Marchbank not a bad option given they have McDonald, Amartey and McLean up forward. But based on history, he'll likely go down with an injury first game back too.
Could you run someone like Marchbank or Kemp as a defensive forward hard tagging Blakey?
I think stop Blakey's run and you smash Sydney's ball movement, he's the trigger for a huge percentage of the Swans attacking plays.
Hewett will take Cerra's spot. Marchbank for Cowan. Fantasia for Martin.
Carroll or Williams for Cottrell. One will be sub.
Hewett was already in last game so he's not really a sub, he is just part of the rotation.
Fantasia isn't anywhere near as capable overhead as Martin, and Martin crashes contests with gusto. Marchbank or Kemp could easily take a wing, but so could Fantasia get him into some open space as a receiver, get him involved in the game.
Could be some rain and if there is I suspect a late change.
McGovern was tunnelled twice in his return game, landing heavily on his lower back / gluteus on one occasion and getting a mild corky in the other. If he was a Handbagger I wonder what Scott would have to say?
I'd like to remind fans that our return to form late last season basically aligned with the return of Martin, was that cause or coincidence?
Has the reality of Green Energy is been exposed by various federal budget announcements?
For years I've been hearing claims, Green is no cheaper, cut oil subsidies, kick out the dirty polluters, let Green compete fair and square, then the budget cuts, and it's Green Energy can't survive without help!
How can that be, it seems both positions cannot be true, is it really cheaper, if so why then why is it now being claimed that diminished subsidies will signal a Green Energy death?
Isn't the ultimate target reduce CO2 emissions by any means, not just through monopolised funding?
These mind games can go either way. It could give us a mental edge, and simultaneously prey on the Swans' minds. Or it could make us complacent and simultaneously make the Swans go harder to buck the trend. Hoping of course for the former.
I suspect the Swans will feel duded after our last encounter, that has already been voiced and you could see it in faces post match, Blakey in particular. In the media following that game the focus was on the Swans bad kicking, under 40% accuracy with some relatively easy set shots being missed. They basically thought they won the battle but lost the game, I tend to agree.
Looks like light showers Friday night, how does that work for us playing the SCG?
I think this week we must keep BigH one out in the square, with a corridor between him and the CHF to lead into Plugger style. He's quick enough, there is no need for him to make everything a marking contest, just push off and go then rinse and repeat. He covers enough ground, he can do the repeat sprints no problem, he has the aerobic capacity. If they use a number to float into the zone, hit up Charlie instead. Just make sure we can deliver on the midfield wins when we get them.
I'm not really a believer in the supernatural, but if it works, I'll take it.
You might recall teams in recent seasons often fell the week after playing us also, I think it's a statement about the game style, mindset and tactics rather than a curse.
Teams are so accustomed to defeating us that when we hit the front they are almost shocked into action, games go to the death, they never give up, how dare Carlton think it might defeat us! The whole current generation of AFL senior players seems to have this attitude / midnset, even the media barrack against us, sows seeds of doubt, how long can Carlton keep it up, the tone is unmistakeable, it sounds familiar because you are always hearing it. For what it is worth, I'm not even sure when things get tight that we still do not have doubts, we are Pavlov's Dogs!
It's why I bang on about our fan base needing to learn to barrack loudly unconditionally, go quiet and the "Silence like a cancer grows!" Last week, we must have outnumbered the Melbourne fans base 3:1, yet in the dying minutes they sounded 3 times louder, it should never happen. Be like the Filth fans, scream "Ball", cheer "Marks" in anticipation before they are paid, and when umpire confirms the favourable decision cheer them as well, don't sit there schtum with faces of dread, get involved. The fan base can set Pavlov's Dog free!
I actually thought Cowan struggled a bit last week, he looks like he needs a rest, and he got lost in play quite a few times, so if Williams is fit I'd put him straight in.
But I don't know the role Cowan was asked to play, however I wouldn't be removing Cincotta.
Fans might think Cripps wasn't having an impact, but the bloke gets monstered on the inside at every stoppage with almost zero reward, then they reward him a free kick for a tiggy touchwood leveller on the outside as an apology. On the replay I noticed Kennedy doing a power of work, but he's carrying an injury of some sort and looks a bit sore at times. Had to give Pitto a vote, he basically stalled Gawn's influence which is a win.
Last time we played them in the EF Cerra and Saad were among our best, I don't see either side holding an advantage at the moment, it will be a tough game.
I would think that Kennedy will get the job on Heeney. TDK usually does alright against Grundy.
Although I can't see us leaving Kennedy as a defender if Heeney pushes forward, that hurts our own midfield and gives the Swans an advantage.
Does Kemp have the aerobic capacity to run with Heeney everywhere and anywhere, he'd be a good match for the overhead stuff and has enough zip to stop Heeney breaking away?
Heeney presents a similar problem for opponents as our own Martin, they both are agile and play in traffic very well, but are far better overhead than comparably sized opponents.
Charles is leading the Coleman. He has kicked a goal in every one of his last 56? Games which is a record a that goes back decades to find a peer I believe. I'm not sure how out of form he is.
However that out of form also coincides with playing 2 rucks. Harry being in the 50 full time during the period you mentioned.
Charlie has been inconsistent all season, but I admit he and coach have stated his role is a little different this year, he's had moments when his ability shines and he can score quickly, but he is not consistent like he has been the previous two seasons. He's also scored a bunch more of the Joe the Goose type goals courtesy of Harry or TDK contesting while Charlie roves the back of the pack. While I understand his ability to recover quickly is unique for a player his size and shape, he needs the others contesting to do that but that is not how we want to see Charlie Curnow scoring goals, it should be an occasional feature not a method operandi.
I'd like to claim we don't need TDK or even Cripps and Pitto pressing forward, but at the moment TDK is proving valuable. He can't do that and ruck, and even if he does push or rest forward when rucking it probably means one of Charlie or BigH aren't there and the advantage of being the 3rd wheel that needs a cover is lost.
But this debate becomes silly when people demand one or the other, it has to be horses for courses, and I expect some weeks even if the list is in full health we should / would go with only one ruck.
It's like a broken record, if we win a flag with TDK and Pitto playing, they'll be telling us we would have won by more with only one!
BigH has consistently been our only effective forward in the last month or so, Charlie is in a rut, and the anti-ruck-duo brigade want BigH out of F50 and rucking when he doesn't really need to do so, even contemplating it momentarily is pure insanity!
"Nah, let's put BigH against Gawn, or perhaps next week he can follow Grundy around like a tagger, we shouldn't worry though because I'm sure Grundy will lead him into our F50 just to play fair." We can surrender the midfield clearance on the SCG, the ground that's one good kick from the midfield break to the goal square!
Of course, for the last 4 or 5 weeks our rucks and midfield have been flogged witless, no wonder we need to make change! (Or would that be f0rk up the only lines we have that are consistently winning?)
I believe it's his little finger, if Travis Cloke can wear a special glove that binds his fingers together, then Pitto should be allowed to do so also.
