Game Thread Swans Vs Hawks

[NMWBloods]

One of the problems we have with our two or three excellent half back runners is that opposition coaches are frequently taking them back into the goal square and keeping them out of the game. That happened to Mattner today, and with Malceski out and Kennelly struggling, we had no run off half back.

[hot potato]

'BATS IN THE BELFRY" I'll buy that... is that his new nickname...
BITBBBBBH I LIKE IT

[SimonH]

Disturbing to see Luke Ablett named in the best in the official match report.

He's played some ordinary games for the Swans, but that was one of the worst. The list of things he did wrong could go on a bit, so to sum it up in one line: he looked like an average state league footballer who'd been dropped into an AFL game without advance notice. 'Tried hard and made a contest' does not a decent game make. Just ask Henry Playfair.

On a head-to-head among marginal mid-career midfielders, you would drop NOG to the 2nds about 38 years before Buchanan if you compare their games today. Not that I have any delusions about the chances of him going.

But seriously, if this year doesn't turn around, we need to think about 2009 and beyond: What more does NOG have to offer? Is he the sort of player that will assist the Swans in getting back to the mountaintop? I love seeing him pound goals from 60-65 metres out as well, but he's played 112 games for 30 goals. It's a fond memory of something that very very rarely happens. Maybe I just need to be more edumacated about what he offers that no one out of Moore, Bird, Jack, Laidlaw, Schmidt, Thornton and the younger kids will be able to offer given a year or two's senior experience.

By the way, I thought Jude Bolton was actually good today. So far from the class of Kirk that their names shouldn't even be spoken in the same paragraph (whoops), but good.

[NMWBloods]

Ablett is one of the lock-down players - he keeps his opponent down to less possessions than normal. Most sides get less possessions against us than their average number. However, he has little effect offensively and it's arguable how effective his stopping role is, especially against good players. Most particularly I think it's uncertain whether he is a net positive for the team. He often gets a lot of possessions in the first quarter and then fades from the game.

I thought J Bolton was just average today at best. Just 9 kicks and most missed targets (sometimes he seems to think his team mates are 10' tall!). Lots of handballs, many of which were panicky or missing targets.

[SimonH]

Ablett is one of the lock-down players - he keeps his opponent down to less possessions than normal. Most sides get less possessions against us than their average number. However, he has little effect offensively and it's arguable how effective his stopping role is, especially against good players. Most particularly I think it's uncertain whether he is a net positive for the team. He often gets a lot of possessions in the first quarter and then fades from the game.

One of my specific whinges was that there was a schoolboy-level, eat-em-up tackle on in the last quarter where the Hawks player receiving the handpass had been sold into trouble and all NOG had to do was line him up and deliver. NOG missed the tackle entirely and the Hawks ran free. I couldn't believe my eyes-- I thought the worst case scenario was going to be he hit the guy too hard and gave away a free (but at least stopped their run).

Everyone has a bad moment? No. Last week there was another crunch, but not difficult, tackle he had to lay in the Woods forward line. He didn't go close to making it stick.

Not only does he get tackled and pinned and fail to get the ball out with monotonous regularity when he has the pill, for a 'close in' specialist his tackles don't stick often enough.

[smasher]

Must admit that for the second week in a row Moore hastled an opponent without loosing his cool and we got 50 metre penalties both times.He should do more of this physical stuff as we don't seem to have players who do that and he does not loose his temper...at the moment.

[connolly]

That was nothing short of disappointing.

Positives:

Clearly Bevan's best game. He showed a lot of run and ticker and but for that errant kick after 3 bounces in the last Q, I thought he showed leadership qualities in the way he worked so hard and ran into the forward line when nothing else was working. I think it is time they used him at centre bounces to at least give someone who is prepared to go for the footy.
We must get clearance people in there no stoppers. It seems to be a plan that is failing miserably. We should immediately put Bevan, yes Bevan,Bird and Moore into these contests. They have much quicker reflexes and hands and have a brain. This is the area Bevo has really improved in and right now is wasted down back as a stopper.

Welcome aboard Nico. Although some were outraged at the suggestion and although he lacks the kicking skills of Maxfield a tad, he could and should play the role Stewie played in the midfield - tough, gets the pill and hard running.

[swansrule100]

Welcome aboard Nico. Although some were outraged at the suggestion and although he lacks the kicking skills of Maxfield a tad, he could and should play the role Stewie played in the midfield - tough, gets the pill and hard running.

bevan should never be in defence, but a midfield forward role might suit might at least keep the ball in our forward 50.


I thought he was down on form the last 2 weeks compared to month before

[connolly]

bevan should never be in defence, but a midfield forward role might suit might at least keep the ball in our forward 50.


I thought he was down on form the last 2 weeks compared to month before

So you have joined the let Bevo off the chain campaign?

[swansrule100]

So you have joined the let Bevo off the chain campaign?

ive joined the roos will pick him every week anyway and there are players with less upside who must go before bevan club.


Play him in a decent position and give him a run see what he has got. Seems to just be plugging gaps

[NMWBloods]

Bevan has the potential to be a good ordinary footballer, most likely suited to a midfield or forward role. Did some good things yesterday, was probably one of our better players, although I think he gave Osborne too much leeway at times.

[SimonH]

Must admit that for the second week in a row Moore hastled an opponent without loosing his cool and we got 50 metre penalties both times.He should do more of this physical stuff as we don't seem to have players who do that and he does not loose his temper...at the moment.

Moore is generally so good when he's around the footy, that I'm at a loss to work out why he's hardly ever been around it in the last 4-5 weeks. We've missed him. Too much time in the forwardline, or too much time on the bench?

[connolly]

Bevan has the potential to be a good ordinary footballer, most likely suited to a midfield or forward role. Did some good things yesterday, was probably one of our better players, although I think he gave Osborne too much leeway at times.

Bloods very nice. Jack Dyer may well have used that description for the kid.

[AnnieH]

So what's the consensus?
We were crap????
Obviously.

Oh well, at least I met the Grim Reaper and ScottH.

I did meet Chance Bateman. He was sitting with the Hawks ressies behind us up on Level 2. The little kid in front of me was too shy to go and get an autograph, so I took him up to say g'day. (Chance is on my dreamteam ... he'll be back next week!!)

[swansrule100]

Bevan has the potential to be a good ordinary footballer, most likely suited to a midfield or forward role. Did some good things yesterday, was probably one of our better players, although I think he gave Osborne too much leeway at times.

he has not shown enough to justify his constant selection though.

80 odd games now isnt it? how many have been good, id say 20 at most