Review Round 8 vs Sydney, SCG, Saturday 7th May, 1:45pm AEST

[GC2015]

I'm getting Richmond Round 16, 2021 vibes about this game. I remember we were all really disappointed with the loss to North Melbourne the week before and everyone was questioning whether Dew was the right man for the job and then our boys went out there and put on an unbelievable performance to secure a big victory against an 8th placed defending premiers Richmond at Marvel. They then followed it up the following week with another away win against the 8th placed Giants.

I'm just getting those vibes at the moment. We're all bitterly disappointed about the loss to Collingwood and we're once again questioning Dew's future but this is a group who has proven in the past that they can respond in a situation like this. All will be revealed on Saturday arvo!

 

[The Gotham Penguin]

I'd put Anderson on one wing, and Ellis on the other.

Not sure why a 2 time premiership winger is playing in the back pocket.

I'd have Swallow in the Hodge-type 'sweeper' role.

Weller gets a central midfield gig as would Oleg if in a good head space (hope so) - rotate one back to defence when the other goes central mid.
Rowell and Fiorini the accumilators in the middle (Or Constable for Fiorini) - with Miller / Weller / Markov as box to box runners on the outside mid.

Rankine gets midfield minutes to see if he can actually do it.

Big Red back if 'AFL' fit - makes Collins on 2nd tall, Ballard on 3rd tall. Swallow sweeper - Budarick or Luko (whoever is fit) + Weller/Markov to run the channels.

Leave forward line unchanged except for McPherson who is a poor mans Holman - and replace with Hollands

Luko Thompson Markov

Ballard Collins Weller

Swallow

Anderson Ellis

Rowell

Miller Witts Fiorini



Rankine

Holman Chol Hollands
Casboult


i/c Constable, Sexton, Farrar, Sharp

One of Anderson or Ellis to be in forward half at bounce downs for the 6 x 6 x 6 rule.

It did look better in my head.

 

[The Gotham Penguin]

View attachment 1391863

Like I keep saying - Anderson to the wing - less dump kicks and only one direction to kick to. He has the endurance to plug along all day.

 

[Supersuns]

Anderson is a waste on the wing. He is a great stoppage player and been pretty strong around the contest. Bring in Sharp for skills and pace on the outside, putting Ando out there just robs our already fragile midfield of another contested player.

 

[Scotty_222]

Like I keep saying - Anderson to the wing - less dump kicks and only one direction to kick to. He has the endurance to plug along all day.

To be honest I think the wing is one of most crucial roles, you definitely have to be smart to play it, and have the skills to boot.

 

[Supersuns]

Big Red Machine I hope you are sitting down.

 

[Jirik13]

Rory will probably cost us goals like Budarick. I don't care. Great story. Very happy for Rory.

 

[Supersuns]

Rory will probably cost us goals like Budarick. I don't care. Great story.

He has been super solid in the VFL, plus he is a Buddy specialist, I have full faith in him.

 

[Jirik13]

He has been super solid in the VFL, plus he is a Buddy specialist, I have full faith in him.

Yeah, he was pretty good in the last game. Still it's only VFL. Anyway, I am very happy for him

More than 3 years and 9 months between games is unbelievable.

 

[Jirik13]

Rory Thompson to return in Round 8

Foundation SUN Rory Thompson will play his first AFL match in 1379 days when the Gold Coast SUNS take on Sydney at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.

www.goldcoastfc.com.au

 

[Southern Sun]

Rory Thompson to return in Round 8

Foundation SUN Rory Thompson will play his first AFL match in 1379 days when the Gold Coast SUNS take on Sydney at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.

www.goldcoastfc.com.au

Wow if that doesn't give the boys a lift nothing will.

 

[Orange crush]

Big Rory back after 1300+ days .... wow!! What an inspiration to lift you guys this week

 

[CanYouFeelTheSunburn]

Rory Thompson to return in Round 8

Foundation SUN Rory Thompson will play his first AFL match in 1379 days when the Gold Coast SUNS take on Sydney at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.

www.goldcoastfc.com.au

Big Red Machine surely this is big enough news for you to fly over for game this Saturday? Remember make sure it's Bay 1

 

[Sunny_]

Coaches clearly like the idea of three tall defenders. Last couple of years it's been Caleb with Collins & Ballard.

