Rnd 0 - Pre Match Thread - vs Melbourne at SCG, Thursday 7 March 2024 at 1:30 PM

[Blood Fever]

Parker, Adams and Mills are big outs. Let's hope we can manufacture a few wins early in the season so we stay in touch and not have to play catch up like we did last year.

[longmile]

Parker, Adams and Mills are big outs. Let's hope we can manufacture a few wins early in the season so we stay in touch and not have to play catch up like we did last year.

Whilst these aren't great injuries as it's our 3 most experienced midfielders, the Dees have some pretty significant outs too - this is taken from the AFL website:

UNAVAILABLE: Kysaiah Pickett (suspended), Ben Brown (knee) Charlie Spargo (Achilles), Jake Melksham (knee), Shane McAdam (calf), Lachie Hunter (calf), Daniel Turner (leg), Joel Smith (suspended)

There's also questions regarding Oliver's availability as well.

Parker and Adams are at the twilight of there careers and last year some people here were wondering if Parker still had a spot in the team (not necessarily my view). I'm excited to see Sheldrick and Heeney in the midfield, and interested to see how Jordon performs. I'm not too worried

[liz]

The AFL website has an article stating that Oliver will play. Hopefully he'll be short of his absolute best.

Melbourne Demons superstar Clayton Oliver to play in Opening Round clash against Sydney Swans

[Auntie.Gerald]

I did feel Sheldrick was miles off a Luke Parker performance in the GWS trial game.

So not clean below his knees. Jumping in and not keeping his feet. Not moving in on an arc to the ball to increase 360 degree exit awareness. Im sure he will tidy up next game though as it was slippery but others were clean with the ball.

[liz]

I did feel Sheldrick was miles off a Luke Parker performance in the GWS trial game.

So not clean below his knees. Jumping in and not keeping his feet. Not moving in on an arc to the ball to increase 360 degree exit awareness. Im sure he will tidy up next game though as it was slippery but others were clean with the ball.

I suspect that reflects a) his inexperience; and b) his team insecurity.

He approached the game like a bull in a china shop, trying to show his attack on the ball. In those conditions he just needed to slow everything down so he could focus on being cleaner.

I hope someone from the coaching team has sat down with him in the last few days and shown him his tape vs Lachie Neale's. He should be able to learn a lot from how Neale approached each contest.

[BRS328]

Pickett is the only one of any significance. Ben Brown wouldn’t get a game in the Swans reserves.
Mills Parker and Adams are a significant loss. Hopefully Jordan and Shelderick can step up, and based on their practice match form here’s hoping.
Oliver will be playing which makes matters worse.

[giant]

First match of the season! Exciting, but we are also up against a likely top four side with Mills, Parker and possibly Adams out.

On paper, lots of potent players on every line for the Demons.

May, Lever. Salem, Langdon, Petracca, Gawn, Kickett, Fritsch, Oliver and Melksham/Spargo could easily be in our best 22 (for Melican, Fox, Cunningham, McInerney, Rowbottom, Grundy, Wicks, Hayward, Jordon and Almartey). How they could afford them all, along with Brayshaw in their salary cap?

We also get another look at JVR who could have taken. I am sure some of us will be comparing his career with Sheldrick's for a long time to come!

Anyway, if we use our Elimination Finals team from last year as the basis for the squad, then:

Out: Mills (inj), Parker (inj), Hickey (ret)
Ins: Adams (if recovered), Jordon, Grundy

Sub: Fox (again)

Hopefully Adams is ok to play. If he isn't, then Sheldrick to come in.

Possibly Ladhams in for Almartey, and/or Roberts in for Fox as well.

Looking forward to it, and hoping we can start off the season well.

You could make an argument that they've got 5 of the best 20 players in the competition in that list - May/Gawn/Petracca certainly, Oliver and Lever possibly (and when they had Grundy arguably 6!). That's some serious over-indexing in talent, with plenty of great support from the likes of Viney, Fritsch etc. For mine, they and the Lions have comfortably the best squads in the comp.

