Who's for the chopping block?

[BSA5]

I have no idea what Grundy, Bevan and Moore were doing in that side.

Er, what? Sure, he had a few clangers, but he also had a few great touches. He ran well, found a fair bit of the ball (15 touches), and looked dangerous.

I also didn't think Grundy was TOO bad (and I am a bit of a Grundy-basher). Unless White has a screamer in Canberra, Grundy should stay in for next week, so long as he spends most of his time forward.

I reckon Bevan will be dropped. Bolton is under pressure, but with Ablett injuring himself (I think, what's the latest on that?) I think he'll be OK. I reckon Barlow and Fosdike (if he's back from injury this week) to come in for Bevan and Ablett.

[2005]

Ed Barlow must play this weekend.
Luke Brennan also must be considered as well.

Hate saying this as Im a Jude Bolton fan , though he really needs to step up
and get back into 05/06 form. I can see why he has critics and when you are at the footy you can really see what players are up to.
Jude is so slow, and is getting in the wrong spots more than he should be.
He must be made an example of .
I rekon theres a chance he could be gone this week.
Roosy and the match committee need to show they wont tolerate below par
performances in an area where we get killed.

For me :
Ed Barlow to come in for Jude Bolton.
Luke Brennan to come in for Paul Bevan.
Craig Bird must keep playing.

[TheGrimReaper]

Eddie Barlow for Paul Bevan
Jessie White for Heath Grundy

[Industrial Fan]

Shame we have no room to chop Jolly out. He was a disgrace in the first quarter. Gave away 3 frees, and then created a contest in our D50 to give the Saints a goal. He was responsible for the early momentum.

Things only steadied when BLT went into the ruck.

[Triple B]

Shame we have no room to chop Jolly out. He was a disgrace in the first quarter. Gave away 3 frees, and then created a contest in our D50 to give the Saints a goal. He was responsible for the early momentum.

I thought Jolly toiled pretty hard under the circumstances. I know we force lots of stoppages and Saturday night was no exception, but I reckon there were more boundary throw ins then I've ever seen as well. Jolly was spent getting to all of them and did a good job.

FAR from our worst.

Agreed, 'Two Dads' did a good job as his backup, but Jolly did the bulk of the work and held his own well.

[Swanner]

Maybe to hard on McVeigh but still???

Perhaps it is too hard on McVeigh but to me he just doesn't have it. A ball was being contested on our half forward flank i could see it was McVeigh for the swans and i new before he went for it he would lose the contest which he duly did. Compare that to Kieran Jack in his third or fourth game of footy .. he contested the ball won it and we goaled ... McVeigh's disposal is not great .. and in my view his other major fault is he takes too long to make a decision ... he always seesm to get mown down before he disposes of the ball...

[Swanner]

i agree with the good doctor

Yep they probably should be added to the list ... but Micky "o" did have a good last game ie. the collwobbles final so i still have got some credits for him ... Ablett injured i think so he shouldn't be playing ...

I reckon Brennan for Bevan (then Malceski when his back)
Grundy stays until Spida's back
Fossie for McVeigh

Ofcourse if they are pciked they all have an oppurtunity to turn it around this weekend.

[Kanga]

Finally!!

On that basis, how would you not drop J Bolton and Ablett and O'Loughlin?

Yes drop O'Loughlin. For a key forward and supposed champion his contribution was very ordinary.

I think Jude Bolton must be skating on thin (and melting) ice.

[swansrule100]

bevan must go

barlow must play

[Triple B]

Perhaps it is too hard on McVeigh but to me he just doesn't have it.

It's just not you.

His kick 'to space' in front of Hall in the last quarter was just a terrible, terrible option. A few minutes later, very late in the game and it very much in the balance, Dal Santo had the ball on the wing, City side, with no options. McVeigh is 3 metres away but elected to follow 'his man' allowing Dal Santo to steady and deliver a pass to a leading forward (Riewoldt?) under no pressure at all. Again, just a terrible option given the circumstances, he absolutely unreservedly needed to pressure Dal Santo. If the ball goes over his head to his opponent, so be it.

Talking of terrible options, what was Leo Barry thinking when he left Kosi to run into goal when Tadhg had Milne well and truly bottled up against the boundary line. Tadhg played it brilliantly, coralled Milne to the sideline, didn't attempt to run in and take the risk of Milne stepping him, just more or less said to Milne 'If you kick it from there, good luck to you'.

