Preview Sydney Swans vs Gold Coast Suns, Saturday April 24 @ Metricon

[Bloods86]

We've definitely done worse at the SCG over recent years, but not as convinced our new game plan can't work there. Almost identical dimensions to the Gabba and we got it going in patches vs the Crows.

We had a pretty good fast, counter-attacking game going at times in our recent successful history, when the SCG was a bit of a fortress.

 

[BruceFromBalnarring]

I predicted Amartey might play before it was cool.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

The SCG's dimensions are fundamentally the same as Metricon (and plenty of other grounds):

SCG 155 x 136
Gabba 156 x 138
Metricon 158 x 134

Even the MCG (at 161 x 138) isn't vastly different.

The "our game plan doesn't work because of the SCG" argument just doesn't seem logical.

If anything, we should find it harder on the narrow grounds like the Adelaide Oval (167 x 123).

I just think its a mental thing at the SCG.

 

[GoodesStuff]

 

[SwansProudly]

GOLD COAST SUNS v SYDNEY SWANS (Nick Malceski

Nick Malceski

Age

39

Ht

189cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.7

5star

K

13.1

5star

HB

5.6

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

2.5

4star

MG

342.5

5star

No current season stats available

D

6.4

2star

K

4.2

2star

HB

2.2

2star

M

2.0

3star

T

0.6

3star

Cup)
Saturday April 24, 1.45pm at Metricon Stadium
How to watch on Fox Footy: Channel 503 from 1.30pm, with Brenton Speed , Gerard Healy , Alastair Lynch and Ben Dixon

Ben Dixon

Age

46

Ht

188cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.8

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.4

3star

G

1.4

5star

No current season stats available

D

10.4

3star

K

7.6

3star

HB

2.8

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

0.8

3star

G

2.4

5star

.

When Pies, Bucks should have ‘serious’ chat; Dusty plan to bring Dees ‘success’: The Blowtorch

Bucks, Pies headed for ‘serious chat’; why audit could expose ‘pretender’: Blowtorch

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Wolftone]

so ... three, maybe four unforced changes (if you include this demand for kennedy to be dropped and then escorted from the building)? ... absolutely ridiculous ... cohesion and confidence comes with a little faith in the players to learn and improve, not get dumped ... of all the unhinged panic and frenzied wailing since the giants loss, this is the worst ...
i'll say it again ... one kick, one loss ...

so ... three, maybe four unforced changes (if you include this demand for kennedy to be dropped and then escorted from the building)? ... absolutely ridiculous ... cohesion and confidence comes with a little faith in the players to learn and improve, not get dumped ... of all the unhinged panic and frenzied wailing since the giants loss, this is the worst ...
i'll say it again ... one kick, one loss ...

You think so. Stephens was the medical Sub. He needs to go back to get some game time in the resies.

Blakey has to learn to run both ways. He has done this on several occasions now. I the game against Bombers he was very slack at minding his player and both players who played on him were instrumental in the Bombers comeback. He needs to learn to defend as well as attack. I would prefer he learnt that in the reserves.

Rowbottom has to come back so somebody must go out. Two of the changes are forced due to injury. So McLean, Sinclair & Rowbottom will come in anyway. The only other one is Hewett. George is being played out of position and I would like him to go back into the reserves and play mids, not back.

Mcdonald is struggling at the moment. In the last 2 matches he has a total of 12 disposals combined. He could go back to the reserves and regain some confidence or we could leave him at the mercy of experienced defenders like Melbourne left Jack Watts to fend for himself. Eventually Logan will work it out but atm he is struggling.

I have changed my mind about Colin O'Riordan. I think Ling would be better after viewing the reserves.

These are not wholesale changes. They are structural and balance changes. Hewett is not a defender and that was obvious last week. Not only that the score flattered us. If they had kicked straight they would have won by some 6 or 7 goals. This is reality. It was actually a very poor performance. Our mids were destroyed, 130-88 disposals. If your mids can't get their hands on the ball you have little or no chance of winning. Don't even bother quoting clearances. There are clearances and then there are clearances to advantage and we got very few of those. Too many clearances were cut off and they attacked by secondary clearance which because it did not result directly from the hit out is not recognised as a clearance but in general play.

I am not saying the team needs to change too much. Three ins, 2 forced and one that is imperative, Rowbottom, as he was the missing link in the mids. The other two, Hewett and Macdonald have been explained. We could retain both of the last two or one but what does that do to the confidence of those players? Hewett got the hardest job in footy, other than Dusty, in a position he is obviously not comfortable in.

I hope bringing a few new guys in, who are playing in their positions, will help rejuvenate the team. Get more energy. The players who go out get to play in the reserves and get form back or practice the lessons they need to learn. Hewett gets to go back to the mids where he belongs.

Stop thinking Kennedy is the Messiah, he isn't. He is an old mid who is averaging 10 less disposals than he did last year so far. Joey has been a wonderful player but the signs are that he is nearing the end. That is just fact. He is 32, turns 33 this year. That is old for a mid. Usually they are banished to the forward line by this stage. We win less with him than without him. Our midfield was more unpredictable last year when he was injured. That is fact not fiction or legend.

