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

[Bangalore Swans]

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.

What I hadn’t banked on in my preseason assessment of the team was the apparent thus far improvement in Ollie Florent and Stephen’s. They are both looking better that I predicted. I also didn’t expect Rowbottom to show what he is now with his wonderful tackling.

[bloodspirit]

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.

Thoughtful, interesting observation, Bangalore.

I was wondering about this after hearing one of the commentators talking about how important "big bodied mids" were in the midfield and then seeing our game. Mills and Rowbottom don't quite qualify as "big bodied" for mine - I think that category belongs to the likes of JPK, Cripps, Tom Green, Bontempelli etc. Yet our mids did well against the Giants elite midfield unit.

[TheBloods]

What I hadn’t banked on in my preseason assessment of the team was the apparent thus far improvement in Ollie Florent and Stephen’s. They are both looking better that I predicted. I also didn’t expect Rowbottom to show what he is now with his wonderful tackling.

Those 3 you mentioned are n' t Kennedy

Florent maybe , fantastic on saturday but 1 game

rowbottom less i say the better , everyone would agree

stephens was n't even inside hardly at all , so not competing with Joey . and hes no Joey anyway

Dont like that we are shafting an all time great because of some unproven mids . Kennedy is still a great mid , wheres the proof that he 'd struggle at centre bounces ? Why is speed necessary ? how is Mills quick ? Parker ? Rowbottom ? They are slow . Hewett slow, he dominated for Carlton . Its his contested work that makes him the champion he is , we cant replace that !

[stevoswan]

Those 3 you mentioned are n' t Kennedy

Florent maybe , fantastic on saturday but 1 game

rowbottom less i say the better , everyone would agree

stephens was n't even inside hardly at all , so not competing with Joey . and hes no Joey anyway

Dont like that we are shafting an all time great because of some unproven mids . Kennedy is still a great mid , wheres the proof that he 'd struggle at centre bounces ? Why is speed necessary ? how is Mills quick ? Parker ? Rowbottom ? They are slow . Hewett slow, he dominated for Carlton . Its his contested work that makes him the champion he is , we cant replace that !

Tend to agree with the crux of this post.....particularly the second part of the third sentence!

Kennedy is too good to drop, back into the mid's....and if that doesn't work, into the forward line. As for who makes way for him....I'll let others speculate.

[graemed]

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.

From AFL 360 the numbers were Essendon were -45 in contested possessions and -25 in the clearances.

I really like McDonald and it was great to see a newbie who did nothing wrong but we must have someone on Stewart and I believe Wicks can do the defensive job. Kennedy on Kolodjashnij looks good to me. My point is to make their defenders accountable and make them play one on one.

Not that McDonald wouldn’t be capable of drawing the ball to himself (he can and has done so) but Geelong thrive on their defenders playing loose, zoning off and supporting each other. He has a tendency to draw his opponent into contests. That’s a role already being done by McLean with more success.

The final point to my argument is that given Kennedy’s past and his current limitations a forward role is more appropriate and the likelihood we will need his grunt, strength and ball winning skills in the middle at some stage, for my money he has to stay.

[AB Swannie]

From AFL 360 the numbers were Essendon were -45 in contested possessions and -25 in the clearances.

I really like McDonald and it was great to see a newbie who did nothing wrong but we must have someone on Stewart and I believe Wicks can do the defensive job. Kennedy on Kolodjashnij looks good to me. My point is to make their defenders accountable and make them play one on one.

Not that McDonald wouldn’t be capable of drawing the ball to himself (he can and has done so) but Geelong thrive on their defenders playing loose, zoning off and supporting each other. He has a tendency to draw his opponent into contests. That’s a role already being done by McLean with more success.

The final point to my argument is that given Kennedy’s past and his current limitations a forward role is more appropriate and the likelihood we will need his grunt, strength and ball winning skills in the middle at some stage, for my money he has to stay.

I think Hayward is a better matchup for Stewart. I think he does a fantastic role when nullifying the intercept defender of the opposition.

[Auntie.Gerald]

my sense is that for the coaching dept to go with the mid rotation they have (inclusive of less experienced mids) that they believe that these players are "ready until they are not".

It's a very long season in AFL footy and what we start with can be so different to the middle and or the end of the season re team selections.

