MOL

[Tuesday]

Perhaps Erin has multiple personalities?

[TheHood]

Originally posted by liz
I may be being a little harsh on the forward line.

The final quarter frustrated me enormously. We had the Dockers on the ropes and against a fragile, inexperienced defensive unit (who had done pretty well to that point, all things considered), we should have been good for at least another 5 or 6 goals.

If the team had just taken their collective feet off the pedal, that would be one thing, but our midfield was still absolutely dominant for the first half of that quarter.

Having said that, while the midfield was still winning most of the ball, the delivery forward left something to be desired. They stopped looking for leads and unmarked options and were just bombing it forward aimlessly. So maybe it was as much the midfield's fault. Watching on TV it is very hard to tell whether the ball was being bombed forward because the forwards weren't working hard enough or whether it was just that the midfield turned their brains off.

I'm not going to let the forward line completely off the hook though - there was some pretty lazy kicking for goal during that quarter after they'd been reasonably switched on in this department early in the game.

My feelings exactly.

I had this feeling at 3/4 time though that we'd take our foot off the pedal and painfully, I WAS RIGHT.

Think I have mentioned it before, wouldn't matter if we were playing the Werribee 2nds or the Lions at the Gabba, this Swans outfit aims only to win. Nothing aggressive about the margin whatsoever.

Humble goals maybe, but we should have had them by 10 to 12 goals.

The question remains, is our brand of footy such that we don't have the legs to take advantage of a situation as we had it going into the last? We only dig deep if there is a chance of losing?

To me, this means a team like the Saints who hasn't hit top form, maybe low of fuel right now but once they juice up, their motor will see them flog a side like ours come September.

I am still not convinced we're Top 4 material until we leave a team flat out lying on the canvas requiring an ambulance for transport home.

Sick of Points Decisions against "pub drunks". If I see a TKO, then I will change my tune!

[Sean]

Originally posted by TheHood
I am still not convinced we're Top 4 material until we leave a team flat out lying on the canvas requiring an ambulance for transport home.

Did we do that in 2003? Serious question - I can't actually remember but I'd say we had more big wins then.

In 2003 we were the best team in the AFL for 4th quarters - that has definitely changed.

It seemed to me that our attitude changed after MOL's injury in rd 22 2003. The game was won and he does his hammy. Maybe we could have made the GF if we'd taken it a bit easier in that 4th quarter. Since then we tend to just protect 3rd quarter leads.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it but it looks to be planned rather than just a case of the players taking their foot off the pedal.

[dread and might]

Clement has probably been the best matchup on MOL over the past few meetings, he must be one of the best at playing from behind and making up space on a lead.

I think Magic should start very deep and keep Clement as close to the goalsquare as possible. I also think we need a third tall in the F50 as much as possible as this may drag Fraser back.

Magic rocks.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Sean
Did we do that in 2003? Serious question - I can't actually remember but I'd say we had more big wins then.

4 wins of 50+ in 2003.
2004 = 2
2005 = 1