Saddington

**Rizzo** · 28 July 2003, 12:37 PM

Saddo was playing the loose man in defence a few times yesterday as well. I think he is still finding his way back after injury.

**TheHood** · 28 July 2003, 12:48 PM

Thanks for saying that Alison, you took the words right out of my mouth.

Saddo thinks that playing 5 meters ahead of his opponent will work every time, he certainly got toweled up by Medhurst using that method.

However, his post injury form does not worry me as much as his pre-injury form!

IMO, he has been almost our least successful defender at any time this year and last year as well.

I was a big fan of his improvement in 2001, thanks to Roosy as defensive coach back then. He took all before him that year but his 2002 was mediocre and this year just average. He needs to improve both accountability and skills.

His kicking style is shocking, when not kicking into the man on the mark, he drops the ball from too great a height and almost all unpressured kicks and high bombs to 50/50 contests.

Saddo is a lovely bloke and I know he has what it takes, I just wish he would stop reading his own press and actually step up, not just read how he has "stepped up".

**sharp9** · 28 July 2003, 02:17 PM

Schauble is the real worry IMO. He is nearly always beaten one out despite his size. takes some good grabs when he is third man up, I admit, but if there's abit of push and shove he is pathetically weak compared to the elite forwards.

**chammond** · 28 July 2003, 02:43 PM

I can't believe all this crap.

Our defence has the third best record this season, and has conceded more than 14 goals on only two occasions.

We're sitting second on the ladder because we have such a strong defensive unit. Yet now we are told that our three key defenders are either useless or playing with serious injuries?

Can you see an inconsistency there? If Saddington and Schauble are pathetically weak, how come Fremantle only kicked 14 goals? And why does Roos continually keep them on the ground in critical positions?

If the Swans fail this year, it will be because our forward group doesn't generate enough scoring opportunities, not because of any imagined weakness in the defence.

**barry** · 28 July 2003, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by sharp9
Schauble is the real worry IMO. He is nearly always beaten one out despite his size. takes some good grabs when he is third man up, I admit, but if there's abit of push and shove he is pathetically weak compared to the elite forwards.

Thats wrong. Schauble is playing bloody good football at the moment. Like any defender, he cant stop everything.
Boltons been great, and Saddo is ok, just chooses the wrong option a few times. More game time should correct that.

The jewel is Leo Barry though, as he can play tall and fast.

**dawson** · 28 July 2003, 03:05 PM

Leo got into trouble though especially in the first quarter when he ran out of options and found himself on his right foot.

**TheHood** · 28 July 2003, 03:12 PM

Originally posted by chammond
I can't believe all this crap.

Our defence has the third best record this season, and has conceded more than 14 goals on only two occasions.

We're sitting second on the ladder because we have such a strong defensive unit. Yet now we are told that our three key defenders are either useless or playing with serious injuries?

Can you see an inconsistency there? If Saddington and Schauble are pathetically weak, how come Fremantle only kicked 14 goals? And why does Roos continually keep them on the ground in critical positions?

If the Swans fail this year, it will be because our forward group doesn't generate enough scoring opportunities, not because of any imagined weakness in the defence.

Shaubes has been fine I reckon.

Not sure who the 3rd defender is that you are talking about, Warfe is the worst by a mile.

My points were specifically aimed at Saddo, most of our good wins have been achieved without him.

As for the way we could possibly fail, it is not because of poor output from our forwards, it will be because of midfield deficiency. I think we have wought well above our weight all year and if we can improve our cattle in the midfield, we will be very very difficult to beat all over the park. Defence is rock solid, forwards are equal to any in the comp.

One thing we are particularly good at is shutting down opposition key ball getters. Kirk, Crouch & Matthews are brilliant and always play to the rules, written and unwritten.

**Alison** · 28 July 2003, 03:12 PM

I was not bagging our defence at all. I really rate our defence and think Leo has been given some really hard and bigger opponents this year and has done well. THe point I was making was that Saddo (and I know he has missed a few games) should be able to match up on the Croads, etc. and he gets smashed. It is unfortunate that he gets beaten by the bigger blokes, and then our only option is Leo (who tries hard and usually does well), but it effects our run out of the backline as Barry is playing on the bigger bloke out of the goalsquare. Hope that makes some sense! Basically I think Saddo needs to be playing better and give a good contest against the dominent forwards. I mean, he played on Croad and then Medhurst (together they kicked 5.4 on him) - nearly half their score.

