Swift set to replace Staker!!!!!

[lewigie]

Ergh, I'm seriously thinking about making a "GET HOULIHAN IN THE TEAM!1!11!" thread.

Just play him off the bench, and he can come on when Rosa or Embley are resting and dominate.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

So who DOES replace Staker?

Schofield's my pick. Surprised Houlihan didn't get a guernsey on the extended bench at leats.

 

[larrikin]

I hope they play McNamara, and I wouldn't be suprised to see Scholfield in for Bones either

 

[Nowstop__Flatine]

Didn't deserve to be in before Houlihan.

Who didn't even get in.

How can you justify that? Swift has been the most consistent WAFL performer in the shittest side in the competition.

Houlihan has been good in the league leaders side, with poor patches here and there.

Houlihan is well behind Swift IMO.

 

[Underdog]

How can you justify that? Swift has been the most consistent WAFL performer in the shittest side in the competition.

Houlihan has been good in the league leaders side, with poor patches here and there.

Houlihan is well behind Swift IMO.

I disagree.

 

[Nowstop__Flatine]

I disagree.

Why?

 

[Level_Headed]

I would have though Houlihan's last three weeks of very very good footy would have at least have him on the extended bench. But then i guess that maybe the Eagle's match commitee knows a tad more about footy than me.

 

[gx122]

Why?

Superior fitness. Houlihan can run forever.

 

[lewigie]

PLus he's experienced at AFL level.

And older, so probably more physically ready.

Plus he's been kicking goals while playing midfield and getting 30+ possession games.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Swift has been building solid form, but his got more in him. Firstly Claremont could show up and he could play most of the game out of the center, he would get 30 touches without a blink. Different players, Swift would get played of the Half back flank but could leak a few goals, if he was going to play he should play an attacking role or his natural position in the midfield.

Houlihan is a wingman, pure and simple. Could run the pants of anyone in the AFL, his been in strong form and played a sweeping role around contests. He's been highly effective. Why is he not playing, they dont seem to think others are playing bad enough for him to come in as a wingman.

Who is in better form? Houlihan, his first game was average and his been awsome since, he was injured in his only other poor performance where he played little game time.

Masten, Cockie, Swift, Shuey and Ebert have an awsome task, to force Selwood into defense again and force Rosa, Priddis, Embley and Butler out of the team.

 

[Nowstop__Flatine]

Superior fitness. Houlihan can run forever.

Cool. Swift is a better footballer.

Give me someone who can win it on the inside and be effective. Swift has been our best WAFL performer without a shred of doubt.

 

[swannies]

Cool. Swift is a better footballer.

Give me someone who can win it on the inside and be effective. Swift has been our best WAFL performer without a shred of doubt.

Well, actually there is a shred of a doubt. It's much harder to be dominant in a winning team than it is to be dominant in a losing team. McNamara and Houlihan have been dominant in a top team, sharing the BOG honours for probably 4/5 of the first 6 weeks.

McNamara certainly knows how to find the ball and 30+ possessions by Houlihan over the past 3-4 weeks tends to indicate he can find it as well.

No doubt Swift will be a quality player, but for now let the guys that have been in the system 3-4 years, and are performing, have a run!

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Well i would hardly call Swift Dominant at the moment, his been consistent and improving he just has the both the physical ability both athletic an skill based to do that and he has a great football brain around the ground.

Houlihans improvement has been amazing, if Swift improves as much as Houlihan has in two years then he will be somthing "special".

It seems nearly everyone in the WAFL system is pushing for selection, so i would swing towards playing Spangher, Schofield, McNamara and Houlihan if and when possible. Who are all entering their 3-4 year on our list.

 

[Mop]

If I were a fence sitter then I'd say we should be thankful we have young players performing so well.

However, I'm not. Houlihan has Swift well and truely covered at the moment. Swift's development and match time is more important than any one game. There is absolutely no need to rush him in. Give him time.

Houlihan on the other hand has his time served in the WAFL and is now performing at a level that gets me excited. In the few matches I saw him play last year I deemed him worthy to fill Michael Braun's link-up role for the coming years.
I still have hope for him to fill this role. He's a former national 1500 meter champion IIRC. Perfectly suited.

The Eagles' fan side of me is a tad annoyed that Houlihan isn't playing on Sunday. The East Freo fan side of me is pleased.

 

[lewigie]

And 3000m champ. Ran it in 9 minutes flat.

Going to be running midfields ragged for years.

I'm annoyed, but now he'll just dominate for East Freo and won't be able to be looked over

 

[gx122]

Cool. Swift is a better footballer.

Give me someone who can win it on the inside and be effective. Swift has been our best WAFL performer without a shred of doubt.

Masten plays inside but coaches won't let him go near the centre square. We have enough players for that already.

Houlihan is a great runner and works hard for the ball.. he's the perfect outside running link man we need. Once the coaches realise the greatness of Swift, he'll be sure to get a game. Won't be long.. even Spangher got a game.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Our current midfielder setup is hit and miss and Houlihan is the type of reciever you want. Far better option for inside 50's than Rosa, Priddis ect...

