Preview 2024 Round 01 Thursday March 7 v Melbourne 7:20 @ SCG
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Ed_Gein
Very good. But brick not hit back!
- Dec 17, 2003
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Keeping Fritsch quiet will go a long way to winning this... He's kicked 14 goals in 4 games against us over the last two years. He must love playing us.
Horse might play Heeney in the roll he did on Cripps last year.
Similar situation with our very young midfield playing on a Big experienced midfield.
I can see Heeney playing almost full time mid. From reports, he trained a lot there during pre-season
A midfield of Heeney, Rowbottom, Warner + Jordan, Gulden + Paps, Jmac, is still ok. Our three toughest, most experienced mids being out at the same time is gonna hurt as it would any team
Grand Uncle Horace
Shake down the thunder
Yes, that is the defensive priority.
Think the Fritter highlights us with the yellow marker in the fixture. I have no idea who plays on him. Please not Melican.
We are also lucky Pickitt is suspended.
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The outs are a concern against this particular midfield, given their so big and hard and we're going to have to basically run a midfield that is more light and dynamic. So it will be a battle of styles. I think this obviously presents guys like Gulden (who was amazing against them in round 24 last year) and Warner the chance to test Melbourne's mids and have blinders.
But at the risk of treading over familiar territory, I'll add that in 2022 we beat Melbourne and matched this same midfield twice, and Rowbottom got 9 of a possible 10 POTY votes in those two games. In 2023 we were beaten by Melbourne and this same midfield twice, and Rowbottom got 0 POTY votes in those two games. So if we're wondering where the difference could be, I'd personally start there.
Ladhams plays in this one for mine in McLean's place, then they probably swap again next week once Gawn is (hopefully) taken care of. That sounds like I'm a mobster and I'm planning to have Gawn whacked.
But at the risk of treading over familiar territory, I'll add that in 2022 we beat Melbourne and matched this same midfield twice, and Rowbottom got 9 of a possible 10 POTY votes in those two games. In 2023 we were beaten by Melbourne and this same midfield twice, and Rowbottom got 0 POTY votes in those two games. So if we're wondering where the difference could be, I'd personally start there.
Ladhams plays in this one for mine in McLean's place, then they probably swap again next week once Gawn is (hopefully) taken care of. That sounds like I'm a mobster and I'm planning to have Gawn whacked.
- Nov 11, 2012
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Not sure what the stress is
Adams is 31 and never played a game for us.
Parker by most around here is finished as a mid and want him chasing arse in the front half instead of getting the hard ball in the Contest like he does.
Should be no excuses imo as our young talent in dynasty worthy
Adams is 31 and never played a game for us.
Parker by most around here is finished as a mid and want him chasing arse in the front half instead of getting the hard ball in the Contest like he does.
Should be no excuses imo as our young talent in dynasty worthy
the hypnotoad
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ha ... coming from you, the irony offsets the sarcasm
Grand Uncle Horace
Shake down the thunder
Surely not.
McLean was in our best 3 or 4 players in the last half of 23.
Ladhams showed promising signs in a half of a praccy game, after 23 wasa total bust.
are people really suggesting he play 15-20% game time to give Grundy a break? … he is close to a total bust up forward
Frankly I’d prefer Sam Reid and his famous “he provides an outlet on the wing”.
RedBloodBlackSwan
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I’m going to go against the grain here.
Given our outs, I think we need to back our younger /newer midfielders to have a go (eg. Sheldrick and Jordon through the guts and free Rowbottom) but we can’t expect them all to fire, or to all run out the game.
I’d pick a mid heavy team so we have flexibility and stamina. I’d also pick Ladhams so we can double team through the ruck.
Expect the forwards to win if we dominate the middle. Be patient bringing the ball forward so we don’t let their defense run it out.
Given our outs, I think we need to back our younger /newer midfielders to have a go (eg. Sheldrick and Jordon through the guts and free Rowbottom) but we can’t expect them all to fire, or to all run out the game.
I’d pick a mid heavy team so we have flexibility and stamina. I’d also pick Ladhams so we can double team through the ruck.
Expect the forwards to win if we dominate the middle. Be patient bringing the ball forward so we don’t let their defense run it out.
- Oct 2, 2016
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We seem to matchup well with Melbourne midfield. It's their defence we struggle against
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I'm not joining in the handwringing. Our midfield bats pretty deep now.
