Preview Sydney Swans vs North Melbourne Kangaroos, Saturday August 14 @ Marvel. 7:40PM
- Thread starter Jack Lord
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- Jun 16, 2012
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Not really about blooding juniors. My thoughts are the key players get a rest and the guys on the verge get some valuable AFL exposure. Due to the shot show of the vfl, the experiences and match fitness will be invaluable to those guys in the case we have a deep run and they are required to play to cover any injuries
As someone else noted, we get a week off in 2 weeks, so unless someone is absolutely stuffed, don't see the sense in breaking up a best 22 in the lead in to finals. That said, there's a reason I said best 22, so if Mills, Warner, McDonald/Campbell are all OK and the latter three have performed in scratch/training etc then I'd be ok with them coming in for the likes of Wicks, Stephens, Rowy.
They really shut down our midfield and swarmed them so that they had no time or space. This meant that when our backs got the ball and looked up, there were no Swans players to kick it to, so rather than kick it down the line and run the risk of turning it over, we would kick sideways. Usually we are pretty good at switching and have improved this year by adding the 45 degree kick into the middle, but on the weekend the saints were coached pretty well to counter that.
Last two games are dead rubbers. In my view the priority is now the finals. The next two games should be able resting any players who need freshening up before finals.
If I look at the young players the 2021 game workload has been, out of a possible 20 games (plus JLTs etc):
Wicks 19
McInerney 18
Blakey 16
Gulden 15
Rowbottom 14
Warner 12
Bell 11
McLean 9
McDonald 7
Stephens 7
Amartey 6
Campbell 6
Wicks is cooked and has been for a few games now. Gulden is at risk as well. McInerney and Blakey need watching.
In terms of the young ones for the next one or two games Wicks, Gulden, McInerney and Blakey rested.
In terms of the older players, obviously Buddy, but I would include Rampe, Kennedy, Parker, Papley, McCartin, Hewitt to be rested.
If the swans want to take a real tilt at the flag then they have to be smart and effectively write off the next two games in terms of best 22, and use the opportunity to rest players, and build other players back into form. In terms of players to be brought back to form I would include Warner, Reid, Stephens and Campbell.
The swans have been blessed with injuries to date, but once the finals begin they are likely to lose some big name players. They need a squad of 30 refreshed in form players.
If I look at the young players the 2021 game workload has been, out of a possible 20 games (plus JLTs etc):
Wicks 19
McInerney 18
Blakey 16
Gulden 15
Rowbottom 14
Warner 12
Bell 11
McLean 9
McDonald 7
Stephens 7
Amartey 6
Campbell 6
Wicks is cooked and has been for a few games now. Gulden is at risk as well. McInerney and Blakey need watching.
In terms of the young ones for the next one or two games Wicks, Gulden, McInerney and Blakey rested.
In terms of the older players, obviously Buddy, but I would include Rampe, Kennedy, Parker, Papley, McCartin, Hewitt to be rested.
If the swans want to take a real tilt at the flag then they have to be smart and effectively write off the next two games in terms of best 22, and use the opportunity to rest players, and build other players back into form. In terms of players to be brought back to form I would include Warner, Reid, Stephens and Campbell.
The swans have been blessed with injuries to date, but once the finals begin they are likely to lose some big name players. They need a squad of 30 refreshed in form players.
We get a forced week off in 2 games though. Unless someone is really cooked (although I agree re: Wicks for form reasons and if there's someone better available, Rowy shouldn't be playing), why would you rest them over the next 2 weeks and have them play 1 game in 3-4 weeks in the lead into finals (and that's if they're only rested for 1 game).
I agree that finals are the priority, that's why we should work on any deficiencies with as stable a best 22 as we can get over the next 2 weeks.
Banyo Bloods
Norm Smith Medallist
No need to rest anyone as the bye takes care of that in a few weeks. They are in a hub together where rest is plentiful and simply missing a training session is plenty. Unless they have something they picked up during the match anyone who played was right to go. Mills did the right thing pulling out.
Continuity of the team that is going to play finals should be more important. If their plans are for say Warner to come in for finals but not McDonald. Then only Warner comes in if they believe the current crop is not the preferred 22 to play finals.
McDonald etc are back up at this point and should be tuned up in the background ready but the more balanced your side is going into the finals the better.
Tough calls should be made if they suspect someone playing injured to hold their spot but otherwise now is the time to take that brilliant form and get on a roll. The guys deserve an opportunity to respond after a poor last game but a good run up to it. Addressing the poor starts should be an absolute focus this week and not allowing another.
Continuity of the team that is going to play finals should be more important. If their plans are for say Warner to come in for finals but not McDonald. Then only Warner comes in if they believe the current crop is not the preferred 22 to play finals.
McDonald etc are back up at this point and should be tuned up in the background ready but the more balanced your side is going into the finals the better.
