re upcoming games

[dendol]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
You could always look at the thread entitled "Bulldogs game". Or don't - and run on your preconceptions.

I had looked and posted. At the time of writing, there wasnt much discussion about the Doggies and already people getting ahead of themselves and talking up our chances against the Saints.

How do you guys think we'll go against the Pies on the blockbuster weekend. I think it will be a tough game. Also, the Brisbane game at the SCG will be one not to miss. After losing to Freo last week, I think we're a chance.

[Bart]

Originally posted by footyhead
Well I suppose it must be a pleasant life being addicted to a sport you don't understand the first thing about.

We're all just frustrated selectors whose knowledge of the game could be written on the back of a postage stamp. Therefore we really look to you for guidance. You clearly are the most respected contributor on the board. Everyone really values your opinion, and the boys swear by your motivational team talks.

[floppinab]

Re. the Dogs.

Sure we belted them last year but anybody remember 2002........ I thought not, a 69 point drubbing to follow on from the 21 point beating they gave us in 2001, both games at the SCG.
They'll be on a high after last weekend.

I honestly believe if we play at the same standard as last weekend against the Hawks the Dogs will beat us.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by dendol
I had looked and posted. At the time of writing, there wasnt much discussion about the Doggies and already people getting ahead of themselves and talking up our chances against the Saints.

How do you guys think we'll go against the Pies on the blockbuster weekend. I think it will be a tough game. Also, the Brisbane game at the SCG will be one not to miss. After losing to Freo last week, I think we're a chance.

You'd have to be mad to expect us to win against the Saints. But that's not to say that we don't have a chance. It's at home and, with this season's fumbles, let's hope for a fine day. It would certainly add to last year's reputation as giant killers. And, somewhere along the line you'd expect the Saints to lose so why not the SCG?

But, as you say, we have to get across the line against the Dogs first. It's good that their win was apparently a scrappy affair too. Let's hope that we profit more from their mistakes than they profit from ours.

The Pies? Buckley seems to be a week by week injury now so you'd hope he wasn't there - or Kirk could bottle him up. With the notable exception of last year's GF, the Pies seem to lift for the big occasion and the only AFL game for the weekend will be a very big occasion. On the good side, the Pies seem to have even less depth than us. But we are developing a bad win/loss record at Olympic Park. It will be good to give some of the kids the experience of a finals-style game. And if we can't beat the Pies this year we're in trouble.

The Lions? Depends if our maimed players recover faster than theirs. There's a good chance both might be back to near full strength and that'd make it a good game to watch.

If we come back to near full strength over the next month then we may go well in the second half of the season. Injuries have certainly levelled the comp this year so it could well be a sprint to the line. We are barely in touch with the leaders and can't afford to go further behind. There's a chance that we could win five of our next six games: Dogs, Saints, Port, Pies, Carlton, Adelaide. We seem to have lifted our intensity which is good. But unless we reduce our error rate all those wins aren't going to happen. I hope the Hawks win will throw the switch to team confidence. We seem to be more confident about kicking into the 50 knowing that Bazza or Magic will get it. We need to have the same faith to kick to contested possessions down the guts instead of chipping around on the sidelines to maintain possession, but without getting nearer the goal.

Has anyone before ever suggested we'll have to take it week by week and see how it goes?

Last year we were on a roll. We're certainly not this year - but neither are 14 other teams.

[dendol]

Hmm, I didnt expect a real response to my Pies and Lions question, but thanks for offering the input

Roos has said that he doesnt like it when we chip it around, so we can only hope that the Hawks win will give that shot of confidence to back themselves to kick it to a contest down the guts. I've really like the way that O'Keefe and Saddo have lead from the half-forward flanks to link up with our backmen. Also, Bazza leading from CHF almost guarantees a mark, so lets hope we see alot more of it.

[Rob-bloods]

There are few games remaining, where we can play just for a quarter or so, and win! Our conversion rate is slipping and we are kicking low scores. Hate to be a downer but on past 5 weeks we will be lucky to win 4 or 5 more from here. However, players coming back, competition for spots, who knows?

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by dendol

Roos has said that he doesnt like it when we chip it around, so we can only hope that the Hawks win will give that shot of confidence to back themselves to kick it to a contest down the guts. .