But as the last few years have shown, talent is never enough (though it's pretty good start...).

[Blood Fever]

Whilst these aren't great injuries as it's our 3 most experienced midfielders, the Dees have some pretty significant outs too - this is taken from the AFL website:

UNAVAILABLE: Kysaiah Pickett (suspended), Ben Brown (knee) Charlie Spargo (Achilles), Jake Melksham (knee), Shane McAdam (calf), Lachie Hunter (calf), Daniel Turner (leg), Joel Smith (suspended)

There's also questions regarding Oliver's availability as well.

Parker and Adams are at the twilight of there careers and last year some people here were wondering if Parker still had a spot in the team (not necessarily my view). I'm excited to see Sheldrick and Heeney in the midfield, and interested to see how Jordon performs. I'm not too worried

Like your optimism. Happy for you to be right. The three hard nuts would have been handy but it does give other younger players a chance. Reckon Roberts plays some role.

[cowcar]

Pickett is the only one of any significance. Ben Brown wouldn’t get a game in the Swans reserves.
Mills Parker and Adams are a significant loss. Hopefully Jordan and Shelderick can step up, and based on their practice match form here’s hoping.
Oliver will be playing which makes matters worse.

Whilst i agree with this, i would add they lost Brayshaw as well didnt they? Hes a big loss

[MattW]

I'm a little nervous.

Mills, Parker and Adams are significant outs against a team with Petracca, Oliver and Viney. Adams had the most clearances for the Swans last week despite only playing 50% of the game.

Rowbottom, Jordon and Warner will need to have big games in the middle, and I'm expecting Heeney to match-up either Oliver or Petracca for much of it.

I'm still waiting to hear confirmation that Hayward wasn't concussed, as he's going to be very important forward this year, taking pressure off the younger talls.

Also slightly concerned that Rampe and Lloyd missed the Brisbane game, given the backline is a little thin.

Sorry for being a bit of a downer!

[MattW]

Like your optimism. Happy for you to be right. The three hard nuts would have been handy but it does give other younger players a chance. Reckon Roberts plays some role.

I'd be very surprised if Roberts is not in the 23, and somewhat surprised if he's not in the 22. Eighteen disposals at 78% against Brisbane; looked assured.

[Ocker]

Agree about Robert’s. I went to the GWS game and was a little surprised to see him in the backline. Seems he may be competing with Harry for a spot and looked the better of the two in that game.


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[waswan]

I'm a little nervous.

Mills, Parker and Adams are significant outs against a team with Petracca, Oliver and Viney. Adams had the most clearances for the Swans last week despite only playing 50% of the game.

Rowbottom, Jordon and Warner will need to have big games in the middle, and I'm expecting Heeney to match-up either Oliver or Petracca for much of it.

I'm still waiting to hear confirmation that Hayward wasn't concussed, as he's going to be very important forward this year, taking pressure off the younger talls.

Also slightly concerned that Rampe and Lloyd missed the Brisbane game, given the backline is a little thin.

Sorry for being a bit of a downer!

Hayward very important to keep Lever and May busy as 3rd man up

[i'm-uninformed2]

I did feel Sheldrick was miles off a Luke Parker performance in the GWS trial game.

So not clean below his knees. Jumping in and not keeping his feet. Not moving in on an arc to the ball to increase 360 degree exit awareness. Im sure he will tidy up next game though as it was slippery but others were clean with the ball.

It’s a good pick up, but also something easily remedied given what he showed last year was a good ability to use his hips and body to create space for himself and an exit for the handball. He does it more naturally than a lot of our mids. Hopefully what we saw in the practice match was a combination of over enthusiasm and the wet.

[Mel_C]

I'm still waiting to hear confirmation that Hayward wasn't concussed, as he's going to be very important forward this year, taking pressure off the younger talls.

I was also concerned about Hayward, but in the latest injury report he is not mentioned. They only mention Parker, Mills, Adams, Arnold and Kirk.