Official Squad

[drdrake 3,203]

Brent Moloney says hi.

Short memories around here, some of you lot...

Sylvia is fairly handy as well and if any of you watched the Brisbane game Jetta was a clearance king. I hope I'm not getting to excited about Jetta but through the pre-season I saw things in his game that should he will be an above average AFL midfielder. We will also have speed on the outside with Davey and Bennell although Bennell might get the job on Lewis Jetta.

[old55 23,836]

Agree with Rogue, Scoop, Nasher, Dr etc - we need to play a 2nd ruckman in the 21 and not burn Jamar out - he was smashed by the back third of last year. 2nd ruck needs to be versatile tho.

The good thing about Jamar is that he's dangerous forward. Spencer is a much better ruckman than Martin and can mark around the ground but is not much use as a link man in the midfield or as a forward - particularly defensively. Martin is not more of a marking threat forward than PJ was but he can probably apply more defensive pressure than Spencer. We could play Martin down back but it's unusual to relieve in the ruck from te backline - we're usually trying to get a settled back 6 who play maximum minutes. One of Spencer or Martin would be in my 21 but it's not clear which one - both have negatives.

I'd be more inclined to sub a ruckman off than sub one on. If we went with Spencer we could ruck him heavily and play Jamar forward and relieving. Then providing no injuries sub Spencer off in the 3rd and ruck Jamar solo.

I'm pleased to see Tapscott in and I'd like to Strauss play, if he can make it he'll make a big difference to our structure. Warnock is a no-no with Rivers, Bartram and Macdonald already down back. Jetta has earned a place and if Trengove is fit enough he must play. That leaves Petterd out which would be a big call with Bate also out - it would mean one-trick medium forwards are out of favour.

Martin/Spencer, Jetta, Trengove, Strauss/Petterd (sub)

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,021]

I'd like to see Jetta line up on Jack. I think Jetta could be a good stopper with his hardness.

I thought Thomo was suggesting Lewis Jetta would play on Jack Watts...

It would be a fascinating duel, though in a bizarre sort of way.

[1858 285]

I'd be more inclined to sub a ruckman off than sub one on. If we went with Spencer we could ruck him heavily and play Jamar forward and relieving. Then providing no injuries sub Spencer off in the 3rd and ruck Jamar solo.

Martin/Spencer, Jetta, Trengove, Strauss/Petterd (sub)

I think that would be a general option most teams would look at through the season.

IMO we should start with Martin in the 21 and see where we're at as early as possible this season with 1 main ruck and a versatile secondary. If Martin can develop as a viable 2nd option it means we have more strings to our bow as the season goes on. I think teams who can keep the opposition guessing up to 90 minutes (wrt final line up) will have an advantage. We won't have this advantage if we literally don't have the versatility.

[thedemonwithin 0]

Team without the extended bench has just come through, and as predicted by many on here, Strauss, Warnock and Spencer are the unlucky emergencies.

http://www.afl.com.au/newsviews/teams/tabid/16469/default.aspx

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

It still doesnt say who the sub is? In fact none of the teams listed there say who the sub is? Not sure how that works with peoples dream teams...

[M_9 2,125]

It still doesnt say who the sub is? In fact none of the teams listed there say who the sub is? Not sure how that works with peoples dream teams...

Clubs are not required to name the sub until 90 min. prior to the game.

[MikeyJ 60]

Brent Moloney says hi.

Short memories around here, some of you lot...

I don't consider Moloney a genuine clearance midfielder. Nor is Sylvia. Thus, my point still stands.

[Good Times Grimes 2,396]

I have a feeling Jetta is going to be the sub, as he will come in and run the legs of the slow Swans.

It will be interesting to see how the club plays the sub rule though. It could be Martin because of his versatility, but then again he may be needed so Jamar doesn't exhaust.

Provided we have no injuries, when do you think the best time is to put the sub in? And who do you think will be subbed out?

[rpfc 28,912]

I don't consider Moloney a genuine clearance midfielder. Nor is Sylvia. Thus, my point still stands.

It really doesn't.

Moloney averages more clearances than Jones, which doesn't mean that Moloney is a 'clearance player' but it does mean he is more of one than Jones.

[dazzledavey36 55,892]

brett peake sat out as a sub till the 22nd minute mark of the 3rd qtr last night. [censored] staying out that long!

[DirtyDees DDC 190]

Please let this match be better than last night's contest between Geelong and Sydney. That was a shocker. It's hard to believe they were the 2nd and 3rd best sides in 2010.

Everyone seems a bit rusty at the moment. The skill levels are poor - even experienced players like Scarlett and Reivoldt missed marks, and the umpiring is far too technical and inconsistent. The talent pool is also suffering because of the new clubs - there were too many players last night (eg Gamble) who should not get a game in a top side.

At least Melbourne appear to have good depth with Bate, Gysberts and Wonaemirri available but not picked. I suspect Trengove will be the sub if the club are concerned about him playing a full game after his injury. Good to see players like Maric and Jetta picked on their performance rather than just potential. They deserve to be in the side.

This will be a tough match. Our backline turn the ball over too often; our centreline is slow and our forwards lack height. We also have guys like Garland and Sylvia picked out of position due to injuries.

I know it's hard to judge form on the NAB cup matches, but the Swans definitely had a better pre-season - they did well against Collingwood and beat St Kilda. They are specialists at the clearances and have a gun forward in Adam Goodes.

