Game Day Swans (well, some of them) vs Suns (Preseason)

[Dubai Quacker]

Traditionally, the Swans don’t take pre-season games particularly seriously.

And it certainly seems tradition is to be adhered to in this one.

With a height-challenged back 6, a spare parts midfield & a forward line radically different to the GF ….. let’s just say it’s a “new look Swans”, with a number of regulars either in bandages or cotton wool.

Nonetheless, it’ll be a fascinating watch, with plenty of youngsters likely to get game time.

Some key questions:

- Will Tommy McCartin show enough as a forward to give hope that he’s the answer?

- Is Adams a forward or a mid?

- Can Campbell build on last week’s encouraging outing?

- Wicks …. can he be effective in defence?

- Are any of the young group near an AFL gig?

Recent history shows the Suns aren’t a good match up for the Swans. But the scoreboard isn’t the key metric here - it’s the performance of some individuals that’ll be of most interest.

So good to have the footy back!

Cheer cheer.

 

[wolftone57]

Traditionally, the Swans don’t take pre-season games particularly seriously.

And it certainly seems tradition is to be adhered to in this one.

With a height-challenged back 6, a spare parts midfield & a forward line radically different to the GF ….. let’s just say it’s a “new look Swans”, with a number of regulars either in bandages or cotton wool.

Nonetheless, it’ll be a fascinating watch, with plenty of youngsters likely to get game time.

Some key questions:

- Will Tommy McCartin show enough as a forward to give hope that he’s the answer?

- Is Adams a forward or a mid?

- Can Campbell build on last week’s encouraging outing?

- Wicks …. can he be effective in defence?

- Are any of the young group near an AFL gig?

Recent history shows the Suns aren’t a good match up for the Swans. But the scoreboard isn’t the key metric here - it’s the performance of some individuals that’ll be of most interest.

So good to have the footy back!

Cheer cheer.

Ok. For a start we are not entirely short in defence. Blakey 196cm, Andrew 193cm, Hamling 194cm, Francis 192.

There are three missing:

Melican 194cm, Snell 194cm and Edwards 197cm

We are not super short like a Rampe at 187cm.

We are a bit light on small forwards though. One injured one with a slight strain. This means Hannily and Indi get a go. Corey Warner again. He was good last week.

Can McCartin work forward? Not sure.

I am looking forward to this hit out. It is a good chance for some fringe players to step up with so many first squad players out.

On Infinix X6525 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[caesar88]

Looking forward to this, even though I'm expecting a bit of a flogging.

A few things I'll be looking for:

- Paton vs Wicks vs Hamling vs Francis. Based on last week, I think there's absolutely spots for both smalls in defence. But if one of the two keys has an impressive showing tomorrow, and perhaps changes Cox's mind as to having another tall down back, then that could be a twist. So I think it could be a battle of tall vs small to prove themselves, and then the battles within that battle as to which tall and small get picked.

- Sheldrick/Adams vs the flankers. I think both the two contested hard nuts will get a lot of minutes in the midfield tomorrow. But I also think neither are as entrenched in the 22 as some of the flankers - Gulden, Jordon, McInerney. Because of this I could see Cox also wanting to give serious opportunities to those flankers to see what they can do, in the very possible scenario that they are the ones rotating through there if neither Sheldrick or Adams end up in the 22.

- Ladhams vs himself. I am a believer in Peter Ladhams. I think he moves well, and has great awareness... when he's on. When he's not on, things tend to unravel, both physically and mentally. Tomorrow is the opportunity that Ladhams was waiting for all last year but never got - the chance to be the lead ruck without Grundy. A great showing potentially keeps him in that role for Opening Round. A decent showing could still see him in the frame for Opening Round in a back-up ruck/third tall role. A poor showing tomorrow and suddenly we could end up looking to McLean instead.

- Campbell, Amartey & McCartin vs their previous week's performances. The former two couldn't have been more impressive off the bat last week. They now need to back it up. I'm not hoping for or expecting 10 goals between them again. But compete and contribute and show that last week was not a one-off, but a sign of things to come. As for McCartin, as much as Jared Crouch in commentary was pumping up McCartin's efforts to take the heat off Amartey, I don't think we are weakening our back-line with the removal of McCartin just for him to be a decoy inside 50. He has to show something to justify this move, starting with tomorrow.



No injuries please. The result I couldn't give a shite about.

 

[RUNVS]

To be honest I don't object to us playing a team like this as I want to see some of our younger guys get a chance to prove themselves so they can push for selection.

 

[Cadsky]

Andrew vs Andrew tonight?

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Very much looking forward to Aaron Francis prove all the doubters wrong tonight.

I’m telling you, he just isn’t as bad as you all think he is……………he’s worse.

I like strong tacklers.

 

[The King!]

I'd rest even more , pointless game don't care other than hope a fringe player does something .

Won't even watch this

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I'd rest even more , pointless game don't care other than hope a fringe player does something .

Won't even watch this

Your contributions to the game day thread will be missed.

 

[strauchanie59]

Pistol Pete kicks 7, has 40+ hitouts and is the first player to be chaired off in adoration after a pre-season game.

