Did we lose by only 1 point?

[ScottH]

Accuracy killed us, we need a good goal kicking coach.

We need a kicking coach.

[Eala ?ireann]

We were @@@@ poor all over the park. Terrible decision-maiking from Hall. Barry was brutal. Bolton J was rubbish (his namesake was an oasis of effort and application). Mc Veigh got totally caned, admittedly by a genius, but caned nontheless, so why was he persisted with for so much of the game? Kennelly did zip until late on.

Is it time we started taking the NAB a bit more seriously to get these players some game time before ROund 1 or what?

That was absolutely dire footy. Worsfold will be ropable that the didn't steamroll us, even with their seriously weakened side.

The only way is up...

[NMWBloods]

yet, it was only the first round and i have faith in roos and the team to work their way into operating as the tightly-functioning unit we have come to know over the past few years.

Yes, we probably will this year, but at some point we won't (whether this year or next). It's not a certainty that every year we will have a slow start and gradually gain momentum throughout the year.

[Go Swannies]

Yes, we probably will this year, but at some point we won't (whether this year or next). It's not a certainty that every year we will have a slow start and gradually gain momentum throughout the year.

It's not a certainty but I think the slow start has proven to make good sense. Think the Melbourne Cup - if your horse takes an early lead, you know it's doomed. If we win the next few winnable games, we'll be in much better shape in terms of points than we were last year when we threw a few very winnable games. If we go down to the Tigers, we have a problem.

[Damien]

I don't really care about slow starts, but this is one game, one year that it never should have happened.

So much more to play for than 4 points on Saturday night IMO. Also, let's not forget the massive psychological advantage West Coast now take from that game - beating us with 7 players out at our home ground the first game after beating us to the flag, they are likely to mince us in Perth.

I am sure the Swans will recover, get better and all is good, but unlike previous years, I will not forget that were not ready to exact a little bit of revenge for a heartbreaking GF loss. One of the more disappointing losses in the post 1996 era in my opinion.

[NMWBloods]

It's not a certainty but I think the slow start has proven to make good sense. Think the Melbourne Cup - if your horse takes an early lead, you know it's doomed.

I think this reasoning is specious. It's quite a different circumstance to the MC. Many grand finalists start well and they benefit from that. There is no real benefit to starting badly. You don't get any sort of rest by losing.

West Coast
2006 10-1
2005 15-1

Port Adelaide
2004 5-1

Brisbane
2004 6-2
2003 8-1-1
2002 6-1

Essendon
2001 8-1
2000 21-1

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

I still think we have several glaring weaknesses in the side. Leo Barry is a hb flanker/back pocket being played at full back. Not only is he not fast enough to stop a fast leading FF, he does not have the body strength to handle a big-framed opponent like Quentin Lynch. You could put Bolton there, as as seen against a tall strong ff like Matthew Richardson, his lack of height there can also hurt us. The only options I see are to put Richards down there. Or try Vogels there, which is somewhat iffy given his decided lack of pace.

Also too I still feel that we have no plan B when trying to counter a team who is flooding heavily. The way I see it, the way to beat the flood is not not fart-arse around the centre-line and half back looking for leads that will never come. We need players on half forward who can kick a long bomb over the flooded area, from outside the 50 if necessary. I see Davis and Malcevski as those players, even if I feel that Esky could possibly be played on the right HF flank where her can centre in on his natural left book as opposed to be pushed further out towards the boundary line.

I'd definitely look at bringing in Grundy for Vogels for starters. Any of the 2nd look as though they deserved coming up in place of our struggling fringe Senior players?

JF

[hammo]

I think this reasoning is specious. It's quite a different circumstance to the MC. Many grand finalists start well and they benefit from that. There is no real benefit to starting badly. You don't get any sort of rest by losing.

Yep, I agree.

4 point is 4 points whether it's round 1 or round 21. In the final wash up it can cost you a top 2 or 4 position which can just about end your premiership chances.

In the modern game, the training methods and fitness monitoring are so advanced that there is no excuse to not be up and running in round 1 and to stay up for 22 rounds plus finals.

West Coast have made 2 grand finals and basically been on top of the table round 1-22 in both years. Sydney prefer to do it the hard way. I know which path I would prefer.

[Zlatorog]

We need a kicking coach.

Sadly, we say this every year.

[Jeffers1984]

I miss Schauble

[Wazza]

As others have stated West Coast had so many quality players out, it really was an inept performance.

What Im looking for from the Swans this year is, our next generation coming through and how Roos manages the players through this period. No doubt we have to give a couple of Reserves a few games to see if they are going to make it.

The question for me is does Roos have the courage to make the tough decisions and drop players who are not performing -or will he rely on injuries to give these players a game?

Cheers

Waz

[The Big Cat]

Why Panic

Why panic. We're only a game out of the eight!

[NMWBloods]

Who panicked?

[Zlatorog]

Not panic, but extreme disappointment for loosing to undermanned team. Roos should have shown less respect for them (check previous media reports) and perhaps go for a proper belting of drug cheaters.

[DST]

The funny thing is, even though we lost on Saturday night I still think we are better prepared early this year than in previous years.

I had a chance to have a look at the game again today and there was positives such as our clearance work in close and the defence held up reasonably well despite the ease the ball was coming forward for West Coast on my occasions due to our turnovers (something we are usually good at limiting).

The stats show we got the ball inside 50 much more than West Coast but we just didn't bring the ball forward well at all which was due to our poor disposal and decision making. All things that can be worked on with the current team.

I would like to see some more pace in the side and this will come with Scheinder, Croach and maybe Laidlaw and DOK later in the year. LRT or a suitable replacement is also needed down back as we lack height with sides who go tall which is what Richmond will do this week.

DST