Paper Tigers?

[Go Swannies]

I watched last year's game tonight - the one we lost by a point to the Tigers. We played some very bad footy until the last quarter. But missed kicks on goal and dropping the ball characterised our game - even that far into the 2005 seaon.

Of course, the Tigers manned up and let us have no run. I can't remember a game that Tadhg did so little. But I wonder if we now have the game plan to break out of the Wallet vice. And how did they manage to apparently have every one of our forwards double tagged?

I really hope its a better game this weekend.

[dendol]

Kennelly will be up for another tough night. I think it was Wallace that specifically mentioned his name when talking about damaging half-back flankers (HUN Ben Johnson article yesterday).

[NMWBloods]

Re: Paper Tigers?

Originally posted by Go Swannies
But I wonder if we now have the game plan to break out of the Wallet vice.

How is our game plan different to last year?

[Go Swannies]

Re: Re: Paper Tigers?

Originally posted by NMWBloods
How is our game plan different to last year?

By the end of last year it took a team as good at the Cats (then) to completely stifle our run. But when we played the Tigers last, we got no run at all. I think the Swans players have matured and have the potential to find space more readily now. Last Tige's game (one of our ugliest of the season) we reacted to the Wallace bottle-up game plan for 3/4 and only broke out in the last - and nearly won until they slowed the tempo again.

The last time, the only Swan to have any run for most of the game was ROK. Williams was bottled and Tiger was invisible. I hope we won't let that happen again.

And last time both teams put up a fortress at the 50 m line. And the Tigers seemed to double team several of our forwards. This year the Swans have showed that if they are left unmanned they'll play chip and kick until their opponents return.

And finally, I think Roos is too clever to fall for it again. Though I suspect the holding back of Gaspar is a ruse to upset our matchups. He played well on Hall last time so expect him to be there if possible.

[S.U.D]

Re: Paper Tigers?

Originally posted by Go Swannies
I watched last year's game tonight - the one we lost by a point to the Tigers. We played some very bad footy until the last quarter. But missed kicks on goal and dropping the ball characterised our game - even that far into the 2005 seaon.

Of course, the Tigers manned up and let us have no run. I can't remember a game that Tadhg did so little. But I wonder if we now have the game plan to break out of the Wallet vice. And how did they manage to apparently have every one of our forwards double tagged?

I really hope its a better game this weekend.

From memory, it was that last qtr that really got us going for the year. I know many will look for the St. Kilda game as the turn around, but I think it was the last qtr of the Richmond game where we threw caution to the wind and got some real confidence that we could play that attacking style of game.

I remember saying at the time that I'm glad we lost by a point, as it meant that we took away the lesson we had to play like that a lot more in games to win then, rather than just doing so when we were too far behind.

For me, its the game that set the blueprint for other performance such as the Brisbane game at Telstra stadium and the prelim final performance.

[cruiser]

Re: Re: Paper Tigers?

Originally posted by S.U.D
From memory, it was that last qtr that really got us going for the year. I know many will look for the St. Kilda game as the turn around

I really do think that loss to St Kilda really woke the whole team up. They were ashamed of how bady they played. I spoke to John Longmire while boarding my plane back to Sydney and he knew how badly they had played. From that point on everthing changed.

Originally posted by S.U.D
For me, its the game that set the blueprint for other performance such as the Brisbane game at Telstra stadium and the prelim final performance.

It was after this game that I knew we had a team that could win the premiership.

[NMWBloods]

Re: Re: Re: Paper Tigers?

Originally posted by cruiser
I really do think that loss to St Kilda really woke the whole team up. They were ashamed of how bady they played. I spoke to John Longmire while boarding my plane back to Sydney and he knew how badly they had played. From that point on everthing changed.

How? We struggled to put away Carlton and Collingwood, and we put in a crap effort against Richmond and lost to a team that had just lost 4 in a row.

[elroy67]

Re: Re: Paper Tigers?

Originally posted by NMWBloods
How is our game plan different to last year?

I'm don't think the game plan has changed much, but I do think we have more options now to carry it out.

If any coach wants to concentrate on stifling Tadhg's run let them. They also have to contend with Schneider as an effective runner out of defence, and with SuperTed as full back Leo has more of an opportunity to go on his crazed forward forays.

B2 has also shown an ability to run through the middle and bob up as an attacking option so far this year, and if you include Goodes and the Eski, we have a fairly good group of attacking defenders.

Which leads me to think, why don't we make more use of the quick kick in after a behind?

[Claret]

Re: Re: Re: Paper Tigers?

Originally posted by elroy67
Which leads me to think, why don't we make more use of the quick kick in after a behind?

Because it's a new rule and we refuse to take advantage of new rules until other teams have shown us the pros and cons.

Frustrating as a supporter, yes. But having seen how many goals teams like the Bulldogs have conceded after 'quick' kick-ins perhaps Roosey has a point . . . . again.

Like it or not we are a team that relies heavily on structure and set-ups, whereas the Bulldogs rely more on instinct and flair. Works well for them against teams that cannot punish them on the counter but against teams like Adelaide . . . . . well the evidence speaks for itself.