Rnd 10 - Pre Match Thread - vs North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, Saturday 20 May, 1:454 PM

[SCGonasunnyday]

Let’s go! Not sure what else we could do with our many outs. I don’t just want to win on Sat, I want to win well and get a smile back on everyone’s faces

[wolftone57]

Never seen so many injuries focused on big blokes - just no luck so far.

I have long thought McAndrew might be one of those players who IMPROVES in the Seniors. Not really sure why I feel this but at his height he is very mobile. Just needs to take a few marks.

I watched him ruck in the reserves.? He was really good. His tap work is, excellent and he is strong in thr ruck contest. He also played a few tackles and took some good marks. It does help being 210cm in a ruck or marking contest.

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[i'm-uninformed2]

Good on McAndrew, and good on Horse and co for selecting him.

As someone who lives outside Sydney these days, I hadn’t seen him live till my visit on the weekend. I made a post in the ressies thread that I went along early to specifically watch him and was impressed. He is still a work in progress, and first game rucks usually struggle, but he appears a keeper so it’s good he gets a taste for it. My main hope is we actually give him decent time in the ruck, and not just largely plonk him forward.

[troyjones2525]

The Big Cat is set against Gould, suggested we were tanking the other week when we selected him

Are you saying The Big Cat was being critical??? I thought that wasn't allowed on this forum! [emoji12]

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[troyjones2525]

I watched him ruck in the reserves.? He was really good. His tap work is, excellent and he is strong in thr ruck contest. He also played a few tackles and took some good marks. It does help being 210cm in a ruck or marking contest.

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Excited to see another debut and especially a player who we desperately need to come on and be a success story in a position we don't have great depth in.

As others have noted, his improvement has been exciting as his mobility for a big man is good!

The one area I really hope he improves in is his contested marking.

A dominant contested marking ruckman is a massive plus to any side, and if you are pushing for finals and premierships they can be a difference in winning and losing some big games. Look at the influence Gawn had in Melbourne's premiership!

He started out as a bit of a tall project player and worked hard to develop into the player he is today!

If McAndrew can develop that part of his game whilst continuing to improve in the other areas he already has, then we might have a missing piece that we have desperately needed! [emoji4]

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[barry]

Absolute must win game. A loss to norf would damage the playing group so much.

[wolftone57]

Good on McAndrew, and good on Horse and co for selecting him.

As someone who lives outside Sydney these days, I hadn’t seen him live till my visit on the weekend. I made a post in the ressies thread that I went along early to specifically watch him and was impressed. He is still a work in progress, and first game rucks usually struggle, but he appears a keeper so it’s good he gets a taste for it. My main hope is we actually give him decent time in the ruck, and not just largely plonk him forward.

I remember Sam Naismith coming in for his first name against Ivan Maric, arguably the best Ruckman in 2014. He was woeful but battled on.Tough match up first up. He was the only ruck because Pyke and Derrickx were both injured.

Big Mac does not have that problem as Ladhams is there. I hope the lad does well

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[Roadrunner]

Football has become really depressing with all the injuries, especially head injuries. Maybe it's time to ban high contact football codes as too dangerous to the health of players. As we learn more, it appears that football is an activity roughly similar to cigarette smoking when it comes to the health of the participants. Perhaps we should start with warning signs at schools that football is dangerous to your health, like we do with cigarette packs.

I can't remember a year being less interested in footy. It seems like the life has been sucked out of the game. So many things are just not right in AFL.

This is not like you, Ludwig! Sure, head injuries are a concern but we’ve been playing this game since Noah left the Ark! I suspect more damage has been done to mental health from Covid and the lockdowns, but of course we must do everything possible to minimise this in our game. All clubs now treat any issue very conservatively, as they should, and the medicos decide when a player can safely return.

Maybe you’re a bit down due to our long and persistent injury list and that 6-8 weeks out is so devastating for our young team, especially as we expected to be in the window. This is a time when we need to keep our spirits high and encourage each other and get behind our great club!

[wolftone57]

Excited to see another debut and especially a player who we desperately need to come on and be a success story in a position we don't have great depth in.

As others have noted, his improvement has been exciting as his mobility for a big man is good!

The one area I really hope he improves in is his contested marking.

A dominant contested marking ruckman is a massive plus to any side, and if you are pushing for finals and premierships they can be a difference in winning and losing some big games. Look at the influence Gawn had in Melbourne's premiership!

He started out as a bit of a tall project player and worked hard to develop into the player he is today!

If McAndrew can develop that part of his game whilst continuing to improve in the other areas he already has, then we might have a missing piece that we have desperately needed! [emoji4]

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McAvoy & Ottens were other rucks that really impacted contests.

I think the kid can improve that part of his game tôi. It is coming bit by bit. He is a wonderful t?p ruck. When he started he was very raw there. He tackles and follows up. Early he seemed a bit shy. Early he was averaging 4-5 disposals/match, now 18. He can also bring th ball to ground

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[liz]

I think McAndrew's contested marking is one area that has already improved significantly since last year.

I wouldn't want to be relying on him to kick the winning goal if he happens to find himself forward in a tight finish. He might do well to get on the phone to Mike Pyke and ask him to wander down to the SCG one week for some guidance on how to develop an ugly but effective goal kicking routine.

[Nico]

I think McAndrew's contested marking is one area that has already improved significantly since last year.

I wouldn't want to be relying on him to kick the winning goal if he happens to find himself forward in a tight finish. He might do well to get on the phone to Mike Pyke and ask him to wander down to the SCG one week for some guidance on how to develop an ugly but effective goal kicking routine.

Hopefully we can start winning our fair share of centre clearances. It will be interesting to see how our mids adjust at centre bounces. For once we might have the ball going forward at centre bounces.

[Blood Fever]

Hopefully we can start winning our fair share of centre clearances. It will be interesting to see how our mids adjust at centre bounces. For once we might have the ball going forward at centre bounces.

Good point. When Naismith was up and running, he made a difference at centre bounces. In many seasons, we have been ordinary in there.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Good point. When Naismith was up and running, he made a difference at centre bounces. In many seasons, we have been ordinary in there.

Sigh. I still remember how good his tap work looked in that first game of the season vs Adelaide in 2020, just before he went down again. He was so deft and made our mids look so good.

[Jimitron5000]

Don't mind the ins, although it isn't like we are spoiled for choice.
I thought Sheldrick might have been given a go but am pleased McAndrew is getting a game. Saw him play in the twos a few weeks back and he looked good, particularly at the centre bounces.

[wolftone57]

Hopefully we can start winning our fair share of centre clearances. It will be interesting to see how our mids adjust at centre bounces. For once we might have the ball going forward at centre bounces.

Ladhams is not bad at helping mids get the ball out. But Big Mac puts ball into their lap. I can't wait to see how he goes.

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