as relief ruck, and Wicks needs to stop any exit run.

Actually, if I was looking at someone for Rowbottom to put time into, I'd take a look at Parfitt. He's now a consistent, possession and clearance winning, big metres gained player with an ability to burst through.

[111431]

I'm a little surprised they haven't tried JPK as a forward pocket rotating into midfield, ala Jude Bolton. He isn't the contested mark machine that Parker is up front, but would be a tough match up when getting the 3rd/4th/5th best defender. I would of thought he would be better suited there then playing off the half back flank.

But he deserves time, as the champion he is, to show he can play in a different role - and I have no doubt he will still have a role to play in the centre over the season, and his leadership to what is collectively a young group remains invaluable.

I think both he and Parker are dangerous near goal because of their strength, smarts and both are decent kicks

[barry]

No Jeremy Cameron puts a massive hole in Geelongs setup. I think this is a pretty comfortable game for us, and if it's not too wet, a 6 goal margin sounds about right.

[Bangalore Swans]

Not knocking bangalore , i like the debate

Chad can be in the mids too , why does it have to be one or the other , they were both in the mids last yr and it was fine. Now everyone has gone cold on Kennedy in the mids , why ? Cause he 's old ?

I think with Kennedy and the midfield it’s a number of factors:

1) 666 rule. Before this rule you used to have bodies charging into the centre square from half forward / half flank. You needed to be big and powerful like Kennedy to withstand that pressure. Now these guys are inside 50 for centre square and it opens up space in the middle. Quicker players are advantaged by this rule. The Florent goal was an illustration of the space created by 666. This rule change is not to Kennedy’s benefit.

2) Game style change. The Swans midfield is now smaller with quicker players with great endurance and elite kicking ability. This keeps the ball moving. Florent, J-Mac, Stephens, Chad, Campbell, and Gulden are this style of player. Then you have Parker, Mills and Heeney who are medium paced are elite kicks and brilliant one on one. Thats a great midfield mix for fast flowing football. Papley wins many centre clearances when he goes in. Where does Kennedy fit in? Probably competing for midfield time with Rowbottom and the Swans seem to be backing the 4th year player.

3) Other midfielders are more versatile. Parker and Heeney are damaging forward players. Florents is a good shot for goal. Mills is a brilliant half back. J-Mac and Campbell can play half back as well as wing. Gulden can play half forward. Kennedy does not seem as versatile.

[rickmat]

Disrespectful to say, in your opinion, that Sheldrick is overrated. He played his role and did well for first game. Give him a break, mate

[TheBloods]

I think with Kennedy and the midfield it’s a number of factors:

1) 666 rule. Before this rule you used to have bodies charging into the centre square from half forward / half flank. You needed to be big and powerful like Kennedy to withstand that pressure. Now these guys are inside 50 for centre square and it opens up space in the middle. Quicker players are advantaged by this rule. The Florent goal was an illustration of the space created by 666. This rule change is not to Kennedy’s benefit.

2) Game style change. The Swans midfield is now smaller with quicker players with great endurance and elite kicking ability. This keeps the ball moving. Florent, J-Mac, Stephens, Chad, Campbell, and Gulden are this style of player. Then you have Parker, Mills and Heeney who are medium paced are elite kicks and brilliant one on one. Thats a great midfield mix for fast flowing football. Papley wins many centre clearances when he goes in. Where does Kennedy fit in? Probably competing for midfield time with Rowbottom and the Swans seem to be backing the 4th year player.

3) Other midfielders are more versatile. Parker and Heeney are damaging forward players. Florents is a good shot for goal. Mills is a brilliant half back. J-Mac and Campbell can play half back as well as wing. Gulden can play half forward. Kennedy does not seem as versatile.

I think we are making a mistake and we are over rating some and shafting one of our better players in the process . Just my opinion

[Bloods05]

No Jeremy Cameron puts a massive hole in Geelongs setup. I think this is a pretty comfortable game for us, and if it's not too wet, a 6 goal margin sounds about right.

Cameron has been mediocre at Geelong, and in any case he might still be playing.

[Mountain Man]

Re Sheldrick, he did not play in the Community game in Albury, with Roberts preferred. Posters some time ago picked him to be the first debutant in 2022, and he appeared to do well in that game.

Roberts did not play last Saturday - not in the VFL against the Giants or, obviously, in the AFL.

My conclusion is that he either became injured, or has been caught up in the Covid protocols.

I'm not knocking Sheldrick, but cautioning his selection last weekend being affirmation of his current status in the pecking order

[SwanSand]

I think Jake Lloyd is absolutely needed in the backline to provide some steadiness in the backline when things are not going well.
Warner will come in for Sheldrick - that is a no brainer.
Does Harry Cunningham have a run in role with Isaac Smith as in the past? That may create a space for Josh Kennedy in the backline. But I am not sure if we can have Kennedy looking after Tyson Stengle or Luke Dalhaus. That will be a mismatch.
I think Logan McDonald will be replaced by Peter Ladhams this week. Not because Logan wasn't good but maybe a bigger body needed against good defence.
Stephens and Rowbottom both need to step up if we have to win this one.

[Aprilbr]

I was at the Geelong game against Essondon. They dominated out of the centre and at clearances. Danger was on fire. We need to watch those areas plus clamp down on Danger. Maybe send Rowbottom to him?

[Ludwig]

Chad can be in the mids too , why does it have to be one or the other , they were both in the mids last yr and it was fine. Now everyone has gone cold on Kennedy in the mids , why ? Cause he 's old ?

I think Banga has summed it up pretty well in his post on this issue.

Kennedy has been dropping off the last couple of years. He was still good and had some great games, but generally speaking, just falling away from his best footy.

I started questioning his place in the middle last year because of his inability to defend at stoppages when the opposition won the ball. They would just blow by him. And now that teams are scoring more heavily from centre breaks, Kennedy is becoming a liability.

I thought our midfield did okay in the 2nd half, even with Parker in the forward line. Florent has shown that he can play at centre bounces. Chad has a similar profile at stoppages, with his quickness to break from the pack. So that gives us 5 centre bounce regulars in Florent, Warner, Parker, Mills and Rowbottom. Heeney and Stephens will get more time at stoppages around the ground. There really isn't much need for Kennedy in the mids now. That's why we tried him out at HB, but like Hewett, it hasn't quite worked out.

[TheBloods]

I think Banga has summed it up pretty well in his post on this issue.

Kennedy has been dropping off the last couple of years. He was still good and had some great games, but generally speaking, just falling away from his best footy.

I started questioning his place in the middle last year because of his inability to defend at stoppages when the opposition won the ball. They would just blow by him. And now that teams are scoring more heavily from centre breaks, Kennedy is becoming a liability.

I thought our midfield did okay in the 2nd half, even with Parker in the forward line. Florent has shown that he can play at centre bounces. Chad has a similar profile at stoppages, with his quickness to break from the pack. So that gives us 5 centre bounce regulars in Florent, Warner, Parker, Mills and Rowbottom. Heeney and Stephens will get more time at stoppages around the ground. There really isn't much need for Kennedy in the mids now. That's why we tried him out at HB, but like Hewett, it hasn't quite worked out.

At least Kennedy can find the ball and use it well at stoppages , would take that in our midfield