Round 8 pre-match thread - v Suns 1:45 PM Saturday @ SCG

[SwanSand]

Yes only including Kennedy for present , gone at the end of this yr . We do need 3 or 4 who can go for 4 quarters in there because let me tell you Paps Jmac Gulden etc will get destroyed if that is required of them. 1 more gun mid to go with Parker Mills Chad , hope Gus comes on but i reckon Roberts is our best bet , might be in there by 2nd half of this yr , needs to tidy up his ball use a bit

Matt Robert’s and Stephens both had reasonable disposals and clearances in VFL. Robert’s and sheldrick should be the tried there in the future.
If we are winning centre clearances with 2 vs 1 ruck battle, it means Ladhams has done really well in the ruck division. What probably is happening is that we are losing in the post contest work. Either the clearances are not to our advantage in f50 or the connection from the inside to outside isn’t great. Our outside midfielders struggled this game and that was probably the difference. Mcinerney and Florent if on song we do well in this connection.

Stephens should come in for Kennedy in addition to the changes mentioned by others. I like Kennedy on bench with limited minutes and maximum damage when the game is slowed down.

It is also reflective of what the coaches think of him. Given Florent was chosen to go defence over Kennedy even though Kennedy played many games at HB tells me that they think his best position is only inside midfield and the only way he can have impact in that position is if he comes through as a sub.

[waswan]

Would like to see Ramps play the small fwd, its typically a small forward this year that does well against us.

Rather he locks down and Ollie, Blackey and Campbell get to run off

Agree Mclean goes out before Reid on versatility, good to see our ruck tandem, Ladhams has been very good with follow up work last 2 weeks

[Nico]

FYI

The 3 highest midfielder centre bounce attendees against Brisbane were Parker, Mills & Kennedy. Which is also probably our 3 slowest midfielders - an odd choice for the swift Lions.

I've been saying this out loud for ages. We have too many tortoises at centre bounces. Not enough fleet of foot players in there who go for the footy instead of blocking and holding. Warner should be in there every time. He actually looks to where the footy goes and is good at anticipating where it will go.

[Nico]

Who else was gonna be ? Chad maybe , but Jmac , Paps, Heeney , Gulden , Florent these types arent permanent mids , cant go 4 quarters at centre bounces . Should 've used Chad more but he is young

They don't need to be permanent mids. Just put them in there for the bounce. Mind you, I think Mills should always be in there. Maybe they never have the same combo in there. Mix it up a bit.

[Nico]

Here are the actual numbers:

Sydney – Peter Ladhams 30, Luke Parker 24, Callum Mills 21, Josh P Kennedy 15, Chad Warner 14, Isaac Heeney 11, Tom Papley 8, Justin McInerney 3, Sam Reid 3, Errol Gulden 2, James Rowbottom 1.

Chad was only 1 behind JPK. We won the CB clearances 15-13.

The stats overall were pretty even on the day, yet I thought Brisbane were clearly better. The telling difference was that Brisbane's pressure was better and they kept up the pressure for longer. It's hard to beat that. But we have a good pressure squad which should only get better with time.

When I look at centre clearances I judge which side had the clean clearances. We get too many scrappy clearances. Neale just burst away which put enormous pressure on our back 6. Quick players are more likely to break clear.

[TheBloods]

They don't need to be permanent mids. Just put them in there for the bounce. Mind you, I think Mills should always be in there. Maybe they never have the same combo in there. Mix it up a bit.

Just for the bounce ? Now i have seen it all . There is about 30 odd bounces every game ! They have to come off at some point and they aren 't built for it or made for it . Jmac is still a stick .

Agree about combos though , they will be needed to give them all breaks . 2 quick ones in there with 1 bull each time , scrappers to the reserves

[Aprilbr]

The above discussion about centre square rotations underscores the argument that we are currently short one top quality midfielder to complement what we already have.

Do we have that player currently on our list as a developing player or do we need to find that person in the future through the draft or trading? We drafted a lot of midfielders last draft so maybe one of those can develop in time? Its hard to know at this stage but we need someone to come through pretty quickly.

[TheBloods]

The above discussion about centre square rotations underscores the argument that we are currently short one top quality midfielder to complement what we already have.

Do we have that player currently on our list as a developing player or do we need to find that person in the future through the draft or trading? We drafted a lot of midfielders last draft so maybe one of those can develop in time? Its hard to know at this stage but we need someone to come through pretty quickly.

Gus or Roberts , mark my words .

Sheldrick is a harder Lachie neale , fights harder for possession but will be as damaging with his speed , good kick too. Roberts more a Libba type , goes from contest to contest winning the ball and finding his teammates . I will not say they will be on Mills level or Chad 's future level but they will be keys to our midfield . The sooner we can get them into our midfield the better . If im wrong so be it but happy to make the call , both will be stars .

