Syd v Coll

[liz]

Originally posted by DST

Rogers - how come this bloke didn't work out for Melbourne ? Very impressed, likes to back himself and really excelled when playing as a loose man in front of the FF. Has some much needed size and should get onto the list as soon as we have room.

He had at least his fair share of injuries during his two years on the Dees' list. It sounded like the Demons were planning on drafting him back to their rookie list this year - he was still training with them after he was delisted - but the Swans jumped in first.

Only real disappointments were... the form of Ablett. He looks like a footballer but just can't seem to find the ball. Fellow RWO's used to like to criticise Ben Matthews for his disposal, thing is that he has the knack of finding the pill with ease. Coaches can teach players to dispose the ball better but not how to instinctively find it, this is where I think Ablett is in trouble.

Maybe he would be of value as a "target" on a half-forward flank where he is delivered the ball rather than having to find it himself. He took a couple of very impressive contested marks around that part of the ground in the Brisbane final, and his kicking ability means he should be great at delivering the ball well into the forward 50.

I'd really love to see him "make it" but time does seem to be running out for him.

[Cheer Cheer]

Originally posted by robbieando
On whether he has gone backwards under Roos, well I don't think so, sure he isn't the same but, I put that down to his injury problems last season that cost him a season of football. Up until about Round 7 or 8 he was playing good, solid football week after week for the past 6 seasons, no one then questioned his ability or value to the side. However after coming back from injury it was claer something was wrong with him, but just as it seem he was getting back to some sort of good form,he does his knee and only plays once more.

I think anniswan has a point.
Under Eade I have heard from a very knowledgable "source" that he was the first one picked every week for the seniors and that he had a great rapport with Rocket and really worked hard for him.

Looks like from the outside that Saddington is struggling under Roos for reasons unknown to me - but as much as players have flourished under Roos like Goodes - players can just as easily go backwards under a different coach and that is what I think is happening to Saddo.

[Reggi]

You guys are getting way carried away with Saddington's poor form. Few have mentioned that Williams - who has probably never marked from behind in his AFL career also got caught out trying to mark from behind.

Other than Bolton, Goodes and Williams all of our players played mistake ridden games, Kirk and Crouch did some absolute shockers with handball yesterday.

C/wood lack of marks inside 50 is actually testimony to the games that Rogers and Saddington had. He was fair yesterday Saddington stayed at CHB, blocked up space.

There is some rather hysterical over-reracting going on here.

It was a *practice match* and just like Williams tried to take marks from behind (and Willo you got no hope) and Goodes kept kicking the ball to Buckley and playing on from marks - guys will do things they normally wouldn't do in the regular season.

He wasn't as bad as you guys are making out

[Destructive]

I'm glad to see we beat the Eddies. That should give us some confidence.

[liz]

Originally posted by Reggi
You guys are getting way carried away with Saddington's poor form. Few have mentioned that Williams - who has probably never marked from behind in his AFL career also got caught out trying to mark from behind.

Other than Bolton, Goodes and Williams all of our players played mistake ridden games, Kirk and Crouch did some absolute shockers with handball yesterday.

...

There is some rather hysterical over-reracting going on here.

...

He wasn't as bad as you guys are making out

The brain's cognitive limitations mean that people tend to seek (often without realising it) evidence that supports what they already believe. Thus if someone thinks Saddo is an ordinary player, they will notice and remember things that confirm this. His greatest fan, sitting next to them, will notice the things he does well.

The "truth" normally lies somewhere in between.

Since this is usually an unconcious process, the only real way to overcome it is to be aware of the tendency.

[Cheer Cheer]

Reggi - It looks like you weren't at the game - I'm sorry your comments warrant that call.

Your analogies are quite poor.

Williams wasn't "trying" to take marks from behind - he went for ONE and it was justified - he had the perfect sit and anyone would have gone for it.

Collingwoods lack of marks inside their forward 50 was a testiment to Tarrant and Rocca not playing and apart from Buckley poor use of the ball going forward by Collingwoods midfielder / half back line.

Calling our comments hysterical was not called for / justified.

Please read your own post again and hopefully you will realise how strange most of your comments are.