Tough calls should be made if they suspect someone playing injured to hold their spot but otherwise now is the time to take that brilliant form and get on a roll. The guys deserve an opportunity to respond after a poor last game but a good run up to it. Addressing the poor starts should be an absolute focus this week and not allowing another.
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- Apr 26, 2016
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I agree. It's a fickle thing, and players I didn't even know this board currently had qualms with - Cunningham? Hayward? - are now copping it.
To be fair there are some who are consistent, like the Heeney critics, even if I don't agree with them. I've also been firm that Florent needs to improve or get out (he has not improved), and that Rowbottom shouldn't be out there (he was out there Saturday night), so those two continue to be a source of frustration for me pre-dating the Saints match.
- Oct 2, 2016
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Deano was such a team player. Swans whipping boy for ages, was elite in that category. Without him we're attacking everyone who has a below average match
See, it's not that I disagree with the criticism, it's that it's given without any context and with a level of hyperbole that's unfair. I don't mind criticism of Hayward when the teams is firing but he's not, or of Heeney when goes ultra quite when we need help to punch a game, or even of Stephens when he isn't performing to team standard. Issue is that they were team standard and using that game to say that player is bad or underperforming reeks of cherry picking.
I thought Heeney had had 2 game winning performances in a row and has faced an average game and all of a sudden he's back to square one.
I mean I called for Hayward to be dropped earlier in the year, but he's largely turned it around IMO. Florent is one who I've thought has had a decent year, was poor on Saturday night though. People find it hard to admit they're wrong and will seize on any slip-ups as proof they were on the money all along, even if there's been a good patch of form in between.
At the same time, there's people that call(ed) for Ronke, Ling, Gould etc to come into the team for some reasons at various points, and I question whether I'm in the same reality.
Grand Uncle Horace
Shake down the thunder
I have the most unpopular opinion that jpk is no longer best 22. Brave soldier that he is there is no way he is competitive in September action when the weather is warmer. He was our near our worst player v the Tainted. Cannot kick and cannot run.
Geez, you kept that opinion close to your chest.
Grand Uncle Horace
Shake down the thunder
He got one clearance, could not tackle, run and popped passes lace out to the Oppo.
What else is there to say?
Oh no, no, no - I'm not buying into this argument. I may as well talk to Kingy about Reid, or Caesar about Buddy, or Tooler about Ollie.
Grand Uncle Horace
Shake down the thunder
Ya big Wuss!
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- #117
I can understand the argument to rest players but if we're too conservative we'll end up starting finals on a 3 game losing streak.
Need to keep pushing.
Need to keep pushing.
Problem is when JPK has a strong game we still have to hear how ordinary he was in the game. That’s where you just switch off certain opinions.
Grand Uncle Horace
Shake down the thunder
so how was he in the last game?
- Apr 26, 2016
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- #120
You are consistent and I appreciate that. I just don't agree with you on JPK. I don't think he is getting enough credit for how he is adapting to a new role. Since the bye there's been a distinct shift to make JPK the receiver, rather than the bull on the inside. This is typically the role that our young mids get and JPK is currently doing it better than any of Florent, Rowbottom or Warner have this year. He & Hewett have been excellent at it, being the calm head distributing it to the outside. IIRC you are a fan of George, so if you are being reasonable and rational, I just don't see how you can praise George for his performances in that role, but not JPK.
(Granted he let himself down with a few of his kicks on Saturday night, but who didn't?)
Grand Uncle Horace
Shake down the thunder
(he and Ollie were both terrible by foot)
First hands on the ball has often been Parker. Yep he has not a great distributor either from CCs but his quick chaos balls are not without merit if our forwards are playing in front and alert.
I am fearful when jpk has the ball and kicks it. At least he has stopped auto kicking to the boundary looking for a stoppage. It took until this year for that penny to drop.
He now is on Nic Nat levels of tog. We just cannot afford his inability to run and the coaches have recognised this.
He is a taciturn person and for all the yakkity about him training up younger players I just don't see it. He has been an absolute warrior and these last few years will not tarnish his reputation. I really hope he has the insight to know where his footy is and is not staying for the 300 or a few more quid.
Right, so when he was arguably a BOG beast vs Freo, 2 weeks ago, at Metricon on the Gold Coast, that shows he won't be competitive in September when the weather is warmer? And he was near our worst player against the Saints, when he was 4th in effective disposals, had an equal 2nd 5 clearances (not the 1 you say), and used the ball better overall, including kick efficiency, than the likes of Gulden, Dawson and Heeney on the night.
- Apr 26, 2016
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He's staying because he's still good enough, and he is a leader. I would not be shocked if by the middle of next year he has been pushed out by the younger mids. I think that would be a good thing for our future and hardly an indictment on JPK. But they ain't doing it this year are they?
I wasn't singeing him out , i also mentioned Rampe and Lloyd about the way they won't go on the other side , jesus things get twisted on here . Cunners has had a good year
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I'm sure he's not feeling the burn.
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