Mr D

[GB85]

So where is the big bosses description of Richmonds play as ugly? Think he has learnt from last year? Discuss.

[Pommie Swannie]

Slag a Melbourne club??

[garethb83]

Didn't you listen to Robert Walls' commentary on Saturday. It was 'different' and 'enthralling', no mention of ugly play whatsoever.

Although Huddo did say he never wanted to see it again, it was nothing like what Sydney would have copped had we been the ones that did it.

Pathetic.

[rastus]

I noticed and commented a few times to my friends during our game against Richmond that they had EVERY ONE of their players within our 50 metre forward line arc. ie they had no forwards, no centre line and no half back flanks. I heard or read nothing from any commentator about this or about them flooding.

When Richmond played Adelaide they apparently did the same thing and the commentators have not stopped talking about it.

Figure?? I am getting sick of hearing about us flooding and other teams "zoning back".

[j0lly]

Originally posted by garethb83 Didn't you listen to Robert Walls' commentary on Saturday. It was 'different' and 'enthralling', no mention of ugly play whatsoever.

no comment

[barry]

There is no doubt in the world that we played ugly football when Andy D made his comment last year. We may not have been the only team, but we were well and truely top of the class in ugly-ness. Ball up after ball up is boring.

What does matter that other teams are now doing it. We improved during the 2nd half of last season, and sounds like we are not too ugly this season.

Andy D's comments did more good than harm to the swans IMO.

[goswannie14]

ABC radio were scathing of it. Although they did say that Sydney did this, they said that Sydney would never do it for the amount of time that Richmond did it for.

[NMWBloods]

Some of the differences between us and Richmond, are that (i) Richmond have so far done it only one game, not more the best part of a season and (ii) Richmond are a pretty weak side whereas the Swans had made finals.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Some of the differences between us and Richmond, are that (i) Richmond have so far done it only one game, not more the best part of a season and (ii) Richmond are a pretty weak side whereas the Swans had made finals.

We were learning and carrying on from 2004. And not very confident so going defensive rather than lose. With confidence came more skill and more attack.

This year I think we may be the best balanced team in the comp. We certainly have lots of attack (and not just a one dimensional one as the Crows seems to have) and we also can just stop opponents dead by man-on-man (unlike the Pies and Eagles).

[Old Royboy]

Wallace said that the tactic was to try and beak Adelaide's flood by denying them possession until they played man on man. He also said that Sydney were the experts at doing it.

Strange thing is that last week we went the other way - our backmen moved up into the forward line, manned up the flooders and made them accountable.

[Agent 86]

Originally posted by barry
Andy D's comments did more good than harm to the swans IMO.

I think that's a valid point. No one can really argue that we weren't playing poorly at the time.

I think what helps us even more is that Robert Walls just can't bring himself to tip us. I love it. He must HATE it when we win.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by Agent 86

I think what helps us even more is that Robert Walls just can't bring himself to tip us. I love it. He must HATE it when we win.

You've noticed that too - it's really funny and I look for it every week. You can bet he'll back the Hawks for an upset this weekend.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
We were learning and carrying on from 2004. And not very confident so going defensive rather than lose. With confidence came more skill and more attack.

This year I think we may be the best balanced team in the comp. We certainly have lots of attack (and not just a one dimensional one as the Crows seems to have) and we also can just stop opponents dead by man-on-man (unlike the Pies and Eagles).

I don't disagree, I'm just placing the comments into context.

[Pommie Swannie]

Originally posted by barry


Andy D's comments did more good than harm to the swans IMO.

I agree also. I guess it's a question of consistency IMO. If Richmond continue to employ the same tactics for the next 4 rounds, will MrD express a similar opinion?

(I was actually quite pleased when he made the comments last year - nothing galvanises team spirit like a siege mentality where the group develops an 'us against the world' mentality!)

[Bart]

Originally posted by barry
Ball up after ball up is boring.

107 hitouts in our match against the Dogs. Is that some kind of record ?