Rnd 15 - vs West Coast Eagles at SCG, 4:35 PM, Saturday 24 June 2023

[Nico]

I am sure the selectors had a tough call on dropping Fox from the 22. If you go through the exercise of moving the magnets round, it's easy to see what they were faced with.

If Fox is not the sub, then my analysis goes out the window. With Fox in the emergencies, I assume he will be the sub.

If you look at the team selection as a 23 man side instead of a 22 man side, it makes it easier. Then the question becomes, who should be the sub out of the 23.

This is how I think the selectors went about the team selection. Start with the general objectives for the group, i.e. how they team should be structured. Key points that may not be obvious:

• Sheldrick keeps his spot. He played well. We want to continue his development and increase his playing time.
• We want Blakey to be our rebounder and not tied down to one on on defence.
• We want to play 2 genuine key defenders (192 cm +).
• Like most teams, the Swans play a 7 defender side.

So what meets that criteria?

7 defenders: Melican, Francis, Blakey, Rampe, Florent, Cunningham, Lloyd. If Fox plays defence, then Florent or Lloyd play midfield. Then who move out of the midfield. McInerney? Should Fox play midfield? Or forward? Then what?

Out of all the players in question of dropping out of the 22, who is the most versatile, thereby most adapted to playing the sub role? I would say Fox.

Everyone knows that I've been a big fan of Fox before it became popular. So I'm not coming at this with any negativity toward Fox. It's simply that when faced with the very reasonable constraints listed, it makes the most sense.

Go through the exercise. Move the magnets around and see if you can come up with a better solution. It's also possible to challenge my assumptions and say we drop McInerney, or Hayward, or Sheldrick. But if you think those guys keep their spots, then what?

Not everyone has a magnet board.

[Ludwig]

Not everyone has a magnet board.

Not real supporters!

Maybe we should do a Go Fund Me for poverty stricken Swans' supporters so they can climb out of their deprivation and get one.

[Thunder Shaker]

The team selection for the Swans-Eagles game is discussed in this video starting at 0:48: Footy Feed: Dockers' big advantage, triple Swans treat, feelgood Pie (afl.com.au). Discusses the three players coming back from injury and also Fox's mysterious omission.

[liz]

The team selection for the Swans-Eagles game is discussed in this video starting at 0:48: Footy Feed: Dockers' big advantage, triple Swans treat, feelgood Pie (afl.com.au). Discusses the three players coming back from injury and also Fox's mysterious omission.

"Discusses" might be a bit generous. The "discussion" around Fox's omission is really just Sarah Olle expressing the same surprise as many on here have.

[Thunder Shaker]

"Discusses" might be a bit generous. The "discussion" around Fox's omission is really just Sarah Olle expressing the same surprise as many on here have.

Yes, it was a bit generous, but considering the video has a running time a bit less than six and a half minutes and discussed six matches, no real in-depth analysis could reasonably be expected. I considered it noteworthy that Fox was discussed at all, particularly that the discussion of Fox's omission was in a similar vein to our discussion here.

[stellation]

The horrendous shrieks of someone clearly being murdered at night have returned in the past week, which always takes me a few moments to realise it is the excited call of vixens as mating season has returned. That may be the reason for the omission.

[Nico]

The horrendous shrieks of someone clearly being murdered at night have returned in the past week, which always takes me a few moments to realise it is the excited call of vixens as mating season has returned. That may be the reason for the omission.

Or is the call of a Screeching Owl.

[Markwebbos]

Where did they play Fox last week? And why? He seemed not to be defending and I don’t know why that was. But I assume it’s a factor in his “non-selection” this week

[Hotpotato]

It’s 15th playing 18th and 18th are paying $13 .
Mmm

[Ludwig]

Where did they play Fox last week? And why? He seemed not to be defending and I don’t know why that was. But I assume it’s a factor in his “non-selection” this week

Fox was the 8th man in a 7 man defence.

[redstarforever]

if longmire picks his personal favourites over players who should be playing then wtf? longmire out! i expect us to be at least 5 goals up by half time

[caj23]

Don't think it will affect the outcome of the game, but there's a dozen players I'd omit before Fox.

Longmire has always had his favourites and his not so favourites. Fox spent 2-3 years in the reserves when he started his career for being in the latter group

[KTigers]

It’s 15th playing 18th and 18th are paying $13 .
Mmm

They have a better than 1 in 13 chance of beating us unfortunately.....

[Ludwig]

It will be a poor showing if we can't win by at least 10 goals.

[Thunder Shaker]

Fox did not play in the Magoos. Either he's been rested or he is the sub.