Rory is undoubtedly an upgrade on that and he'll help us cater for Buddy.

 

[KaySwizzle]

Coaches clearly like the idea of three tall defenders. Last couple of years it's been Caleb with Collins & Ballard.

Rory is undoubtedly an upgrade on that and he'll help us cater for Buddy.

Putting Rory on Buddy first game back is a bit rough. Not sure of Collins is a better option though.

Still, it’s a huge story for the club for him to play again.

 

[Stroppy]

They have been playing Buddy, Reid and McLean forward haven't they, with Ladhams resting forward at times?

Enough talls to go around.

 

[Southern Sun]

Rory is our best match up for buddy as he is deceptively really quick. It gives us good balance as Collins and ballard are good interceptors but rory is a pure lockdown. With the run of weller, Powell, lemmens and maybe farrar or markov it is encouraging.

 

[GC2015]

Confirmed - Thompson and Powell IN. Davies, Macpherson and Sharp OUT.

I'm stoked for Rory to finally be making his return. I know a lot of people thought his return was a pipe dream but here we are two days out from it occurring. I know it was years ago but in the second last AFL match Rory played for us, we pulled off a massive win at the SCG and Buddy was held to zero goals. Let's hope for the same result on Saturday arvo!

 

[Southern Sun]

Few guys should be really under the pump this week to keep their spots. Actually thought atkins might have got a gig( sub maybe)

 

[robo_1]

I owe Rory Thompson

16

Rory Thompson

Age

33

Ht

200cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.6

2star

K

5.7

2star

HB

3.9

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

126.3

2star

No current season stats available

D

11.0

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

4.6

5star

T

3.4

5star

an apology.. I have regularly said put a line through him he won’t come back! I never thought a 31 year old doing both knees missing so much football would ever make it back so to hear the news of him returning I am happy for him and sorry for doubting

 

[SandyToes]

I owe Rory Thompson an apology.. I have regularly said put a line through him he won’t come back! I never thought a 31 year old doing both knees missing so much football would ever make it back so to hear the news of him returning I am happy for him and sorry for doubting

Crazy eh
Such a huge story-I hope Melbourne Media picks it up
Well done Rory-inspiring stuff
We'll wait and see if he gets through the game before the mea culpas though

 

[Young_Guns]

8 defenders + Ellis and Swallow who have been playing through there. Dew’s a mad man.

But I guess if our ‘see ball, kick ball’ game plan is gonna work anywhere it’s on the SCG where one kick from the middle is a score.

Most importantly though, RORY! I still cannot believe it. Saturday is going to be gooey.

 

[KaySwizzle]

I’m my eyes there was no need to play Budders this week after his ankle injury. What’s the obsession with rushing players back when we have a full list…

That said, good to see Swallow named in the middle again. But he’s starting on a wing… I mean, c’mon. We have one genuine winger on our team, and the other can’t be Swallow. Hopefully one of our backs can push up or rotate there, or move Luko there a bit etc.

Not a bad team structure with Thompson back in. His goal is to be better than Caleb Graham

46

Caleb Graham

Age

24

Ht

194cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

5.5

2star

HB

4.5

3star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.0

3star

MG

63.0

1star

D

5.0

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

1.0

1star

M

3.0

3star

T

0.0

1star

MG

63.0

1star

D

10.0

3star

K

5.5

3star

HB

4.5

4star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.0

3star

MG

63.0

1star

—I don’t ask for much!

 

[RowellAnderson12]

Look if i'm being honest, my expectations are pretty low right now, but the biggest win is Rory Thompson

16

Rory Thompson

Age

33

Ht

200cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.6

2star

K

5.7

2star

HB

3.9

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.0

4star

MG

126.3

2star

No current season stats available

D

11.0

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

4.2

4star

M

4.6

5star

T

3.4

5star

making his AFL return. Such a remarkable effort, blood, sweat and tears to get back to the pinnacle of Aussie Rules.

I just want him to get through unharmed, don't care about anything else this week.

 

[kreglze]

Would be interested to see the likes of Powell or Budarick released further up field and see what they are like. I wouldn't have risked Budarick personally, but if he is fully healed then great news.