Walls changes his Tune.

[ScottH]

All aboard!!

Ugly ducklings no more

Their season, when broken down into thirds, provides stark contrasts. In the first seven games the team averaged 79 points per game. There were four losses in that period. Over the next seven weeks the average score rose to 86 points per game. Here there were two losses. Over the past seven games the average score has jumped to 98 points and there has just been the one loss.

the average scores against have been 89, 78, 65.

A qn we have been asking all year -

What the team doesn't have is a small opportunist like West Coast's Phillip Matera and St Kilda's Stephen Milne, so the big worry in finals is who kicks the goals if Hall and O'Loughlin are held?

Can Schneider fill that role again like he did in 2003??

[SXP]

Re: Walls changes his Tune.

Originally posted by ScottH
Can Schneider fill that role again like he did in 2003??

What about O'Keefe or Davis? They can kick goals as well.

[Charlie]

O'Keefe and Davis are marking targets.

I don't think that it's too important, to be honest. St Kilda and West Coast benefit from having a very talented small forward - but Adelaide, Sydney and the Roos are all getting by quite well without one. It's not exactly a key position.

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Charlie
O'Keefe and Davis are marking targets.

I don't think that it's too important, to be honest. St Kilda and West Coast benefit from having a very talented small forward - but Adelaide, Sydney and the Roos are all getting by quite well without one. It's not exactly a key position.

And when the ball does hit the ground it is generally hard work for the defenders to get it out of there to a team mate successfully.

[SXP]

Originally posted by ScottH
And when the ball does hit the ground it is generally hard work for the defenders to get it out of there to a team mate successfully.

That's a comment I heard from Walls several times during his commentary about what the Swans are lacking. The crumbing forward, who'll be able to get a loose ball in the attacking 50 and kick a goal like Schneider did in 2003 very well. I'm not sure how much must Roos change their game plan to fit Schneids back into the forward line like that. It looks to me he's quite happy where he is or will that change in the finals?

[Jeffers1984]

As long as we can keep our forward pressure up then this shouldn't be a problem. Create the stoppage in the forward line and let our men do the work.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Charlie
O'Keefe and Davis are marking targets.

I don't think that it's too important, to be honest. St Kilda and West Coast benefit from having a very talented small forward - but Adelaide, Sydney and the Roos are all getting by quite well without one. It's not exactly a key position.

It's pretty useful when your marking targets aren't taking grabs or the kicks inside 50 aren't to the right position.

The 'Roos have Harvey and Grant.

Adelaide don't really have anyone, although they do get more from their midfield.

We are pretty reliant on Hall - not just to kick goals but to 'set the tone' for the forward line.

When he has kicked less than 3 goals, we are far less potent. He's done that 8 times this year. We've lost on 5 of those occasions (ie: 3-5 record) and on those other three occasions (when we won) O'Loughlin has kicked 11 goals.

When he has kicked 3 goals, we are 3-2. In two of those wins Davis kicked 9 goals.

When has has kicked 4 or more goals, we are 8-0.

So we need Hall to fire and if he is held to 3 goals or less, we need someone else to stand up.

[liz]

Even in 2003 Schneider never played the same role that Milne does. He tended to hang around Hall, often on the 50 arc and crumb from there. It worked well because Schneider himself can kick goals from a fair way out.

We do have a player, though, who can pick the ball off the ground when it spills off packs and either kick himself or set up other players for goals. He just happens to be 190cm tall and can take a fine contested mark as well.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by liz
We do have a player, though, who can pick the ball off the ground when it spills off packs and either kick himself or set up other players for goals. He just happens to be 190cm tall and can take a fine contested mark as well.

Yep, hence my comment in another thread about his importance to the team...

[Refried Noodle]

Coined by Walls
Statistically it means the Swans are a seven-goal better side now, than they were at the beginning of the season. Why? Because in simple terms they are kicking three more goals a game and having four less per game scored against them.

Always thinking this man.....

[Sid]

Although we dont have a crumber, i think o'keefe, davis and o'loughlin are good crumbers for their height. I dunno about you guys but when i see mickey near a grounded ball, i feel very confident that he'll make something out of it.

Buchanan also comes to the forward line quite often and is a good crumber, but unfortunately his kicking for goal isnt always that flash.

[big bear]

Who gives a toss what Walls thinks. He is a tosser. Rubbished us unmercifully and now joins the bandwagon. Forget his comments now as I forgot his previous efforts. Worst so called expert going around. Ignore him.

[Vivien]

Originally posted by big bear
Who gives a toss what Walls thinks. He is a tosser. Rubbished us unmercifully and now joins the bandwagon. Forget his comments now as I forgot his previous efforts. Worst so called expert going around. Ignore him.

His criticisms were merited at the time. I completely agreed with his comments after the Saints game. The fact that he is now giving the Swan's their due indicates to me that he is a pretty fair sort of guy. And in the past he has made no secret of the fact that he is an admirer of Leo Barry's game. One of my faveourite commentators.

[big bear]

Originally posted by Vivien
His criticisms were merited at the time. I completely agreed with his comments after the Saints game. The fact that he is now giving the Swan's their due indicates to me that he is a pretty fair sort of guy. And in the past he has made no secret of the fact that he is an admirer of Leo Barry's game. One of my faveourite commentators.

To each his or her own. I can't stand the bloke but don't suppose he lies awake at night worrying about that. Hope he is not on duty at GF telecast.