Membling
Brownlow Medallist
WELCOME BACK EVERYBODY!
Last game of 2022 did not go as we all want as Geelong steam rolled us in the GF. Onwards and upward I suppose...
Last time we played:
No ifs or buts, Gold Coast are our boogey side. Whenever we play them, there is always a chance that we are gonna get rolled. Likely, due to a master coaching session for Stuie Dew who definitely ate the second stick of gum that Violet Beauregard was unable to locate.
Recent history:
L W L L W
We last played GC Round 8 in 2022 in which we lost the match by 14 points GC 10.15 75 to Swans 8.13 61. GC were led by Ellis, Fiorini and Swallow with Mills, Blakey and Lloyd being the top disposal getters for this match. The suns overran us in the last, in what was ultimately a poor outing with the swans, however we got a glimpse of what the Chad could potentially become.
Our Opponent: The Suns
Likely best 22:
Backs: Sean Lemmens, Sam Collins, Jake Stein
Half-backs: Brandon Ellis, Charlie Ballard, David Swallow
Centres: Jack Lukosius, Matt Rowell, Wil Powell
Followers: Jarrod Witts (c), Noah Anderson, Touk Miller (c)
Half-forwards: Elijah Hollands, Mabior Chol, Ben Ainsworth
Forwards: Joel Jeffrey, Ben King, Malcolm Rosas
Interchange: Tom Berry, Sam Flanders, Bailey Humphrey, Ben Long
Substitute: Jeremy Sharp
GC has teased and flirted with the footballing world being filled with what is an abhorrently dirty word in sports circles, “potential”. They do play very attractive footy and when they are on, they are on. However, when they are not, they get absolutely mauled. The highs and lows have somewhat stabilised over the years, however it is still noticeable enough that they cannot really be called a consistent footy team. 2023 is meant to be where the Suns turns a corner and honestly it feels like it.
Swans last game:
Pass.
New season, not a particularly new Swans with the only move we made to trade in a player being Francis who currently, does not look like featuring in round 1. Outside of some draft pick shenanigans, I do not see any of our recruits debuting in round 1 either so a proposed best 22 (thank you caesar88 for having a best 22 that was exactly like mine):
B - Dane Rampe - Tom McCartin - Nick Blakey
HB - Jake Lloyd - Paddy McCartin - Ollie Florent
C - Dylan Stephens - Errol Gulden - Justin McInerney
HF - Isaac Heeney - Logan McDonald - Sam Reid
F - Tom Papley - Buddy Franklin - Will Hayward
Foll - Peter Ladhams - Callum Mills - James Rowbottom
I/C - Luke Parker, Chad Warner, Braeden Campbell, Harry Cunningham
Sub - Matty Roberts
Ins: McDonald, Ladhams, Campbell and Cunningham
Outs: McLean, Hickey, Fox and Clarke
I actually think that the inclusions make us better. As much as I love RJ, I feel that Ladhams will give us a boost in the middle if he can keep it together. Likewise, McDonald and Cunningham are improvements over Mclean and Clarke. Fox is a loss and is not a 1 for 1 for Campbell but if I were to choose now, it would be Fox no doubt.
Match ups:
The Ruck
New year, same discussion about the Swans – how is our ruck going to function? Ladhams, no doubt showed he could do the number one job. The issue is in between the ears. To be fair, we do forget he is only 25 and should be coming into his own in the ruck very shortly. Now, he will have his hands full in combatting Witts who, IMO, is one of top five rucks in the league when he is up and running. Feeding the ball directly to GC mids will exacerbate our poor CC and give them quick entry. Ladhams needs to nullify this contest at a minimum.
Ben King vs TMac
Ben King is the better King out of the twins. Fight me.
However, he is returning from an injury and missing the 2022 season which may cause him to be rusty. However, TMac has struggled on the bigger forwards of late (Hopefully Levi does not play for GC). I expect Rampe to take on Chol with Paddy intercepting as required. Could be a relatively tricky day, especially as Ben is/was the more athletic of the Kings.
Players of interest:
Swans:
Gulden
Really could not be anyone else after his preseason outings. It was going to be Campbell but after Gulden’s form, has to be picked. What I saw of him in the guts was beautiful. In and under, clean and neat disposal, hitting the scoreboard it was awesome. So where do we play him… in the guts. Horse, I beg of you. Leave this man in the middle more often than not. Rowbottom, Parker Mills and Gulden feeding it out to Warner, Stephens, Blakey and Jmac… dreams. And looking at that, our midfield and HFF mix looks to be pretty much set with any of Mills, Parker and Gulden able to sit in the position.
So yeah, fairly high on Gulden
TL;DR – Swans to start well and surprise the board by winning vs GC first game
Swans by 24 points
*will put up pretty pictures later
** if we lose atleast I got my losing preview out of the way
Last game of 2022 did not go as we all want as Geelong steam rolled us in the GF. Onwards and upward I suppose...