I hope our home ground advantage will give us the edge. If we play their close checking defensive game we could be in trouble.

Go Dees.

[rpfc 28,912]

I thought Thomo was suggesting Lewis Jetta would play on Jack Watts...

It would be a fascinating duel, though in a bizarre sort of way.

We also have a Jetta and they have a player whose last name is Jack.

Neville Jetta on Keiran Jack.

And it probably won't happen because Jack will most likely tag Davey.

[titan_uranus 25,176]

One of Jetta or Trengove will be the sub, and I'm tending towards it being Trengove as a precaution with his soreness (i.e. he's fit, but as a sub he will only play about 50% of the game).

[Doggo 32]

I don't consider Moloney a genuine clearance midfielder. Thus, my point still stands.

Ridiculous call. Seriously.

If Beamer isn't a genuine clearance player... what exactly is he then? He's as close to genuine "first dibs" clearance player as we have.

Jones has always been a bit slow (reaction wise) in close IMO. His hands aren't quite clean or fast enough to extract the footy consistently and he often tries too much. Beamer can also be guilty of this at times, but i feel his spatial awareness in close and clean hands are far superior to Jones.

[MikeyJ 60]

We also have a Jetta and they have a player whose last name is Jack.

Neville Jetta on Keiran Jack.

And it probably won't happen because Jack will most likely tag Davey.

Kieren Jack is well past the point where he is going to tag other players - unless they're Chris Judd. He was the best midfielder in the competition for the last month of 2010, and is a far cry from the run-with player we've become accustomed to for most of his career.

[MikeyJ 60]

And regarding the Moloney debate: clearly I have a difference of opinion with others here

But I suspect the Swans are going to show us up for a lack of grunt around the stoppages today. And I also suspect Brent Moloney is going to prove less than effective. We'll see what happens - I'd be delighted if Beamer sprang a surprise.

[Guest Thomo]

We also have a Jetta and they have a player whose last name is Jack.

Neville Jetta on Keiran Jack.

And it probably won't happen because Jack will most likely tag Davey.

Good comedy is wasted on you

[rpfc 28,912]

Good comedy is wasted on you

'Good comedy'?

Another play on words?

Snap.

[Bhima 0]

And regarding the Moloney debate: clearly I have a difference of opinion with others here

But I suspect the Swans are going to show us up for a lack of grunt around the stoppages today. And I also suspect Brent Moloney is going to prove less than effective. We'll see what happens - I'd be delighted if Beamer sprang a surprise.

Not sure if you saw my thread the other day on clearances but as far as 2010 stats go:

Moloney 5.2 cleances per game

Jones 2.5 clearances per game

Stats can be misleading but I think it's pretty clear Moloney is a more effective player at the clearances.

Moloney's value is that he can position himself better to make the most of Jamar's tapouts and clear the ball in a highly contested situation. He is not however a player that bursts from the pack a la Ablett or Judd. Jonesy often does try and break away and do something fancy and gets caught, however he is improving in this area. His goal against the Lions early last year when he grabbed the tap on the forward flank, jumped over a bloke trying to tackle him and blasted a goal from the 50 was one of the goals of the year. For me, with Mckenzie, Scully and Gysberts all out for the start of the season it is a great chance for Jonesy to show what he can do in the centre of ground. I've often felt Jones was a better long term prospect than Beamer (more upside) and am glad he signed a two year deal. How they go this season will be interesting to watch, as pressure for their spots from the younger brigade will only increase from here on in.

[MikeyJ 60]

I appreciate that the stats tell a different story with regard to Moloney's ability at the clearances. It doesn't change the fact that I don't rate him as a first-dibs midfielder.

But I fear we're losing the forest for the trees in this instance. Whether or not you rate Moloney as a clearance player, we look to be dreadfully undermanned at the stoppages against a team that is renowned for its ability to win in that area. That was my original point - hopefully I'm proven wrong!

[Samsara 65]

Err, the Swans have (had) two Boltons - Craig, who retired on Thursday and Jude, who is most certainly playing on Sunday.

Excuse my ignorance! I forgot that there were two Bolton's in the team. Thanks for clarifying Mikey.

[Bhima 0]

I agree that the test today will be how we fare in the centre of the ground, which is why I have emphasised the importance of Jones' game today, we really need him to lift in order to break even at the stoppages. As others have said, if we can match the swannies in the contest, we have a more potent attacking combination. All of this will be irrelevant if the Dees come out with anything less than full on intensity across the ground and keep it up for the majority of the match. The lack of intensity or inability to keep defensive pressure for four quarters has been the issue during the pre-season. One hour to go, Go Dees!

[Doggo 32]

And regarding the Moloney debate: clearly I have a difference of opinion with others here

But I suspect the Swans are going to show us up for a lack of grunt around the stoppages today. And I also suspect Brent Moloney is going to prove less than effective. We'll see what happens - I'd be delighted if Beamer sprang a surprise.

Surprise!!!

Moloney, B.O.G!

27 disposals (21 contested), 7 tackles, 10 clearances; all team highs.

[MikeyJ 60]

:)

Very happy to concede that Moloney was everything I thought he wasn't going to be yesterday. Aside from a couple of early brain fades to give away free kicks, he was fantastic. Let's hope he keeps it up and convinces me of the error of my ways