[liz]

Talking of terrible options, what was Leo Barry thinking when he left Kosi to run into goal when Tadhg had Milne well and truly bottled up against the boundary line. Tadhg played it brilliantly, coralled Milne to the sideline, didn't attempt to run in and take the risk of Milne stepping him, just more or less said to Milne 'If you kick it from there, good luck to you'.

Not thinking, is my guess.

Agree it was a terrible decision by Barry. Every chance that Kosi would have marked over him anyway, given the height advantage, but at least if he'd been in the contest he'd have had a chance.

Also agree that it was very smart play by Kennelly. He was one of only a handful throughout the whole night who suggested he was thinking about what was going on around him and what he was doing.

[BSA5]

Yes drop O'Loughlin. For a key forward and supposed champion his contribution was very ordinary.

I think Jude Bolton must be skating on thin (and melting) ice.

Drop O'Loughlin? And replace him with who?

[NMWBloods]

It's just not you.

His kick 'to space' in front of Hall in the last quarter was just a terrible, terrible option.

He's not the only one to do that, but he is one of the worst at hitting targets on the chest. Most frequently he hits their toes at best!

A few minutes later, very late in the game and it very much in the balance, Dal Santo had the ball on the wing, City side, with no options. McVeigh is 3 metres away but elected to follow 'his man' allowing Dal Santo to steady and deliver a pass to a leading forward (Riewoldt?) under no pressure at all. Again, just a terrible option given the circumstances, he absolutely unreservedly needed to pressure Dal Santo. If the ball goes over his head to his opponent, so be it.

This drives me insane and is a major fault I have noted over a few years of a number of Swans players. It was particularly prevalent on Saturday and McVeigh was one of the worst (would have been second worst if Mathews had played).

Talking of terrible options, what was Leo Barry thinking when he left Kosi to run into goal when Tadhg had Milne well and truly bottled up against the boundary line. Tadhg played it brilliantly, coralled Milne to the sideline, didn't attempt to run in and take the risk of Milne stepping him, just more or less said to Milne 'If you kick it from there, good luck to you'.

Yep - I couldn't believe it when I saw barry running to the goal square. Just dumb footy.

[goswannie14]

It's just not you.

His kick 'to space' in front of Hall in the last quarter was just a terrible, terrible option. A few minutes later, very late in the game and it very much in the balance, Dal Santo had the ball on the wing, City side, with no options. McVeigh is 3 metres away but elected to follow 'his man' allowing Dal Santo to steady and deliver a pass to a leading forward (Riewoldt?) under no pressure at all. Again, just a terrible option given the circumstances, he absolutely unreservedly needed to pressure Dal Santo. If the ball goes over his head to his opponent, so be it.

Was was McVeigh meant to do, run to Dal Santo so the handpass went over the top to his man for the same result? Where was Dal Santos man? If he had been then this wouldn't have been a problem. (It's a bit like the 2005 SF against Geelong when Davis' man kicked the first goal of the qrtr. Many people were bagging Davis, but when you looked at it, Davis was trying to cover LRT's man and his own).

Talking of terrible options, what was Leo Barry thinking when he left Kosi to run into goal when Tadhg had Milne well and truly bottled up against the boundary line. Tadhg played it brilliantly, coralled Milne to the sideline, didn't attempt to run in and take the risk of Milne stepping him, just more or less said to Milne 'If you kick it from there, good luck to you'.

I almost jumped from level 3 on to the ground to belt Barry when that happened right in front of us. As has been pointed out, Tadhg had his man covered.

[Plugger46]

Bevan was very ordinary the other night, but I agree with Liz, in that I think he'll survive another week because of Port's small forwards. Hopefully he won't be there in round 3 though.

Jude Bolton. Surely he's getting closer to being put under pressure. Only 10 possessions and a terrible turnover. Kicked a goal but for a midfielder playing the bulk of the match, 10 disposals is disgraceful.

Luke Ablett. Why he played is beyond me - completely underdone and in reality he only just makes the cut when fully fit.

On the other night, I think that's all who should really be looked at. McVeigh was better. Jack and Moore were both fantastic at times. Both Grundy and Bird should get another crack at it.

As for dropping Davis, that is clearly the worst thing I've read on this site. We can't afford to drop one of the few players who can actually win us a match.

I'd love to see Ablett and Bolton dropped, but as I only saw the NAB cup match, I don't know who could come in and replace them.