If Roos doesn't like the chipping game and we all hate it - and the players see how they lose possession (eventually) doing it, why the hell does it continue? I think it's really a confidence thing - that no-one wants to kick in to an opposition player or a contest we lose. Roos said it was because the opposition are manning up a lot more on us to stop our running game. But by chipping we just give them a chance to flood back. As you say Pebbles and Saddo and Bazza are doing okay in contested marks so just give it a try! And the ball will come into the middle of the 50 so our forwards will have a better chance of a major.

If (and it's a big if) Bazza and Magic kick straight this weekend we'll beat the Dogs (for the second time in seven meetings) as their kicking accuracy is, at best, fragile. Right now I think their midfield is playing better than ours so we're going to have to raise our tackling intensity. Last year we looked like half our training must have been in rugby tackling. This year we're the ones getting tackled as we try to clear the ball.

But I'd prefer a game won on turnovers not tackles. The dogs tend to be an undisciplined team so hopefully the game will be open and fast. Ignoring the win/lose ratio, I'm getting tired of watching grinding games instead of the fast flowing game that is AFL's real joy.

[dendol]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
But I'd prefer a game won on turnovers not tackles. The dogs tend to be an undisciplined team so hopefully the game will be open and fast. Ignoring the win/lose ratio, I'm getting tired of watching grinding games instead of the fast flowing game that is AFL's real joy.

Yep, Id have to agree there. Watching games at the dome and MCG this year, I'd love for us to be able to play the free-running exciting footy again. We saw a bit of this at the WCE game, so maybe its just that the SCG is smaller allows more congestion in the midfield and flooding. Someone here suggested ripping apart the SCG to extend the boundaries by a few metres. Lets do it!

[dread and might]

first quarter we didn't seem to have any trouble building handball chains. similarly for periods of the third Quarter. i think it is down to confidence and communication. i'd rather one of those chains break down than when we chip the ball to the opposition.

[The Boot]

Originally posted by Bart
We're all just frustrated selectors whose knowledge of the game could be written on the back of a postage stamp. Therefore we really look to you for guidance. You clearly are the most respected contributor on the board. Everyone really values your opinion, and the boys swear by your motivational team talks.

Perfectly put.
What a mental midget is the @@@@head.

[dazza]

RE UPCOMING GAMES

Hi Guys

I am not saying that we must not focus on the bulldogs but I think on the form of both teams we should win if we play to our potential

The Bulldogs game is extremely important but over the next few weeks all games are important and I was looking at our draw and our next few games are winnable ones

We have the Saints winnable Port in Adelaide which is winnable Carlton which is winnable Collingwood winnable and then we have I think Geelong and Fremantle all winnable games

I don't think that we should discount our season just yet but we need to get on a roll soon and win like 10 games in a row

The top 4 is not out of the equation

Regards Dazza

[dendol]

Re: RE UPCOMING GAMES

Originally posted by dazza
Hi Guys

I am not saying that we must not focus on the bulldogs but I think on the form of both teams we should win if we play to our potential

The Bulldogs game is extremely important but over the next few weeks all games are important and I was looking at our draw and our next few games are winnable ones

We have the Saints winnable Port in Adelaide which is winnable Carlton which is winnable Collingwood winnable and then we have I think Geelong and Fremantle all winnable games

I don't think that we should discount our season just yet but we need to get on a roll soon and win like 10 games in a row

The top 4 is not out of the equation

Regards Dazza

If you think the Saints are winnable, then, by default and logic, all other games are winnable. Therefore, we should win every game for the rest of the season and get top 4. Then we should be able to win all the finals and come out with our first premiership flag since 1933. Easy.

[Bart]

Re: Re: RE UPCOMING GAMES

Originally posted by dendol
If you think the Saints are winnable, then, by default and logic, all other games are winnable. Therefore, we should win every game for the rest of the season and get top 4. Then we should be able to win all the finals and come out with our first premiership flag since 1933. Easy.

aka Brisbane 2000. Sitting 4-5 they won every game right up to the GF.

[dendol]

Re: Re: Re: RE UPCOMING GAMES

Originally posted by Bart
aka Brisbane 2000. Sitting 4-5 they won every game right up to the GF.

but they didnt make the GF. If only we can say that our current crop of players can emulate Brisbane from 2000 onwards.

[NMWBloods]

I assume you mean Lions in 2001.