Why didn't they kick it to Nick?

[ROK Lobster]

Curious. I wonder if any other forward failed to register a kick or failed to apply defensive pressure with a solitary tackle, we would have a similar poll?

If someone liked them, perhaps.

[ROK Lobster]

On more than one occasion tonight, both Scott and I thought (and told Nicky boy) that you have to move and present to get the ball kicked to you - Standing still behind man mountains with your finger in the air as if asking if you may go to the toilet, gives you exactly that - The teacher (in this case Roos) will take you off and let you go for a leak.

He looked lethargic when in the forward line. There was little he did that would have warranted anyone kicking it to him - But he has a nice straight finger - He should take it out of his proverbial and get on with it.

Makes one wonder. As I was not at the game I have no idea of what went on that was not televised. There were a number of times his leads were ignored. Whether he was leading himself up poo creek (or into traffic) cannot be told from the TV coverage but it was clear that he was frustrated. It was also clear that he was not being used up the ground.

That he looked lethargic an uninterested is an interesting observation. Many thought he'd have been jumping out of his skin this week. He spoke of his enthusiasm for the club and for football during the week. Nick was set to fire - I wonder when the air came out of his tyres and who or what had the finger in the valve. It may have been that he came up short in training or pre-match and that his hamstring is not right and so was told to sit in the goal square. It may be that Roos thought the best place for him was in the goal square (for some tactical reason or other) and it never occured to him to change. It may be that Nick got the shirts about starting on the bench. It may be all 3 or something else completely. There is no doubt that we did not get anything like what we know we can from Nick last night, and I think that it is not unreasonable to ask why. The poll itself is a bit of a piss-take, but the underlying question is genuine. Why was he not used more? What was he doing up forward standing behind man-mountains? Why were so many leads ignored - surely they all weren't leading to nowhere? And if he is getting poops - is he being kept completely informed of what his role is in the forward line and are his team mates being informed of what Nick's role is? He is too good a player to be a fringe dweller in the goal square.

[Nico]

61% ground time, not played up the ground when we were getting slaughtered in the midfield. Either he was injured (maybe should not have played) or the coaching was off last night. On face value it was the latter.

[Frog]

I, perhaps, look at it from a different angle - He may still be injured, underdone or otherwise not quite right. He is a dangerous player, a goalsneak, pacey (when he wants to be) and can turn a game (if he wants to). I am sure that 15 of the 15 opposition teams we face each year are aware of that - They probably know more about one Nick Davis than you and I. They will put a class defender on him, every time, no question. Perhaps they will even fill the hole in front of him - in which case he will take two defenders - Paul Roos knows that as well.
Nick will take one or two defenders, same for MOL, which leaves the rest of the team free to continue their Hall-centric approach to kicking it into the forward line.
Last night, it was Hall in the forward line that continuously moved, walked, not ran, but got position, following the ball as it was further up the ground - Nick stood at the edge of the goal square. I may have missed some of Davo's leads, I had a game to watch, not just Nick Davis to watch. But I did watch some of him ... I do like the boy and what he can do, but he also frustrates the hell out of me.
This photo I took when, again, the ball was on the other side of the field, Hall walked towards the side of the ground where it was, albeit on the other side of the ground, Nick almost statuesque and that wasn't the only time we saw that. I am, perhaps, unfair to Nick, but you have to do the work to get the reward.

[BLT]

oh...i didn't even realise nick davis played last night...

hardly saw him at all...it is very rare that this happens but i was screaming at the tv for them to kick it to nick...ARGH what happened?

[NMWBloods]

Sydney have become the most predictable team in the comp. Hall-centric.

Who was it running into goal, about 35m out straight in front, and decided to try to pass to Hall (Ablett?).

[NMWBloods]

Curious. I wonder if any other forward failed to register a kick or failed to apply defensive pressure with a solitary tackle, we would have a similar poll?

It's a bit hard to get a kick I50 or to lay a tackle when the ball is never near you.

At times forwards don't get tackles, even despite being the centre of attention. Hall has only managed tackles in two games this year.

[NMWBloods]

61% ground time, not played up the ground when we were getting slaughtered in the midfield. Either he was injured (maybe should not have played) or the coaching was off last night. On face value it was the latter.

In addition, he didn't come onto the ground until we were already getting smashed. It was clear in the first quarter we were struggling badly, and Roos brings Davis on and puts him in the goal square, where he spends much of the night getting cold and not seeing the ball. At only one period I saw him on half back, which was at a centre bounce, but then he was taken off again shortly after.

[NMWBloods]

This photo I took when, again, the ball was on the other side of the field, Hall walked towards the side of the ground where it was, albeit on the other side of the ground, Nick almost statuesque and that wasn't the only time we saw that. I am, perhaps, unfair to Nick, but you have to do the work to get the reward.

But it's probably the first time I've seen that - it seemed as if Davis was given instructions to play in the goal square. A tough gig as our leads are all wide and to Hall or MOL. Leaves very little opportunity for someone playing at full forward.

[swansrule100]

why didnt he lead the side out for his 150th??

[bandwagon]

It's a bit hard to get a kick I50 or to lay a tackle when the ball is never near you.

I wonder if Leon Davis said this to Mick Malthouse after his kick-less GF? Anyway my point is he had a bad game (he certainly wasn't alone there), but the poll (yes, I know it's humorous) placed responsibility for this only with factors outside of his control.

At times forwards don't get tackles, even despite being the centre of attention. Hall has only managed tackles in two games this year.

True - but our forward line is crying out for someone to harry and tackle the rebounding backmen. Typically this is the small forward, eEven this round has seen some super examples, but not for the Swans.

[ROK Lobster]

True - but our forward line is crying out for someone to harry and tackle the rebounding backmen. Typically this is the small forward, eEven this round has seen some super examples, but not for the Swans.

But if your role is to create space by leading away from the contest, or if they just don't kick it anywhere near you, that's a very tough gig. There were not many times the ball was on the ground, or in opposition hands, anywhere near him.

[stellation]

This photo I took when, again, the ball was on the other side of the field, Hall walked towards the side of the ground where it was, albeit on the other side of the ground, Nick almost statuesque and that wasn't the only time we saw that. I am, perhaps, unfair to Nick, but you have to do the work to get the reward.

To me that picture and your description seems to be a lot like just one guy playing Full Forward and one guy playing Centre Half Forward.

[ScottH]

He needs to run to get the ball. It will not come to him.

[Frog]

...snip... I am, perhaps, unfair to Nick, but you have to do the work to get the reward.

To me that picture and your description seems to be a lot like just one guy playing Full Forward and one guy playing Centre Half Forward.

And being at Full Forward means you can just stand there and expect delivery of the ball? ... I said, I am perhaps unfair to Nick, I like him, I like him as a player, I think he is great, I'd love him to kick a bag each week, I'd love him to be on the ground 100% of the time - But he has to do something, create, walk, run, make space - Just because you are at full forward does not give you a ticket to kick all the goals. Unfair to Nick, because I am not Roos, I am not privvy to the instructions he was given. They were my observations, and I am not alone.