 

[Nowstop__Flatine]

Masten plays inside but coaches won't let him go near the centre square. We have enough players for that already.

Do we? We may be winning the clearances but how effective has our ball use been?

Houlihan is a great runner and works hard for the ball.. he's the perfect outside running link man we need. Once the coaches realise the greatness of Swift, he'll be sure to get a game. Won't be long.. e

I cant agree with any of that. We dont need an outside link man, we've got enough of those players, Rosa, Embley, Butler and apparently Masten.

We may be getting the clearances, but we are butchering the ball due to a lack of polish and specifically a bit of zip.

 

[Nowstop__Flatine]

I dont buy this idea that Swift shouldnt be rushed, if he can better the team, specifically with his classy ball winning ability, why not bring him in?

Freo needed pace in the middle, in comes Hill, the boy flourishes.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

Houlihan is displaying the best WAFL form I have seen from an Eagles player in years.

The last player in as good as form as him was ROJO when he was getting 40 possessions a game for Claremont.

His form was so good the match committee had no choice but to play him.

And the good thing is Houlihan has much better foot skills.

 

[Nowstop__Flatine]

Houlihan is displaying the best WAFL form I have seen from an Eagles player in years.

The last player in as good as form as him was ROJO when he was getting 40 possessions a game for Claremont.

His form was so good the match committee had no choice but to play him.

And the good thing is Houlihan has much better foot skills.

How many of his games have you seen, honestly?

An improvement on Rojo's footskills isnt that much of a step up, Houlihan has been good, but playing as a man, running sideways of the play, which is how he racks up the majority of his stats, isnt going to help our side improve.

Swift has an uncanny knack of putting his teammate in a better position and space from a clearance, something our current on ball division is seriously struggling with at the moment.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

How many of his games have you seen, honestly?

An improvement on Rojo's footskills isnt that much of a step up, Houlihan has been good, but playing as a man, running sideways of the play, which is how he racks up the majority of his stats, isnt going to help our side improve.

Swift has an uncanny knack of putting his teammate in a better position and space from a clearance, something our current on ball division is seriously struggling with at the moment.

A lot more than you, I doubt you have even seen Claremont live this year.

The facts are swift may have more talent and will become a great player.

But still has alot too work on, and he turns the ball over quite a bit this season so far.

He is still adjusting to being out of the game so long, even his own comments say he has alot too work on.

Houlihan is a true wingman, who uses the ball well and has pace, I think he could play the Braun role quite well if given the chance.

They are very different players but the simple facts are Houlihan is staring in a very good side.

 

[gx122]

How many of his games have you seen, honestly?

An improvement on Rojo's footskills isnt that much of a step up, Houlihan has been good, but playing as a man, running sideways of the play, which is how he racks up the majority of his stats, isnt going to help our side improve.

Swift has an uncanny knack of putting his teammate in a better position and space from a clearance, something our current on ball division is seriously struggling with at the moment.

Rojo wasn't about his footskills but what he did for the team. The allure of Houlihan is his ability to run, make space, and use the ball.

Nobody's arguing with you on what Swift can do. I've always wanted Swift in the team (since the moment I layed eyes on him).. but unless Swift happened to die on Monday there isn't such a need to play him when so many blokes are performing so well in the WAFL.

 

[Nowstop__Flatine]

Rojo wasn't about his footskills but what he did for the team. The allure of Houlihan is his ability to run, make space, and use the ball.

Great, I realise this, there's no need to repeat what you have said.

Nobody's arguing with you on what Swift can do. I've always wanted Swift in the team (since the moment I layed eyes on him).. but unless Swift happened to die on Monday there isn't such a need to play him when so many blokes are performing so well in the WAFL.

As I said before, the problem hasnt really been the effectiveness of our outside players once in space, the problems we've had have stemmed from an inability to be clean on the inside.

15 minute quarters of Swift would be more productive than quarters by Selwood and Priddis on the inside.

 

[Nowstop__Flatine]

A lot more than you, I doubt you have even seen Claremont live this year.

Considering Im a trainer, you may want to recant.

The facts are swift may have more talent and will become a great player.

But still has alot too work on, and he turns the ball over quite a bit this season so far.

And? As I said before, Hill had alot to work on before the season started, Harvey showed some faith and now he's winning games for his side. Imagine if we showed that kind of faith in a kid who is clearly going to be something special. Why wait? Where will he learn more, playing for a poor Claremont side, or with Daniel Kerr barking in his ear roving Dean Cox?

He is still adjusting to being out of the game so long, even his own comments say he has alot too work on.

Houlihan is a true wingman, who uses the ball well and has pace, I think he could play the Braun role quite well if given the chance.

They are very different players but the simple facts are Houlihan is staring in a very good side.

Houlihan is going to have to displace someone like Rosa or Embley, Im not arguing his form, but the nature of his role and how much he will add to the side as opposed to Swift.

At this stage, Swift would improve the side more than Houlihan IMHO.