Lastly - picking out errant handballs by some of our midfielders who were trying to take risks and set up play like which made us creative and successful last year - Saddington can't even do the basics right! He is hopelessly out of form - can't do the basics right abd is not reading the play at all.

[Bleed Red Blood]

My two or three cents...

Rogers

Great game, looks to me like the club will have to retire someone to get him onto the senior list (cough* Warfe *cough), on his form yesterday he deserves it, however it was only a practise match, and I don't think we should get our hopes up, after one performance.

McVeigh

Played well I thought but then I couldnt tell whether it was him or Fossy at times, but yes he should be pushing for selection. Showed poise and wasn't afraid to take opponents on, had great stanima.

Saddington

I still believe he's in the best 22, however definetly not on the number 1 or two opposition forwards, played well when loose.

Fixter

played well until he did his hamstring, deserves to be in the 22 when fit.

McGlone

Didnt look all that flash from my vantage point, hoping he never has to take the kickins again.

Apparently Matthew Davis played.

Didnt see him if he was.

Last of all I HATE COLLINGWOOD, those supporters were horrible booing Nick Davis (does anyone boo Rocca? I dont think so), shouting out to Hall after he created the *riot* as one supporter pointed out to Mr. Hall, there just jealous.

[Reggi]

Originally posted by Cheer Cheer
Reggi - It looks like you weren't at the game - I'm sorry your comments warrant that call.

Your analogies are quite poor.

Williams wasn't "trying" to take marks from behind - he went for ONE and it was justified - he had the perfect sit and anyone would have gone for it.

Collingwoods lack of marks inside their forward 50 was a testiment to Tarrant and Rocca not playing and apart from Buckley poor use of the ball going forward by Collingwoods midfielder / half back line.

Calling our comments hysterical was not called for / justified.

Paul Williams is 176cm and can barely jump over a jam tin, he never has the 'the sit' and had no hope of taking a mark - Powell and Saddingtom did actually take marks from behind.

The other thing you all should have noticed - but clearly didn't was that C/wood avoided where Saddington and Rogers were playing like the plague directing the football wide and too the pockets (hence the 6/ 11 scoreline).

They would certainly have played through CHB if on the day they thought they could win through there Saddington was lining up on Fraser when he moved forward - and Fraser hardly had a good day on him.

Hysterical was justified because the responses weren't balanced or fair, just potting a player who had a fair day at the office.

Agree with Lizz's point, some of you have developed an hysteria about Saddington that he doesn't get a fair assessment.

Especially when there was so much poor handball by our midfield - for a lot of the game there was errant handball (special mentions Kirk and Crouch, honourable mention Fosdike), or unbelievably bad kicking for goal (Daniel Hunt take a bow).

Yet no mention of Saddington's goal saving mark (from smart positioning in front of goal) in the last qrtr when Collingwood were desparately trying to get a goal.

[robbieando]

Originally posted by Reggi
Paul Williams is 176cm and can barely jump over a jam tin, he never has the 'the sit' and had no hope of taking a mark - Powell and Saddingtom did actually take marks from behind.

On taking marks, sure Saddington marked a few on Saturday, but thats not what I'm talking about, my problem with him is picking the wrong option when deciding whether to mark or punch. He got caught out more the a few times on Saturday going for the mark and thus presenting the ball to Collingwood on a platter. This is not a new thing with Saddo, this has been noticeable for a while now. Surely as a key position defender you need to know when to punch and when to mark the ball. Also to compare him going for a mark to a Williams type player is laughable, different positons and different situations.

The other thing you all should have noticed - but clearly didn't was that C/wood avoided where Saddington and Rogers were playing like the plague directing the football wide and too the pockets (hence the 6/ 11 scoreline).

Hardly avoided the area Reggi, more like incapable of getting near there. I was with Collingwood fans all day and the one thing that stood out for me was their common abuse directed at the players kicking skills and the fact their were "chipping it" around.

Hysterical was justified because the responses weren't balanced or fair, just potting a player who had a fair day at the office.

He had a fair day, but nothing special nor something to write home about. From what I saw of Saddo, he let himself down mainly in his decision making and thats the second most important thing for a defender. I just think the guy is going to cop alot of flak as long as he keeps lining up at CHB, a position he clearly isn't suited to at a high level (against the Carey's and Brown's of this world).

