Pies 'to dictate' Swans' season

[swansrob]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25612303-5018851,00.html

[connolly]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018851,00.html

Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos says he will start to rebuild for 2010 if the Swans' finals hopes implode against Collingwood next week.

On the same day the Swans were listed at $67 - the longest price they have been since the market was opened by TAB Sportsbet in October - Roos said the clash with the Pies would give him a clearer idea of what to expect in the back half of the year.

"It's not a must-win game because the competition is so close and we're only one win off fourth," Roos said.

"Being five-six it sounds ridiculous, but that's this season. What I think this game will do is be a good gauge of what the next 11 weeks will be like. We have to ask, 'Do we start playing more young kids and look towards 2010 and fast-track their development?'."

Jeez Roosey it was obvious after the Canberra thumping that we are rebuilding wasn't it!!! A lot has happened since 2006. Johnny Howard - gawn; Davo - gawn; good times - gawn. The caravan has moved on so stop yapping and start doing the really hard yakka of developing the kids and rebuilding the team. Time to start coaching and not just being a management consultant to your assistants. Those not to be played this season are - Crouch, Barry, Ablett and Malceski. Lets get serious about the future.

[Hartijon]

"Roosey it was obvious after the Canberra "

The Doggies game should have been the crucial decider.If we got totally outplayed(and outcoached) again there was not a lot of point limping into the finals with that team.Rebuilding then became a serious responsibility for Roos after that game as we were outclasssed,outplayed and out coached.Had we run them close for 4 quarters and lost by not too much then maybe a crack at the finals was realistic.
Now every match not used to rebuild is an opportunity wasted!Let's see what the players who have earned the right to play in the 1's after good performance in the 2's can do!

[giant]

We're a game off 4th! Seriously, if you want to follow a mob of tankers there are plenty to choose from.

[Chilcott]

We're a game off 4th! Seriously, if you want to follow a mob of tankers there are plenty to choose from.

Giant, as you know, there is a big difference between 'tanking' and being realistic about the future with the senior players going around at the moment.

The last 2 weeks has shown that we are not close to being a top 4 side and will struggle to make the 8.

Against the Bulldogs we were seriously out-played and against the Hawks, we were beaten by a side severely depleted by injury.

With due respect to the great players we have on our list, there are a few that need to spend time in the reserves now (the names have been mentioned quite a few times recently).

The young players we could bring up, will do a better job than some of these players at the moment.

[Hartijon]

We're a game off 4th! Seriously, if you want to follow a mob of tankers there are plenty to choose from.

Tanking is quite a different thing to a genuine rebuilding that I see as urgent if we are to be a credible side in 2010/2011. With a good rebuilding strategy we could in fact finish higher on the ladder this year but a premiership this year is simply not on.We have to plan for one in 2-3 years time or at least be able to challenge for one then.As discussed already above,the Dogs and Hawks have shown us we are no where near the mark this year.

[Go Swannies]

Giant, as you know, there is a big difference between 'tanking' and being realistic about the future with the senior players going around at the moment.

The last 2 weeks has shown that we are not close to being a top 4 side and will struggle to make the 8.

Against the Bulldogs we were seriously out-played and against the Hawks, we were beaten by a side severely depleted by injury.

With due respect to the great players we have on our list, there are a few that need to spend time in the reserves now (the names have been mentioned quite a few times recently).

The young players we could bring up, will do a better job than some of these players at the moment.

Huh? The senior players (with only a few exceptions) are carrying the younger players who are apparently going to be our way to the future. I don't see how getting rid of the heart of the team so they get belted by over 100 points on a regular basis (Tigers anyone?) will teach them winning ways.

Maybe playing alongside Kirk and Jude, Rhino and Magic will show them what it takes to be a real AFL-standard player. Though right not it looks like they are slow learners.

[Jewels]

Giant, as you know, there is a big difference between 'tanking' and being realistic about the future with the senior players going around at the moment.

The last 2 weeks has shown that we are not close to being a top 4 side and will struggle to make the 8.

