it's time to go...... PAUL BEVAN

[bodgie]

It was so depressing to see Bevan try that rugby sidestep and fail so spectacularly only a week or two after one of the assistant coaches praised his newfound confidence in such hidden skills. He is really ordinary, just barely copes. Just holding someone else back.

[doctor swan]

after 3 weeks of non bevan bashing , it seems against a good team in a high pressure game he doesnt cut it. leo for bevan end of story. and i thought luke brennan was quite solid tonight.

[Mr_Juicy]

Brennan has a lot more upside to his game than Bevan.

There is no doubt thought that Bevan will retain his spot.

Fair enough. His upside being? I don't know whether Bevan will hold his spot for next week to be honest. Previous selections suggest he will, but I'm just thinking there may be a change for next week.

On second thoughts, no he will probably get Davis.

[Ludwig]

It should be worth noting that the natural looking matchup on Jarrad Brennan was Richards, or even our Brennan. But by putting Bevan on Brennan, that freed up the Ted and Luke to help out on Brown, and they both both plenty of possessions. So Bevan kept his man quiet for most of the game, allowing other more favourable matchups to our defence.

In fairness to Bevan, how many times have Melcho and NOG, not to mention Demptser, been tackled trying to run the line? We do tend to find fault with him on every possible occasion. And he probably has been told to take more chances, and he probably knows that he needs to add a positive and offensive aspect to his game if he is to hold his place long term.

[Robbo]

It's all good and well to play blinders against tanking sides like Richmond but when the heat is on, like it was tonight, Bevo cocked it up.

[Melbournehammer]

bevan getting tackled in the open highlighted his weakness (and that of LRT) - he struggles when he has time because he is not instictive - and thats why opposition teams give them both space to receive the ball.

but he is actually a pretty reasonable defender

[swan_song]

I would like to know who at the swans thinks he has something to offer.

too night he gave brennan a free kick in the goal square when the ball was 80m away. Turned the ball from a free kick which led to a Brisbane goal (expensive as it turns out)

I know we shouldn't blam anybody for a loss but there is 12 points brisbane shoudn't have got. 12 points which may costs the team a chance at top 4.

IMO Bevan brings little to the side. He will never win sydney a game with brilance but he has show this season he can certainly lose one for us.

Trade him to anybody who will have him. A Schooner and pie should be about the going rate.

With spelling and grammar like that, I reckon you must have gone to my old school....

[Triple B]

Take no notice of him CRV05, it's only the important words like 'schooner' that you must get right, isn't it?

[gloveski]

Not a big bevan fan but he is doing enough to hold his spot as he can play on a tall or small.

Brennan not so sure about he got plenty of the ball because Brisbane left him alone because of the chance he would cough it up. Takes an enternity to get rid off it...........but is a nice mark and reads the play well, he needs to become a Dunkley and kick as a last resort if they are going to play him in defence thought they could have thrown him forward last night as we seemed to be lacking another marking forward.

[goswannie14]

It's all good and well to play blinders against tanking sides like Richmond but when the heat is on, like it was tonight, Bevo cocked it up.

He played very well against St Kilda, and they are hardly a tanking side.

Take no notice of him CRV05, it's only the important words like 'schooner' that you must get right, isn't it?

Why do you need to learn how to spell a type of sailing vessel?

[giant]

I couldn't believe they kept passing to Bevan when we chewing up time there at the end. He simply has no idea what to do with the ball in those circumstances. Has his uses but he drove me to distraction last night.

[Lucky Knickers]

I'm not sure subbing Bevan for Cheese makes sense. We need a defensive stopper to play on the small forward ( - lamenting Crouch's injury now. Bevan has done an ok job recently and I thought he wasn't terrible on Brennan - shame he laired a bit as he was made to look silly a couple of times.
Cheese for Brennan or Richards would be better iMO. I must say Richards played very well in the 1st half I thought, he looked very cool under pressure and used the ball well when it got hairy in our D50.

[liz]

I'm not sure subbing Bevan for Cheese makes sense. We need a defensive stopper to play on the small forward ( - lamenting Crouch's injury now. Bevan has done an ok job recently and I thought he wasn't terrible on Brennan - shame he laired a bit as he was made to look silly a couple of times.
Cheese for Brennan or Richards would be better iMO. I must say Richards played very well in the 1st half I thought, he looked very cool under pressure and used the ball well when it got hairy in our D50.

I don't think Barlow for any of those guys makes any sense - not at the moment.

Barlow had a super debut but, as often happens with guys early in their career, he was given the freedom to run where he wanted without having to worry too much about an opponent. Bevan and Schneider both were given that freedom early in their careers too.

Brennan, Bevan and Richards were all given important defensive roles which they all did pretty commendably. Maybe next season Barlow will graduate to similar roles and if he equips himself with the same aplomb as he did yesterday, we'll all be very happy. But talk of him replacing any of those players in the immediate term is folly.

[Lucky Knickers]

I don't think Barlow for any of those guys makes any sense - not at the moment.

And I do agree Liz, was attempting (not so well) to point out that Barlow and Bevo are very different players so why switch. I actually think Ted had an exceptional game last night - I didn't mind Brennan's either although thought a couple of his mental lapses were due to the whack he copped.

[liz]

I didn't mind Brennan's either although thought a couple of his mental lapses were due to the whack he copped.

I quite liked Brennan's game also. He looked confident early and was pretty good after half-time. As you say, it was just around the time he got the knock that he looked shaky.

I've been a bit agnostic on Brennan up to now, even in the short term. But yesterday's performance brought me round to the idea that he's definitely a keeper for next season at least.

I just don't know how they're going to fit all these rookies onto the senior list. Brennan, Barlow and Jack being promoted would mean 6 players have to retire or be delisted, or they have to nominate one or both of Barry and Magic as an outside veteran.