[KSAS]

In: Hickey, McDonald, P McCartin, Gould
Out: McLean, Reid, Cunningham, Bell

B: Lloyd P McCartin Rampe
HB: Campbell T McCartin. Blakey
C: Florent Parker McInerney
HF: Heeney Franklin. Hayward
F: Ronke McDonald Papley
R: Hickey Mills Warner

Int: Ladhams Gould Rowbottom Gulden
Sub: Kennedy

[111431]

FYI

The 3 highest midfielder centre bounce attendees against Brisbane were Parker, Mills & Kennedy. Which is also probably our 3 slowest midfielders - an odd choice for the swift Lions.

the Lions have a strong group of solid midfielders. We had to match the strong bodies some how

[COB]

In: Hickey, McDonald, P McCartin, Gould
Out: McLean, Reid, Cunningham, Bell

B: Lloyd P McCartin Rampe
HB: Campbell T McCartin. Blakey
C: Florent Parker McInerney
HF: Heeney Franklin. Hayward
F: Ronke McDonald Papley
R: Hickey Mills Warner

Int: Ladhams Gould Rowbottom Gulden
Sub: Kennedy

Agree

[111431]

When I look at centre clearances I judge which side had the clean clearances. We get too many scrappy clearances. Neale just burst away which put enormous pressure on our back 6. Quick players are more likely to break clear.

I think this is a good observation. Ladhams wasn't able (against good opposition) to tap to our midfielders advantage. Neale, being the good player he is, was able to shark many clearances. I think Hickey will make a difference in the middle and will also help coach Ladhams in how to be more effective in the middle (eg take away clearances)

[O'Reilly Boy]

I'm hoping for
Ins: Hickey McDonald McCartin Snr
Outs: Reid McLean Cunningham

Reid is perhaps unlucky. He clunked a couple of great marks up on the wings, but really, he also missed goals, was barely adequate when he chopped out Ladhams, and went missing when the heat was on.

Ladhams impressed me, confirming what I'd seen on television over the previous week: much more presence, alertness and energy. My first sighting of him at the North game was so disappointing, but now I see his value.

Things that I am reflecting on:
—Rowbottom v Kennedy. I'm seeing value in Kennedy, but only as a mid. Not a playmaker; no value off HB or on a wing. Rowbottom looks like he might benefit from a break. I thought he was pretty good in the first half last week, but dropped out of the game.

—Florent to HB is interesting. He has been playing a deep mid role, almost quarterbacking (remember Matt80?) all season, so the shift is less about playing behind the ball than taking on more accountability for a direct opponent.

—I am still an advocate for a game-sacrificing pressure forward (Wicks/Bell). Last week our two small forwards were relatively unsighted—Papley was desperately short of a run, and Ronke had minimal impact. Brisbane seemed to roll the ball out of their defensive 50 pretty easily. Perhaps we need to see how that combination fares again this week, but I'm not as willing as others to push Bell/Wicks out of the team.

[Ludwig]

Gus or Roberts , mark my words .

Sheldrick is a harder Lachie neale , fights harder for possession but will be as damaging with his speed , good kick too. Roberts more a Libba type , goes from contest to contest winning the ball and finding his teammates . I will not say they will be on Mills level or Chad 's future level but they will be keys to our midfield . The sooner we can get them into our midfield the better . If im wrong so be it but happy to make the call , both will be stars .

Yes. Sheldrick and Roberts have both looked good from the start, and both look like winners. It's a shame about Sheldrick's injury. Hope has a solid 2nd half of the year. They were our 1st two picks in the draft, so there is some expectation that they will succeed in the AFL.

Sheather looked good in defence last week in the VFL and could also be a good one. Angus Anderson has looked okay as well and look forward to see how he develops and if we draft him this year.

In: Hickey, McDonald, P McCartin, Gould
Out: McLean, Reid, Cunningham, Bell

B: Lloyd P McCartin Rampe
HB: Campbell T McCartin. Blakey
C: Florent Parker McInerney
HF: Heeney Franklin. Hayward
F: Ronke McDonald Papley
R: Hickey Mills Warner

Int: Ladhams Gould Rowbottom Gulden
Sub: Kennedy

This is my choice as well.

[707]

KSAS said what I think many of us would like to see.

In: Hickey, McDonald, P McCartin, Gould
Out: McLean, Reid, Cunningham, Bell

Ladhams has performed very well in Hickey's absence so we'll definitely go with the two ruck model from here. McDonald and McCartin back in goes without saying. Bell in reality provides very little so time to look at what Gould can deliver at senior level. JPK as Sub

Outs are obvious, Harry if he's sore shouldn't be risked, McLean makes way for McDonald, Reid makes way for Hickey, Bell has been getting games when he probably shouldn't have.