Now BEVAN is the real liability

[reigning premier]

Against the WCE he played alright.... Not great, not even especially good. But was OK. If he hadn't given away that stupid free kick for charging in on the player on the ground, he might have risen to "good" rating...

No doubt, it's probably his best game for us all year. Not that thats such a big statement.

In any case, Let's hope he does what McVeigh has done over the last few games and run into some form.

Hopefully we'll be talking about what a "great" game Bevan had on the weekend in the not to distant future...

[connolly]

Get your facts right, he didn't win the rising star, he was nominated for one game. IIRC Goodesy is the only Swan who won the award. 22 players are nominated each year. They are not the winner of the award, they are just nominees. Bevan was nominated once, he did not win the NAB Rising Star award.

Here is the list of actual winners

Apologies I should have said nomination. But you have ignored the other accolade he recieved in 2004. The APLA (peer review) placed him second to Aaron Davey (above Rivers). He was not just a oncer nominee. If we are going to discuss a player at least acknowledge all his achievements. Why the need to minimise what he has achieved? To call him a "hack", "clown" and some of the other stuff might be ok for a laugh but hardly represents a balanced assessment of a young player.

[connolly]

Current players who were/are better than Bevan at ~50 game mark:

- Schneider
- Buchanan
- Malceski
- C Bolton
- Kennelly
- O'Keefe
- LRT
- Schmidt

Theres a few there that are marginal. If you mean 50 senior games the comparison is a bit skewed as Bevo was promoted straight from the rookie list. I love LRT but he and Bevo have run neck and neck and Schmidt is doubtful. Schnieds had a similar career trajectory - great first year, flat second and some up and down form since. Bolts, Eski, Ryano and the Irishman are first rank players and there is no argument there. Dempster is the interesting comparison though.

[connolly]

Not a good comparison becuase the Swans don't play their first year players too often - not through lack of skill, but mainly lack of size / physical development. Bevan isn't a shade on some of the youngsters who have come through in recent years.

That is true in a few cases but maybe Bevo because he was elevated straight off the rookie list into the ones has been developing in the full glare of playing in a top team. Some of the clangers which young players make in the two's as they develop are out of sight and out of mind. Bevo has developed largely under the somewhat cruel gaze of some very critical commentators.

[ernie koala]

His career is like his footy......"Arse About and all over the shop"
Bevo looked good in his first year, chased & tackled really well. Even used the ball OK. At present, he looks slow, lost, lacks awareness and gives away too many frees. Hopefully it's all upwards from here on the 'Von Bevo express'

[dendol]

As rhe actress said to the bishop "I thought we were talking length rather than quickness" old chap. Quite incredible how arguments slide on this site. The issue is about a long kicking game plan, where the ball is kicked regularly (and predictably) long into a forward contest. Of course moving the ball quickly into a forward line is an effective game plan.

I was refuting your "Quick entries generally lead to quick turnovers argument". Again, quick entries will benefit the attacking team, who need to kick it long and move the ball fast to get it in there quickly in the first place as modern midfields work so hard up and down the ground to help our their defense.

The sackings of the dinosaur coaches advocating the long kick gameplan this last couple of weeks indicates how sucessful that has been.

To say all the sackings of this week can be attributed to the archaic game plans is ludicrous. Pagan has a shocking list, and an administration which has been lost and unstable for many years. He has tried many things, but his team doesnt have the skill to execute a short possession game, and recently tried again to play attacking footy, but failed that too; Sheedy was at the helm for 27 years and you dont last that long unless you can adapt and improve; Daniher has had a terrible run with injuries this year (and too many chances to rectify the consistent up and down years); whilst Connolly is probably the victim of his team overachieving last year and underachieving this year. Looking closely at their lineup, they have a slow midfield that can't match it with the best, and a depth that falls away quickly after Bell, Haselby and Headland.

Factor in the success of the Kangaroos and Collingwood this year who moved the ball faster and longer than most other teams - and conversely the average seasons of Sydney and Adelaide - and you have a fair argument for the revival of a long game plan focussed on trying to break the shackles of the teams that try to lock them down.

Its not surprising that the best team in the land so far is Geelong, who can grind it out against teams like Sydney and Adelaide, yet break free and seemingly score 20+ goals a game at will.

[connolly]

I was refuting your "Quick entries generally lead to quick turnovers argument". Again, quick entries will benefit the attacking team, who need to kick it long and move the ball fast to get it in there quickly in the first place as modern midfields work so hard up and down the ground to help our their defense.

