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

[wolftone57]

Sheather played as a small defender in the VFL last year. They could think about moving him back and starting Campbell further up the ground.

If Ladhams isn't right and McDonald is out, I think McAndrew might have to play. That will at least free up McLean from second ruck duties. Neither he nor Hickey is likely to provide much of a threat resting up forward but we're running out of options.

Personally I'd bring in Stephens before Sheldrick (and maybe experiment with him at a few centre bounces) but I have no idea if the coaches will see it that way. I suspect they share doubts on Sheldrick's stamina at the moment to play a full game in the midfield. He could come in as a small forward (mostly) if Sheather is moved back and Campbell up.

Campbell has to come up no matter who is there. Rankin could come in. Sheather too. McInerney could go back and Stephens come in. A few options.

But the reality is whoever plays in the backs, someonedownthere has to take charge. There is eff all communication diwnthere and nobody is organising. Half the time nobody knows who is minding who when the opposition switches. Lloyd is the most experienced, he should be organising.

We have too many players who are not fully fit. This is causing some major problems. They are unable to make a sustained chase and those that pinch hit in the mids have only done so for short periods due to lack od endurance fitness through carrying injurying . Heeney and Papley are carry soft tissue strains I would bet on it.



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[i'm-uninformed2]

I'm very dubious on both Gould and Francis, as I think neither have the ahtletic profile and agility needed to play at AFL level. I watched Francis in particular from behind the goals at the Randwick end, and geez, my lard ass would move quicker and have a tighter turning circle. But, given our injuries, we might as well play them for an extended stretch and find out once and for all. If one of them makes a fist of it, great. If not, we know to delist.

[wolftone57]

I'm very dubious on both Gould and Francis, as I think neither have the ahtletic profile and agility needed to play at AFL level. I watched Francis in particular from behind the goals at the Randwick end, and geez, my lard ass would move quicker and have a tighter turning circle. But, given our injuries, we might as well play them for an extended stretch and find out once and for all. If one of them makes a fist of it, great. If not, we know to delist.

Look to play in our backs at this stage would be a nightmare. We are getting 100 points kicked against us nearly every week. We are not kicking a score from our entries and the ball is coming back faster than a Super Fast Squash ball off a hard surface. I'd hate to be there trying to stop the running hoards with no mids backing up.

What's more there is no organisation down there. If Tommy is playing there is moret. But when he or Ramps do not play there us none. Lloyd seems incapable of organising the troops. Great player, terrible stand in backs captain.

So, even the best would struggle at the pace the ball is coming in. Who are the backs having to cope with? Forwards, both tall & small, plus the wingers, mids & half backs running down off their players. Not good.

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[111431]

Gould is now 3 games into his career, and he has been brought into a defensive unit decimated by injuries. It's not the easiest start to his career. Give him a run of games - we won't know if he is an AFL standard footballer if we don't play him.

agree 100%. Our poor defensive pressure from the midfield has made our defenders life a nightmare even without the injuries

[wolftone57]

agree 100%. Our poor defensive pressure from the midfield has made our defenders life a nightmare even without the injuries

I agree. How the hell do we know if he will be a good player or not. He has been thrown into a decimated backline with a team who's mids are too tired to chase and who's forwards just don't. I saw a situation where Buds opponent was on their HF line and Bud is still in our HF line. Fine if we get the ball back but at that time there was no hope of that he was handballing to a player in space. Lots of space. That is because the other player's opponent, one of our mids, was back on the wing sucking in big ones.

The ball is coming in so fast with so much overlap the backs have no chance. Even if they do get a man on man too many of our players fly leaving lots of opponents to clear the ball and kick goals. The backline is totally disorganised. We need someone to take responsibility and say 'just stick to your opponent'.

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[liz]

Per Longmire's midweek press conference, published a short while ago on the Swans website, Sheather is out this week with a recurrence of the stress issues in his foot. McCartin won't play, Ladhams almost certainly will.

Wouldn't commit to Sheldrick coming in or not, but did say there were a couple who would come in from the VFL side (which I guess is self-evident seeing that we've lost three and only Ladhams is right to return).

