Match thread: Swans v Collingwood.

[Roadrunner]

Not stressed about this season given everything. Need another six months to recover from last year.

Mate, we can’t live in the past- the team has to evolve all the time. Finishing top last year meant that we didn’t get early draft picks and finishing in the 8 over an extended period hasn’t helped in obtaining the perceived top talent. We have picked up a star or two and except for a few games (unfortunately including the GF) we’ve been playing well and been very enjoyable to watch. So let’s see how we go when we get our key movers back in the team!

[Blood Fever]

Fair call. Not averse to us coming good late with a full list.

[111431]

Grundy has been ok but he doesn’t take many contested marks. McLean can, but he drops quite a few- we simply don’t have enough talls taking marks. We can’t rely on Heeney as he’s playing on the ball a lot and with Amartey out we have no choice but to bring Logan back earlier than planned, as with Melican. Our inability to control the air exposes us to a lot of pressure. As you say, our obvious gaps have been evident for quite some time and unfortunately our recruiters have not been able to solve this. Francis and Hamling may be ok at VFL level but clearly are not in our best 23. Other clubs have been able to recruit better. As for our mids- give me a break! Who have we drafted that has shown enough to become a regular? Either injury prone or not good enough. I don’t want to whinge but missing out on a player like Serong was a no brainer- I know KB has admitted they made a mistake but that’s their main job! As far as I’m aware, the only youngster in our top 23 is Matty Roberts- Errol and Braeden are from our Academy and were obvious choices.

Look, injuries can happen to any team and it obviously showed us up against the Pies. I’m sorry but I blame our recruiters for our lack of squad depth. It needs to be addressed and I think we’ve been far too complacent- time for major changes now!

There were a couple of guys who go ok namely Warner and McInerny who weren’t bad midfield selections

[Roadrunner]

There were a couple of guys who go ok namely Warner and McInerny who weren’t bad midfield selections

Sure, they were great selections, which you would expect from 4-5 drafts. I should have said that KB and co were pretty good a while ago but dropped off the last couple of drafts, but give them credit for Bice and trading for Grundy and JJ. But they haven’t been able to pick a tall defender though they did pick Logan for our forward line, who has been good though not a star as yet. I guess I’m just a bit frustrated by our lack of prowess in the air and midfield clearances! When Millsey and Errol return the latter will improve enormously and it can’t come soon enough!

[Roadrunner]

It also annoys me no end seeing Darcy Cameron take mark after mark for the Pies and generally play so well! How could we let him go after just 1 game?? We do make some clangers every now and then, don’t we?