Roos game positives and negatives

[liz]

Tempo definitely went down in second quarter but with that the concentration levels fell also. Delivery into the forward line was decidedly ordinary and some very gettable shots at goal were missed.

It seems that the team can only keep its concentration going for a short period of time unless there is pressure from the opposition.

Still, the positives far outweighed the negatives. The absolute dominance of our midfield in winning the ball in the first half was fantastic. Roos fans reckon their midfield to be their strength. Ever so gradually, our midfield has elevated itself from one of the most ordinary in the midfield to arguably one of the top 8 or so.

Love how Dempster and Vogels seem so composed out there. We're going to be relying on a couple of the kids right the way through to the GF and I'm not concerned that they'll be overawed by the finals pressure.

The forward line in the first quarter was outstanding. None of the Roos defenders seemed to have a clue how to play on their opponent. You often see one forward dominate in a quarter, but for all four of Hall, Magic, O, Keefe and Nicky D to be in absolute control was beautiful to watch.

The evenness of it all - it's pretty hard to pick the best players. Davis was a standout with the way he converted but after that everyone made a contribution.

[dimelb]

Originally posted by liz
Ever so gradually, our midfield has elevated itself from one of the most ordinary in the midfield to arguably one of the top 8 or so.

Such modesty! I would think we are in the top three, with only the Eagles and the Saints as our peers. Blue collar be blowed!
But I agree about the youngsters - Roos has done a great job of developing and blooding the new boys. If we have to rely on them for September I'll feel confident.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by liz


Still, the positives far outweighed the negatives. The absolute dominance of our midfield in winning the ball in the first half was fantastic. Roos fans reckon their midfield to be their strength. Ever so gradually, our midfield has elevated itself from one of the most ordinary in the midfield to arguably one of the top 8 or so.

I was thinking about this just a moment ago. The difference is in the depth. Last year, we might have had three or four guns (Jude, Kirk, Willo and on occasion Goodes) and then a massive gulf to the next tier.

Now, not only has Goodes regained his 2003 consistency (he's back to being a top 25 player in the competition, and should be AA in my opinion), but it's been complemented by the rise of Ablett and Buchanan, who have both closed the gulf considerably. This, of course, is all rather self-evident. Williams has dropped off, however this hasn't hurt too badly.

Crouch, Mathews, Fosdike and Schneider round out the current group, and are fairly good for second stringers (I'm sorry, but that is all that Crouch is at the moment). The quality, however, is in who doesn't make the side at the moment. McVeigh, Bevan, Malceski, Moore and hopefully at least one of Willoughby and Schmidt will be creating enormous pressure next year for those in the team, and it's not inconceivable that all could be worthy members of the top 22 next year. Throw in Davis and Kennelly drifting through, and it's beginning to look very, very deadly - not to mention quite young.

Williams will be able to gracefully pass 300 games and play a pinch hitting role - much like Robert Harvey. But Crouch, Mathews and Fosdike will have to watch their backs.

[Wil]

To me it looked like the gameplan is to get a big lead early and take it easy for the rest of the game to be able to rest everyone in the last quarter.

Its great to finally see Roos putting Davis back into the midfield. He can be the outside midfielder that we need. O'Keefe was critical in that first quarter. Jude seems to be better playing around the half-forward line. Our midfield structure is much better than it was at the beginning of the season with Ablett, Goode and Buchanan playing more critical roles.

Vogels played a good game. He seemed to be around all the rucks in the second half... is Roos playing him as a new Goodes? Vogels just needs to back himself a bit more in the forward 50.

Good to see Dempster backing himself a bit more as well. If all the "2nd/3rd tier" players go into the finals with lots of confidence and ready to step it up for the finals we should be ok.

When I saw Schneider singing the club song at the end of the game I got excited and realised how great it is to have him in the team again with confidence. We need players like him in the team.

[ScottH]

Dempster (and Vogels) put the ball over the head of the fwds a few times allowing them to mark from behind. Rather than struggle to get in front.

[j s]

Originally posted by ugg
Hope ROK isn't suspended.

The angles I saw were ambiguous - it was not clear exactly where the elbow made impact. What was clear however was the delay between "impact" and the head thrown back which will (hopefully) put a doubt in the minds of the video reviewers.

If offered one week though he will take it instantly.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by j s
If offered one week though he will take it instantly.

Not if he will still get a week if he contests it and loses!

[connolly]

Positive - Benny Mathews was a ball magnet. Although for many of his critics here that could be a negative. Nott so much blue collar stalwart as a blue singlet

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by jimmyconnolly
Positive - Benny Mathews was a ball magnet. Although for many of his critics here that could be a negative. Nott so much blue collar stalwart as a blue singlet

Negative, his poor decision making's returned. He hospital handballed to Monty, who got crunched and pinged and then handballed to an imobile Jolly in the final quarter. YUK.

Originally posted by Jeffers1984
-Dempster completely shutting down Wells. He did it in Canberra earlier in the year and didn't miss a beat today.

Not Dempster on that occasion although he did a great job on Fremantles wingman Black earlier on. Di anyone notice Dempster launch in the third quarter, he kicked from just behind the centre and the ball landed about 5 metres from the goal square and bounced in for a point. . . . and from sound it made and the way it flew he didn't achieve perfect contact. He's our biggest kick and unfortunately some of our forwards are running under some of his roosts.

Other Positives,
Nick kicked strait, in fact I shall forgive him all for a 4-5 goal output every week.
Schneider did well again and while our defence isn't the tallest; with Barry, Irish, B2, Dempster and Crouch down there as well they are probably the fastest going around.

[Go Swannies]

For the sake of complete information exchange, Ben spent a fair bit of one break with his shirt off. While trying to read Roos massive positional changes through my binoculars I noticed that Ben has a tat in the small of his back. Wild Ben - it ain't just Baz.

[connolly]

He probably earned that tag from his spontaneous uninhibited decision making. Apart from a few signature casualty ward hand offs mentioned here he had a strong game. Perhaps its good when we don't notice him much as his mistakes seem to define him with many swan supporters

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by Ruckman
handballed to an imobile Jolly in the final quarter. YUK.

Jolly is to blame for that!

[connolly]

Indeed altough I think Ben might have been immobile as well

[sharpie]

Am feeling a bit out of my comfort zone having to do both at once , but:

negative: wedding = missed the game

positives: MMM commentary is awesome, love it more and more each time I listen to them. Congrats to Luffy and the rest of them for a job well done this year. Can't wait to hear them go crazy calling the swannies on to victory in the GF!

Also a big mention to everyone on RWO for giving me a good insight into yesterday's game.

[liz]

Originally posted by jimmyconnolly
Positive - Benny Mathews was a ball magnet. Although for many of his critics here that could be a negative. Nott so much blue collar stalwart as a blue singlet

I've kept pretty much quiet on the Mathews debate this year.

But it is worth noting that, first half at least, his opponent was Shannon Grant, one of only two Roos who looked damaging. Other players seemed to rotate onto Grant in the second half, but he was definitely Benny's responsibility in the first.