Last time we played:
No ifs or buts, Gold Coast are our boogey side. Whenever we play them, there is always a chance that we are gonna get rolled. Likely, due to a master coaching session for Stuie Dew who definitely ate the second stick of gum that Violet Beauregard was unable to locate.
Recent history:
L W L L W
We last played GC Round 8 in 2022 in which we lost the match by 14 points GC 10.15 75 to Swans 8.13 61. GC were led by Ellis, Fiorini and Swallow with Mills, Blakey and Lloyd being the top disposal getters for this match. The suns overran us in the last, in what was ultimately a poor outing with the swans, however we got a glimpse of what the Chad could potentially become.
Our Opponent: The Suns
Likely best 22:
Backs: Sean Lemmens, Sam Collins, Jake Stein
Half-backs: Brandon Ellis, Charlie Ballard, David Swallow
Centres: Jack Lukosius, Matt Rowell, Wil Powell
Followers: Jarrod Witts (c), Noah Anderson, Touk Miller (c)
Half-forwards: Elijah Hollands, Mabior Chol, Ben Ainsworth
Forwards: Joel Jeffrey, Ben King, Malcolm Rosas
Interchange: Tom Berry, Sam Flanders, Bailey Humphrey, Ben Long
Substitute: Jeremy Sharp
GC has teased and flirted with the footballing world being filled with what is an abhorrently dirty word in sports circles, “potential”. They do play very attractive footy and when they are on, they are on. However, when they are not, they get absolutely mauled. The highs and lows have somewhat stabilised over the years, however it is still noticeable enough that they cannot really be called a consistent footy team. 2023 is meant to be where the Suns turns a corner and honestly it feels like it.
Swans last game:
Pass.
New season, not a particularly new Swans with the only move we made to trade in a player being Francis who currently, does not look like featuring in round 1. Outside of some draft pick shenanigans, I do not see any of our recruits debuting in round 1 either so a proposed best 22 (thank you caesar88 for having a best 22 that was exactly like mine):
B - Dane Rampe - Tom McCartin - Nick Blakey
HB - Jake Lloyd - Paddy McCartin - Ollie Florent
C - Dylan Stephens - Errol Gulden - Justin McInerney
HF - Isaac Heeney - Logan McDonald - Sam Reid
F - Tom Papley - Buddy Franklin - Will Hayward
Foll - Peter Ladhams - Callum Mills - James Rowbottom
I/C - Luke Parker, Chad Warner, Braeden Campbell, Harry Cunningham
Sub - Matty Roberts
Ins: McDonald, Ladhams, Campbell and Cunningham
Outs: McLean, Hickey, Fox and Clarke
I actually think that the inclusions make us better. As much as I love RJ, I feel that Ladhams will give us a boost in the middle if he can keep it together. Likewise, McDonald and Cunningham are improvements over Mclean and Clarke. Fox is a loss and is not a 1 for 1 for Campbell but if I were to choose now, it would be Fox no doubt.
Match ups:
The Ruck
New year, same discussion about the Swans – how is our ruck going to function? Ladhams, no doubt showed he could do the number one job. The issue is in between the ears. To be fair, we do forget he is only 25 and should be coming into his own in the ruck very shortly. Now, he will have his hands full in combatting Witts who, IMO, is one of top five rucks in the league when he is up and running. Feeding the ball directly to GC mids will exacerbate our poor CC and give them quick entry. Ladhams needs to nullify this contest at a minimum.
Ben King vs TMac
Ben King is the better King out of the twins. Fight me.
However, he is returning from an injury and missing the 2022 season which may cause him to be rusty. However, TMac has struggled on the bigger forwards of late (Hopefully Levi does not play for GC). I expect Rampe to take on Chol with Paddy intercepting as required. Could be a relatively tricky day, especially as Ben is/was the more athletic of the Kings.
Players of interest:
Swans:
Gulden
Really could not be anyone else after his preseason outings. It was going to be Campbell but after Gulden’s form, has to be picked. What I saw of him in the guts was beautiful. In and under, clean and neat disposal, hitting the scoreboard it was awesome. So where do we play him… in the guts. Horse, I beg of you. Leave this man in the middle more often than not. Rowbottom, Parker Mills and Gulden feeding it out to Warner, Stephens, Blakey and Jmac… dreams. And looking at that, our midfield and HFF mix looks to be pretty much set with any of Mills, Parker and Gulden able to sit in the position.
So yeah, fairly high on Gulden
TL;DR – Swans to start well and surprise the board by winning vs GC first game
Swans by 24 points
*will put up pretty pictures later
** if we lose atleast I got my losing preview out of the way
