PREGAME: Rd 03 vs Sydney

[titan_uranus 22,363]

I had initially wondered whether we were going to change things up and drop TMac. It’s risky no doubt, as JVR now clearly has to relief ruck, but it’s a different look forward of centre and means we go with two talls, Fritsch and at times Grundy. It’s not exactly short.

I like seeing Hibberd in, you’d imagine it means Brayshaw, Rivers or Bowey play further up the ground. Unless Hibberd runs with someone a la Dusty last year. 

Strange we haven’t named Tomlinson as an emergency. 

[rpfc 27,469]

Wow. This smaller forward line is intriguing. Although if you don’t have Gawn then maybe don’t try exactly what you trying with Gawn.

I think this CAN work if we embrace the quick movement and Brown gets to help out Fritsch deeper because the ball is coming down quicker. 

IF Brown has to come up further and do what TMac does, this won’t work and we won’t score more than ten goals.

[mo64 5,209]

18 minutes ago, binman said:

I am.

You really set the bar low for our players. It's not good enough to be merely creating space for others, which is how you define T Mac's role.

[Gawndy the Great 7,365]

22 minutes ago, binman said:

The Pies and the swans share simlar game plan (as do we now too for that matter) - ball in motion, get it forwad quickly, aggresisve kicks and use the corridor.

In many ways that game plan was reaction to ours - it became obvious the only way to beat us was to playt fast so our defence couldn't get set.

The way to beat their game game plan is huge pressure on every disposal, but in particular kicks. Press up to deny space, corall, chase from behind, harrass. Add clogging up the corridor as much as possible.

The Swans' game plan fell apart under the Cats pressur einb the GF. The Pies did well to almost beat the Cats in the prelim - but ultimately lost it becuase their kicks to the corridor in the last quarter came unstuck. 

My tip is that scoring will go down now as the early season fast bvall movment trend will diappate because if teams can't go with teams like the Pies, swans and the dees  - and by that i mean literally leg speed but also conditioning -  they will gte dimantled. And coaches dont like that.

So i expect to see more game like last night where teams look to take th speed out of the game and make it a kick to kick, stoppage based slugfest and clog up the corridor as much as possible.  

I suspect that trend wil start tonight because the Pies will cut the Tigers up if they just go head to head fast footy. The slippery conditions wil help the tigers turn the gamne into a scrap.

As for our game, the key will be how much pressure we can apply.

Pressure, pressure, pressure. 

 

 

So does that mean the game will turn back to our 2021 GF winning game style? I’d be happy with that as we had teams on a string. 

[DubDee 20,615]

thank god we have changed the fwd line set up. Gawn, T Mac and Brown is too tall and not mobile enough 

JVR, Brown, Fritsch should be better. we’ll have more runners and pressure too. 

expect Trac to spend more time than usual fwd 

[mo64 5,209]

Grundy must play his total game Time as no.1 ruck, with JVR chipping in. No need for him to be resting forward.

I'm rapt the coaching dept have made a statement at selection. People need to move on from our 21 premiership team.

Edited March 31, 2023 by mo64

[DubDee 20,615]

where are the Goody baggers?

he never makes changes? he rewards mediocrity, has favourites. blah blah

[rpfc 27,469]

6 minutes ago, mo64 said:

Grundy must play his total game Time as no.1 ruck, with JVR chipping in. No need for him to be resting forward.

I'm rapt the coaching dept have made a statement at selection. People need to move on from our 21 premiership team.

Maybe. But if some had their way Ben Brown would have been ‘retired’ and not 5th in the Coleman…

[drysdale demon 4,164]

57 minutes ago, pewpewpew said:

Rumours that May will be a late out too.

Rumors are jus that, rumors.

[dazzledavey36 48,752]

Ita bold changes that I was desperate for last year. 

McDonald dropped and backing in young McVee but also willing to bring in another rookie such as JVR.

I like it.

[BDA 20,054]

Surprised TMAc was dropped given Gawn isn't playing but he can have no complaints. 

I like the unpredictability. Keep the Swans on their toes. 

 

[adonski 9,144]

We must be scared of the Swans speed

[Jaded No More 57,894]

55 minutes ago, deanox said:

I feel like the public statement of dropping to make him an emergency is worse than telling us about an injury, don't you?

Unless it’s about keeping it from the opposition?

I dunno you’re probably right. I guess if he plays for Casey we will know. Maybe he just has missed too much footy and needs to get himself right. 

[Jaded No More 57,894]

Looking at the emergencies you have to make Tmac the sub don’t you? If one of May, BB, Petty, Grundy or JVR get hurt we are up the proverbial. Tmac can basically fill on their roles and maybe the shorter sub minutes will suit him given he looks to be struggling with the foot. 

[AzzKikA 2,369]

2 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Looking at the emergencies you have to make Tmac the sub don’t you? If one of May, BB, Petty, Grundy or JVR get hurt we are up the proverbial. Tmac can basically fill on their roles and maybe the shorter sub minutes will suit him given he looks to be struggling with the foot. 

If he's struggling enough with his foot to not be in the 22 then he shouldn't be the sub either.

[forever demons 1,815]

5 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

 

Geez the compassion shown here is off the [censored] charts. You don’t know why Harmesy’s not available. Nor do I. But how about erring on the side of he may’ve suffered a personal loss, for example?

Dead right WCW I was concerned about him as he seem a bit off his game lately A little compassion goes a long way

[Gator 16,893]

1 hour ago, Gawndy the Great said:

I know the positions here dont mean much, but Hunter on HB is interesting.

Brayshaw may play midfield, but Hunter won't be playing half back.

[Gator 16,893]

23 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

Rumors are jus that, rumors.

I don't believe there are ''rumours''.

More likely it's speculation in the posters own mind that's been fuelled by yesterday's Channel 7 tweet.  Channel 9 confirmed that May returned to the field and completed the session.

[Ollie fan 2,133]

14 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Looking at the emergencies you have to make Tmac the sub don’t you? If one of May, BB, Petty, Grundy or JVR get hurt we are up the proverbial. Tmac can basically fill on their roles and maybe the shorter sub minutes will suit him given he looks to be struggling with the foot. 

Completely agree

[Demon Head 250]

Wishing James Harmes all the best with his personal leave. Hope to see you back soon Harmesy!

[Rab D Nesbitt 7,129]

Tom will be our sub surely. Can play forward or back if required due to any in play injury. 

[dazzledavey36 48,752]

My only worry is Sydney defenders will double team Brown due to not having another solid senior body up forward.

[Mincho Mania 530]

11 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

My only worry is Sydney defenders will double team Brown due to not having another solid senior body up forward.

if our blokes lower their eyes we should have someone free

[rpfc 27,469]

11 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

My only worry is Sydney defenders will double team Brown due to not having another solid senior body up forward.

Slow our ball movement and it won’t matter, pressure our mids to bomb away and it won’t matter.

This is on the mids this week to keep us in the game.

[Nicko 1,223]

I think this will be the first big test for the Swans defence this year after playing hawks n suns 

they will need to be on top of their game to stop us scoring 

and the swans’ forwards will have their work cut out for them too up against our elite defence 

game will be won/lost in the midfield battle I reckon 

fix up our clearance game after last weekend and we’ll be well in our way to a solid victory