Preview R4 Sydney vs West Coast "Gather Round"

[Bloods86]

Out: Rampe, Hayward, Mitchell, Co Warner
In: Cunningham, Wicks, Adams, Magor
Sub: Jordon

With Wicks, Magor in, Fox can go back if needed. Hayward won't be dropped, but this is my selection meeting Horse. Mitchell was OK, competitive, made a few mistakes, but the rest of the team were butchering it, so hard to criticise a debutant.

If Cunningham is good to go, straight back into the 22. Easiest decision this week.

Adams, I thought could have another week after his tantrum swung the reserves game against us, but then it's a bye week and we need him getting match fit. 60-70% against the Eagles will do.

Magor, along with Cleary, the best of the reserves, give him a debut. Keep telling the senior players that we'll bring others in to take a look, if they don't perform.

Jordon, who despite looking great in pre-season, has underwhelmed, so can be Sub. Tempted to just keep Mitchell for that role, but maybe JJ will have an impact coming on later.

 

[Dangas]

Good enough to get a ticket for this game I the state I live now. Going to be interesting considering Mt Barker is hard enough to travel traffic-wise as it is.

Hope the boys redeem for yesterday and I think they will. Don't go in lightly against the Weagles. Weather is meant to turn poor later in the week but we will see how it is come the weekend.

Going to be a busy Saturday, then off to AO to watch the Cats game with the wife and fam. Hope the trop back down the hills is a positive one.

Swans should win, but we'll know from the start our mindset.

 

[Bloods86]

Good enough to get a ticket for this game I the state I live now. Going to be interesting considering Mt Barker is hard enough to travel traffic-wise as it is.

Hope the boys redeem for yesterday and I think they will. Don't go in lightly against the Weagles. Weather is meant to turn poor later in the week but we will see how it is come the weekend.

Going to be a busy Saturday, then off to AO to watch the Cats game with the wife and fam. Hope the trop back down the hills is a positive one.

Swans should win, but we'll know from the start our mindset.

24, mostly sunny, light winds is the forecast currently, but Sunday looks like a slight chance of rain (might move up).

I've lived in Adelaide for 19 years, I think I may have been to Mt Barker once. Will be good to take a look at the ground.

 

[Swanssince91]

Would like to see Cleary debut, we need more pressure players

 

[The King!]

We sure Wicks is back?

Is Cunningham available and Rampe?

Adams can play half fit **** it.

Hayward won't be dropped for one shit game , otherwise are we dropping Papley he was shocking yesterday and burnt teammates galore

 

[The King!]

This is a great game for Armatey to have a bit of a day out

Smaller ground, crap opponent

 

[The King!]

Would like to see Cleary debut, we need more pressure players

More kids might not be the answer

 

[Swanssince91]

More kids might not be the answer

Might not be, I felt like we were a little slow

 

[caesar88]

OK just listened to Horse's post-match presser and I am a bit lost.

He seemed to defend the three-talls forward line by implying it's only under scrutiny because they didn't work today, as they've worked for the rest of the year so far. Makes sense, I agree with that.

He also inferred that it wasn't the talls to blame so much as our lack of defensive efforts off the ball in the forward half that wasn't where it needed to be, which again, makes sense, and is exactly what my observation of the front half was.

Where I'm confused is how Horse thought it was ever going to be different?

He's continually picked only one forward who is elite defensively (either Fox or Wicks) in every game so far, and Heeney - who I also rate as elite in this regard - has been in the mids.

We've loaded up on these hybrid, flanker/wingman types - Hayward, Jordon, Campbell, McInerney, Lloyd, Warner Jr., Mitchell, throw in the guns like Gulden, Papley, Warner.

I'm curious where he thinks the defensive pressure is going to come from picking these types of players. Not saying they're wilting flowers or anything, but elite pressure off the ball they most certainly do not reliably bring, even if some have admirably improved themselves in this aspect.

We were basically Rowbottom or bust when it came to any kind of forward pressure against the Tigers, and he was occupied carrying us in that regard in the midfield as well. He is but one player.

It really feels like we're one extra runner/ball user too many and lacking in at least one harder-edged player who can bring real heat and physicality. As I feared in this comment from all the way back in November:

Yeah does feel like that team is a bit 'wingman-heavy' and not really 'pressure-heavy.' I'd go with Wicks over Jordon as well, unless Jordon out-performs a McInerney or a Campbell over the pre-season.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Hayward kicked 3 goals in the previous game. I feel they would take that into account.

Also I think they would want Hayward as a medium forward marking target, so they can use Heeney in midfield.

Would you want Hayward kicking a set shot from 40m for the win after the siren in a GF?

Showed zero composure and little effort yesterday and entirely wasted his few disposals. Cannot perform under pressure, speaking of pressure he applied SfA.

Will kick 2 or 3 in a minimal low pressure game which is possible against the Eagles. This will cover the cracks and his various fan folk will say “see Horrie ya cranky, ignorant old goat”.

He is the player most likely to disappear in a high pressure game inc shanking a 35m set shot out on the full. He is adept at flying for marks and spoiling our tall actual marking targets. I still find it bizarre Longmire bought the excuse Hayward misses goals because he is tired.

Please let him spend a month in the twos learning how to be a backman.

Of course it won’t happen.

 

[Swanssince91]

Would you want Hayward kicking a set shot from 40m for the win after the siren in a GF?

Showed zero composure and little effort yesterday and entirely wasted his few disposals. Cannot perform under pressure, speaking of pressure he applied SfA.

