Swans v Tigers Match Thread

[Gary]

Can we at least agree it was not a convincing performance...that management seemed to make a mess of the Hall scenario...that Grundy suffers from a distinct lack of pace...that Benny was half decent...that Leo will send us all grey (if not already)...and that a resurgent Brisbane will be a real threat next week?

[Birdman]

Can't agree with that. He ain't quick and his penetration isn't great but he used the ball pretty solidly today and played as an effective link man in the centre. Best game he's played for possibly a season.

Not as important as his possession count suggests, but certainly handy today.

Would love to be able to know what is going on in that mans head when he has the footy in his hands. He seems to be so lost with it.
His skills are terrible. His decision making even worse.
By his standards, today was a good performance. He was able to be a free player to pick up soft touches and take the heat off others. But if I was an opposition supporter, its his hands I would want the footy in...

J.Bolton was very average, as was Jolly. Someone please get Doyle back, I dont care how fit... anyone is better than this nuff nuff.
It was said mid-week that with the Tigers ruck combo, our rucks should get the votes. Spida definitely got the 3... Jolly was way off.

[Doctor]

Spida was excellent today, and he seemed to drag a bit more out of Jolly. Malceski & C. Bolton were the other Swans standouts IMO. I must admit I was one of those who kept yelling at Mathews to hurry up and get rid of it every time he got the ball. He just seems to take an age to make a decision. Hall's injury musn't be too bad, but he was a bit unlucky that every time he took a mark he really got the knee tested out again by Gaspar.

Overall performance? We should have won by more but a little too much overuse of the footy and some skill errors cost us. I thought Richmond would fold though and they actually stuck at it pretty well so credit to them for that. Any time you get an away win in this competition you should be happy so that's my main feeling about the performance at the moment.

Thank goodness Richmond started playing a bit more positively than that dreadful flood they used in the first quarter though. I had visions of it being like thei game vs Adelaide last year for a while.

[Matt79]

Can we at least agree it was not a convincing performance...that management seemed to make a mess of the Hall scenario...

Hall is probably just as much to blame as the 'management' in this case. Doc would have assessed as there being no structual damage to the knee and then left the decision up to Hall on how he felt.

Players have to accept some responsibility in injury management as well.

Also, considering our good luck and management of injuries in the last 2 years, perhaps let's not be to critical to quickly.

[Sanecow]

It'd be stupid (but not unexpected) to see Grundy or Schmidt dropped back to the ACTAFL as "not fast enough" or "not quite there" but surely it takes a few weeks to get used to the higher pressure and faster pace of the big league! There are senior passengers who have had more than enough time to understand what's required but who still wander around in slo-mo.

[NMWBloods]

I thought it was a very ordinary performance.

Best: Everitt, Kennelly, C Bolton, Buchanan, Malceski.

Poor: J Bolton, Barry, Jolly, McVeigh

Mathews wasn't at his worst, but he's so slow to make decisions and his disposal is average at best.

Disappointing outings for Grundy and Schmidt.

Our midfield continues to have no idea how to read the ruckmen. Quiet games by Kirk, Ablett, Fosdike, O'Keefe.

Stupid to let Hall go back on. Haven't heard any prognosis, but MCL grade 2 tear is perhaps up to 4 weeks.

[Birdman]

[QUOTE=NMWBloods;297333Poor: McVeigh[/QUOTE]


How slow does he look with the ball? And he seems to have gotten softer in the off season

[hammo]

Hall is probably just as much to blame as the 'management' in this case. Doc would have assessed as there being no structual damage to the knee and then left the decision up to Hall on how he felt.

Players have to accept some responsibility in injury management as well.

Also, considering our good luck and management of injuries in the last 2 years, perhaps let's not be to critical to quickly.

In the post match interview Roos used the dreaded words "He showed great courage" More bloods code nonsense. It's one thing for Kirk to play on with blood spewing from his head in the 2005 PF, but at least he could still run unlike Hall today.

The fact was he offered us nothing when he was playing injured and was being towelled up by Gaspar of all players. Roos said he had done a medial, so you have to question the wisdom of playing on.

[Sanecow]

Best: Everitt, Kennelly, C Bolton, Buchanan, Malceski.

Agreed. Spida did everything from rushing a behind when the panic had set in to marking across HB and pushing forward. An almost perfect game around the ground.

Poor: J Bolton, Barry, Jolly, McVeigh

I give Jude a pass based on the mark late in the game. I'm a softy like that.

Disappointing outings for Grundy and Schmidt.

But not any worse than you'd expect IMO. Wouldn't surprise me to see one of them back in the reserves but I'd be disappointed.

Our midfield continues to have no idea how to read the ruckmen. Quiet games by Kirk, Ablett, Fosdike, O'Keefe.

In their defense, I think O'Keefe was tagged quite hard, Fosdike actually used his speed to good effect a couple of times, Ablett created stoppages on demand and Kirk went in hard when it was needed.

Stupid to let Hall go back on. Haven't heard any prognosis, but MCL grade 2 tear is perhaps up to 4 weeks.

I would have sent him straight to the rooms.

[hammo]

It'd be stupid (but not unexpected) to see Grundy or Schmidt dropped back to the ACTAFL as "not fast enough" or "not quite there" but surely it takes a few weeks to get used to the higher pressure and faster pace of the big league! There are senior passengers who have had more than enough time to understand what's required but who still wander around in slo-mo.

Except in Grundy's case his lack of foot speed has nothing to do with getting used to the big time, its just a lack of pace full stop. As a leading forward it needs to be a crucial part of his game.

[Sanecow]

As a leading forward it needs to be a crucial part of his game.

*cough*Plugger*cough*Richo*cough*

[Matt79]

Can't agree with that. He ain't quick and his penetration isn't great

At least there will be no births in the Matthew's family come September then!

[graystar]

At least there will be no births in the Matthew's family come September then!

Is that meant to be a good thing? Im hoping for triplets.

[hammo]

Was Mathews was playing a link / play making role across half back? I couldn't work out what was going on to be honest. Plenty of possessions but all uncontested and in the most ordinary disposal.

I don't understand why Roos wouldn't have someone with much better disposal playing that role. Jude Bolton, if his midfield days are coming to an end, would be a better option.

Regardless when Mathews touches the ball 24 time you know our kick efficiency isn't going to be great.

[NMWBloods]

Agreed. Spida did everything from rushing a behind when the panic had set in to marking across HB and pushing forward. An almost perfect game around the ground.

If he'd nailed that shot in the last quarter it would have been superb. Still probably B.O.G.

I give Jude a pass based on the mark late in the game. I'm a softy like that.

I was amazed that it was Bolton who took that mark - very timely. Only thing he did all day.

But not any worse than you'd expect IMO. Wouldn't surprise me to see one of them back in the reserves but I'd be disappointed.

Same. It's tough to step up and I'd like to see Schmidt in particular get more games.

In their defense, I think O'Keefe was tagged quite hard, Fosdike actually used his speed to good effect a couple of times, Ablett created stoppages on demand and Kirk went in hard when it was needed.

O'Keefe was tagged very well but that will happen more and more so he needs to learn to cope. Fosdike was very useful in patches but needed to do more.