Preview Round 9: The Sydney Swans vs. The St Kilda Saints

[Gongswan]

Isnt Kosi playing?

There is talk of having to play Kosi in the ruck, I'll back mYke, and if they do end up playing the new kid, well, I'll back Myke. The ruck problem confronting Saints will leave holes around the ground, we just need to be good enough to exploit them

 

[bungee]

If it rains and Saints are playing short the VFL will surely open the roof. That and home umpiring should gift the necessary 8 goal start the Saints will need to make a contest

 

[Swanhotels]

Swans by 58

 

[disgruntled goat]

If fit & we make the finals, I can't see a Swans line up without him.

Who goes out?

Harsh, but Bird or McGlynn seem the only ones that he would climb over.

Bird??? He's in our best 22. McGlynn's form was ordinary for a few weeks but he did well enough the other day. Mitchell might need to just wait, rather than someone being dumped to make way for him. That's one of the strengths of a good side.

 

[Swanhotels]

Bird??? He's in our best 22. McGlynn's form was ordinary for a few weeks but he did well enough the other day. Mitchell might need to just wait, rather than someone being dumped to make way for him. That's one of the strengths of a good side.

Realistically there will be an injury or suspension that should see Mitchell get a crack.
There is no way Bird is getting speared however Mcglynn has been stinking this year aside from last week against the rabble that is the Dee's.

The players who are probably ahead of him are Gordon and Morton. These guys are more like for like replacements for Mcglynn.

 

[S120]

Bird??? He's in our best 22. McGlynn's form was ordinary for a few weeks but he did well enough the other day. Mitchell might need to just wait, rather than someone being dumped to make way for him. That's one of the strengths of a good side.

Agreed. I wonder if Bird might be not 100% fit right now. He had that weird assignment of playing in the forward line against Adelaide rather than on Sloane or Thompson or Dangerfield and then was the sub this week. But if he is fit, he plays. He's been great this year.

Mitchell will have to dominate in the 2's for a few more weeks.

 

[Swanhotels]

Agreed. I wonder if Bird might be not 100% fit right now. He had that weird assignment of playing in the forward line against Adelaide rather than on Sloane or Thompson or Dangerfield and then was the sub this week. But if he is fit, he plays. He's been great this year.

Mitchell will have to dominate in the 2's for a few more weeks.

Bird was playing on Johncock in a defensive forward role.

 

[Trojan90]

Anyone else half expect to see Seaby named tonight?

StK are without a real ruck. Since Blake is going to have to ruck, that leaves them short down back. Could we see Pyke/Seaby combo coming in, and maybe LRT going out for a week?

That combo should dominate the hitouts, and also give some extra height to trouble their defenders. Since it's Etihad, no need to worry about rain, so should be safe to go in a bit taller.

Wouldn't be suprised. I think it would be a good move.

 

[Swanhotels]

Wouldn't be suprised. I think it would be a good move.

Seaby's impact was pretty ordinary in his last few games. I dont think there is any benefit in playing mediocre ruckman, I could understand if we were going to play Mummy and Pyke/Seaby but I just thinking play the latter two is counter productive and would limit our run and flexibility.

 

[S120]

Bird was playing on Johncock in a defensive forward role.

As I said, I thought that was a strange decision given how strongly the 3 Crow midfield stars had been playing.

It's pure conjecture regarding an injury and it's probably completely off base, was just strange to me.

 

[Swanhotels]

As I said, I thought that was a strange decision given how strongly the 3 Crow midfield stars had been playing.

It's pure conjecture regarding an injury and it's probably completely off base, was just strange to me.

Oh right I see. He played that role on Gilbee last year and kicked 4 goals, maybe thats what Horse was hoping for? You might be right though he could well be under a cloud?

 

[bedford]

Anyone calling for Mitch to come in the team has no idea, he hasn't even played a full game yet. They will bring him in when he's ready. No need for Spangher as yet, only to be played due to injuries

 

[S120]

Oh right I see. He played that role on Gilbee last year and kicked 4 goals, maybe thats what Horse was hoping for? You might be right though he could well be under a cloud?

That was on Rob Murphy but yeh he has shown he can do the lock down job on as a defensive forward.

 

[Swanhotels]

That was on Rob Murphy but yeh he has shown he can do the lock down job on as a defensive forward.

Oh yep your right whoops, but anyway I was just saying he does it ok at times.

 

[grimlock]

At least Gwilt and Siposs in for the Saints, Schneider sneakily named as an emergency.

 

[grimlock]

No changes for us, even the emergencies are the same!

