Grumpy Old Men

[sharpie]

Geez, I get on here 2 hours after the final siren and it seems everyone wants to kill each other.

I know today was bad, but attacking each other isnt going to help anyone.

FWIW, my view about the game is that we lost it because we were hopeless at the ruck clearances. And when it really counted in the last 10 minutes, the Cats were magnificent at locking up the ball from each ball up. They did very well with limited opportunities. We were very wasteful in the 1st quarter and then it was very disappointing how we faded away in the last 10 mins of the 3rd quarter.

Until we get a killer instinct, we will never be a truely competitive side. The game was there for the taking in the 3rd quarter, and we didnt kick on with it.

[NMWBloods]

All good points.

The 'killer instinct' is one of the reasons why I was so frustrated with our scrappy wins against weak sides - we couldn't put them away when it counted. We were lucky they couldn't come back, but today they did. This was the main difference between this week and recent weeks.

The stoppages and clearances are a bit of an issue. It seemed to me a few weeks ago a strange game plan as we have never been good at clearing the ball. After a few wins I thought perhaps I was wrong, but against a better team that can get the ball out more effectively, it is actually a problem area unless we can get better at the stoppages.

[liz]

There was a pretty similar pattern in each quarter - the Swans controlled play for the first half of each and the Cats came back in the second half of each.

The clearances seemed to match whoever was in control at the time - probably they dictated who was in control at the time.

I think I was most disappointed with the use of the ball during those periods when we were in control. A couple of the misses at goal were poor, but Geelong kicked inaccurately with the wind as well, so it wasn't really the deciding factor. We just didn't create enough damaging delivery into the forward line when we had the chance.

[Nico]

We simply lack brilliance through the midfield to break a game apart.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Nico
We simply lack brilliance through the midfield to break a game apart.

Exactly - hence my complaints about J Bolton. Tries hard and is quite serviceable, but doesn't have that edge in class to break the game open. At least he was generally good today though, unlike the rest of the midfield, which continues to be a worry.

[swansrule100]

geelong are an awesome side... sadly it kills me to say this...they may just be better than us by a fair bit!!!!!

that gary ablett jnr ...he is awesome

[penga]

Originally posted by Nico
We simply lack brilliance through the midfield to break a game apart.

i also agree, where nic "fumbling" fosdike, can not hold on to the ball even when he is in the clear, let alone around the packs...

[Powerstuff]

Originally posted by swansrule100
geelong are an awesome side... sadly it kills me to say this...they may just be better than us by a fair bit!!!!!

that gary ablett jnr ...he is awesome

Geelong play some of the most switched on, attacking, exciting, never say die football in the AFL at the moment.
When they played my team (Port obviously) we played well but it was like a monster movie. Every time we killed them off they would rise up and attack us again. As you found out yesterday in a hard, exciting game. We squeaked in by 4 points. You were on the other side of the ledger.
I've been warning everyone about them since, their only issue is their interstate losses. God forbid they play us here in Adelaide in finals and become the 4th club in 4 years to knock us down!
And yes Garry Ablett jnr is a fantastic player and has been beautifully eased into the comp by Bomber Thompson.

[EMJ]

Cressa please come back to sydney as midfield coach - that is what Geelong beat us on.
Cressa you have had a year there - we have better weather and need your support of some of our players obviously.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by penga
i also agree, where nic "fumbling" fosdike, can not hold on to the ball even when he is in the clear, let alone around the packs...

How many players do we have to see stuggle when they are rushed back into the firsts after being injured?

Particularly at the expense of young guys who are doing really well in the two's?

SFosdike was really scratchy, and so was Schneider (for the 3rd game in a row)!

How are you going to get match fit by playing 10 minutes a quarter. give them 4 quarters in the ACTFL
AND
Give the some more kids a shot now, before we need to think about dropping people from the list!

[swansrule100]

geelong went through tough times and stuck with it to get to better times. The swans seem to be unwilling to do the same and never develop as well.

[Schneidergirl]

Originally posted by janpa
Cressa please come back to sydney as midfield coach - that is what Geelong beat us on.
Cressa you have had a year there - we have better weather and need your support of some of our players obviously.

No thank you.... its time to start booing Cressa j/j

[sharp9]

Originally posted by Nico
We simply lack brilliance through the midfield to break a game apart.

This is the beginning, the middle and the end. Well said, Nico.

[sharp9]

Geelong lacked brilliance too...they were a little better with the chances they got, plus they had a four goal advantage from the umpires.

Neither of us are anywhere near Brissy or Port at their best. (or Melbourne, come to think of it)

[swansrule100]

lol im glad u left stkilda out ..!!! :P


geelong appear to be on the right track though... we are still looking for the train station