Rd 4 vs North Melbourne @ SCG - Pre-Game Thread

[RogueSwan]

If Reid is fit I'm happy to see him have a run. I think we may have forgotten that he is actually a pretty good footballer, hopefully he hasn't forgotten.

[Meg]

If Reid is fit I'm happy to see him have a run. I think we may have forgotten that he is actually a pretty good footballer, hopefully he hasn't forgotten.

Reid was playing well last year before, sadly and it seems almost inevitably, he got injured.

[TheBloods]

Tend to agree with you TB Sam offers a lot more than some give him credit for.
How many times over the last few years has he ended a quarter deep in defence helping repel the opposition.
He can take a mark and averages a goal a game. Perceived by some as inaccurate but actually is a pretty good kick for goal. Maybe not the luckiest player with injuries over the journey but will always be remembered by me as a great servant for the club over the last 12 years and of course played in a premiership for us.

Not everyone needs to be a star , Reid certainly hasn 't been . But he does an OK job , and everyone wants to give him the chop , then every younger fwd we put in , doesn 't do much and we want to give them the chop anyway ! Horse can 't win it seems

Starting to worry about our fwd depth . Mcdonald needs to show something cause im leaning towards a no with Mclean and Amartey ,they are ok but not much faith in them going forward. Reid his last yr , Buddy not young .. bit concerning

[Foreign Legion]

Having seen Amartey last week in the flesh, I'd say his problem is he is not a good contested mark. He needs to use his pace to get free of big contests.

The difference is that I would argue that Reid is probably the best contested mark on our list - Parker aside. And he can ruck at a pinch. And go back if needed. Just a bit more flexible than Amartey.

I hope Stephens and McDonald and Amartey smash the door down in the reserves.

[Faunac8]

Amartey has played only 8 games and McLean 25 .
They are both big lads at 197 cm (although admittedly of different builds) and with rucks known for taking a few years to hit their peak some patience is required for now by supporters .
They both are contracted for 2023 so the onus is on them to show something over the next couple of seasons and hopefully they both develop further over that time.
As a supporter I always tend towards optimism however I am not sure they will both remain on the Swans list in 2024.

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The Chad is everywhere even our own club seems to want to clone him.

[Bangalore Swans]

I had just had a great dinner at Mimi’s and checked my phone in the Uber and couldn’t believe the team selected.

People will tell me that the coaches know best however I’m coming in on the long run.

McLean - constantly out marked by good intercept defenders. Only good if the ball is kicked to a spot 5 metres in front of his eyes. Anything outside of that he lacks arial judgment, mobility and strength to bring it to ground. Once on the ground he’s not effective.

Wicks - don’t understand why he always maintains his spot: Give a more talanted player like Sheldrick an opportunity. I think we need TheBloods off the long run with this one.

Stephens - how good they drop him? Was starting to show great improvement and toughness. TheBloods needs to bluntly assess this one.

Amartey - he did step up nicely when Hickey departed. Ludwig and Liz were happy with his contribution. Why not keep him going.

Reid - never lived up to the promise of his 2011 and 2012 seasons when he looked like he was going to grow into a great key forward. Why do they keep hoping he’s going to start living up to the promise a decade later?

Why play three big forwards on a heavy ground with a potential wet ball.

I just don’t know.

[Maca1701]

It is a great fallacy that bigs aren't needed in wet conditions. If anything they become more important for you.

In dry conditions, you can generally move the ball quicker and cleaner through ball carry, where your running types are important.

However in the wet, you invariably find yourself kicking long down the line to a contest, making it important to have a tall at each contest to control the aerial battle and if not mark atleast bring the ball to ground in a predictable fashion.

[Mark26]

It is a great fallacy that bigs aren't needed in wet conditions. If anything they become more important for you.

In dry conditions, you can generally move the ball quicker and cleaner through ball carry, where your running types are important.

However in the wet, you invariably find yourself kicking long down the line to a contest, making it important to have a tall at each contest to control the aerial battle and if not mark atleast bring the ball to ground in a predictable fashion.

It's a good point Maca and may go a long way as to why both Hayden and Sam are playing this weekend. They can take contested marks and will compete to provide a contest. Let's hope we're switched on and hungry for the contest from the start. It will go a long way to securing the points.

[i'm-uninformed2]

I had just had a great dinner at Mimi’s and checked my phone in the Uber and couldn’t believe the team selected.

People will tell me that the coaches know best however I’m coming in on the long run.

McLean - constantly out marked by good intercept defenders. Only good if the ball is kicked to a spot 5 metres in front of his eyes. Anything outside of that he lacks arial judgment, mobility and strength to bring it to ground. Once on the ground he’s not effective.

Wicks - don’t understand why he always maintains his spot: Give a more talanted player like Sheldrick an opportunity. I think we need TheBloods off the long run with this one.