St Kilda
B: Jason Gram, Sam Gilbert, Jason Blake
HB: Sean Dempster, James Gwilt, Jarryn Geary
C: Jamie Cripps, Lenny Hayes, Brendon Goddard
HF: Jack Steven, Nick Riewoldt, David Armitage
F: Stephen Milne, Tom Simpkin, Leigh Montagna
Foll: Justin Koschitzke, Nick Dal Santo, Clinton Jones

I/C: Farren Ray, Arryn Siposs, Ahmed Saad, Terry Milera
Emg: Raphael Clarke, Adam Schneider, Beau Wilkes

In: James Gwilt, Arryn Siposs
Out: Rhys Stanley (Hamstring), Beau Wilkes

Milestones: Lenny Hayes - 250 games, Farren Ray - 150 games

Sydney Swans
B: Nicholas Smith, Ted Richards, Rhyce Shaw
HB: Nick Malceski, Heath Grundy, Martin Mattner
C: Lewis Jetta, Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh
HF: Ryan O'Keefe, Tommy Walsh, Daniel Hannebery
F: Ben McGlynn, Sam Reid, Lewis Roberts-Thomson
Foll: Mike Pyke, Josh P. Kennedy, Jude Bolton

I/C: Craig Bird, Trent Dennis-Lane, Luke Parker, Alex Johnson
Emg: Jesse White, Andrejs Everitt, Tony Armstrong

Milestones: Martin Mattner - 200 games

 

[Danair]

At least Gwilt and Siposs in for the Saints, Schneider sneakily named as an emergency.

Yep, Schneider late change for either Saad or Milera.

 

[S120]

Are the Saints playing shenanigans with Schneids like they did a few weeks ago with Kosi?

A few possible matchups:

Richards - Riewoldt
Grundy - Koschitzke
Smith - Milne
Shaw - Milera
Malceski - Saad (I have this feeling Armitage has been a defensive forward this year, could be wrong but he could get the job on Mal like Magner did last week to begin with)
Mattner - Sipposs
Johnson - Simpkin/Gilbert (one will play forward I imagine with Gwilt back)

Kennedy - Jones
Parker - Hayes (has done a bit of time on older guns this year already has Parks, so wouldn't surprise me to see it happen)
Bird - Dal Santo
Jack - Montagna
ROK - Goddard (that matchup occurred last year and may well happen again, two guns go head to head)
Jetta - Dempster (bit of a feeling call on this one, Dempster is now one of the best defensive players going around and I reckon this will happen)
McVeigh - Ray
Hannebery - Steven (Hanners could really catch the Saints on the run I think, has been brilliant with his gut-running this year)

Reid - Gilbert
Walsh - Gwilt
LRT - Blake (battle of the slightly awkward cult heroes)
McGlynn - Gram
TDL - Geary

 

[Dangas]

Yep, Schneider late change for either Saad or Milera.

You can only bring in an emerg. if one of those two is injured, otherwise you'd name him.

 

[Sketi]

I have a couple of questions re: the teams announcements;

Are the positions / match ups named usually the definite positions being played on the night? (Seem to remember this not always being the case)

Reason I ask is because of Reid at FF and Walsh at HF, would it not make sense to go the other way around, so that Reid gets more involved in the game and Walsh creates more of a solid contest in the goal square?

 

[grimlock]

S120 interesting choice of Blake on LRT. Do you reckon Blake will just follow LRT wherever he goes, in defence and then as the second ruckman

The way I see it is Blake as first ruck, Simpkin to the backline as a tall and Kozi to maintain his role as tall forward second ruck. Dempster can play tall as well

 

[S120]

I would have thought Kosi just has to be the first ruckman by default. They might want him to play forward all night but they have nobody else. Pyke would dominate Blake physically.

And yeh, I think Blake and LRT will spend a lot of time facing each other on Saturday night.

 

[baja]

People are knocking Kosi's rucking ability, he is not that bad but his strength will be when he pushes very hard forward , whoever is rucking on him really needs to be wary he is a very strong mark and loves to run with the flight often even taking out his own teamates.

Id like to have 100 bucks on how the Saints will use him and how they kick their first goal.

 

[Dangas]

Nick Smith on Milne for sure, Teddy on Saint Nick.....Midfield will be the strength of the Saints, so that is our key focus considering they have their two preferred rucks out, and we just have the one.....win the hard ball. Tackle, tackle, pressure, tackle and kick a couple of goals in between.

 

[sccc14]

Kosi's first game against the swans he played in the ruck and looked like a star and should have always played in the ruck