Are We Right To Rip Into Paul Roos

[chammond]

I apologise if THIS LINK has already been posted, but it makes very interesting reading, particularly this bit about the aftermath of the Demetriou incident:

Worse, the Swans are also reeling from what one Melbourne-based source described as a "full-on" counter-attack from Demetriou, who was apparently riled by the weight of public criticism he received from Sydney officials.

According to the source, a Sydney director was summoned to AFL House in Melbourne, where he was told in no uncertain terms that they were all thin-skinned and had over-reacted massively, causing unnecessary embarrassment to the AFL boss.

and this on the Swans playing style:

Given they reached a preliminary final only two years ago, igniting their fan base as they went, it is odd the Swans now appear to be so unwilling to play with flair. However, as Roos' former assistant Steve Malaxos pointed out this week, it's not hard to decipher the difference between then and now . . . .

. . . . "We had an unbelievable accuracy rate in 2003. A lot of the shots were from tight angles, but (they) kept on nailing them," said Malaxos, who transferred to Fremantle after 2003.

"A lot of the other numbers, such as inside-50s, were suggesting we shouldn't have been where we were. We knew the conversion rate was winning us games. Internally, we felt at the time if ever it fell away we could have a problem or two."

[SWANSBEST]

Demetriou was an average footballer for North Melbourne and Hawthorn and is now a less than average Boss of the AFL. IMO Demetriou is totally out of his depth as Boss of the AFL.

[Tuesday]

I don't think we overreacted to the criticism at all. We gave it the attention that was required, and spoke up in our own defence both on and off the field.

I think AFL in NSW is still fragile -- hell, I am one of the people they have been trying so hard to convert! But what works in Melbourne does not necessarily work up here. You cannot remove the game from its original base, relocate it in a completely different environment and still expect it to remain exactly the same.

So, tear, Demetriou, for having someone stand up and take a swing right back at you!

[FootyontheBrain]

AD seems to be the one a bit thinned-skinned on this issue. He deserved ever bit of criticism he received for his comments. It's not his place to make such comments. He ought to be glad what the Swans have achieved in Sydney to date. Especially in the last two seasons. They've turned around a dire financial situation without the kind of assistance required by other teams.

This last line kind of brings home the issue as I see it.

"It's wrong to believe they will damage the game. They can't hurt it. I'm absolutely convinced of that. Why? Because they are not going to appear in preliminary finals playing that way."

So if we don't make the preliminary finals it will be because we played a negative, lock-down style of footy, but if we do it was because Roosy removed the shackles and let the players play.

BTW, did anyone notice Fev playing way up the ground much of the game from his forward positions. Why is it Pagan is not copping the same BS Roosy does, especially when the AFL spotlight of criticism shows so brightly in Melbourne?

[Guzzitza]

Originally posted by FootyontheBrain

BTW, did anyone notice Fev playing way up the ground much of the game from his forward positions. Why is it Pagan is not copping the same BS Roosy does, especially when the AFL spotlight of criticism shows so brightly in Melbourne?

he was playing out of the F50 as he was trying to stop Leo Barrys run out of half-back. That is good coaching, not something to be criticized, and not something to be mistaken with flooding.

[liz]

Originally posted by FootyontheBrain
AD seems to be the one a bit thinned-skinned on this issue. He deserved ever bit of criticism he received for his comments.

I think this is the crux of the matter.

IF Demetriou was entitled to make the comments he did, then surely he is opening himself up for rebuttal and/or criticism himself - ie if you can't take it, don't dish it out in the first place.

If he was out of line in making the comments he did, then again he is open to be criticised for doing so.

Either way he loses.

The AFL management is far far too thin-skinned overall. They fine anyone involved in a club left, right and centre if they dare criticise anything about the way the game is governed and administered, even if it is done in the heat of the moment at a post-match press conference that all coaches are required to give.

