seasone over

[footyhead]

Sorry every body but to loose such an important game as today's at the scg,shows a greate lack of commitment somwhere in the team and considering the lamentable 2and quarter, and the fact that it is not the first time we have given games away like this this year, and we have also given a lot of teams a look who should not have because of a serious lack of concentration.
Well it has been a great rebuilding year but please lets not kid our selves about the flag anymore.
We certainly have somthing to work with though and if we could get one more KPP, we should be in with a real chance 04 and 05

[SXP]

My thoughts exactly. Let's look towards 2004 now.

[SWANSBEST]

IMO we have done very well in a rebuilding year We do need a KPP , preferably someone like Rawlings who can play at both ends if necessary. Also a tall , as back up to Ball so that Goodes is released to roam freely. The season is not over and we will be in the finals and we could spring a surprise or two

[JayTee]

I don't think it is all doom and gloom. I think that the Hawks can beat any team with Everett firing and they have picked up some fantastic talent(eg Mitchell). Will probably make the finals too and do well based on that effort.

Keep in mind what Adelaide just did to West Coast.

We actually have a great chance IF Doyle comes back fit and healthy shortly. Fixter would make a big difference as well. I also thought that Crouch showed that he should be used as a strike player given his efforts when he was freed up in the last quarter.Fixter will allow this to happen.

We won't be in the top half of the 8 though and that is disappointing.

Yes a very good rebuilding year. But still a chance for the big one IMHO.

[Cheer Cheer]

Originally posted by SXP
My thoughts exactly. Let's look towards 2004 now.

Why?
The season is not finished, in fact we still have a good chance of finishing in the top 4?
We have shown we can match the best,
What a stupid comment...

[footyhead]

But this is the buisness end of the seasone, and it is inexcusable to do what we did in the second quarter at this time of year.
you would have to say West coast are out of it now to.

[Cheer Cheer]

Surely you are taking the piss now...

[Nico]

What was missing tonoght was genuine hardness. When challenged early in this area we were not to be sighted. The only player in and under for 4 quarters was Kirk, clearly our best player.

There was so many occasions when players stood off and watched as 3-4 Hawks just whisked it away unchallenged at ground level.

Mathews, Fosdike and Nicks for mine did not want to be in the tough, close in stuff. Stevens is just not up to it. So in affect just on effort alone we were 4 players short. Fosdike in the last quarter took the ball at stoppages but just did not get the ball off quick enough, or think quick enough to do anything. Should never be used at centre bounces.

Kirk should be at every centre bounce regardless of who he is tagging.

[CureTheSane]

We lose a couple and our season is over....

I think we should just withdraw from the last few games.

let's save the players from any injuries during the restof this season and look towards next.

.....it's the only sensible thing to do......

[SXP]

I agree, let's look towards 2004 now. BTW, the next step Roosy will have to do in the future to request some accountability from the players. Some mistakes are too costly. I'm happy with this rebuilding thing, but I hope it won't last again for the next 5 years.

[swan_song]

Lets not be harsh on the guys...as I've said on a number of occasions, this is a rebuilding year (in fact the press have already had us folding in October anyway).... we should be proud of what the guys have achieved this year so far. I warned in earlier posts that this was a very dangerous game, and to say, as some on here did, that we'd win easily, was pure fantasy! Hawthorn have had the wood on us recently (goodness knows why) but for us to give up so meekly in the 2nd quarter is pretty disheartening. A real reality check for the guys!!!
What more inspiration could there have been for us to perform well: the TOC hoopla; the chance of a home final; the chance of securing the double chance -- yet when it came down to it, it was the hawks who wanted to play in the finals more so than we wanted any of the above!!! Very similar to the Canberra game... a lethargic, dumb effort, reminiscent of the swans of old.
In my 'pessimistic' assessment (pre Freo) of the remaining games I actually had this one down as a win, so now even fifth and sixth place might be in jeopardy! When we lost Ball, and they regained Everitt and co, I went for the hawks in the tipping comps. With Brisbane rampaging again (it wasn't an all-bad Saturday with them whopping eddie's lot) next week the Swannies MUST snag a win, and then finish off with the pies and Dees...

[liz]

Gee guys. I'm as disappointed with that performance as the next person but its the first really ordinary game they've played since the Kangaroos game. It was basically the same 22 guys out there who have taken us to in-or-around the top 4 and to suddenly say they are all uncommitted is a bit of a stretch.

Even the best teams have their ordinary days - remember Brisbane got pummelled at home a few weeks ago by the Eagles. And last season Collingwood had an awful August before rallying and making the grand final. Not saying that is going to happen to us this year, but it was just one bad game.

[SXP]

Lizz, I think the timing is wrong. It's about a momentum. Just look at Brisbane, they're now peaking at the right time. I don't give a toss what media is saying, but you have to admit that a team has to peak at the right time. Fumbles like this can sometimes have a serious impact on player's confidence (WCE are perfect example) and time for recovery is getting shorter by the round.

[Glenn]

Originally posted by SXP
Lizz, I think the timing is wrong. It's about a momentum. Just look at Brisbane, they're now peaking at the right time. I don't give a toss what media is saying, but you have to admit that a team has to peak at the right time. Fumbles like this can sometimes have a serious impact on player's confidence (WCE are perfect example) and time for recovery is getting shorter by the round.

Yes the time for recovery is getting shorter but there is still time for them to get back into form. given the option I would rather lose matches now than in the finals series.

[liz]

SXP - I agree. It was a bad loss to have and the timing was dreadful. I guess my point was we didn't really expect to be where we are now, and very few ever thought we were a serious contender this year. I certainly didn't - until last week, that is.

Not trying to say the loss doesn't matter or doesn't affect our chances. It does. And the fact that the loss was mostly due to their own ineffectiveness rather than just coming up against a red hot team that didn't give us a chence makes it even more unpallatable.

I guess I was just trying to point out that the guys have already exceeded expectations, and we shouldn't write off what they have done this year just because of one bad loss.