With Ladhams coming in, it seems unlikely this will be the week that McAndrew debuts. So the two ins are probably going to be two of Sheldrick, Stephens and Melican, with Warner and Hall-Kahan maybe outside chances. I can't think of anyone else who is even a remote possibility.

"We've had 21 changes to our team this year" - Longmire

[i'm-uninformed2]

Per Longmire's midweek press conference, published a short while ago on the Swans website, Sheather is out this week with a recurrence of the stress issues in his foot. McCartin won't play, Ladhams almost certainly will.

Wouldn't commit to Sheldrick coming in or not, but did say there were a couple who would come in from the VFL side (which I guess is self-evident seeing that we've lost three and only Ladhams is right to return).

With Ladhams coming in, it seems unlikely this will be the week that McAndrew debuts. So the two ins are probably going to be two of Sheldrick, Stephens and Melican, with Warner and Hall-Kahan maybe outside chances. I can't think of anyone else who is even a remote possibility.

"We've had 21 changes to our team this year" - Longmire

Also, apparently Bud spent two days in bed Thurs/Fri but played to fill the gaps. Doesn't explain everything, as the trajectory is real, but might explain the particularly poor movement on the weekend. Anyhoo, onwards and upwards hey

[Nico]

agree 100%. Our poor defensive pressure from the midfield has made our defenders life a nightmare even without the injuries

Our forward pressure is worse.

[i'm-uninformed2]

Our forward pressure is worse.

Gotta say agree with this big time. It's been an issue for a while and was seriously noticeable seeing it up close on Saturday. I've said before, we really need a pesky, defence focused small forward companion for Paps playing the role Wicks did (albeit well in first half of year, then falling away a bit from there) in 2021. Hayward's willing to do some of the work, but otherwise, we're light on for defensive effort down there.

[waswan]

Thats Konstanty if he gets healthy

[Auntie.Gerald]

Beware McAandrew

He has grit and is accumulating skill and games awareness

Pykey in the making

PS did see McAndrew deck Heeney on the outside near the line at training pre season

It was a great hit

[707]

I am comforted by the amount of outs this week at Norf, but still nervous!

Hopefully Buddy can get himself up for this and kick a bag to get past Wade on the all time goal kickers

[Thunder Shaker]

Also, apparently Bud spent two days in bed Thurs/Fri but played to fill the gaps. Doesn't explain everything, as the trajectory is real, but might explain the particularly poor movement on the weekend. Anyhoo, onwards and upwards hey

Swans forced to play 'really sick' Buddy as injuries pile up

If there was an injury ladder, scored on most available first 22 players, we would be bottom four. West Coast is worse - they have so many injured that about half their list is unavailable.

The AFL does not have sufficient protection for particularly bad runs of injuries. This deficiency needs to be examined.

[liz]

The AFL does not have sufficient protection for particularly bad runs of injuries. This deficiency needs to be examined.

What do you suggest? The most obvious solution would be to increase list sizes but this is contrary to the apparent push to reduce them. This idea has reared its head again in the context of how the Tasmanian team will be set up. But there's also a thought (likely emanating from the better paid players in the competition) that the better players should get more of the pie. And that means sharing it amongst fewer players.

Apparently this will be no big deal. Clubs will just have supplementary lists pulled from the state level competitions. Which is great for those clubs with strong pools of state league players to choose from. ie not the NSW clubs. I am not sure what the quality of the Suns' and Lions' VFL squads is like because they've not had to call on them much. Brisbane has had an excellent run with injury over the last couple of seasons, while the Suns still have an extended list as part of their recent concessions.

[neilfws]

If there was an injury ladder, scored on most available first 22 players, we would be bottom four. West Coast is worse - they have so many injured that about half their list is unavailable.

There's a "games experience on the injury list" stat and indeed the Swans are bottom (or top) four, with 815. Eagles are 1982! But then Geelong are 1103, illustrating the danger of looking for simple explanations using single measures.

Games experience on the available list is just as relevant of course - I guess Geelong go well on that score.