- Nov 23, 2015
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- #1
That thrilling win against the Bulldogs at Mars Stadium set records for the Giants: longest winning run in our short history (7), & biggest comeback win (35 points). It also solidified GWS in the lower half of the top 8 - for the moment - but every game is critical until the season's end, with a logjam of teams trying to squeeze in. Across state at Marvel Stadium, the Swans did us a small favour by holding off Essendon, and setting up what should be another mouth-watering Sydney derby next weekend. The team was off-kilter in the first half, but got the tsunami rolling in the second half. How superb has our defensive unit been, led by Sam Taylor, but each one performing their role? Every week, when the midfield is off, it's Taylor who takes control at the back, stemming the tide of inside 50s preventing a blowout score, and allowing the team to settle and get back into it.
Adam Kingsley seems to have got the boys in a good mental state, with several comeback wins during the season, so I will trust that we won't be complacent going into this game - because we shouldn't be. The winner of the derby has often not been the form team. If we can manage to win this game, we will be so close to locking in a finals spot - so that's an enormous bonus for winning. Adam said that we had no injuries out of that game, so the main questions on the team will be who's available to return? Hopefully, Tom Green is over his injury, because we certainly got beaten up in the stoppage battle yesterday. We also looked bereft up forward, until the running game clicked in, so Jesse Hogan would be a bonus to return. Otherwise, it's Nick Haynes' 200th game - surely we can't celebrate a legend of the club by making him sub for that milestone game? I am still perplexed by Lachie Keeffe's selection as second ruck-cum-forward (no matter how good a guy he is). Surely, with Sydney running a makeshift ruckman in Hayden McLean, we don't need Keeffe.
For Sydney, they have one or two injury worries. Buddy looked to have tweaked a hammy against the Bombers, so would be under a cloud. This surely would have been his swansong in derby games, so I was looking forward to seeing him in action one last time (hopefully not kicking goals, though!). The other issue from their game was Dane Rampe, whose absence in defence sparked the Bombers' comeback, and will create a headache to replace. Otherwise, the danger men will be the usual suspects from the Swans.
Team changes. Given the last medical report, I will assume that Hogan is still a week away. I hope that Green is available. Assuming we're not going to make Haynes as the sub, I'd swap him in for Keeffe, and make him a defensive forward sitting on Blakey to kill his counterattack. If Hogan does get up, then, he returns in place of Cadman. Personally, I'd still give Cadman a rest and give Derksen an opportunity. I know that I'm a broken record, and AK is happy with what Cadman's doing, but for mine there's an opportunity to see if someone else can provide more - which we should do before we arrive at finals. To return Green to the team, I would think that Lloyd is the most likely to make way, even though he's doing a solid job. Less likely in my opinion would be Ryan Angwin, but probably the second most likely.
As Toby says, we're taking one game at a time. But we certainly need to win this game to continue to lock in a finals spot.
What are your thoughts?
Adam Kingsley seems to have got the boys in a good mental state, with several comeback wins during the season, so I will trust that we won't be complacent going into this game - because we shouldn't be. The winner of the derby has often not been the form team. If we can manage to win this game, we will be so close to locking in a finals spot - so that's an enormous bonus for winning. Adam said that we had no injuries out of that game, so the main questions on the team will be who's available to return? Hopefully, Tom Green is over his injury, because we certainly got beaten up in the stoppage battle yesterday. We also looked bereft up forward, until the running game clicked in, so Jesse Hogan would be a bonus to return. Otherwise, it's Nick Haynes' 200th game - surely we can't celebrate a legend of the club by making him sub for that milestone game? I am still perplexed by Lachie Keeffe's selection as second ruck-cum-forward (no matter how good a guy he is). Surely, with Sydney running a makeshift ruckman in Hayden McLean, we don't need Keeffe.
For Sydney, they have one or two injury worries. Buddy looked to have tweaked a hammy against the Bombers, so would be under a cloud. This surely would have been his swansong in derby games, so I was looking forward to seeing him in action one last time (hopefully not kicking goals, though!). The other issue from their game was Dane Rampe, whose absence in defence sparked the Bombers' comeback, and will create a headache to replace. Otherwise, the danger men will be the usual suspects from the Swans.
Team changes. Given the last medical report, I will assume that Hogan is still a week away. I hope that Green is available. Assuming we're not going to make Haynes as the sub, I'd swap him in for Keeffe, and make him a defensive forward sitting on Blakey to kill his counterattack. If Hogan does get up, then, he returns in place of Cadman. Personally, I'd still give Cadman a rest and give Derksen an opportunity. I know that I'm a broken record, and AK is happy with what Cadman's doing, but for mine there's an opportunity to see if someone else can provide more - which we should do before we arrive at finals. To return Green to the team, I would think that Lloyd is the most likely to make way, even though he's doing a solid job. Less likely in my opinion would be Ryan Angwin, but probably the second most likely.
As Toby says, we're taking one game at a time. But we certainly need to win this game to continue to lock in a finals spot.
What are your thoughts?
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