Yet they see no problem with criticising stuff themselves when it doesn't go their way - just look at the tantrums they threw over the investigations officer and tribunal over the case at the end of last year. Despite the fact that many in the game had been bemoaning the lack of consistency at the tribunal for years, it wasn't until Adrian and Andy were made to look silly that they acted.

I've not been following the game that long, but in my time there have been two AFL chiefs before the current one, both who seemed to be able to act with grace and dignity even in the face of unpopular decisions.

Demetriou has shown a distinct lack of grace and understanding of his role in the game. His comments that the bounce would stay for as long as he is in charge indicate that he thinks he is a dictatorial president with the right to determine what goes and what doesn't, not an overseer charged with co-ordinating a large number of interested parties whose collective opinions matter far more than his.

[NMWBloods]

AFL administration are a disgrace - wannabe dictators!

[Sean]

"Brett Kirk has become a really good tagger. Is it time for him to think about adding something to his game rather than accepting he's a one-way player? It doesn't mean he'd lose his ability to shut someone down"

Words of "wisdom" from Blighty. I'm really looking forward to reading comments from someone who actually watches us play.

[FootyontheBrain]

Originally posted by Guzzitza
he was playing out of the F50 as he was trying to stop Leo Barrys run out of half-back. That is good coaching, not something to be criticized, and not something to be mistaken with flooding.

So when Pagan instructs Fev to follow his man up the field (into his defensive 50 on a few occassions) this is good coaching and when Hall is taking marks on the wing, then Roos is destroying the game with his negating tactics. OK, I got it.

BTW, I thought Roos' policy was for the player not to be creative and run off the HB line. So what the hell was Barry doing up the field? Lord knows Roos would be quite upset with this type of creativity from his players.

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by Sean
Words of "wisdom" from Blighty. I'm really looking forward to reading comments from someone who actually watches us play.

Exactly. I mean the guy has averaged 12.9 disp in 2002, 15.7 in 2003 and then 19.7 in 2004. Maybe thats why he tied for third with Scott West in last years Brownlow?? And his average is up to 20.9 disp this year. But hey... dont let the facts get in the way

[Schneiderman]

Originally posted by Guzzitza
he was playing out of the F50 as he was trying to stop Leo Barrys run out of half-back. That is good coaching, not something to be criticized, and not something to be mistaken with flooding.

So as the undisputed Carlton FF, when he was seen more often down in the defensive half of the ground, including a (illegal) spoil on LRT and a loose ball get in the D50 its still not considered flooding. Riiight.

[liz]

That comment from Blight is yet another that proves how many of these so-called "experts" think they can comment without actually watching the football.

The stupid thing is that there is a modicum of reasonableness in some of this debate about Sydney's style - just a modicum. But so many people have jumped on the "bash-Sydney and Roos at any conceivable opportunity" that they have lost the plot.

Another criticism of the Swans' style in that article is that they try to keep possession at all costs. Probably its true - though ironically they have been kicking long and to contests this year (with mixed results) than in the previous two seasons. But pretty much every team plays this way nowadays. It is the cornerstone of a style that took the Power to three (?) minor premierships and one actual premiership. The Hawks - lauded for the exciting football played by their young team - have taken it to the nth degree this year. The only commentator who has widened his criticism of this approach to the broader competition (while singling out Hawthorn as the worst offender) is Sam Newman.

[barry]

Originally posted by Schneiderman
So as the undisputed Carlton FF, when he was seen more often down in the defensive half of the ground, including a (illegal) spoil on LRT and a loose ball get in the D50 its still not considered flooding. Riiight.

They were trying to get Whitnal one out in the forward line. The classic pagans paddock, which is called "flood" everywhere else.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by barry
They were trying to get Whitnal one out in the forward line. The classic pagans paddock, which is called "flood" everywhere else.

Wrong, it is called an unflood of the F50.

[footyhead]

No, we are not right. We should all repent and pray that god will forgive us and make us "right".