 

[McRobie]

View attachment 2236801

To be honest I don't object to us playing a team like this as I want to see some of our younger guys get a chance to prove themselves so they can push for selection.

Exciting to have the 5ft9 Ben Paton lined up at CHB.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Seems to me Coxy's testing out how the team will react with a few of the top echelon players missing; like throwing them to the wolves (so to speak), and seeing how they react and adapt.

 

[The King!]

Your contributions to the game day thread will be missed.

I'm being rested by the mods , save the stars

 

[bedford]

I'd rest even more , pointless game don't care other than hope a fringe player does something .

Won't even watch this

Can i hold you to that

 

[Dubai Quacker]

The glass half empty view of our back 6:

Francis: not good enough for Essendon
Blakey: the exact opposite of a strong bodied fullback (ectomorph)
Wicks: not good enough for the forward line, thrown back in desperation
Roberts: decent kid wondering where all this defender mates have disappeared to
Paton: not good enough for St Kilda
Florent: whipping boy

The glass half full view of our back 6:
Francis: strong intercept marker about to prove why he was taken pick 6
Blakey: the most damaging rebound defender in the AFL
Wicks: on the verge of a career renaissance as the best small lockdown defender in the AFL
Roberts: exciting kid already cemented as a key pillar of the backline
Paton: let go by St Kilda, which means he must be good
Florent: elusive, damaging, dependable, durable gun

 

[The King!]

Can i hold you to that

Me not watching pre season ? yep go for it

 

[bedford]

Me not watching pre season ? yep go for it

I'll send you a couple of messages tonight during the game

 

[The King!]

I'll send you a couple of messages tonight during the game

No dick picks thanks

 

[wills2g]

how far away is paps

 

[Dubai Quacker]

No dick picks thanks

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Hoping Sheldrick has the extreme sunscreen on tonight.

 

[RUNVS]

No dick picks thanks

It can tastefully be done

 

[bedford]

how far away is paps

About 890 k's North of me

 

[bedford]

No dick picks thanks

You know i don't know how to do that

 

[bedford]

The Red V tonight and not black shorts like the VFL team

 

[Bandicoot]

Looking forward to this, even though I'm expecting a bit of a flogging.

A few things I'll be looking for:

- Paton vs Wicks vs Hamling vs Francis. Based on last week, I think there's absolutely spots for both smalls in defence. But if one of the two keys has an impressive showing tomorrow, and perhaps changes Cox's mind as to having another tall down back, then that could be a twist. So I think it could be a battle of tall vs small to prove themselves, and then the battles within that battle as to which tall and small get picked.

- Sheldrick/Adams vs the flankers. I think both the two contested hard nuts will get a lot of minutes in the midfield tomorrow. But I also think neither are as entrenched in the 22 as some of the flankers - Gulden, Jordon, McInerney. Because of this I could see Cox also wanting to give serious opportunities to those flankers to see what they can do, in the very possible scenario that they are the ones rotating through there if neither Sheldrick or Adams end up in the 22.

- Ladhams vs himself. I am a believer in Peter Ladhams. I think he moves well, and has great awareness... when he's on. When he's not on, things tend to unravel, both physically and mentally. Tomorrow is the opportunity that Ladhams was waiting for all last year but never got - the chance to be the lead ruck without Grundy. A great showing potentially keeps him in that role for Opening Round. A decent showing could still see him in the frame for Opening Round in a back-up ruck/third tall role. A poor showing tomorrow and suddenly we could end up looking to McLean instead.

- Campbell, Amartey & McCartin vs their previous week's performances. The former two couldn't have been more impressive off the bat last week. They now need to back it up. I'm not hoping for or expecting 10 goals between them again. But compete and contribute and show that last week was not a one-off, but a sign of things to come. As for McCartin, as much as Jared Crouch in commentary was pumping up McCartin's efforts to take the heat off Amartey, I don't think we are weakening our back-line with the removal of McCartin just for him to be a decoy inside 50. He has to show something to justify this move, starting with tomorrow.



No injuries please. The result I couldn't give a shite about.

I was a real believer that Sheldrick would take the next step this year and become a permanent part of our midfield. Granted, it's hard to push out one of Warner, Mills, Heeney and/or Rowbottom. So he becomes the second tier mid but the fact that he was only named on the interchange with all the mids we have missing for this match makes me think the selection panel don't have as high an opinion of him that I do.
Watching the matchups in the ruck last week Ladhams looked really good against GWS' secondary ruck however Briggs toyed with him. I feel his only way of getting into our best 23 would be to show that he can be value as a tall forward and when the opposition go to their second string ruck, he relieves Grundy who can then have a rest on the bench. McLean being the emergency in both matches so far would suggest we will not be going back to playing three tall forwards.
Campbell and Amartey showed great signs last week however I am not a fan of McCartin going forward. It's simply a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul and I feel we already have enough tall forwards whereas we certainly don't have enough quality tall defenders. I am not looking forward to having to rely on Francis and the like taking care of the oppositions second tall. Hopefully, as said earlier, this is the opportunity for Ladhams to show that he could fill the void up forward allowing McCartin to go back to where he is really needed.
I think the omission of so many core players this week shows that Cox is more prepared to rest players when appropriate whereas Horse would have them playing every game if not injured. This is a good thing.