Playfair

[AnnieH]

A bit harsh kiddies. He did ok for a swans first-gamer. Geelong and Sydney play very different styles of footy - it'll take him time to learn how to play kick-to-kick at the end of the first quarter. Plus, he's coming off an injury.
Give him more than one game before you condem him back to Canberra.

[NMWBloods]

I'm not sure how any of the excuses made for him make any sense. He is well known as a poor kick - ask most Geelong fans. It's a major reason why he didn't cut it as a key forward for them.

[swansrule100]

people seem to think he should stay because he created a contest but anyone can do that surely.

He did nothing much at all and didnt show any skills. Davis was better in the games he played

[BSA5]

He wasn't amazing, he wasn't the solution to all our forward problems, and nobody expected him to be (well at least, I didn't), but he added a bit. He was OK. He's a better option that Grundy is at this stage. He will only ever be an average player, but that's OK. You can't have four Jonno Browns in every forwardline. He did enough to stick around next week. Who knows? Maybe he'll wind up as a defender. It would take his poor kicking for goal out of the equation. But he has a good strong body, a decent lead, and looks fairly good in contests. Certainly not worth writing off yet.

[Plugger46]

He wasn't amazing, he wasn't the solution to all our forward problems, and nobody expected him to be (well at least, I didn't), but he added a bit. He was OK. He's a better option that Grundy is at this stage. He will only ever be an average player, but that's OK. You can't have four Jonno Browns in every forwardline. He did enough to stick around next week. Who knows? Maybe he'll wind up as a defender. It would take his poor kicking for goal out of the equation. But he has a good strong body, a decent lead, and looks fairly good in contests. Certainly not worth writing off yet.

Agree with all of that. I knew what we were getting, so I wasn't expecting a lot yesterday. Deserves to keep his spot in my opinion.

[dread and might]

He took some good marks. His kicking at goal was a bit wonky but that may improve with more match practice and a lift in his confidence.

See, I don't understand this. (Not just from Playfair). Surely a set shot is the easiest thing to replicate match conditions for during training. Guy on the mark, nobody about to tackle you.....
No excuses for poor set shot kicking. (Once again I am not singling Playfair out)

[Matt79]

See, I don't understand this. (Not just from Playfair). Surely a set shot is the easiest thing to replicate match conditions for during training. Guy on the mark, nobody about to tackle you.....
No excuses for poor set shot kicking. (Once again I am not singling Playfair out)

I agree that our overall goal kicking has been very poor. However, I disagree about set shots being the 'easiest thing to replicate match conditions for during training'. Having the crowd cheering / booing, opposition sledging adds that element that training cannot replicate.

[NMWBloods]

Like free throw shooting in basketball.

[swansrule100]

I agree that our overall goal kicking has been very poor. However, I disagree about set shots being the 'easiest thing to replicate match conditions for during training'. Having the crowd cheering / booing, opposition sledging adds that element that training cannot replicate.

Im happy to go down and boo while a few of them practice shots. How long would they spend on goal kicking during the week? 5-10 minutes?

[Triple B]

I agree that our overall goal kicking has been very poor. However, I disagree about set shots being the 'easiest thing to replicate match conditions for during training'. Having the crowd cheering / booing, opposition sledging adds that element that training cannot replicate.

Crowd noise and opposition sledging should have negligible effect. Any player who would let those aspects affect him will be far too soft in the head to succeed at anything.

HOWEVER....

...pressure cannot be replicated and that is what it's all about.

They can practice all things football until the cows come home, but when things fall apart on game day, it is all about pressure, ie. all between the ears.

[Matt79]

Crowd noise and opposition sledging should have negligible effect. Any player who would let those aspects affect him will be far too soft in the head to succeed at anything.
HOWEVER....

...pressure cannot be replicated and that is what it's all about.

They can practice all things football until the cows come home, but when things fall apart on game day, it is all about pressure, ie. all between the ears.

As they say, 99% of the game is played in between the ears. However, in every sport crowd noise does have a very significant effect. Why does a team tend to perform better at home than away? As Bloods mentioned, free throws in basketball...most basketballers would hit 9 and a half out of ten at training and yet may struggle in match conditions. Pressure is something that is hard to measure.

[Triple B]

I reckon crowd noise has more effect on the scumps then the players. Collingwood crowds definately intimidate some umpires into giving them all the 50/50's.

In fact, some teams actually draw inspiration from being booed and actually play better so they can antagonise the boo-ers even more.

That said, I think we are arguing the same point, game situations are way different, whether it's the crowd noise or the pressure of the situation, it's impossible to replicate on the training paddock.

[TheMase]

Set shot kicking is definitely different on game-day, that it is at training.

His kicking action needs some work, but above that his actual run in for goal needs work. It was not fluent at all.

The Swans coaches need to work with him to develop a routine when kicking for goal. A good majority of the good kickers have them (Lloyd throws the grass even when the roof is closed?).

Fixing his run in before his kick will fix a decent part of the problem. Perhaps Barry Hall can work with him, also Longmire too.

It reminded me something about Davis, which I will start a new thread for..

[dread and might]

I agree that our overall goal kicking has been very poor. However, I disagree about set shots being the 'easiest thing to replicate match conditions for during training'. Having the crowd cheering / booing, opposition sledging adds that element that training cannot replicate.

So, which element of a match is the easiest to recreate in training then?

[Matt79]

So, which element of a match is the easiest to recreate in training then?

Running out onto the ground. In seriousness, nothing can truely replicate match day conditions.

In cricket terms, you often hear players saying that to truely find form, "they need to spend time in the middle".