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[Wolftone]

JPK could still likely outpace Sam Mitchell or Jordan Lewis in their prime.

Don’t think people realise how much we’d struggle without his grunt at stoppages.

Not so we won more clearances to advantage without him last year. We win more matches without him in the mids. When he is there we are more predictable than when he is not. As Caesar says we won 52 without and 48 with.

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[BloodySwan]

If McDonald is being rested then Sinclair & Amartey could both come in. If we want the same forward structure McLean, Sinclair & Amartey are a like for like to McDonald, Buddy & Hickey.

In saying that I feel like we're likely to have something closer to
Out: McDonald, Campbell, Buddy, Hickey
In: McLean, Amartey/Sinclair, Rowbottom, Stephens/Ling/Taylor

 

[Wolftone]

Hewett is very good at it, but I wouldn't say it's a new idea. Nick Smith was negating the best forward inside 50 for a decade.

It's also worth considering the negative side of Hewett doing it, which is that he doesn't appear to have a lot of composure in the defensive 50 and has become an exponent of the hack kick out of the back-line.

He could be negating the best midfielder at centre bounces and have the same effect. Or better still, released as a pure ball-winner where he would automatically become our cleanest mid.

I agree. Hewett is totally wrong for a role in the backline. If Toby Green kicked straight we would have been destroyed. He got 18 disposals as a forward for *'s sake. He kicked 1.7. Had that been 7.1 and we would have been 6 more goals down. Hewett was destroyed by Greene but he didn't put it on the scoreboard.

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[Wolftone]

Hewett is very good at it, but I wouldn't say it's a new idea. Nick Smith was negating the best forward inside 50 for a decade.

It's also worth considering the negative side of Hewett doing it, which is that he doesn't appear to have a lot of composure in the defensive 50 and has become an exponent of the hack kick out of the back-line.

He could be negating the best midfielder at centre bounces and have the same effect. Or better still, released as a pure ball-winner where he would automatically become our cleanest mid.

I agree. Hewett is totally wrong for a role in the backline. If Toby Green kicked straight we would have been destroyed. He got 18 disposals as a forward for *'s sake. He kicked 1.7. Had that been 7.1 and we would have been 6 more goals down. Hewett was destroyed by Greene but he didn't put it on the scoreboard.

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[Bonz]

If McDonald is being rested then Sinclair & Amartey could both come in. If we want the same forward structure McLean, Sinclair & Amartey are a like for like to McDonald, Buddy & Hickey.

In saying that I feel like we're likely to have something closer to
Out: McDonald, Campbell, Buddy, Hickey
In: McLean, Amartey/Sinclair, Rowbottom, Stephens/Ling/Taylor

We won't make 4 changes

Think it's unlikely they both get rested now with the injuries.

 

[Wolftone]

But But the ball is coming in quicker and with less resistance due to the new rules. Is now the focus on the inside 50 entries, because that is now the contested focal point because of the new rules? I'm just postulating. Is this new?

Hewett is not a defender's backside. He is a mid

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[Wolftone]

OK. I'm trying to rationalize why Hewey is back. He did a great job on Dusty and is tier one as a stopper.
I don't understand our tall defence with McCartin as a tall and Melican (finally) and not much else. Dawson was a tall and that does not make any sense. I understand they want great kicks out of defence with Campbell and Dawson. Training Campbell behind the ball with game awareness and possessions makes sense.
Lloyd taking kick ins makes no sense. Both Campbell and Dawson can kick 30-50% further. Why?

But we are 4 and 1 and I'm not complaining.

Lloyd is actually quite a long kick. But his role calls for short kicking. He has kicked plenty of 50 metre goals when he was a mid

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[BloodySwan]

We won't make 4 changes

Think it's unlikely they both get rested now with the injuries.

If they feel the 2 can't run out the game we're better off making the changes. Agreed, 4 changes seems unlikely but we shouldn't keep them in if they're not up scratch

 

[Bloods86]

I just think its a mental thing at the SCG.

I'm wondering whether it's just that we've been poorer in general, but we have great routines and the team gels, gets up more for away games.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

I'm wondering whether it's just that we've been poorer in general, but we have great routines and the team gels, gets up more for away games.

Or is it just the teams we play at home?

Collingwood struggles at ANZ/SCG
Adelaide has a good record at the SCG
Hawks are close and tough games SCG/MCG
Giants are often tough and close games SCG/Giants stadium.
Essendon always a kick in it.

 

[Bloods86]

We won't make 4 changes

Think it's unlikely they both get rested now with the injuries.

I wouldn't mind 4 changes, but I'd be keeping McDonald in. He played WAFL last year, I'm not convinced he's spent, more just being a young kid having a quiet patch, with others being the focal points. If Buddy was playing, sure, get him into ressies.

McLean surely comes in as the Buddy 'replacement', either Sinclair or Amartey as a ruck (feel like Sinclair has the edge) for Hickey. Rowbottom in for whichever kid is spent. Wouldn't be against another change to give Stephens a full game, or a bit more in defence with COR.

