It's A Good Wicket

**liz** · 22 June 2009, 08:16 PM

And yet if he were to walk away (for whatever reason) he would be accused of "jumping a sinking ship", "taking the glory and then leaving a team in disarray", just as Blight and Mathews (at Collingwood) were accused of.

He will never be able to win for some people.

A couple of months ago there were clamours that ROK really didn't want to be in Sydney - hence his mediocre form, by his standards. No, it couldn't have been that he was playing a different role due to injuries to key forwards. He was a money grabbing sulker. Those cries seem to have died down somewhat after a terrific 6 weeks in a new role.

Second guessing motivations on a hunch rather than real evidence is a very dangerous game and usually one grossly unfair to the person being judged.

**ROK Lobster** · 22 June 2009, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by liz

Second guessing motivations on a hunch rather than real evidence is a very dangerous game and usually one grossly unfair to the person being judged.

Yeah, but it's fun.

**Robbo** · 22 June 2009, 08:30 PM

Roosy seems hell bent on this conservative game plan of his. It worked well a few years ago but the game has moved on since then, and teams know how to beat our game plan. I get the feeling that Roosy isn't willing to change, therefore I can't see him getting us back to where we were in 2005 and 2006.

**hammo** · 22 June 2009, 08:39 PM

Originally posted by Robbo

Roosy seems hell bent on this conservative game plan of his. It worked well a few years ago but the game has moved on since then, and teams know how to beat our game plan. I get the feeling that Roosy isn't willing to change, therefore I can't see him getting us back to where we were in 2005 and 2006.

The game plan is a result of the players at his disposal. He said this in 2005.

We have neither the skill or speed to play top 8 teams on their own terms.

The club and Roos seem to have (finally) come to the realisation that we need to head to the draft and pick up some class players via early picks. You can't rely on the rare chances of getting an Adam Goodes with pick 50.

For Roos to leave now would be interpreted as leaving a sinking ship and would seriously damage his reputation.

Re Longmire, he was interviewed for the St Kilda job and missed out. He will no doubt be interviewed for the North job. No one is holding him back and regardless, the senior coaching job isn't Roos to hand over to whom whoever he chooses.

**hot potato** · 22 June 2009, 09:17 PM

Yep it's a pretty good wicket, a premmie in the cupboard, handles the press magnificently, but is starting to look a bit tired and predictable.

What about another 'players voice' honesty session. How would the players like to play the game, what style would they love to adopt?
The season is just about shot to pieces, Roosy has put them down by saying they are outclassed.
They will start believing that and play even worse against Adelaide.
The cracks are appearing right thru the coach, the president.
The Footy hardened Neil Craig will be licking his lips.
Someone needs to tell the Swans 'They can do this'.
Is Roosey still doing it?

HP

**Bas** · 22 June 2009, 09:22 PM

Originally posted by liz

Second guessing motivations on a hunch rather than real evidence is a very dangerous game and usually one grossly unfair to the person being judged.

If you get beaten by the same team 7 times in a row. They have the same coach, we have the same coach and no change of game plan.

It does make you wonder what is seriously going on. I would have thought Roos may have tried something different apart from bringing in 3 young players.

So I think that is sufficient justification to not be happy about our performances against tha magpies.

Next Saturday we face Adelaide whom we have not beaten since
Round 15 2004 at the SCG So how many games has that been now. The only two teams we have a worse record against are Fitzroy (1996) and University (1914).

Lets look at this in more detail:

1. Will Sydney go in with a different game plan? - NO
2. Will we play exactly the same way as previously? - YES
3. Will we get convincigly beat? - Yes
4. Will Roos put the blame on the players again? - YES

Can anyone recall Roos putting his hand up saying that he stuffed up?

**DST** · 22 June 2009, 09:25 PM

Do some of you actually watch how we play football or is it a bit beyond you?

Comments suggesting we have not changed our game plan etc etc in the last 3 years are totally off the mark.

