Preview Round 1 v Brisbane Saturday March 15 4 15pm

[Bloods86]

Might see Florent on ball too. Bigger body, good turn of speed. Maybe he can play a game like the one he did opening round 2022 v Giants? That was the best I've ever seen him play.

Yeah. Going into this season, I'd hoped that the combo of Mills, Rowy and Heeney (one of few times they've ever played big midfield minutes together) would perform like that game. Obviously without Parker, but you're right, Florent was great.

It's an option, especially with an extra key defender in Hamling coming in, someone spends less time in the back half, hopefully it's Florent and we can put him to good use elsewhere.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

At least with Hamling coming in, our Claremont quota is maintained.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Pelican presser:

Key Quotes: Lewis Melican, Round 1

Hear from defender Lewis Melican ahead of Round 1.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Downhill Skier]

I’m scared

 

[strauchanie59]

Senior players' time to stand up. Despite all of our injuries, we still have a fairly experienced team going out there tomorrow.

After last week's outings, expecting to see big performances from the likes of Grundy, McInerney, Hayward and Papley.

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Only way we win this is if Heeney and Warner go nuts.

 

[Bloods86]

Just need a good effort across the board, for four quarters. Or at least hold on better when they get a run on.

Brisbane aren't some behemoth that can't be overcome unless a few players play out of their skin.

They just got across the line in their semi and prelim, including a team we had done the same against a week before.

They are not a 10 goal better side as the GF suggested, given the meeting 2 months before was decided by 2 points, when they were in form and at home, and where we lost 2 players in the 2nd term.

Maybe we produce a mentally shot performance after the GF like the Geelong game in early 23, maybe we turn it around like we did against Port (probably not by 150 odd points though).

 

[Bloods86]

Pelican presser:

Key Quotes: Lewis Melican, Round 1

Hear from defender Lewis Melican ahead of Round 1.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

My concerns at the Blakey KPD comments are abated with Hamling's inclusion.

If we line up at the opening bounce with McCartin and the 2 Joels forward though...

 

[Wheresbuddy]

Just need a good effort across the board, for four quarters. Or at least hold on better when they get a run on.

Brisbane aren't some behemoth that can't be overcome unless a few players play out of their skin.

They just got across the line in their semi and prelim, including a team we had done the same against a week before.

They are not a 10 goal better side as the GF suggested, given the meeting 2 months before was decided by 2 points, when they were in form and at home, and where we lost 2 players in the 2nd term.

Maybe we produce a mentally shot performance after the GF like Geelong in early 23, maybe we turn it around like we did against Port.

What concerns me is that most our wins over the last 12 months have come from a combination of Warner, Gulden and Heeney going nuts. Often we have been playing like absolute trash until the big 3 rescue us. I just feel there's no consistency in our play and our systems are weak, hence the over reliance on individual brilliance. Cox himself has admitted as much with his talk of trying to institute more hardness at the contest, team defence and improving our play forward of centre.

An example of what happens when our stars don't save the day is the GF v Lions and the regular season flogging by Port. It saddens me to say, but I don't trust our team as a whole.

 

[caesar88]

Melican doing press conferences. Oh be still my beating heart

 

[Bloods86]

What concerns me is that most our wins over the last 12 months have come from a combination of Warner, Gulden and Heeney going nuts. Often we have been playing like absolute trash until the big 3 rescue us. I just feel there's no consistency in our play and our systems are weak, hence the over reliance on individual brilliance. Cox himself has admitted as much with his talk of trying to institute more hardness at the contest, team defence and improving our play forward of centre.

An example of what happens when our stars don't save the day is the GF v Lions and the regular season flogging by Port. It saddens me to say, but I don't trust our team as a whole.

Maybe Heeney, Warner and Gulden weren't having big games, but we often had others holding things together or limiting the damage until those guys got going.

I thought Warner was more consistent across the match last week, and Heeney hopefully doesn't cop a push into another player again.

