Preview Sydney v Essendon SCG

[RilesMacca]

Essendon dominated in centre clearances last week. We went down 17-9 against the pies on Friday, so I'd say thats our biggest weakness at the moment. Feels like Merrett always wins it out of the middle every time we play them. We probably can trust our back 6 to defend them well, but we can't make our inability to win the CBs a habit.

Dons also struggled defending transition last week, so if we bring our slick ball movement into the game we should have them covered. Danger game for sure. Langford and Stringer do love to have a good game against us.

 

[sataris]

Is spud an auto correct for the c bomb on here ?

Nah it's what you make potato scallops out of.

 

[dosser]

Nah it's what you make potato scallops out of.

I've got to admit that I was listening to the radio the other day and before I realised what a worthy cause it was all about, when I heard that Collingwood and St Kilda were playing in the annual Spud's Match, I had to agree.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

March to the Match is back!​

March to the Match is back!

After the success of the march on Opening Night, Swans members and fans will once again have the chance to cheer on the team as they make their way to the SCG

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Bloods86]

Essendon are struggling for tall backs now with Ridley, Redman, Zach Reid all injured/suspended. Zerk-Thatcher gone. Is McKay the only one left or are there others I am unaware of.

Cale Hooker might come out of retirement now that Buddy's gone.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Cale Hooker might come out of retirement now that Buddy's gone.

Gold

 

[Jimbo OZ]

If the Bombers have a shorter backline, do we:

a. Try to exploit that by sticking with our three-tall structure but perhaps be exposed if it is wet and the ball hits the ground

OR

b. Give Amartey a rest and play Wicks as a full game


Personally, I think we stick to our three-talls but I'm definitely open to ideas.

 

[Indie_]

Can't play Amartey if it's going to be wet. Without his marking he's barely contributing to the game. Wicks in, another midfielder into the sub.

 

[Tommy221987]

This is the type of game in years gone by we would somehow manage to drop. Having said that the team this year feels special. Recon we do it by 20+.

 

[caesar88]

If we lose to Essendon then Essendon should be folded

 

[Donza]

Looking less chance of wet.

I'd say a chance of a shower. Later.
Will barely ruffle the feathers.

Winds now look SW.

 

[Millky95]

This is the type of game in years gone by we would somehow manage to drop. Having said that the team this year feels special. Recon we do it by 20+.

Should be a goal a quarter better than them

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

If we lose to Essendon then Essendon should be folded

Or worse, made to absorb Norf.

 

[Donza]

Or worse, made to absorb Norf.

Poor Norf.

Nah they had Wayne Carey in the 96 GF.

F..k em

 

[Swansujelly]

Amarty sub? ..(ducks and covers)

 

[caesar88]

Or worse, made to absorb Norf.

Can we throw in Freo, Gold Coast, GWS, St Kilda, Bulldogs and the new Tasmanian team with them? They can form one giant super-team. (They would still be so irrelevant that their best outcome would be regular 9th place finishes.)

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Can we throw in Freo, Gold Coast, GWS, St Kilda, Bulldogs and the new Tasmanian team with them? They can form one giant super-team. (They would still be so irrelevant that their best outcome would be regular 9th place finishes.)

Yes toss in Saints and Dogs. But not the others… 16 team comp … wonder if the Donnies would make and win a final.

 

[Donza]

Can we throw in Freo, Gold Coast, GWS, St Kilda, Bulldogs and the new Tasmanian team with them? They can form one giant super-team. (They would still be so irrelevant that their best outcome would be regular 9th place finishes.)

Off Topic.
But Tasmania will be a legit

 

[Donza]

The only in out for this match is Amartey/Fox/Wicks.

Imo

 

[the hypnotoad]

I feel like this maybe misses the point of the three talls though.

We seem to all think that McLean & McDonald are good enough, but that's while they have been in a three-talls structure. If you take the third away - even if he's doing nada - are they as potent? Do they get worked over by opposition defenders too easily? Can one of them down there alone contest an incoming ball enough to bring it to ground? Do their leading patterns get predictable?

Etc.

Might end up a case of not knowing what we've got and that it's working until we change it.

i'm happy to stick with what's working ... wicks as a sub for a tall late has been pretty effective, although wicks also probably deserves a start too

 

[the hypnotoad]

much harder game this week, we're playing an unbeaten side, last week we played a team that haven't won a game, they're hopeless

 

[the hypnotoad]

3 Grand to make Bedford confused and angry

isn't he mostly confused and angry?

 

[the hypnotoad]

The thing is.
The whole structure of the swans has changed this season.
Where in the past they fanned off Half back. They now wedge.
It's been a deliberate ploy to incorporate Elite kicking to defeat these zone defenses that teams like Melbourne and Collingwood employ.
Players like Roberts are worth their weight in gold cause they offer a hard nut contest. Plus an ability to scythe a pass over a defensive set-up.

Lloyds most successful seasons were as a reliable link up hard running dependable HB.
He's been moved on from that. To a quasi wingman who drifts around a bit fwd.

and can still be iffy with his kicks when he pulls up and second guesses himself
he gives away goals

 

[the hypnotoad]

That Lloyd one was a shocker, it was definitely the right play from Papley but Lloyd just stuffed it up. Anyone on an afl list should be able to finish that play, even if it was a defender lol.

yes! he took his eyes off it, i'm sure ... just for a split second, but enough

 

[liz]

yes! he took his eyes off it, i'm sure ... just for a split second, but enough

He may have been in two minds how to play it. He had a team mate running into goal so was possibly thinking how to gain possession while staying on his feet (ie not lunging to mark it) so he could either pop it over the top or toe-poke it.

And he did get an awkward bounce.

It was a stuff up, but no more so than Hayward spoiling McDonald or Campbell spoiling McCartin.