Changes for elimination final v Essendon, Saturday 9 September

[crackedactor]

Umpires: Hosking, razor, Meredith

I think we got lucky with those umpires and it should not be a lop sided free kick account. Which is good to see. Razor Ray is a bit erratic but usually not Bias. Surprised no one start a thread on the Blind Fan and the commentator? Great story and I had to laugh when the journalist mentioned the young boy's commentary would be channel seven to shame!!

[dejavoodoo44]

I think we got lucky with those umpires and it should not be a lop sided free kick account. Which is good to see. Razor Ray is a bit erratic but usually not Bias. Surprised no one start a thread on the Blind Fan and the commentator? Great story and I had to laugh when the journalist mentioned the young boy's commentary would be channel seven to shame!!

Yes, these days I don't really mind Chamberlain. While he can be a bit trigger happy at times and while he does have an onfield manner, that suggests he's wearing a too tight g-string that's riding up uncomfortably, he doesn't usually deal out lopsided free kick counts, in the manner of Stevic, Schmitt, etc.

[bloodspirit]

The issue is not whether the free kick count is lopsided it is whether the rules are applied consistently. If one side transgresses more than the other, of course the count will be lopsided. Our complaint, as I see it, is that we often get pinged when the other side don't get pinged for doing the same thing. A lopsided free kick count is very weak evidence of this happening.

Conversely, I think when 100 odd tackles are made and bugger all free kicks are given, Alastair Clarkson had a point (after a Hawks-Bulldogs match last year).

[bloodspirit]

Good story on the ruckmen in the SMH today
Swans ruckmen relish under selection pressure

And a great line by Sinclair: "There's no ill-feeling towards anyone when the coaches pick a team. We're all trying to make each other better, teach each other."
Interesting that the three of them have dinner planned: "The good thing is Kurt Tippett pays. It tastes better when it's free," Sinclair quipped.

I can attest a little to their camaraderie: I saw Naismith and Sinclair out socialising in Bondi one week night earlier this year. There were one or two other Swans with them (can't remember who now but Tippett was not one of them).

[KTigers]

Yeah Tippo and Sam Reid were there too. They often get together away from the rest of team, tell short people jokes, play a bit
of classic Randy Newman on the ipod, talk about the NBA, and how hard it is to buy decent fitted clothes, and you know just
generally do tall people stuff.

I can attest a little to their camaraderie: I saw Naismith and Sinclair out socialising in Bondi one week night earlier this year. There were one or two other Swans with them (can't remember who now but Tippett was not one of them).

[dimelb]

Yeah Tippo and Sam Reid were there too. They often get together away from the rest of team, tell short people jokes, play a bit
of classic Randy Newman on the ipod, talk about the NBA, and how hard it is to buy decent fitted clothes, and you know just
generally do tall people stuff.

At one stage in last year's championship dinner I found myself surrounded by them. It was like standing in a forest.

[MattW]

Good story on the ruckmen in the SMH today
Swans ruckmen relish under selection pressure

And a great line by Sinclair: "There's no ill-feeling towards anyone when the coaches pick a team. We're all trying to make each other better, teach each other."
Interesting that the three of them have dinner planned: "The good thing is Kurt Tippett pays. It tastes better when it's free," Sinclair quipped.

That is a well written piece. He seems a good bloke, Sinclair.

[wolftone57]

This has already been completely debunked. The goals had nothing to do with ruck contests. If you have access to the replay, take a look for yourself.

If they played both Bellchambers as well as Leuenberger, then I would say they are playing 2 ruckmen. Stewart and Daniher are forwards who play in the ruck when Bellchambers is rested, although their height does them an advantage, especially Daniher. Same as us playing Reid when our ruckman is resting. Calling Stewart a ruckman is the same as calling Reid a ruckman. Do we need an extra ruckman to go up against Stewart or Daniher? Or would one of our other players like Reid or Towers do well enough. The 2nd ruckman is not a 'free hit'; it means someone like Cunningham or Hayward get left out of the side. So we need to ask where would we get the most value.

I happen to think, BTW, that we will go with 2 ruckmen. I just don't agree with it.

i did look at the replay and it was obvious that Kreuzer was killing us and they got first use at stoppages. This DID make a huge difference as they were getting clearances. You say it wasn't the reason they started kicking goals I beg to differ.

[Mug Punter]

The idea that ruckmen do not matter anymore is ridiculous beyond belief but clearly their role is changing.

I still think you need a genuine tap ruckman to win at the pointy end of the season and for this reason Naismith will play every final if fit as he is our #1 tap ruckman and getting better every game.

I think Horse will go with Tippett s he just offers a bit more around the ground but Sinkers will be entitled to feel disappointed.

IN: Naismith; Papley; Hanners
OUT: Sinclair, Harry, Hayward

A very strong side we will be fielding

[Ludwig]

i did look at the replay and it was obvious that Kreuzer was killing us and they got first use at stoppages. This DID make a huge difference as they were getting clearances. You say it wasn't the reason they started kicking goals I beg to differ.

I have already provided a timeline for the roughly 7 minutes that both ruckmen were off injured. There were 3 Carlton goals kicked during this period, none of them remotely involving a ruck contest. All were from turnovers or kick ins. The Kreuzer dominance in the ruck came against our 2 regular ruckmen.

[Ludwig]

The idea that ruckmen do not matter anymore is ridiculous beyond belief but clearly their role is changing.

I still think you need a genuine tap ruckman to win at the pointy end of the season and for this reason Naismith will play every final if fit as he is our #1 tap ruckman and getting better every game.

I think Horse will go with Tippett s he just offers a bit more around the ground but Sinkers will be entitled to feel disappointed.

IN: Naismith; Papley; Hanners
OUT: Sinclair, Harry, Hayward

A very strong side we will be fielding

It's not that ruckmen don't matter, it's that a team can adjust to become a successful side regardless of the quality and quantity of their ruckmen. Look at Richmond, who have played the whole year with just Nankervis and guys like Grigg spelling him when he's tired. It seems to have worked well for them. They present a different kind of look and play to different strengths.

I think your changes are the most likely ones, btw.

[Go Swannies]

I watched half the Bombers game last night - from the start, not the exciting end. It was interesting to see how rusty we were back then and how uncertain our ball movement - I don't think we'll give the Bombers such easy space on Saturday.

And I was chatting to a Swans' board member last weekend who said he was amazed by the intricacies of positional planning that's drilled into the team.

Let's just hope it works for the next four games - and in our Premiership defence in 2018.