For the first time ever we have had over 400 posessions not only once but twice this year and have gone close a couple of times.

You don't have to blind freddy to work out that we have tried to adjust our game style to include more handball and more run to move through the rolling zones, in no small way a similar style to Geelong.

Now for a variety of reasons this has not worked all the time this year (not going to go into that in this thread) but to summise that we have not tried to change our game plan is just plain wrong.

DST

**Bas** · 22 June 2009, 09:29 PM

The stat for posession to goal would be more interesting reading.

So we have increased our handballs. It seems all they do is handpass it around in circles most of the time and end up tuning the ball over. I don't think the team has the pace to play this game even if they increased it to 500 posessions.

**DST** · 22 June 2009, 09:42 PM

Originally posted by Bas

The stat for posession to goal would be more interesting reading.

So we have increased our handballs. It seems all they do is handpass it around in circles most of the time and end up tuning the ball over. I don't think the team has the pace to play this game even if they increased it to 500 posessions.

The funniest part of Saturday night was when we had a chain of handball's on the southern end half back flank which went around to find space, only to see one of our players bang it on their boot.

The crowd cheered with great delight because they kicked it, only to see it go to 4 Collingwood players standing on the wing who promptly moved back over their heads for a goal.

True, this team does not have the pace or probably skill to play a high possession rate game, but a team with Bird, Jack, Vez, Merideth, DOK, Laidlaw, Smith, Thornton, White, Currie, Johnstone, Hannaberry etc will and the coaching staff are clearly trying to go with a more high possession game while running and carrying the ball.

DST

**liz** · 22 June 2009, 09:49 PM

Originally posted by DST

Do some of you actually watch how we play football or is it a bit beyond you?

I wonder that myself. Frequently.

I think there has been a bigger change in how the Swans are trying to play this season compared to last than in any other two consecutive seasons under Roos. Ironically, it is possibly a style that would be most effective with a fit and firing Kenneski playing across half-back.

**ROK Lobster** · 22 June 2009, 09:53 PM

Originally posted by liz

Ironically, it is possibly a style that would be most effective with a fit and firing Kenneski playing across half-back.

Didn't he go to Ireland for radical knee surgery?

**pinkemu** · 22 June 2009, 09:58 PM

Originally posted by ROK Lobster

Didn't he go to Ireland for radical knee surgery?

No that was Malcennelly.

**dimelb** · 22 June 2009, 10:47 PM

I think DST and Liz have already said what needed to be said.
I'd just add that we are rebuilding, as if some haven't noticed, and between out-of-form old hands plus youngsters with L-plates we are not doing quite as well as we have previously. Things may even get worse for a while. Then they'll get better. That's how the footy cycle works when a decent coach and selection committee is on the job; plus the odd bit of luck, Goodes probably being the best example. Meanwhile I'll keep enjoying the good bits and hope they'll eventually outnumber the bad bits. And so as not to get it out of perspective, a couple of critical mistakes and one whistle was all the difference on Saturday night.

**shaun..** · 23 June 2009, 12:36 AM

Originally posted by DST

The funniest part of Saturday night was when we had a chain of handball's on the southern end half back flank which went around to find space, only to see one of our players bang it on their boot.

The crowd cheered with great delight because they kicked it, only to see it go to 4 Collingwood players standing on the wing who promptly moved back over their heads for a goal.

I found that rather bemusing as well. A clear example was late in the 3rd qtr where after continuous handballs to remove the ball from our defence ROK went for the big clearing kick, and found a nest of Collingwood players sitting back to mark the ball - at this point the crowd were off their nuts cheering with excitement, relief and justification. I really hate when people say "KICK IT!" when there is no one to kick to.

It was quite evident that they were trying to create space and free up each other, but the execution was very poor at times and effectively shut down any space created. They must've been talking about that in the commentary box because a number of these 'missed handball instances' were replayed on the big screen.