Someone on here mentioned the Swans are playing a handball dominated game. This makes sense when there are no tall players to kick to.
Richmond, despite having injuries and 2 players staying in Melbourne still have their KPP intact. Grimes and Astbury (& Vlastuin) in defence and Reiwoldt in attack. They still have the option to bring in Noah Balta in to add height. We're decimated for height - McLean, Aliir, daylight then Dawson (190 cm).
Richmond are also very good at disrupting the ground level game.
If the earth opened up and swallowed Dusty we might be in with a chance.
Forgot about Blakey (195 cm)
We've got no one to bring in.
They just have to go out and do their best.
Maybe turn up for more than five minutes per quarter.
Wild speculation, unsubstantiated rumours, silly jokes and opposition delight in another's failures is what makes an internet forum fun.
Blessed are the cracked for they are the ones who let in the light.
You're not the only one, MattW, who has singled out O'Riordan for demotion, but I don't see a compelling reason for dropping him. He is down from last year, especially the attacking part of his game. I feel that he's been instructed to focus on his defence first and rebuild his confidence after last year's injury. He was making very good progress last year before he got injured. I don't see why he can't continue on that course. I think he's heading to be be our lock down small defender. It will take time to learn to control some of the most talented players in the comp. I don't envy a player in that role.
I also would love to see Stoddart get a game, but rather replacing Mills so that Mills can finally play midfield.
I’ve heard there is some tv footage of horse saying we are debuting 2 midfielders this week.
Anyone seen that ?
OK. You may be right they're developing O'Riordan as a lockdown defender. He has the courage for it and I know it's a very hard role, but he looks a long way off in body work, tackling smarts and capacity to read leads. Sorry to be harsh, but I am not confident he has it in him. Where he's shown the most is in rebounding and kicking (although can be dodgy under pressure).
From what we've seen of Stoddart he's more of a pure rebounder although can mark and it'd be interesting to see what he's capable of with more bulk.
On Stoddart replacing Mills - do they have the same role? They are playing Mills more as an intercepting third tall defender aren't they?
It's hard to see a future elite lock down defender elsewhere on our list. I was interested to read barracuda suggest Foot playing off half-back - I thought he was playing forward.
It certainly wasn't in his midweek presser.
He did pretty much say Amartey would have played if fit and conceded that Aliir really struggled.
But I think they have no choice but to play Aliir in there again. Richmond is a much better match up to play without a ruck, noting Aliir is more agile than Soldo and would otherwise be rucking against fellow non-specialists.
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