Grundy is bona fide mid as well as ruck. Based on his last full season as ruck in 2021, he gets more contested possessions than any Swan except Parker, plus his own share of clearances and tackles.
Jordon and Gulden will play inside as well as wing. Papley will do some centre bounces. Sheldrick is ready for prime time.
I'd put money on Heeney spending 80% of his time in the mid, 20% up forwarrd.
Rowbo will go on Oliver or Petracca if they get off the chain. Plus they're down one after Brayshaw retirement.
Midfield looks OK. I'm a bit more curious about the backs. Are they are going to go with the Blakey experiment as the third tall? I still think we'll play Hamling or Melican but something to watch for.
Grundy is bona fide mid as well as ruck. Based on his last full season as ruck in 2021, he gets more contested possessions than any Swan except Parker, plus his own share of clearances and tackles.
Jordon and Gulden will play inside as well as wing. Papley will do some centre bounces. Sheldrick is ready for prime time.
I'd put money on Heeney spending 80% of his time in the mid, 20% up forwarrd.
Rowbo will go on Oliver or Petracca if they get off the chain. Plus they're down one after Brayshaw retirement.
Midfield looks OK. I'm a bit more curious about the backs. Are they are going to go with the Blakey experiment as the third tall? I still think we'll play Hamling or Melican but something to watch for.
All eyes on Chad. He's the one who needs to lift. This game hangs on him
- Sep 25, 2012
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this. expecting chad to go to another level. flew well under the radar last season.
I'm torn on the possible ladhams selection. Imo I say we back our gamestyle with the 3 tall forwards if that's what we've been training with all pre-season. I'm uncertain if Ladhams will have that much more of an impact than a Mclean or Amartey v Gawn, while I'm more confident a Mclean or Amartey will have a bigger fwd impact than Ladhams.
Grundy first game with us & verse his former team, IMO he'll have that extra bit of energy to compete with Gawn for the entire of the game reducing the need for an extra ruck.
I think we'll see Heeney playing in the mids because Horse has said pre-season they wanted more physical size & hardness in the midfield. He fits that bill. Yes the dees mids are bigger, strong & more physical but they're also slower than our likely mids. We need to use our speed advantage.
Imo run Heeney & Rowbottom as our 2 main mids from contest to contest then have Gulden/Warner/Sheldrick/Jordon share the 3rd mid role. I would also play Papley as a centre bounce mid to utilise his centre clearance winning ability.
Grundy first game with us & verse his former team, IMO he'll have that extra bit of energy to compete with Gawn for the entire of the game reducing the need for an extra ruck.
I think we'll see Heeney playing in the mids because Horse has said pre-season they wanted more physical size & hardness in the midfield. He fits that bill. Yes the dees mids are bigger, strong & more physical but they're also slower than our likely mids. We need to use our speed advantage.
Imo run Heeney & Rowbottom as our 2 main mids from contest to contest then have Gulden/Warner/Sheldrick/Jordon share the 3rd mid role. I would also play Papley as a centre bounce mid to utilise his centre clearance winning ability.
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Amartey
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Got told from a great source with inside knowledge that the reason Fox is playing forward to do the Haywood role of gut running up and down . They want Hayward to stay closer to home , as they believe he's a good kick AT goal , but is absolutely buggered at times when having a shot.
Also they are very surprised with the hard work and improvement of Ladhams , also not sold on Sheldrick atm , but will get better and the worry is getting smashed in the middle .
Also they are very surprised with the hard work and improvement of Ladhams , also not sold on Sheldrick atm , but will get better and the worry is getting smashed in the middle .
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- Oct 2, 2016
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I wouldn't be shocked if Ladhams is picked ahead of Amartey with McLean and McDonald kept as our key forwards.
Are they worried about our midfield as a whole or sheldrick midfield work?
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That insider also said they are frustrated as he only tends to play a half when going well , then disappears
Ticky009
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Backline: It will be Cunningham or going by the Lions game Campbell who sat on Cameron all night. Mostly though it will be Cunningham in the backline.
Forwards: Wicks or Hayward but mostly Wicks I reckon.
Ticky009
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Which is my biggest issue with him. He goes missing way too often in games and lacks consistency over 4 quarters. I've been a bit easy on him due to his injuries keeping his games down so he's got this year to convince me.
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