**Sid** · 28 July 2003, 03:14 PM

I would prefer Leo Barry remain in the back line because the runs the ball out in a flash. Schauble is doing good considering the fact that full back is probably not his preferred position.

I do think however, that Saddington had a shocker. He isnt strong enough and gets beaten all the time when his opponent gets a good lead. But the thing is, we cant replace him with someone like Warfe.

**liz** · 28 July 2003, 03:23 PM

Originally posted by chammond
I can't believe all this crap.

Our defence has the third best record this season, and has conceded more than 14 goals on only two occasions.

We're sitting second on the ladder because we have such a strong defensive unit. Yet now we are told that our three key defenders are either useless or playing with serious injuries?

Can you see an inconsistency there? If Saddington and Schauble are pathetically weak, how come Fremantle only kicked 14 goals? And why does Roos continually keep them on the ground in critical positions?

If the Swans fail this year, it will be because our forward group doesn't generate enough scoring opportunities, not because of any imagined weakness in the defence.

Thankyou Cliff - you took the words right out of my mouth.

Some people won't be satisfied unless we keep our opposition goal less for a whole game and kick 50 goals. This is an even competition. Just as we have players capable of showing great skills, so do our opponents. Sure, our boys make mistakes but so do all players. That's part of what makes it such a great game to watch.

On paper our defence doesn't look great but its definitely a case of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, and every single one of those players down back has made some important contributions for us this season.

**sharp9** · 28 July 2003, 04:54 PM

I'm not suggesting we're crap - I'm just saying that Schauble is consistently beaten in a one on one 50/50 contest. The reason they only scored 14 goals (seeing as someone asked) is that they didn't get the ball in quick enough to whoever was on Schauble.

Have a look at the last few weeks. (Not to forget his performance on Lynch pre-season which has been indicative of what happens when any team gets the ball in quick and bombs to a 50/50)

He did manage to spoil ONE yesterday that I was expecting to be marked by his opponent. Unfortunately he punched it straight to a Docker.....who scored.

The reason I comment is not that I think he's crap...I like his game, actually and love his second efforts etc.

I comment because I reckon there must be some balance or technical thing that causes him to lose out in these situations as he is the same size as most of the opposing forwards. And yes I am taking into account the fact the whole Sydney backline has been slaughtered by the umpires (compared to what is usually paid in fron tof goal)

By third man up I mean third (or 6th, or 7th) to a marking/spoiling contest - not third tall on the park! (as opposed to one on one are we clear now?)

**Rod_** · 28 July 2003, 05:53 PM

I agree that Saddo is a game or 2 short of being up to the required level - however what is the option to get match fitness?? I would prefer to see him in than others

The back have done a great job this year IMO - under sized lack of depth and we are the 3rd best - very good return....

Keep it up

Leo needs to find another dimension to his game as the runs are being cut off and it is getting harder to get away .... Dont get tackled in the back line and drop the ball.....

Not one of the best backline returns on this weekends game but did the job!

Rod_

**chammond** · 28 July 2003, 06:40 PM

But surely the point is not that one or more of our defenders may get beaten in a head-to-head confrontation, but rather that Roos' defensive strategy is to hunt in packs, help each other out with effective zoning, and then run the ball out of defence so quickly that it catches the opposition out of position.

The current defensive group is very good at doing just that. The strategy is difficult to implement, but it is also very difficult to combat.

But if you put a 'gorilla' into that mix, you immediately change the dynamics, and probably reduce the synergy. The next step would be a defensive setup akin to St Kilda (slow) or Carlton (comatose).

And I still don't see conceding four or five goals to a quality forward(s) as a "towelling".

**Nico** · 28 July 2003, 08:01 PM

Can anyone tell me if Schauble has had a bag kicked on him this year. I can't recall any such towelling.

Don't say Fevola, because I believe Saddington and Barry had him.

Doing his job I reckon.

Saddington

Saddington

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