Things I'd like players to work on inb pre-season

**CureTheSane** · 25 November 2003, 03:31 PM

I'd agree with all of those....

**DST** · 25 November 2003, 04:19 PM

Can I just add Leo Barry doing anything on the right side of his body, rather than just kicking

DST

**Ryan Bomford** · 25 November 2003, 04:27 PM

This is more along the theme of what the players as a team can work on in the pre-season: Kick outs from The Goal Square.

IMO we've lost technique, strategy and options over the last few years in this department. There are valid excuses lack of talls, lack of Schwass etc but we really lack imagination. The Lions were really able to shut us down in the prelim final because of it.

**Nico** · 25 November 2003, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by DST
Can I just add Leo Barry doing anything on the right side of his body, rather than just kicking

DST

He can kick on his right foot?

**jimmytootle** · 25 November 2003, 05:39 PM

Originally posted by Ryan Bomford
This is more along the theme of what the players as a team can work on in the pre-season: Kick outs from The Goal Square.

IMO we've lost technique, strategy and options over the last few years in this department. There are valid excuses lack of talls, lack of Schwass etc but we really lack imagination. The Lions were really able to shut us down in the prelim final because of it.

Nice Work Ryano,

Looks like Roosy has taken your advice already...from the SMH:

Roos said February and March would be the critical pre-season months, considering the delayed start after their finals involvement.

He said he would work on kick-ins and zones and not place too much store on practice games. "You are probably not going to see the best of the Swans until the last two or three practice games."

**Nico** · 25 November 2003, 05:39 PM

I can't wait for the reports from the gooses that went to early pre-season training last year and bemoaned the fact that our skills were appalling and condemned us to oblivion at the bottom of the ladder. Anyone want to own up to that bulldust.

Hope we get more of those reports this year, and we are definitely top 4 stuff.

**Bleed Red Blood** · 25 November 2003, 06:01 PM

Yes Im hoping all those 'experts' believe that well be bottom four material again just so we can prove them wrong.

**liz** · 25 November 2003, 06:53 PM

Re: Things I'd like players to work on inb pre-season

Originally posted by NMWBloods

Jude Bolton: Goalkicking on the run and kicking to position while on the run

Don't totally agree with that. Not saying he can't improve in this area but he achieved much more consistency in 2003 and I don't reckon he's too bad. I know those two 3rd quarter misses against Port will be uppermost in many people's memories but overall I reckon he's an OK shot at goal.

The area where I'd particular like to see him improve is his feeds. He gets to a lot of contests and is never found wanting for courage in diving in to contest the ball, but all too often this results in a ball up. If he could work with Kirk and improve his handball skills from the bottom of the packs the benefit to the team would be huge.

Originally posted by NMWBloods

Paul Williams: Adding another dimension to his game. I noted that this year he has dropped a yard in pace (he was caught on the run a few times) and this could be the case again next year. Will be interesting to see if he can offset this by doing things a little differently.

Not something to work on over summer per se, but one change I'd like to see to Williams' game is less 'staging' for free kicks. I didn't really notice it before 2003, but this year there seemed to be numerous occasions when he fell to his feet at stop-ball contests and often the contact from the opposition looked to be pretty slight. Sometimes he sucked the umpire in and got a free, others he didn't, but I'd rather he focussed more on the contest itself than sneaking a free. I hate it when our opposition gets these kind of soft frees and therefore don't particularly like seeing Swans players play for them either.

***NMWBloods*** · 25 November 2003, 07:08 PM

Re: Re: Things I'd like players to work on inb pre-season

Originally posted by lizz
Don't totally agree with that. Not saying he can't improve in this area but he achieved much more consistency in 2003 and I don't reckon he's too bad. I know those two 3rd quarter misses against Port will be uppermost in many people's memories but overall I reckon he's an OK shot at goal.

I think he's a very good shot at goal from a set shot and he's also a pretty good position kick from a set kick. However, I've noticed in recent weeks of watching games that his kicks become a bit wayward when he's on the run. Certainly he's improved, but it's an area I'd like to see improve more.

The area where I'd particular like to see him improve is his feeds. He gets to a lot of contests and is never found wanting for courage in diving in to contest the ball, but all too often this results in a ball up. If he could work with Kirk and improve his handball skills from the bottom of the packs the benefit to the team would be huge.

Totally agree with this. Not sure exactly how he will specifically work on this in the off-season, but it's the main area of his game that needs improvement and the biggest area by far where he can add value to the team. Working with Kirk could certainly help, as he seems very adept at getting the ball out of those situations.

**chammond** · 25 November 2003, 07:45 PM

Jason Saddington: Defensive punching (and positioning and strengthening)

Bugger that . . . I want to see him go for the mark. I'm not interested in watching a quality footballer like Saddo muck around with spoiling and punching except as an absolute last resort.

From what I've seen, if he's going for his marks it's because he's confident and playing well. He's an attacking defender who likes to match his skills with a strong opponent (just like Roos, in fact). I say, more power to him!

**dimelb** · 25 November 2003, 07:49 PM

I'd like to add a couple:
RO'K - more time in the midfield; his disposals strike me as very good, cool under pressure, I'd like to see it used more to add to his contribution down forward.
Nick D - tackling. This is an area the team seems to be good at as a whole, I'd like to see Nick catch the bug.
LRT - picking up targets for delivery, developing more confidence with his disposals.

**stellation** · 25 November 2003, 08:15 PM

Re: Things I'd like players to work on inb pre-season

Originally posted by NMWBloods

Nick Davis: Fitness (so he can get more time in midfield)

agree there, he is very quick and his stamina seemed to be improving towards the end of last season but I would love to see him get off to a flyer next season and spend a lot more time in the midfield.

***NMWBloods*** · 25 November 2003, 08:25 PM

Originally posted by chammond
Bugger that . . . I want to see him go for the mark. I'm not interested in watching a quality footballer like Saddo muck around with spoiling and punching except as an absolute last resort.

From what I've seen, if he's going for his marks it's because he's confident and playing well. He's an attacking defender who likes to match his skills with a strong opponent (just like Roos, in fact). I say, more power to him!

Seriously disagree with that. First option in defence is to prevent your opponent marking, which frequently involves spoiling. All good defensive players, including Roos and Dunkley, know that. Of course there is the occasion when marking is the right option, but it is important to recognise the difference.

**gloveski** · 25 November 2003, 08:44 PM

LRT - Disposal skills by foot and to move the ball on a bit quicker when he has taken a mark.

Saddington - Just to get him back on the field and taking strong marks again and to loose that hairdo

Micklejohn - If he could become the backup to Ball it would free up Goodes to play as a permanent mobile midfielder.

Fixter - Just to get over his injuries this guy is a forgotten player who if fit could be anything

n.Davis - To lift his intensity his 2nd half of the year wasn't to bad so it could be just that he missed last years pre season.

Matthews - If this guy wasn't subject to some awful skill errors at times he would be an utter champion

Crouch - Love the little fellar would just love to see him get more of it and use his pace.

James - Just to stand up and be the player every one hopes he can be and surely with what he has gone threw deserves to be

Ablett - To come of age and stamp some authority on games a real make or break year for him.

R.O'K - To step into the midfield and use them silky skills to hit Bazza and Co on the chest

Bazza - To take more contested marks.

Last years Draftees (Dempster and Co) - To play a handfull of games and hopefully one or more to play more than 10 games

Things I'd like players to work on inb pre-season

Things I'd like players to work on inb pre-season

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