Stephens - how good they drop him? Was starting to show great improvement and toughness. TheBloods needs to bluntly assess this one.

Amartey - he did step up nicely when Hickey departed. Ludwig and Liz were happy with his contribution. Why not keep him going.

Reid - never lived up to the promise of his 2011 and 2012 seasons when he looked like he was going to grow into a great key forward. Why do they keep hoping he’s going to start living up to the promise a decade later?

Why play three big forwards on a heavy ground with a potential wet ball.

I just don’t know.

Off topic, I know, but I googled Mimis. $112 bucks for some lamb cutlets! La di da.

Now, back to the footy, and I'll say something controversial: I thought Wicks did a good job on Caleb Daniel last week. His brain fade to give away 50 was inexcusable, had me screaming at the TV for the stupidity involved, and undid all his hard work. But Daniel had little influence on the game.

[TheBloods]

I had just had a great dinner at Mimi’s and checked my phone in the Uber and couldn’t believe the team selected.

People will tell me that the coaches know best however I’m coming in on the long run.

McLean - constantly out marked by good intercept defenders. Only good if the ball is kicked to a spot 5 metres in front of his eyes. Anything outside of that he lacks arial judgment, mobility and strength to bring it to ground. Once on the ground he’s not effective.

Wicks - don’t understand why he always maintains his spot: Give a more talanted player like Sheldrick an opportunity. I think we need TheBloods off the long run with this one.

Stephens - how good they drop him? Was starting to show great improvement and toughness. TheBloods needs to bluntly assess this one.

Amartey - he did step up nicely when Hickey departed. Ludwig and Liz were happy with his contribution. Why not keep him going.

Reid - never lived up to the promise of his 2011 and 2012 seasons when he looked like he was going to grow into a great key forward. Why do they keep hoping he’s going to start living up to the promise a decade later?

Why play three big forwards on a heavy ground with a potential wet ball.

I just don’t know.

Stephens was mediocre , but funny how some can be mediocre for weeks on end without getting dropped .

Your too hard on Reid , its a shame he never came on after 12 , but not everyone has to be a star . If he does his role and takes his chances that enough .

[stellation]

Off topic, I know, but I googled Mimis. $112 bucks for some lamb cutlets! La di da.

Now, back to the footy, and I'll say something controversial: I thought Wicks did a good job on Caleb Daniel last week. His brain fade to give away 50 was inexcusable, had me screaming at the TV for the stupidity involved, and undid all his hard work. But Daniel had little influence on the game.

I feel like $112 is not that far off what it cost me for a dozen at the butchers last week.

[barracuda]

Off topic, I know, but I googled Mimis. $112 bucks for some lamb cutlets! La di da.

Now, back to the footy, and I'll say something controversial: I thought Wicks did a good job on Caleb Daniel last week. His brain fade to give away 50 was inexcusable, had me screaming at the TV for the stupidity involved, and undid all his hard work. But Daniel had little influence on the game.

Wicks second half was very good. 7 Contested possessions, Daniel had about 5 touches for the half, most were kick outs. Looking at the highlights, the first 4/5 swans goals all involved Wicks, a smart Shepherd for hayward to goal, clean penetrating passes, contested ball wins resulting directly in goals, and his own goal. His 50 was a mistake, however much like his efforts in the dying stages of the final against GWS he does try to win the game, perhaps he gets a bit carried away!

[lwjoyner]

cant ubnderstand your coments re wicks and stephens. stephens coming along nicely and a great kick, wick has gone backwrds since lat year. hws the one who should have been dropped. cannot understand reid for amerty also amerty was ok when hickey ledt groaund.

[stevoswan]

I had just had a great dinner at Mimi’s and checked my phone in the Uber and couldn’t believe the team selected.

People will tell me that the coaches know best however I’m coming in on the long run.

McLean - constantly out marked by good intercept defenders. Only good if the ball is kicked to a spot 5 metres in front of his eyes. Anything outside of that he lacks arial judgment, mobility and strength to bring it to ground. Once on the ground he’s not effective.

Wicks - don’t understand why he always maintains his spot: Give a more talanted player like Sheldrick an opportunity. I think we need TheBloods off the long run with this one.

Stephens - how good they drop him? Was starting to show great improvement and toughness. TheBloods needs to bluntly assess this one.

Amartey - he did step up nicely when Hickey departed. Ludwig and Liz were happy with his contribution. Why not keep him going.

Reid - never lived up to the promise of his 2011 and 2012 seasons when he looked like he was going to grow into a great key forward. Why do they keep hoping he’s going to start living up to the promise a decade later?

Why play three big forwards on a heavy ground with a potential wet ball.

I just don’t know.

I agree with the last sentence.

[Bloods05]

I agree with the last sentence.

Don't you love the directing of other posters to put up comments to support these opinions?