Past Use by Date

[BigBadBarryNo1]

FOr crying out loud, don't be slack guys, LETS BACK OUR MAN!

We easily forget the fact that this is the guy who had a massive impact at the end of the main season last year.

MOL has been over-shadowed because of the dominance of Hally, Lockett in their prime, and his natural style even in the earlier stages of his career were a push/niggle-a-little, run for a lead-to-goal type player. A traditional FF indigenous goal sneak / snap / banana kicker.

MOL's role has changed and evolved as the game has. I remember when he used to slacken off in Eade's games, but certainly that hasn't been the case since Roos. He actually has the desperation in his eyes to win, and passion to play for the boys.

Although his run obviously isn't as fast as a lil 18-19 yo, since he's been back this year, I've seen him run all the way back, and make some decent runs in decent weeks, and at the very least, KEPT SPEED with his man on the weekend against the Dogs, which I haven't seen him do EVER.

Also, his tackling is massive and goal-assists in the past 2 years cannot be questioned. His height which is not often mentioned is the same as ROK's (I checked on the weekend and it is!), and just finds ways to mark without jumping up because of his knees.

Admittedly because of his traditional role as FF deep in pocket, his long kicking has never been tested as much as it has been in the past couple of years, (especially in the GF!!!) but the opposition should ignore him at their peril, as I'm pretty sure the man has got the Magic to produce on ground. We don't have a FF/HF with that kind of talent, and effectiveness as a replacement (YET..).

He's still got a 2-3 years left in those knees of his, and is a massive servant for us, and goes through those ice bucket baths for us week-in week-out just to put himself in the game.

I love him, and for crying out loud, we're SWANS fans here, and lets back this talented man!

[OldE]

Originally posted by BigBadBarryNo1
I love him, and for crying out loud, we're SWANS fans here, and lets back this talented man!

I barrack for a team, not a player. As soon as a player does enough to lose my respect, be it on or off field or both, I will not back him anymore. With O'Loughlin, it's both.

[BigBadBarryNo1]

Mate one off day in a congested forward line (Roos stacked it with 8 forwards - check our official page), and being closely checked with Eade of all people KNOWING that MOL is a dangerous forward..

[Go Swannies]

I think Magic just makes our structure work better. He and Hall have a great double act happening. Without the goal he conjures we would not have been playing in the Grand Final last year.

And I love seeing him produce the impossible, year after year. Right now he's the fittest I've seen him for years but his kicking is off. Expect it to come back - and then this thread will eat crow.

[Legs Akimbo]

Originally posted by Tuesday
Bollocks. We should support those who play Australian Football. That includes women. If you were to enforce your desired indigenous rule, then the gender rule should also be enforcable.

I cannot see parallels between affirmatively supporting aboriginal football and affirmatively supporting women's football at AFL level, without trivialising an important concept.

I think Sheedy has a strong and positive view on supporting aboriginal football in both word and deed. That is what I am referring to.

As for skills, is likely that actively targetting several of the best aboriginal players in the draft will have negaqtive results for the club? Really?

[shippo]

The guy's lacking confidence. Pure and simple. He deserves to be given the chance of to find it back, i reckon.

[Gary]

I agree...but is it an open cheque...forever?
I reiterate if he was as ineffective as that for several weeks in a row...the question becomes urgent.
His body is struggling, & will probably not get better.
I hope he finds something soon.

[shippo]

No, not forever.
Fairly negative vibe to this thread though. MOL's got plenty of tickets left

[giant]

Actually I watched a fair bit of Magic - not a great night for sure but the Doggie defender (Hargarve I think?) wore him like a glove & played an excellent game. Magic gave a contest all night & probably did set up a few goals (ROK's in the last qr in particular) - not his worst performance this year by any means.

[timthefish]

Rnd  Opp       Result          Kicks   Hbl     Disp    Marks   Goals 
8    Bulldogs  Win 116-90      2       4       6       1       0     	    
7    Richmond  Win 180-62      12      1       13      10      3     	    
6    Brisbane  Win 102-70      5       2       7       2       0     	    
5    Geelong   Win 107-85      13      4       17      7       1     	    
4    Melbourne Loss 92-97      2       1       3       1       1     	    
3    Carlton   Win 81-74       10      2       12      8       4     	    
2    Port      Loss 80-106     4       1       5       3       2     	    
1    Essendon  Loss 81-108     7       1       8       6       2

Well, I was happy to have him in rounds 5 and 7 at least. particularly in the match against geelong when he was tearing the ground up demonstrating more mobility than we'd seen in years. i doubt the pattern above is real, but if it is, we might just see a strong performance from his next match.

clearly his knees still need tighter management and there is no point playing him now only to miss his experience and skill at the end of the year. rest him this week and consider leaving him out of the long trips such as subiaco and aami. while we're winning (and winning well) we can afford to do this.

then roos should probably have a chat to him about his future after this year.

[timthefish]

Originally posted by giant
Actually I watched a fair bit of Magic - not a great night for sure but the Doggie defender (Hargarve I think?) wore him like a glove & played an excellent game. Magic gave a contest all night & probably did set up a few goals (ROK's in the last qr in particular) - not his worst performance this year by any means.

agree. i think magic was lacking the take-off to get away from him though. it's not an issue of touch, desire or even general fitness - but just those damn knees of his.

[Sanecow]

Just from memory, he was robbed by the umps at least once, brought the ball to ground for a crumber to kick a goal on another. When you play along side Hall, you don't need to kick a bag to be considered effective.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Just from memory, he was robbed by the umps at least once, brought the ball to ground for a crumber to kick a goal on another.

I agree, the umpires were allowing his opponent to get away with an awful lot against the Dogs, and his gem against the Cats was extremely good.

[liz]

Originally posted by Sanecow
Just from memory, he was robbed by the umps at least once, brought the ball to ground for a crumber to kick a goal on another. When you play along side Hall, you don't need to kick a bag to be considered effective.

Agree with that.

Also, the Swans' forward line was particularly crowded on Sat due to Roos' refusal to allow the Dogs a spare man in defence. As a unit the forward line operated very effectively, with some very impressive set plays from stoppages and accurate snaps from a number of different players. The sum of the whole is what matters, rather than the stats of individual players.

[NMWBloods]

Sometimes I think people overestimate MOL's importance in the forward line in certain games. There is often the comment that he takes a key defender - that's often not the case. He's been given a young, inexperienced defender a number of times. The whole forward line may be playing well as a unit, however we will see what MOL offers to it over the season.