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Just got home from Melbourne and have only read through the last few pages of this thread. And I haven't watched a replay, which sometimes shows up things you miss at the ground. So I may be repeating comments already made...
The game was deadly dull, yes, but I don't think it was negative (as in shut-down) football that was the problem so much as
a) poorly executed football (from both sides)
b) tentative football (partly by both sides but particularly the Swans)
The skill level was an absolute shocker - not just shots at goal but all around the ground. The Roos butchered it almost as much as we did, especially in the first half. They probably got a little better at using it in the second half but (un?)fortunately for us we were winning more 50/50 contests so had more use to butcher.
Given that we were so inept going forward, I thought for most of the game that the Roos were the more likely winners simply because they had a forward target who was prepared to lead.
Despite the appalling skill level, I still think that it was fear that seemed to hamper them more than anything. I don't know if it was uncertainty over the existence of any kind of forward structure, or scars from the last 10 minutes of last week, but they just seemed too scared to try and take the game on until Kennelly got going in the last 10 minutes. (Goodes excused - he was trying to lead by example but not many were following.)
I'd be fascinated to know whether Kennelly took it upon himself to take the game on, whether he was acting on instructions to take a few more risks, or whether he got a blast for simply not working hard enough. He was certainly pretty non-existant as a factor for 3/4. Some credit has to go to the Roos who were clearly doing their best to keep him out of the play. But sometimes I think he accepts a bit too easily being dragged back. The difference when he starts running hard is so marked that surely it's worth the risk of his opponent getting the odd goal or two, especially in a game where the Swans are winning more than their fair share of contested ball but just can't use it.
In terms of individuals, White didn't set the world on fire but I was quite impressed by his foot skills the few times he did get it, his composure and his competitiveness in the centre. His agility did look a little suspect at times, which surprised me a bit based on what I've seen previously. Hopefully it was inexperience and a case of needing to pick up the pace of the game as much as anything else. As a forward he seemed a bit stationary and I thought he was played too deep. He may become a good pack mark in time, given his leap and size, but I don't think it's his forte at the moment. I think we need someone starting at around 20-30m from goal and leading hard out to the 40-50m zone. He's hardly played forward this season and probably isn't an instinctive lead maker but that's what we most need from him until YKW returns.
The newbie who impressed me the most this week was Bird. He's largely been playing outsidish roles so far this season but I thought yesterday he got to play a bit more 'inside' and showed us glimpses of what we can expect from him. On a couple of occasions he showed excellent awareness of the limited space around him and managed to create more and get the ball away to good effect. Generally he seemed far more aware of the pace and pressure and responded very well. Before yesterday I was thinking it might be time to give him a spell in the reserves to further work on his game, particularly as some of the injured seniors start to become available, but now I think he's worth leaving in the seniors for a little longer.
The game was deadly dull, yes, but I don't think it was negative (as in shut-down) football that was the problem so much as
a) poorly executed football (from both sides)
b) tentative football (partly by both sides but particularly the Swans)
The skill level was an absolute shocker - not just shots at goal but all around the ground. The Roos butchered it almost as much as we did, especially in the first half. They probably got a little better at using it in the second half but (un?)fortunately for us we were winning more 50/50 contests so had more use to butcher.
Given that we were so inept going forward, I thought for most of the game that the Roos were the more likely winners simply because they had a forward target who was prepared to lead.
Despite the appalling skill level, I still think that it was fear that seemed to hamper them more than anything. I don't know if it was uncertainty over the existence of any kind of forward structure, or scars from the last 10 minutes of last week, but they just seemed too scared to try and take the game on until Kennelly got going in the last 10 minutes. (Goodes excused - he was trying to lead by example but not many were following.)
I'd be fascinated to know whether Kennelly took it upon himself to take the game on, whether he was acting on instructions to take a few more risks, or whether he got a blast for simply not working hard enough. He was certainly pretty non-existant as a factor for 3/4. Some credit has to go to the Roos who were clearly doing their best to keep him out of the play. But sometimes I think he accepts a bit too easily being dragged back. The difference when he starts running hard is so marked that surely it's worth the risk of his opponent getting the odd goal or two, especially in a game where the Swans are winning more than their fair share of contested ball but just can't use it.
In terms of individuals, White didn't set the world on fire but I was quite impressed by his foot skills the few times he did get it, his composure and his competitiveness in the centre. His agility did look a little suspect at times, which surprised me a bit based on what I've seen previously. Hopefully it was inexperience and a case of needing to pick up the pace of the game as much as anything else. As a forward he seemed a bit stationary and I thought he was played too deep. He may become a good pack mark in time, given his leap and size, but I don't think it's his forte at the moment. I think we need someone starting at around 20-30m from goal and leading hard out to the 40-50m zone. He's hardly played forward this season and probably isn't an instinctive lead maker but that's what we most need from him until YKW returns.
The newbie who impressed me the most this week was Bird. He's largely been playing outsidish roles so far this season but I thought yesterday he got to play a bit more 'inside' and showed us glimpses of what we can expect from him. On a couple of occasions he showed excellent awareness of the limited space around him and managed to create more and get the ball away to good effect. Generally he seemed far more aware of the pace and pressure and responded very well. Before yesterday I was thinking it might be time to give him a spell in the reserves to further work on his game, particularly as some of the injured seniors start to become available, but now I think he's worth leaving in the seniors for a little longer.
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