Agree with Lizz's point, some of you have developed an hysteria about Saddington that he doesn't get a fair assessment.

So I take it your better positioned to give a fair and balenced assessment then???

Especially when there was so much poor handball by our midfield - for a lot of the game there was errant handball (special mentions Kirk and Crouch, honourable mention Fosdike), or unbelievably bad kicking for goal (Daniel Hunt take a bow).

Our midfield's skill level has been questionable at best for years, in fact for most of last season it was making mistakes, still we got away with them. On the kicking for goal, yes we were shocking but I feel the wind had alot to do with it, twice within 5 minutes Luke Ablett had a set shot at goal from just about the same position and each time he pushed it wide out on the full. The wind wasn't helping matters on that level.

Yet no mention of Saddington's goal saving mark (from smart positioning in front of goal) in the last qrtr when Collingwood were desparately trying to get a goal.

Ohhh he must be good, he took a mark

Seriously he was helped by Rogers keeping his man away from the area Saddo was attempting to mark in, good teamwork always helps.

[Cheer Cheer]

Robbie - For some reason Reggi can't accept that out of all our SENIOR players SADDINGTON is the worst performing player in our team and he shouldnt hold that tag because he is better than that

I hope saddo turns it around because i quite like watching him in full flight.

[undy]

Originally posted by Bleed Red Blood
My two or three cents...

....

Last of all I HATE COLLINGWOOD, those supporters were horrible booing Nick Davis (does anyone boo Rocca? I dont think so),...

err, guilty I'm afraid.

[DST]

Come on people give the boy a break will you.

He has just spent most of last year out with injuries and two practice games into this year we are pointing out things like poor disposal and judgement.

I will be the first one to come on here after round 8 and request the removal of Saddington from CHB if he is still has not found his feet, but for **** sake he is entitled to work his way into the season especially after the year he had last year.

Fact is, for the first 5 years since we drafted him and he walked into the side he has been one of our most consistent players. While he may never be a Fletcher or Leppa he has had to hold down a position that may not be his best suited and done it well enough that our defense continues to be ranked in the best 6 in the league.

Lizz sumed it up perfectly when she pointed out that people tend to look for things that are not there when they look close enough.

DST

[Snowy]

I think that Liz makes a valid observation and we are all guilty of that but some people have also formed a considered opinion regarding his contributions over the past couple of years. The way I see it the concerning thing is that he has gone backwards, not forwards and would not command a round one pick on the open market. That surely indicates that as a former round one pick he has dropped in value. I believe his kicking has been deteriorating for some time and cannot just be attributed to lack of match practice. He struggles against stronger bodied opponents and lacks pace.

I thought both sides struggled in a scrappy game and probably both lack quality depth. But then again who can match the Lions in this department?

Some of those returning gained touch fairly quickly for mine.

[liz]

Originally posted by DST


Lizz sumed it up perfectly when she pointed out that people tend to look for things that are not there when they look close enough.

Not actually quite what I meant. It's not that people look for things that aren't there - just that the "truth" is a devilishly elusive concept and we all tend to be subconsciously biased based on our beliefs and expectations. Unfortunately just a limitation of our cognitive abilities.

[chammond]

Originally posted by Snowy
I think that Liz makes a valid observation and we are all guilty of that but some people have also formed a considered opinion regarding his contributions over the past couple of years.

And plenty of us have the considered opinion that he is a good player who is copping unwarranted flak. It's fair enough to express a considered opinion about Saddo's punching from behind or his body-on-body abilities, but to make him the anti-christ because he lacks "brains" and his form is "shocking" is, as has been pointed out, "hysterical".

Saddington has been one of the first players picked every week for the past five or six seasons. When he was injured last season, on both occasions he was rushed back into the side as soon as possible. He has been given an extended contract, he's getting plenty of on-ground time in the pre-season, and has been anointed by Roos as the no. 1 choice for CHB. This doesn't leave any doubt about what the club's considered opinion of Saddo is.

The chances are he'll be at the heart of the Swans' defence for the next 5 or 6 years . . . . and then there'll still be some dickhead saying he's useless because he doesn't punch enough.