North Melbourne vs Sydney

[Darky]

Continuing in the same vein as the thread on the Port board last week, could someone please put up a likely Swans side for this weeks game at Manuka.

What's the injury situation regarding the late withdrawals of O'Loughlin and Saddington yesterday? And will Paul Williams be right for the game ahead?

For North, likely changes will be Clayton and Brown out, with Harding's selection depending on the tribunal result. Harris would be a certain inclusion, D.Motlop likely, and if Harding gets rubbed out a third spot up for grabs between Smith, Rocca and Archer (if fit).

[grimlock]

O'Loughlin (calf) and Saddington (hip) are in doubt for the game, after being injured in training. Should they come in, I'd expect Sundqvist and Stevens to drop out. Nicks may be back in contention after playing in yesterday's reserves game. I'm not sure about Williams, but unless there was anything else that affected him besides concussion, he would be right to play (hopefully, as we missed him).

Likely side:
B: Mathews Schauble C.Bolton
HB: Barry Saddington Kennelly
C: Fosdike Maxfield Kirk
HF: Williams Goodes J.Bolton
F: O'Loughlin Hall Davis
R: Ball Cresswell Crouch

Int (from): Schneider Roberts-Thompson Powell Warfe Sundqvist Stevens Nicks

[thommoone]

Id say J. Bolton would start in the middle, as he has been one of our best players recently after taking the 'next step'. Cresswell and Maxfield id say wont play in the middle at the same time, more likely rotating between them, with Crouch and Kirk given a tagging job - possibly on Grant and Stevens

[Syd]

Maxie a late exclusion after a failed fitness test..............

[dr nick]

MATCH: Kangaroos v Sydney

WHEN & WHERE: 12:30pm (AEST), Sunday, 25 May, Manuka Oval

COVERAGE: Channel 9 – Melbourne (12:30pm), Adelaide (12:00pm), Perth (10:30am), Sydney (12:30pm), Brisbane (12:30pm)

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Kangaroos 71, Sydney 67

LAST TIME: Sydney 22.12 (144) defeated Kangaroos 15.7 (97) at the SCG, round 19, 2002. Sydney’s Paul Williams was the star of the show with four goals and three Brownlow votes. Ryan O’Keefe also bagged four majors for the Swans, while Digby Morrell booted five goals for the Kangaroos to be his side’s best player. Despite trailing at three-quarter time, the Swans stormed home with a 10-goal final term, as the Roos managed just one major. Sydney won by 47 points.

THE MEDICAL ROOM: The Kangaroos have no major injury concerns this week, with Glenn Archer (virus), Jess Sinclair (hip) and Shane Clayton (corked thigh) all expected to be available against the Swans. However, Sydney’s Michael O’Loughlin (calf), Jason Saddington (quad), Nic Fosdike (calf cork) and Scott Stevens (calf cork) will undergo fitness tests. Brad Seymour (hamstring) is still another week away, while Stephen Doyle (knee) and Ben Fixter (hamstring) are still 6-8 weeks away.

THE FORM: The Kangaroos have won just one match from their past five games – with the Roos losing their first ever game to Port Adelaide last week by 54 points. The Shinboners are 11th on the ladder, having achieved a 3-1-4 win/draw/loss record thus far in 2003. Along with the Eagles, the Swans are the most in form team in the competition, having won their past four games. Sydney has moved into fifth spot, having won five games and lost three matches.

WHO’S HOT: Kangaroos midfielder Adam Simpson has been in solid form in 2003, but has been among the Roos’ best in the past three matches, having racked up 28 touches last round against Port Adelaide. He leads the club in kicks, marks and handballs.
Sydney’s Adam Goodes has been one of the players of the competition in 2003, having taken his game to another level as a dynamic ruckman/forward. The 1999 AFL Rising Star winner is already among the Brownlow Medal favourites in 2003.

WHO’S NOT: After returning from a serious knee injury at the end of 2001, Sydney’s Ryan O’Keefe returned to play nine games last year, but has added just two games to his 29-game tally in 2003, playing the opening two games. David Bourke made his debut for the Kangaroos in round six this year, but was subsequently dropped the following week. It was also his first game at Arden St since crossing from Richmond at the end of the 2001 season.

KEY MATCH-UPS: The ruck duel featuring the Kangaroos’ Matthew Burton/Mark Porter up against Sydney’s Jason Ball/Adam Goodes will be fascinating, while in the midfield, the Roos’ Brent Harvey is likely to be picked-up by underrated Swan Jared Crouch. Up forward, Sydney’s Barry Hall will be taken by Kangaroos’ full-back Shannon Watt.

ALL-TIME CLASSIC: The 1996 grand final might have been a 43-point margin in favour of the Kangaroos, but the day was a proud one for both clubs. For the Roos, it was obvious, as the club won its third flag in the same season as the VFL/AFL’s centenary year. While for the Swans, it was their first grand final since 1945. Despite the red and white performing admirably for much of the match, the Roos stormed home with seven goals to four in the last quarter, to give the club a day to remember. Archer claimed the Norm Smith Medal in a stunning performance. The Kangaroos 19.17 (131) defeated Sydney 13.10 (88).

WE THINK: Sydney’s form in recent weeks has been outstanding, with the club one of the surprise packets thus far of 2003. The Swans have won their last four games, while the Kangaroos have won just one game from their last five matches. The Swans take on the Roos at their home-away-from-home venue in the nation’s capital and on recent form should have enough good form to overcome a spirited Shinboner outfit. But another entertaining contest should be produced in Canberra, with the Swans to prevail. Sydney by 14 points.

[Darky]

Originally posted by nicko18

WHO’S NOT: After returning from a serious knee injury at the end of 2001, Sydney’s Ryan O’Keefe returned to play nine games last year, but has added just two games to his 29-game tally in 2003, playing the opening two games.


That sort of answers the question I was going to pose next...

How is O'Keefe going ATM? I thought he was very impressive last year, especially in the game against us... we tend to be found out against the 5'10 to 6' small, strong overhead, forwards when they play as a FF. Nobody we have can really play on them because we don't have anyone with the combination of speed, marking ability, ground ability and close checking to go with these types.

Wallace and Eade were two blokes who out-coached Pagan several times with this ploy, using players like Brad Johnson and Wayne Schwass in the role.

Any chance of a recall for O'Keefe? The ploy might be nullified by Laidley if it's tried, but it'd be worth a thought for Paul Roos considering how well it has worked in the past, and also considering nobody in our defence has really stepped up to mind such an opponent.

Over the last couple of years, Pagan used Blakey and Makepeace (and possibly Simpson once or twice) to no effect.

[grimlock]

Nope , no recall for ROK. I do believe its hard to find a spot for him at the moment. Probably a bit too slow to play in the midfield, and with the emergence of Schneider and the arrival of Davis, can't play in the forward line either. If only he grew a few more inches, he could slot in nicely in the backline.

No Micky-O and Saddington is in doubt. Swans may have a problem dealing with the height of Rocca, Morrell and Petrie.