Swans v. Freo - Live Thread

[Snowy]

Bevan really only look composed when the game was basically over. His problematic decision-making (or maybe lack of footy nous), is a worry in the last line of defence. Moore possibly looked the most promising out of the inclusions even though Vogels had his moments.

[Thunder Shaker]

Originally posted by Leeroy
I sat with a bunch of Freo fans. They were just happy to be in touch for 3 terms - no wonder the team is so lame.

Think about this a little more deeply. The Dockers have not won at the SCG since 1996. The Dockers matched it with the reigning premiers for three quarters at the premiers' home ground. I would be happy too despite the loss.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Leeroy
I sat with a bunch of Freo fans. They were just happy to be in touch for 3 terms - no wonder the team is so lame.

I think you have that back to front. The team is so lame that it's no wonder the supporters have no confidence. I feel sorry for Freo supporters.

[cruiser]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
27 hit outs, 1 free against.

LOL.

When Sydney is playing well, it shows on the scoreboard with its coversion rate. Likewise, when we are in a slump, such as we are now, earlier this ear and earlier last year, our conversion rate is attrocious. Last nights game was so painful that it actually bordered on comical for the first 3 quarters. Adelaide will annihalate us if we play like that.

For me, MOL was clearly our BOG followed by Schneider and Davis. LRT's performance in ruck was a revelation.

I thought that Hall had one of his worse games for us and I wonder whether he is either ill or in love (same thing really). He missed two easy early goals and his confidence was shot after that. ROK is a a passenger who needs to be dropped. Our forwards need to focus on their accuracy again.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by cruiser
LOL.

When Sydney is playing well, it shows on the scoreboard with its coversion rate. Likewise, when we are in a slump, such as we are now, earlier this ear and earlier last year, our conversion rate is attrocious. Last nights game was so painful that it actually bordered on comical for the first 3 quarters. Adelaide will annihalate us if we play like that.

For me, MOL was clearly our BOG followed by Schneider and Davis. LRT's performance in ruck was a revelation.

I thought that Hall had one of his worse games for us and I wonder whether he is either ill or in love (same thing really). He missed two easy early goals and his confidence was shot after that. ROK is a a passenger who needs to be dropped. Our forwards need to focus on their accuracy again.

At the game, it was obvious that there was rarely less than 2 on Baz when the ball was coming in. But missing those kicks is inexcusable.

McVeigh should be up there with our BOG.

ROK walked past me on the way out, he had hooked his right thumb in his jumper so I think he's got a dud collarbone. We'll certainly miss a fully-firing ROK if he's out for a few weeks.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
McVeigh should be up there with our BOG.

In what way?

ROK walked past me on the way out, he had hooked his right thumb in his jumper so I think he's got a dud collarbone. We'll certainly miss a fully-firing ROK if he's out for a few weeks.

We miss a fully-firing ROK and he's been in for most of the season!

[cruiser]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
ROK walked past me on the way out, he had hooked his right thumb in his jumper so I think he's got a dud collarbone. We'll certainly miss a fully-firing ROK if he's out for a few weeks.

The way he's playing this year he'd be lucky not to get dropped.

[Go Swannies]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
In what way?

Most of his kicks were to good effect. And two goals/no behinds makes him our most effective go-to man. I remember when Nick Davis and Barry Hall used to have that sort of reliable accuracy.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Go Swannies
Most of his kicks were to good effect. And two goals/no behinds makes him our most effective go-to man. I remember when Nick Davis and Barry Hall used to have that sort of reliable accuracy.

His goals didn't come from being a "go-to man". His disposal was okay, but he didn't have a lot of the ball. He was beaten by Bell.

[gossipcom]

ROK injured himself in the first half because I remember Gibbs going out to check on him and constantly went out to him throughout the game until he came off for certain times.

[R-1]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Also, I think Roos will prefer to play him at CHB to bolster our undersized backline in most games.

Didn't Jason Ball play both in the ruck and at half-back? Nice if LRT could grow into a similar sort of role.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by R-1
Didn't Jason Ball play both in the ruck and at half-back?

No.

[robbieando]

Good to get a win despite playing yet more weak football for three quarters and letting a side like Fremantle get close to us though poor play, poor kicking at goal and allowing Fremantle to play the game on their terms for most of the early part of the game. Better sides are going to rip us apart if we keep playing into their hands like we have over the past month of football and with West Coast and Adelaide coming up in the next fortnight we might as well kiss a spot in the top four if we don't come away with at least one win.

On to the players last night and it was great to see Magic continue on with his form from the week before and take out the BOG and turn back the clock in what was clearly a Magic vintage performance of 98 and 99. Nick Davis and Adam Schneider were the next best two with 7 goals between them and plenty of possession as well. Moving LRT into the ruck was a master stroke and turn the balance of the game on its head and Kennelly was the best of the defence once again with his darting runs out of defence.

All in all not much to write home about until the final quarter, but when we turn ourselves on, we looked ready to send a message to the rest of the competition. Barry Hall is hurting by being forced to play so close to goal, thus having 2 or 3 men drop back on him when we kick the ball to him (plus rumors of injury don't help) and Ryan O'Keefe is nothing of the playing he was last year and in my opinion should be looking at time in Canberra if he form doesn't improve his form.

Of the players brought in Luke Vogels MUST keep his spot and so should Jarred Moore. Sean Dempster and Paul Bevan in truth are keeping their spots warm for the returns of Nick Malceski and Jared Crouch from injury. Once we get those two back then we have a full side to take on the final two months of football.

[SimonH]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
The team is so lame that it's no wonder the supporters have no confidence. I feel sorry for Freo supporters.

A team brimming with talent/potential that goes missing on a frighteningly regular basis when the heat is really on (with the exception of Pavlich and, usually, Bell); and when it does finally shock the pundits by having a big win away or against top opposition, fails to turn it into 2 or 3 wins in a row.

You can say 'the senior players have to take a hard look at themselves/ there's not enough on-field leadership/ the coach can't get the ball or kick it for them'; but at the end of the day, when a team's been underperforming this badly for this long, one guy has to take the rap.

Unfortunately, Connolly appears to have no idea whatever what's going on, judging by his assessment of the night's performance. Yes, you do, in theory, "learn a lot" by working hard to put yourselves in a winning position and then folding like a house of cards when it counts... but what more do you learn on the 10th time you do it?

Of the reported 3 quarter time messages, which sounds like a professional coach trying to motivate his team to win, and which sounds like the idle musings of an observer?

Roos: "Is anyone going to stand up and actually play for the Bloods?" (Source)
Connolly: "If we win this game we're on equal points with Sydney."

If there's a bookie running a market, I'd love to have a quiet few on Connolly being the next AFL coach to be sacked. Possibly before the end of the year.