Speed or the lack thereof

[FootyontheBrain]

Are the rule changes having more of an effect on our team than originally thought. Two games in and Kirk is looking especially ordinary, Ablett doesn't appear to be progressing, Bolton seems to be a step behind.

Last year it seemed we weren't always first to the ball but our hardness often times won out. This year it seems the games pace has lifted making our hardness at the contest irrellevent as the ball is gone and there's no contest to get to.

[Schneiderman]

I cant agree that anything has changed from last year, except us. We are still a good 3-4 weeks behind in terms of preparation, and need to get up to speed fast. Our endurance seems ok, but the speed is definately not there (mentally or physically).

[giant]

We looked sooooo slow yesterday it was a total embarassment - & I don't think Port are considered speed monsters especially. A contest with the Dogs atm would be cancelled by the RSPCA.

[hammo]

Are Roosy's endless excuses about a limited preparation letting the players off too lightly?

I just don't buy this "we're 3-4 weeks behind schedule" nonsense.

The season starts in round 1. West Coast had the same preseason as Sydney and are 2-0.

We are playing russian roulette with form and injuries in the second half of the year if our diabolical form continues. A loss to Carlton should set off some very loud sound alarm bells and hopefully an inquest into what training we actually did in the preseason.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by giant
We looked sooooo slow yesterday it was a total embarassment

I find it amazing how slow we looked - both leg speed and decision making.

[liz]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I find it amazing how slow we looked - both leg speed and decision making.

I reckon leg speed is over rated. You need some players with zip, sure, but its the speed of the brain that matters more.

Good decisions, good disposal but also the courage to take risks at the right time can make any team look fluent and cohesive.

[Sanecow]

Even Thurstans had more speed than his opponent.

[timthefish]

Originally posted by liz
I reckon leg speed is over rated. You need some players with zip, sure, but its the speed of the brain that matters more.

Good decisions, good disposal but also the courage to take risks at the right time can make any team look fluent and cohesive.

i think you're right in that footy smarts are essential and that a team can afford to have one or maybe two players that aren't particularly fleet of foot but make the right decisions.

on the other hand, i think it is of critical importance that most of your team (particularly midfield) can at least keep pace with their opponents and you want one or two that have real zip. we don't currently have any real top-line pace in our team.

[swansrule100]

slow in all aspects

we would of struggled to beat the 1993 swans team if we could travel back in time to play them. We played like a wooden spoon contender!


I am confident i wont be watching a repeat of that rubbish again, its not time to panic and not time to make wholesale changes, but if we are going to lose at least go down fighting!

[TheHood]

I have a feeling that we're being beaten on a number of levels, some by our own doing, some by the umpire's and some by the rule changes.

I have a feeling that we have completely ignored the rule changes and stratgies that need to be implemented to cope with the Kick-In rule and for some crazy reason, we're kicking long and handballing STILL.

Possession is the name of the game now, fast chipping and uncontested marks till you are in a scoring position. Sydney better start playing above the shoulders, otherwise 2006 will be our anus horibilus.

The free kick count is partly to do with us not adapting to this hands off stuff that's going on and in my opinion, wrecking parts of the game that we all loved. We have to adapt, this is not the moment you jump on a bloke, get a breather and he takes his kick. The AFL has removed it from the landscape.

The last part is that we were very very selfish on the weekend, overusing the ball, making slow decisions about targets and getting caught with the ball or handballing under pressure to a man under MORE pressure.

To a man (including coach Roos), we need to accept blame for the poor game plan, the inept pressure on opponents and the clear lack of TEAMWORK.

[woo]

not only were we playing like the boys had been on the plonk the night before but the decision making skills were that of someone who had been on the plonk the night before VAGUE.... some of the handballs were DISGRACEFUL- real hospital passes....I had my head in my hands for minutes at a time at one stage in the second quarter and feared to look up again....I can't even name one player who stood out because it was ALL of them really.

The boys just dont look mentally or physically fit whatsoever....one more week of this and there will be swear words a plenty!

[giant]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Even Thurstans had more speed than his opponent.

Played great lines too. Blew us away back there.

[Big Al]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I find it amazing how slow we looked - both leg speed and decision making.

We always look that way when we are not playing like a committed unit. I'm used to this side hitting every contest at 100 miles an hour but this was sadly lacking yesterday.

[Legs Akimbo]

Originally posted by giant
Played great lines too. Blew us away back there.

He was certainly flying high at times.