So in my summary.......... the coaching dept and captains went with and the guys coming back to the mids are "ready until they are not".........and obviously match ups and or styles of play to negate certain opposition strengths will change some weeks.

[Captain]

There is no way Kennedy will be (or should be) dropped yet. They will give him at least 6-7 games and probably consider it after then if his form hasn’t changed.

Sheldrick for Warner is clear.

Will be Campbell or Stephens for Lloyd. I’m thinking they will drop Campbell. Bloody harsh though.

Wicks for Papley when he is back.

McDonald probably doesn’t deserve a game ahead of Stephens or Campbell but he is important to our structure so stays on that basis.

[Nico]

Warner and Lloyd in and Sheldrick and Kennedy out. Kennedy medical sub.

[MattW]

There is no way Kennedy will be (or should be) dropped yet. They will give him at least 6-7 games and probably consider it after then if his form hasn’t changed.

Sheldrick for Warner is clear.

Will be Campbell or Stephens for Lloyd. I’m thinking they will drop Campbell. Bloody harsh though.

Wicks for Papley when he is back.

McDonald probably doesn’t deserve a game ahead of Stephens or Campbell but he is important to our structure so stays on that basis.

Hmmmmm. Seems a retrograde step to drop either Campbell or Stephens. Only alternatives are Kennedy or Cunningham, unless Wicks is dropped and Campbell plays forward.

Tough call.

[Roadrunner]

Joey is needed in the team but not in so much in midfield. The big bodied guys mentioned are all quicker than him. Midfielders require skill and speed and we need our young brigade to gain experience. Even Mills hasn’t played there as much as he should due to his stint at HB. So Joey should be used occasionally when needed in the middle and spend most of his time up forward. Much more value than Wicks, who needs to work his way back via the ressies. Lloyd and Chad in for Wicks and Gus, though it won’t be long until Gus is back- thought he went well for his first game. Ladhams will get his chance- let him earn his spot by playing well in the twos. Logan needs a run of games- no point having him in and out at this stage.

Lloyd will steady the backline, which was a bit shaky at times. Paddy is a great addition and we have good cover in Pelican, Fox an COR. Gould and O’Connor should get chances later on as it’s a long season and we’re bound to get injuries, unfortunately, as all clubs do. Hopefully not to our most important players!

[graemed]

I think Hayward is a better matchup for Stewart. I think he does a fantastic role when nullifying the intercept defender of the opposition.

You may be right. Especially in the aerial contests at which Stewart excels.

[Aprilbr]

Such a difficult selection choice ahead for this week. I read that McInerney hurt his leg late in the game. Let's hope he comes up for the game. Assuming that, and that Papps is still one week away, then Chad replaces Sheldrick and Lloyd replaces either Joey or Campbell. Whichever of the latter two misses out, goes to sub.

There is also a chance they will drop McDonald but I think he will get another chance. Bringing in Ladhams instead of McDonald to play alongside McLean makes our forward line look too cumbersome and slow in my view. Armetey would be a better bet than Ladhams for his mobility.

[dejavoodoo44]

Such a difficult selection choice ahead for this week. I read that McInerney hurt his leg late in the game. Let's hope he comes up for the game. Assuming that, and that Papps is still one week away, then Chad replaces Sheldrick and Lloyd replaces either Joey or Campbell. Whichever of the latter two misses out, goes to sub.

There is also a chance they will drop McDonald but I think he will get another chance. Bringing in Ladhams instead of McDonald to play alongside McLean makes our forward line look too cumbersome and slow in my view. Armetey would be a better bet than Ladhams for his mobility.

McInerney should be alright. Longmire said in his post-match press conference, that it was just a knock to the knee, that didn't cause any structural damage and that they didn't think it would a problem. He's also not listed in our short injury list; which is Papley, 1 or 2 weeks and Naismith, season. Lloyd and Warner were also listed as health and safety protocols, but it seems that they'll be clear for the Geelong game.

[bloodspirit]

The knock on Ladhams is not that he is slow and lumbering. He may be tall but he does really well at ground level. Port fans have reported that his marking is well below what might be desired. Also, I think his non-selection last week points to an issue with his discipline, fitness, or mindset because he is otherwise an upgrade on McLean (apart from the marking - he is a better ruck and much more agile and also a proven goal kicker at least the equal of McLean, especially on the run).