Though I also wouldn't mind just bringing in a single ruck, putting Blakey up forward with Reid, McD and Hayward. Could then bring in COR or Ling to allow Hewett into mids, with he or Parker to float forward now that Rowbottom is back.

 

[Tedeski]

We won't make 4 changes

Think it's unlikely they both get rested now with the injuries.

I agree Bonz. Provided there are no other niggles we don't know about.
We'll make two changes so as not mess with the structures too much.

Buddy out - McLean in.
Hickey out - Amartey/Sinclair in. I'm leaning towards Amartey who will learn & benefit more than Sinclair.

The only other subtle change will be to the sub.
If Horse wanted to rest Campbell, he would be the perfect sub with Stephens getting a full game.
Likewise he could just replace Stephens with Taylor who apparently played a good game in the twos, but I feel Taylor would be best as a sub.

Two solid changes & one with the sub.

 

[Tedeski]

HTF did I forget about Rowbottom.
Definitely 3 changes then Bonz!

Rowbottom in with Campbell made sub. Forget Stephens & Taylor altogether.

 

[the hypnotoad]

Thanks for the nice feedback. I thought it was a rather good standard, to be expected I guess, given the number of AFL senior players. I didn't watch that much NEAFL but this match seemed like a somewhat lesser version of an AFL game. Poor camera work and poor commentary compared to AFL, but a lot of Swans players (and a few Giants) looked very good. I hope this new VFL competition will be good for our reserves. Sheather is a slick mover, could be very good.

"poor commentary compared to afl"??!! good grief, how bad can it be!??!

 

[caesar88]

Hewett in the mids please

 

[the hypnotoad]

You think so. Stephens was the medical Sub. He needs to go back to get some game time in the resies.

Blakey has to learn to run both ways. He has done this on several occasions now. I the game against Bombers he was very slack at minding his player and both players who played on him were instrumental in the Bombers comeback. He needs to learn to defend as well as attack. I would prefer he learnt that in the reserves.

Rowbottom has to come back so somebody must go out. Two of the changes are forced due to injury. So McLean, Sinclair & Rowbottom will come in anyway. The only other one is Hewett. George is being played out of position and I would like him to go back into the reserves and play mids, not back.

Mcdonald is struggling at the moment. In the last 2 matches he has a total of 12 disposals combined. He could go back to the reserves and regain some confidence or we could leave him at the mercy of experienced defenders like Melbourne left Jack Watts to fend for himself. Eventually Logan will work it out but atm he is struggling.

I have changed my mind about Colin O'Riordan. I think Ling would be better after viewing the reserves.

These are not wholesale changes. They are structural and balance changes. Hewett is not a defender and that was obvious last week. Not only that the score flattered us. If they had kicked straight they would have won by some 6 or 7 goals. This is reality. It was actually a very poor performance. Our mids were destroyed, 130-88 disposals. If your mids can't get their hands on the ball you have little or no chance of winning. Don't even bother quoting clearances. There are clearances and then there are clearances to advantage and we got very few of those. Too many clearances were cut off and they attacked by secondary clearance which because it did not result directly from the hit out is not recognised as a clearance but in general play.

I am not saying the team needs to change too much. Three ins, 2 forced and one that is imperative, Rowbottom, as he was the missing link in the mids. The other two, Hewett and Macdonald have been explained. We could retain both of the last two or one but what does that do to the confidence of those players? Hewett got the hardest job in footy, other than Dusty, in a position he is obviously not comfortable in.

I hope bringing a few new guys in, who are playing in their positions, will help rejuvenate the team. Get more energy. The players who go out get to play in the reserves and get form back or practice the lessons they need to learn. Hewett gets to go back to the mids where he belongs.

Stop thinking Kennedy is the Messiah, he isn't. He is an old mid who is averaging 10 less disposals than he did last year so far. Joey has been a wonderful player but the signs are that he is nearing the end. That is just fact. He is 32, turns 33 this year. That is old for a mid. Usually they are banished to the forward line by this stage. We win less with him than without him. Our midfield was more unpredictable last year when he was injured. That is fact not fiction or legend.

On JAT-L29 using BigFooty.com mobile app

never said kennedy was a messiah ...

 

[Tesla Tenet]

Lloyd is actually quite a long kick. But his role calls for short kicking. He has kicked plenty of 50 metre goals when he was a mid

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Is he. Twice has been running into F50 and failed to get the distance.

Goal square 9m
Running 15-20m
Kick maybe 50-55m

No, set 50m max and maybe not even that.


Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I predicted Amartey might play before it was cool.

bwhahaha

I would love for it to be cool!

 

[rustycrate]

The SCG's dimensions are fundamentally the same as Metricon (and plenty of other grounds):

SCG 155 x 136
Gabba 156 x 138
Metricon 158 x 134

Even the MCG (at 161 x 138) isn't vastly different.

The "our game plan doesn't work because of the SCG" argument just doesn't seem logical.

If anything, we should find it harder on the narrow grounds like the Adelaide Oval (167 x 123).

I just think its a mental thing at the SCG.

I agree. All of these views that the SCG is so much smaller are fictions of peoples minds.
But it won't go away with facts. Tomorrow someone will post that the SCG is too narrow and our game style doesn't suit.