I agree that we are not a top 4 side and are way, way off the top 3, but I disagree that we will struggle to make the 8.
So far, there is very little separating the other 13 teams and I don't see much really changing before seasons end. I think we'll finish the season around sixth.

[Melbournehammer]

We will finish anywhere between 6th and 12th. In either case it isn't low enough to get outstanding draft picks nor high enough to make us other than also rans. In that case i want to see competitive efforts and as someone else said just one win in Melbourne - if we can't beat the tiges later in the year then I've had it.

I am not really sure what playing the kids means in the context of having a seriously long injury list of kids. If we are saying play the 2-3 kids who are at best fringe players and according to all the reserves watchers might or might not make it - for god's sake don't bring em all in at once. I have been relatively pleased with the number of youngsters brought up considering the injuries. I'd like to see more but I don't want 9 reserves brought in over one week - 9 reserves who are struggling to win in the ACTAFL even allowing for top-up problems.

If we get flogged by colligwood (which I expect but I still intend to go up to sydney for the game) and adelaide there will be room for a largeish number of changes....and it will tie in with some recoveries from injury

[Chilcott]

Huh? The senior players (with only a few exceptions) are carrying the younger players who are apparently going to be our way to the future. I don't see how getting rid of the heart of the team so they get belted by over 100 points on a regular basis (Tigers anyone?) will teach them winning ways.

Maybe playing alongside Kirk and Jude, Rhino and Magic will show them what it takes to be a real AFL-standard player. Though right not it looks like they are slow learners.

Go Swannies, did not mean players like Kirk, O'Keefe, Magic, etc. Meant senior players, such as Malceski, Buchanan, Ablett, Grundy etc.

[johnno]

You have to remember as well people that we have been hit by injuries as well, its not just other(Hawthorn) teams that have had this happen. Vespa, Leo Barry(how handy would he be in the backline at the moment), Meredith and I'm sure there's others, just can't think of them at the moment. Having said that, I have had enough of Ablett, I hate saying negative things about our players, but I have had enough of him. Grundy is ok, but he still provides me with a....."ahhhhhh @@@@ Reg, what the hell was that??" moment at least once a game. Buchanan tries, and I'm sure his intentions are good, but boy sometimes he makes some silly mistakes, and I have no idea whats wrong with Malceski, it has to be a mental thing with him.

[BigD]

I think if we lose the Collingwood match our season is gone. If that is the case I'd rather Roosey blood some youngsters with an eye to next season than keep plugging away to make the finals to just finish 7th or 8th and go out in week 1.

[Bas]

Last uncompromised draft for a number of years this year would be weighing heavily on Roos and Co minds.

We go down to Collingwood, we will go down to Adelaide. We could realistically lose then next 4 out of 5 and then follow this up by losing the next 4 out of 6.

That is trying to win the games and not deliberately tanking.

Under the circumstances mentioned previously, wouldn't worry me a bit this year. Another attempt at off loading ROK and we may get 3 picks in top 20.
I'd rather have that than a first week finals exit.

[Bleed Red Blood]

Under the circumstances mentioned previously, wouldn't worry me a bit this year. Another attempt at off loading ROK and we may get 3 picks in top 20.
I'd rather have that than a first week finals exit.

We've already passed how many wins or whatever you have to get to not get a priority pick. (How did I pass english?)

And no one will trade a top 20 pick for ROK.

Playing our best team (By form) each and every week will keep us (IMO obvs) in the top 8, and any finals games we get into the younger players that I'd like to see in the team will be better together with a pick around 10th than say pick 5 and playing a 'For the future' team.

[BSA5]

We've already passed how many wins or whatever you have to get to not get a priority pick. (How did I pass english?)

And no one will trade a top 20 pick for ROK.

Playing our best team (By form) each and every week will keep us (IMO obvs) in the top 8, and any finals games we get into the younger players that I'd like to see in the team will be better together with a pick around 10th than say pick 5 and playing a 'For the future' team.

I think on current form in the midfield, any team looking to win a Premiership in the next couple of years would be more than willing to give up a top 20 pick for ROK.