Will kick 2 or 3 in a minimal low pressure game which is possible against the Eagles. This will cover the cracks and his various fan folk will say “see Horrie ya cranky, ignorant old goat”.

He is the player most likely to disappear in a high pressure game inc shanking a 35m set shot out on the full. He is adept at flying for marks and spoiling our tall actual marking targets. I still find it bizarre Longmire bought the excuse Hayward misses goals because he is tired.

Please let him spend a month in the twos learning how to be a backman.

Of course it won’t happen.

Hayward is a good mark of the footy, his defensive pressure is great.
His normal set shot technique is sound, why does he continue to kick around the corner

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Hayward is a good mark of the footy, his defensive pressure is great.
His normal set shot technique is sound, why does he continue to kick around the corner

Hmmn … numbers from yesterday suggest otherwise

Zero contested marks

zero tackles in Fwd 50

Worst disposal efficiency in the team.

Had one handpass to half time.

 

[Swanssince91]

Hmmn … numbers from yesterday suggest otherwise

Zero contested marks

zero tackles in Fwd 50

Worst disposal efficiency in the team.

Had one handpass to half time.

Yeah he had a bad day, has been in ok form prior to yesterday

 

[Mister B]

Good enough to get a ticket for this game I the state I live now. Going to be interesting considering Mt Barker is hard enough to travel traffic-wise as it is.

Hope the boys redeem for yesterday and I think they will. Don't go in lightly against the Weagles. Weather is meant to turn poor later in the week but we will see how it is come the weekend.

Going to be a busy Saturday, then off to AO to watch the Cats game with the wife and fam. Hope the trop back down the hills is a positive one.

Swans should win, but we'll know from the start our mindset.

Doing the same. I'm banking on the fact that last year they ran shuttle buses from Mt Barker that dropped off on King William near Adelaide Oval. If they do that, I can't imagine I'd run into too many issues. Either that or it's going to be a very crowded Bus back to town via Handhorf!!!

 

[wills2g]

I'm curious where he thinks the defensive pressure is going to come from picking these types of players. Not saying they're wilting flowers or anything, but elite pressure off the ball they most certainly do not reliably bring, even if some have admirably improved themselves in this aspect.

JMac also been starting either mid or HF playing that 'defensive' role running up and down the ground. We lost our balance with Wicks out imo we were a player short putting pressure on Richmond defenders

Hayward a bit lazy yesterday with his efforts as well

 

[Wolfgang West]

Horse isn’t one to make massive changes

Can see Adams coming in

He won’t drop Hayward as our depth isn’t there to

Think you have got to. Have defended him to the death but he is putrid.

 

[Wolfgang West]

Campbell was one of the better players today?

I thought he was as well. He is just unfortunate that he seems to always be the bloke on the end of a stupid handball that gets him wrapped up ball spilling out for turnover and goal. People watch footy with tunnel vision sometimes me included especially in frustrating games like yesterday but His effort and application yesterday compared to some he would be way back in the line of omissions. Not to mention his past few weeks have been more than serviceable.

 

[Wolfgang West]

Swans by 200 with a razzle dazzle Harlem Globetrotters footy style

Glad your not playing Jack. Just effort and application to adhering to our game style would suffice.

 

[Wolfgang West]

In: Adams, Francis, Sheldrick, Wicks
Out: Corey, Rampe , Jordon, Mitchell

Aramtey survives only because Reid and Ladhams stunk it up in the VFL.

Harry in if fit.

Its time.

 

[Wolfgang West]

Would love to see Heeney given the responsibility

So would I. Forget the previous 3 games and his brilliance. He busted a gut yesterday trying to keep them in it. His attitude to the contest this year and what I saw yesterday is good enough for me to say he warrants a crack.

 

[Wolfgang West]

I think Adams will come in, probably wouldn't if we were playing any other side but even before yesterday, the clearances would still be a concern for the coaching staff and Adams brings what we need.

Will play Jewels.

 

[Wolfgang West]

This is a great game for Armatey to have a bit of a day out

Smaller ground, crap opponent

When you think of it though King what does it achieve ? With him or McDonald menacing inferior opposition. Confidence ? Don't buy it. Imposing the ability they both no doubt have against quality opposition is the only thing that will serve us well going forward.

 

[The King!]

When you think of it though King what does it achieve ? With him or McDonald menacing inferior opposition. Confidence ? Don't buy it. Imposing the ability they both no doubt have against quality opposition is the only thing that will serve us well going forward.

Personally I have faith in the general path Mcdonald is on. Is he the next Lance Franklin? no but who is. He gets worked off it at times but you can see the bare bones there.

Amartey to me is a guy with talent who shows after several years no increase in fitness, which suggests what he has achieved has been done through talent alone. Yeah he probably will kick 4-5 against the Eagles and what will it do? give us a win then.

Do I back him in a final or when it counts? no, I have seen him give up already early in the year

 

[The King!]

Hmmn … numbers from yesterday suggest otherwise

Zero contested marks

zero tackles in Fwd 50

Worst disposal efficiency in the team.

Had one handpass to half time.

Hayward was shithouse yesterday simple as that

 

[Wolfgang West]

Might not be, I felt like we were a little slow

I think we looked slow as well and Mitchell on debut looked very one paced and it was certainly not quick. As i said though that can happen on debut especially with the jump up in level. Imo I would be giving him another week. Our previous few weeks we looked the a long long way from slow but it is amazing what opposition pressure and your lack of decision making can make you look like.