TOPIC:

Footy Is Back!!!

Saturday looms as a stern first up test in what looks likely to be challenging conditions with a top of 29*, strong easterly winds for the majority of the day and the slight possibility of some precipitation.

West Perth will be no pushover despite not many pundits considering them as a contender and they may be more ready for the opening encounter, I’m wary of an ambush. Swans best side however would be superior but how close to full strength and how many are playing underdone will be an intriguing watch.

For mine Swans biggest question is can Yukich and Blakely play in the same team - I think not as neither can play fwd. So does Tom or Evan Smith get the nod as buck up ruck?

Kietel looms, as always, as the man to stop for WP with Luke Meadows needing the tight checking of Odonaghue at some point no doubt through the day. 

Hopefully a bumper crowd in attendance to pay respects to Slater and Krackouer but the WAFL really missed a trick by not starting a week earlier than the ammos. 

Should be a great round 1 game with 2 sets of passionate supporters as opposed to last year when Swans played WCE in round 1 and it had the atmosphere of a pre season game.
Can't see them picking both Yukich and Doc in the same team particularly given the expected conditions will require as many running players as possible. Aiden Clarke still has a couple of weeks to go on that ridiculous suspension he copped last year. Will be interesting to see where Trew and Connor Blakely are fitted in
As for West Perth, they have done quite a lot of recruiting in the off season so some of their players will be unknown to the Swans coaching staff. As Danger said, Keitel and Meadows are always danger players against Swans, I would add Keegan Knott to that list too.
Hopefully we can get over the line for the win

The game just got a little bit harder to win on Saturday. according to Sportfm tonight, Will Collins broke his collarbone at training last night. Also missing will be Jake Pasini (knee) and Nathan Ireland and Brandon Erceg still on the injured list.

Will Collins is a massive loss!!! I would suggest he's just about our most important player and definitely our best defender. With both he and Pasini missing Howard will likely get a key role and Luke Taylor gets first crack at Kietel. 

Rest easy Gents, we are not going to be anywhere near full strength. Only recruits we have picked up is Roan Steele, Gilbee and McKenzie, the last two I wouldn't think will play.

Where is Zane Trew? I saw him dressed in full playing gear just before the scratchy against Perth but didn't play and not played any pre season games has he? Has to be injured.

You would think that Trew must be carrying an injury. Not named in league or reserves this week. He is one of 8 players missing from what I would consider Swans full strength team. The others are Clark, Pasini, Chipper, Erceg, Bright  Ireland and Collins who broke his collarbone at training. Not an ideal way to start the season.
Looks like Tony Notte has been given the job on Keitel for this week's game. Despite the injuries it still looks a decent squad. I am still unsure where the goals are going to come from with Edwards not there.
I am hoping that Cartwright can have a break out season 

Being without our 2 best backs in Pasini and Collins along with 2 quality mids in Clarke and Trew is significant. Banking a win against a team not considered a contender while we are undermanned is crucial. 

Substandard that there is no updates on player availability, especially considering only last week in an interview it was stated that we’d be very close to, if not at full strength. 

And does anyone know what has happened to Hilton? Showed good things last year, but unfairly - in my opinion - dropped to allow Erceg to play late in the season. 
 

Danger wrote:

Being without our 2 best backs in Pasini and Collins along with 2 quality mids in Clarke and Trew is significant. Banking a win against a team not considered a contender while we are undermanned is crucial. 

Substandard that there is no updates on player availability, especially considering only last week in an interview it was stated that we’d be very close to, if not at full strength. 

Danger,

We are in a very similar position as far as availability is concerned, considering you have more depth, I would think it will be comfortable win for the Swannies.