Preview Round 2, 2025: Dockers vs Swans @ Optus Stadium

[Cadsky]

I think Cox is going to pull a bit of a swifty and use McLean as sub. It's usually the fifth person on the bench. Bring him on as a tactical for Grundy or Ladhams.
I'm hoping McCartin plays back but have no idea whether he will or not BUT there is no defender on the bench

God i hope not. You watch a runner go down early if he is.

 

[Kiama Chris]

God i hope not. You watch a runner go down early if he is.

Well it's either that or Tom back and three tall forwards. Choose your poison.

 

[Cadsky]

Well it's either that or Tom back and three tall forwards. Choose your poison.

Tom back for the love of God.

 

[Bloods86]

God i hope not. You watch a runner go down early if he is.

Well a tall like McLean or Ladhams is either sub or in the 22 from the start. If you're worried about run, you'd have the tall as sub and hope it's another tall that comes off in the 3rd. Or you're down a small from opening bounce.

 

[hairy biker]

I think a fwd 3 of Amartey, McCartin and Ladhams (2nd ruck) would work.

Obviously that would require McCartin to stay fwd.
Francis has been named in the reserves, so over his concussion, and I'm surprised that, at the very least he wasn't in the travelling party.

I know Francis is to put it politely, not a favourite of some on here, but if we played him back and it wasn't working you at least have the option of swapping he and Tom.

Not enamoured with McLean in the front 3 and McCartin back.
I've thought Tom has been decent up fwd and McLean is a limited player and combining he and Ladhams up fwd does not scream mobility.

We've needed a second ruck, as in the first two game, with just the two KPFs it put too much of a load on Amartey,but can't say bringing Ladhams and McLean both in makes much strategic sense, particularly against the Freo talls in defence, and I really don't want a immobile tall as sub.

 

[bedford]

Ask the guy who posted the picture not me. He posted saying Rampe for Intergalactic leader. I wouldn't think Dane would ever wear a uniform like that. do you ever read the threads properly or just pick on people you don't like?

I tend to when people have a posting frenzy not to read them all , have no issues with you at all

 

[bedford]

I think Cox is going to pull a bit of a swifty and use McLean as sub. It's usually the fifth person on the bench. Bring him on as a tactical for Grundy or Ladhams.
I'm hoping McCartin plays back but have no idea whether he will or not BUT there is no defender on the bench

He is playing back

 

[Dangas]

Hoping one of McLean and Ladhams is sub, not because I like talls as subs, but it might mean we get most of the game without the slowest, least mobile combo we could have picked.

Doubt it though.

Like watching slow motion from the time they pick up the footy to dishing it off by hand or foot. Happy for both to have Blinder games though with that being said on Sunday.

 

[rustycrate]

I think Cox is going to pull a bit of a swifty and use McLean as sub. It's usually the fifth person on the bench. Bring him on as a tactical for Grundy or Ladhams.
I'm hoping McCartin plays back but have no idea whether he will or not BUT there is no defender on the bench

I thought about that too but we have Florent and Lloyd as our named wingers. Both have played as defenders.

 

[Callipygian]

I think we're pretty fortunate to be in a position where we lose Errol and Juzzy (arguably our two best wingers) but can name Lloyd and Olly on the wing. That's good cover. And both of them can switch around and allow someone like Corey a run on the wing too.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I think one more tall is added (either McLean or Ladhams) and then McCartin plays party forward and partly back. We will rarely if ever have 3 talls forward but we also won’t be left with just one forward.