To say all the sackings of this week can be attributed to the archaic game plans is ludicrous. Pagan has a shocking list, and an administration which has been lost and unstable for many years. He has tried many things, but his team doesnt have the skill to execute a short possession game, and recently tried again to play attacking footy, but failed that too; Sheedy was at the helm for 27 years and you dont last that long unless you can adapt and improve; Daniher has had a terrible run with injuries this year (and too many chances to rectify the consistent up and down years); whilst Connolly is probably the victim of his team overachieving last year and underachieving this year. Looking closely at their lineup, they have a slow midfield that can't match it with the best, and a depth that falls away quickly after Bell, Haselby and Headland.

Factor in the success of the Kangaroos and Collingwood this year who moved the ball faster and longer than most other teams - and conversely the average seasons of Sydney and Adelaide - and you have a fair argument for the revival of a long game plan focussed on trying to break the shackles of the teams that try to lock them down.

Its not surprising that the best team in the land so far is Geelong, who can grind it out against teams like Sydney and Adelaide, yet break free and seemingly score 20+ goals a game at will.

Geelong is a good case in point. They are always vulnerable to a good counter attacking defense that runs and kicks precisely to leading forwards. They have some of the weakest and soft tackling forwards in the game. Johnstone and N Ablett in particular.There is a huge difference between a quick breaking defense attack and the mad bombers who hoist it 60 metres to a man on man contest. In regard to Sheedy, Pagan and Daniher not only had they run out of excuses but fatally couldn't keep up with the modern football gameplan. Sheedy got the chop deservedly (three years too late)because not only was he found wanting in regard to match ups, rotations and poor recruitment but he also headed up a reactionary bring back the bomb campaign. No doubt the AFL will give the clown some expensive sinecure where he will contine his campaign with his hugely over paid arse planted in an armchair criticizing all the good coaches that have owned him for last few years.

[Bleed Red Blood]

A few facts re. Bevo seems to have sparked an outbreak of pedantry. Given that you can only be a first year player once and then everything is past tense your point is obscure. If you are claiming that Bevo has deteriorated in skill that is nonsensical. He did lose form after an injury. He is regaining his form and is the natural replacement for Crouch taking the small forwards.

What point is obscure?
I said his form since 2004 has gotten worse.
I don't think even you could disagree with that.
Bevan will never be anywhere near as good as Crouch.
Injury is no excuse for how poorly he makes decisions, his lack of speed, dropping two crucial over head marks against the Eagles in the last quarter and many other definincies in his game.
The only good point in his game is his toughness. That is not enough.

[Zlatorog]

Bevan is too slow. Period.

[connolly]

What point is obscure?
I said his form since 2004 has gotten worse.
I don't think even you could disagree with that.
Bevan will never be anywhere near as good as Crouch.
Injury is no excuse for how poorly he makes decisions, his lack of speed, dropping two crucial over head marks against the Eagles in the last quarter and many other definincies in his game.
The only good point in his game is his toughness. That is not enough.

And how did his opponent/s go last week? Le Cras? Anyone remember his game? Second highest goal scorer for the Eagles didn't get a goal. 9 touches (only one mark) in a team that was swamping their attack. Towelled up comprehensively and Bevo did the job once again. Isn't keeping your opponent without a goal while your defense is under enormous pressure worth a comment? By the way Le Cras kicked three against the Doggies last night.

[WASwansFanatic]

Le Cras..... is crap. He is only there cos Sampi went walkabout.

Don't believe you will EVER find him winning a game for the Eagles, unlike some other small forwards in the league.

Sure he got three goals last night...but that was against second rate opposition.

[reigning premier]

Anyone watching tonights game want to recant their previous????

[doctor swan]

taken a few years to say this but good game by bevo

[dendol]

Anyone watching tonights game want to recant their previous????

i'll admit he was more than useful tonight. However, it takes more than 1 good game to erase some of the horror performances of the last 16 rounds, and he was playing against a craptacular richmond side so devoid of skill that you'd think our reserves side could give them a good run for their money.

McVeigh played well last week and had another shocker last night. Also, B1 wasn't even sighted against WestCoast, but manages to play well against Carlton and Richmond. Unless they can string together a few good games in a row and against decent opposition, the mob will continue to vent, no recanting will occur, and they will all still be hacks.

[sharp9]

I'll recant when I see bevo, macca or jude or benny have a good (or really good) game against a good team who are playing well on the night (day).
They are able to look the goods against Richmond etc. Four of our last five games are against teams near the top of the ladder or in really good form. So we'll see. UNTIL they deliver in those circumstances I still favour replacing them with more talented/skilled players.