Rnd19 - vs Fremantle at Optus Stadium, 22 July at 5:40 PM local (7:40 PM AEST)

[Markwebbos]

Don’t fancy Hickeys chances from here as Ladhams should be ready in a week or two.

And then next year we’ll obviously have Grundy and De Koning if media reports are to be believed.

[Roadrunner]

Don’t fancy Hickeys chances from here as Ladhams should be ready in a week or two.

And then next year we’ll obviously have Grundy and De Koning if media reports are to be believed.

I think Tom has 1 more year in him. He was injured and not 100% fit this year but if he can stay injury free he’s got a bit left in the tank. With Ladhams and Stretch coming along the rucks seem to be covered reasonably well with McLean as backup, while leaving Amartey to play up front with Logan. But if we allow for injuries to rucks, which unfortunately happens quite a bit, we may need 1 more. So if Grundy is available for a reasonable trade, he would be my pick and be our no.1 ruckman, with Ladhams forward. But will the Dees come to the party? Re: De Konig- not worth silly money but has a good leap.

[waswan]

So what does that say about Hickey?

A few on here saying he is cooked.

Thought that we might have an advantage in the ruck this week without Darcy and it would be a good game for him, Ladhams or McAndrew but nope…

Im hoping it says they are underdone and not ready to go otherwise its a negative mindset from the MC.

If either was healthy id prefer to go into the game an exploit what they dont have as opposed to not match what they dont have.

[Markwebbos]

I don’t think playing any of them will give us an advantage.

[waswan]

I don’t think playing any of them will give us an advantage.

Maybe that is their thinking

[wolftone57]

Their ruck division consists of; Jackson. That's it. A forward would have to ruck, either Treacy or Amiss. So, not so different from ours except for Jackson being a specialised ruck. i would actually reverse the roles tomorrow and play Amartey as first ruck. He has the athleticism to go with and out leap Jackson.

They have a lot of small, nippy forwards. We need to stop them. Harry could play on Sonny. I think we must play this game one on one. Especially the backs. I think we have the backline to destroy their forward movement. Obviously, Blakey plays tall this week as we have no others. he will probably play on either Corbett or Treacy. if he plays on Treacy, good luck Treacy in catching him. He will create havoc.

The midfield is still the problem. We must get more out of the centre. Chad will help with his run and gun and hard body. If Freo did not have so many dangerous small forwards I would be tempted to suggest Ollie go in there to get some quick ball out. But will all their smalls I would prefer he plays back. He and Lloyd will be pivotal to us beating their nippy Mosquito Fleet. I know Wil plays that thankless role of Forward Pocket but I would prefer to see him further up the ground where he can have an impact. He is a very good field kick and I think is wasted in the pocket. Glad to Paps perform so well last week.

This is not going to be popular. We still target Bud far too often and waste many opportunities to score in doing so. He played well last week but he would have still played as well if we only targeted him between 10 & 20% instead of 42%. The other times he was not in a position to win the ball or was surrounded by opponents. Players need to raise the eyes and pick the bestr option. It could be any of the forwards and if the opposition are targeting Bud then there will be other forwards free. I don't know how many times last week Logan was free, his opponent being second for Bud, and we ignored him. Same goes for wil, Amartey, Heens etc. We need to use the leading forwards. Amartey was really clever in his leads. fist leading forward, then back, then forward again. He times his leads very well and he and Gulden have a golden connection.

I hope we win this although it is always hard against them at home on the cement parking lot.

[Hotpotato]

This is not going to be popular. We still target Bud far too often and waste many opportunities to score in doing so. He played well last week but he would have still played as well if we only targeted him between 10 & 20% instead of 42%. The other times he was not in a position to win the ball or was surrounded by opponents. Players need to raise the eyes and pick the bestr option. It could be any of the forwards and if the opposition are targeting Bud then there will be other forwards free. I don't know how many times last week Logan was free, his opponent being second for Bud, and we ignored him. Same goes for wil, Amartey, Heens etc. We need to use the leading forwards. Amartey was really clever in his leads. fist leading forward, then back, then forward again. He times his leads very well and he and Gulden have a golden connection.

Well it’s popular with me because it’s glaringly logical .
Thanks

[Ludwig]

This is not going to be popular. We still target Bud far too often and waste many opportunities to score in doing so. He played well last week but he would have still played as well if we only targeted him between 10 & 20% instead of 42%. The other times he was not in a position to win the ball or was surrounded by opponents. Players need to raise the eyes and pick the bestr option. It could be any of the forwards and if the opposition are targeting Bud then there will be other forwards free. I don't know how many times last week Logan was free, his opponent being second for Bud, and we ignored him. Same goes for wil, Amartey, Heens etc. We need to use the leading forwards. Amartey was really clever in his leads. fist leading forward, then back, then forward again. He times his leads very well and he and Gulden have a golden connection.

Well it’s popular with me because it’s glaringly logical .
Thanks

It's popular with me.

I've been saying we play better with Buddy since last year. And this year, he's been a clear liability. Okay, we lost Joel and Logan to injury, so Buddy had to play, but now it's just another Buddy swan song moment.

I think we can still beat Freo even with Franklin in the side. And if we don't, it just helps our draft position.

[liz]

I reckon pretty much everyone on here has been asking for years why our forward line seems to function OK without Franklin, and yet becomes less potent with him in it, even when he himself plays well. It's been the case even while he was at close to his best. Why can the midfield find a variety of targets when he's not there, but get sick with tunnel vision when he is?

[Blood Fever]

Glad we had him last night. When they challenged, he stood up the most like he has done countless times during his career with us.

[liz]

Glad we had him last night. When they challenged, he stood up the most like he has done countless times during his career with us.

I confess there were times last night when I started to wonder if he might go round again...

(Not serious - he was great; his contested marking and his pressure were especially great. But we still don't know much more about how our forward line can operate once he's no longer playing.)

[Blood Fever]

I guess we wait and see how our list looks like after trade and draft is done. As it is, looks like Amartey and McDonald as talls plus Heeney, Will as mediums with Papley and one other. Hopefully we honour more leads but JL loves going long like North did when he played. Not sure if Logan is ready to take load of KPF. Reid might miraculously survive again. If so, he should be on a minimum wage. Lazarus with a triple bypass! I know this is a delicate question but is Buddy definitely retiring? What about a contract where he only plays half the games?

[troyjones2525]

Buller looks to have potential too as a key forward and will no doubt benefit from an AFL pre season. Will be interesting to see what we do at the draft as there is a brilliant small forward named Nick Watson who is expected to go high but is only 170cm so could slide due to recruiters having an obsession with height.

I don't know if we'd want him either but he looks to be a very, very talented footballer.

Zane Duursma is a 189cm MID/FWD who looks to have that silky smooth ability like a Rozee and would be a good get too if we have a high enough pick.

Then there's everyone's favourite Connor O'Sullivan, who is a 198cm key defender who can apparently also play in the midfield! He would be a good get and definitely fill a key position need.

But I have a feeling we'll use our first pick in a trade, either for a player, or to move back in the draft for a couple of picks which we may then use in another trade.

That will disappoint me a little as I do love the draft and the hope it brings to us supporters of a brighter future. But if we are active during the trade period and pick up the right player or players, then that will be a positive too.

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[Nico]

I don't want them to use the first round pick for anything but the draft. Blind Freddy can see we need a generational Key Back. If O'Sullivan is available then he is it.

[goswannies]

Zane Duursma is a 189cm MID/FWD who looks to have that silky smooth ability like a Rozee and would be a good get too if we have a high enough pick.

Nephew of former Swans Jamie Duursma #bringhimhome