Players like McInerney and Rowy can lift from last week, they are among those who held things together at times last year. Blakey is hopefully relieved of KPD duties. Jordon is hopefully in the middle / on Neale all game. Papley doesn't need to be peak, but hopefully is in better shape. Paton and Corey can hopefully continue their 2nd halves, rather than revert. Could always stick Campbell on Zorko if we need to give him a specific job to work at, but can hurt the other way if opportunity presents.

Not so confident on Grundy tbh...

 

[Adnico26Parker]

 

[Punts]

Do something on game day Hayward

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

God damn heat is pretty brutal

 

[Donza]

God damn heat is pretty brutal

Yeah. The sea breeze ain't even helping much

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Swans by 72. We will hunt them down every play and tackle theM to a standstill whilst our outside run runs them ragged.

I like fast players.

 

[caesar88]

I wonder if Roberts will get midfield time this week...

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

I wonder if Roberts will get midfield time this week...

Nah they need to move Florent up the ground where he is less of a liability so Roberts stays back.

 

[caesar88]

Nah they need to move Florent up the ground where he is less of a liability so Roberts stays back.

That seems to be the consensus as to what will happen. And it probably will. But I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Roberts in the mids instead.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

That seems to be the consensus as to what will happen. And it probably will. But I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Roberts in the mids instead.

I wouldn’t mind it tbh - deserves a shot. If bice comes on maybe it enables it longer term.

 

[Bloods86]

That seems to be the consensus as to what will happen. And it probably will. But I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Roberts in the mids instead.

Roberts, Florent, Corey could all spend some time there. Papley and Campbell actually got 4 centre bounces between them last week.

Would prefer Corey gets first crack out of these. If not, Florent, but only with Heeney, Rowy and Jordon.

 

[caesar88]

I wouldn’t mind it tbh - deserves a shot. If bice comes on maybe it enables it longer term.

My three main reasons for it:

1. Florent was near BOG only two outings ago, playing half back. He was then played at half back again for the first match of the season. I'm not so sure that Cox will be ready to stick a fork in him in defence just yet (I maintain that his overall place in the team is shaky though.)

2. We were smacked around the contest last week, and that was with two hard nuts in Adams & Sheldrick. We are now without both of them. So we've lost two contested mid options and gained none. Obviously there is massive room for improvement in our mids from last week in Heeney, Rowbottom, Warner & Jordon. But I wouldn't be surprised if Cox wasn't satisfied with that and wanted another option in there.

3. We forget that Roberts is also a solidly-built contested mid. He was drafted as that, and played as that in the VFL, where he was every bit as good as Sheldrick. His success in defence has led to him becoming something of a forgotten man in the conversation over our midfield depth. But I wouldn't be shocked if Cox hadn't forgotten.

Of course, it could end up going just as many expect - Bice is in so Florent can move up the ground, and Roberts stays as is.

 

[Ticky009]

I’m scared

We're going the get thumped.

 

[Bloods86]

My three main reasons for it:

1. Florent was near BOG only two outings ago, playing half back. He was then played at half back again for the first match of the season. I'm not so sure that Cox will be ready to stick a fork in him in defence just yet (I maintain that his overall place in the team is shaky though.)

2. We were smacked around the contest last week, and that was with two hard nuts in Adams & Sheldrick. We are now without both of them. So we've lost two contested mid options and gained none. Obviously there is massive room for improvement in our mids from last week in Heeney, Rowbottom, Warner & Jordon. But I wouldn't be surprised if Cox wasn't satisfied with that and wanted another option in there.

3. We forget that Roberts is also a solidly-built contested mid. He was drafted as that, and played as that in the VFL, where he was every bit as good as Sheldrick. His success in defence has led to him becoming something of a forgotten man in the conversation over our midfield depth. But I wouldn't be shocked if Cox hadn't forgotten.

Of course, it could end up going just as many expect - Bice is in so Florent can move up the ground, and Roberts stays as is.

We've already got an extra to fit in D50 in Hamling (or McCartin), so I don't actually know how we fit an extra HB unless Florent or Roberts play in midfield, and/or one of Florent, Jmac or Lloyd spend some time at HF when not on the wing / bench.

 

[Ticky009]

God damn heat is pretty brutal

35c is going to be horrendous playing in that heat.