I think this model works better for Ladhams or Green can overtake Grundy as first ruck, as Grundy ain’t to useful around the ground. The model is better with two rucks who can both play forward.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Sounds very much like:

* 2 rucks + McLean play

* Gus will be the sub

 

[RampeRobe]

Sounds very much like:

* 2 rucks + McLean play

* Gus will be the sub

Makes me feel unwell.. will be interesting to see how it turns out.. I don’t have much faith in pistol unfortunately.. hopefully he proves me wrong

 

[Dubai Quacker]

My weekend, by DQ:

- going to the open training session at Optus today

- going to the 2005 premiership event with Barry, Jude & Kirky this evening

Supreme Swans 2005 Premiers 20th Anniversary "Live Show"

SWANS FANS! Jude Bolton, Barry Hall & Brett Kirk LIVE at Subiaco Football Club on Saturday 22nd March 2025

events.humanitix.com

- going to the match at Optus tomorrow

Fortunately Mrs DQ is a Swans fanatic too.

 

[Bloods86]

I thought about that too but we have Florent and Lloyd as our named wingers. Both have played as defenders.

Florent and Lloyd are half backs/distributors at best, not sure they are interchangeable with an actual defender, let alone a KPD like McCartin (needed for Freo's 3 KPFs).

 

[Jewelsbon]

My weekend, by DQ:

- going to the open training session at Optus today

- going to the 2005 premiership event with Barry, Jude & Kirky this evening

Supreme Swans 2005 Premiers 20th Anniversary "Live Show"

SWANS FANS! Jude Bolton, Barry Hall & Brett Kirk LIVE at Subiaco Football Club on Saturday 22nd March 2025

events.humanitix.com

- going to the match at Optus tomorrow

Fortunately Mrs DQ is a Swans fanatic too.

Enjoy DQ!

 

[McGowan3]

Enjoy DQ!

Got to get those three in the rooms before the game.

 

[Jack2Jack]

Really not a fan of a Grundy, McLean, Amartey and Ladhams mix. You'll never see a forward/ruck mix with less aerial presence and less around the ground pressure. I like McLean and he's the one that can take the odd mark, but his best work is done as a ruck/forward, with this setup he'll be playing permeant forward, not his best spot. As far as he and Amartey go I feel it has to be one or the other, don't like them as the CHF/FF combo.
We've only got 2 key position forwards with some forward smarts on the list, it sounds like McDonald will be in defence when he's back and I don't know why we wouldn't be giving Buller a go with this injury list.

Feels like Cox has played it a bit safe, hoping maybe he's doing a Geelong and will pull a tall out as a late change...or if not can only hope one of McLean or Amartey plays one of their 'out of the box' games. We need this one to be a W, no matter how it happens just need it to be a W.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Well McCartin is certainly playing defence and Amartey will play as a pure forward. Those are two positives I suppose.

They have been trying to make Ladhams more of a forward ruck rather than a ruck forward. Let’s see how he goes. Not sure McLean works as a pure forward. Maybe he and Ladhams take turns in the ruck.

The elephant in the room, with big ears and everything, is Grundy. He can only play ruck, which makes having two backup rucks over the top.

If I was Ladhams, I would be saving my big energy plays for the ruck. If he can dislodge Grundy, our structure becomes much more dynamic.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Well a tall like McLean or Ladhams is either sub or in the 22 from the start. If you're worried about run, you'd have the tall as sub and hope it's another tall that comes off in the 3rd. Or you're down a small from opening bounce.

Talls as subs suck mate. Has to be a runner

 

[The King!]

I tend to when people have a posting frenzy not to read them all , have no issues with you at all

2nd place

 

[The King!]

Maybe McLean will become a defender.

I just wish Ladhams and Grundy could show some ability to function as forward targets that would solve some massive -problems if they could contribute as marking scoring targets

 

[Bloods86]

Talls as subs suck mate. Has to be a runner

So you'd rather we play McLean, Ladhams, Amartey from the start? And so 1 less small.

Because that's what we're talking about. The best sub from our named 23.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Maybe McLean will become a defender.

I just wish Ladhams and Grundy could show some ability to function as forward targets that would solve some massive -problems if they could contribute as marking scoring targets

Would rather McLean be tried than Logan.

Lobb has turned into a really valuable defender for the Dogs